Tag Archives: melodic rock

Album Review – Midnite City / Bite The Bullet (2025)

Posted on by
Reply

The party is just getting started with the new album by these torchbearers of classic Hair Metal and Hard Rock, and everyone is invited.

Since exploding out onto the scene like a tornado back in 2017, UK’s own Hard Rock/Hair Metal heroes Midnite City have taken on the world, grabbed the tired music scene by the scruff of its neck, injected passion, fun, melody, and colour back into it, and climbed to the top of the tree to be crowned the true kings of Hair Metal. Now in 2025 the band formed of Rob Wylde on vocals and guitar, Miles Meakin on lead guitar, Josh Williams on bass, Shawn Charvette on keyboards, and Ryan Biggs on drums returns with their strongest album to date, Bite The Bullet, ticking every single box fans expect from a Midnite City album. Mixed by Chris Laney (Europe, Crash Diet, Crazy Lixx, Pretty Maids), the album offers a bit of everything, from super poppy, catchy, and hook laden party Rock N’ Roll, to Melodic Rock monsters, to arena sized power ballads, to Glam Metal anthems laced with attitude and a side order of Hard Rock, and so on.

Let’s get this Hair Metal party started with Live Like Ya Mean It, where the classic vocal lines by Rob are boosted by the song’s even more classic backing vocals, followed by Worth Fighting For, another old school tune presenting hints of AOR with the guitars by Miles and Rob exhaling the glory of the 80’s, sounding absolutely inspired by the music from all bands who made those years so amazing. It’s Going To Be Alright is a bit too cheesy for my taste, despite Miles still kicking ass with his soulful solo, but in the end it’s a generic song. Then an overdose of Hard Rock and Hair Metal will crush your senses in Heaven In This Hell, led by the striking keys by Shawn, and their  rock and metal celebration goes on in full force in Running Back To Your Heart, with Rob stealing the show with his stylish vocals. Ryan then puts the pedal to the metal, hammering his drums in the best Hard Rock style, in Lethal Dose Of Love, again presenting those catchy backing vocals we all love so much.

After that, it’s time for a whimsical interlude entitled Archer’s Song, as if it was crafted to be featured in a romantic scene of an afternoon movie from the 80’s or 90’s, warming us up for Seeing Is Believing, one of those power ballads that make the hearts of diehard fans of Hair Metal beat even faster and warmer. The guitars by Rob and Miles are boosted by the rumbling bass by Josh and the upbeat keys by Shawn in No One Wins, keeping the adrenaline flowing through the album and making it impossible to stand still to its catchy vibe; whereas their Melodic Rock and AOR vein pulses harder than ever in Hang On Til Tomorrow, led by the crisp vocals by Rob and the classic drums by Ryan. Their rockin’ party ends with When The Summer Ends, a Van Halen-infused Rock N’ Roll extravaganza with Ryan once again kicking ass behind his drums, also presenting a killer keyboard solo by Shawn as the icing on the cake.

In a nutshell, Bite The Bullet delivers a sound that is made for the biggest stadiums around the globe, bringing back everything that was so thrilling, energetic, and flamboyant about late 80’s Hair Metal in one fell swoop, being highly recommended for fans of Tigertailz, Mötley Crüe, Crash Diet, and Crazy Lixx, just to name a few. You can get in touch with those torchbearers of old school Hair Metal by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, get your party going to the sound of their full discography available on Spotify, and of course purchase a copy of the electrifying Bite The Bullet from countless retailers such as HHV, Decks Records, and Bengans.
Because the party is just getting started with the new album by Midnite City, and everyone is invited.

Best moments of the album: Heaven In This Hell, Lethal Dose Of Love and When The Summer Ends.

Worst moments of the album: It’s Going To Be Alright.

Released in 2025 Pride & Joy Music

Track listing
1. Live Like Ya Mean It 4:44
2. Worth Fighting For 4:25
3. It’s Going To Be Alright 4:33
4. Heaven In This Hell 3:47
5. Running Back To Your Heart 4:47
6. Lethal Dose Of Love 3:59
7. Archer’s Song 1:08
8. Seeing Is Believing 5:06
9. No One Wins 4:33
10. Hang On Til Tomorrow 4:24
11. When The Summer Ends 4:41

Band members
Rob Wylde – vocals, guitar
Miles Meakin – lead guitar
Josh Williams – bass
Shawn Charvette – keyboards
Ryan Biggs – drums

Album Review – Amorphis / Borderland (2025)

Posted on by
Reply

Finland’s own Melodic Heavy Metal and Rock masters stand on the cusp of a compelling new chapter, fully embracing their melodic sensibilities while venturing into fresh, uncharted sonic landscapes.

A groundbreaking and genre-defying metal band still featuring its original lineup (with a few exceptionally talented additions) and only growing stronger with time, Helsinki, Finland’s own Melodic Heavy Metal/Rock masters Amorphis stand on the cusp of a compelling new chapter, the captivating Borderland, the impressive fifteenth studio album in their unrelenting 35-year journey. Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at  Hansen Studios, and displaying a classy artwork by Marald van Haasteren, the new album by frontman Tomi Joutsen, guitarists Esa Holopainen and Tomi Koivusaari, bassist Olli-Pekka “Oppu” Laine, keyboardist Santeri Kallio, and drummer Jan Rechberger sees the band fully embracing their melodic sensibilities while venturing into fresh, uncharted sonic landscapes.

The band wastes no time and begins embellishing the airwaves with their blend of rock and metal in The Circle, with the guitars by Esa and Tomi transpiring melody, accompanied by the classic bass by Oppu; whereas the cinematic keys by Santeri are exactly what Tomi Joutsen needs to shine with both his clean vocals and deep guttural in Bones, a lecture in Progressive Metal by those veterans, followed by Dancing Shadow, another blast of classy metal music sounding modern yet deeply rooted in their own core essence, with Jan hammering his drums just the way we like it. Amorphis have mastered the art of mixing truly heavy sounds with ethereal, mesmerizing passages, which is the case in Fog to Fog, and their darkened feast goes on with The Strange, a mix of Gothic and Melodic Death Metal that sounds a bit generic if compared to the rest of the album.

The second half of the album begins with the also melodic and enfolding Tempest, with their acoustic guitars walking hand in hand with Santeri’s whimsical keys in a beautiful ballad by the boys. Light and Shadow is a song that perfectly depicts the present and future of Amorphis, with Tomi Joutsen once again leading his henchmen with his classic vocals and growls while the music remains as inspiring as it can be; and Esa and Tomi Koivusaari continue to fire their stylish riffs in The Lantern, sounding even atmospheric at times thanks to the beautiful keys by Santeri. The title-track Borderland brings forward the perfect fusion of all rock and metal styles found in their music, with Oppu and Jan making sure the ambience feels thunderous and groovy until the very last second, while lastly, they let their Melodic Doom Metal vein arise in the closing song Despair, with Tomi Joutsen stealing the show with a fantastic vocal performance.

With deep respect for the past and eyes firmly on the future, and with extensive touring ahead, Amorphis continue to shape the landscape of Heavy Metal with grace, finesse and integrity in Borderland. “After three and a half decades, we still follow our instincts,” commented guitarist Tomi Koivusaari. “And honestly, Borderland might be the most Amorphis-sounding album we’ve ever made. After such a long and successful career, that feels pretty damn great!” Those undisputed rock and metal veterans are waiting for you with more of their music, news and tour dates on Facebook and on Instagram, as well as on YouTube and on Spotify, and you can obviously put your damned hands on Borderland by clicking HERE, letting the melodious yet visceral sounds blasted by one of the most important bands to ever arise from the Nordic countries penetrate deep inside your metallic heart.

Best moments of the album: Bones, Light and Shadow and Borderland.

Worst moments of the album: The Strange.

Released in 2025 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. The Circle 4:34
2. Bones 4:55
3. Dancing Shadow 4:58
4. Fog to Fog 5:28
5. The Strange 4:18
6. Tempest 5:20
7. Light and Shadow 4:17
8. The Lantern 4:59
9. Borderland 5:30
10. Despair 5:19

Band members
Tomi Joutsen – vocals
Esa Holopainen – guitars
Tomi Koivusaari – guitars
Olli-Pekka “Oppu” Laine – bass
Santeri Kallio – keyboards
Jan Rechberger – drums, percussion

Guest musician
Francesco Ferrini – orchestral arrangements, MIDI programming

Album Review – Helloween / Giants & Monsters (2025)

Posted on by
1

Confident and bursting with vigor, these German giants of Heavy Metal and monsters of Rock N’ Roll are back with their breathtaking seventeenth studio album.

With 15 gold awards, six platinum awards and over ten million records sold, German Heavy Metal masters Helloween are celebrating the band’s 40th anniversary with the successor to their critically acclaimed 2021 self-titled masterpiece. Confident and bursting with vigor, the septet formed of frontmen Michael Kiske and Andi Deris, guitarists Kai Hansen, Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bassist Markus Grosskopf, and drummer Dani Löble presents one of their most versatile albums to date, titled Giants & Monsters, the seventeenth studio album in their undisputed career. Recorded and mixed by Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward at Mi Sueno Studio, mastered by Sascha “Busy” Bühren and Emil Pohjalainen at Wisseloord Studios, and once again displaying a stunning artwork by Eliran Kantor, Giants & Monsters showcases a band that keeps reinventing themselves while staying true to the foundations of Heavy Metal, continuing to challenge seven brimming careers even after four decades.

Mr. Andi Deris begins embellishing the airwaves with his striking vocals in Giants on the Run, a classic Helloween tune sounding fast, electrifying and epic from start to finish, and I must say I love the fact Kai also delivers some vocal lines during the song. Then it’s time for Mr. Michael Kiske to take us back to the glory of the 80’s in Savior of the World, a flawless Power Metal song striking us hard like fire and thunder, with Dani kicking some ass behind his drums; whereas venturing through the realms of Progressive Rock but always rooted in their classic Heavy Metal sonority we have A Little Is a Little Too Much, one of those songs perfect for dancing with your loved ones. The visceral riffs by Kai, Michael Weikath and Sascha set the tone in the Primal Fear-like attack titled We Can Be Gods, flowing majestically until the very end. And Into the Sun, which was originally recorded for their 2021 self-titled album, but scrapped after being altered during production (as the final result wasn’t to their liking), is a charming ballad led by the hypnotizing vocals by Kiske and Andi.

This Is Tokyo, the first single released a couple of months ago, was a very good sign of the classic, old school approach by Helloween with a Melodic Rock/AOR twist, boosting their vocal lines even more while the chorus couldn’t have sounded catchier; and it’s pedal to the metal in the Heavy and Power Metal attack entitled Universe (Gravity for Hearts), with Dani’s fast and furious beats providing Kiske with exactly what he needs to make his vocals soar high like an eagle, resulting in eight minutes of pure metal magic by our beloved German pumpkins. The septet then offers two three-minute songs, the first being Hand of God, showcasing a more experimental sounds mixed with their core essence. Not their best effort, to be honest, while back to a more electrifying sound we have Under the Moonlight, with the guitars by Kai, Weikath and Sascha adding an overdose of Rock N’ Roll to their core sound. There’s still time for one more epic tune by Helloween, the phenomenal Majestic, and the music perfectly reflects the song title, with Kiske taking the lead with his unparalleled vocals while the band’s guitar triumvirate penetrates deep inside our souls with their superb, classic riffs and solos, or in other words, it’s an epic conclusion to such a metallic celebration by Helloween.

After all is said and done, Giants & Monsters presents the experience and musical enthusiasm of a band that can do anything and everything blazes its way, with all creative limits being set aside once and for all. “What keeps motivating us is the fact that we’re extremely different. That generates suspense and creative energy,” explained Michael Weikath, “and if problems do occur, we connect through our passion and our sense of humor. We try not to take ourselves and everything around us too seriously,” added Kai Hansen, before Andi Deris concluded with a bang. “In the end, we’re just seven guys who want to make music and enjoy the incomparable force that arises when we’re together. Helloween is way more powerful than the sum of its parts.” Hence, if you also want to be part of the Pumpkins United army, you can follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their classy music on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course add their superb new album to your private collection by clicking HERE. Because Helloween are giants of Heavy Metal, they’re monsters of Rock N’ Roll, and while they’re among us we can all rest assured heavy music will remain alive and kicking.

Best moments of the album: Savior of the World, A Little Is a Little Too Much, This Is Tokyo, Universe (Gravity for Hearts) and Majestic.

Worst moments of the album: Hand of God.

Released in 2025 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. Giants on the Run 6:20
2. Savior of the World 4:15
3. A Little Is a Little Too Much 3:30
4. We Can Be Gods 5:24
5. Into the Sun 3:39
6. This Is Tokyo 4:16
7. Universe (Gravity for Hearts) 8:22
8. Hand of God 3:44
9. Under the Moonlight 3:07
10. Majestic 8:10

Band members
Michael Kiske – vocals
Andi Deris – vocals
Kai Hansen – guitars, vocals
Michael Weikath – guitars
Sascha Gerstner – guitars
Markus Grosskopf – bass
Dani Löble – drums

Album Review – Heathen’s Eye / Port Inspiro (2025)

Posted on by
Reply

Inspired by the past, a new Swedish Melodic Metal entity arises with their debut offering, a tribute to the bands that led them onto the path they are on today.

A new Swedish Melodic Metal band which incorporates many different influences from the fields of AOR, Melodic Rock, Hard Rock, and Progressive Rock and Metal into their sound, Heathen’s Eye are set to release their debut album, entitled Port Inspiro, or “inspired by the past” in Esperanto, a tribute to the bands that led the band onto the path they are on today. Featuring five experienced musicians with background in several genres, the band formed of Robb Lindh on vocals, Göran Hamrin on the guitars, Ola Hellström on bass, Mikael Andersson on keyboards, and Jonas Jönsson on drums brings together all of their influences from the 80’s and 90’s to the album, being therefore recommended for fans of Masterplan, Accept, Queensryche, Firewind, and Lynch Mob, among others.

Jonas revs up the band’s rockin’ engine in One Black Lie, quickly evolving into a beyond solid feast of European Hard Rock, with Robb distilling his hypnotizing vocals for the delight of fans of the genre. The band then takes us back to the golden years of 80’s Hard Rock with Mirrorman, with Göran’s stylish riffs walking hand in hand with Mikael’s mesmerizing keys; whereas a cinematic, creepy intro explodes into another feast of Melodic Rock and Metal entitled Ghosts Of Yesterday, more cadenced and harmonious than its predecessors. Robb continues to fire his beyond melodious vocals in Still Water Runs Deep, while Mikael’s keys and Jonas’ beats add an extra Rock N’ Roll touch to the music, and the rumbling bass by Ola exhales groove and heaviness in the fast-paced Firepriest, a song perfect for hitting the highway on a hot summer day. After such a hurricane of rock music, it’s time for a cheesy but very melodic ballad titled Is It Over Now, with Robb stealing the show with his passionate vocal lines.

Just the start of Endless Lines transpires the 80’s, gradually evolving into another mid-tempo Hard Rock aria where Jonas takes the lead armed with his fierce beats, followed by Lost In The Wind, another beautiful ballad by those Swedish rockers, with the minimalist guitar lines by Göran clashing perfectly with Robb’s vocals. Shine is a very generic Melodic Rock tune that doesn’t add much to the album, despite the band’s classy musicianship being there as usual; while they get back on track in Monsters, offering a six minute voyage through the realms of classic Hard Rock, Melodic Rock and Metal, and even Rock N’ Roll, with Göran and Ola extracting sheer adrenaline from their axes until the very last second. The band keeps rockin’ our world with Blind, adding hints of old school Heavy Metal to their core Hard Rock; and lastly, we’re treated to another six-minute feast of melody and passion titled Time To Deliver, with Jonas pounding his drums while Mikael’s keys bring a pinch of modernity to the music.

Most members of Heathen’s Eye live in the beautiful north, the land of snow, aurora borealis, months of eternal darkness in the winter, and warm days when the sun never sets in the summer. These contrasts are also reflected in their music, which spans over Heavy Rock, airy ballads and Progressive Metal, exactly like what they have to offer us all in Port Inspiro. Hence, you can get to know more about this exciting new name of the Swedish rock and metal scene by following them on Facebook, and purchase a copy of their classy debut from the Pride & Joy Music shop. Inspired by the past, Heathen’s Eye is crafting the future of Melodic Rock and Metal in their new album, leaving us eager for more in the coming years.

Best moments of the album: Mirrorman, Firepriest and Monsters.

Worst moments of the album: Shine.

Released in 2025 Pride & Joy Music

Track listing
1. One Black Lie 4:57
2. Mirrorman 5:08
3. Ghosts Of Yesterday 5:07
4. Still Water Runs Deep 4:58
5. Firepriest 5:33
6. Is It Over Now 5:34
7. Endless Lines 4:37
8. Lost In The Wind 5:08
9. Shine 4:32
10. Monsters 6:14
11. Blind 5:32
12. Time To Deliver 6:07

Band members
Robb Lindh – vocals
Göran Hamrin – guitars
Ola Hellström – bass
Mikael Andersson – keyboards
Jonas Jönsson – drums

Concert Review – Dark Tranquillity & Amorphis (The Opera House, Toronto, ON, 10/01/2024)

Posted on by
Reply

And everyone enjoyed a very melodic, heavy, fun and sold out night of Nordic metal music in the city of Toronto.

OPENING ACT: Fires In The Distance

One day after a beyond wild night with Hatebreed, Toronto hosted another brilliant metal extravaganza with DARK TRANQUILLITY and AMORPHIS, plus very special guests FIRES IN THE DISTANCE, at the always cozy The Opera House, again organized by the one and only Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. And let me tell you that I wasn’t expecting the venue to be so jam packed on a Tuesday night, proving once again how passionate the fans in the city are about heavy music. Seriously, I think someone forgot to stop selling tickets after the venue’s maximum capacity was reached, because it was really hard to move around the venue and to get downstairs to the floor section to enjoy the shows, with a lot of people just standing close to the bar at the back, behind the sound table. Even raising our horns or clapping our hands in the pit was difficult, but of course, nothing that would have made the night less enjoyable.

One major problem before the show was the insane traffic to get to the city, plus the fact there were absolutely no parking spots available anywhere near the venue, and because of that I sadly missed the show by Newington, Connecticut-based Melodic Doom/Death Metal act FIRES IN THE DISTANCE. I was dying to see those guys live as both their albums, Echoes from Deep November (2020) and Air Not Meant for Us (2023), both available on Spotify, are a thing of beauty and I’m sure their songs sounded even more powerful on stage. At least my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi was there to take some crazy photos of their concert, and I promise next time they visit Toronto I’ll skip work if needed to get to their show on time.

Setlist
Harbinger
Wisdom of the Falling Leaves
Crumbling Pillars of a Tranquil Mind
Idiopathic Despair

Band members
Craig Breitsprecher – bass, vocals
Kristian Grimaldi – guitars, vocals
Yegor Savonin – guitars, keyboards
Jordan Rippe – drums

AMORPHIS

I was just able to get inside the venue around 15 minutes before the first headliner of the night, Helsinki, Finland’s own Melodic Heavy Metal/Rock institution AMORPHIS, kicked off their ultra melodic, vibrant and colorful show, and I say colorful because the way they set up their stage was very appealing to my eyes. Also, the talented frontman Tomi Joutsen and his henchmen did a very good job in blending their new material that’s clearly more inclined to Progressive Rock, like the songs Northwards, On the Dark Waters, The Moon and The Wolf, from their 2022 album Halo, with old classic including the always stunning Doom Metal aria My Kantele, and that fusion of past and present was really well received by all fans that were almost smashed on the floor section. The entire band sounded sharp and spot-on, and their connection with the crowd was also fantastic during the whole show.

Setlist
Northwards
On the Dark Waters
Sky Is Mine
The Moon
The Castaway
Silver Bride
The Wolf
Wrong Direction
My Kantele
Magic and Mayhem
Black Winter Day
House of Sleep
The Bee

Band members
Tomi Joutsen – lead vocals
Esa Holopainen – lead guitar
Tomi Koivusaari – rhythm guitar
Olli-Pekka Laine – bass
Santeri Kallio – keyboards
Jan Rechberger – drums

DARK TRANQUILLITY

As a lot of people left the pit to grab some merch, a beer or go outside for a smoke, I could then find a spot on the floor section to enjoy the other headliner, the unstoppable Gothenburg, Sweden-based Melodic Death Metal entity DARK TRANQUILLITY, and fortunately I had my concert earplugs with me because those guys were maybe too loud for such a small venue. The multi-talented, iconic, awesome Mikael Stanne alongside his band of first-class musicians also did a beautiful job mixing songs from their excellent new album Endtime Signals, like Shivers and Voids and Not Nothing, with their older material, and all songs sounded so electrifying the circle pit formed in the middle of the floor section looked like one from a pure Death Metal show, putting a huge smile on everyone’s faces including of course Mikael, who was visibly touched by the beyond warm reaction from the sold-out venue. Everyone was singing along with the band, raising their fists, headbanging, and so on, fueling those Swedish rockers to keep hammering our heads with their top-notch metal music until the very end of the night, and after all was said and done it was visible on their faces that it won’t take long for the mighty Dark Tranquillity to take the city of Toronto by storm again.

Setlist
Shivers and Voids
Hours Passed in Exile
Forward Momentum
Unforgivable
Atoma
The Last Imagination
Nothing to No One
Wayward Eyes
One Thought
Cathode Ray Sunshine
Not Nothing
Empty Me
Phantom Days
Lost to Apathy
Misery’s Crown

Band members
Mikael Stanne – vocals
Johan Reinholdz – guitars
Christian Jansson – bass
Martin Brändström – keyboards
Joakim Strandberg-Nilsson – drums

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Album Review – Bad Marilyn / Eye of the Snake (2024)

Posted on by
Reply

The debut album by this talented Swiss Heavy Metal outfit will take you on a journey to a magical world to the sound of its eleven incendiary tracks.

Founded in the summer of 2023 in Wangen an der Aare, Bern, a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland, Heavy/Power Metal warriors Bad Marilyn have just unleashed upon us their debut album, titled Eye of the Snake, an album that will transport the listener into a magical metal world. Recorded at Kangaroo Studios, The TrakShak Studio and The Hämst Studio, produced, mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward, co-Produced by Sammy Lasagni and Andri Leonardo, and displaying a classic artwork by Stan-W Decker, Eye of the Snake offers eleven powerful songs thoroughly crafted by the Helvetic formation of Andrea Raffaela on vocals, Sammy Lasagni on guitars, David Craffonara on bass, Andri Leonardo on keyboards, and Armin Schöpfer on drums.

An epic intro quickly evolves into the Power Metal feast I Die Inside, where the whimsical keys by Andri walk hand in hand with the she-wolf roars and soaring vocals by Andrea, whereas Middle-Eastern sounds ignite the also very melodic and headbanging Eye Of The Snake, where Armin pounds his drums nonstop supported by the solid bass lines by David; and leaning towards Melodic Rock and AOR we have Perfect Moment, but of course without forgetting their classic Heavy Metal essence, with the guitars by Sammy sounding striking and harmonious. Retribution is not as exciting as the previous songs and quite confusing at times, albeit the vocals by Andrea are spot-on as usual, but fortunately back to a more direct sonority the band offers our ears the upbeat, melodic Heavy Metal tune Children Of Tomorrow, with Armin dictating the pace with his classic beats and fills. Sammy then takes the lead with his Iron Maiden-inspired riffs in When She’s Gone, a song that blends melody and heaviness in a well-balanced manner.

Their Rock N’ Roll party continues with an overdose of metallic riffs and blast beats titled Revolution, where Andrea delivers a striking vocal performance supported by the fast and thrilling music by her bandmates; and it’s time for a charming power ballad titled Legend Of Salvation, where the power of Armin’s drums is boosted by Andri’s stylish keys. Queen Of Thunder carries an old school name for a song with a strong 80’s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal vibe, keeping the adrenaline flowing in the album while also showcasing more of Andrea’s beautiful vocals, with Andri also kicking some ass with a nice keyboard solo; and they take their heaviness to new heights in Eternal Pain, led by the pounding drums by Armin and the slashing riffage by Sammy, resulting in a thrilling Heavy Metal attack tailored for fans of 80’s heavy music. Last but not least, we’re treated to one final strike of soaring vocals and classic riffs in We Will Rise, putting an incendiary ending to the album.

Eye of the Snake can be appreciated in full on Spotify, but of course you can show your utmost support to Andrea and the boys by purchasing the album from their BandCamp page or webstore, or by cliking HERE, and don’t forget to also give the band a shout on Facebook and on Instagram. This Swiss band definitely knows how to craft fun and vibrant Heavy Metal, taking you as mentioned to a magical world to the sound of their flammable music, and just like a snake I’m sure they’ll strike again soon with another album just as good as their debut offering.

Best moments of the album: I Die Inside, Revolution and Eternal Pain.

Worst moments of the album: Retribution.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. I Die Inside 4:42
2. Eye Of The Snake 4:18
3. Perfect Moment 4:55
4. Retribution 4:22
5. Children Of Tomorrow 3:45
6. When She’s Gone 4:15
7. Revolution 4:00
8. Legend Of Salvation 4:30
9. Queen Of Thunder 4:34
10. Eternal Pain 4:16
11. We Will Rise 5:15

Spotify bonus track
12. Stay Awake 4:34

Band members
Andrea Raffaela – vocals
Sammy Lasagni – guitars
David Craffonara – bass
Andri Leonardo – keyboards, backing vocals
Armin Schöpfer – drums

Album Review – Striker / Ultrapower (2024)

Posted on by
3

These Canadian metallers are made of metal, their circuits gleam, and they’re ready to show us all the endless power of heavy music to the sound of their striking seventh studio album.

Blending classic Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, and 80’s Hair Metal, Power Metal and so on, Edmonton, Canada’s own powerhouse Striker has been making “shredtacular” anthems since their inception back in 2007, which is also the case with their seventh studio album, titled Ultrapower. Produced, mixed and mastered by Josh Schroeder, and displaying a stylish, metallic cover art by Al Perez of Ramone Sketch, Ultrapower is a strong and solid follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2017 self-titled album and their Juno Award-winning 2018 effort Play To Win, showcasing a collection of the band’s tinkering and exploring new avenues, all brought into being with tons of energy and passion by frontman Dan Cleary, guitarists Tim Brown and John Simon Fallon, bassist Pete Klassen, and session drummer Jono Webster.

The maniacal laugh by Dan ignites the thrilling, metallic Power Metal hymn Circle of Evil, one of the heaviest songs from their past few albums, with Tim and John taking the song’s punch and electricity to a whole new level with their wicked riffs and solos. Then venturing through the realms of Hard Rock and Glam Metal it’s time for BEST of the BEST of the BEST, with its inspiring lyrics flawlessly declaimed by Dan (“If I could show you the top of the world / All of the things I’ve seen / Every long and winding road / All that I gave up to get what I’ve got / Maybe you’d understand / Why I’m never gonna stop”); and the sound of the saxophone brings a “Michael Bolton” vibe to Give it All, an 80’s-inspired, mellow rockin’ tune where Pete and Jono dictate the pace with their classic kitchen. It’s pedal to the metal as Striker will kick you in the head in Blood Magic, again showcasing their always catchy choruses and the beautiful heaviness of their guitars and drums, whereas Sucks to Suck keeps the adrenaline flowing in the album, a nice tune with a chorus that is as cheesy as hell (but that should work really well if played live).

Back to a more direct Heavy Metal sonority form their early records we have Ready for Anything, where Dan kicks some ass on vocals as usual supported by his bandmates’ classic backing vocals, making it impossible not to headbang nonstop to such electrifying tune. Once again paying a visit to the Sunset Strip in California, the band fires City Calling, proving how versatile their music can be, with Pete sounding ruthless armed with his thunderous, metallic bass; and let’s keep this Rock N’ Roll party going in Turn the Lights Out, where the guitars by Tim and John exhale heaviness and melody while Jono keeps hammering his drums in great fashion. Then we’re treated to Thunderdome, their personal tribute to the 1985 cult movie Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, presenting a pounding rhythm led by the crushing beats by Jono, while Dan and his henchmen keep roaring the famous movie line “two men enter, one man leaves”, whereas Live to Fight Another Day is another AOR/Melodic Rock-infused creation by the band, sounding as if it was taken from one of those teen movies from the 80’s, with Dan delivering the goods with his powerful vocals. Finally, closing the horn-raising Ultrapower we’re treated to Brawl at the Pub, a no shenanigans, classic Striker hymn where the heaviness of their riffs and beats matches perfectly with the soaring vocals by Dan, all complemented by a beyond powerful guitar solo.

“Ultrapower is the amalgamation of 5 years of writing and exploring music. With influences from AOR to Speed Metal, Hardcore to Hair Metal, Steely Dan to Deathcore, you name it, it made its way into the album. In the end with the help of Josh Schroeder’s guiding hand, we melted it all together to present something uniquely Striker. Lyrically we’ve stuck to the Striker tradition of writing montage songs for movies that don’t exist, songs about our spiraling serfdom, and lyrics about the evils that lurk in the shadows,” commented the band about their new album, also saying that “we wanted the album artwork to represent how we feel as a band right now. We are an engine that is fired up and ready to roll. We’re made of metal and our circuits gleam.” Hence, in order to join Striker in their quest for Heavy Metal, you can start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, stream their music on Spotify, and purchase a copy of the hard-hitting Ultrapower by clicking HERE. Striker are more-than-ready to show us all the power of heavy music with Ultrapower, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the ride with one of the best (of the best of the best) bands of the current Canadian landscape.

Best moments of the album: Circle of Evil, BEST of the BEST of the BEST, Ready for Anything and Brawl at the Pub.

Worst moments of the album: Sucks to Suck.

Released in 2024 Record Breaking Records

Track listing
1. Circle of Evil 3:44
2. BEST of the BEST of the BEST 3:19
3. Give it All 4:14
4. Blood Magic 4:35
5. Sucks to Suck 3:15
6. Ready for Anything 3:56
7. City Calling 3:45
8. Turn the Lights Out 2:49
9. Thunderdome 4:01
10. Live to Fight Another Day 4:00
11. Brawl at the Pub 3:47

Band members
Dan Cleary – vocals
Tim Brown – guitar
John Simon Fallon – guitar
Pete Klassen – bass

Guest musician
Jono Webster – drums (session)

Album Review – Ewiniar / Another World (2023)

Posted on by
Reply

Croatia’s own Melodic and Gothic Rock and Metal real-life couple will take you on a new distinctive sonic journey to the sound of their exciting sophomore album.

Two years after the release of their debut album Burning the Night, Split, Croatia-based Melodic/Gothic Rock/Metal duo Ewiniar is back with their sophomore effort, titled Another World, representing their commitment to reinforcing the band’s standing as a noteworthy musical entity. Produced by the band’s own Marin Tramontana, and mixed and mastered by Theodor Borovski at Slaughtered Studio, the album once again depicts the perfect synchronicity between the real-life couple formed of Katarina Tramontana on vocals and the aforementioned Marin Tramontana on the guitars, bass and keyboards, this time supported by session drummer Hugo Ribeiro, offering audiences another distinctive sonic journey recommended for fans of the most melodic and delicate side of heavy music.

As atmospheric as it can be, the duo invites us all on a whimsical voyage in the opening tune Shattered Illusion, with Katarina already showcasing her vocal potency accompanied by the classy riffs and keys by Marin, whereas Your Name is a Melodic Rock and Metal creation bringing to our ears more of the couple’s charming, captivating sounds, even presenting hints of the music played by HIM and Lord of the Lost, with guest Hugo sounding precise on drums as usual. Marin’s bass lines bring an extra touch of groove to Cyanide, flirting with Alternative Metal, and that fusion of sounds ends up working really well, consequently boosting Katarina’s vocals considerably; followed by Sister Moon, keeping the ambience dark and delicate, with Martin and Hugo’s groovy kitchen reverberating in the air. And once again venturing through the realms of Gothic Rock and Metal, Katarina will mesmerize us all with her vocals in Mistaken, supported by the stylish keys by Marin.

It’s then time to slow things down and invest in a more pensive, melancholic sound in the serene ballad Indifference Begins, with Marin once again extracting delicate yet piercing sounds form his guitar, accompanied by the slow and steady beats by Hugo. Only Darkness Remains is another Gothic Metal extravaganza by such talented couple, presenting minimalist guitar lines, classic beats and the trademark charming vocals by Katarina, followed by Never Again, a thrilling song with an 80’s vibe, in special in its riffs and bass lines, that should sound amazing if played live one day. Needless to say, Katarina steals the spotlight on vocals once again. Then their second to last blast of finesse and dark sounds, titled Shadows Still Align, brings forward more of their 80’s and 90’s-inspired Melodic Death and Gothic Metal the likes of Dark The Suns, Insomnium and Aeonian Sorrow, with Hugo dictating the pace behind his drums; and there’s no better way to end the album than with another power ballad by Katarina and Marin, entitled Watching the Night Go By, exhaling passion, darkness and melancholy to the stunning vocals by Katarina and the Paradise Lost-fueled riffs by Marin.

In summary, Katarina and Marin nailed it once again with Another World (which is by the way available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify), moving forward in their career and showcasing an evolution in their sound while of course still being loyal to their musical roots presented in their debut album. Hence, don’t forget to give the duo a shout on Facebook and on Instagram to let them know how much you enjoy their music, and obviously to grab a copy of Another World from their own BandCamp page, inspiring them to keep embellishing the airwaves and to keep guiding us to different worlds to the sound of their melodious and delicate music.

Best moments of the album: Your Name, Cyanide and Never Again.

Worst moments of the album: Mistaken.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Shattered Illusion 3:29
2. Your Name 3:34
3. Cyanide 3:52
4. Sister Moon 4:14
5. Mistaken 3:44
6. Indifference Begins 4:37
7. Only Darkness Remains 4:35
8. Never Again 3:55
9. Shadows Still Align 4:10
10. Watching the Night Go By 3:56

Band members
Katarina Tramontana – vocals
Marin Tramontana – guitars, bass, keyboards

Guest musician
Hugo Ribeiro – drums

Album Review – Barnabas Sky / What Comes To Light (2023)

Posted on by
Reply

Combining groovy guitar riffs, catchy choruses and spherical synth sounds, the sophomore album by German multi-instrumentalist Markus Pfeffer offers us all another exciting Hard Rock voyage.

The brainchild of Kaiserslautern, Germany-based multi-instrumentalist Markus Pfeffer (Winterland, Scarlett, Lazarus Dream), Melodic Hard Rock project Barnabas Sky combines groovy guitar riffs, catchy choruses, distinctive voices of several singers with international reputation, spherical synth sounds and filigree solos to a timeless rock melange way beyond short-lived trends, which is exactly what you’ll get in the project’s sophomore opus, titled What Comes To Light, the follow-up to its 2021 debut Inspirations. Supported by drummer Thomas Rieder and an array of guest vocalists the likes of Jesse Damon (Silent Rage), Doogie White (Rainbow), Dan Reed, Roy Cathey (Coald Sweat), Dirk Kennedy (Hittman), Carsten Lizard Schulz (Evidence One, Domain), Lee Small (Lionheart), Alan Tecchio (Wartchtower) and Danny Vaughn (Tyketto), Markus embellishes the airwaves with his fusion of Hard Rock and AOR, with the beautiful artwork by Stan W. Decker (Powerwolf, Megadeth, Rage, Masterplan) and the mastering by Rolf Munkes (Michael Schenker, Mad Max, Voodoo Circle) at Empire Studios turning the album into a must-listen for fans of Winterland, Tyketto, Silent Rage, Rainbow and Phenomena, among others.

Featuring the talented Danny Vaughn of Tyketto on vocals, the title-track What Comes To Light brings forward a mix of classic Hard Rock taken directly from the 80’s with modern-day Melodic Rock, spiced up by the amazing job done by Markus with his melodious riffs while Thomas brings tons of groove to the music. Then we have We Are Electric, featuring vocalist Lee Small of SHY, Phenomena and Lionheart, a more rhythmic tune where the bass lines by Markus sound metallic and vibrant, offering Lee exactly what he needs to shine on vocals; followed by Till My Dying Days, featuring Roy Cathey of Cold Sweat and The Fifth on vocals, another modern rock creation by Markus showcasing ethereal backing vocals, classy guitars and passionate vocal lines. Then with the one and only Doogie White of Alcatrazz, Rainbow and Malmsteen on vocals, we have Circus Of Delight, where Markus is once again on fire armed with his guitar and bass while Thomas kicks ass as usual on drums. Needless to say, Doogie has an incendiary performance on vocals. And featuring Dan Reed of Dan Reed Network, Take A Ride is a synth-fueled Hard Rock/AOR extravaganza showcasing delicate but powerful vocals by Dan, while Markus once again brings the groove with his bass lines.

A futuristic and thunderous intro gradually evolves into a Rock N’ Roll song titled A Dying Song, featuring guest vocals by Carsten ‘Lizard’ Schulz of Lazarus Dream and Devoid, and despite its solid structure it could have been slightly shorter, though; whereas Deibys Artigas Venegas of Preincarnation kicks ass on vocals in Isolation, where pure 80’s Hard Rock flows from all instruments and of course from Deibys’ vocals, sounding very exciting from start to finish and with Markus being spot-on with his riffs and solos. Then we have Grant Me A Wish From Heaven, with vocals by Jesse Damon of Silent Rage and backing vocals by Paul Sabu, a solid mid-tempo creation by Markus and his henchmen; and get ready to bang your head together with Barnabas Sky in One Or The Other, showcasing guest Alan Tecchio of Watchtower on vocals, sounding electrifying and modern without losing the project’s core essence rooted in the 80’s. Featuring Dirk Kennedy of Hittman on vocals we have Seven Wonders, closing the regular version of the album by offering our ears more of the project’s melodic and thrilling rock music, whereas Lee Small returns in the bonus track No Tomorrow, a very entertaining composition that’s worth the investment in the physical version of the album, with Lee stealing the spotlight with another stylish vocal performance.

Markus Pfeffer and his Barnabas Sky are waiting for you on Facebook with news, more of the project’s classy rock music, and other nice to know details about it, and of course if you want to purchase a copy of What Comes To Light you can find all information you need by clicking HERE. In a nutshell, it’s impressive how Markus was capable of putting together such cohesive and dynamic album even with so many different vocalists as guest musicians. Well, all of those vocalists are extremely talented, which already helped him a lot in shaping up the album to be so powerful and balanced, but there are many out there who wouldn’t have been able to reach the same level of quality, proving how skillful and focused Markus is and, therefore, leaving the gates oh heaven and hell open for Markus and his henchmen to deliver another excellent album of Hard Rock in the coming years.

Best moments of the album: What Comes To Light, Circus Of Delight and Isolation.

Worst moments of the album: A Dying Song.

Released in 2023 Pride & Joy Music

Track listing
1. What Comes To Light 4:53
2. We Are Electric 4:33
3. Till My Dying Days 4:49
4. Circus Of Delight 4:44
5. Take A Ride 4:24
6. A Dying Song 8:04
7. Isolation 5:47
8. Grant Me A Wish From Heaven 4:16
9. One Or The Other 4:22
10. Seven Wonders 6:02

CD bonus track
11. No Tomorrow 4:59

Band members
Markus Pfeffer – guitars, bass, keyboards, synths

Guest musicians
Danny Vaughn – vocals on “What Comes To Light”
Dan Reed – vocals on “Take A Ride”
Doogie White – vocals on “Circus Of Delight”
Jesse Damon – vocals on “Grant Me A Wish From Heaven”
Roy Cathey – vocals on “Till My Dying Days”
Dirk Kennedy – vocals on “Seven Wonders”
Lee Small – vocals on “We Are Electric”
Carsten ‘Lizard’ Schulz – vocals on “A Dying Song”
Alan Tecchio – vocals on “One Or The Other”
Deibys Artigas Venegas – vocals on “Isolation”
Thomas Rieder – drums, percussion
Paul Sabu – backing vocals on “Grant Me A Wish From Heaven”
Stephan Hugo – backing vocals

Album Review – Bad Baron / Ace Of Hearts (2022)

Posted on by
Reply

This Sleaze Rock outfit from the land of ice and snow will bring the heat to our hearts with their incendiary debut album.

You might be tempted to assume that you’ve come across yet another Scandinavian Sleaze Rock band, following a path well-trodden over the past few years by bands like Crashdïet, Santa Cruz and Reckless Love, but you’d be wrong as Finnish Melodic Rock act Bad Baron does things a little differently. With big looks, even bigger hooks, and more gratuitous key changes than you ever thought possible, Bad Baron set the bar just a little bit higher with their new album Ace Of Hearts, a thrilling Rock N’ Roll party by vocalist and bassist Lauri Huovinen, guitarist Tommy Widdow, keyboardist Alex Kron and drummer Sammy South. “I’m a massive fan of the AOR and glam metal that came out of the 80s,” commented Lauri, “Whitesnake, Journey, Mötley Crüe and so on, so it was amazing to find people who want to keep that flame burning in a time where rock musicians have to try harder than ever to cut through.”

The album couldn’t have had a more Hard Rock start than Edge of Our Dreams, where the keys by Alex will take you back to the 80’s while Lauri fires his Bret Michaels-inspired vocals and Tommy kicks some ass with his old school riffs and crisp solos. The Van Halen-ish keys by Alex walk hand in hand with the headbanging beats by Sammy in Can You Love Someone (For Just One Night), perfect for their upcoming live concerts, whereas keeping the atmosphere as thrilling as possible it’s time for another straightforward Hard Rock tune titled Breakdown In Communication, where once again the quartet is ready to rock like there’s no tomorrow. Hungry brings forward pure Sleaze Rock and Hair Metal for lovers of the genre, being tailored for singing it along with Lauri while Sammy pounds his drums in great fashion; and ethereal sounds ignite the Glam Metal extravaganza entitled Rebel Heartache, showcasing another solid job done by Tommy and Alex with their respective riffs and keys. After such fun party, get ready to rock together with those Finnish boys in the incendiary Lights Go Out, displaying a very pleasant “Eye of the Tiger” vibe thanks to the classic beats delivered by Sammy.

After a brief Interlude the band offers our ears the very melodic and whimsical Our Story Isn’t Over, a classic 80’s Hard Rock tune with Lauri being flawless on vocals supported by his bandmates’ spot-on backing vocals, and the rumbling bass by Lauri dictates the pace in the Sleaze Rock extravaganza Going Down In Flames, while Tommy brings fire to the music with his riffage, sounding dense and piercing while alternating between more delicate moments and sheer adrenaline. Then an amazing bass and keys combo by Lauri and Alex respectively will inspire you to raise your fists in the air in the name of Rock N’ Roll in Rock In The City, presenting all elements we learned to love in the genre, whereas although One Minute To Midnight is obviously not “Two Minutes to Midnight”, it lives up to the legacy of 80’s Hair Metal, and you better get ready to sing along its catchy chorus together with the band while Tommy is on fire with his stringed axe . The album’s second to last song, the power ballad Long Road Home, is not bad at all but it lacks the extra punch from the rest of the album, and finally the quartet offers us all an ode to rock music (straightforwardly) titled Anthem For Rock’n’Roll, where Lauri and Sammy will make the stage tremble with their groovy kitchen supported by the electrifying keys by Alex.

After all is said and done I’m sure you’ll get addicted to the music by Bad Baron, especially if you’re a longtime admirer of Sleaze Rock with an European touch, with Ace Of Hearts representing more than just the first step in their promising career but an amazing addition to the Finnish rock front. Hence, don’t forget to follow them on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream more of their music on Spotify, and to purchase your copy of Ace Of Hearts from the Pride & Joy Music webstore or from Apple Music, keeping the flames of Hard Rock burning and, consequently, bringing some heat to our hearts and obviously to the land of ice and snow.

Best moments of the album: Edge of Our Dreams, Going Down In Flames, Rock In The City and One Minute To Midnight.

Worst moments of the album: Long Road Home.

Released in 2022 Pride & Joy Music

Track listing
1. Edge of Our Dreams 3:11
2. Can You Love Someone (For Just One Night) 3:15
3. Breakdown In Communication 3:47
4. Hungry 3:48
5. Rebel Heartache 4:54
6. Lights Go Out 3:57
7. Interlude 0:46
8. Our Story Isn’t Over 4:04
9. Going Down In Flames 3:20
10. Rock In The City 4:27
11. One Minute To Midnight 3:20
12. Long Road Home 3:50
13. Anthem For Rock’n’Roll 4:39

Band members
Lauri Huovinen – vocals, bass
Tommy Widdow – guitar
Alex Kron – keyboards
Sammy South – drums