Danny Danzi has an almost unspotted image as a perfect musican, technican and perfectionist. Raised in South Jersey and famous for his distinct innovative style and amazing versatility as both multi instrumentalist and recording engineer. His former band Sentinel supported acts like Cinderella - and later his band Passion opened for Britney Fox, Heavens Edge and Tangier.
It has been 4 years since the debut "Somewhere lost in Time" on Z Records - and as far as I remember it was a tour de force in .... Danny Danzi himself. He played almost every instrument and recorded the whole CD by himself. This time around Danny decided to put a band together. It features the talents of Andy Slostad on additional song writing and rhythm guitar, Wayne Davis bass, Timmay Lloyd on the drums and Phil Buckleman on keyboards. This new album is a bit heavier all in all - but on the other hand this is a far more mature and commercial fit product than the more anonymous debut. This is just about THE manual for melodic rock anno 2004 - great production, big song writing, skilled musicianship and powerful and recognizable vocals - sounding a bit like Sammy Hagar/Little Ceasar/Journey/Hardline - and that is not a bad reference at all. With his inspirational roots in the 80's ground Danzi manages to lift the genre to new levels with an updated sound and production. This record is highly recommended, and I will not point out any tracks as they are all great and covers all the spectrum from powerful rockers with screaming guitars to soft acustic driven ballads with a subject and an attitude.

R.A.W was formerly known in their homeland Sweden as PUMP - and started out as a cover band! They have been playing backing for artists like Ian Haugland, Tommy Nilsson and Kee Marcello.
Besides these musical facts you will probably recognize three members from Dalton, too: Bo Lindmark on vocals, Anders Lindmark on bass and Adam Karsnäs on bass - here they are followed by the energetic Micke Norr Larson on guitars.
Way back in 1992 they were signed by EMI Sweden and started the recording - but they got in an open fight and the album simply called "First" was released in 1995 with the bands new name with the single "Don't tell me Lies" as an ice-breaker - originally the band released the acustic ballad "First Time Love" back in 1992.
Before the band finally broke up they released a second album called "Now we're cookin'" in 1997. Now MTM Classix is re-releasing this hard rock, pop rock, melodic rock gem featuring two previously unreleased bonus tracks - great. The record is filled with energetic riffs and great songs from heavy pop in "Golddiggers" and the very riff based rocker "Thank God It's Friday" a monster riff i must say, but also the emotional duet with a female vocalist on the track "Touch of Love" is an absolute favorite. Now I simply must find the second album!

Reckless is another forgotten Swedish act being re-released on the MTM Classix label. The band started out around 1993 and came out of the ashes of Line Up which featured vocalist Patrick Axelsson and made one record called "lucky One" from 1992. When Robert Monegrim from Explode on guitars, Stefan Orhamn on drums, Johan Romert on keyboards and Magnus Östborg on bass joined they made a nice mixture of heavy riffs, big choruses and nice melodies.
In 1994 the band one and only album came out - but in Japan only. It was produced by Quint Starkie and the whole album is a bit more rough than other Classix releases - these guys is inspired by Scorpions, Ratt and/or Dokken, but manages to cover the spectrum from heart wrenching ballads like "Got you on my Mind" to powerful rockers like "Livin' without you". The most significant trademarks here are Axelssons high pitched vocals and the rough screaming riff based guitars from Monegrim.
Reckless has maybe not invented the feature "Melodic power rock" as their whole expression is heard on many records before - but it is well played and somehow it is great to know that it wasn't all that wimpy at the time!

Brides of Destruction is the a quartet featuring bassist Nikki Sixx, guitarist/skater Tracii Guns, new vocalist London LeGrand and drummer Scot Coogan. The new album "here come the Brides" is produced and mixed by the "Dynamic Duo" of Steve Bruno and Steve Thompson - and to me it's suprisingly raw & "live" in both musical style and gneral expression.
The whole album is mix of melodic punk, nu-breed, alternative garage rock, psychedelic and pure classic hard rock from Los Angeles. And there several high lights on this not very consistant release. My favorites are the melodic punk track "Life" and the (dare I say Guns N Roses inspired?) power track "Revolution".
But don't write this record off before hearing the last track "Only gets so far" which is almost soft and balladesque!

I only know this much about the excellent Swiss band Crystal Ball - they have just released their 4th studio album AND they have once been supportting act for Danish rockers Prettty Maids.
In the past they worked a lot with producer Tommy Newton - but "Hellvetia" is recorded in collaboration with Stefan Kaufmann from Accept. The powerful vocalist Mark Sweeney is great and is backed up very good by a team of talented and skilled musicians. The riff orientated power metal is inspired by a great bunch of other bands from that area like Axxis, Pink Cream 69, Krokus and first and foremost (early) Gotthard.
There are many memorable tracks on this one like the epic "Last Dance" with a splendid guitar solo in the middle ... and yes, off course there IS a grand ballad with a piano on this release it is placed in the end and called "Wasn't it Love". Great! I'm already searching their webste for more information.

"The Hunger" is a little appetizer on what to expect from the forthcoming album with the melodic/progressive quintet from the South of Sweden Mister Kite - the album "Box of Fear" is schedueled February 18th!
The hype of the band was awesome prior to their debut "All in Time" from 2002 and I can imagine that the reactions for the new album will be just as ecstatic. The band featuring Alf Wemmenlind on vocal, Anton Johansson on bass, Mats Bergentz on drums, Magnus Kristensson on guitars and Tomas Djurfeldt on Keyboards/guitars are all SO good and in tune with the other members and this gives the listener a very satisfying experience - it must be a blast to see/hear these guys in live action. I sadly never got the chance in spite that Mister Kite was support to DIO in 2002 on their Scandinavian tour.
So i'm looking forward to hear more from this 5 fine Swedish musicians to whom the future already is a fact - and yes, the track "Bloodsucker" is an old Deep Purple classic taken from the "Blackmore's Castle" tribute.

"Turn the Page" is the debut album from Los Angles based band Tower and according to their press material it sets a high standard among today's new generation of melodic rock outfits.
Fronted by critically acclaimed singer Jerry Gabriel who also sang on Joshua Perahia's "Something to say" back in 2001, Tower serves up a pioneering new sound that is fresh and exciting.
Tipping their hats to the styling of Queensr˙che and Whitesnake the band has put together a collection of majestic anthems and well crafted ballads that showcase the bands consummate songwriting abilities. Worldclass musicianship highlighted by Jerry's Coverdale-esque vocals makes "Turn the Page" one of the more exciting independent releases!

Multi instrumentalist John Kalishes has made a new solo CD entitled "Mirage" featuring the voices of Michael Hill and Susan Waterman and a guest appearence by keyboardplayer John Barker.
Kalishes and Hill spent the better part of 2002 and 29003 writing and recording this decidely different project. This couple has made an edgy rock affair that combines huge guitars and enormous drums with melodies and arrangements that bring to mind a deft melding of Led Zep and Beatles coupled with the aggression and intensity of some more modern rock offerings.
After doing time with Rick Danko - former member of The Band and Benjamin Orr - former member of the Cars after their respective superstar bands disbanded John Kalishes stepped outside of his resume and recorded his musings on love, sex, humanity and inhumanity via the zeros and ones that make up "Mirage".
Its not rock or pop - neither alt/metal/world but if you like real music that deals with the ups and downs in life please pass this release on!

Legacy was formed in Dayton, Ohio in the summer of 1999. The members of Legacy joined together with the idea to bring the structure back to metal. The band focuses on technical prowess and layered vocals. They are fronted by powerful vocalist Randy Allen and guitar wizzard Darin Moore along with bass player Patrick palmer and drummer Andy Hall.
They recorded their debut album "Slay the Beast" which gave them the possibility to play with acts like Quiet Riot and Michael Harris's Transfuzion - with this album the band hopes to get a major record deal - and the quality of the material is good! It is hard, powerful though melodic and last but not least well played!

I have always had great difficulties placing this Danish/Swedish five-piece on a musical map. In their grand epic compositions there are elements from almost every genre - folk, power metal, classical, progressive and orchestral hard rock. Like taking a mix of Gary Moore, Blackmore's Night, Ronnie James Dio, Vanden Plas, King Diamond and Skyclad! (get the picture?)
Wuthering Heights has always been the brainchild of guitarist now also bassist Erik Ravn - and on this 2003/2004 release he is joined by fellow Danes Rune Brink on keyboards, Morten Sřrensen on drums and two Swedes Henrik Flyman on additional guitars and new vocalist Nils Patrik Johansson from Astral Doors replacing Kristian Andrén. "Far from the madding Crowd" is like its predecessor "To travel for Evermore" produced by Tommy Hansen at the Jailhouse Studios - and the keywords on that is crystal clear, powerful and on the spot! The always epic amazing artwork is this time made by David Wyatt.
This new release is very clearly a product from Wuthering Heights but there are more elements from the melodic genre and more folk/gaelic music roots - and the album functions lyrically as the last part of the trilogy about the lonely wanderer!
I think this release is the best from this folk/speed/progressive/whatever band because of its clearly leaning towards the folk elements combined with the very huge arrangement with an amazing production and a lot of good stories and melodies in the valise.

Snake Charmer was in its origin formed back in 1993 with vocalist Peter Sandberg (Alien), guitarist Sven Cirnski (Jet Set Baby/Bad Habit/ Raise Cain), bassist Per Stadin (Billionaires Boys Club/Silver Mountain) and drummer Anders Johansson (anyone...) they released their debut "Smoke & Mirrors" with guest musician keyboarder Jens Johansson. They went seperate ways for a while - but in 1997 Per Stadin reformed the band with vocalist Göran Edman (Street Talk, Malmsteen, Glory....), guitarst Benny Jansson (Erika/Mindcrime) and both Johansson brothers. The CD "Backyard Boogaloo" originally came out in 1998 - but only for the Japanese market. Here in 2003 the new sub-label MTM Classix has taken this release given it a polish and added three bonus tracks - "Cold hearted Woman", "White noise Boogie" and "Heart of a Demon".
The musicians on this record has proven their worth in many other fractions and together they work PERFECTLY! This is Scandinavian melancholic heavy/pop/rock in the vein of Skagarack, Street Talk and Glory. Vocalist Edman sometimes sounds like a young and fresh Paul Rodgers from bad Company - and some tracks are rather funky. But the absolute hammer on this one is the Jeff Silbar/Mark Baker penned "Someday you're gonna love somebody" with its fantastic chorus and breathtaking acustic bridge - if you only want to buy one album this fall, you might consider "Backyard Boogaloo" as a favorite!

The Consortium Project has reached to the 3rd part - and still it is a part of Ian Parry's rendition to the realm of symphonic, progressive power metal. This third part is called C III "Terra Incognita" (The undiscovered World) and featured about anyone and anything you would expect of an album of this genre and format.
...such as Casey Grillo (Drums, Kamelot), Jan Bijlsma (Bass, Vengeance), Stephan Lill (Guitars, Vanden Plas) and Joshua Dutrieux (Piano & Keyboards, Elegy), as well as featuring guest appearances by the likes of Mike Chlasciak (ex Halford/Pain Museum) and Sascha Paeth (Heaven’s Gate), Ian has managed to create not only technically impressive release full of instrumental flair and extremely skilled song-writing, but also a splendid mixture of eleven very diverse, profound songs which surely appeal to fanatics of both melodic Power / Heavy Metal as well as those who enjoy technical Symfo-Rock. Spanning from double bass driven, extremely pounding harmonic up-tempo songs (“Spirit Of Kindness”, “Reductio Ad Absurdum”), grooving, technical mid-paced compositions (“Nemesis”, “Great Exploration”), two catchy and rather epic near-ballad material (“White Sands [California Lighthouse]”, “Beyond The Gateway Of Legends”), C III guarantees a highly entertaining journey between the best of worlds and styles within the melodic Metal universe, especially recommended to followers of acts such as Elegy, Masterplan, Circle II Circle or also Symphony X. Unique to C III is the fact that Ian Parry shares vocal performances with some amazing female vocalists, enhancing the concept of a world being saved by women. C III, written by Ian Parry, is a conceptional story which takes us on a mystical journey 375 years into the future in search of “Terra Incognita ( The Undiscovered World)” to reunite mankind. Feel free to sit down, relax your mind and join the Consortium Project for a trip to distant spheres of (in)definite artistic challenge and outstanding futuristic dreamscapes in Metal!

MTM Music from Germany has made this "Volume 9" appetizer to get some reactions on some of the already released records and some records to come in 2003/2004 - and i'm already excited about every single release in the near future. It WILL be great to hear the new Shiva-album, the new album from Seven Wishes and the new Northrup/Shortino. It IS great to hear the never-in-Europe released Radioactive song "Somewhere Someday, and ...., and....
The album is ideal for the car stereo - , so take a long trip out in nowhere and play it LOUD and I can't hardly wait to the full albums!

I think this is the first tribute that is trying to feature the whole aspect of their heros career. This compilation includes hits from the both big selling eras of Van Halen featuring David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar (but NOT Gary Cherone!).
On the album there are "Panama" with Jimmy Crespo and Richard Kendrik, "Ain't talking 'bout Love" with Jet Black Joy, "Why can't this be love" with Gravity Pharm, "When it's Love" with Richard Kendrik and "Right now" with 5150 (?) - as well as solo tracks from both singers including "Yankee Rose" with Enuff Znuff, "Tobacco Road" with Corey Craven and "Shy Boy" with Tony Harnell, George Lynch and Jason McMaster (wasn't that a Talas track, originally?) from Diamond Dave's "Eat 'em and smile" album and Hagar hits like "I can't drive 55" with Shane Volk, "Mas Tequila" with Full Tilt and "There's only one Way to rock" with Kix's Steve Whiteman.
There are some good tracks among these ones - Van Halen back catalogue is big, and I suppose I will always be disappointed with the selection of songs. But these guys deliveres a good performance and it is great to hear George Lynch and Tony Harnell on the even more great track "Shy Boy" - but also Full Tilt frontman Shane Volk impresses me on "I can't drive 55" - boy, can that guy scream! A good and decent product - and a big range in time and space of the ultimate party band Van Halen.

Way back in 1995 the Swedish/Australian duo PEO and Rod West recorded this rare melodic gem! PEO is the nickname for a splendid Swedish guitarist who grew up with poor eyesight, but a good ear for music - which according to the notes on the inner cover meant that he didn't learn to drive a car, but was great at changing the cassettes in it. He started his musical career at the age of 15 with his first recording studio. Besides that he was in numerous pop and rock bands and even toured internationally.
He has written for, recorded and produced many Scandinavian artists. I have found his name related to bands like Axia and the melodic Christians Leviticus - with whom he recorded an album produced by the famous Elephante brothers.
The songs on "Look what i've started" is a collaboration between PEO and Australian lyricist and song writer Rod West. And each and every song is well produced, powerful and emotional - a real melodic rock/AOR treasure. There are some songs and arrangements here that reminds me of Torben Schmidt's "A Bit on the Side" - some solos, too BTW!
There are a lot of memorable tracks here like opener "Could this be Love" with an acustic intro and a massive chorus, and a ballad like "Only one Love" could be made by Europe in the late 80's.
I have have heard that he has made a second album "The Man behind the Face" but if any of you know more about the past, present and/or future of this splendid guitarist - please let me know. I must say that i was pretty surprised by the quality of this album - a must have!