WIN tickets to a DEEP PURPLE gig in April –
New interview with NIGHT RANGER’s JACK BLADES –
Iron Maiden are to take part in the final episode of Live from Abbey Road, the 60 minute music program which airs on Channel 4 TV. Iron Maiden will be performing tracks from last years ‘A Matter of Life or Death’ album and will be supported by the Gipsy Kings and Natasha Bedingfield.
Guitarist Tim Mills has left ICED EARTH.
EDENBRIDGE has parted ways with drummer Roland Navratil due to "personal, musical and financial differences." A replacement drummer has yet to be announced.
Onslaught are to release a DVD called 'Onslaught Polish Assault 2007' through Metal Mind on May 14th.
Bloodstock Open Air Festival will now happen from August 16-18, and not on July 6/7, at Catton Hall in Derbyshire. On the bill will be In Flames, Arch Enemy, Testament, Lacuna Coil, Dream Evil, Wolf, Korpiklaani, Memfis and Rise To Addiction. As a result, the indoor Bloodstock festival won't be happening this year.
Inside Out Music America has set a May 22 release date for Devin Townsend's next solo album, entitled "Ziltoid the Omniscient". The CD, which will be released under the DEVIN TOWNSEND banner instead of THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND, was recorded completely by Devin, who took care of the singing, guitar, bass, synthesizers and sampling duties.
Todd Rundgren will be the first act to play the newly refurbished Fillmore in Philadelphia when the venue reopens on April 27th.
====================================================
CLASSIC ROCK NEWSWIRE FORUM
====================================================
http://www.atfreeforum.com/crnewswire/
PRESS RELEASES
www.chokehold-metal.com
www.myspace.com/chokeholdmetal
Chokehold are pleased to announce their participation in the forthcoming UK/Irish tour with metal legends Saxon. Drummer Lawrence Paterson comments: “F***king YEEESSSS! To share the stage night after night with such a renowned and ultimately respected band as Saxon is an honour, but to be personally invited is truly special. We can’t thank Saxon or their management enough for this opportunity. Get ready – the ‘Love Hammer’ is coming…”
The band will make their national TV debut as part of Harvey Goldsmith’s ‘Get Your Act Together – The Showdown’. The show will air on E4 at 10pm on Tuesday April 10th. Their new album ‘Sweet Sense of Genocide’ – the follow-up to 2006’s Nick Hemingway produced ‘The Killing Has Begun’ – will be released later this year.
CHOKEHOLD W/SAXON - MAY 2007
14 Academy 2 – Manchester
15 Astoria – London
16 Rock City – Nottingham
17 Temple Bar Music Centre – Dublin
19 The Garage – Glasgow
20 Civic Hall – Wolverhampton
21 Coal Exchange – Cardiff
23 Spring & Airbrake – Belfast
Press Release
March 29, 2007
QUIET RIOT will hit the road in 2007 in support of their dynamic new release REHAB. REHAB is the most definitive release of their career since METAL HEALTH and has received numerous superb reviews and feedback worldwide. REHAB is available nationwide at all major stores.
QUIET RIOT 2007 TOUR DATES
APRIL 5: WILKES-BARRE, PA: ROCK 107 BIRTHDAY BASH APRIL 6: NEW YORK, NY: CANAL ROOM APRIL 7: SAYREVILLE, NJ: STARLAND BALLROOM APRIL 13: LAS VEGAS, NV: SILVERTON CASINO APRIL 27: LYONS, TX: BIG CREEK APRIL 28: LEESBURG, FL: BIKEFEST 2007
MAY 5: MEXICO CITY: AVANDARO OPEN AIR
MAY 19: MYRTLE BEACH, SC: CLUB KRYPTONITE
JUNE 7: SOLVESBORG, SWEDEN: SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL JUNE 30: SARASOTA, FL: SUNCOAST OFFSHORE GRAND PRIX JULY 3: DELHART, TX: KXIT PRESENTS JULY 13: PRYOR, OK: PRYOR CREEK FESTIVAL GROUNDS JULY 14: VERNON HILLS, IL: VILLAGE OF VERNON HILLS JULY 20: SPRINGVILLE, IN: A.B.A.T.E. (THE BOOGIE) OF INDIANA JULY 28: ROYALTON, MN: HALFWAY JAM
AUG 3: CLEARFIELD, PA: CLEARFIELD COUNTY FAIR
SEP 8: PUEBLO OF ACOMA, NM: SKY CITY CASINO
More tour dates to be announced.
Visit http://www.frankie-banali.com, http://www.pollstar.com or http://www.chavisrecords.net for more information.
Visit QUIET RIOT on Myspace! - www.myspace.com/quietriotrehab
Finnish progressive rock-band Overhead performs this year besides Finland at least in five European countries. The band plays at festivals and clubs in May in France, in August in Sweden and in November in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.
Overhead's second album 'Metaepitome' was released in 2005 and it got a great reception in different medias all around the world getting excellent reviews and album of the month-nominations. It has also been played in many especially prog-oriented radios in Europe and America.
Overhead is currently working on its third album and it is expected to be finished by the end of the year. The album will be released by French Musea.
Confirmed tour dates so far:
03.04.2007 On the Rocks, Helsinki, Finland.
12.05.2007 A progressive day's night part III, Gloria, Helsinki, Finland.
18.05.2007 Prog'Sud festival, Jas'Rod des Pennes-Mirabeau, France.
19.05.2007 Son'Art, Bordeaux, France.
07.08.2007 Espa stage, Helsinki, Finland.
25.08.2007 Slottsskogen Goes Progressive, Villa Belparc, Göteborg, Sweden.
09.11.2007 pROCKfest, Stadthalle im Stadtgarten, Bünde, Germany.
11.11.2007 Spirit of 66, Verviers, Belgium.
16.11.2007 Montreux Prog Nights, Montreux Music Club, Switzerland.
http://www.overhead-band.com/
http://www.myspace.com/overheadband
STARS OF HARVEY GOLDSMITH’S ‘GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER’ C4 DOCUMENTARY APRIL 10TH RELEASE ‘IF I WAS YOU’ SINGLE APRIL 16th & TOUR UK & IRELAND IN MAY
English hard rocking heavy metal legends Saxon, who star in Channel 4’s ‘Get Your Act Together’ programme (fronted by Harvey Goldsmith) on April 10th, have now confirmed the release their ANTI GUN CRIME single featured on the show, ‘If I Was You’, on SPV Records on April 16th. All proceeds from the single will be split equally between The Non Violence Foundation and the Gun Control Network – see www.nonviolenceuk.org.uk and www.gun-control-network.org for details.
‘If I Was You’ is taken from Saxon’s just released, highly acclaimed 18th studio album ‘The Inner Sanctum’, which went straight into the UK Rock album chart at number 4. Reviewing the LP in Kerrang!’s March 24th issue, Nick Ruskell enthused; “Sounding a good 20 years younger than their birth certificates say, there’s no messing here, just a load of solid heavy metal tunes played with the energy and conviction of a band right at the top of their game, and although they may be older, wiser and greyer than they used to be, Saxon are still way above par when it comes to delivering the metal.”
Saxon have also rescheduled their UK & Irish tour, which was postponed last month when singer Biff Byford contracted a throat infection and lost his voice. Dates are:-
14th May MANCHESTER Academy 2 (£16.00)
15th May LONDON – Astoria (£16.00)
16th May NOTTINGHAM Rock City (£16.00)
17th May DUBLIN Temple Bar Music Centre (36 Euros)
19th May GLASGOW Garage (£17.50)
20th May WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall (£16.00)
21st May CARDIFF Coal Exchange (£16.00)
23rd May BELFAST Spring & Airbrake (£18.50)
Tickets are on sale now from all usual outlets and via www.aloud.com
www.saxon747.com
www.spv.de
Civilization One is an international musical entity creating timeless heavy metal with neoclassical, symphonic aggression, and features in it's ranks vocalist Chity Somapala (ex-Firewind, Avalon), guitarist Aldo Lanobile (Secret Sphere), drummer Luca Cartasegna (ex-Secret Sphere), and bassist Pierre-Emmanuel Pélisson (Maladaptive; Ex-Heavenly).
The band produced their debut album Revolution Rising themselves at studios in France, Italy and Germany with mixing and mastering by Markus Teske (Vanden Plas, Dominici,Symphony X) at Bazement Studios in Germany. Civilization One's debut will be released in June 2007 and feature 10 songs, including "Life Of Agony," "Legends Of The Past (Carry On)", and "Time Will Tell."
More information and music can be found at: www.myspace.com/civilizationone or www.civilization-one.com
Stonelake present new album in June - This Swedish band's new album is entitled World Entry and was recorded between Summer and Fall 2006. Mixing was handled by guitarist Jan Åkesson, Pontus Lindmark and Anders ”Theo” Theander at Roastinghouse Studios, Sweden. Expect a melodic, slightly progressive album with great hooks & melodies!
Line-Up: Peter Grundström, Vocals, Jan Åkesson, Guitars, keys, bass, Jaime Salazar, Drums, Lasse Johansson, Bass.
www.stonelake.se
Faith And Fire's Tony Moore goes Japanese - Former Riot and current Faith And Fire singer Tony Moore was invited to sing on 2 songs of the forthcoming album by Japanese guitar hero Takayoshi Ohmura. He also wrote the lyrics for the songs entitled "Holy Tomorrow" and "Never". This release is due for Spring 2007 in Japan. Until then, you can hear Tony on Faith And Fire's album Accelerator, out now on Metal Heaven.
www.faith-and-fire.com
www.metalheaven.net
GIG NEWS
SMASHING PUMPKINS
May 22 - Paris, France @ Grand Rex
May 28 - Landgraaf, Netherlands @ Pinkpop (Near Heerlen)
May 31 - Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Sound Festival
June 02 - Nürburgring, Germany @ Rock am Ring
June 03 - Nürnberg, Germany @ Rock im Park
June 09 - Lisbon, Portugal @ Super Rock
June 12 - Madrid, Spain @ Las Ventas
June 15 - Nickelsdorf, Austria @ Nova Rock
June 16 - Imola (Venice), Italy @ Heineken Jammin' Festival
June 17 - Interlaken, Switzerland @ Greenfield Festival
Aug. 05 - Washington, DC @ V Festival at Pimlico Park
Aug. 24 - Leeds, England @ Leeds Festival
Aug. 26 - Reading, England @ Reading Festival
Sep. 08 - Toronto, ONT @ V Festival
PAUL GILBERT
June
3rd London Mean Fiddler June
4th Dudley JB's
5th Leeds Rio's
REVIEWS
SOULAR ‘Love Crash Heal’ Astonish (2007) www.soulair.us
This band are like a more melodic version of Radiohead, in fact imagine Radiohead with out the harsh guitars and with added Coldplay melodies and you’d be near to their overall sound. The title track and ‘So, This Is The Way It Feels’ are excellent tracks, lovely atmospherics coupled with neat vocals. However some track do miss the mark like the aptly titles ‘It’s A Shame’ which sounds out of place with the rest of the album.
An enjoyable listen and fans of Radiohead in their ‘OK Computer’ ear and Coldplay would do well to check this band out.
***1/2
Jason Ritchie
OVERHEAD ‘Metaepitome’ Musea (2005) www.myspace.com/overheadband
Finnish based progressive rock band that seamlessly merge the classic prog rock sound of the 70’s with more modern influences. The title track, an epic nineteen minutes long, features some fine guitar soloing and the general laid back feel of the music brings to mind Camel at their best. For a more modern feel ‘WARNING: Ending (Without Warning’ fits the bill nicely, although again the flute and keys arrangements hard back to Jethro Tull and Focus.
‘Butterfly’s Cry’ with its 70’s keys could be the Eagles jamming with ELP! The sixteen minute ‘Dawn’ rounds of the album in style. Again those 70’s classic prog sounds are there but this time the guitar and keys take the centre role creating rich soundscapes that draw the listener in.
Overhead have created an album perfect for lovers of the mellower side of progressive rock, be they fans of Camel, Focus etc. A band worthy of wider exposure and recognition.
****
Jason Ritchie
ZEN MOTEL ‘Stations Of The Dead’ Imprint Records (2007) www.zenmotel.co.uk
The band’s second album, which sees the Wildhearts CJ guesting on three tracks as well. This band kick as and then some! They play straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll as favoured by the Wildhearts and Buckcherry. Just check out ‘21st Century Bitch’ (more tea vicar?) or ‘Real good Time’ where the guitars remind you of Thin Lizzy bizarrely! ‘Pissed’ has a great melody and just sticks inn your brain. Slightly off the wall moment in ‘Honey Ryder’, an instrumental with some spoken female vocals.
If you like your rock on the sleazy and catchy as f*** then this band will satisfy your need and then some.
****
Jason Ritchie
STAN BUSH ‘In This Life’ Frontiers (2007) www.frontiers.it
Stan Bush is one of those artists who define a genre, in this case highly polished AOR and with this new album he doesn’t disappoint.
From the opener ‘I’ll Never Fall’, which is the sort of track Survivor should have done on their latest album through to the reflective acoustic closing track ‘Southern Rain’ (featuring Rocket Richotte on guitars), it is a very enjoyable listen. Just the right amount of rockers (‘Over You’ is a classic melodic rocker!) and ballads with ‘Waiting For You’ showing others how ballads should be done. The production is nice and smooth courtesy of Holger Fath (who also handles guitars and keyboards), which is vital in this type of AOR album.
Another winner from Stan Bush, one of AOR’s most consistent performers and long may he continue.
****
Jason Ritchie
New interview with NIGHT RANGER’s JACK BLADES –
Iron Maiden are to take part in the final episode of Live from Abbey Road, the 60 minute music program which airs on Channel 4 TV. Iron Maiden will be performing tracks from last years ‘A Matter of Life or Death’ album and will be supported by the Gipsy Kings and Natasha Bedingfield.
Guitarist Tim Mills has left ICED EARTH.
EDENBRIDGE has parted ways with drummer Roland Navratil due to "personal, musical and financial differences." A replacement drummer has yet to be announced.
Onslaught are to release a DVD called 'Onslaught Polish Assault 2007' through Metal Mind on May 14th.
Bloodstock Open Air Festival will now happen from August 16-18, and not on July 6/7, at Catton Hall in Derbyshire. On the bill will be In Flames, Arch Enemy, Testament, Lacuna Coil, Dream Evil, Wolf, Korpiklaani, Memfis and Rise To Addiction. As a result, the indoor Bloodstock festival won't be happening this year.
Inside Out Music America has set a May 22 release date for Devin Townsend's next solo album, entitled "Ziltoid the Omniscient". The CD, which will be released under the DEVIN TOWNSEND banner instead of THE DEVIN TOWNSEND BAND, was recorded completely by Devin, who took care of the singing, guitar, bass, synthesizers and sampling duties.
Todd Rundgren will be the first act to play the newly refurbished Fillmore in Philadelphia when the venue reopens on April 27th.
====================================================
CLASSIC ROCK NEWSWIRE FORUM
====================================================
http://www.atfreeforum.com/crnewswire/
PRESS RELEASES
www.chokehold-metal.com
www.myspace.com/chokeholdmetal
Chokehold are pleased to announce their participation in the forthcoming UK/Irish tour with metal legends Saxon. Drummer Lawrence Paterson comments: “F***king YEEESSSS! To share the stage night after night with such a renowned and ultimately respected band as Saxon is an honour, but to be personally invited is truly special. We can’t thank Saxon or their management enough for this opportunity. Get ready – the ‘Love Hammer’ is coming…”
The band will make their national TV debut as part of Harvey Goldsmith’s ‘Get Your Act Together – The Showdown’. The show will air on E4 at 10pm on Tuesday April 10th. Their new album ‘Sweet Sense of Genocide’ – the follow-up to 2006’s Nick Hemingway produced ‘The Killing Has Begun’ – will be released later this year.
CHOKEHOLD W/SAXON - MAY 2007
14 Academy 2 – Manchester
15 Astoria – London
16 Rock City – Nottingham
17 Temple Bar Music Centre – Dublin
19 The Garage – Glasgow
20 Civic Hall – Wolverhampton
21 Coal Exchange – Cardiff
23 Spring & Airbrake – Belfast
Press Release
March 29, 2007
QUIET RIOT will hit the road in 2007 in support of their dynamic new release REHAB. REHAB is the most definitive release of their career since METAL HEALTH and has received numerous superb reviews and feedback worldwide. REHAB is available nationwide at all major stores.
QUIET RIOT 2007 TOUR DATES
APRIL 5: WILKES-BARRE, PA: ROCK 107 BIRTHDAY BASH APRIL 6: NEW YORK, NY: CANAL ROOM APRIL 7: SAYREVILLE, NJ: STARLAND BALLROOM APRIL 13: LAS VEGAS, NV: SILVERTON CASINO APRIL 27: LYONS, TX: BIG CREEK APRIL 28: LEESBURG, FL: BIKEFEST 2007
MAY 5: MEXICO CITY: AVANDARO OPEN AIR
MAY 19: MYRTLE BEACH, SC: CLUB KRYPTONITE
JUNE 7: SOLVESBORG, SWEDEN: SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL JUNE 30: SARASOTA, FL: SUNCOAST OFFSHORE GRAND PRIX JULY 3: DELHART, TX: KXIT PRESENTS JULY 13: PRYOR, OK: PRYOR CREEK FESTIVAL GROUNDS JULY 14: VERNON HILLS, IL: VILLAGE OF VERNON HILLS JULY 20: SPRINGVILLE, IN: A.B.A.T.E. (THE BOOGIE) OF INDIANA JULY 28: ROYALTON, MN: HALFWAY JAM
AUG 3: CLEARFIELD, PA: CLEARFIELD COUNTY FAIR
SEP 8: PUEBLO OF ACOMA, NM: SKY CITY CASINO
More tour dates to be announced.
Visit http://www.frankie-banali.com, http://www.pollstar.com or http://www.chavisrecords.net for more information.
Visit QUIET RIOT on Myspace! - www.myspace.com/quietriotrehab
Finnish progressive rock-band Overhead performs this year besides Finland at least in five European countries. The band plays at festivals and clubs in May in France, in August in Sweden and in November in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.
Overhead's second album 'Metaepitome' was released in 2005 and it got a great reception in different medias all around the world getting excellent reviews and album of the month-nominations. It has also been played in many especially prog-oriented radios in Europe and America.
Overhead is currently working on its third album and it is expected to be finished by the end of the year. The album will be released by French Musea.
Confirmed tour dates so far:
03.04.2007 On the Rocks, Helsinki, Finland.
12.05.2007 A progressive day's night part III, Gloria, Helsinki, Finland.
18.05.2007 Prog'Sud festival, Jas'Rod des Pennes-Mirabeau, France.
19.05.2007 Son'Art, Bordeaux, France.
07.08.2007 Espa stage, Helsinki, Finland.
25.08.2007 Slottsskogen Goes Progressive, Villa Belparc, Göteborg, Sweden.
09.11.2007 pROCKfest, Stadthalle im Stadtgarten, Bünde, Germany.
11.11.2007 Spirit of 66, Verviers, Belgium.
16.11.2007 Montreux Prog Nights, Montreux Music Club, Switzerland.
http://www.overhead-band.com/
http://www.myspace.com/overheadband
STARS OF HARVEY GOLDSMITH’S ‘GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER’ C4 DOCUMENTARY APRIL 10TH RELEASE ‘IF I WAS YOU’ SINGLE APRIL 16th & TOUR UK & IRELAND IN MAY
English hard rocking heavy metal legends Saxon, who star in Channel 4’s ‘Get Your Act Together’ programme (fronted by Harvey Goldsmith) on April 10th, have now confirmed the release their ANTI GUN CRIME single featured on the show, ‘If I Was You’, on SPV Records on April 16th. All proceeds from the single will be split equally between The Non Violence Foundation and the Gun Control Network – see www.nonviolenceuk.org.uk and www.gun-control-network.org for details.
‘If I Was You’ is taken from Saxon’s just released, highly acclaimed 18th studio album ‘The Inner Sanctum’, which went straight into the UK Rock album chart at number 4. Reviewing the LP in Kerrang!’s March 24th issue, Nick Ruskell enthused; “Sounding a good 20 years younger than their birth certificates say, there’s no messing here, just a load of solid heavy metal tunes played with the energy and conviction of a band right at the top of their game, and although they may be older, wiser and greyer than they used to be, Saxon are still way above par when it comes to delivering the metal.”
Saxon have also rescheduled their UK & Irish tour, which was postponed last month when singer Biff Byford contracted a throat infection and lost his voice. Dates are:-
14th May MANCHESTER Academy 2 (£16.00)
15th May LONDON – Astoria (£16.00)
16th May NOTTINGHAM Rock City (£16.00)
17th May DUBLIN Temple Bar Music Centre (36 Euros)
19th May GLASGOW Garage (£17.50)
20th May WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall (£16.00)
21st May CARDIFF Coal Exchange (£16.00)
23rd May BELFAST Spring & Airbrake (£18.50)
Tickets are on sale now from all usual outlets and via www.aloud.com
www.saxon747.com
www.spv.de
Civilization One is an international musical entity creating timeless heavy metal with neoclassical, symphonic aggression, and features in it's ranks vocalist Chity Somapala (ex-Firewind, Avalon), guitarist Aldo Lanobile (Secret Sphere), drummer Luca Cartasegna (ex-Secret Sphere), and bassist Pierre-Emmanuel Pélisson (Maladaptive; Ex-Heavenly).
The band produced their debut album Revolution Rising themselves at studios in France, Italy and Germany with mixing and mastering by Markus Teske (Vanden Plas, Dominici,Symphony X) at Bazement Studios in Germany. Civilization One's debut will be released in June 2007 and feature 10 songs, including "Life Of Agony," "Legends Of The Past (Carry On)", and "Time Will Tell."
More information and music can be found at: www.myspace.com/civilizationone or www.civilization-one.com
Stonelake present new album in June - This Swedish band's new album is entitled World Entry and was recorded between Summer and Fall 2006. Mixing was handled by guitarist Jan Åkesson, Pontus Lindmark and Anders ”Theo” Theander at Roastinghouse Studios, Sweden. Expect a melodic, slightly progressive album with great hooks & melodies!
Line-Up: Peter Grundström, Vocals, Jan Åkesson, Guitars, keys, bass, Jaime Salazar, Drums, Lasse Johansson, Bass.
www.stonelake.se
Faith And Fire's Tony Moore goes Japanese - Former Riot and current Faith And Fire singer Tony Moore was invited to sing on 2 songs of the forthcoming album by Japanese guitar hero Takayoshi Ohmura. He also wrote the lyrics for the songs entitled "Holy Tomorrow" and "Never". This release is due for Spring 2007 in Japan. Until then, you can hear Tony on Faith And Fire's album Accelerator, out now on Metal Heaven.
www.faith-and-fire.com
www.metalheaven.net
GIG NEWS
SMASHING PUMPKINS
May 22 - Paris, France @ Grand Rex
May 28 - Landgraaf, Netherlands @ Pinkpop (Near Heerlen)
May 31 - Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Sound Festival
June 02 - Nürburgring, Germany @ Rock am Ring
June 03 - Nürnberg, Germany @ Rock im Park
June 09 - Lisbon, Portugal @ Super Rock
June 12 - Madrid, Spain @ Las Ventas
June 15 - Nickelsdorf, Austria @ Nova Rock
June 16 - Imola (Venice), Italy @ Heineken Jammin' Festival
June 17 - Interlaken, Switzerland @ Greenfield Festival
Aug. 05 - Washington, DC @ V Festival at Pimlico Park
Aug. 24 - Leeds, England @ Leeds Festival
Aug. 26 - Reading, England @ Reading Festival
Sep. 08 - Toronto, ONT @ V Festival
PAUL GILBERT
June
3rd London Mean Fiddler June
4th Dudley JB's
5th Leeds Rio's
REVIEWS
SOULAR ‘Love Crash Heal’ Astonish (2007) www.soulair.us
This band are like a more melodic version of Radiohead, in fact imagine Radiohead with out the harsh guitars and with added Coldplay melodies and you’d be near to their overall sound. The title track and ‘So, This Is The Way It Feels’ are excellent tracks, lovely atmospherics coupled with neat vocals. However some track do miss the mark like the aptly titles ‘It’s A Shame’ which sounds out of place with the rest of the album.
An enjoyable listen and fans of Radiohead in their ‘OK Computer’ ear and Coldplay would do well to check this band out.
***1/2
Jason Ritchie
OVERHEAD ‘Metaepitome’ Musea (2005) www.myspace.com/overheadband
Finnish based progressive rock band that seamlessly merge the classic prog rock sound of the 70’s with more modern influences. The title track, an epic nineteen minutes long, features some fine guitar soloing and the general laid back feel of the music brings to mind Camel at their best. For a more modern feel ‘WARNING: Ending (Without Warning’ fits the bill nicely, although again the flute and keys arrangements hard back to Jethro Tull and Focus.
‘Butterfly’s Cry’ with its 70’s keys could be the Eagles jamming with ELP! The sixteen minute ‘Dawn’ rounds of the album in style. Again those 70’s classic prog sounds are there but this time the guitar and keys take the centre role creating rich soundscapes that draw the listener in.
Overhead have created an album perfect for lovers of the mellower side of progressive rock, be they fans of Camel, Focus etc. A band worthy of wider exposure and recognition.
****
Jason Ritchie
ZEN MOTEL ‘Stations Of The Dead’ Imprint Records (2007) www.zenmotel.co.uk
The band’s second album, which sees the Wildhearts CJ guesting on three tracks as well. This band kick as and then some! They play straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll as favoured by the Wildhearts and Buckcherry. Just check out ‘21st Century Bitch’ (more tea vicar?) or ‘Real good Time’ where the guitars remind you of Thin Lizzy bizarrely! ‘Pissed’ has a great melody and just sticks inn your brain. Slightly off the wall moment in ‘Honey Ryder’, an instrumental with some spoken female vocals.
If you like your rock on the sleazy and catchy as f*** then this band will satisfy your need and then some.
****
Jason Ritchie
STAN BUSH ‘In This Life’ Frontiers (2007) www.frontiers.it
Stan Bush is one of those artists who define a genre, in this case highly polished AOR and with this new album he doesn’t disappoint.
From the opener ‘I’ll Never Fall’, which is the sort of track Survivor should have done on their latest album through to the reflective acoustic closing track ‘Southern Rain’ (featuring Rocket Richotte on guitars), it is a very enjoyable listen. Just the right amount of rockers (‘Over You’ is a classic melodic rocker!) and ballads with ‘Waiting For You’ showing others how ballads should be done. The production is nice and smooth courtesy of Holger Fath (who also handles guitars and keyboards), which is vital in this type of AOR album.
Another winner from Stan Bush, one of AOR’s most consistent performers and long may he continue.
****
Jason Ritchie
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