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Thu

Apr

The Locustz - Buzzkill (Album Review)

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content:

90%

Produced By:

The Locustz

Release Date:

April 18, 2026

Released:

USA

Musical Style:

Power Pop

Label:

Label 51 Recordings

Artist:

The Locustz

Score:

Categories:

Reviews

Year:

2026

The Locustz (or The Red Locusts as you will recall from the debut album), are back for another round of retro-classic power pop in the vein of their musical heroes The Beatles. Featuring the same line-up of Rick Springfield and the Bissonette brothers Matt & Gregg, the guys deliver 11 supremely crafted pop songs with that familiar 60s/70s vibe that the acclaimed debut featured.

I think this album takes it all to a new level – even catchier songs, more elaborate guitar parts, superb vocals and a slick production.

It’s obviously not your typical melodic rock type album you’d expect from these guys, but it is a classy left turn that gets better and better each listen.

Released on limited green vinyl for Record Store Day April 18, there is supposed to be a CD release coming, but I haven’t had a firm date for that yet. Not every track features Rick on lead vocals. Matt takes lead or co-lead on a few, giving the record another authentic nod to The Beatles.

Highlights are plenty – the strong opening of ‘Welcome To The Revolution’, featuring a classic sounding RS riff; the ultra catchy 60s power pop ‘Battersea Park’ and the intricate ‘Head Full Of Rain’.

The vocal from ‘St. Teresa’ sounds like it could have come directly from Rick’s last album ‘Automatic’, even in this revised musical format. The very Rembrandts sounding uptempo retro-anthem ‘Valentino’s Bed’ is great and the soft psychedelic 90-second ballad ‘Friends’ (sung by Matt) is a light hearted way to close a pretty busy album.

It’s another Rick Springfield left turn, but there’s a new solo album right up ahead, so dig into this joyful collection of well-written and recorded retro power pop songs.

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Wed

Apr

Degreed - Curtain Calls (Album Review)

information persons:

content:

94%

Produced By:

Mats Eriksson

Release Date:

2026

Musical Style:

Melodic Rock

Label:

Frontiers

Artist:

Degreed

Score:

Categories:

Reviews

Year:

2026

My love for Swedish melodic rockers Degreed should be well established by now. Such is their consistency across 7 previous studio albums, there was never any doubt they would deliver again on ‘Curtain Calls’, their 8th all-new full album.

This album is packed with another 10 cracking tracks in their usual modern meets classic meets Swedish melodic hard rock sound.

Opening with a flurry with ‘One Helluva Ride’ and ‘Holding On To Yesterday’, the band then slide into one of their very best pure melodic bliss anthems ‘Believe’. It really should be on radio everywhere.

For the rest of the album it is the band’s usual mix of swirling keyboards meshed with big guitars and a pulsating rhythms driving some classic melodic rock and slightly heavier moments.

After all these years the lads aren’t beyond throwing in a couple of curve balls. The haunting and largely acoustic driven ‘The Rambler’ is just brilliant. As is the lush AOR of ‘Matter Of The Heart’.

Degreed are one of melodic rock’s finest portrayers of Swedish melody and while I might rate a few of the earlier albums slightly above this; there really isn’t much in it. Just another great Degreed album.

Tags:

Degreed

Tue

Mar

LOU GRAMM - Released (Album Review)

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content:

95%

Produced By:

Lou Gramm

Release Date:

2026

Musical Style:

Melodic Rock

Label:

HNE Recordings

Artist:

Lou Gramm

Score:

Categories:

Reviews

Year:

2026

The great Louis Grammatico – arguably the greatest rock vocalist of a generation (or ever) – treats fans to a 10 track insight into the past, with a selection of songs recorded in the late 80s, remastered and in some cases, finished off in recent months.

Most of the material I would vouch comes from between the first and second solo albums (‘Ready Or Not’ & ‘Long Hard Look’), plus at least one from the underrated Shadowking project. That song in particular is the lead track featuring Vivian Campbell on guitar. ‘Young Love’ is an instant Lou Gramm classic. Hard to comprehend why it was left on the shelf at any stage.

So too for most of the tracks really. Yes, there probably reasons why they never made it – especially when competing with the near perfect line-up of songs on those 3 albums. At times it comes down to simply that some songs sound close to others, or the tempo doesn’t fit the flow of an album.

Most other tracks feature co-writes and instrumental accompaniment from long-time musical partner Bruce Turgon (who should always be praised whenever possible).

You’ve got tracks like the sharp edged ‘Walk The Walk’ - in the vein of ‘Hanging On My Hip’ (from LHL), a gorgeous mid-tempo rock ballad ‘Long Gone’; the answer to where the title track from ‘Long Hard Look’ went (and also the first use of the name Shadowking in the lyrics) and the ‘Ready Or Not’ era rocker ‘Word Gets Around’, a track I’ve loved since 1987 on a live concert broadcast Lou did at the time. A piano version of ‘True Blue Love’ is a nice change from the traditional ‘acoustic’ versions offered.

Not ever vocal is perfect – which leads me to believe there are a few new ones in amongst the tracks, but whatever production has been done to get this release ready is AOK with me.

Basically an essential release for any Lou Gramm fan. A perfect bookend for his career outside of Foreigner.

Speaking of which – ‘Walk The Walk’ features some very Foreigneresque saxophone and ‘Time Heals The Pain’ clearly morphed into the classy ballad ‘Until The End Of Time’ from the band’s classic ‘Mr. Moonlight’ album.

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Tue

Mar

TYKETTO - Closer To The Sun (Album Review)

information persons:

content:

92%

Produced By:

Danny Vaughn

Release Date:

2026

Musical Style:

Melodic Rock

Label:

Silver Lining

Artist:

Tyketto

Score:

Categories:

Reviews

Here’s another example of a band asking us to accept a new line-up with just one original member. We’re all aging, its more the norm now than not, so let’s dive in. Danny Vaughn is the band’s co-founder and frontman, principle songwriter and owner of one of those iconic melodic rock voices.

Some bands have such an identity wrapped around the frontman that anything without them doesn’t feel right. Tyketto is one of those bands. The Steve Augeri fronted album ‘Shine’ failed to ignite, while Danny Vaughn went on to great things with Vaughn.

The reformation album ‘Dig In Deep’ didn’t really do it for me, but onwards to 2016’s ‘Reach’ and the band were in a much better place. I can go back to that exact review to sum up this new album: “It may not really be Tyketto as we know, but whatever you think, it’s the best Danny Vaughn project in some time.”

Danny proves here that he is the heart and soul of Tyketto with a selection of memorable melodic rockers. Some classic in Tyketto delivery, some more more earthy as in the Vaughn material and there’s a little blues influence in there too.

But I’m not hung up on style. For me, with the ever-green vocals of Danny Vaughn in control, it’s always going to be about the songs. And I really dig these songs. I marked expectations for the album down after hearing the first single, but there’s better throughout the album and that song does grow on you.

Another winner for Mr. Vaughn and the guys – who I will give a shout out to here for delivering the goods - Harry Scott Elliott (guitar), Ged Rylands (keyboards), Chris Childs (bass), and Johnny Dee (drums).

Tags:

Tyketto

Danny Vaughn

Tue

Mar

CREYE - Creye IV, The Aftermath (Album Review)

information persons:

content:

70%

Label:

Frontiers

Artist:

Creye

Score:

Categories:

Reviews

Year:

2026

CREYE have a problem. 4 albums, 4 singers, and this album also features a completely different line-up, with only guitarist Andreas Gullstrand left to represent the original band. Described as the man behind the band’s vision and its driving force, he’s the one testing fans patience with these changes.

Creye III ‘Weightless’ was a glorious slice of Scandi-melodic rock which I claimed had found the band reaching ‘full blown musical maturity.’ This album, the aptly titled ‘Creye IV – The Aftermath’ is unfortunately a big step backwards.

It still has moments of the Scandi-brilliance the first 3 records delivered, but at the heart of the problem here for me – I just don’t like the new singer.

The material in large part tries to replicate the band’s sound, but it lacks the spark the Creye name has come to represent and the vocals are a big part of that problem. New singer Simon Böös sounds like he could be singing out of his comfort zone. It just sounds forced, especially on the higher notes. It's not easy to listen to. There are also a few different styles at play within this album, as if the band is trying to find themselves again (no surprise with an all-new line-up). Shame, as they nailed it last time around.

Still plenty of keyboard and guitar driven AOR in the truest sense of the term, but the highlights are a few songs here and there rather than a slather of gloriousness that the band and their last album in particular have previously delivered.

Tags:

Creye

Thu

Mar

GENERATION RADIO - Take Two (Album Review)

information persons:

content:

65%

Produced By:

Generation Radio

Release Date:

2026

Released:

World

Musical Style:

AOR / Pop-country

Label:

Frontiers

Artist:

Generation Radio

Score:

Categories:

Reviews

Year:

2026

GENERATION RADIO, the semi-country/rock supergroup formed by Jay DeMarcus (Vocals, keyboards, and bass, from Rascal Flatts) and one of the great AOR voices of all time Jason Scheff (Lead vocals and bass, formerly of Chicago) follow up their acclaimed 2022 debut that also featured Journey’s Deen Castronovo with album number two, cleverly titled ‘Take Two’.

Unfortunately for these guys, Deen returned to Journey full-time, leaving them one vocalist short, but the drums have been capably filled by the amazing Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers).

The first part of the album follows the path of the debut, a sparkling mix of high-tech AOR and country tinged numbers. It is noticed that the pace has dropped somewhat – this is a slower and more ballad heavy record. There are only 2 cracking AOR tunes in the first 7.

Sadly things don’t get any better with the second half. A pointless trio of cover tunes (Whitesnake’s Here I Go Again, Chicago’s You’re The Inspiration and Kenny Loggins’ I’m Alright) waste the listeners time and would better be left for a live album perhaps.

That leaves the last two songs – both mid-tempo ballads again, one country, one AORish.

A major step back in quality from the excellent and still very enjoyable debut.

Tags:

Generation Radio

Jason Scheff

Rascal Flatts

Thu

Mar

GIANT - Stand And Deliver (Album Review)

information persons:

content:

89%

Produced By:

Jimmy Westerlund, David Huff, Alessandro Del Vecchio

Release Date:

2025

Released:

World

Musical Style:

Melodic Rock

Label:

Frontiers

Artist:

Giant

Score:

Categories:

Reviews

Year:

2026

GIANT, or Euro-Giant as I prefer to call this incarnation deliver the second album to feature Perfect Plan frontman Kent Hilli – a natural choice given to tone of his voice and the unavailability of the band’s founder and creative heart Dann Huff.

David Huff (drums) and Mike Brignardello (bass) remain, but creative control on this album goes to One Desire guitarist/main man Jimmy Westerlund. Alessandro Del Vecchio stepped back halfway after parting ways with the Frontiers production house.

So this is a very good, almost great slice of melodic rock, but it still isn’t Giant. I think it’s even a step up from the last album, but here’s what confuses me – if some songs have a real traditional Giant feel to them, with Westerlund putting in a very credible Dann Huff imitation – then why do others sound like the standard personality void Euro-AOR Frontiers keeps churning out?

The touches of old Giant add to the album’s appeal while the other tunes can be appreciated for what they are.

Oh, and the guys cover two of Van Stephenson’s unreleased co-writes with Dann Huff which I uncovered in Van’s vaults and released in 2024 (‘Holdin’ On For Dear Life’ and the wondrous ballad ‘Paradise Found’). Did they ask permission to use? Of course not, but you’re welcome guys, it does help this record sound more authentic.

Now they’re coming to Italy in 2026 to perform with Dann, but without Kent. Makes as much sense as anything else they’ve done I guess.

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Thu

Mar

HEARTS OF FIRE - Signs & Wonders (Album Review)

information persons:

content:

88%

Produced By:

Jean Funes

Release Date:

2026

Released:

World

Musical Style:

AOR

Links:

Pride & Joy

Label:

Pride & Joy

Artist:

Hearts On Fire

Score:

Categories:

Reviews

Year:

2026

HEARTS ON FIRE return with album number two, the band formed by Honduras residents Jean Funes (guitarist, songwriter and producer) and Joel Mejia (drums) are joined again by the great Eric Ragno who makes an important contribution with his keyboard wizardry and former Yngwie/Ring Of Fire vocalist Mark Boals, stepping in for Rian frontman Richard Andermyr who helmed the debut.

My label released that debut, so you can call me bias when it comes to these guys, but it cannot be denied that Jean writes quality songs. This is another collection of anthemic in nature, warm and melodic mid-paced AOR numbers. Very familiar melodic rock to most, but undeniably catchy and consistent, where as many other albums become stale and predictable after a few songs.

I will say I prefer the more engaging vocals of Richard, but it has to be said that ‘metal’ man Mark turns in a surprisingly strong AOR performance here, fitting in with the band’s style and sound perfectly.

For those that know what to expect, but original and fresh enough to set itself apart from many competitors.

Tags:

Hearts On Fire

Mark Boals

Sun

Mar

BERNIE LaBARGE Deluxe Edition of 'Barging In' Out Now On MRC

Artist:

Bernie LaBarge

Categories:

MelodicRock Classics Label

MelodicRock Records is pleased to announce the Deluxe Edition release of the classic AOR album ‘Bargin’ In’ from Canadian guitarist/singer-songwriter Bernie LaBarge is out now.

Now fully remastered and expanded to a 2-Disc set, the release features more than a dozen rare and unreleased tracks, including 1972’s “Catwalk” and a remix of “Work For Me” (famously covered by Long John Baldry).
With help from remix engineers David Tedesco, Terry Brown, and Mike Duncan, along with mastering engineers JK Northrup, Joao Carvalho, and Abbey Road wizards, LaBarge brings a fresh shine to the original sessions — made possible by the original multitrack tapes digitized by Metalworks Studios in Toronto. LaBarge also honours mentors like Daniel Lanois and Canadian recording industry pioneer Jack Richardson, along with the many talented artists who helped shape the album.

Born in Ottawa, Canada in 1953, Bernie LaBarge started playing guitar at age 11. During the 1970s he was the front man and/or guitarist for many popular Canadian bands (Bond, Rain, Sweet Blindness, Zwol, Stem, Stingaree, The Dexters). Over the years, Bernie has worked with Kim Mitchell, Long John Baldry, David Clayton-Thomas, The Shakers, Walter Zwol, Cassandra Vasik, The Irish Rovers, Doug Riley, Frank Biner of Tower of Power, John Sebastian, David Cassidy, Joel Feeney and Sass Jordan, among many others.

He was nominated for Most Promising Male Vocalist at the 1984 Juno Awards for his album entitled “Barging In” (Sony).

Disc 1: Bargin’ In

01. Can't Hold On Forever 4:06
02. Stop The Game 4:03
03. Overnight Sensation 3:27
04. (You Gotta) Work For Me 3:35
05. Still In Love With You 3:33
06. Gun Shy 3:33
07. Take This Part Of Me 3:06
08. Bus Route 22 3:45
09. Annie 3:47
10. One Less Marianne 3:10
11. Take It As It Comes 3:44

Disc 2: Bonus Tracks

01. Listen To A Boy In Love 3:58
02. Turn On The Lights (Before You Leave) 4:01
03. Nancy Nancy 4:03
04. Every Little Thing 3:35
05. Little Angel 3:01
06. Give Up 3:23
07. Dream Away 3:48
08. It’s Real 3:42
09. (You Gotta) Work For Me (Remix) 4:10
10. Annie (Remix #1) 4:45
11. Catwalk 2:41
12. Can’t Hold On Forever 4:09
13. Annie (Remix #2) 3.50
14. Overnight Sensation 3:40

WebLinks: www.melodicrock.com / www.melodicrockclassics.com

Tags:

Bernie LaBarge

Thu

Feb

EDGE OF THE BLADE Deliver Album 5 on MRC

Artist:

Edge Of The Blade

Categories:

MelodicRock Classics Label

British melodic rockers Edge Of The Blade have a undisputedly strong catalogue behind them already, but with album number 5, its time to deliver a knockout melodic rock punch with ‘A Storm Is Coming’, due out late November via MelodicRock Classics.

The MRC label has thus far exclusively concentrated on unreleased projects and vital reissues. In this case, the album was recorded a little while back and yet to be released, so in a way MRC continues to liberate great music and bring it to deserving fans.

‘A Storm is Coming’, the fifth studio album from melodic rockers Edge of the Blade, builds on the success of 2023’s critically acclaimed ‘Trick of the Light’. Formed in 2014 by multi-instrumentalist Alan Kelly (Shy, 7HY), Edge of the Blade features the exceptional talents of vocalist John Francis (After Hours), renowned guitarist Miguel Angel Lopez (Panzer), and new drummer Tony Jones.

Mixed by legendary producer Neil Kernon and mastered by Alan Douches, ‘A Storm is Coming’ delivers 10 captivating new tracks designed to thrill both long-time fans and newcomers. The album opens with the fiery Love Ain’t Easy, followed by Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me, a high-energy anthem reminiscent of the electrifying rockers that fuelled ‘80s action-movie soundtracks. Blending classic melodic ballads like the stunning Maybe Tomorrow with punchy, rock-driven songs such as All I See Is You, the album’s title track ventures into bold new territory with its brooding, drum- and synth-driven atmosphere.

“Edge of the Blade poured everything into this record. Decades of experience and a deep understanding of what melodic rock fans love have come together in what we believe is our finest album yet,” says Alan Kelly.

As one of the genre’s premier songwriters, Alan Kelly, paired with powerhouse vocalist John Francis, continues to deliver unforgettable songs. Fans of Survivor, Journey, Foreigner, or classic rock in general will find plenty to love in this release.

A Storm is Coming—brace yourself!

Track Listing:

01. Love Ain’t Easy

02. Nothing’s Gonna Stop me

03. Hear Your Name

04. Love Doesn’t Live Here

05. All I See Is You

06. Maybe Tomorrow

07. A Storm Is Coming

08. What You Gotta Say

09. House We Once Called Home

10. Stop The World

BUY NOW: https://melodicrockclassics.com/barlowminto.html

Tags:

Edge Of The Blade

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The Locustz - Buzzkill (Album Review)

Degreed - Curtain Calls (Album Review)

LOU GRAMM - Released (Album Review)

TYKETTO - Closer To The Sun (Album Review)

CREYE - Creye IV, The Aftermath (Album Review)

GENERATION RADIO - Take Two (Album Review)

GIANT - Stand And Deliver (Album Review)

HEARTS OF FIRE - Signs & Wonders (Album Review)

BERNIE LaBARGE Deluxe Edition of 'Barging In' Out Now On MRC

EDGE OF THE BLADE Deliver Album 5 on MRC

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The Locustz - Buzzkill (Album Review)

Degreed - Curtain Calls (Album Review)

LOU GRAMM - Released (Album Review)

TYKETTO - Closer To The Sun (Album Review)

CREYE - Creye IV, The Aftermath (Album Review)

GENERATION RADIO - Take Two (Album Review)

GIANT - Stand And Deliver (Album Review)

HEARTS OF FIRE - Signs & Wonders (Album Review)

BERNIE LaBARGE Deluxe Edition of 'Barging In' Out Now On MRC

EDGE OF THE BLADE Deliver Album 5 on MRC

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