4/5

Bad Habit started back in 1986, when New York-born guitar player Hal Marabel got together with former member Doc Shannon. The idea was to create music that mixed hard rock with melodic tendencies from the past experiences of both. Main influences were coming from bands like JOURNEY, TOTO, VAN HALEN and BOSTON but also from other genres such as Blues and Classical Music. The next musician to become part of the band was Patrik Södergren (then Stevie Rose), followed by Bax Fehling and the original drummer Jan Andersson. Jan was then replaced by Jaime Salazar shortly after the release of the debut mini-album "Young & Innocent" in 1987. To date, BAD HABIT have released 5 CDs, 4 singles (with videos) and a mini-album. The last CD released was the "Adult Orientation" in 1998. In particular their debut full album "After Hours" (1989, Virgin) made waves among the AOR and melodic rock lovers in the whole of Europe. The band has not played live extensively, but did gig a lot during 1987-1990. In 1989, the band toured the former Soviet Union. The tour was a major success in all possible ways and lent many new experiences to the band members. The come-back album "Hear-Say" is mix of typical BAD HABIT style material with in your face guitars, a heavy beat and melodic keyboard landscapes - all combined in catchy & rocking tunes. The line-up features again - like on "Adult Orientation" - Bax Fehling on lead vocals, Hal Marabel on guitars and keyboards, Sven Cirnski on lead guitar, Patrik Södergren on bass and Jaime Salazar on drums. With "Hear-say", BAD HABIT are back stronger than ever and this album will delight all classic AOR and melodic rock lovers ! The album is hevier than "Adult Orientation" and openers "To love you" and "I swear" are very direct but as a good contradiction track number 3 and 4 "All that I want" and "Walk of Life" is melodic and radiofriendly.
A great album with a lot of melodic tracks - buy it for yourself this Christmas.

4/5

You can't help admiring an enthusiastic recording artist as Phil Vincent - he has made a very listenable record with a lot of great tracks, and all self financed and independent!.
The artists performing on "Unknown Origin" are: Phil Vincent obviously all Vocals, lead rhythm & acoustic guitars and synths; Paul Colombo on lead rhythm & acoustic guitars; William V. Arnold on bass and percussion; Tanion DeAngelis on drums and las but not least David Zychek on lead guitars. The album was mastered by well known engineer Kevin McNoldy, who has worked with Dave Matthews, at Crystalphonic Studios. And as he writes it himself on his website: "Melodic Rock with class! Influences include Journey, Harem Scarem, the Beatles, Survivor, Boston, Pink Floyd, Talisman and Dokken." And in between those bands you will find what Phil Vincent is all about. My favorite tracks are among others the Beatles-esque "All I need" and the furious opener "Thanks for nothing" but also the aggressive "Make no mistake" is a great tune with a great solo btw.
I must say that i'm impressed by the quality of this release - the melodies, the production and the artistic level is very high! Keep up the good work here...!

3/5

Stefano Panunzi is a recording artist hailing from Italy - and west coast inspired (almost jazzy) tracks may be a little off my general taste in music - but then again... it never hurts opening up your musical horizon!?
So if you like me is in a dark mode here in the wintertime - this album is very much making pictures of your inner emotions. On the album "Timelines" Panunzi plays keyboards and samples - and a lot of friends play all different kinds of instrument here - like Mike Appelbaum on horns, Mick Karn on bass, Peter Chilvers on electric piano, supported by a lot of Italians! I'm not there yet - but i'll listen a lot to this in the dark hours of December!