Of all the glory days comebacks that could happen, a new Jetboy album would not have been on my list of most desired, nor expected. But nevertheless, here it is and what do you know, this ain’t bad!
The guys have mellowed a tad since the days of ‘Dammed Nation’, but there’s no denying the spirit and energy on display here. There have been some real clunkers delivered by American legacy bands in the last 12 months, so I wasn’t expecting much to be honest.
The style and the sound are here, not to mention a far superior production quality than some of their peers have delivered, it’s just a little less ‘in your face’ now.
This album does capture the essence of the 80s/90s Los Angeles metal scene and dials up the AC/DC riffing. And at the core of it is some catchy and enjoyable songs. You can hear the effort the band has put in with the production quality, but there appears to have been a lot of attention paid to the songwriting too.
An album exceeding expectations is always good – but when those expectations were neutral at best, it’s even more pleasing to hear an album as well made as what Jetboy have done here.
Good job guys – a big riffing, good fun, old school American hard rock album.
Robert Rodrigo Band is the brainchild of Spanish guitarist Robert Rodrigo, the man behind the excellent Airless and composer of two previous instrumental solo albums.
This album is a mixture of all that has come before, delivered in an energetic collection of well-produced songs. There are a couple of enjoyable left turn instrumentals with another two additional more straight-ahead instrumentals later in the album. The remaining six tracks feature vocal god Johnny Gioeli in full force. His style and tone suit the album perfectly – giving both his trademark rasp and ability to turn melodic opportunities to shine.
There is real musical dexterity and diversity between the tracks – from a straight blues boogie to stadium anthems and some groovy sounding hard rock.
There is some vivid musical experimentation in several of the verses, but come chorus time, its all hooks and melodies.
10 tracks, 40 minutes….no room for fillers or fluff here. An enjoyable album with a few really good hooks and some impressive guitar work. Familiar for fans of the genre, but fresh also.
I love Tora Tora’s acclaimed ‘Wild America’ album – a stand out album at the time, offering something just that little bit different and unique. A mix of bluesy hard rock, Led Zeppelin and a touch of late 80s sleaze.
The same can’t be said about this record. ‘Bastards Of Beale’ struggles for an identity, apart from occasionally sounding like a distance version of themselves and some Zeppelinesque touches.
I’m struggling with the quality of the vocals and the production is also very rough. If you like that rawer, unpolished sound it might appeal more, but to me it sounds like the guys set up live in the studio and just hit record.
Anthony’s vocals are also a good distance from the energy of ‘Wild America’ and are just annoying in places. The overall style and quality of the songs are nowhere near the uniqueness and strength the band once commanded.
It all just sounds underdone and under budget. No question the guitar playing is still top notch, but everything else fails to meet expectations.
Alan Parsons to Release New Studio Album, "The Secret" April 26
First Single, "Miracle" featuring Jason Mraz Out Now
Grammy Award Winning legendary music icon and master of progressive rock, Alan Parsons will return with a new album, “The Secret” on April 26, 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl. Today, the first song from the album, entitled "Miracle", featuring Jason Mraz on vocals, has been made available.
Of the collaboration with Mraz, Alan says, “I met Jason two years ago through a neighbor who grows coffee on his ranch. Jason wanted to grow coffee himself and our neighbor, Jay was kind enough to introduce us since we had mutual musical interests. For 'Miracle’, Jason recorded his vocals in Dallas while I listened in Santa Barbara and we sent files back and forth, resulting in this song. Thus proving that you don't necessarily have to be in the same studio with someone to create music. This was also the case with Lou Gramm on the track "Sometimes", which he sang in New York.
Mraz adds, "'Eye In The Sky' is a song I have a very early memory of, strapped in the backseat of my mom's green Fiat, 1982. Alan Parsons is on the radio and I’m singing along, harmonizing. That sound of rich harmony over magical words would stick with me for my whole life and ultimately become what my own career is about, trying to solve universal quandaries through song craft." When Mraz heard "Miracle", he said, "I loved it. It sounded like a song right off of 'Eye In The Sky'. As if no time had passed, proving time might just be a construct after all". Woking with Alan was "[m]agic. Alan is very kind, very creative, and very authentic," concludes Mraz.
Available on CD, CD + DVD Audio Deluxe Edition (DVD includes Stereo Hi Definition Mix and 5.1 Surround Audio Mix), LP (Standard & Color), limited edition Box Set, and Digital. Box Set includes CD+DVD Deluxe Edition, 180g Gatefold Vinyl, the rare "LiveSpan" 2CD set, exclusive T-shirt (size: XL for US retailers, L for all European retailers), Poster, Numbered Lithograph (album cover).
Alan’s longtime hobby has been performing magic and this brand new album showcases his own passion for the craft, hence the title “The Secret.” The album sees a return to the pop rock sound with symphonic and progressive rock interludes which the Alan Parsons Project was known for.
"Magic has always been a passion of mine, I am a member of The Magic Castle in Los Angeles. I've also worked with the Japanese magic company Tenyo, writing instruction books and catalogs for their tricks. I dabble with magic myself in my free time, so an album with magical influences was a natural progression”.
Alan’s history in the music business one is a storied and unique one. He was fortunate enough to work as assistant engineer on the last two albums by The Beatles and after he became a fully-fledged recording engineer, he went on to work with Paul McCartney and The Hollies, among many others. But it was his contribution as engineer on Pink Floyd’s classic "The Dark Side Of The Moon" that really got him the world’s attention. That soon led to striking successes as a producer, notably with Pilot’s “Magic", John Miles’ “Highfly" and “Music”, and Steve Harley’s "Make Me Smile". He also produced the hugely successful "Year Of The Cat" album with Al Stewart and two albums with American prog rock band Ambrosia.
In 1975 he met Eric Woolfson who not only became his manager, but joined forces with Alan as a songwriting and performing partner for what became known as The Alan Parsons Project. The APP’s debut album, "Tales Of Mystery And Imagination" based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe paved the way for signing to Clive Davis’ newly launched Arista label and a string of hit albums, namely, "I Robot" (1977), “Pyramid" (1978), "The Turn of a Friendly Card" (1980), "Eye in the Sky" (1982), "Ammonia Avenue" (1984), "Vulture Culture" (1985), “Stereotomy" (1986), and “Gaudi" (1987).
With his long-standing previous APP collaborators, guitarist Ian Bairnson, drummer Stuart Elliott and orchestral arranger Andrew Powell, Alan dropped the “Project” identity for Alan Parsons’ “Try Anything Once” in 1994. The partnership continued for “On Air” in 1996 and “The Time Machine” in 1999. During this time, the first incarnation of “Alan Parsons Live Project” toured extensively all over the globe. Following Alan’s relocation to California in 1999, a brand new Live Project band was formed in 2003. Another band reshuffle happened in 2010. The current live band consists of Alan on acoustic guitar, keyboards and vocals, P.J. Olsson on vocals, Tom Brooks on keyboards, Guy Erez on bass, Jeff Kollman on guitar and vocals, Danny Thompson on drums, Todd Cooper on sax, percussion and vocals, Dan Tracey on guitar and vocals.
Parsons’ last album "A Valid Path", a unique foray into the world of electronica, was released in 2004.
Tracklist:
1. THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE (instrumental)*
2. MIRACLE (lead vocal: Jason Mraz)
3. AS LIGHTS FALL (lead vocal: Alan Parsons)
4. ONE NOTE SYMPHONY (lead vocal: Todd Cooper)
5. SOMETIMES (lead vocal: Lou Gramm)
6. SOIRÉE FANTASTIQUE (lead vocal: Todd Cooper, Alan Parsons)
7. FLY TO ME (lead vocal: Mark Mikel)
8. REQUIEM (lead vocal: Todd Cooper)
9. BEYOND THE YEARS OF GLORY (lead vocal: PJ Olsson)§
10. THE LIMELIGHT FADES AWAY (lead vocal: Jordan Huffman)
11. I CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE (lead vocal: Jared Mahone)§ featured in Motion Picture “5-25-77”
Guitars: Steve Hackett (on *), Jeff Kollmann, Dan Tracey, Tony Rosacci, Ian Bairnson (solo on §), Alan Parsons
Synth, Keyboards: Andy Ellis, Tom Brooks, Dan Tracey, Alan Parsons
Piano: Pat Caddick, Angelo Pizzaro
Bass: Nathan East (on *), Guy Erez, Jeff Peterson
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta (on *), Danny Thompson, Carl Sorensen
Sax: Todd Cooper
Cello: Michael Fitzpatrick
ORCHESTRAL ARRANGEMENTS Tom Brooks / STRINGS CONDUCTED BY Alan Parsons except on * Tom Brooks
ORCHESTRA The CMG Music Recording Orchestra of Hollywood
Steve Overland: All vocals (FM / Shadowman / Solo artist)
Simon Kirke: Drums (Free / Bad Company)
Steve Morris: All Guitars and keyboards (Ian Gillan / Heartland)
Chris Childs: Bass (Thunder / Tyketto)
Brian J Anthony: Acoustic Guitars, mandolin and percussions (Steve Walsh / Overland)
Track List:
1- My Imagination 3:19 / 2- Lonerider 3:38 / 3- Hard Heart to Break 4:12 / 4- Fast Train 3:57 / 5- Wanted Man 4:32 / 6- Yesterday Heroes 4:02 / 7- Angel without Wings 3:39 / 8- Rock ‘N Roll Dreamer 5:00 / 9- One in A Million 3:33 / 10- Gimme Your Love 3:46 / 11- Rhythm of Life 3:32 / 12- Heart & Soul 3:59
Double LP with 4 Bonus Tracks LP ONLY:
When Love Leaves Town 6:32
Have A Little Faith 4:01
Rock ‘N Roll Dreamer Acoustic version 5:00
Yesterday Heroes Acoustic version 4:02
Produced by Lonerider
Executive Producer: Khalil Turk
Mixed and Mastered by Brian J Anthony
All songs by Steve Overland/Steve Morris
Recorded at: The Vale Studio, Worcestershire, UK by Chris D’Adda
The Tremolo Studio, Silverdale, Stoke on Trent, UK by Dan Roley and by Brian J Anthony, USA
Every once in a while a new recording comes along with a line-up that makes your spine tingle, and here it is; “Attitude” by Lonerider. Not only does this quintet feature Steve Overland (FM, Solo, Shadowman), Steve Morris (Heartland, Shadowman) and Chris Childs (Thunder) but legendary drummer Simon Kirke of Free and Bad Company fame. With Brain J Anthony finishing the line-up we have a real force to be reckoned with. What are we to expect from this group of musicians? If you like Bad Company then this is going to be a treat for you. We have the feel of that classic Bad Company that we know and love, yet the songs are modern, fresh and vibrant. Simon has a drumming style that is unmistakeable and this shines through on all of the tracks (and an extra four on the LP version!).
There is a buzz surrounding the release already and the feedback is looking very promising indeed, this has surely got to be a stand out releases for 2019.
Los Angeles based, US Heavy / Power metal legends STEEL PROPHET are back with a new massive sounding heavy metal album that will definitely hit the top lists of 2019! Five years after the release of their latest album "Omniscient" the band recruited the all-star Heavy Metal singer / producer R.D. Liapakis of MysticProphecy / Devil'sTrain and his uniquely ranged vocal skills to perfectly match the songs on "The God Machine".
R.D. Liapakis is not just only the man behind the microphone though since he, alongside Steve Kachinsky is responsible for the songwriting and production process of the album. The voice of R.D. Liapakis sounds tough, bluesy and strong, with wide range, power and style. The high notes come effortlessly, and the lead vocals make you want to stand up and wail along with his singing. The drums sound huge and perfectly combine that old-school punch feeling you get in classic heavy metal albums while sounding fresh and up to date at the same time. The guitar work on the album sounds like all the hallowed marks of Heavy Metal classics with speedy licks and fast, furious and melodic riffs and solos complimented by fat basslines that anchor all instruments into a magnificent combo highlighting the amazing vocal lines. Each song is a delight by itself and elements of thrash, doom, and even some Scorpions tinged melodicism can be found in the band's US Power Metal.
If you live and breathe the spirit of Heavy Metal you will be astonished by "The God Machine" in its entirety. Produced by Steve Kachinsky and R.D. Liapakis (Mystic Prophecy, Devil’s Train, Suicidal Angels, Firewind, Eldritch, Silius, FireForce and many more). Mixed and mastered by “Best Producer 2017-Heavy Music Award” winner HenrikUdd at HenrikUddRecordingStudios (Architects, BringMeTheHorizon, Hammerfall, Powerwolf etc), who gave "The God Machine" a smooth and polished, yet brutally heavy sound. The album starts with the absolute banger album title song “The God Machine”, featuring furious rhythms, fast riffing and catchy arena choruses preparing the ground for “Crucify” which along with “Dark Mask / Between Love And Hate” will catapult the listener back to the best NWOBHM years while “Thrashed Relentlessly” is the definition of US power metal riffing! Songs like “Damnation Calling” and “Lucifer / The Devil Inside” will bring in mind the mighty “Headless Cross” BlackSabbath,TonyMartin era.
The album’s multidimensional yet classic Heavy Metal mark is ultimately revealed to the listener as soon as the power ballad “Buried And Broken” kicks in! “The God Machine” is a high quality metal album that will become an instant classic among STEEL PROPHET’scatalogue!
