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AOR HEAVEN ::: N E W S L E T T E R ::: 18/10/2019
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Howdy melodic rockers,
More or less just good things report as a few new titles came in much quicker as expected (Fighter V and Ole Borud) and there is a light at the end of the tunnel that both Lost UK/US jewels releases should finally be in stock towards the end of the next week - fingers crossed !
wishing you a great week
Georg & Monika
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CARL DIXON - One +2 (digitally remastered)
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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CONEY HATCH frontman put out his solo debut “One“ for the first time in 1993. It’s a great hard rock album with a very personal and intimate approach that showcases the Canadian at his best vocally. Hard to understand why this album did not get the attention it deserves but obviously the time back then was not the best for melodic rock music. Songs like the groovy “Hard To Leave Hard To Love“ or the ballad-like “Love Is Waiting“ are slightly reminiscent of TOM PETTY whereas the cool “Taste Of Love“ basically sounds like a hybrid of AEROSMITH and DEF LEPPARD. The album contains two bonus tracks. A pristine production which is powerful enough, too, highlights the songs pretty well. Comes with liner notes by Dave Reynolds and digitally remastered by Chris Lyne. A strong piece of music!
MARTIN STARK
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listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz0uP9jZtU8
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EXPECTED NEW RELEASES !!
FIGHTER V - Fighter (digi pack)
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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This Swiss combo started under the Hairdryer moniker in 2009 and as such released an album in 2014, ‘Off to Haïradise’. The music was, as you may guess from the title Hair Metal, the 80’s-inspired kind of LA Hard Rock. Fast forward to 2019. With the addition of keyboardist Felix Commerell -who had joined the band in 2018, and new demos for this second album, a trip to Sweden in order to record with producer Jona Tee (H.E.A.T.) prompted a name change to Fighter V. And they changed for the better, now playing catchy Melodic Rock/AOR not far from Bon Jovi circa 1983/1985 on the surface. Pure and simple, “Fighter” is a collection of instant melodic rock hymns made for the arenas, spiced by luxury AOR melodies.
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWi6OazDIrE
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OLE BORUD - Outside The Limit (digi pack)
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Back in the 80´s there was a load of artists playing westcoast music, nowadays they aren´t as many but the ones who still do it like Norwegian singer and songwriter Ole Borud, do it good. After a break of almost 5 years since his latest album "Stepping Up" (2014) he’s back on the level that he was on the “Keep Movin” album (2011). “Outside The Limit” is his brand new record where we can expect vibes from Pages, Jay Graydon, Steely Dan, Chicago, Steely Dan, etc… Westcoast / AOR / smooth funk at its best. It’s such a pleasure to hear in 2019 the influences of classic bands like Steely Dan, Pages, Jay Graydon, Chicago, etc, so tastefully blended in as a part of the extraordinarily original hybrid that only Ole Børud can create.
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5flgn5fnkK4
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FIRST STRIKE - Just Another Night (digitally remastered)
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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Formed by ex SAMSON lead singer Mick White with bassist Billy Kulke (ex Jagged Edge), guitarist Dee Dowling and drummer Dave Anderson - FIRST STRIKE recorded a dozen songs in a 4 years-period, from 1989 to 1992, but unfortunately these amazing tunes never had the chance to be properly released before.Musically-wise, FIRST STRIKE sounded more American than British, with songs that could easily be placed in the Hair Metal/Hard Rock-area of bands like Britny Fox, Autograph and Y&T, and other songs more in the Melodic Rock/AOR-style (a la early Bon Jovi, Night Ranger, Shy). Round 18 of the cult series "Lost UK Jewels", as usual incl. liner notes and strictly limited to 500 copies.
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1WdZAo-V4c&t=136s
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TIMOTHY LEWIS - Lost Angels (digitally remastered)
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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The “aficionados” of the genre will be well aware of Timothy Lewis for when he occupied the vocalist-seat as a part of cult AOR-act Departure. But what really shines on its own is Timothy’s solo stuff, previously recorded between 1997-1999, his original self-financed promo-CD featured eight tracks of the kind of AOR that dreams are made of, lush harmonies, incisive keyboards and amazing guitar solos in the vein of JOURNEY, STYX and BOSTON. Listening to his music, it’s pretty obvious that Timothy Lewis’s main influence comes from one man in particular: Steve Perry. This "Lost US Jewels" series release contains 9 bonus tracks plus the usual treatment (digitally remastered, liner notes, limited to 500 copies).
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iaf8vHHd0c
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SANTA CRUZ - Katharsis
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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“Changing Of Seasons“, the rough and pretty modern-sounding opener clearly marks the path of the album. Fans of recent H.E.A.T., ART NATION or REACH will be pleased, people digging classic melodic rock, which SANTA CRUZ played earlier on, too, on the other hand, should take a careful spin before buying. The video for “Testify““ provides a perfect first impression. „Katharsis“ seems to be a fresh start for the Finnish outfit around vocalist Archie Cruz.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf1UErfPdCs
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VISION DIVINE - When All The Heroes Are Dead
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A: 13,5 € |
B: 16 € |
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“When All The Heroes Are Dead“ ends a seven year hiatus. The Italian power and melodic metal band have reduced their progressive approach for the most part but still sophisticated and interesting structures can be found all over their song material. New vocalist Ivan Giannini is a true gain and fully delivers here. Songs like “The 26th Machine“ or “Fall From Grace“ are a very good proof for that.
MARTIN STARK
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9N_dUiRIv8
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JD MILLER - Afterglow
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A: 13,5 € |
B: 16 € |
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Danish outfit JD MILLER (alongside with DEGREED from Sweden) are somehow the top of what one could call AOR 2.0. Contemporary sounding AOR / melodic rock with awesome melodies and a powerful production which can easily compete with anybody. “Afterglow“ is free from fillers and basically sounds like an AOR version of EVERGREY. If they don’t make it with this excellent album, there must be something terribly wrong with the melodic scene. JD MILLER rocks!
MARTIN STARK
watch:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p3l_clopvU
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NEW RELEASES IN STOCK !
TOQUE - Never Enough (digi pack)
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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TOQUE (pronounced ‘Took’) is a renowned Canadian hard rock band known for their ’80s songs cover shows. Enlisted in the ranks of Toque are Todd Kerns & Brent Fitz – both of whom play in Slash Conspirators – along with Cory Churko (Shania Twain) and Shane Gaalaas (Michael Schenker, Yngwie). "Never Enough" contains the first including original material (the title track) plus delicious own versions of Canadian melodic rock classics from the likes of Harlequin, Red Rider, Headpins, Prism, Rush, Toronto, Streetheart, Bryan Adams or Nick Gilder. You can’t go wrong with TOQUE’s song selection and performances, all seasoned musicians and all recorded, mixed & produced with that classy ‘Canadian touch’. You’ll love this.
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28ZAlojM5Vs
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MICHAEL BORMANN'S JADED HEART - Feels Like Yesterday
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Off course, the band’s name is no coincidence. “Feels Like Yesterday“ by the former JADED HEART frontman is the album the current incarnation of the band would never put out because they developed into a totally different direction musically since they parted ways with BORMANN in 2004. But it’s this record that exactly satisfies the desire of old fans. Already the first single “Feel Like I’m Living“ impressively underlines this. Cool piece of music!
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_jJGvJT3mI
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DANGER ZONE - Don't Count On Heroes
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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DANGER ZONE from Italy started back in the day, in the glorious eighties, but now with their second album in three years, they go full force. You get melodic hard rock with a lot of AOR and some metal, too. It’s frontman Giacomo Gigantelli foremost, who fully delivers with his remarkable vocal range and the fact that there is basically no accent, is a huge surprise. Check out the energetic “Demon Or Saint“ or “Eternity“ with some QUEEN elements. Great record from Italy.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcKDa-ufMc8
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REXORIA - Ice Breaker
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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“Ice Breaker“, the second album of Swedish (melodic) heavy metal act around female vocalist Frida Ohlin is highly suitable for lovers of BATTLE BEAST or EDENBRIDGE and an improvement to their debut from 2018. Guesting on the album is Niklas Isfeldt (v, DREAM EVIL). Mostly fast and powerful tracks reign here but also the ballad “Endless Nights“ as well as the final song “Var Verklighet“, sound in Swedish, make an impression.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1bODdsoAPY
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JOHN HARV'S TWISTED MIND - Into The Asylum
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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STORMZONE vocalist JOHN HARV puts out his first solo effort. It’s a really good go-between melodic hard rock and heavy metal for the most part. Pretty personal and versatile, “Into The Asylum“ has got great songwriting and a great production. Style-wise not too far away from STORMZONE although melodies rule here a little bit more. The rather dark artwork is a bit misleading as most of the material is positive, at least musically. Highlight is the mighty “Tyrannosaur“.
MARTIN STARK
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-cRoYlwSxI
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PINK CREAM 69 - Pink Cream 69 +3 (digitally remastered)
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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This is the self-titled debut album by German melodic hard rock band “Pink Cream 69”, originally released in 1989. The line up features lead singer Andi Deris (who would later front power metal band “Helloween”), guitarist Alfred Koffler, drummer Kostas Zafiriou and bassist Denis Ward, currently amongst the top songwriters and producers in melodic rock/AOR. This self titled debut, uncovers a great deal of their musical talent that is so evident in the member’s latest works/projects. Overall “Pink Cream 69” should be regarded as a classic `80s melodic hard rock album. The sound quality on this re-issue from the Dutch company Music on CD has been clearly beef-up thanks to modern mastering transfer technology.
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo31tF3Kk0k
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GREGG ROLIE - Sonic Ranch
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Legendary singer-songwriter and keyboardist Gregg Rolie, who holds that rare distinction as a founding member and original lead vocalist of both SANTANA and JOURNEY, and who has also been a mainstay of RINGO STARR'S ALL-STARR BAND since 2012, demonstrates that he's at the top of his game with the release of "Sonic Ranch", his first feature-length studio album in 18 years. A wide range of Rolie's illustrious musician friends contributed to "Sonic Ranch" — among them are his onetime SANTANA mate Michael Shrieve on drums, as well as bass extraordinaire Alphonso Johnson and both guitar heroes Steve Lukather and Neal Schon. Produced by his son Sean Rolie this is a superb slice of classic rock stuff.
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3O8JwH_-nU
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CARL DIXON - Unbroken - 11/29
KEEN HUE - 11/29
ART NATION - 10/25
WORK OF ART - 11/08
PRETTY MAIDS - 11/08
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