THE Dead Daises - Make Some Noise (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock

Label - Spitfire Music (SPV)

Track listing:

01 - Long Way To Go
02 - We All Fall Down
03 - Song And A Prayer
04 - Mainline
05 - Make Some Noise
06 - Fortunate Son
07 - Last Time I Saw The Sun
08 - Mine All Mine
09 - How Does It Feel
10 - Freedom
11 - All The Same
12 - Join Together

Super-group THE DEAD DAISIES are back with a brand spanking new album titled "Make Some Noise", and boy does this album rock!
The band’s third album "Make Some Noise" reflects revolving door policy with regards to its members well as we have  Brian Tichy (Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner), David Lowy (Mink), John Corabi (Mötley Crüe, Union, The Scream) and Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake) all on board alongside the most recent addition of a guitar wizard Doug Aldrich, who is best known for his work with Whitesnake and Dio. To put it simply, this band bloody Rocks.
This album has everything, from all out rockers with a modern edge such as opening track, 'Long Way To Go' to 'Mainline' which adds a bit of rough bluesy flavour to the band’s sound with its unbelievable intensity and a generous dose of Doug Aldrich’s impeccable licks. 'We All Fall Down' is a thick, modern riff and feisty hook, a deliberate homage to the contemporary era rather than a throwback to the past. 'Song And A Prayer' is certainly more radio-friendly than its predecessor, its choruses somewhat Aerosmith-esque. The we have the title track, 'Make Some Noise' with its simple, but powerful drum beat and group chant of the album’s title track brings to mind the picture of a sea of fists pumping up in the air and fans chanting together with their idols. It’s the same primal power of Rock music that was captured and immortalized in dozens if not hundreds of songs prior to this one, such as Queen’s classic We Will Rock You. It’s thus no wonder such seasoned musicians as The Dead Daisies understand how seductive it remains, in spite of its simplicity. Also their approach to Creedence Clearwater’s Revival 'Fortunate Son' remains rather unsophisticated, their take on it being no drastic alteration in comparison to the original.
'Last Time I Saw the Sun', is a hit of a track that Cinderella should have written plus with a shot of Mötley Crüe – shaken, stirred, and distilled to hear over and over again.
No prisoners are taken with  'Mine All Mine', 'How Does It Feel', 'Freedom', all of them gritty, groovy pieces exceptional for their intensity. With the feistiness of 'All The Same' approaching, you can’t help but wonder if modern-day Aerosmith is still able to deliver such treats in the recording studio.
With a certain laid-back, live vibe to it, the final track 'Join Together' is a fine younger brother to 'Make Some Noise' and another staple in the band’s future set lists.

The band are as tight as fuck, the songs are brilliantly written and executed to perfection, but then again you wouldn't really expect anything else when you consider the pool of talent on display here!
One thing to note, I don't thing I've heard John Corabi sound this good since his days in The Scream and Motley Crue!

Very Highly recommended

Rating: 10/10

MAGNUM - On Christmas Day (2014)

Genre - Hard Rock / Melodic Rock

Label - Steamhammer / SPV

 

Track listing:

01 - On Christmas Day 2014 (radio edit) [4:13]
02 - Born To Be King 2014 [5:30]
03 - On Christmas Day 2014 [7:14]

British melodic hard rock legends MAGNUM are releasing tomorrow the EP “On Christmas Day” on Steamhammer / SPV. “On Christmas Day” is a 2014 re-recorded new version of the song which appeared on the original version of the 1994 album Rockart.
The single contains a long version of the song, a shorter radio edit and on top, a brand new version of “Born To Be King”.
“On Christmas Day” is about commemorating 100 years since Xmas Day 1914, when both the Germans and English called temporary truces so that they could mingle and play football matches in ‘no man’s land’ during World War 1.
Guitarist and songwriter Tony Clarkin reveals how it all happened; "It was Olly Hahn at SPV/Steamhammer who said if could I write a Christmas song? I replied we had already had done that in the past and told him about ‘On Christmas Day’ and that it was on the ‘Rockart’ album, so if he wanted to check that out to see if it was suitable, because it's not the normal Christmas song that people would expect.
I had not heard it myself for a long, long time. We were in Germany at the time and so we all sat round the computer to listen to the track; we were all impressed, and I was really looking forward to redoing it.
That's really the story of how it came about; but I also thought a new recording of "Born To Be King" (originally appeared on 1990’s Goodnight LA) could also fit with On Christmas Day as a strong B-side for the whole package!"
Bass player Alan Barrow, who created the single’s artwork, explains that the idea for the cover "was based on some documented facts about the men in the trenches around Christmas in 1914. Carol singing was said to have been heard going back and forth between the trenches from both sides.
Some documents state that on Christmas day a small amount of soldiers ventured in to ‘no mans land’ where they exchanged food, cigarettes and souvenirs. There are unconfirmed reports that a game of football was also played."
“On Christmas Day” precedes MAGNUM's another European Tour starting 23/11 in Switzerland
The digital version will be available worldwide (except UK) on November 14th, the 10″ vinyl version in Germany on November 14th and Europe (except UK) on November 17th.
Great Britain will have to wait until December 1st to see “On Christmas Day”, released on a 3-track MCD.
Rating - 9/10

ACE FREHLEY - Space Invader [Deluxe Edition] (2014)

Genre - Hard Rock

Label - Steamhammer (SPV)

Track listing:

01 - Space Invader

02 - Gimme a Feelin' (Radio Edit)

03 - I Wanna Hold You

04 - Change

05 - Toys

06 - Immortal Pleasures

07 - Inside the Vortex

08 - What Every Girl Wants

09 - Past the Milky Way

10 - Reckless

11 - The Joker

12 - Starship

13 - Space Invader (Radio Edit) [bonus track]

14 - Gimme a Feelin' (explicit version) [bonus track]

One of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s newest inductees, ACE FREHLEY, is unleashing a nugget of rock gold next week on August 19, entitled... “Space Invader”. Yes, not only the title and the album artwork has a nod to his KISS years, but so does the music inside, a little too much in place if I am honest.
The first thing you realise listening to the title track which opens the CD is that this could well be a track from Frehley’s legendary 1978 solo album. Despite or maybe because of all the space-age technology available, Ace you see is still stuck in a time warp, and this is the best thing about this album. It's pure late seventies / early eighties.
"Gimme A Feelin" that follows has that trademark bombastic riff, a rough but charming vocal and slightly awkward lyrics that were always a huge part of Frehley’s boyish charm. When you add to that a ‘could only be Ace’ solo it’s a track that’s ‘perfectly imperfect’ like all of Ace’s best numbers.
"I Wanna Hold You" is a cool track that gives Ace another card in his deck of tricks. The song has a playful melodic rock sensibility without losing the edge that his voice and guitar lend to virtually every track in his catalogue.
"Change" has a meaty riff that starts the track, but the chugging rhythm underneath the vocals adds depth and grit to the track that makes this a bit heavier than other tracks here without deviating from Ace’s signature sound.
"Toys" rides over a groovy bluesy riff that offset the chunky guitar parts in the verse. The vocals and lyrics are all Ace. The tempo and mood of this track remind me of the song 'Dolls' from his first post-Kiss solo disc, 1987′s Frehley’s Comet.
"Immortal Pleasures" is a different track from Ace standards that features a muted guitar line that adds depth to the song, especially once the vocals kick in and give the song an identity. "What Every Girls Wants" is a return to a sound and era for Ace. The feel of this track sounds like a riff he would have constructed in his formative Kiss years, while adding the experience of being a seasoned solo artist who has developed his own sound.
"Reckless" plays off of other tracks on this disc, while adding a playful vibe from earlier Frehley gems. This song helps tie pieces of Ace’s past with the present, and hopefully the future.

"Inside The Vortex" gives all Ace fans exactly what they are looking for: tight vocals and tighter guitars. The drumming and bass on this track are really hard rockin' without bringing the vibe of the song down. 

"Past The Milky Way" is reminiscent of his 1978 solo album, in that it breaks the mold of what is expected from him, but comes off as only an Ace Frehley track can. The chorus and bridges are chock full of guitar fire that duet nicely with his vocal. 

"The Joker" is an interesting take on the Steve Miller track. Although cut from different clothes, you see how adaptive Ace and his playing can be in creating his own spin on an all too familiar track without totally changing it.

"Starship" is a good instrumental from Frehley that brings all of the facets of this disc and his career together in a cool 7:00 opus. The use of effects and his playing harken back to 'Fractured Mirror' while updating that groove and feeling to 2014 with this song. The track is a bit heavier, but reminds us why we loved Ace in the first place.

This Deluxe Edition, apart from two very nice posters, includes two bonus tracks; a Radio Edit of "Space Invader" which I think has been slightly re-mixed, and a worthwhile 'Explicit Version' of the catchy single "Gimme a Feelin'".

Ace Frehley surprises with “Space Invader”: not only for the very classic songwriting but also for the production / sound, very vintage yet with a 2014 recording technique.

This album sounds, to my ears at least, much more like KISS Klassic than anything on Monster did. 

Space Ace has out KISSed KISS. He even got Ken Kelly, the guy who did the album art for Destroyer and Love Gun, to do the cover artwork. This may end up being the best KISS album KISS never recorded… hell, it may end up being the best KISS album since Revenge.

Anyway, forget comparisons to any bands Ace has been associated with in the past – a great record is a great record… and this is a great recording. 

With “Space Invader” Ace has outdone himself and proven to the world once again why he has influenced guitar players and that he is still relevant in 2014.

Highly Recommended.

Rating - 9/10

Magnum - Escape From The Shadow Garden (2014)

Genre - Hard Rock / Melodic Rock

Label - Steamhammer / SPV

Track listing:

01 - Live 'Til You Die

02 - Unwritten Sacrifice

03 - Falling For The Big Plan

04 - Crying In The Rain

05 - Too Many Clowns

06 - Midnight Angel

07 - The Art Of Compromise

08 - Don't Fall Asleep

09 - Wisdom's Had Its Day

10 - Burning River

11 - The Valley Of Tears

Legendary UK band MAGNUM return with a the brand new record - their 19th studio album - "Escape From The Shadow Garden". It is fair to say that with Magnum you will probably never get a naff album, and much has already been said about the essence of this awaited "Escape From The Shadow Garden", and I have to agree that, once again, this is a superb offering from a band who have certainly changed their sound from the old days. 

Whereas the Magnum of old were a cross between melodic and prog rock, Magnum post 2000 are a more guitar driven beast, and never more so than on this album.
"Escape From The Shadow Garden" is an album full of great melodic tunes and some serious heavy riffage, plenty of terrific songs and arrangements.
It seems that mastermind Tony Clarkin has rediscovered the fact that he is in actual fact a lead guitarist, and as such he is at liberty to deliver big, fat riffs (check out "Too Many Clowns" for evidence of this) and to rock out as much as he wants. Singer Bob Catley has changed too, with age giving him a rock growl that wasn’t evident when he was telling us a bout storytellers and vigilantes.
"Escape From The Shadow Garden" rocks, and rock hard straight to the point with a dramatic string section opening up the album on "Live ‘Till You Die". This gives way to a real classic sounding guitar riff from Clarkin where the legendary vocals of Catley soar over the top of.
This is a great start to the album, with lots of things going on held together by a fantastic rhythm section. There’s plenty of atmospheric keyboards adding drama to the proceedings and varied, different moments of awesome music within this one song alone; a superbly good start to the CD.
More keyboards kick things off for "Unwritten Sacrifice", with an emotive lead vocal that really builds a great story. Another awesome chorus is backed by great musicianship to give this song a lot of feeling, building a lot of tension throughout.
"Falling For The Big Plan" changes things up a bit with a nice piano melody layered with vocals. This is another awesome song, full of twists and turns and some more great atmosphere. An awesome solo serves to punctuate the whole thing too, featuring some nice melodic playing.
"Crying In The Rain" is perhaps the more elaborated cut, opening up with some cool bass and guitars playing off of each other before a powerful drum section enters the fray, with more killer vocals on top. A pot of harmonies and powerful chords power this song along before hitting the grooving main riff with one of my personal favourite choruses on the record.
"Too Many Clowns" is a bit more of a straight up rocker, with an old school bluesy main riff and a very appropriate lead vocal that shows off how dynamic this band really is.
A highlight, "Midnight Angel" has that heartfelt sincerity that could only have flowed from the pen of Tony Clarkin, who's skills as a songwriter mature like a wine of the very finest vintage. An intro full of classic sounds and a really great performance gives way to some powerful riffs later on. This is a nice long song, with great lyrics and a hell of a lot of different sections held together by really strong arrangements.
Solemn, melancholy and austere, "The Art of Compromise" continues in the tradition of Clarkin's songs having a story to tell, his words brought to life as only Catley can. "Wisdom's Had Its Day" combines power, pomp and melody and it all seems so effortless and yet, as every fan knows, Clarkin pours his heart and soul into writing every note and word.
"Burning River" and the aforementioned "Too Many Clowns" are the type of rock solid Magnum barn burners that their audience loves so well, blending chugging riffs and an insistent chorus set to a mid-tempo gallop. Both are melodic hard rock gems, like few in the business can do with this class.
And having been responsible for some of the most stirring power ballads of the last thirty-odd years it is hardly surprising that Clarkin can still come up with songs as emotional and moving as "Don't Fall Asleep" and the closing "The Valley of Tears", both of which deliver the enduring Magnum message of struggle, faith and perseverance in the face of adversity.
You can’t keep a good band down, and like any other good band Magnum just won’t lie down and take it easy. Nope, Bob Catley, Tony Clarkin et al are determined to plough on until we get bored of them, something that, thankfully, doesn’t look like happening anytime soon as "Escape From The Shadow Garden" is among the works of their career.
This new record is for Magnum fans, old and new alike, as good as they’ve ever been really, with plenty of great musicianship and a really nice classic yet modern sound. The production is fantastic as you’d expect from a band of Magnum’s stature. The mix is nice & clear and definitely loud enough too to enhance the terrific layers of guitar.
This is one of the albums of the years my fellow readers. Snatch it up as soon as possible, or ignore it at your own cost!
This to me is Magnum,s best album since 1990's Good Night LA!

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Rating - 10/10