King Company - One for the Road (2016)

Genre - Melodic Hard Rock

Label - Frontiers Music

Track listing:

1. One For The Road
2. Shining
3. In Wheels Of No Return
4. Coming Back To Life
5. No Man's Land
6. Farewell
7. Wings Of Love
8. Cast Away
9. Desire
10. Holding On
11. One Heart

12. Can't Let You Get Away (Bonus Track)

KING COMPANY are a  new melodic hard rock outfit from Finland, and "One For The Road" is their debut album, released via Frontiers Music. Formed barely two years ago, the band comprises of experienced musicians from the Scandinavian scene, most of whom coming from heavy metal bands.
Drummer Mirka 'Leka' Rantanen (Warmen, ex-Thunderstone, ex-Kotipelto, etc.) had been thinking about forming a new hard rock / melodic metal band for a long time. He wanted to play with people with whom he had worked before and whom he knew both as good musicians and considered friends.
First, he contacted guitarist Antti Wirman (Warmen), who immediately joined the project. Vocalist Pasi Rantanen, was in Mirka's mind from the beginning, as they had played together in a couple of bands before (Thunderstone, Warmen). After keyboardist Jari Pailamo (Kiuas, Ponies To Kill) and bassist Time Schleifer (Enfarce) joined the band, this 'supergroup' was ready to start working.
Broadening the King Company sound beyond classic hard rock, their music has a significant edge thanks to sharp riff's and bristling solos. Still, there's something more, a distinct underlying blues flavour shines through in many places, ala early Whitesnake. 'Shining', the melodic 'Desire', title track 'One For The Road', and 'No Man's Land' (which was the band's original name) are perfect examples of this. The latter song flows more like a hard rock anthem, yet steady almost smoldering like a fire grasping for more air, with vocalist, Pasi Rantanen sounding like the perfect cross of David Coverdale and Dee Snider! Also you can't discount the AOR factor in the bands tunes.
The songs are loaded to the brim with solid melody, good guitar and vocal harmony (Rantanen sings clean yet with a little rawness to his timbre), likable refrains, and catchy hooks. Just take the glorious 'Farewell' and 'One Heart', just two songs delivering that AOR momentum at the right place on the album, one in the middle, the other at the end, resulting in a perfect balance.

Well worth checking out

Rating: 9/10

King Company Are:

Pasi Rantanen (vocals)
Antti Wirman (guitars)
Jari Pailamo (keyboards)
Time Schleifer (bass)
Mirka Rantanen (drums)

O'REGAN - Polymorphic Tragedy (2016)

Genre - Hard Rock / Blues Rock / Melodic Rock

Label - Z Records.

Track listing:

01 - Unchain The Night
02 - Polymorphic Tragedy
03 - Welcome To The Real World
04 - Falling Sky
05 - Gabrielle
06 - All Of My Love
07 - Trial By Fire
08 - Long Way To Go
09 - Destiny
10 - Masquerade
11 - You Don't Know

One of the hardest working musicians from the melodic hard rock UK scene, Vince O'REGAN releases his third solo album "Polymorphic Tragedy". Again the guitarist has called some talented colleagues to contribute to the record published by Z Records. Vince O'Regan is an experienced British guitarist, who was  recently part of Legion - now disbanded but with a 'final album' to be released soon - and Coda (with Paul Sabu), but also he was also the co-founder of 90s cult melodic rock group Pulse and has been previously involved in bands such as Kooga (another cult AOR outift) and acclaimed Irish rockers No Sweat.Vince's big break came in the year 2000 when he was inducted into Magnum vocalist Bob Catley's band for the co-headlining tour with Ten.
Once again with the help of the great Eric Ragno contributing with keyboards and arrangements, this new O'Regan album features a raft of highly respected Melodic Hard Rock singers and friends. On the rhythm section there's Coda's band mates, the always reliable EJ Curse (bass) and Andy Pierce (drums).
But what makes this really interesting - apart from the good songs - are the lead vocalists, including Nick Workman (Vega), the always underrated and terrific Keith St. John (George Lynch, Burning Rain), Paul Sabu, long time friend Phil Vincent, and Danny Veras (Veras).
"Polymorphic Tragedy" blends together the style of O'Regan's two previous solo albums: the first one was pretty edgy melodic hard rock, the second album being much more in the AOR vein.
We have here the groovy 'Unchain The Night', 'Welcome To The Real World', the bouncy 'Trial By Fire', 'Masquerade', all strong melodic hard rockers. Title track 'Polymorphic Tragedy' is the heaviest track on the record (and one of the best) bordering hard rock. But all this is balanced by the  cool AOR numbers such as the really good 'Falling Sky' (very nice harmonies and clean guitars), the pumping 'Long Way To Go', the ultra-catchy and my favourite 'Destiny'  with plenty of keyboards, and the fine ballad 'Gabrielle' with its 'American' feel.
"Polymorphic Tragedy" is the most complete, varied, and I'd say, best O'Regan album to date. You have seriously well written & arranged songs here, very well played and performed by stupendous vocalists.


Highly Recommended

Rating: 9/10

Skintrade - Scarred For Life (2015)

Genre - Hard Rock

Label - AOR Heaven Records

Track listing:

01. Scarred For Life

02. Goodbye

03. Wide Awake

04. Lay With Me

05. Find A Way

06. Lovehate

07. Leave A Scar

08. Broken

09. Storm Will Come

10. 15 Minutes Gone

Fronted by great vocalist Matti Alfonzetti, SKINTRADE are quickly hitting back with their fourth studio record "Scarred For Life" released by AOR Heaven Records.
Following the more than adequate comeback album of last year these Swedes consistently deliver in the melodic hard rock genre - and this new CD is no different.
The 10 songs in "Scarred For Life" are infectious, energetic, and bubbling from a bluesy perspective while the vocal harmonies and delivery out of Matti Alfonzetti remains top class, as he has been ever since I first heard him all those years ago on the debut EP from defunct UK rockers Jagged Edge, moulding the best of David Coverdale and Eric Martin in shimmering grace and gritty textures.
You can expect certain songs to have a cross between the '80s Sunset Strip scene and a little bit of '90s alt hard rock edge like "Storm Will Come" and "Goodbye", especially in terms of the guitar tone Alfonzetti and fellow Skintrade guitarist Stefan Bergström choose to employ.
At other times the band choose to go for more of a simplified, stripped down groove arrangement, which for the case of "Lay With Me" emphasizes the entertaining musical interplay between guitarists and rhythm section, and allow Matti a chance to dig deeper into his natural bluesy, playful melodic register.
Occasionally throwback elements come into play, the main riff for "Leave a Scar" has a bit of Aerosmith meets Ratt going on, while Skintrade also tackle a left field cover with Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" that works - much more hard rock oriented while the spacey elements are given a heavier, guitar fused charge up.
These are bountiful times if you are a melodic hard rock fan - and Scandinavia seems to be hitting pay dirt when it comes to exemplary songwriting and performances while understanding the need for memorable hooks, melodies, and choruses.
Skintrade with their second go around aren't living on nostalgia - and "Scarred for Life" proves their desire to keep the genre potent and worthwhile in current times.

Very Highly Recommended

Rating - 9/10

ESTRELLA - We Will Go On (2015)

Genre - Hard Rock

 

Track listing:

 

01 - Here I Am
02 - Wheels Keep Turning
03 - We Will Go On
04 - This Heaven
05 - Hard To Get
06 - Reason
07 - Hold On
08 - Rock City
09 - Be There
10 - Undercover Lover
11 - My Own Way

After three years of waiting, the long awaited follow up to Scottish four-piece ESTRELLA stunning debut album is finally upon us.
Since the band's first album Come Out And Play way back in 2012, the boys from Thurso have played the UK from top to bottom alongside some of the biggest name’s in rock and they have amassed quite the following as a result as well as making a few trips across into Europe supporting the likes of Robin Beck and they’re just back from a lengthy tour with Enuff Z’Nuff.
Anyone familiar with the band’s previous album will have some idea what to expect but to borrow a greatly overused analogy, "We Will Go On" takes everything we know about the Estrella formula and turns it up to 11.
The new record has a nicely rocked up sound with a classic feel to it all. By 'classic feel' I mean classic rock feel a-la 1970s/1980s edges. On listening it’s not surprise that the band is being mentioned highly by the likes of Classic Rock magazine with 'Here I Am' (first single) awarded track of the week.
For people new to Estrella, their music is in the mould of Def Leppard, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Thunder, some Bon Jovi, and it’s nothing if not good fun.
And 'Here I Am' opens the album as well. From the very beginning with it’s 'na na na na na na' chorus you can tell it’s a real crowd pleaser. There are some great guitar elements and singer Paul Gunn has grown in stature and experience since the first CD. He reminds me often of Def Leppard's Joe Elliot, always enjoying himself but also a complete frontman, making sure everyone is having a good time.
Title track 'We Will Go On' is all about how much the band enjoy playing live and seeing the crowd enjoying themselves. It’s another song that comes across as a perfect live track.
'Reason' and 'This Heaven' are strong contender’s for being named best song on the album and are quite possibly the best tracks the band have penned to date. 'Reason' in particular could be amazingly realised in a cheesy '80s power ballad music video set in a dusty airfield with some strong wind effects and a setting sun before heading into a deserted aircraft hanger for the final chorus. Also, a mountain top solo wouldn’t go amiss!
A standout song for me is 'Hard to Get', where the guitars take on a fuzzier tone, and the melody is slower. Paul’s voice is given a chance to shine amongst some great solos and the rhythm section playing at the low end really come to the fore.
Special mention also to 'Rock City', a great classic rock track, and 'Be There', more of a ballad (akin Bon Jovi) and a total sing-a-long track.
Estrella, comprising brothers Paul, Luke and Nathan Gunn, and Leo McPherson have gone all out with this album, putting together a production team who have worked with some of the biggest names in the business, including pre-production and mastering by Pete Shoulder (The Union), Luke Morley (Thunder), and Pete Mayer (Rolling Stones) and production by Nick Brine (The Darkness, Thunder).

Highly Recommended!

Rating - 9/10

BOHEMIAN LIFESTYLE - Madame Libertanah (2015)

Genre - Hard Rock

 

Track listing:

 

01 - Libertanah
02 - Fool's Mask
03 - A Brighter Day
04 - Woodlands
05 - Coming Back Around
06 - Wake up Call
07 - Wayward Hearts
08 - Superman
09 - Third Longstreet Groove
10 - Horror Show
 

Hailing from Stockholm, BOHEMIAN LIFESTYLE have released some singles and an EP in the last two years, and now "Madame Libertanah" is their first full length album.
"Madame Libertanah" is 100% melodic hard rock energy throughout with contrasts in tempo and heaviness.
Their songs are contagious, traditionally structured and predictable in a way that is wholeheartedly gratifying. A combination of '90s loud melodic guitars, '80s energy and a bit of '70s glam.
Songs like "Libertánah" and "A Brighter Day" are really good old-fashioned power-pop gems with a rocking sound. Then "Fool’s Mask", is a more powerful and rhythmic track. The band’s frontman, Pontus Klas Viberg, has a very charismatic and characteristic voice, very clean and precise.
"Woodlands" and "Coming Back Around" are high-quality melodic hard rock tracks, then the harder "Superman" is guaranteed to satisfy you riff cravings.
The songs on "Madame Libertanah" have a certain staying power that you won't find with most artists in this genre. This is one of those recordings I feel crosses all boundaries in the world of rock music. 
Like other hard rocking European bands that have came before them, Bohemian Lifestyle know the power of a good riff, and this album is chock block full of enough to keep air guitarists around the world throwing the windmill shape until their arms are ready to fall out of their sockets.
Additionally, the guys provide hooky melodies and catchy choruses to keep your body moving.
"Madame Libertanah" is unapologetically radio-friendly melodic rock and a hell of a lot of fun. It's vibe is so contagious, it practically yanks you out of your seat and commands you to move.

Well worth checking out

Rating - 8/10

The Darker My Horizon - Acquiesce (2015)

Genre - Melodic Hard Rock 

Label - Winkelrant Records

 

Track listing:

 

01 - Closure
02 - Can't Stop the Rain
03 - Ok
04 - Summer Time
05 - Paradise
06 - There's Gotta Be
07 - I Can't Save You
08 - Such Is Life
09 - Perfect
10 - Gasoline & Opium
11 - The Road
12 - Afraid
13 - In the Dark
14 - Beware the Wolf
15 - Rest in Peace

THE DARKER MY HORIZON may be a new band from UK, but the guys involved are not newcomers at all into the scene: vocalist/guitarist Paul Stead and Mark Stephenson (guitar) are former members of the now disbanded Sacred Heart. Add to the line-up former Crimes Of Passion bassist Simon Fearn and experienced drummer Gavin Tester, and you have a combo of seasoned musicians here.
"Acquiesce" is the debut CD from The Darker My Horizon, a very welcomed band to the Melodic Hard Rock world.
One thing that is apparent with The Darker My Horizon is that although main songwriter Paul Stead has kept the melodic side of Sacred Heart, there is a distinctive edge to most to the songs on here.
Drawing their influences from modern arena bands like Hinder and classic hard rock artists such as Warrant or Bon Jovi, The Darker My Horizon bring you melody, power & catchy choruses.
You can hear a modern approach on some tracks, like the get up and go riffery of "Can't Stop The Rain", but most the material here waters from early '90s melodic hard rock.
Just check the instant, straight ahead melodic rock of "Summer Time" (title says it all) with a wonderful uplifting chorus perfect for airplay. Or "OK", a fun rocker with some Waltham on its infectious chorus.
There is even some classic '80s party rock in the shape of "Perfect", think Warrant meets the rocking side of early Winger!
Seriously, Paul Stead's vocals will remind you several times the late Jani Lane (Warrant).
"Rest In Peace" is an interesting one, with a synth arrangement and a catchy beat underpinning the song and a high end vocal. May surprise some listeners but adds more variation to the album with its coolness. The instrumental part melds synths and a few guitar solos to great effect.
The harder edge of The Darker My Horizon shows on "Gasoline & Opium" (loving the Zakk Wylde approved riff on this one), the sharp riffs of "There’s Gotta Be" - where melody meets hard rock resulting in a powerful melodic hard rock tune.
Then "The Road" is a clever song, starting quietly with a bass, percussion and synth before the full band kicks on the chorus. One of the album’s guitar solo highlights on this song.
There are a couple of ballads, pick of them is "In The Dark", with a reflective lyric and where the piano adds to the overall feel of the song.
 After seeing the name The Darker My Horizon on the CD cover I was expecting a 'metallic' band from this new venture by Paul Stead / Mark Stephenson, instead on their debut "Acquiesce" I found a powerful, kicking Melodic Hard Rock album.
Taking inspiration from bands which made the genre big at their time but with a potent & vibrant modern production, "Acquiesce" results damn catchy and melodic, plenty of substance.
If acts like 7th Heaven, Waltham, Degreed, Find Me, the great Dion Bayman, etc - that is bands with a strong late '80s / early '90 influences but a modern sound - are your thing, then The Darker My Horizon are right up your alley.

Well worth checking out!

Rating - 8/10

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

FAHRAN - Chasing Hours (2014)

Genre - Hard Rock / Heavy Metal

Label - Self Released

Track listing:

01 - Long Gone

02 - Take This City Alive

03 - A Thousand Nights

04 - I Heard A Joke Once

05 - Chasing Hours

06 - Cased In Steel

07 - You Could Be Mine

08 - Some Kind Of Family

09 - Are We Free

10 - Back To Me

11 - Prison

12 - Black Mirror

13 - Storms We Ride

FAHRAN were formed in Breaston, England, back in 2012 from the ashes of Toxic Federation. "Chasing Hours" is the band’s second release following on from their self-titled debut album and it sees the debut of new vocalist Matt Black and bassist Josh Ballantyne.
Reading the band’s bio it states that Fahran’s sound is like a combination of older stalwarts like Queen and Iron Maiden melded with modern rock akin Shinedown, Black Stone Cherry, etc. This is true perhaps on some guitar riffs, but Farham, thankfully, has a more classic hard rock foundation than I expected.
On listening to the first track "Long Gone", several things become clear: the band are as tight as a duck’s rear end, for a self-produced album both production and final mix are spot on, oh, and the band kick some serious ass.
The song starts with an almost early '90s Bon Jovi intro before you are hit in the face by a monster of a riff that makes you sit up and take notice. It is a strong constant throughout this album.
New singer Matt Black has a soulful voice which suits the music really well and over the 13 tracks included on the CD the musicianship is top notch. The double guitar work of Jake Graham and Chris Byrne (who incidentally produced the album) is excellent, this is where the Maiden influence is at its clearest.
Highlights are plentiful throughout the record with tracks like "Take This City Alive" and "I Heard A Joke Once" which are short, sharp rockers rubbing shoulders with "Prison" and "Back To Me" which are well constructed heavy numbers.
"A Thousand Nights" is a kick ass classic rock stormer: it sounds huge and it's blessed with strong lead vocals. On title track "Chasing Hours" the band show they are more than a one trick pony as they deliver something altogether much more soulful that is drenched in emotion.
Also different cuts are "Black Mirror" which starts with a bit of quiet bass noodling before running full pelt to the finale, and the rocking ballad "Storms We Ride" with great drumming from JR Windsor.
Why Fahran aren't yet signed to a label is beyond me. They have the songs and the talent to be the next big thing given the chance and the right opportunities.
All members - five young guys - are really good musicians. In my opinion they are wise beyond their age and definitely born a couple decades too late, because "Chasing Hours" at times have that '80s / '90s feel.
More than one track here would make a great backing to a montage scene on Rocky IV or Karate Kid 2, with a modern sound, yes, but the skeleton of the songs have that 'smell'. You know what I mean. Some songs as well bring to mind American melodic hard rockers Waltham.
The production on "Chasing Hours" is nothing sort of outstanding, it sounds absolutely massive, as an album like this needs and deserves.

Very Highly Recommended

Rating - 10/10

BERNIE MARSDEN - Shine (2014)

Genre - Hard Rock / Blues Rock / Melodic Rock

Label -

Track listing:

01. Linin' Track

02. Wedding Day

03. Walk Away

04. Kinda Wish She Would

05. Ladyfriend

06. Trouble

07. Who Do We Think We Are?

08. Bad Blood

09. Shine

10. Dragonfly

11. You Better Run

12. Hoxie Rollin' Time

13. Nw8

### The following review is not my work but I couldn't agree more so I reproduce it here. All credit to the original author ###

Ex Whitesnake guitarist BERNIE MARSDEN new album "Shine" to be released next August 18, explores a wide ranging musical horizon including a cleverly updated bluesy, slick AOR, kick ass boogie, riff driven and twin guitar rock, a steaming bluesy shuffle and a book-ended instrumental.
By his own admission "Shine" includes some stockpiled material, but it’s subtly shaped, polished and nicely sequenced by his former Alaska band member turned producer Rob Kass.

Recorded in studio 3 in Abbey Road (where the Beatles cut ‘Revolver’), "Shine" sparkles with confident songs, sumptuous guitar tones, potent harmonies, magisterial playing and Bernie’s best ever lead vocals.
Producer Rob Kass strikes the prefect balance between the album’s song driven focus and the possibilities that an array of guests – including David Coverdale, Jimmy Copley, Ian Paice, Don Airey Cherry Lee Mewis, Joe Bonamassa and Mark Feltham – and a big studio offers him.
"Shine" is a coherent album that plays to Bernie’s strengths. He’s always been a consummate guitarist and a prodigious songwriter, but a combination of different vocals textures injects the steely arrangements with style and gusto.

Listen for example, to the airy, west coast vocal sweep of Danny Kirwan’s "Dragonfly" – included here as an ode to Peter Green – and the standout title track. The Cream style vocal harmonies are underpinned by Ian Paice’s pounding stick work and topped by Don Airey’s keyboard riffs and Bonamassa’s scintillating solo. All the elements coalesce seamlessly as if building to a naturally defining moment on the track.
But this is such a well paced album that the final four tracks find their sequential place as part of an integral whole, before coming to rest on Bernie’s acoustic instrumental outro.

"Shine" opens with a sledgehammer groove of Leadbelly’s "Linin’ Track" which mirrors the song’s lyrical muscularity, while the hot picking on "Wedding Day" has a lively feel, as part of an enveloping production.
The kick ass boogie and ZZ Top influenced "Kinda Wish She Would" is effectively a counterweight as Bernie’s slightly distorted vocal gives the track an extra bit of edge on a riff driven rocker with huge radio potential.

My absolute favourite is the AOR, keyboard led "Walk Away" (awesome Don Airey) with its '80s keyboard motif, uplifting hook and catchy chorus. It's a sister track to the eco message and vocal tour de force "Who Do We Think We Are", a mid-tempo melodic rocker full of magic.

The guests all make their mark, as Mark Feltham’s lyrical harp line colours the extended groove of "Ladyfriend", as it smolders, sparkles and envelops you.
It sets things up nicely for the percussive reworking of "Trouble" predicated on David Coverdale guttural phrasing. Bernie has never been reticent to explore his back catalogue and he’s rarely bettered himself than on this blast from the past.
Cherry Lee Mewis adds gritty vocal contrast on the laid back blues-rocker "Bad Blood" and just when you think the whole album has run its course on the hook laden "You Better Run", Bernie launches himself into a dirt tone wah-wah inflected Americana shuffle "Hoxie Rollin’ Time", which is surely destined to become a live favourite.

Shine" is a career high for Bernie Marsden. 

It’s an album glued together by his own deeply embedded imprint of harmony driven songs with significant hooks and burning solos. It’s almost as if he’s successfully pursued his own mission statement of cutting a definitive solo album. It may have taken him 40 odd years but it’s been worth the wait.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Rating - 9/10

The Players

Bernie Marsden - Guitars, Vocals

Ian Paice - Drums

Don Airey - Keyboards 

Joe Bonamassa - Guitar

David Coverdale - Vocals

Jimmy Copley - Drums

Mark Feltham - Vocals, Harmonica

thanks to Pete Feenstra

Daniel Trigger - Army of One (2014)

Genre - Hard Rock / Melodic Rock
Label - Self Released

Track listing:

01 - Unbreakable
02 - Rise Above
03 - Invisible
04 - All Fall Down
05 - Fear The Night
06 - State Of Mind
07 - Here & Now
08 - Remember When
09 - Dancing With The Devil

Daniel Trigger has been around for a few years now, producing music for many years both as a solo artist and as part of the band Trigger who found some minor success in and around the Midlands of England.
Trigger is a multi instrumentalist and a bit of a one man band in the studio taking care of all duties apart from guitar solos, which are handled by long-time associate and esteemed session guitarist David D’Andrade, and drums which are played by Terry Sadowski.
Unbreakable kicks the album off with its big riffs and layered vocals which impress from the start.Rise Above continues in the same vein with some chunky guitar riffs yet a more melodic feel, another great track.
Invisible again follows the melodic rock root, stiff with some meaty riffs but Daniels vocals really shinning through.
All Fall Down is the albums real gem, beginning with its acoustic guitars before building into an epic powerhouse of a track.
Fear The Night is a straight up melodic rocker, driven along by its bass line. State of Mind has a great opening riff before breaking down into more of an AOR track. Another great song showcasing Mr Triggers versatility.
Here & Now proves to be another fine melodic rocker, whilst Remember When proves to be the albums big ballad, and a great song to boot.
Dancing With The Devil closes out the album and its a great rocker, reuly ending the procedings upon an high note.

A great album.
With the right promotion, possibly within AOR circles, this album could become a bit of a cult classic. Trigger has proved himself a strong songwriter and a talented musician.

Rating - 9/10

Lawless - Rock Savage (2013)

Genre - Hard Rock / Melodic Metal / Melodic Rock
Label - Escape Records

Track listing:

01. Heavy Metal Heaven

02. Black Widow Ladies
03. F.O.A.D.
04. Misery
05. SOS
06. Rock n Roll City
07. Step In
08. Scream
09. Pretender
10. Where Heroes Fall
11. Metal Time


Lawless are a new band founded by veterans from the UK scene.
Featuring Neil Ogden who has been hitting the skins in cult legends Demon since 2002 and his more recent bandmate there Paul Hume (vocals, guitar), plus Persian Risk guitarist Howie G and bassist Josh Williams (Headrush), they have created a dynamic, crisp-sounding rockin' album.
At first glance, you could suspect that Lawless plays heavy metal or NWOBHM due the guy's pedegree, the cover artwork and some track titles here: "Heavy Metal Heaven" or "Metal Time" for instance.
Well, not at all. "Rock Savage" is pure '80s British Melodic Hard Rock with some melodious hard 'n heavy touches but you know, what was considered 'heavy' in the eighties, nowadays it's just hard rock.
This is certainly old school MHR with a fantastic modern production, melodic and catchy choruses together with lots of big riffs and sweet solos from Howie G (his sound set is truly amazing). Hume’s vocals are ideally suited to the style of music (although in my honest opinion they are the weakest link here, I would have loved them to have recruited Demons Dave Hill to handle the vocal duties!), and the rhythm section is fat and bombastic at places.
Groovy, contagious cuts like "SOS", "Scream", "Rock 'n' Roll City" or the Skin (UK Rockers) sounding "Step In" are arena-ready quality anthems, the driving "Heavy Metal Heaven" is bloody melodious akin early Thunder, and "F.O.A.D." puts the pedal to the metal a bit, but the chorus is really commercial.
"Black Widow Ladies"  is a Whitesnake-esque mid tempo monster, there's soaring melodies on the punchy-razor "Misery", then "Pretender" rocks with a Pretty Maids vibe enriched by great harmony vocals and punctuating riffs.
"Where Heroes Fall" is a high class ballad never losing the band's muscular approach and showcasing Hume's more emotional side (he's a solid singer for sure), before closer "Metal Time", an ode to the genre, begins as an amusing Twisted Sister joke developing into a Y&T sounding rocker packed with melting riffs and terrific solos all over. Another favorite of mine.
"Rock Savage" is a fun, catchy, and extremely effective Melodic Hard Rock recording in a typical British style, just as it should be
All songs are instantly likeable, focused on catchy vocal melodies backed by soaring harmonies and meaty riffs, all driven by pounding bass lines and a thumping drum work. The sound is awesomely polished helped by a crisp production and a superb mix (listen with headphones and then tell me).

Surprisingly killer debut by Lawless.

Highly Recommended

Rating 9/10

Giuntini Project - IV (2013)

Genre - Hard Rock / Heavy Metal / Melodic Rock
Label - Escape

Track listing:

01. Perfect Sorrow

02. Born In The Underworld
03. Shadow Of The Stone
04. Cured
05. I Don't Believe In Fortune
06. If The Dream Comes True
07. The Rise And Fall Of Barry Lyndon (Instrumental)
08. Bring On The Night
09. Not The Jealous Kind
10. Saint Or Sinner
11. Your Love Is Killing Me (Japanese bonus track)
12. Last Station: Nightmare (Instrumental)
13. How The Story Ends
14. Truth Never Lies

Since he started the project twenty years ago, guitarist Aldo GIUNTINI has been releasing one consistent album after another, taking his time between them to polish the material and going over every fine detail. Yet it still seam's hard to believe that it has been over six years since part 3 of his Giuntini Project was put out!
One again, as on II and III lead vocals are handled by the one and only Tony Martin (Ex-Black Sabbath, Empire, Mollo/Martin, Rondinelli, Silver Horses, M3, and Solo artist) which bodes well for the projects stability and continuum. 
So how does project IV compare with its predecessors? Pretty darn well to be honest.
The album opens with Perfect Sorrow, a fairly fast tempo ed track that would have fit very well onto the previous album III. Born In The Underworld slows the tempo down a little next, with its dark almost grinding riff. This track would have sat comfortably along side the rest of the tracks on the classic Project II album, a really great song Shadow Of The Stone follows, and proceeds to tell the tale of what happened after the events of The Headless Cross. A slightly more melodic track with a mid tempo ed with a classic Rainbow feel to it, especially during Aldo's guitar solo's. (To my ears anyway!) Another great song.
Cured is up next. Another track that could have fitted well onto Project II, another mid tempo ed track with a kind of grinding riff that is driven by the venom in Tony Martins vocal delivery. One of my favourite songs so far. I Don't Believe In fortune follows, a great up tempo blues track that is quickly followed by If the Dream Comes True which is a great up tempo melodic rocker.
The Rise And Fall Of Barry Lyndon is up next, a four and a half minute instrumental that starts with some grandiose keyboards before the guitars come bursting in. A nice change of pace.
Bring On The Night follows, a great mid tempo ed rocker which sees Tony Martin sharing lead vocals with Liz Vandall for what makes a great duet!
Not the Jealous Kind, slows things down slightly, another favourite track, which sees Tony Martin deliver some great vocals, along with some terrific vocal harmonies.
Saint Or Sinner, sees the guys return to a blistering tempo, that has a few twists and turns along its journey. A great rocker that I imagine would go over really well in a live environment.
the albums second instrumental track is up next, the five minute and twenty second Last Station:Nightmare. A great atmospheric piece that showcases Aldo's ability as an instrumentalist.
How The Story Ends follows. A truly great song which seems to have a Megadeth feel to both its main riffage and the vocal melody. It has a brisk tempo and a bellyful of venom. This is definitely my favourite track on the album!

Truth never Lies closes out the album proper. A fast tempo ed track with a typical and familar Giuntini Project feel to it. Another great song!
Your Love Is Killing Me is included on the Japanese editions of the album as a bonus track. Its a strong song, maybe not as strong as the rest of the album, but a good track non the less, not the usual throw away track.
Theres not a single song that could be classed as a filler here. Aldo's guitar work is precise and toneful, the vocals, as you would expect from Tony Martin, shine. The keyboards add just the right amount of atmosphere and texture in the right place's and the rhythm section stands tall to serve the purpose providing a solid foundation for the songgs to spring from. When you match up musicians to their proper strengths, the outcome usually is compelling and this is the case with "IV".




The line up for the album includes:
Tony Martin: vocals

Aldo Giuntini: guitars
Fulvio Gaslini: bass
Fabiano Rizzi: drums
Roberto Gualdi: drums
Dario Patti: keyboards
Liz Vandall: vocals on 'Bring On The Night'


Very Very Highly Reconmended     Rating 10/10

Gaskin - Edge Of Madness (2012)

Genre - NWoBHM / Melodic Hard Rock / Bluesy Rock

Track listing:

01. Just Before Dawn
02. Damnation
03. Heart Like Thunder
04. Mans’ World
05. Wake Up Dead
06. Lost & Lonely
07. The Contract
08. Bedlam
09. Te Amavi
10. Edge Of Madness

##N.B.- The following review is not my own, but one with which I agree, therefore I am reproducing it here. The author is unknown to me, but all credit for this review should go to them.##  
"GASKIN, even if credited as NWOBHM participants back in the early '80s, had a more bluesy Hard Rock orientated taste.
Sadly, the band rounding extraordinaire guitarist Paul Gaskin did not find the road to commercial breakout with its two full length LPs released in 1981 and 1982 respectively. A silently released, good comeback album in 2000 put a wide smile on the band's fan base.
Now in 2012, Gaskin is back again with the new CD “Edge Of Madness”, and their flirt with traditional, vintage British melodious Hard Rock will not let down fans of the genre.

First thing to be said about this new album is that the production / sound is totally old-school and with a big late '70s / early '80s eerie feel that shall make you memorize the times rock music was nothing more and less than a message from the heart. Secondly, in this album the band - and Paul in specific - show a great sense of touching melody.
Being the classic rocky UK breeze or some more melodic moments that will even bring old Whitesnake to mind, the quartet has put lots of effort into writing songs that can tug the listener’s heartstrings in ease.“Edge Of Madness” is totally Hard Rock as this specific term was firstly announced in the UK in the beginning of the genre, added with the bluesy guitar playing of Paul Gaskin himself, you will certainly feel entrapped in a series of numbers that celebrate the times when Hard Rock music had its dynamics lurking in the touching solos or warm deep vocals.
The hardest yet melodic numbers include "Damnation", the lovable "Heart Like Thunder" (how could you resist to a song with this title?), "Edge Of Madness" and, to some extent, "Bedlam".
Then the trio of songs "Man's World", "Wake Up Dead" and "Lost & Lonely" lean more towards Melodic Hard Rock, all featuring contagious melodies.
The guitar work is one of the great strengths of most every song here. Conversely, Gaskin's vocals can sometimes seem pretty standard. Yet, on a song like "The Contract", there's an unusual difference, a near effortless versatility.
I did not expect such a classy album from this veteran band in year 2012, I have to admit.
Fans of the melodic side of the early eighties Hard Rock movement or devotees of the guitar style of Michael Schenker, Gary Moore or the late Paul Samson will enjoy this CD with open arms.
Definitely classic sounding but with an up to date production and mastering techniques, “Edge Of Madness” proves that traditional guitar-driven Hard Rock is alive & kickin'. And in good health.

Recommended."

Rating - 8/10