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AOR HEAVEN ::: N E W S L E T T E R ::: 06/12/2019
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Howdy melodic rockers,
Back home from Heat festival and this year was indeed very special. It was the last Heat festival at the legendary Rockfabrik where everything started way back in 2005 with the United Forces Of Rock festival. Lots of great memories are connected with this cult arena !
If you not where there you have also missed a magical moment, cause Robert Tepper has simply delivered one of the finest performances ever which can be only described of pure magic.
Believe me, me and my friends had tears in our eyes by watching this awesome gig.
It makes me really proud to have him on my label and getting him over to the festival !!!
Last but not least – we do expect the new Cold Chisel by Wednesday this week and this will be the latest addition this side of Christmas. All other news due next year.
We’ll also add some more reduced titles later today which are only available at very limited quantities – first come, first serve.
Please don’t forget that we’ll close for our vacations
from December, the 20th, until January, the 6th.
wishing you a great week
Georg & Monika
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CARL DIXON - Unbroken
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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“Unbroken“ showcases CONEY HATCH frontman CARL DIXON in excellent shape. The new solo effort of the Canadian came into being in prolific and close collaboration with Robby Böbel (FRONTLINE, EVIDENCE ONE, PHANTOM 5) and offers eleven strong melodic rock songs that jump from hard rock to AOR at times. Self-deprecating and personal lyrics (“Nothing Lasts Forever“) and happy songs praising the good times (“Summer Time“) inclusive. The title track at the end of the record and the second to last “Keep The Faith“ are a good match, not only as a message. With Mark Santer (SANTERS) on drums ,who works with DIXON for many years, another Canadian rock veteran in on board. Canada rocks! But that’s yesterday’s news.
MARTIN STARK
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listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJIqg5pSHr4
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KEEN HUE - Heydays
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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Swedish band KEEN HUE have basically inactive for a long time and even longer when it comes to most original members. The songs of this new lifesign have been written between 1981 and 1989 but newly recorded and freshly produced. Nevertheless, “Heydays“ sounds like they have never really been away and all of that after 26 (!) years. Vocalist Lars-Åke "Plåtis" Nilsson delivers a convincing performance and sounds pretty versatile. This record is nothing but a travel in time. It’s a journey into the high times of melodic rock, the “Heydays“. Although not every single track has got he quality of e.g. “Fly Away Honey“ or “Crossfire“, not only these songs prove that fans of the genre can’t do wrong here.
MARTIN STARK
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listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUEA3MafNi4
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EXPECTED NEW RELEASES !!
COLD CHISEL - Blood Moon
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A: 15,5 € |
B: 18,5 € |
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"Blood Moon" is the ninth studio album by Australian rock icons COLD CHISEL and it's the band's first studio album since 2015's "Perfect Crime". Fittingly, the lead track is called "Getting The Band Back Together". It was written by the band's main songwriter and piano player, Don Walker and sees Ian Moss and Jimmy Barnes both on vocals. The album itself has a lot of songs that are darker than that, and a few quieter ones too, but all in the classic Cold Chisel style and if my memory serves me right it's the first album where Don Walker wrote all songs. Produced and mixed by the mighty Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Journey etc.) you can be sure to get a full dose of classic rock in perfection.
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jiu9eV5XXk
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ROBERT TEPPER - No Easy Way Out (digitally remastered)
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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Robert Tepper began his career as a staff writer in New York City, eventually uniting with singer Benny Mardones, writing, and playing bass. Along with Mardones, he co-wrote the classic 'Into The Night,' which became a big hit and earned a Grammy nomination in 1980. After parting company with Mardones, Tepper relocated to Los Angeles in the pursuit of his musical career eventually inking a deal with Scotti Brothers, this album followed being produced by award winning Joe Chicarelli (U2 etc). Songs like the title track (from“Rocky IV”) or “Angel Of The City” (“Cobra” soundtrack) are classic AOR tunes of the highest order and the album has more songs of this calibre to offer. A bonafide classic !
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOXaPE6gklI
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NEW RELEASES IN STOCK !
KING OF HEARTS - King Of Hearts
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Tommy Funderburk (v, AIRPLAY) and Bruce Gaitsch (g, u.a. RICHARD MARX) team up with e.g. CJ Vanston (keys, u.a. TOTO). The result is Westcoast meets Melodic Rock and everything is spiced with a great portion of THE EAGLES and STEELY DAN. Handmade, authentic music with a huge production and a remarkable range style-wise. Nowadays you don’t often get to hear this kind of organic sound. Hats off! Great record indeed!
MARTIN STARK
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Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNPmLsC8OEs&list=OLAK5uy_lmZHToqCWRUVACYe7AVEBwzfJdcleyU4U&index=2&t=0s
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LOVEKILLERS feat. Tony Harnell - Lovekillers
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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LOVEKILLERS feat. TONY HARNELL (v, ex TNT) want to continue the spirit of the (unfortunately terminated) collaboration of the American singer and the Norwegian melodic rockers TNT which means huge melodies and the typical eighties melodic rock sound. They actually very impressively manage for the most part - just listen to “Higher Again“. Alessandro Del Vecchio on keys and production which is absolute quality. Think of REVOLUTION SAINTS! Fantastic record!
MARTIN STARK
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHDs6yeO6kI
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HOUSE OF SHAKIRA - Radiocarbon
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Swedish outfit HOUSE OF SHAKIRA definitely is one of the very few relevant nineties melodic rock outfits which is underlined by their ninth release to date. Frontman Andreas Novak once again proves that he is one hell of a vocalist and the rather contemporary production might apply to fans of e.g. ECLIPSE or SANTA CRUZ as well. Check out “Delusion“ and “Falling Down“, both having irresistible hooks and great arrangements.
MARTIN STARK
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9MTfOsMT0M
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EDGE OF FOREVER - Native Soul
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Italian melodic rock/hard rock outfit EDGE OF FOREVER around Alessandro Del Vecchio (v/keys, REVOLUTION SAINTS, HARDLINE) which goes back to 2002 and therefore basically marks the beginning of Del Vecchio’s career. “Native Soul“ is a strong contender for fans of WHITESNAKE or THUNDER but also HOUSE OF LORDS. Especially Aldo Lonobile on guitars does a really good job here.
MARTIN STARK
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T68gI_SUiNU
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CRYSTAL EYES - Starbourne Traveler
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A: 13,5 € |
B: 16 € |
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Power metal outfit CRYSTAL EYES from Sweden as always fully deliver on their eighth record. There are mid-tempo tracks („Paradise Powerlord“) or faster tracks like “Extreme Paranoia“. It’s a cool hybrid of let’s say FREEDOM CALL and GRAVE DIGGER. Comes with lots of anthems and a remarkable and quite powerful production, too. Check out the melodic title track or the strong ballad “In The Empire Of The Saints“!
MARTIN STARK
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDGJhoB7ACM
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THE MURDER OF MY SWEET - Brave Tin World
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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The band around Angelica Rylin (v) and Daniel Flores (d, FIND ME) walks new grounds on their fifth record. Whereas the last two outputs were rather epic concept records, this time the Swedes focus on more song-orientated material. You get melodic metal with lots of AOR / melodic rock. There are also slices of pop, gothic and classic metal in the sound of the band which actually makes them pretty unique. Amazing songwriting is the icing on the cake. Fantastic record!
MARTIN STARK
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L4oCz34nPg
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A NEW TOMORROW - Universe
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Modern rock from London/England with engery-driven sound. “Universe“ starts pretty well but towards the end the song- material definitely weakens which prevents a higher rating here. Also the sound which is at times reminiscent of ALTER BRIDGE or even FOO FIGHTERS might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Not a bad record but one of the rather unusual Frontiers outputs, for sure. Listen first!
MARTIN STARK
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_rnqsdB50g
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HUMAN FORTRESS - The Reign Of Gold
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A: 13,5 € |
B: 16 € |
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Power metal from Hannover/Germany going strong for six albums by now. The North Germans and their Brazilian vocalist Gus Monsanto deliver once again, with Tommy Newton (HELLOWEEN) on board who was in charge of recordings and mix. As usual there are some folk elements in the sound and the ten tracks range from ballad-like songs (“Shining Light“) to melodic metal gems (“Thunder“) to heavy metal songs (“Legion Of The Damned“).
MARTIN STARK
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBZ_FGly69o
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PRAYING MANTIS - Keep It Alive (CD + DVD)
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A: 14,5 € |
B: 17,5 € |
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British band PRAYING MANTIS seem be in very good shape recently. The band, foremost brothers Tino (g) and Chris (b), put out “Keep It Alive“, a gig recorded in Milan at Frontiers Rock Festival 2018. You get a short but stellar setlist covering old and brand-new material and an authentic sound that is not a hundred percent perfect - a fan of the British five-piece really can’t ask for much more.
MARTIN STARK
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2snQoVcUjE
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AOR HEAVEN
CHRISTMAS SALE !!
As usual strictly based on a first come,
first serve basis !
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AUTUMN’S CHILD - 01/31
THE RAGGED SAINTS - 01/31
EASY ACTION (re-issue) - 01/31
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