Los Angeles hard rockers HEAVEN & EARTH release HARD TO KILL, October 6 on Quarto Valley Records. It’s available to pre-order via HEAVEN & EARTH’s PledgeMusic campaign. In addition to pre-ordering HARD TO KILL, fans can purchase a range of exclusive merchandise and special offerings from the band, including signed albums, guitars, posters and lyric sheets, Skype lessons with each band member, and even a Skype cooking lesson with singer Joe Retta. A lyric video for “The Game Has Changed” was recently released and can be seen on the band’s official YouTube page. It will be available on iTunes September 22.
HEAVEN & EARTH features Joe Retta (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica), Stuart Smith (guitars), Lynn Sorensen (bass and vocals), keyboardist Ty Baillie (who has played with Katy Perry and Robbie Robertson), and essential to the album with his songwriting and drumming is Kenny Aronoff, who has been a sideman to countless bands both live and in-studio including Bob Seger, John Mellencamp, and the Rolling Stones. His distinctive style and energyis one to behold on HARD TO KILL. While on tour, the band includes musicians Mike Mangan (Hammond organ and keyboards) and Steven Wilson (drums, percussion, vocals).
Taking HARD TO KILL as a whole, the 11 original songs ring true and the melodies unfold like you have known them your whole life. The title track serves as the band’s anthem, a testament to perseverance and the power of rock. “L.A. Blues” exposes the pitfalls of living in the City of Angels, while “The Game Has Changed” dramatically contrasts the past with the present. Meanwhile, “Til It’s Over” will earn the admiration of longtime rock listeners, just as the attitude in “Bleed Me Dry” and “Walk Away” will speak to any modern music fan.
With guidance from Ritchie Blackmore, Smith’s own performing career took him across Europe with various bands, through New York City, and ultimately to Los Angeles where he first formed HEAVEN & EARTH. The band released two previous albums before he met singer Joe Retta about a decade
HEAVEN & EARTH founder/guitarist Stuart Smith was born in Great Britain, the son of an RAF jet fighter pilot, and he was originally classically trained on the guitar from the age of 8. After seeing a Deep Purple concert in the early ‘70s, he got turned on to rock & roll. When he was 19 years old, he met guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and the two became fast friends. Blackmore instantly took Smith under his wing and mentored him.ago, when both men were touring with The Sweet, known for the classic hits “Ballroom Blitz” and “Fox On The Run.” After developing a strong writing partnership, Retta and Smith joined forces to continue the HEAVEN & EARTH legacy.
A native of Rochester, NY, Retta established himself as one of the most versatile singers in Los Angeles. He has performed with The Sweet, Gregg Rolie, Dio Disciples, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. With Retta out in front, his powerful vocals and world-class musicianship are integral to HEAVEN & EARTH’s epic sound.
Bassist Lynn Sorensen, a Seattle native, has performed all across the globe with Bad Company and in Paul Rodgers’ band. As a teen, Sorensen studied classical violin and viola; to this day, he maintains a passion for classical music.
“We feel that HARD TO KILL is definitely the band’s best work yet, and we’re excited to see how it’s received,” says guitarist Stuart Smith. “We’re looking forward to going on tour and playing selections from all four HEAVEN & EARTH albums, as well as a few surprises.”
“The reinvention of rock comes to you from HEAVEN & EARTH. A band that brings every riff you ever wanted into the 21st century"
—Chris Lord-Alge, Multi Grammy® Award-winning mix engineer
"The new album from HEAVEN & EARTH is the real deal. Many great songs start out as a great riff, and this album is full of them. Intention, intensity, and emotion. All three are in play here. Well done, guys. Keep On Rocking!"
—Edgar Winter
“On all fronts, HARD TO KILL is an album that demands your attention. I recommend a total surrender, because those who absorb its savage beauty will be rewarded with a transcendent musical experience.”
LICENCE, the band from Ludwigsburg/Germany is the brainchild of local guitar hero and songwriter Steam Thiess. After a break for a few years he decided he has too much musical creativity to let it go and he wants to get back into business.
In May 2014 he founded LICENCE and was looking for musicians who'd fit into the band. To find the singer was easy, his daughter Jacky had just what he was looking for! With an amazing presence and rocking voice the first piece to the puzzle was solved. With bassist Pappe and drummer Sammy Sin they recruited the two perfect missing links.
They soon played shows with bands like TERRANA, STORMWITCH, PRAYING MANTIS, STOP STOP, TRI STATE CORNER & TWENTYDARKSEVEN, followed by festivals alongside SAXON, THE POODLES and many more.
The pre-production in 2016 ended in recordings for their debut album „Licence 2 Rock“, which was mixed and mastered by none other than Achim Köhler, known for his work with PRIMAL FEAR, BRAINSTORM and many others. The record shows the whole facettes of the LICENCE sound. Back to the 80s without sounding outdated. Heavy, melodic and always keeping you on the edge of your seat. Once you hear the songs they will remain stuck in your head.
You can't buy the licence to rock, you need to own it. LICENCE does!!!
"This & That (But A Whole Lot More)" is the brand new box set from Mike Tramp, that is being released on the 1st of December in a limited edition of 1000 copies worldwide. The box set contains 5 CDs and 1 DVD with previously unreleased material from Tramps long career, but with brand new stuff as well.
Mike Tramp himself says this about the box set: "In the 21st century where the music business have become something like an old fashion garage sale and your loyal fans have become someone you address by first name and have a coffee with. It is with great pleasure that I give back to those who have stood by my side for so long and shared this journey with me, and now give them the key to my own personal vault of songs and projects I have done over the past 30 years. This Box set is from Mike Tramp to his fans".
On November 24TH and 25th, Mike Tramp and Band Of Brothers will be playing two memorable release shows at Halmtorvet 9 in Copenhagen. The box set will be available at this show, and you will be able pre-order it when buying a ticket for the show at this link to make sure you will get your hands on a copy: Here are ticket links.
Brand new single "Work It All Out" from Mike Tramp, released exclusively on the upcoming CD-box set "This & That (But A Whole Lot More)" - out 1st of December.
And watch the music video for "Work It All Out" here:
THE RADIO SUN have released their first single Heaven On Earth from their fourth full length album ‘Unstoppable’ out October 20 via Pride & Joy Music Germany, Anderstein Music Japan and direct from the band in Melbourne, Australia. The new album was mixed by Paul Laine (solo, The Defiants).
Guitarist Stevie Janevski goes on to say “Unstoppable stands for what we believe in… we’re a hard working band that loves to write melodic catchy hard rock songs. This is our fourth album in four years – we’re all about touring and spreading the word. This new album is a great progression for the band – a collection of some of the best songs we’ve ever written that showcases our vocal harmonies.
Unstoppable features a special guest performance by Andy Shanahan (from Australian AOR pioneers Roxus) on keyboards on the track ‘Dreams Should Last Forever’. With influences such as Night Ranger, Def Leppard, Danger Danger, White Lion, Winger, Harem Scarem, Nelson, etc. The Radio Sun look forward to keep flying the flag for melodic hard rock with their new album.
Upcoming live shows in : Tokyo, Japan in November 2017, HRH AOR Wales, United Kingdom in March 2018, Melodic Rock Fest 5 Chicago, United States in May 2018….with more dates to follow.
**The band are signing all pre orders of the Australian album if ordered before the release date of October 20 via www.facebook.com/theradiosun SHOP NOW button. Unstoppable can also be purchased via Pride & Joy Music in Europe and Anderstein Music in Japan.
Hear the first single from Unstoppable – ‘Heaven On Earth’ and samples from the album below.
