DELANY – Blaze And Ashes (2009)
Delany is a brand-new fascinating project with internationally well-known musicians such as Lana Lane, David Readman and Davy Vain.
The concept album “Blaze & Ashes” is based on Wolfgang Hohlbein’s continuation of his successful fantasy novels “Chronicle of the immortal”.
The concept of “Blaze & Ashes” was launched by Volker Leson (from the german band Wizard)
Besides of Volker Leson, Davy Vain is one of the main songwriters / lyricists.
Davy knows, like no one other, how to create great song structures with catchy melodies so that each song becomes his very own special vibe and emotion!
Beside Volker and Davy, a young and talented guy of the new generation of rock is the third songwriter: Torsti Spoof of Finnish hard rock band Leverage.
As to Lana Lane, it is not even necessary to announce her in a fancy manner. Lana is an international star, when we are talking about progressive & symphonic metal and classic rock.
Along with Lana Lane in the first row is also David Readman of Pink Cream 69, Adagio and Voodoo Circle.
David is a fascinating charismatic singer who convinces not only in the studio, but electrifies his live audience with his voice and charisma.
The ex-Wunderkind Jamie Scott (Vain), who already joined the legendary metal band Vicious Rumors at the age of 16, played guitar on the album together with Dano Boland from Wizard.
Tommy Rickard is responsible for all drums on the album and no one else as keyboard mastermind Erik Norlander is doing keyboards on “Love Tears”.
Dennis Ward is known for brilliant and powerful productions and once again he refined “Blaze And Ashes” with his mix and mastering.
01. Blood and Ashes (vocals by David Readman)
02. Here Comes Lonely (vocals by Davy Vain)
03. Love Tears (vocals by Lana Lane)
04. Incarnation (vocals by David Readman)
05. Web Over London (vocals by David Readman)
06. Eternity is Yours (vocals by Lana Lane)
07. Planets Turning (vocals by Davy Vain)
08. Shadow on Your Heart (vocals by Lana Lane)
09. Distance of Love (vocals by David Readman)
10. Dead Undead (vocals by David Readman)
11. London Bridge (vocals by David Readman)
Lineup:
LANA LANE – Vocals
DAVID READMAN – Vocals
DAVY VAIN – Producer, Songwriter, Vocals
TOMMY RICKARD – Drums
JAMIE SCOTT – Rhythm and Lead Guitars
VOLKER LESON – Songwriter, Bass
DANO BOLAND – Rhythm Guitar
PETER WEIGEL – Engineer
320Kbps
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LOS ANGELES – Neverland (2009)
LOS ANGELES is a band project started in 2007 featuring the extraordinary singer Michele Luppi.
Michele cut his teeth at the VIT Los Angeles, with Robin Randall (co-writer of hits for FM, Mark Free, James Christian etc) as one of his musical coaches.
He teamed up with bass player and producer Fabrizio Grossi (Glenn Hughes, From the Inside, Vertigo etc.) to give birth to a project that could make him express his Melodic Rock artistic roots.
Michele became widely known during the years in the Hard Rock and Metal scene, singing with the Italian Progressive Metal band Vision Divine on 3 studio albums and one live DVD.
He’s also the leader and producer of the new Melodic Metal band named Killing Touch.
LOS ANGELES concept is to tribute the AOR greats that shaped Luppi’s singing and songwriting abilities.
Contrary to the first record that relied heavily on external songwriters,
this new album features the songwriting collaboration between Luppi and Grossi, with more contributions from Eric Ragno (China Blue), Joey Sykes (Hugo) and more.
There is also a stunning new version of Richard Marx’s “Nothing to Hide”: another fitting tribute to one of AOR music giants.
While Luppi’s astounding vocals can be described as Mark Free meets Eric Martin, LOS ANGELES is a true AOR beauty which is a must for all the Melodic Rock fans!
01. Neverland 5:21
02. Nothing To Hide 4:42
03. City Of Angels 5:55
04. Promises 6:26
05. Wait For You 4:49
06. Nowhere To Run 4:14
07. Tonight Tonight 5:02
08. Higher Love 3:49
09. Living Inside 4:14
10. Welcome To My Life 3:38
11. Paradise
LINE-UP:
Michele Luppi: vocals
Fabrizio Grossi: bass & programming
With
Tommy Denander, Joey Sykes, Roberto Priori: guitars
Eric Ragno: keyboards
Tony Morra: drums
Highly Recommended
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ON THE RISE – Dream Zone (2009)
Hailing from Bergen, Norway, Terje Eide (lead & background vocals, guitars) is the founder and only member of ON THE RISE.
Terje first captured the public ear at age 16, as singer, guitarist and songwriter.
His musical career began in earnest a year later, through winning a local talent contest.
He later enjoyed a stint with the band Heaven & Hell, a rock institution in Bergen in the 80s.
In 1986 he won the Norwegian National Rock Championship on national TV with the band The Heat. He started his own band a few years later.
Terje has spent several years exploring various musical genres, as well as playing with local artists as a guitarist, singer and backup singer.
This capacity landed him a variety of large-scale shows and concerts, backing acclaimed Norwegian artists.
Terje went back to his Melodic Rock roots in 2000 starting a project who later on became ON THE RISE.
Several rock magazines wrote that ON THE RISE created the melodic rock ultimate debut album, boasting influences from the likes of Toto, Nelson and Boston with elements of the typical Scandinavian melodic rock.
A few years later, Terje managed to put together the songs that are now on the long awaited follow up album entitled “Dream Zone”.
In Terje’s words “I’m very happy with the new album. The songs are catchy, groovy and they’ve got the strong choruses and melody lines that I always want them to have. It’s been a joyful musical journey.
An album I can support 110%”.
01. Lifeline 3:15
02. Lost Your Track 4:19
03. Dream Zone 3:59
04. Edellyn 4:54
05. Alive 3:52
06. In The Line Of Fire 3:15
07. Get Out Of Here 3:33
08. Fly Away 4:38
09. No Time To Lose 3:44
10. Why Wait Another Day 4:51
11. Tomorrow Never Dies 3:48
12. Howling At The Moon 3:33
13. Find A Way (bonus track) 3:06
LINE-UP:
Terje Eide – Lead & Background Vocals, All Guitars, Keyboards, Bass
with
Erik Engebretsen: drums
Christian Wolff: Keyboards & Bass on 1, 2, 7, 10 & 12 / Lead Guitars on 2 & 10 / Acoustic Guitars on 10
Eric Ragno: Piano & Keyboards on 1, 3, 4 & 11
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BLACKWOOD CREEK (Kip Winger) – ST (2009)
BLACKWOOD CREEK is a Kip Winger side project put together with his brother Nate on drums and childhood friend Peter Fletcher on guitar.
It all actually started in 1969 in Littleton, Colorado when a 7 year old Kip Winger walked up to Peter Fletcher and said: “Hey, you got big lips, you wanna fight?”.
Fletcher then stood up and towered over Winger at which point they started a band instead!
They reconvened in the basement of the Wingers house where Kip’s older brother Nate was pounding on the drums.
Blackwood Creek was born.
They went on to play every Jr. High and High school and eventually night clubs in their path, performing songs by their favourite bands like Grand Funk, Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin and their original songs which they were particularly passionate about, to the point of getting fired from jobs for not playing enough popular material.
In 1980 they went their separate ways.
Nate and Fletcher went to Los Angeles, Kip went to New York, where he landed a gig with Alice Cooper and then went on to form Winger.
Nate recorded with many bands in L.A. including Ratt, Kix, Europe.
Fletcher formed the Pigmy Love Circus, including drummer Danny Carey from Tool.
Blackwood Creek reformed in 2007 to record 11 new songs, in a melodic, classic rock vein.
It’s obvious that the chemistry is still rock solid.
These 11 tracks embody 40 years of blood, sweat and tears of 3 musicians who started out together, went their separate ways and reform on common ground.
01 – Out In Outer Space
02 – Nothing But The Sun
03 – Your Revolution
04 – Dead Stung
05 – After You Heart
06 – Albatross
07 – Jimmy And Georgia
08 – Rack Of Greed
09 – Love Inspector
10 – Joy Ride
11 – Wooden Shoe
Kip Winger: vocals, bass, acoustic guitars, production
Peter Fletcher: guitars
Nate Winger: drums & percussion
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BLANC FACES – Falling From The Moon (2009)
Blanc Faces, headed by the brothers duo Robbie and Brian La Blanc, debuted in 2005 with their self titled album showing the world that the time for big harmonies was not over.
With a stunning production and some truly brilliant songs, Blanc Faces managed to catch the attention of the entire Melodic Rock oriented press and loads of new fans.
Little by little the two brothers (who by the way have an outstanding career in music including providing background vocals on music involving Toto lead singer Bobby Kimball and legendary singer Ronnie Spector) started putting together musical material for the second album which they completed in the summer of 2009.
Not wanting to touch a team that gave superb results on the debut record, Blanc Faces worked again with Kyle Woodring (Dennis DeYoung; Survivor; John Mellencamp) on drums, Jeff Batter (Cannata) on keyboards, and Butch Taylor and Michael Patzig on lead guitars.
Just a few weeks after the completion of the record the sad news of Kyle Woodring passing away reached everyone, so the entire album is dedicated to this amazing musician.
Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69, Place Vendome) delivered once again a superior quality in the mixing sessions so once again the end result is an astonishing album that restores the faith in Classic AOR / Melodic Rock music.
If you are a fan of Journey, Foreigner and Survivor, you will love this recording.
A future Classic.
Highly Recommended!
01 – I Come Alive
02 – Falling From The Moon
03 – I Swear To You
04 – Everything
05 – It’s All About The Love
06 – Goodbye Summer Goodbye
07 – Deep In The Heart
08 – Don’t Take It Away
09 – Like A Believer
10 – Light Of The World
11 – I Will
12 – Fly
Brian La Blanc : Vocals, Bass
Robbie La Blanc : Vocals, Guitar
Kyle Woodring : Drums
Jeff Batter : Keyboards
Butch Taylor , Michael Patzig : Lead Guitars
320Kbps
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