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AOR HEAVEN ::: N E W S L E T T E R ::: 17/09/2021 |
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Howdy melodic rockers,
The madness continues and as usual
there’s UPS involved, off course. This time I can’t
blame them alone, cause it seems that there’s another
company much more guilty as UPS. I have mentioned that
we struggled getting the latest shipment with the recent
Rock Candy releases (Britny Fox, Loverboy, E. Martin)
and everything seemed to be solved until we received the
shipment – instead of receiving 3 bigger parcels (with
the new stuff) and one smaller parcel (backcatalog) we
only received the small one – no sign of the 3 big
parcels.
We do get the RC stuff through Cargo
from the UK and they’re using a company called Cinram
handling their logistic affairs. Even two weeks after
shipping we havn’t received the tracking numbers for
those 3 parcels, so we can’t trace them and can’t make
any search offers.
We do get shipments from the UK quite
often with express service and this takes max. 3
business days. This shipment has been sent also via
express and after 14 days there’s now silence at the
other side of the channel !!
I better stop now before we lose some
of our English customers, cause this is totally
ridiculous.
I have heard now the upcoming NESTOR
album “Kids In A Ghost Town” and I’m totally blown away
– album of the year by a landmile !!
wishing you a great week
Georg & Monika
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AOR HEAVEN RELEASES:
M.ILL.ION - Back On Track
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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“Back On Track“ is basically a compilation of the best tracks - and there are many - taken of the first three outputs like „Sign Of Victory“, “Judgement Day“ or “Burn In Hell“ of which the debut „No.1“ celebrates its 30th anniversary these days. And (almost) this line-up is back for good. They wrote and recorded three brand-new and really cool songs, re-arranged, re-recorded two tracks from the debut as well remastered everything. Melodic hard rock that probably only comes from out of Sweden. M.ILL.ION are definitely „Back On Track“. Just check out the brand-new “Rising“. 15 great songs of a great band.
MARTIN STARK |
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Watch:https://youtu.be/I1hsl7l_VH8 |
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NEWMAN - Into The Monster’s Playground
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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Barely any artist is as busy these days releasing albums as Steve Newman from England is. His band NEWMAN has put out thirteen studio records by now. “Into The Monsters’ Playground“ pretty much rocks (“Hurricane Sky“ or “Don’t Come Runnin’“) and manages to showcase both classic rock and epic elements (“This Life Alone“). Typical British AOR to please lovers of the genre with different tempos as well as glimpses of progressive bits and pieces (“Icon“). Once again with a powerful and sophisticated production. Did this guy ever put out an album that wasn’t good at least? Absolutely reliable stuff these NEWMAN records! Great material for fans of HEARTLAND, FM or ATLAS.
MARTIN STARK |
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Listen:https://youtu.be/t_G9MXAs7r4 |
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PETER H. NILSSON - Sign Of Myself
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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Second album of Swedish guitarist and songwriter who after his 2019 debut “Little American Dream“ strikes back with yet another Swedish-American collaboration. Easy-going, mature melodic rock with quite different approaches on the genre. Chris Biano from Nashville, USA again provides fine vocals with lots of emotions. A timeless record which comes with many highlights like „Time To Remember“, “Breathe“ or “Can’t Come Down“. Great mixture of AOR, Westcoast and a little bit of pop music. Well-produced and offering some cool surprises like the horn-section on the title track which is reminiscent of PHIL COLLINS to a certain degree.
MARTIN STARK |
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Listen:https://youtu.be/LHjsr6W6mus |
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EXPECTED NEW RELEASES !!
JOHN DALLAS - Love & Glory
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B: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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Goodtime rock from Italy
with a certain glam factor. JOHN DALLAS (ex AFTER LIFE, ex RED BURN) with his
second ever solo effort. Songs mostly in the vein of BON JOVI, DANGER DANGER,
H.E.A.T. and VAN HALEN. Many strong tracks that will make you smile. Great to
have acts these days who actually care nothing at all about current trends. Let
alone the KISS-influenced “Dancing All Night“ shine.
MARTIN STARK
Watch:https://youtu.be/iewAQTv06do |
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MICHAEL KRATZ - TAFKATNO
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B: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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Here Danish artist MICHAEL
KRATZ, who won several gold awards in his home country with mainstream pop,
mixes AOR and Westcoast which actually works well. There are guest appearances
of e.g. Christian Warburg (g, PAUL YOUNG) or Bruce Gaitsch (g, RICHARD MARX).
The rather raspy voice of MICHAEL KRATZ might not be everybody’s cup of tea but
it makes the record somehow interesting and slightly different. But he can’t
hide his pop roots on this record.
MARTIN STARK
Listen:https://youtu.be/gOtolmGhtA0 |
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MAD
INVASION - Edge Of The World
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B: 14 € |
B: 16,5 € |
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Mad Invasion
may be a name new to many music fans, but in this band, we find some seasoned
musicians like Pete Sandberg (Alien, Madison)
on vocals, Hal Marabel (Bad Habit) on
guitar and keyboards Mats Bergentz (Silver Mountain)
on drums. The music on the band’s ten-track debut album “Edge of the World”
follows a proud Swedish tradition of melodic hard rock with a slightly modern
edge, although Mad Invasion has a bit more traditional 70s hard rock in its
music than some of the other bands in the genre. This bunch has managed to
establish a signature sound that is somewhat different than the typical melodic
hard rock sound where it is often hard to distinguish between different bands.
Watch:https://youtu.be/6PfB6Lrslz4 |
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BRAINSTORM - Wall Of Skulls + Blu-ray (digi pack)
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B: 15,5 € |
B: 18,5 € |
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BRAINSTORM is an extremely
reliable source for power metal. The newest effort, their thirteenth in total,
is no exception from the rule. Majestic melodies and arrangements, thundering
drums, energetic guitars and the powerful vocals of frontman Andy B. Franck are
crucial here. Tracks like “Solitude“ or “End Of My Innocence“ will be future
live standards for sure. Guest appearances by Peavy Wagner (v, RAGE) and Seeb
Levermann (v, ORDEN OGAN), who also produced the album.
MARTIN STARK
Watch:
https://youtu.be/9_YJRWnyk8M |
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NEW RELEASES IN STOCK!!
ROBIN RED - Robin Red |
B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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ROBIN RED is DEGRRED
frontman Robin Ericsson from Sweden. Very melodic and not that heavy and not
that progressive foremost like his mainband as well as at times even poppy, this
debut is fully convincing. An honest, authentic rock record of a remarkable
artist. Just checkout the extremely catchy “Don’t Leave Me (With A Broken Heart)“
or the acoustic “Reason To Survive“. Music in the vein of BRYAN ADAMS or JIMMY
BARNES.
MARTIN STARK
watch:https://youtu.be/-zqnr4uK1pU |
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VEGA - Anarchy And Unity |
B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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British band VEGA delivers
quality as usual. It’s energy-driven and powerful sounding so that every fan of
the band will be pleased for sure. The guys around frontman Nick Workman once
again manage to sound relatively modern and provide melodic anthems like “Kneel
To You“ at the same time, something not barely any other band is able to achieve.
Produced by Harry Hess (HAREM SCAREM). Further highlights are “Welcome To
Wherever“ and “Beautiful Lie“.
MARTIN STARK
watch:https://youtu.be/HkjyzSqt5DI |
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ROBLEDO - Wanted Man |
B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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ROBLEDO is a project
centered around Chilean vocalist James Robledo (ex SINNER’S BLOOD). It’s hard
rock with slices of melodic metal. He can sing for sure and songwriter and
producer Alessandro Del Vecchio is certainly not bad in what he is doing but for
some reason this output is not fully convincing. Francesco Marias (TYGERS OF PAN
TANG) on guitar. The title track is the absolute highlight here.
MARTIN STARK
watch:https://youtu.be/YoKNvL7yRLo |
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INTERCORE - Dreams For Sale |
B: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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INTERCORE are Raimo
Rommedahl (g, ex COUSIN BILL) and Jesper Max (v/g, ex FRAISE). The first being
the main songwriter and producer. The Swedish outfit plays hard rock. The album
was created over a period of four years and breathes the DNA of SCORPIONS and
THIN LIZZY at times but also way more contemporary sounds. Two or three songs
are not able to keep up the quite solid level of the rest.
MARTIN STARK
watch:https://youtu.be/x-ydhcsjhUY |
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EDGE OF PARADISE - The Unknown |
B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Album number four of the
American band. Female fronter Margarita Monet and her guys put out their
strongest effort to date. Mighty, partly symphonic metal with lots of
contemporary sound elements. Mix by Jacob Hansen (e.g. VOLBEAT). Not suitable
for people digging traditional rock/metal but pretty exciting for the most part.
Only the “Industrial Remix“ of the track “My Method Your Madness“ is absolutely
unnecessary.
MARTIN STARK
watch:https://youtu.be/Klp366ZQJCY |
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TALES OF THE OLD - The Book Of Chaos |
B: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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TALES OF THE OLD play
symphonic dark ambient power metal, so they say and they are basically right.
The Greek band plays partly theatrical sounds with lots of details and different
shades but at times it’s not a harmonious body. Weakest spot are the vocals,
though, having a too strong accent. Nevertheless, there a nice songs like “Dark
Witch“ or “Contract of Blood“ on board, too. Obviously, the album title is
pretty much appropriate…
MARTIN STARK
listen:https://youtu.be/hY5mx_kJx8I |
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SARAYA - When The Blackbird Sings (digitally remastered) |
B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Starting out as
the band Alsace Lorraine, this lot would become one of the more popular hair
metal bands from the glory-days era. Based around the power duo Sandy Saraya and
axe-wizard Tony Bruno, the band would eventually change their name to Saraya and
released a classy debut record in 1989. Producer Peter Collins, who had worked
previously with Rush and Queensryche bought his technical skill into the mix for
the follow up "When The Blackbird Sings" (1991). Many punters were very
impressed with the final result, a big sounding guitar rocking album "WTBS.."
proved to be one of the best releases of 1991. Digitally remastered re-issue
from Bad Reputation records.
listen:https://youtu.be/IdW7RA-SLx0 |
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BANDIT - Partners In Crime (digitally remastered) |
B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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UK's Bandit are mostly
remembered for their connection to AC/DC, this time being the former band of
bassist, Cliff Williams. After Williams departed his prior band, Home, he and
vocalist Jim Diamond drafted a few other musicians for their new project,
Bandit. Arista Records were quick to show interest and by 1977, their
self-titled debut had hit record store shelves. Sales were slow and minimal,
prompting a return to the studio in 1978, which yielded "Partners In Crime".
Though the debut was bluesy hard rock, this album saw the band evolving toward a
softer AOR sound. Again sales were weak and when AC/DC requested Cliff's
services in 1979, he quickly bailed and Bandit were finished. Bad Reputation
re-issue.
listen:https://youtu.be/q1vQb0sUUz8 |
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DANNY DANZI - Tribulations |
B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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American singer and multi
instrumentalist DANNY DANZI is finally back with new material. “Tribulations“
offers fifteen melodic rock / hard rock tunes that tell the story of Danny and
the band as a loosely connected concept album. Mostly the guitars but also cool
melodies and exciting arrangements are in the center of attention, so several
fine rock moments can be found. “Forever“ is the ultimate teaser for this album.
MARTIN STARK |
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MAD
ANTHONY - Party Heaven Hell Whatever!
(digitally remastered) |
B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Hailing from
San Francisco, California, Mad Anthony was hands down the best unsigned rock band of the mid-'80s packing massive
grooves and killer hooks from stacks of Marshall amps. Mad
Anthony was also all about a huge party, good times and first class sleazy hard
rock next to Guns'N'Roses, Mötley Crue and Warrant. The band released a 6 track
mini album on cassette (only) way back in 1987 which was produced by Steve
Fontano (Racer X, Vicious Rumours etc.). This digitally remastered re-issue has
been spiced up with 7 additional tracks from the vaults plus liner notes and
it's strictly limited to 500 copies. Eonian records - re-issue.
Listen:
https://youtu.be/DFsX-T1ozw8 |
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RINGS OF SATURN - Rings Of Saturn (digitally remastered) |
B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Having already
made a name for himself with a variety of acts on the Hollywood, California
scene, singer, guitarist and keyboard player Billy Coane would form Rings Of
Saturn in January 1988. After a couple of line-up changes the band had a stable
line-up as a quartett in 1989 and became one of the hottest live acts in L.A.
They were close to get signed by Arista records, but the label decided to sign
Tomorrow's Child instead of ROS. Under this circumstances the band released
their debut album "Early Rings Of Saturn" in 1989 on the small indie label
Lawless Records. This digitally remastered re-issue contains the 10 tracks from
the 1989 album plus 4 bonus tracks. First class hair metal stuff, strictly
limited to 500 copies.
Listen:
https://youtu.be/5RwiZ9nnUQ0 |
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OSUKARU - 10/22
SIX SILVER SUNS - 10/22
NESTOR - 10/22
STATION - 10/08
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