Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to announce the release of Unruly Child’s seventh studio album, entitled “Big Blue World”!
"For this album, there was a conscious decision to merge the best of what Unruly Child does, while still evolving. You know, melodic rock, but with that unique Unruly Child approach,” says Guy Allison. "It’s hard for us to stand still and repeat ourselves, but we also cannot help but sound like “us”, irrespective of any artistic lateral movement. While I’m sometimes surprised what catches the ears of our fans, I think that the album has something for everyone."
Guy Allison continues telling about the creative process, saying “this album was written (except for the few songs we pulled out of our 'Rabbit Hole' writing sessions, and subsequently reworked) in about 14 days. After we get a structure roughly recorded, I’ll listen to the track until the melody magically shows up, seemingly out of thin air. Sometimes I’ll have a partial lyric, sometimes just a melody that I’m singing nonsense syllables to. I’m really lucky these days to have another wordsmith to work with. In the past, I’ve been the lyricist of most of the songs that I’ve been a writer on, but now I have Betsy Summers to do some of the heavy lifting with me in that department. On some songs I’ll say, “I’ve got this melody, what do ya got?”. On other songs I’ll say, “I’ve got the first verse, but I need a second verse, here’s a pencil”. She always delivers. The rest of the time is spent giving the recordings the attention that they need to become Unruly Child tracks. Finishing the process is a lot like having a block of marble and chipping away at it until the statue underneath is revealed. For us, it’s always been the art of discovering what the song wants to be. Sometimes it’s immediate and sometimes it takes a little longer, but we always get what we’re after. It’s not much different than it was in 1991. We just have more experience now, and better gear!"
Since the initial release of the critically acclaimed "Unruly Child” in 1991, all the band members have successfully pursued accomplished careers in the music industry. Marcie Michelle Free, one of the world's finest singers of recent times, and most renowned transgender vocalists, first released a solo record as Mark Free, entitled “Long Way From Love”, in 1993 and then another solo record as Marcie Free, “Tormented” in 1996. Guitarist Bruce Gowdy and keyboardist Guy Allison also kept quite busy over the years. They produced two more Unruly Child records and participated in another World Trade album with drummer Jay Schellen (YES). They have also pursued other projects and their reputation as writers, performers, and arrangers is second to none with their experience working with the likes of Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Doobie Brothers, Boz Scaggs, Air Supply, and The Moody Blues, to name a few.
The group, in its constant state of evolution, has generated an exciting new album reflective of their musical roots in contemporary and classic rock. With the return to the original line-up, they have discovered that while time may pass, some things never change.
The Swedish supergroup GATHERING OF KINGS have released the new single "Heaven On The Run". The song is taken from the upcoming second album "Discovery" tentatively due early 2020.
A limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single featuring "Heaven On The Run" with "Battle Cry" on the B-side will be made available at the band's first-ever live appearance at Sweden Rock Festival June 5th 2019 and will only be sold at the festival.
"Heaven On The Run" is written by Victor Olsson. It's a melodic hard rock gem that completely sticks to your head! Once again it's an outstanding production by Thomas "Plec" Johansson at The Panic Room, Skövde. Executive producers: Ron Dahlgren, Nina Dahlgren & Victor Olsson. Drums was recorded at Nordic Sound Lab by Thomas "Plec" Johansson, Bengan Andersson and Victor Olsson. Artwork and logo by Markus Vesper.
GATHERING OF KINGS began work on the second album "Discovery" a couple of months ago and continues their creative relationship with producer Thomas "Plec" Johansson (SOILWORK, NOCTURNAL RITES, DYNAZTY, THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA). The debut album "First Mission", was released in January 2019 via RN Records. The album reached #2 on the Swedish charts for physical album sales and #1 on the Hard Rock chart and #1 on the Vinyl chart.
"First Mission" feat. Rick Altzi - Vocals (MASTERPLAN, HERMAN FRANK, AT VANCE), Björn Strid - Vocals (SOILWORK, THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA), Apollo Papathanasio Vocals (SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, ex-FIREWIND), Tobias Jansson - Vocals (SAFFIRE), Jens Westin - Vocals (CORRODED) and Alexander Frisborg - Vocals (HELLDOG), Nalle Påhlsson - Bass(EASY ACTION, THERION, ex-TREAT), Victor Olsson - Guitar & Keyboards (SAFFIRE), Stefan Helleblad - Guitar (WITHIN TEMPTATION), Erik Mårtensson - Guitar (ECLIPSE, W.E.T., NORDIC UNION), Martin Sweet - Guitar (CRASHDIET) Chris Laney - Keyboards (PRETTY MAIDS), Erik Wiss - Keyboards (CAP OUTRUN), Richard Larsson - Keyboards (THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA) Jonas Källsbäck - Drums (THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA), Efraim Larsson - Drums (STREAMLINE, RYDELL & QUICK, ex-DIAMOND DAWN), Robban Bäck - Drums (MUSTASCH, ex-ECLIPSE, ex-SABATON), Henrik Sethsson - Backing Vocals (CASANOVAS).
The project is supervised by Ron Dahlgren and Nina Dahlgren, bringing together top musicians from the current hard rock scene in Sweden. Victor Olsson is the main songwriter, with Alexander Frisborg co-writing lyrics on some of them. The idea was to create something like Tom Galley's Phenomena or even Tobias Sammet's Avantasia, with multiple vocalists and instrumentalists.
"Heaven On The Run" Lineup:
Rick Altzi (MASTERPLAN, HERMAN FRANK, AT VANCE) - Lead Vocals
Track List: 1-Not Enough Sorry 4:15 / 2- I’ll Be The One 3:28 / 3- Get over this 4:06 / 4- Arrow 4:22 / 5- More than words can say 3:41 / 6- Take Good care of me 3:17 / 7- Power of Love 4:33 / 8- Cindy 4:23 / 9- One Piece of Heaven 3:51 / 10- Give Me Love 3:48 / 11- I Believe in this love 4:30
Musicians are:
Troy Reid: Lead Vocals (Agent)
Lewis Nitikman: All instruments (ex Stonebolt)
Ray Roper: Guitars and Backing Vocals (ex Stonebolt)
Additional Guitars: Bill Buckingham
Produced by Lewis Nitikman
Mixed by Bill Buckingham
Mastered by Alan Douches
Stranded is back with new album New Dawn this time with the brainchild, Producer and multi instrumentalists Lewis Nitikman, a talented musician from Winnipeg in Canada. Lewis moved to Vancouver when he was 14 and eventually started to produce numerous albums in Canada and was a staff writer for a number of major publishing companies.
Lewis was actually in the band “Stonebolt” and replaced John Webster on keyboards in 1981, he featured on their 4th album “Juvenile American Princess”. Speaking of Stonebolt the “New Dawn” recording features none other than Ray Roper on guitars and backing vocals. If that isn’t enough the singer is Troy Reid, a man with a well- known set of pipes that graced albums by Canadian favourites “Agent” and, later, “Stranded” first album “Long Way To Heaven”.
The tracks on “New Dawn” were actually penned some years ago by Lewis along with many co-writers which he met along the way. One of these is the talented John Reilly (Boy on a dolphin) as well as Daryl Burgess and Corey Abrahms. The end tweaks and the mixing was carried out by Bill Buckingham and it must be said that he has done a great job.
New Dawn contains 11 tracks of West Coast / AOR that suits the voice of Troy Reid admirably and they are fine pieces of music that are so easy to listen to. These are all ideal for radio airplay, the opener “Not enough sorry” is testament to this as it is a wonderful tune with a fantastic keyboard sound and, of course, Troy’s unmistakable vocals.
An album to look forward to indeed and finally a few words from Lewis himself “These songs were written during a particularly tumultuous time in my life and I’m very pleased that they are getting this opportunity to be heard”.
The name Mark Baker may not be immediately recognisable to many, but for liner note/album credits junkies, it signifies top shelf AOR songwriting. Whether it be anthems or ballads, a Mark Baker song means memorable hooks and a big chorus.
Mark Baker is the man behind the iconic Signal‘Loud & Clear’ album as well as many other songs including tracks for 38 Special, Paris Black, Triumph and Boulevard.
He was also the main co-writer on House Of Lords’ acclaimed ‘Demons Down’ record, re-joining as co-writer on some of the band’s more recent albums too.
‘The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be’ is a compilation of Mark’s songwriter demos from the 80s and 90s. The songwriter demos feature various singers, including the best session vocalist of them all – Mark Free. I’m pleased to say there are several unreleased Mark Free vocals.
But that’s not all – there are some original demos from the House Of Lords‘Demon’s Down’ record as well as an appearance from Chicago’s Bill Champlin on an amazing AOR anthem.
Several of these demos have been traded online for years and MRR is thrilled to be able to bring one disc of this material to light in July. The tracks come from DAT masters and will as always be remastered by JK Northrup.
NEW AUDIO!
Mark Baker ‘The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be’ will be released worldwide July 26 alongside Outlasted ‘Waiting For Daybreak’.
You can pre-order the album now as well as hear a couple of the songs right now!
Track Listing & Vocalist Featured:
01. Nobody Gets Out Alive (Mark Free) 03:38
02. The Future Ain't What It Used To Be (Mark Free) 04:35
03. Demons Down (Demo Version)(James Christian) 03:34
04. No Pleasure Without The Pain (Demo Version)(James Christian) 05:00
05. Someday You're Gonna Love Someone (Mark Free) 03:45
