Ten

Wed
29
Mar

TEN – Something Wicked This Way Comes (Album Review, 2023)

information persons: 
content: 
93%
Produced By: 
Gary Hughes
Label: 
Frontiers
Artist: 
Score: 
93
Categories: 
Reviews

This is Gary Hughes’ sixteenth album under the Ten moniker. 16! I’ve been a fan since the debut, having first heard it when Now & Then’s Mark Ashton sent me an advance to review in the early days of this site. Over the years members have come and gone, with Gary the one constant, and the sound has varied also – moving from melodic rock/AOR through to hard rock and even melodic metal on occasion.

This time it’s a bit of everything – there’s some heavier numbers, but also a ton of memorable AOR friendly songs – the most of any Ten album in the last several years. And I’m happy to report that the quality of these songs is as good as ever. I love what I’m hearing and this album stands out as one of the band’s better ones in a long rich history of great music. Nice to hear Gary singing in that warm AOR tone so familiar with the debut back in 1996.

Essential for Ten fans and well worthy for recent era fence sitters.

 
Fri
21
Sep

TEN Back Again With 'Illuminati' Due Nov 9

Artist: 
Friday, November 9, 2018
Categories: 
News Feed
 
Hot on the heels of last year’s “Gothica”, UK hard rock stalwarts TEN are returning with a new album, “Illuminati”! 
 
The album promises to be one of the hallmarks of their 22+ years career, where fans will easily spot all the trademark textures and flavours they have come to expect from TEN, with a consistent and solid spark of creativity throughout. “Illuminati” continues to build upon the rich legacy that the great British rockers have established in their 20+ year career. Listen NOW to the first track from the album “Jericho”!
 
“Illuminati” is said to be an elite, secret organization of world leaders, business authorities, innovators, artists, and other influential members of the global society. A coalition that unites influencers of all political, religious, and geographical backgrounds to further the prosperity of the human species as a whole. The album “Illuminati” brings the band’s atmospheres and sounds and weaves them into a reel of mysteries, esoteric tales, and elaborate spells, evoking embers that spark the imagination courtesy of the classic songwriting of vocalist Gary Hughes.
 
Following the success of the recent string of albums, from “Albion” to “Gothica”, Hughes is joined once again by guitarists Dann Rosingana, Steve Grocott and John Halliwell along with bass player Steve McKenna, keyboard maestro Darrel Treece-Birch, and drummer Max Yates. On their fourth outing as a collective unit, the musicians in TEN have raised the bar even higher than they had previously. The album is full of stunning guitar work over a rich keyboard, bass, and drum tapestry with Hughes’ rich vocals once again bringing the nuances of the intricate lyrics to life.
 
“Illuminati” was produced by Gary Hughes and mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward. TEN’s longstanding professional association with Dennis has been ongoing since he mixed their 2011 album, “Stormwarning” and has always guaranteed albums with stunning sound and production.
 
Tracklisting:
1. Be As You Are Forever
2. Shield Wall
3. The Esoteric Ocean
4. Jericho
5. Rosetta Stone 
6. Illuminati
7. Heaven And The Holier-Than-Thou
8. Exile
9. Mephistopheles
10. Of Battles Lost And Won
 
Produced by: Gary Hughes
 
Line-Up:
Gary Hughes (Vocals) 
Dann Rosingana (Lead Guitars)
Steve Grocott (Lead Guitars) 
John Halliwell (Rhythm Guitars) 
Darrel Treece-Birch (Keyboards)
Steve McKenna (Bass)
Max Yates (Drums)
 
Connect with TEN:
 
 
Fri
20
Jul

TEN, NORDIC UNION & HOLTER Albums Due Nov 9

Artist: 
 
TEN “Illuminati” out November 9, 2018 on CD/LP/Digital.
Tracklisting:
1. Be As You Are Forever
2. Shield Wall
3. The Esoteric Ocean
4. Jericho
5. Rosetta Stone
6. Illuminati
7. Heaven And The Holier-Than-Thou
8. Exile
9. Mephistopheles
10. Of Battles Lost And Won
 
 
Nordic Union "Second Coming" out November 9, 2018 on CD/LP/Digital. Nordic Union is the collaboration between Erik Martensson of Eclipse (and W.E.T.) and Ronnie Atkins of Pretty Maids. This will be their second album. You can hear their first album on all streaming services.
 
 
 
Holter "Vlad The Impaler" out November 9, 2018 on CD/LP/Digital.
Tracklisting:
1. The World`s On Fire
2. Awakened
3. Drums Of Doom
4. The Last Generation
5. I`ll Die For You
6. Shadows Of Love
7. Without You
8. Under My Skin
9. Vlad The Impaler
10. Save Me Part II
 
 
Wed
03
May

TEN Announces New Album "Gothica", Out July 7

Artist: 
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Categories: 
News Feed
 
British melodic hard rock band TEN has announced they will release their new album, "Gothica" on July 7.
 
The highly anticipated new album promises to be one of their strongest collection of songs to date. It is full of all the trademark textures and flavors we have come to expect from TEN, arguably one of the best and most consistent melodic hard rock bands in the genre. “Gothica” renews TEN’s longstanding association with the Frontiers label and proudly displays all the hallmarks of classic TEN albums and will surely continue to build upon the rich legacy that the great British rockers have forged over a career spanning 22 years and counting.
 
“Gothica” emerges as their darkest album to date. Embracing history, romance and erotic horror in equal measure as it does, the title proves to be a fitting name. As listeners, we are transported from the darker side of human nature to the nocturnal supernatural, a dramatic realm of nightmares and the forbidden. “Gothica” is cinematic in every sense of the word. A web of musically elaborate spells, evoking embers that spark the imagination courtesy of the classic song writing of vocalist Gary Hughes.
 
Of the album, Gary says, "I am extremely pleased with the collection of songs on "Gothica" as they feel like they belong together. The band are firing on all cylinders once again and it is a gift to the army of fans everywhere who have relentlessly supported us over the years. It is ironically fitting that our 13th studio album should be a little more sinister, at the same time retaining all the commercial traits usually associated with a Ten album."
 
Following their success on the recent albums “Albion” and “Isla De Muerta”, Hughes is joined once again by guitarists Dann Rosingana, Steve Grocott and John Halliwell along with bass player Steve McKenna, keyboard maestro Darrel Treece-Birch, and drummer Max Yates. On their third outing as a collective unit, the musicians in TEN have raised the bar even higher than they had previously. The album is full of stunning guitar work over a rich keyboard, bass, and drum tapestry with Hughes’ vocals once again bringing the nuances of the intricate lyrics to life.
 
“Gothica” was produced by Gary Hughes and mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward. TEN’s longstanding professional association with Dennis has been ongoing since he mixed their 2011 album, “Stormwarning”.
 
Additionally, the album features stunning original artwork by Stan W. Decker, depicting a beautiful enchantress reading incantations from a book whilst summoning shadowy characters from its pages. Stan has cleverly illustrated the piece in order to portray the characters emerging from the books pages as the actual characters from the songs on the album. The atmospheric sleeve photography is once again provided by the remarkably talented Adrian Ashworth.
 
Frontiers is proud to be working with the legendary TEN again and looks forward to sharing this stunning new album with the band's fans around the globe!
 
Tracklisting:
1. The Grail
2. Jekyll And Hyde
3. Travellers
4. Man For All Seasons
5. In My Dreams
6. The Wild King Of Winter
7. Paragon
8. Welcome To The Freak Show
9. La Luna Dra-cu-la
10. Into Darkness
 
TEN:
Gary Hughes - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Programming
Dann Rosingana – Guitar
Steve Grocott – Guitar
John Halliwell – Guitar
Steve McKenna - Bass Guitar
Darrel Treece-Birch – Keyboards
Max Yates - Drums and Percussion
Additional Backing Vocals – Karen Fell
 
 
 
Wed
18
May

TEN Return to the 'Battlefield' June 17 with Compilation Release

Artist: 
Friday, June 17, 2016
Categories: 
News Feed

TEN signed to Rocktopia Records back in 2014, in a similar fashion to their one-two release of their much lauded debut and follow-up 'Name of the Rose' in a 6 month period back in 1996, 'Albion' and 'Isla De Muerta' were released in November 2014 and May 2015 respectively. Both albums gained highly positive reviews with Gaetano Di Falco's wonderful art making striking covers.

2015 also saw the release of the 'Dragon And Saint George' EP which contained 3 exclusive bonus tracks.

With 'Albion' now completely sold out it seemed a great idea to collect all the Ten songs from their Rocktopia Records period - including all the Japanese bonus tracks and exclusive EP tracks - onto one Limited Edition double CD release (500 copies only) and sell for the price of a single CD.

As well as Ten fans, hard rock fans who have not previously bought their albums should hopefully be tempted to check them out with such a Value For Money release.

This new collection is titled 'Battlefield' and once again has a wonderful exclusive cover by Gaetano Di Falco.

Release date - June 17, 2016
 
 
 
Fri
11
Mar

TEN Sign New Album Deal With Frontiers

Artist: 
Categories: 
News Feed

Frontiers Music Srl is excited to announce the newly signed partnership with the band TEN for the release of a new studio album in 2017. In addition, the label acquired the band's full catalogue and will plan special releases in both physical and digital formats.

In April 1998, Frontiers Records released it first international release ever, that was from TEN and the album was the band's official live album, 'Never Say Goodbye'. That release paved the way for more successful releases, both for the label and the band.

TEN was also the very first band for Frontiers to make a dent in the national album charts. That happened with the band's fourth studio album, 'Spellbound' which landed at #100 on the official album charts in Germany.

That record remains the band's most successful release and part of a catalog including classy Melodic Hard Rock masterpieces such as 'The Name of The Rose', 'Babylon' and the awesome debut album, 'X'. With a sound rooted in traditional British Hard Rock (think Whitesnake, Rainbow and UFO) and elements of American Arena Rock, TEN are now stronger than ever. As proof of this, the band's latest lyric video for "The Dragon And Saint George" will be showcased at SXSW Film, Interactive media and Music Festival at Austin, TX on the 18th and 19th of March - enjoy the video here: https://youtu.be/bI3ZRlpR9Q4

Singer and songwriter Gary Hughes says: 'We are proud to return to Frontiers for a multi album deal that will secure both future and past legacies. It is a particularly poignant return, in that it brings Ten home to the label which began 20 years ago, releasing the Ten double live album 'Never Say Goodbye'. The new studio album, that is to be recorded this year, promises to bear all the commercial trade marks of classic Ten with plenty of power too. In addition, Frontiers plans to reissue the entire Ten anthology in a 14 disc box set to be entitle 'Opera Omnia' , the Latin phrase for Complete Works. Ten are returning home in many ways and the future longevity of the band and it's songs, is preserved for this new chapter in the bands ever evolving history'.

Get ready for the return of TEN!


 
 
Fri
25
Dec

TEN - The Dragon And Saint George EP (Review)

information persons: 
content: 
90%
Label: 
Rocktopia
Artist: 
Score: 
90
Friday, September 4, 2015
Categories: 
Reviews
 
The new EP from Ten isn’t just a single track excuse to promote the current album – it’s a definite companion piece to the Isla De Muerta opus.
Featuring exclusive artwork from Gaetano Di Falco, the EP has three previously unreleased tracks. And what good tracks they are too.
 
The excellent album track The Dragon And Saint George is followed by an epic sounding Muskateers: Soldiers of the King - classic ‘pomp a-la-Ten’, while The Prodigal Saviour is an uptempo melodic rock ride as is the early AOR Ten sounding Is There Anyone With Sense.
 
The EP also includes the European bonus track 'We Can Be As One' in case you don’t have that. Well worth it of course. Simply put, more classic Ten.
 
 
Wed
25
Nov

TEN 'The Dragon And Saint George' EP 12" Picture Disc Out Now

Artist: 
Release Year: 
2015
Categories: 
News Feed
 
Arriving 2 weeks earlier than expected, Ten's awesome picture disc for the 'Dragon & Saint George' EP is now in stock. Featuring superb artwork from Gaetano Di Falco and no less than SEVEN songs, three of which are unreleased and a fourth, the Japanese bonus track from 'Albion', is available outside Japan for the first time.
 
Receiving many glowing reviews, this is Ten at their irrepressible best, from historical epics like 'Musketeers - Soldiers of the King' to the currently pertinent political entreaty 'Is There Anyone With Sense?'

Limited to 350 copies world-wide, we have less than 100 copies in stock. Sure to increase in value due to its scarcity value. Order at www.rocktopiarecords.com for the perfect additional Christmas prezzy - or just treat yourself!  Signed copies of Isla De Muerta CD still available, as are red vinyl copies of 'Albion' (2 disc set). All available at rocktopia.com.  
 
Fri
21
Aug

Pre-Order TEN 'The Dragon And Saint George' EP 12" Picture Disc

Artist: 
Release Year: 
2015
Categories: 
News Feed
 
The first week in December sees the release of the first ever Ten picture disc, with the stunning 'The Gragon And Saint George EP' in glorious 12' vinyl.
 
At first the 4 month manufacturing turnaround seemed a big disappointment but then we realised this would allow us to use the 'Albion' Japanese bonus track for this release, so not only are the awesome THREE unreleased tracks featured on here ('Musketeers ' Soldiers of the King', 'Is There Anyone With Sense?' and 'The Prodigal Saviour'), we also have 'Good God In Heaven What Hell Is This', making this a stunning seven song collection.

Restricted to a very limited 350 copies, this glorious picture disc will be available for £10.99 plus postage, with pre-orders being taken now at www.rocktopiarecords.com. All orders will be sent out as soon as stock arrives and will be the PERFECT stocking filler for this Christmas.
 

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