Who? The talent behind the great Endeverafter, that’s who. This one-man band album (aside from some drum tracks) is a diverse mix of modern rock, glam, punk/pop, hard rock and even some 80s vibes.

It is a bit all over the place, and it doesn’t match the sonic or musical intensity of his previous band, but it does offer some interesting musical left turns and some decent riff driven harmonies.

There are a few really good moody rockers on here with a depth of melody not always heard in this style.

Production is a bit raw and the vocals aren’t standard fare, but overall I like it.

The great vocalist Russell Allen and mega-guitar god Magnus Karlsson are back - joined not by Jorn Lande on this occasion - but rather Annette Olzon (Alyson Avenue, ex-Nightwish).

The vocals may be shared with a female voice for the first time, but the music is everything you’ve come to love from Karlsson. Big, bombastic and brilliantly produced and mixed.

The songs are superb, the vocals a delight. More please!

In my reviews-absence there has been some superb releases, one of which is the mighty Harem Scarem and their 15th studio release (WTF!) Change The World.

Once again, I was honoured to work with the guys sequencing the album and think it has a pretty tasty flow. As I’ve been with the band since the very week of their debut album, its not hard to appreciate my love for these guys and how they are quite possibly, the most consistent band of the last 30 years.

This album is no exception. It’s a flip of the coin as to whether I prefer this to the “perfect” predecessor, the acclaimed ‘United’ release. I think I will have to make this another perfect album as there are no obvious flaws – it sounds a million bucks, is drenched in harmonies and mighty choruses and the three-play of Aftershock, Searching For Meaning and The Death Of Me is about as good as it gets anywhere, from anyone.

This is what melodic rock is all about.

It’s Magnus Karlsson again! Yes, he’s back with a new Freefall album alongside the Allen/Olzon release, and I’m pleased to say that the song quality hasn’t been split between the two projects. There’s another dozen cracking melodic metal songs here, filled with Magnus' trademark double kickdrums and flailing guitars.

Vocals this time around are delivered by a varied crew - Jorn Lande apprentice’s Dino Jelusick and Renan Zonta both get 2 apiece, Magnus does a couple and naturally there’s an appearance by 'Mr. Everywhere & Then Some', Ronnie Romero. Also joining in the fun is Tony Martin, Noora Louhimo and Mike Andersson.

I have to say that Zonta sounds amazing and in this setting, even more powerful than on The Electric Mob album.

Top notch all-round, it’s a double dose of Magnus madness, regaining his classic sound that went AWOL on The Ferrymen records.

The Dennis Ward fronted Khymera returned earlier in 2020 for a fresh slice of New Classic AOR, following on from past albums without skipping a beat. Love Dennis’ moody vocal delivery and the even mix of keyboards and guitars. Songs written by the best of the melodic rock scene and expertly executed by the killer lineup of:

Vocals and Bass - Dennis Ward; Guitars - Michael Klein; Keyboards - Eric Ragno & Drums - Pete Newdeck.

Finland’s One Desire are another artist in Scandinavia’s great take over of the melodic rock world that has been going strong for a decade now. Their debut was unbelievable, but this is next level stuff.

Heavier, more diverse, darker and more intense, Midnight Empire is a world class record with world class production and performances. Add in the godly vocals of André Linman and some powerful songs and a near perfect modern AOR record is yours.

The mid-album epic is worthy of worship, while it is surrounded by glorious uptempo, anthemic brilliance.

Short review as the album has been out there a while now, but if you haven’t checked this album out, there should be no further delay – go!
PS. Whoever decided the original cover art should be swapped out for the one used should get a good talking to.

I’ve actually passed the point of being sick of hearing Ronnie Romero’s name connected with every damn release coming from the metal world. In the last year or so we’ve had Vandenburg, Rainbow, Magnus Karlsson’s Freefall, MSG, Core Leoni, The Ferrymen and now in 2021 he’s fronting another project. Enough already?

I think so, but Lords Of Black is actually his band and Ronnie (together with guitarist Tony Hernando) is back where he started here and this is where I want to hear his voice and where think he sounds most natural. After all, he does have a killer voice.

The 4th Lords Of Black album is an onslaught of classic European melodic metal – mixing Dio, Maiden, Helloween and the other usual suspects into a nice blend of high octane, guitar and rhythm fuelled, uptempo metal with a strong commercial bent, not to mention offering both traditionalists and contemporary metal fans something to like.

It’s a very well-produced and mixed sounding record. Its frustrating to hear metal so well executed when so many AOR records have questionable production quality. Of course, that is a side issue to this. Can’t fault it – Lords Of Black deliver once again.

Eclipse are unquestionably one of the greatest and most consistent bands of the modern hard rock era. Now we get a new live CD/DVD, a happy accident after the guys set up recording and filming of a hometown gig themselves. It turned out so well the band offered it to their label, who were wise to act upon it immediately.

The set is really well recorded (and filmed) and sees the guys at the top of their game as far as performance, stage craft and energy in delivering these songs.

Viva La VicTOURia takes in the band’s performance in Gothenburg, Sweden on December 21, 2019 and covers 18 tracks as well as 3 songs from the Quarantine Live broadcast earlier this year, the studio version of their cover of Driving One Of Your Cars and 2 recent acoustic bonus tracks.

That makes for a 2CD 24 song set plus a DVD and if that doesn’t convince you this is a mandatory purchase, then nothing will. Absolutely essential!

The extraordinary, uber-versatile Jeff Scot Soto has taken this opportunity to run over 10 tracks from his very varied and distinguished career in “unplugged” form.

Unplugged may be the easiest term to describe this, but it’s a little simplistic for what this actually is. The 10 tracks have been re-envisioned and totally re-worked to the point where a couple are almost new tracks.

Every track is a winner – not hard when you’re picking 10 amazing songs – but even then, some stand out as really surprising and might even rival their original versions for passion and performance.

JSS’ vocals here are nothing short of amazing and give the stripped back nature of the songs, you really get to hear him wail. For me, the voice is the lead instrument on this release.

As JSS fans, you’ll know the songs – but special mention goes to:

Eyes Of Love was one of the big songs that really launched JSS as a solo artist and it sounds fresh and vibrant here.

The big ballad If This Is The End is simply sublime here. A vocal that defies gravity and so much passion.

Holding On was another key solo track and here features an even more soulful touch.

Till The End Of Time is re-made for acoustic guitar and sounds great.

Don’t Walk Away is perhaps the biggest left-turn of this release – re-imagined here as a R&B soul anthem….very cool.

Somebody 2 Love from the original Eyes album is another twisted gem. Soulful vocals, acoustic guitars and…a twang? Love it.

In a year of financial hardship and lack of tours, support the artist with a digital download purchase: https://music.apple.com/us/album/revision/1544421246 or https://www.amazon.com/Revision-Soto/dp/B08QFW2XNL/ref=sr_1_1

Great fun, relaxed and laid back, soulful and passionate – lots to love about these 10 songs and the production behind the re-thinking is well worth the investment here.

Aussie hard rockers Wicked Smile released their debut EP earlier this year. It’s a CD and digital release, so check your regular outlets for availability. For a release that’s only 4 tracks long, the guys make a real impact with this EP. 4 toe tapping, head banging, melodic hard rockers, with a classic era feel, yet a contemporary production courtesy of Paul Laine.

The band features the powerhouse vocals of Danny Cecati (ex-Pegazus & Eyefear), who delivers a raspy and at times gruff vocal, that ultimately turns melodic come chorus time. He really makes a big impact on this material. Guitarist Stevie Janevski (The Radio Sun & ex-Black Majesty) gets to really crank things up for the first time in a long while and he sounds ‘electrified’ on these 4 songs. Super heavy for The Radio Sun fans, but very comfortably at home for those that know Steve from the Black Majesty days.

Dave Graham joins Steve on guitars, with Glen Cav on bass and Jason Tyro on drums making up the very capable rhythm section.

Purchase on CD: https://store21429008.ecwid.com

It may only be an EP, but everything really comes together or Wicked Smile on this release. I’m left wanting more, with the 4 tracks all making their own mark. Outstanding start, hoping for a full-length album in the near future.

Berlin have joined a select few classic artists that have delved into their studio cuts to revive them with the backing of a symphony orchestra.

American 80s favourites Berlin, the sometimes pop, sometimes rock outfit have delivered a highly enjoyable set of 11 songs (and an intro), all given a really fresh revamp with the orchestral infusion. These aren't re-records - its the original songs, with a fresh mix.

This is a great reminder of how many great songs Berlin have - from the iconic Take My Breath Away to the underrated classic No More Words and their cult classics Sex (I'm A) and The Metro. Then in the latter years you get the rockier Like Flames, Will I Ever Understand You and the brilliant moody You Don't Know.

All wrapped in this rich symphonic tapestry - highly recommended!

Credit where credit is due, this is one of Frontiers Records best project ideas and the fact that the guys are delivering album number 4 shows that it has worked.

And in delivering their forth studio album, the W.E.T guys deliver another powerhouse statement. This is another classic for the genre and features 11 brilliant songs that lay a fresh path for the band without going outside the parameters of what we loved about the first three records.

‘Retransmission’ is melodic hard rock perfection from start to finish. From the glorious Big Boys Don’t Cry to the closing stadium knockout One Final Kiss. The album has a more direct, straightforward approach and is more guitar driven than its predecessors, changes you might think put the sound firmly into Eclipse territory, but no, W.E.T retains its own personality and there are still plenty of Robert Sall delivered keys underneath the layers and Jeff Scott Soto is a joy to listen to.

There are moments where you think this is Eclipse, but the JSS stamp quickly reminds you what you’re listening to. Erik Martensson is of course the chief architect and he has built another impressive 11 track structure here.

There’s two songs that could be described as ballads – but they’re more anthemic AOR songs (Got To Be About Love and What Are You Waiting For) – and the rest are all hands in the air singalong hard rockers with a crunch only matched by the sheer gloriousness of the harmonies.

Not only are there several moments that rival the best songs W.E.T have delivered to date, but there’s a few places where you think, wow, that’s a fresh take for these guys (such as the bombastic rhythm of How Far To Babylon).

And just when you think it just can’t get any bigger or better you get a song like You Better Believe It.

A perfect melodic hard rock record. Sharp production, blindingly good songs, huge vocals and even bigger harmonies and there’s 11 tracks of this where the pace barely take a breath and the quality doesn’t let up for a second.

Perfect.