Place Vendome - Close To The Sun (2017)

AOR is always an interesting genre to listen. The genre mostly built up on rich melodic elements, played on mid-tempo setup. There is actually a typical AOR tempo, which is not so fast but just enough. The music is usually full of spirit, fit well into movie scenes also. Michael Kiske happened to be in one of this AOR based band. Place Vendome is unique project where bassist of Pink Cream spend his alternate world creating AOR album. In this Place Vendome exactly, Michael Kiske is the lead vocal assigned by Dennis Ward. They already produced at least four studio albums so far. Close To The Sun is their latest, as their most previous is Thunder In The Distance released in 2013 with Streets of Fire and Place Vendome earlier. See, even the album titles are fanciful phrases.

Close To The Sun is the same title for the opening song. It is quite a heavy one. Melodic intro in full force are our entrance to this song. One must admit that Michael Kiske's melancholic voices is just naturally fit into this genre. The song went smoothly for long time listener, thus if you already get to know Place Vendome on their previous albums, this one sounds exactly as one of their collections. In this album, the band invited several guest guitarists, just to take up the solos. Uwe  Reitenauer is the first soloist, he is kind of "resident" guitarist as he is played in Pink Cream also. The second song is rather trivial, "Welcome To The Edge". The thing is, the chosen vocal style may take us off the guard. Just listen to the thick bass voice that open the song. Even so, the song itself is a direct continuation to the first song. A typical AOR with interesting choice of singing.

"Hereafter" is enpowered with bit of progressive metal taste. The guitarist in lead is Simone Mularoni of DGM, a progressive metal band indeed. We will then calm the storm for a while with piano ballad "Strong". Immediately after that, we back to business with "Across The Times". The intro is excellent, as if the band is never lack a powerful melody. "Riding The Ghost" is based on hard rock guitar riff. On "Light Before The Dark" a long intro brings us to the next fantasy world. This is one of my favorite on this package, well writing structure with elements of neo-classical solos by Gus G.

There is also a point in the album where things taken slower, as in "Breathing" and "Yesterday Is Gone". A power ballad with lot of character singings inside. On the last part, is "Hellen", a very vintage '80s AOR feel song.

Overall, Close To The Sun is very well written album. Though I enjoy Place Vendome very first album the most, this one may be called the second best of their discography. One thing need to caution, Close To The Sun is much more heavy, more metal than before. The addition of guest soloist could be the reason, they brutalize the song a lot. It's nice to see the band keep the quality consistent for each albums. Lastly, the two other members also deserved praises, Gunter Werno is imaginative keys player. While the drummer, Dirk Bruinenberg is doing his second Place Vendome album and successfully integrated. On top of those, this album is strongly attribute to Michael Kiske appearances.

Place Vendome - Close To The Sun (2017)
Buy it Here - Amazon

1. Close To The Sun (4:32)
2. Welcome To The Edge (4:30)
3. Hereafter (4:26)
4. Strong (4:49)
5. Across The Times (4:51)
6. Riding The Ghost (3:57)
7. Light Before The Dark (4:11)
8. Falling Star (4:50)
9. Breathing (4:43)
10. Yesterday Is Gone (4:33)
11. Helen (5:00)
12. Distant Skies (5:28)
13. Strong (Orchestral Version) (Japan Bonus Track) (3:19)

Michael Kiske - Vocals
Dennis Ward - Bass, Rhythm Guitars
Uwe Reitenauer - Rhythm Guitars in "Welcome To The Edge", "Across The Times", "Close To The Sun", "Hearafter"
Gunter Werno - Keyboards
Dirk Bruinenberg - Drums
Guitar Solos :
Michael Klein on "Yesterday Is Gone", "Distant Skies", "Strong", "Breathing".
Uwe Reitenauer on "Close To the Sun"
Alfred Koffler on "Welcome To The Edge"
Magnus Karlsson on "Falling Star"
Gus G. on "Light Beyond The Dark"
Simone Mularoni on "Hearafter"
Mandy Meyer on "Helen"
Kai Hansen on "Riding The Ghost" and "Across The Times"

Produced by Dennis Ward

Place Vendome Close To The Sun album review

Neal Schon - So U (2014)

"So U" is the new album by Journey guitarist Neal Schon. Instead of pulling instrumental album, as this one, Neal would like to show off some of his song writing skills and also vocal power. A little let down for instrumental lovers, although there are two non vocal tracks on the album as consolidation. This album also head titled as Neal Schon featuring Marco & Castronovo. Two veteran musicians that specialized in session works.

Out of expected, the style of "So U" is not so Journey, it is more basic hard rock in general. The first track "Take A Ride" is a fresh bluesy guitar driven hard rock , wholly belong to '80s scene. With "So U", Neal try a long composition with greater complexity, reminding of Genesis and Toto. "Exotica" is the most interesting track, an instrumental composition in a scale that kind of New Age-ish, but then it is heavily improvised in bass and drumming. The only track that resembling well Journey may be on "Love Finds A Way", AoR feel ala Journey minus Steve Perry / Augeri Arnel Pireda power. "On My Way" saw the trio somehow find a way to have a great jam over a vocalized song, especially the catchy Dean Castronova's complex drum pattern. Not all song build on blues licks, "Serenity" is the song that break the ice, going more minor feel, more hair metal spirit. The album finished with the second most interesting song, yes the second instrumental works "Big Ocean", in which this has even more hypnotized power, slow and overwhelming sliding notes.

Interesting how the trio got to group together, surely a big potential on this super group. Even so, the three of them choose to composed something more down to earth, easy listening song. Do not under estimate the technical artistic on them, as heard in "Serenity", "So U", or "Exotica", these are excellent simple song yet powerful in music technical difficulty. All these veterans musician know how to balance things out between playing music and playing instrument. An excellent works for those looking for quality easy listening rock album.

Favorite tracks: Exotica, Take A Ride, On My Way

Metal Harem class: ********* eight stars out of ten

Buy it Here - Amazon

Neal Schon - So U (2014) 

01. Take A Ride
02. So U
03. Exotica
04. What You Want
05. Love Finds A Way
06. On My Way
07. Serenity
08. Shelter
09. Big Ocean

Line Up:
Neal Schon (Journey) - vocals, guitar
Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy) - bass, vocals
Deen Castronovo (Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Vai, Hardline) - drums, vocals

Brother Firetribe - Diamond In The Firepit (2014)

I must say this: Heart Full of Fire is my favorite AoR metal album. It was so good that I can keep listen and lamented why they didn't do this more. My lamentation is now ended. Brother Firetribe is firing their third albums. Diamond In The Firepit, six years after their second masterpiece. Will there any possibility that this album keep up the spirit from their 'past'? The answer is pretty much rounded, Heart Full of Fire is still their best, but this new album is a good call.

For Better or for Worse is the first awesome song you'll found. This song is a direct sequel to their previous sound. Among this group is the opener, Love's Not Enough, then the 2nd track Far Away from Love. Then we can jump to Trail of Tears, to have that minor melodic feel again. In the between, we got a mix between softer song, Desperately, hard rock feel in Edge Of Forever, then yet another slow tempo song in Hanging by a Thread. Obviously after six years, the band changed a lot. Winner Takes It All is pretty awesome guitar driven hard rock song, but yet it is no Brother Firetribe as I impressed from their second album.

The first impression is, Diamond... is a slow down compared to H.F.o.F. The energetic AoR beat in their previous masterpiece album is pretty much scale down in Diamond In The Firepit. Their sounds however, which characterized by harmonized singing between Pekka Ansio Heino and the backing vocals, is pretty much preserves. This alone continue to be their great asset. It also seems that Emppu Vuorinen played more guitars compared to H.F.o.F. In that case, the keyboard portion is being taken. Diamond In The Firepit gives us total AoR driven, highly melodic metal songs. It is not as phenomenal as Heart Full of Fire, but still has enough sting worth listening. Coincidentally, the timing of this releasegives the two Nightwish members releasing solos, as Tuomas has also getting high on their solo album.

Favorite tracks: For Better or for Worse, Trail of Tears, Winner Takes It All

Metal Harem class: ********+  seven+ stars out of ten

Buy it Here - Amazon

Brother Firetribe - Diamond In The Firepit (2014)

1. Intro
2. Love’s Not Enough
3. Far Away from Love
4. For Better or for Worse
5. Desperately
6. Edge Of Forever
7. Hanging by a Thread
8. Trail of Tears
9. Winner Takes It All
10. Tired of Dreaming
11. Reality Bites
12. Close To the Bone

Pekka Ansio Heino – Lead Vocals
Emppu Vuorinen – Lead Guitar
Tomppa Nikulainen – Keyboards
Jason Flinck – Bass / Vocals
Kalle Torniainen – Drums
Record Label: Spinefarm Records

Pretty Maids - Louder Than Ever (2014)

More than thirty years in melodic rock, Pretty Maids is Louder Than Ever for sure. In this album, the band seems higher spirit than ever, releasing a nostalgic re-recorded hit songs, altogether with bonus of four new songs. The band just passed their 30th anniversary and I really like their 2013 album called Motherland. The idea of this album was to re-recorded their prime hits from the past, re-arranged and re-touch with the current formation. On overall, Louder Than Ever stay honest to the title, this album is literally louder than their previous one.

Deranged as the first track is a new song. It's open with a distance, background surround effects of guitar riffs, then lead into slower tempo as the verses attacks in. I like the middle bridge sections where the drum seems like just exploded with its double pedal variation at 01:20. Such a perfectly composed song with great structures, song and solos. My Soul To Take is a combination of modern hard rock but still has a touch of oldies ballad feel. This is rather simple song with explosive choruses. Nuclear Boomerang is a concept song with obvious theme. Supported with aggressive tempo, the song is well reflected the lyric contents. Finally the last new song is a sweet ballad called A Heart Without A Home.

Of the rerecorded tracks, Playing God is obviously a display of late '90s era riffs. Taken from "Planet Panic" (2002), this new version is more straight forward, but leaving out several unique sounds from the original. Psycho Time Bomb Planet Earth is now a track that got more feel of power metal. This is quite a fresh version of the one found in 1995 album Scream. He Who Never Lived is switch into '90s glam metal guitar works. This is by far the most faithful version to the original, except I may missing the bass line variations that stand out. Virtual Brutality is modern sounding track, with techy guitar sounds and synthesizer effects. The vocal is a bit tame from the influences of nu-metal feel compare to the original.

There are still much songs in the album. I love them all, the variety of styles in this album is just killer. This is a cultivation of their 30 years in practice. Pretty Maids simply still being the best in melodic metal / rock. Their ideas are still highly creative. The philosophy of all-styles give them a broad area of practice. Grab this fast.

Metal Harem class: ********** nine stars out of ten

Pretty Maids - Louder Than Ever (2014)
Buy it Here - Amazon

1. Deranged (New Song)
02. Playing God (Rerecorded)
03. Psycho Time Bomb Planet Earth (Rerecorded)
04. My Soul To Take (New Song)
05. He Who Never Lived (Rerecorded)
06. Virtual Brutality (Rerecorded)
07. Tortured Spirit (Rerecorded)
08. With These Eyes (Rerecorded)
09. Nuclear Boomerang (New Song)
10. Snakes In Eden (Rerecorded)
11. Wake Up To The Real World (Rerecorded)
12. A Heart Without A Home (New Song)

Ronnie Atkins – Vocals
Ken Hammer – Guitars
Morten Sandager – Keyboards
Rene Shades – Bass
Allan Tschicaja – Drums
Record Label: Frontiers Records

Silent Force Rising From Ashes 2013

The band behind this album with excellent graphic cover is Silent Force. They are assembly cast from Germany metal crowd. The frontman is now Michael Bormann, whom supported by co partner and founder guitarist Alex Beyrodt. For information, the previous singer in service was D.C. Cooper. Silent Force assembled somewhere in 2000 era, got about four albums in the past, with Rising From Ashes is just their fifth. The style is Germany melodic power metal, Michael the vocalist got that classic Scorpions plus Axel Rudi Pell voice timbre. With Alesandro Del Vecchio who is also strong in AOR music, overall the album is more AOR feel compared to what the band describe as, power metal.

Caught In Their Wicked Game open the album with a show of guitar blasting riffs. With vocal alike of Johnny Gioeli , I keep thinking this is Axel Rudi Pell in their harder sound. There Ain't No Justice is still with same sentimentil, the chorus with layered backing vocals remind us to Queensryche influenced. Circle Of Trust is strong AOR tempo and dictating drum pattern. Most of the song are collaboration of Alex Beyrodt and Alessandro Del Vecchio in creating interesting passage that memorable immediately. Especially on Before You Run and Turn Me Loose where the keyboard rule is dominant.

I am not sure why Silent Force got power metal category in most of review, but this album is pretty much melodic metal, or AOR metal, if such thing exist. Beside the two melodic controller, the bassist and the drummer create significant backing rhythm for each song, which I enjoy very much. If you like Pink Cream 69, Axel Rudi, Hardline, this album will be serves you enough excitement. At least the artwork album cover is a winning one.

Metal Harem class: ********* eight stars out of ten

Silent Force - Rising From Ashes (2013)
Buy it Here - Amazon

1. Caught In Their Wicked Game
2. There Ain't No Justice
3. Circle Of Trust
4. Living To Die
5. Before You Run
6. You Gotta Kick It
7. Turn Me Loose
8. Born To Be A Fighter
9. Anytime Anywhere
10. Kiss Of Death

Alex Beyrodt – Lead Guitar (Primal Fear, Voodoo Circle, Sinner, etc.)
Michael Bormann - Vocals (PowerWorld, Redrum etc)
Mat Sinner - Bass (Kiske / Somerville, Primal Fear, Sinner, Voodoo Circle)
Alessandro Del Vecchio - Keyboards
(Edge of Forever, Gianluca Ferro, Brunorock, Hardline, Moonstone Project, ex-Eden's Curse)
André Hilgers - Drums
(Lingua Mortis Orchestra, Rage, Sinner, ex-Ninja, ex-Nuclear Blast Allstars, ex-Axxis)

Record Label: AFM Records

Silent Force Rising From Ashes album review

Adrian Galysh - Tone Poet 2013

Adrian Galysh is instrumentalist from L.A, which guitar is his major mastery. I have been listen to him on Venusian Sunrise album, which is an all guitar instrumental album. It was a memorable one, well rounded with interesting composition, grooves and melodies. Tone Poet is his latest album. After almost years of online campaign, this album is well waited by Adrian's fans. It featured world class musicians, such as Mark Boals, Todd Sucherman (STYX), Philip Bynoe of Steve Vai fame and also drum expert Charlie Waymire. This also mean the album is not fully instrumental album, first half of the album is hard rock featuring Mark Boals on vocals.

If you read the review on Tone Poet online, you'll find almost all reviewer unisonical put this album on positive high mark, which easily to see the reason. Tone Poet is exactly what the album title suggested, it is a poems collection in a form of musics. The album did not gone into the mainstream guitar orientated hard rock album, with catchy riffs. In the opening, Resurrectis, we welcomed by neo-classical stuffs, but it is more 'complicated' than usual, with elements of exotic scales ala Marty Friedman, then full scale choruses as the accompaniment to Adrian's solos. It's rather theatrical, and something contrast to the next track, Brick By Brick, which is minor feel 'neo-classical-rock' in theme. Mark Boals voices is nevertheless remind us to remark his memorable voices in Yngwie Malmsteen era. In the track-by-track description, Adrian  recalled to have this song influenced by Reb Beach, hmmm.. interesting. Compositional wise this song quickly glued me on top concentration as the song is very interesting to follow, especially the middle break influenced in neo classical stuffs is somehow un-expected. When You Fall is a ballad, which Adrian usage of open tuning guitar resulted. The song has a strong musical effect to its lyric, the storm, the raindrop, you get the idea. Flying is growing more and more into the groove. The acoustic guitar riffs is catchy and we got to hear Mark Boals in different styles, hard rock. Well composed singing and music on this one. On Movie in My Mind the song is always on something un-resolved chord, which is surprisingly able to be converted into a song. Interesting one yet again. Luminae starts the second part of the album which is all instrumental from this point. Unlike what I recall in Venusian Sunrise, the rest of composition was highly in neo classical background. We got layer of choruses, timpani-like percussion, It is a prelude to the next 'movement', La Dolce Vita, which is technically starts to get difficult as described by Adrian in his track-by-track explanation, check the middle flamenco-style acoustic guitar solos. Tone Poet is kind of the climax, which is my favorite track. It is all acoustic, if you like Al Di Meola, Jesse Cook, set in thick Yanni neo classical orchestration, Tone Poet and the rest of the song is your stuff.

Tone Poet is a work of guitar artistic that rare found elsewhere. The styles combined is something un expected, hard rock, neo classical, latin, and new age. The album benefited from its collaborated musicians such as drummer Charlie in vocals tracks and Todd in the instrumental tracks, laying down correct back-up to Adrian odd compositions. As well bassist Phillip Bynoe on his contributed tracks. This is not your usual guitar shred album, it is not highlighting ultra fast shred, but one level higher, its composition is the superior stuffs. If Adrian can consistent in this specific style, he will gain more spaces in the crowd of guitar virtuoso, not just jump into the ocean of 'normal' shredder. Highly recommended.

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Adrian Galysh - Tone Poet 2013
Buy it Here - Amazon

1. Resurrectis  (2:28)
2. Brick By Brick  (5:42)
3. When You Fall  (5:17)
4. Flying  (5:17)
5. Movie in My Mind  (4:25)
6. Luminae  (3:42)
7. La Dolce Vita  (4:47)
8. Tone Poet  (3:44)
9. Epoch  (3:05)
10. Echoes of El Greco  (3:53)
11. Ur of the Chaldees  (6:12)
12. Spring (The Return)  (5:22)

Adrian Galysh: Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, and Programming
Charlie Waymire: Drums on tracks 2, 3, 4, 5
Philip Bynoe: Bass on tracks 4, 5, 8
Todd Sucherman: Drums on tracks 7, 8, 10, 11, 12
Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Royal Hunt, Uli Jon Roth)

Place Vendome - Thunder In The Distance (2013)

For many Michael Kiske projects, Place Vendome is kinda underrated. For me, Place Vendome was actually Kiske's project that I most favorite. This project started with part of Cream 69 members, creating a new AOR band with Kiske as the singer. Their first album self titled Place Vendome was a strong release, I like most of the songs there. Street of Fire was also good although not as original as the first one. So now, their 2013 album is Thunder In The Distance. I can tell you the album title itself already epic, not to say the cover art is well done. On this album, original drummer was step down and replaced by Dirk Bruinenberg.

Talk To Me is a strong AOR song. It is by far the best hit in this album with emotional flow of AOR feel. By the way, unlike other album with one composer creating song to be performed by several singers, Place Vendome's Thunder In  The Distance take the opposite. The song were composed by several notable song writer, then solely performed by Michael Kiske. Interesting. Because we can see how the song writer such as Alessandro Del Vecchio, Magnus Karlson or Timo Tolkki adjusted their writing to fit Michael Kiske's styles. This album also see more heavy tunes with thick synthesizer elements. Such as Broken Wings is intense and melodious. Lost In Paradise is interesting Timo Tolkki's song, the power metal feel is there and remind us to Revolution Renaissance's feel. In fact Michael Kiske participated in Timo's Avalon project just months prior. This song however best suit Michael Kiske with all its high pitch galore. It Can't Rain Forever is pop AOR tunes, actually a bit of too simple for Michael Kiske. Fragile Ground is further experimenting with easy listening verses, then goes into well connected choruses. Back to Alessandro Del Vecchio's songs, Hold Your Love and Never Too Late are catchy AOR tunes. Then there also contributing song by Magnus Karlsson in Breakout. Goes into standard '80s hard rock feel in the memory of Journey and Bad English. Thunder In The Distance closed the album with much more energetic AOR melody.

Part of the album consisted of modern synthesizer aided AOR tunes, while the other part is faithful oldies feel songs. Still it's melody is up to the standard of Place Vendome, but not much epic as their debut. Talk To Me is winning song here, while the rest come as enjoyable song.  Guitars and instrumental works are fantastic and they do hard to rise the standard for each song with amazing melodies. Good album to have, especially for the sake sole purpose of listening Michael Kiske singing.

Metal Harem class: ********* eight stars out of ten

Place Vendome - Thunder In The Distance (2013)
Buy it HERE - AMAZON

1. Talk To Me (4:03 Alessandro Del Vecchio)
2. Power Of Music (4:03 Alessandro Del Vecchio)
3. Broken Wings (4:20 Brett Jones)
4. Lost In Paradise (3:53 Timo Tolkki)
5. It Can't Rain Forever (4:05 Soren Kronqvist, Camilla Andersson, Thomas Vikstrom)
6. Fragile Ground (4:10 Brett Jones)
7. Hold Your Love (4:35 Alessandro Del Vecchio)
8. Never Too Late (3:30 Alessandro Del Vecchio)
9. Heaven Lost (4:40 Alessandro Del Vecchio, Carmine Martone)
10. My Heart Is Dying (3:07 Tommy Denander, Nina Soderqvis)
11. Breakout (4:34 Magnus Karlsson)
12. Maybe Tomorrow (4:24 Andrea Cantarelli & Roberto Tiranti)
13. Thunder In The Distance (4:20 Alessandro Del Vecchio)
14. Maybe Tomorrow (Orchestral Version) (Japan Bonus Track) (2:40)

    Michael Kiske - Vocals
    Dennis Ward - Bass guitar
    Uwe Reitenauer - Guitars
    Gunther Werno - Keyboards
    Dirk Bruinenberg - Drums

Songwriters:
Magnus Karlsson, Timo Tolkki (ex-Stratovarius), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline), Tommy Denander (Radioactive), Roberto Tiranti and Andrea Cantarelli (Labyrinth), Sören Kronqvist (Sunstorm) and Brett Jones.

Place Vendome Thunder in the Distance review

Airless - Changes 2013

Airless is a melodic rock act where members are from Spain and their music went as far as USA. They are not well known, yet, but it is time to come where their high musical talent will soon gain a reputation. My first contact to them was by last year's instrumental guitar album, by their own guitarist, Robert Rodrigo. With a guitarist as versatile as Robert, Airless proves a promising band to watch, they are also has so many surprises to dig. Changes is their 3rd studio album. It is so well crafted that I think this is one of the best AOR / Melodic Rock album I encountered for a long time, perhaps since Brother Firetribe's Heart Full of Fire.

Start Again is the first song, it is an AOR tunes something like old Journey. The vocals quickly make me fall in love for this band, the song got a good choruses to give a promising start for the rest of the tracks. I Don't Care showcase the keyboards / piano elements in this mid tempo tunes. The next song come in more attractive hard rock energy, Upstream is a classy '80 glam metal tunes. Guitar works is excellent especially the very technical solos Robert put in there. Dead Inside is again a tasty song with another direction, which is now more modern sounds, but still maintained that glam metal riff and the hard rock style vocal screaming. Changes is coming with very interesting guitar works, a perfect blend between instrumentation and the song writing. A classic feel in Rescue Me remind you a bit of early Bon Jovi's Runaway. Gone Too Far comes with darker lyric theme about humanity and its problems. We again been treated by a shredding guitar solos. The last tune is Latest Prophecy, which is the fastest double pedal tunes to close this excellent album.

The chemistry between all band members is the band's best asset. Not only the guitar works are very enjoyable, but the drums, bass and keyboards all giving their best to make this album shine. Changes gives a late '80s AOR and hard rock feel with highly creative song writing in each tracks. The album also got a good mix of song variation, from fast tunes, mid anthem, to a slow ballad. The singer has a good voice character and fit into the style very well. This is an AOR / Melodic Rock album that able to overcome every possible musical issues in the best way. Surprisingly underrated album from Airless, the band from Spain.

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Airless Changes 2013
BUY THE ALBUM HERE

01. Start Again
02. I Don't Care
03. Upstream
04. Dead Inside
05. Changes
06. Till The End Of Time
07. Rescue Me
08. Gone Too Far
09. Reach For You
10. Come Back Home
11. Latest Prophecy

Iñaki Lazcano: Vocals
Robert Rodrigo: Guitars
Miguel Manjon: Bass
Pako Marinez de Musitu: Drums

GUEST MUSICIANS:
Diego Rois: Keyboards
Danny Vaughn : Vocals on track 4.

Spain / USA Hard Rock band, Airless Changes album review

Pretty Maids - Motherland 2013

One thing for sure, fame is not equal to quality. Pretty Maids maybe the most underrated , under fame, among their kind. Producing high melodic rock / metal materials since thirty years ago, Pretty Maids never get the appreciation from wider audiences they deserves. Even so, that's seems never be a problem and the band consistently able to focus on the music and produced high end heavy metal mixed with AOR nuances.

On their thirteenth studio album, Motherland is thirteen songs consist of a mixed of the styles mentioned above. The opener track is Mother of All Lies, a rather furious melodic metal with straightforward riff, and memorable chorus. Sad To See You Suffer is the next point of interest, AOR ballad that really bring out the spirit of the '80s. Then we get Hooligan, this one is heavy and deep singing. Why So Serious? Is seriously strong composition of melodic metal with nice double pedal accent inside. Motherland is heaviest track to bring the curve of listening to the climax. One thing is the band cleverly use memorable lyric into the song, such as I See Ghosts is surely easily to follow. Who What Where When Why also such example, melody line in unusual scale then followed by simple 2/4 groove. Not to mentioned the other 'fillers' that will mostly serves as best song in most average band, such as To Fool A Nation, and The Iceman.

Pretty Maids extended their port folio with this album. When listening to this album we get the whole and full feeling. Thinking that the next track will be the better than previous one. The flow for each song is well maintained  Hard to find one better song to another since they are fairly equal in creativity and composition. Singer and long time member 'Ronnie Atkins' can sings in many mood and type of voices. His talent also bring into mainstream metal in the next Avantasia album, The Mystery of Time. Guitarist 'Ken Hammer' is experience enough to bring connected riff, licks and solos to each song, supported well by his band mates that handle the harmony parts. It is not sure whether Motherland will make them gain more fame than they previously has, but for one sure, these materials will remain hidden treasures, if you failed to discover Pretty Maids anytime now. Hardly an album that will let you down.

Metal Harem Class: ********** nine stars out of ten

Pretty Maids - Motherland 2013
buy it here Amazon

1. Mother Of All Lies
2. To Fool A Nation
3. Confession
4. The Iceman
5. Sad To See You Suffer
6. Hooligan
7. Infinity
8. Why So Serious?
9. Motherland
10. I See Ghosts
11. Bullet For You
12. Who What Where When Why
13. Wasted

Lineup:
Ronnie Atkins – Vocals
Ken Hammer – Guitars
Morten Sandager – Keyboards
Rene Shades – Bass
Allan Tschicaja – Drums
Record Label: Frontiers Records

Pretty Maids album Motherland review

Pink Cream 69 - Ceremonial 2013

Although we have the last Pink Cream 69 album say about six years ago, but actually we got their ‘variant’ along this years. Those side projects by Dennis Ward, also Uwe and Kosta, in Unisonic, Place Vendome, Sunstorm and others are considerable Pink Cream’s variations for its AoR and hard rock style in those bands. Definitely this lead us to expect something special from Dennis for his home band. The second busiest guys in the band is lead singer David Readman. He was neo classical metal singer in Adagio, but his current project was in Voodoo Circle. Ceremonials, as stated by Dennis himself, is a celebration of many styles that each band experiences over that hiatus years. This is also the first album to feature new member Chris Schmidt replacing Kosta Zafiriou. Chris, also worked together in Joe Lynn Turner’s Emotional Fire album from Sunstorm. Ceremonial still play around the AOR sounds with trademark power choruses in the same vibes as their previous works displayed.

After the opening track Land of Confusion which ethnical ceremonial rhythm composition, we got Wasted Years and Special, two truly AOR spirit tracks. Wasted Years is a crispy guitar riff with dictating bass line , a 1/16 hihat dancing to support this catchy tune. Special gone a little minor feel melodic intro, again replied by groovy bass line by Dennis. Jump to the middle of album we got hard rocker, Welcome to the Jungle riff in Big Machine. I Come to Rock is naturally our next point of interest based on the title alone. The variety of modern rock tunes is display in The Tide, a normal and standard AOR formula that can recycled thousand times by PC69 to make us feeling ‘80s. They can go as ‘alternative’ as in Right From Wrong. They also inserted Passage Of Time a ballad with a nice guitar work as accompanying.

We still got the Pink Cream 69 that goose bumps us with their melanchony AOR stuff. Plus a half of creative improvisation on rather modern stuff as well. The quintet need no praising of their musical skills. Many notes are exactly executed as demand by the song’s composition, thus making the melody line become more sweet, more vintages. Dennis Ward works in Pink Cream didn’t affected by his busy outside jobs. Instead we can be guaranteed he still got enough melody for his own kitchen. Pleasing album with spiritual AOR inside, especially Wasted Years and Special in the beginning of the album. Trivially, ex PC69 singer Andi Derris also released his outcome via Helloween's Straight Out of Hell just a week prior.

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Pink Cream 69 – Ceremonial 2013
Buy it here

1. Land Of Confusion (4:41)
2. Wasted Years (3:56)
3. Special (4:03)
4. Find Your Soul (3:43)
5. The Tide (4:15)
6. Big Machine (4:02)
7. Let The Thunder Roll (3:40)
8. Right From Wrong (3:35)
9. Passage Of Time (4:29)
10. I Came To Rock (4:32)
11. King For One Day (4:08)
12. Superman (4:35)

David Readman - Vocals
Alfred Koffler - Guitars
Uwe Reitenauer - Guitars
Dennis Ward - Bass
Chris Schmidt - Drums

Hartmann Balance 2012

Seems like every maestro of AOR are all out this year for a masterpiece album. This month we received Oliver Hartmann with his newest, Balance. This is pure AOR and Melodic Rock album. Hartmann is ex singer of At Vance and frequent guest singer at many notable project, as in Avantasia, Aina and Daniele Liverani’s Genius. So, expect a top notch voice for this promising album before you even heard it.

The standard arena / on stage feel intro fill All My Life opens our fancy album. This is the standard AOR song, the verse serves well to the explosions of chorus. Hartmann sing in the most inspirational voice here. We also quickly arrived at second song, Like A River which is starts as mellow rock verse then developed into memorable Like A River chorus. You Are The One is the running bass and moderate tempo.
In the middle parts is Save Me, a very 80s guitar melodic intro. Then From A Star started the slow section of the album. The song more fill with variations over rock and AOR theme such as acoustic, country, soul style put in.

Together his band, Oliver Hartmann write most of the songs here. The first section are intended to get heavy and rock. Notable is producer Sascha Paeth. This is more an AOR album with several general style put in as a bonus. If you love strong voice over the rock song, Oliver Hartmann have this kind of magic to let you enjoy this album without much worry.

Hartmann - Balance 2012
buy it here

01. All My Life
02. Like a River
03. You are the One
04. Fool for You
05. After the love has Gone
06. Save Me
07. Fall from Grace
08. From a Star
09. Dance on the Wire
10. Shout
11. Time to face the Truth
12. The Best is yet to Come

Dario Ciccioni  Drums
Oliver Hartmann Vocals
Armin Donderer Bass
Jürgen Wüst Keyboards
Mario Reck Guitars

All songs written by Oliver Hartmann except "Like A River" and "From A Star" written by Armin Donderer and "Shout" written by Roland Orzabal & Ian Stanley

Produced by Oliver Hartmann
Mixed by Sascha Paeth
Mastered by Simon Oberender

Additional musicians :
Jürgen Wüst : Keyboards on "Fall From Grace"
Xaver Fischer : Keyboards on "After The Love Is Gone"
Tiffany Kirkland : Backing Vocals

Hartmann Photography composition base cover art album

Hardline Danger Zone 2012

Hardline is the 90s band that mostly famous as the side project of Neil Schon outside the giant Journey and Bad English. Their classic debut, Double Eclipse captured much the spirit of AOR from the era. Twenty year after, Hardline now remain singer Johnny Gioeli as original member. The band also less superstar as any previous formation, instead now support by lesser famous talents from Europe. This new album, called Danger Zone now under the shadow of Axel Rudi Pell because Johnny Gioeli is close association to this band for years.

Hardline try to capture back the spirit of AOR, the two first tracks Fever Dreams and 10000 Reasons really pulled us back to that era. The choruses also remind me of Axel, the different is, in Hardline the present of AOR keyboard are dominant. The next song luckily can escape from this syndrome, Danger Zone and What I'd Like is a showcase on how Johnny sing something different from his Axel job. Much even further is ballad Stronger Than Me, give us a very enjoyable medium to enjoy another dimension of the singer's voice. I also enjoy very much Never Too Late For Love, as well Stay which gives me that nostalgic mellow AOR we missed. We then jump to Show Me Your Love, a high spirit chorus driven song.

The album display no low point on its twelve tracks. Beside the first two songs, Johnny and team delivered an emotional AOR materials that close to our nostalgic '80 era. Guitarist shredder Thorsten Koehne bring each song careful lead and rhythm, although the lead solo sometimes too short, it is mixed with the song nicely. We also have keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio that dictate the overall nuance to become emotional AOR spirit. Drummer Francesco Jovino and female bassist Anna Portalupi completed the formation. This is high point of this year AOR album.

Metalharem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Hardline Danger Zone 2012
buy it here

1. Fever Dreams
2. 10000 Reasons
3. Danger Zone
4. What I'd Like
5. Stronger Than Me
6. Never Too Late For Love
7. Stay
8. I Don't Wanna Break Away
9. Look At You Now
10. Please Have Faith In Me
11. Show Me Your Love
12. The Only One

Johnny Gioeli - Lead Vocals
Thorsten Koehne - Lead Guitar
Alessandro Del Vecchio -Keyboards
Anna Portalupi -Bass
Francesco Jovino - Drums

Asia XXX 2012

Supergroup and veteran melodic rock band, Asia is now joins us for the 80s band resurrection wave. Asia released an emotional commemorate album titled XXX. XXX is an album to marked their debut album, thirty years ago. Beating all the odds, its hard to believe we still having the same music from Asia as it is from the 80s.

To get more background story, this is a production from the original Asia line up, Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and John Wetton. This is their third reunion album. There is another band with a gimmick Asia Featuring John Payne with Guthrie Govan and then Bruce Bouillet as guitarist on board. Asia is one of the band that crossing road with so many musicians and guitarist, understandably that will need two bands to continue their legacy.

The album itself contents many original tunes from expected Asia. Tomorrow The World is enjoyable opening immediately raise the nostalgic Asia memories in its melancholy minor song. Bury Me in Willow demonstrated rock tune with very less distortion guitar, only galloping bass and drumming. No Religion is the classic V#-VI#-I riff. Then Faithful is best in progressive and groove, captured many memories 80s sounds. Face in the Bridge try to be that radio friendly AOR song. The catchy last tune is Judas followed by Reno (Silver and Gold).

Songs put in this album is very consistent in unity of sounds and styles. Singer John Wetton carried each songs in his most comfortable range of voice. Rarely went into too high pitches as in 80s sopranic voice, but stay strong mostly in middle and bass range. Guitarist Howe and keyboardist Downess play in parallel and performed dueling solos most of time without overdone the job. The bass and drums creatively create intrigue grooves and bass line. This is a very enjoyable rock with light progressive and melodious song line. Come get this album for all melodic rock fans.

Metalharem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Asia XXX - 2012

buy it here

1. Tomorrow The World (6:47)
2. Bury Me In Willow (6:01)
3. No Religion (6:36)
4. Faithful (5:37)
5. I Know How You Feel (4:53)
6. Face On The Bridge (5:59)
7. Al Gatto Nero (4:36)
8. Judas (4:43)
9. Ghost Of A Chance (4:21)

Total Time 49:23

- John Wetton / vocals and bass
- Geoff Downes / keyboards
- Steve Howe / guitars
- Carl Palmer / drums

Release date: June 29th in Europe and July 3rd in North America
Label: Frontiers Records

The special edition have 2 bonus tracks:
- Reno (Silver And Gold)
- I Know How You Feel (Midnight Mix)

Asia's Cover Art that celebrate the debut album and year of dragon

 

Docker's Guild - The Mystic Technocracy (Season 1: The Age Of Ignorance) 2012

Docker's Guild The Mystic Technocracy review

If you like space rock opera, this is the real deal for this year. Docker's Guild is ambitious project of keyboardist composer Douglas R Docker. If the host name alien to you then the musician invited will do. The list are:

John Payne (Asia), Goran Edman, Tony Mills (TNT) and Amanda Somerville in lead/backing vocals.
Guthrie Govan, Jeff Watson (Night Ranger) in Guitars.
Gregg Bissonette, Magnus Jacobson, Drums.
Tony Franklin (Blue Murder) Bass.
Donald D. Docker: Alto and tenor sax, clarinet, spoken voice.
while Douglas himself maintained the keyboard and synth plus vocals work.

This is a very Asia, very AOR formation that end up in the progressive direction.The Mystic Technocracy Season 1 is in between Ayreon and Neal Morse' band. It is slightly less complicated than Ayreon and slightly hard rock than Neal Morse. In the website jargon itself Douglas mentioned “If you like TV series and 1930s serials like Babylon 5, Space 1999, Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, this is for you. If you like progressive rock bands like Yes, ELP and Dream Theater, AOR bands like Asia and Journey as well as Duran Duran, David Bowie, Jarre and The Rockets, this is also for you. If you have, like me, a healthy dislike of fundamentalism, and blind dogmatic faith, and spend lots of time wondering why so much pain and destruction can be generated by religions whose main goal is supposed to be love and compassion, then this is definitely for you”.

Singer John Payne welcome us to the future in song The Mystic Prophecy. Darwin's Tears is a very Neal Morse vocal line, I even think Neal maybe involved here. Two progressive tracks before we spend four minutes listening to Swedish(?) spoken ala Lulu in Norse Cosmology part 1. Luckily Norse Cosmology part 2 is the real deal rock song delivered by singer Tony Mills. The keyboard excellent riff also found in Judeo-Christian Cosmology song, Jeff Watson and Guthrie Govan sounds like duo from heaven. I suspect most of funky, wah wah rhythm was supplied by Guthrie while the solo take care mostly by Jeff. Legion of Aliens is AOR song beautifully sung by Goran Edman. Loving the Alien give the microphone back to John Payne. The Gem of Love highlight is their best harmony vocal so far and also the best keyboard solo-ing around.

Last part of the album consist of The Secret of DNA epic plus three stand alone songs. This is the medley continuous progressive world that thick layered by synth. It close the album with high feeling, leaving you almost can't believe how 78 minutes passed in this superior music. One thing to note again is the story and theme is about religion conflict, as obviously in the cover album. I think not very well suited the feeling of this music, perhaps that is more a doom or death metal area. This album should be about romantic story across the space and time zone.

All song follow the formula structure: signature keyboard riff plus excellent vocal writing. Many vocals work are top above the music. They are memorable, down to earth progressive song. The music is also didn't top the earth with complicated composition, the guitarist calmly follow the boss who guide them with his keyboard. It is all a matter of top class composition that able to give this album their most strength. It stay in the room where Star One, Ayreon maybe left in the space of radio friendly songs. Supporting rhythm section lead by world drummer Greg Bissonette nailed all the notes maneuver with excellent fill and pattern. You can check it in instrumental song Prophecy. This is also inform me how little I know about Douglas Docker on the scene. If not because Lion Records put a good effort in promoting this CD, I would probably passed this one. This is a top class AOR and progressive music of the year.

Metal Harem class: ******** 9 stars out of 10

Docker's Guild - The Mystic Technocracy Season 1 Age of Ignorance 2012
buy it here


01 A Matter Of Energy
02 The Mystic Technocracy
03 Darwin's Tears
04 Norse Cosmogony (Part 1)
05 Norse Cosmogony (Part 2)
06 Judeo-Christian Cosmogony
07 The Divine Comedy
08 Legion Of Aliens
09 Loving The Alien
10 The Gem Of Love
11 The Secret of DNA (Part 1)
12 Purple Orb
13 The Secret of DNA (Part 2)
14 Prophecy
15 Black Swans

Phenomena - Awakening (2012)

This time a supergroup from UK, already for formed from earlier '80 by a metal record producer Tom Galley. Each time Tom gathered high profile musicians from UK and nearby Europe to performed his composition. Phenomena produced several album in span of  '80 to '90 and the idea preserved until today. So here the latest offer from this supergroup. Despite its artistic cover album looks like a power metal tune but Awakening is simple an AOR album full of melodious traditional hard rock.

The first tracks defined the mood with its blistering anthemic drum intro. Tom Galley choose Lee Small, singer from SHY to performed this track called Smash It Up. Let's Smash It Up is the seller main chorus here, a great AOR tune to open the album. Soon we are into the album, catchy song recommended here are Gotta Move, Shake, and Fighter, these are thick in blues mood. Then there anomaly as Stand Up For Love is a lovely gospel chorus rock. On first listening the whole album somehow come into a pattern of great intro but the song writing sometimes didn't catch up. Going Away is the example here, the song is just somehow too generic. It is Ralf Scheepers from Primal Fear that performed this track. How Long is a great tune combining thick blues vocal.

All musician here performed well, the solo guitars are best in raising the mood and drumming also. Although with its many differ background, the album can be done in more diverse style rather than just blues rock. In other thought this is a best outlet to see how your favorite musician from other band performing this kind of music. But, Awakening is an album best to listen without higher expectation. It's simply a work of several artist with intention to give the best shoot in AOR atmosphere.

Metal Harem class: ******* 7 stars out of 10

Tom Galley's Phenomena - Awakening 2012
buy it here

01. Smash It Up (Lee Small on Vocals, Mat Sinner on Bass, Magnus Karlsson on Lead Guitars)
02. Reality (Toby Hitchcock on Vocals and Mike Slamer on Lead Guitars)
03. Homeland (Rob Moratti on Vocals and Martin Kronlund on all Guitars)
04. Going Away (James Christian Vocals and Tommy Denander Martin Kronlund on Guitars)
05. Gotta Move (Ralf Scheepers on Vocals and Christian Wolff & Tommy Denander on Guitars)
06. How Long (Lee Small on Vocals and Martin Kronlund on Guitars)
07. Shake (Mike DiMeo on Vocal and Martin Kronlund on Guitars)
08. Fighter (Terry Brock on Vocals and Steve Newman on Guitars)
09. Dancing Days (Niklas Swedentorp on Lead Vocals with all Coldspell members)
10. If You Believe (Chris Antblad with Gothenburg Choir)


Martin Kronlund: Guitars, and Bass
Tom Harlan: Guitars & Keyboards
Imre Daun: Drums.
Henrik Thomsen: bass
Per Aronson-Andersson: Hammond, keyboards
JAVA Gospel on "Stand up for love"

Additional Musicians:
Carl Anthony Wright - Guitars
Christian Wolff - Guitars
Tommy Denander - Guitars
Mike Slamer Guitars
Magnus Karlsson - Guitars
Mat Sinner - Bass
All COLDSPELL members
Steve Newman - Guitars and backing vocals
Fredrik Bergh - Keyboards on "Smash It Up" And "Gotta Move"

Phenomena Album Cover design with fantasy art theme

Tyketto - Dig in Deep 2012

For die hard fans of early '90s AOR and hard rock scene, Tyketto name should be included in their memory very well. This band from New York once hit high with their hits "Forever Young". However, again their music was boxed in favour to the grunge movement. This month, after we got Trixter come back, Tyketto also join the hype and succesfully recorded a new album , Dig in Deep.

Just like Trixter, Tyketto faithfully played the music what made up them, the hard rock and AOR. But rather than leaning to blues territory, Tyketto is also got country rock feel. The album started with Faithless and its opening riff we waiting for. The other highlight is The Fight Left in Me, a shred in intro but smoothly run into the same hard rock song we already get in every track. The rest are nostalgic country ballad couple with catchy hard rock songs, the example are the last track, This is How We Say Goodbye. Singer Danny Vaughn put in the great vocal for this style and the guitarist licks and solo all magnify the songs.

This album will bring you back to the '90s AOR scene. The entire album are solid hard rock music, put in a thick wild west feel with slide guitar and country like vocal line. If you never listen to Tyketto this album are recommended for you.

Metal Harem class: ******** 8 stars out of 10

Tyketto - Dig in Deep 2012 (Frontier)
buy it here

1. Faithless … 4:56

2. Love To Love … 4:24

3. Here’s Hoping It Hurts … 3:51

4. Battle Lines … 3:30

5. The Fight Left In Me … 4:56

6. Evaporate … 3:42

7. Monday … 4:02

8. Dig In Deep … 4:09

9. Sound Off … 3:06

10. Let This One Slide … 4:29

11. This Is How We Say Goodbye … 4:41

Danny Vaughn – Vocals

Brooke St. James – Guitars

Jimi Kennedy – Bass

Michael Clayton – Drums

Producer: Tyketto

Cover album artwork

Sunstorm Emotional Fire (2012)

Apparantly there is one more project by Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69) bassist other than Place Vendome and Unisonic. This time his hero is Joe Lynn Turner, of course the Joe from the Rainbow and Deep Purple. Sunstorm, is not a new project band, they has release two excellent album in the past. Emotional Fire is their third release, again in AOR spirit. Most of material on this album however based on Joe's back catalogue as a singer or backing singer. Which is very good all of them.

The vocal is out of discuss for its excellent vibe Joe Lynn Turner we got. Opening track title Never Give Up really lift up the mood of AOR, with its minor catchy riff intro. Joe also included arrangement of Michael Bolton Gina, which Joe sung as backing. This Gina song is my favorite track along with other girl Emily. The title track song Emotional Fire is from Cher hit.

What differed this from Unisonic is this is a more light mood AOR than Unisonic. More keyboard layering, more classic. This album will rise you a good mood for a day. It will bring us back to Journey years. Nice additional to our AOR catalog this year with Unisonic, Trixter and Jeff Scott Soto.

Metal Harem class: ******** 8 stars out of 10

Sunstorm - Emotional Fire (2012)
buy it here

1. Never Give Up
2. Emotional Fire
3. Lay Down Your Arms
4. You Wouldn’t Know Love
5. Wish You Were Here
6. Torn in Half
7. Gina
8. The Higher You Rise
9. Emily
10. Follow Your Heart
11. All I Am

Joe Lynn Turner (lead vocals)
Uwe Reitenauer (guitar)
Dennis Ward (bass, guitar, backing vocals)
Chris Schmidt (drums)
Justin Dakey (keyboard)

Photo cover art by Sunstorm

Unisonic - Unisonic 2012

This is a continuing collaboration supergroup between Michael Kiske and the Pink Cream 69 crews, to be precise Dennis Ward on bass and Kosta Zafiriou on drum. They were in a side project band called Place Vendome before. What make it different now is additional of guitarist Mandy Meyer (ex Krokus) and .... Kai Hansen. The genre of the band is again AOR type quite similar to Place Vendome. Additional of Kai Hansen do little in bringing back a power metal tune, instead Kai blend nicely into this melodic rock style. This is their first full length album because previously an EP had been released.

First song, Unisonic rise me little fear because Michael Kiske is, in my image, more a melancholy singer than a wild and "happy" rocker. So the chorus "Unison-ic!" is a little weird to me with Kiske. The second song is back on track with Kiske's Souls Alive. Recommended tracks are  Never Changed Me , King For A Day and I've Tried. There is no Helloween trace except a memory on Chameleon here, so fans of Hansen and Kiske expecting this feature should be retreat here. A solid melodious AOR album here.

Metal Harem class: ******* 7 stars out of 10

Unisonic - Unisonic 2012
buy it here

01. Unisonic
02. Souls Alive
03. Never Too Late
04. I've Tried
05. Star Rider
06. Never Change Me
07. Renegade
08. My Sanctuary
09. King For A Day
10. We Rise
11. No One Ever Sees Me
12. Over The Rainbow [bonus] [limited edition]



Line-up
Michael Kiske - vocals, guitar
Kai Hansen - guitars
Mandy Meyer - guitars
Kosta Zafiriou - drums
Dennis Ward - bass








Unisonic graphical art design

Trixter - New Audio Machine 2012

Wow... is this our missing love, Trixter? Is this the music we sacrificed to made a room for grunge? What did we eat back then? This is my first impression hearing back to this Trixter newest 2012 album. Back in the nineties, there were many acts of glam metal, from the super millionairess GN'R or Bon Jovi to the second layered Winger, Warrant, Firehouse and.... Trixter. Yes, how could we forget this band hailed from New Jersey. The road of glam metal wasn't very clear to them twenty years ago and after producing some really nice vibe with album Hear! (1990), Trixter called it quit in the mid of nineties, one of our best regard victims of alternative rock and grunge. And my last memory with Trixter was their contribution on OST album If Looks Could Kill.

So, when the news from Frontier Records and their social network confirm a 2012 album, I was mouthwatering to get what will they offer. On this reunion and emotional release, New Audio Machine we got nothing except the "WOW". Wow, because they simply continue what they left behind back then. The first track "Drag Me Down" is a simply blown away Southern Bluesy Hard Rock tune. There are simply followed by track like Get On It, Love Machine and Dirty Love, all songs that typically what we used to heard twenty years ago. This album are best in showing how good the crunchy guitar still sounds. Not to mentioned the superb on the game singer, Peter Loran. He sound simply classic here, just listen to track Physical Attraction.

There hard to pick which song stand out because they all on good quality. Best spot on AOR, Melodic rock or glam metal whatever to call it, my recommendations is Machine because of its classic intro, and the last track (European Bonus) Find A Memory which heavy and the last sign of them showing respond to 21st century AOR scene. Out of this, almost zero percent evidence that they need to compromise the music to this time. Outstanding melodic album, best glam metal we got yet again from veteran band this year.

Metal Harem class: ******** 8 stars out of 10

Trixter - New Audio Machine (2012)
buy it here

01. Drag Me Down
02. Get On It
03. Dirty Love
04. Machine
05. Live For The Day
06. Ride
07. Physical Attraction
08. Tattoos & Misery
09. The Coolest Thing
10. Save Your Soul
11. Walk With A Stranger
12. Find A Memory (European Bonus)

Peter Loran– lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Steve Brown– lead guitar, harmonica, backing vocals

P. J. Farley– bass guitar, backing vocals

Mark "Gus" Scott– drums, percussion, backing vocals 

Album graphic design

Jeff Scott Soto Damage Control 2012

Jeff Scott Soto Damage Control 2012

Jeff Scott Soto have been hired gun for the last decades. His most faithful project was in Swedish hard rock Talisman band. He was also voice of earlier Yngwie Malmsteen and Axel Rudi Pell. But for now, in his fifth solo album Damage Control, the vibes are an AOR album.

First opening is Give a Little More, a palm muting guitar riff starts the intro. Most of the songs are pure in AOR style. Expected many melodic guitars and vocal harmonies here. Look Inside Your Heart and Die A Little are recommendations here. BonaFide is a piano ballad that really shine with JSS vocal. Krazy World is a krazy guitar work and heavier tune. All the rest are up to standard melodic rock presented to us.

Many musicians join parts to support JSS new album, I paste the complete line up below. Notable is Joel Hoekstra of Night Ranger playing (Look Inside Your Heart). This is an album to being picked by all melodic rock lover, with many guitar style to be heard in between.

All Vocals: Jeff Scott Soto
Guitars: Gary Schutt, Jorge Salan, Diego Armelin, Rodrigo Armelin, Joel Hoekstra, Emo Markov, Dave Meniketti, Peter Pac Söderström, Alex Llorens, Roger Benet, Leo Mancini
Bass: Fernando Mainer, Nalley Påhlsson, Henrique Baboom, JSS
Keyboards: Fabio Ribiero, Ulf Wahlberg, BJ (Luis Paulo Almeida Jr)
Drums: Edu Cominato, Carlos Exposito, Casey Grillo, Mike Vanderhule, Jamie Borger, Joey Soto

Jeff Scott Soto - Damage Control 2012
buy the album HERE
Frontier Label

01. Give A Little More
02. Damage Control
03. Look Inside Your Heart
04. Die A Little
05. If I Never Let Her Go
06. Tears That I Cry
07. Bonafide
08. Krazy World
09. How To Love Again
10. Afterworld
11. Neverending War

graphic design of Damage Control album