Berlin-based hard rock outfit KARO put out their only album release “Heavy Birthday“ in 1988. Praised by critics and fans alike their melodic but somehow rough style was met by great songwriting and musical talent. It has since been an open secret that KARO recorded more than thirty songs between 1987 and 1989 of which only ten ended up on their debut. Whereas Robert „Karo“ Straub played keyboard in Morgenrot and Lutz Salzwedel (v) fronted Karusell, both having German lyrics, Salzwedel later on put out several records under the name of Dan Lucas and recently won The Voice Of Germany Senior, it was the talent of Erich Holstein (g) that literally ignited the band KARO. Soon after recordings in Berlin and Frankfurt with producers Peter Hauke and Andy Lunn took place.
Recordings in London followed. Especially working on the songs “One Of A Kind“, “Sister Sister“ and “Wanna Be Loved“ in London with producer Tony Platt, who then already had worked with AC/DC, was quite an experience for the band and obviously brought attention, too. The idea of going there for production was to give the band more of an international sound. KARO right away played support shows for Meat Loaf but was dropped by the label in 1989.
The idea to put out “Heavy Birthday II & III“ as a double-decker CD was born. All tracks featured on any Karo release have been recorded within those three years of activity. With Holstein and Bosien having passed away already, this is the ultimate legacy of KARO. „This way KARO comes full circle“, says „Karo“ Straub.
Since 2010 MelodicRock Recordshas been at the forefront of some of the best melodic music made available to fans.
It has been a great honor to be a part of each and every release – whether it be championing a new artist; digging something out of the vaults; or a brand-new release from an established act.
2019 sees MRR reach the milestone of 100 releases. So what better way to celebrate the milestone than a compilation of the artists featured on MRR.
This however, isn’t your average ‘best of’ affair – this compilation will feature songs that didn’t make the albums MRR released – hence the title ‘Left Off The First 99’.
‘Left Off The First 99’ will offer a range of bonus tracks featured from the first 99 releases, plus some exclusive unreleased tracks from the recording sessions that spawned those albums.
And for good measure – a little taste of what’s to come in the year ahead, with some exclusive preview tracks from upcoming MRR releases.
MRR100 is a 2CD set priced at $25 (including airmail shipping) and is strictly limited to 500 units.
PRE-ORDER MRR100 'Left Off The First 99' (OUT MAY 31)
MRR100 – Track Listing (Not Yet Sequenced)
01) All I Know - Consume Me (Non Album Bonus Track) 02:50
02) All I Know - Only You (Non Album Bonus Track) 02:22
03) Arti Tisi - Mama Sweet Evil (Demo)(Unreleased Extended Version) 04:21
04) Brett Walker - Better Than Goodbye (Unreleased Remix) 04:19
05) Brett Walker - Seeing You Around (Unreleased Longer Version) 05:04
06) Boulevard - Good Enough (2017 Unreleased) 04:29
08)* Fiction Syxx - Darkest Hour (New 2019) 04:11
09) Waldo & Rosen Feat. Graham Bonnet - Hearts Under Fire (Unreleased Demo) 04:07
10) Hearts On Fire - Fade Away (Demo) 03:17
11) House Of Shakira - Financial Times (Non Album Bonus Track) 03:32
12) House Of Shakira - Shell Shock (Non Album Bonus Track) 04:10
13) Jim Shepard - Love, I'm Over You (Non Album Bonus Track) 03:20
14) JK Northrup & David Cagle - Promises To God (Japanese Bonus Track) 04:15
15) Nitrate - All I Need (Japanese Bonus Track) 04:50
16) Andreas Novak - No Vacation (Unreleased Alt Mix, Extended Version) 04:41
17) Paris - Don't Say A Word (Non Album Bonus Track) 04:44
18) Paris - Stronger (Non Album Bonus Track) 04:05
19) Royal Mess - Finally (Japan Bonus Track) 03:09
20) American Heartbreak - Human Touch (Working Class Dogs, Non Album Bonus Track) 04:07
22) The Vague - Love Is Alright Tonight (Working Class Dogs, Non Album Bonus Track) 03:25
23) Scherer/Batten - Blue Letter (Unreleased) 03:31
The Greek heavy/power metal band DIVINER just released a lyric video for "The Earth, The Moon, The Sun", the second single from their new album "Realms of Time".
"Realms of Time" will be released on June 7th via Ulterium Records. The album will be available on CD, LP and digital.
"Realms of Time" was produced and mixed by Fotis Benardo (ex. Septic Flesh), mastered by Henrik Udd (Powerwolf, Hammerfall, Myrath) and the artwork was created by Jan Yrlund (Battle Beast, Apocalyptica, Korpiklaani).
The album show improvements on every level since the band's debut album and the album won't leave fans of heavy and power metal disappointed. The album is heavy, melodic and epic and it’s full of energy, power and emotion. Follow Diviner into the Realms of Time!
Most should be aware of my admiration for all-star melodic rockers Alliance. The pitch perfect AOR vocals of Robert Berry are always welcome, but when he teams with David Lauser (Sammy Hagar) and class guitarist Gary Pihl (Boston, Sammy Hagar), there’s no stopping the flow of intelligent, well-crafted and challenging melodic rock music.
Fire And Grace is no different. Although a little rougher around the edges this time around, the album (minus past member Alan Fitzgerald) delivers the same classic sounding album you might expect. Berry provides all keyboard parts this time.
While the album is melodic rock and AOR with a prog twist at its best and harkens back to a simpler era of the early 80s, the sound isn’t dated – its just classic.
There are some stupidly good songs here. The driving opener Don’t Stop The Wheel Turning; the feel good anthemic 80s buzz of Good Life and the epic, mood driven dramatic ballad Uncertain all give the album a flying start.
Elsewhere the rhythmic free flowing Fire And Grace; hands in the air Raise Your Glass and the AOR perfection of Reason To Walk Away are all standouts amongst an album lacking any sign of filler.
Alliance have delivered one of the best AOR albums of the year so far, with track after track of engaging, intelligent songwriting here. No Alliance album has ever been a one-play and understand affair. They require a little effort and a little time, with the listening richly rewarded with layers upon layers of musical melody and brilliance.
