New Releases - December 2024 Part Two!

Yup, I'm still catching up on stuff, this time in the realms of AOR and melodic rock.  This is a genre I should be better at covering, but when this stuff is good, it occupies a fun, uplifting vibe in the rock space that isn't easily found elsewhere.  What I've got here are four albums that provide some interesting variety within the genre, but they all are worth listening to, for one reason or another.

Find Me - Nightbound

When I reviewed their third album, I felt that they had leaned pretty hard into the synths, and while I skipped their fourth album (an act of negligence I will likely fix in the future), here on their fifth, the guitars are very much forward this time around.  Otherwise, this is more solid melodic rock that catches the right balance between big and sentimental.

Once again, we're very much in Journey territory, with synthesizers on loan from Asia, and if there's a touch of Survivor in there, it's because they got Jim Peterik to help write some of the songs.  Robbie LaBlanc soars over the songs with confidence, Andi Kravljaca gives the songs plenty of classic shreddy solos, Daniel Flores provides the right ambience with his sythesizers, and the rest of the band is on point in giving them that classic 80s tone that makes these songs sound so big.  Things start well with the opener "Never Be Alone," which has some good energy, and that uplifting charge carries on with "Can't Wait Here Anymore," "Love Always Finds A Way," "Speechless," and the closer "The Time Has Come."  The title track takes things a little darker, and "I See You in Everyone" and "Distant Lovers" are full of cinematic sentimentality.

There is one problem, and it's the production.  While everything is pretty clear and easy to follow, something about it makes the songs feel narrow, like they're confined or compressed in a way that doesn't quite match the epicness I was expecting.  Once you're into the album, it's not a deal breaker, but part of me thinks the album would have been better if they could expand the soundscape of the songs.  Still, there is plenty of classic, energetic rocking, I enjoyed a lot of this album, and it's likely to be one of the best of the year for AOR.

FM - Old Habits Die Hard

Now that I've been becoming more aware of what's in the AOR space, this is definitely a band that comes up a lot.  Starting in the 80s, they had a few minor hits before breaking up in the mid 90s.  Then, starting back up in 2007, they've apparently been pretty consistent with releasing albums of melodic rock.  I don't know if this was a good place to start with them, but based on this, they rock like it's 1981.

While most AOR bands borrow from Journey, these guys glean quite a bit from Foreigner instead, sitting in a spot between cool and uplifting.  Despite not knowing this band before, I can tell that Steve Overland's voice has aged well, and Jim Kirkpatrick's solos have this ease to them that make me think of guitarists like Ian Bairnson or Steve Lukather.  Overall, it's a pretty laidback affair, with most songs settling into a mid-tempo groove, with the subtle use of acoustic guitars and 80s synths establishing a cozy, yacht-rock tone.

I admit I'm not completely sold on the band, as I prefer my rock to have more energy than this, but I could see this growing on me as it does capture a pleasant mood that few bands are able to do.  At the very least, I'm curious to go listen to their earlier albums to see what (if anything) has changed over the years.  The album doesn't blow me away but sits well with the rest of the stuff in the article.

Lionville - Supernatural

Looking at my previous reviews of this band's works, it's hard to say if this band has really done anything great, but rather maintained a strong consistency in their style.  Once again, they offer typical 80s rocking, with some appropriate synth ambience here and there. It's all written and performed competently, and fans of AOR will find plenty to like.  Compared to the others on this article, it's like they've found a comfort zone between Find Me's energy and FM's soft rock groove.

So is there anything that really stands out?  The title track, "Breakaway," and "The Storm" have some good energy, powered by some well-arranged synth choices.  However, much like FM, this is very much about capturing a very nostalgic and sentimental atmosphere.  Lionville's strength lies mostly in their production and soundscape, making each song feel like a melodramatic movie scene.  In the end, there aren't any surprises, but it's another solid collection of melodic rock from a band with a good track record for it.

Eclipse - Megalomanium II

While I thought their last album had some decent stuff, it was still a bit clunky, especially at the start, so making a sequel seemed like a weird decision to me.  Still, they insist on pushing through with another chunk of uptempo rockers.  This is another band I should probably dig into their earlier records to really get a feel for how they've evolved over the years.

As for this one, they're still crossing over into alternative rock, with "All I Want" sounding like pop punk, but in all honesty, it feels like they're taking anything that rocks and making it work for them.  The album starts well with "Apocalypse Blues," and much of the album is about grappling with desperation of all kinds.  "Divide & Conquer" is another stand out with its stomping drive, "One in a Million" has some darker vibes that make me think of 90's Metallica (in a good way), and "The Spark" probably has the best chorus for singing along with the band.  I think the biggest improvement though is that they added much more heft on the guitars, making them really chug.  While there's still plenty of energetic songwriting and playing on display, it's not quite as strong as Paradigm, but I do think it's better than the first Megalomanium.  For now, it's a solid entry, with a lot of momentum that pushes it above the pack.

Anniversary Series - 2013!

While I was able to do a good summary for 2008, I'm back to doing reviews for 2013.  Sadly, I don't have much to share for the year in my playlist below; it's a gap I plan to fill as I carry on with this blog.  However, I do want to draw special attention to Dimensionaut by Sound of Contact.  It's a fascinating sci-fi prog rock concept album that was a highlight.  While its the group's only album, members of it would go on to form groups like In Continuum and eMolecule, both of which I've featured before.  Now, onto some reviews!

Find Me - Wings of Love

After enjoying one of their albums in the past, I knew I needed to at least give their debut a shot when the opportunity came around, and this article certainly provided one.  Unsurprisingly, it's another solid block of melodic rock a la Journey or Asia, with typical modern production.

Right off, singer Robbie LaBlanc dominates the mix, coming front and center.  However, he has a great voice for this kind of music, singing the sentimental lyrics with confidence and ease.  While the guitars do a good job of holding down the rhythms, its the keyboards by Daniel Flores that really provide the 80s ambience and energy, providing all kinds of reverby synths to augment the emotions behind the songs.  That being said, there are some decent guitar solos through out.  It's no wonder Frontiers Records has hung on to this band for all their albums, as it's exactly the kind of stuff the specialize in.

The album starts with some good rockers in "Road to Nowhere" and "Another World," before dipping a little in energy, with "Eternally" filling the ballad slot on the album.  Things pick up again with "One Soul" and "Bottom of My Heart," and it carries through to the end of the album.  I know that AOR like this is pretty straight-forward, without any surprises, but this album is a high quality example of what the genre can provide.  

Magnus Karlsson's Free Fall - Free Fall

Magnus Karlsson has been in the business since the late 90s, and quickly got picked up to work on a variety of projects for Frontier's Records, playing, composing, and producing all kinds of albums.  He also joined Primal Fear in the late 2000s and has been with them ever since.  However, this is the only project that bears his name, and the debut album falls in nicely for this article.  Drawing upon a quite the list of vocal talent, it shifts back and forth between symphonic rock and metal.

My first thought listening to these is the Allan / Lande project he worked on for Frontiers, going for full sentimental lyrics, with melodic hooks, symphonic arrangements, and providing sonic platforms for the vocalists to soar over.  Speaking of which, this is quite the lineup, drawing from hard rock and AOR to power metal and more.  Magnus does sing a few as well, and he's not bad, showing that there's more to him than just shredding guitars and bombastic arrangements.  If there is a problem, it's the lyrics, as they go for a lot of vague empowerment and drama, sometimes making the songs feel a little inter-changeable.

Still, that could be just nit-picking.  Anyone interested in rock and metal backed by lush arrangements and an incredible lineup of singers will be satisfied.  The standout songs for me include "Higher" (sounding very Primal Fear with Ralf on the mic), "Our Time Has Come" with Mark Boals, "Last Tribe," and "Dreamers & Hunters," with singer Michael Andersson sounding a bit like Jorn Lande!  Perhaps not anything earth-shattering, but it's a fun collection of songs showcasing Magnus Karlsson's abilities as a songwriter and producer.

Haken - The Mountain

So after checking out the first two Haken albums in previous Anniversary Articles, I had to carry on with their third album.  While it's not as much of a concept album as the others, it does focus on the theme of overcoming obstacles and personal challenges, as well as the dangers of greed and ambition.  However, they have definitely retained their peculiar blend of prog metal and quirky jazz.

While at first, it certainly feels like more of the same, but there are some subtle differences that does set this one apart.  Reading up on the album, the band mentioned how this one was a much more collaborative effort, and I think it really shows.  The playing is especially tight, and every song feels pretty meaningful and distinct.  This definitely feels like a band really coming together to make music.  There also is a lot more overlapping vocal parts, with different voices singing different lines.  However, the wild riffing and spontaneous transitions remain very intact, letting the band flex their technical muscles without the songs feeling too long or flashy.

This album got Haken a ton of attention, putting them on the progheads radar and helping them become one of the higher profile prog metal bands out there.  While the whole album does flow well, "Atlas Stone" and "Falling Back To Earth" do stand out as well thought out tracks, with "Cockroach King" being quite the mix of prog self-seriousness and downright zaniness!  I do think this is an improvement, taking what they've done before and distilling it down a little to get a group of songs that solidify their sound.  

New Videos - December 2019 Part Two!

Slipped a bit, but I'm back with some more rock and metal for you.  Hopefully, these tracks will keep you warm as winter really sets in.

Man, the 80s are really being mined for all kinds of things!  Fortunately, the song is a really catchy piece of AOR, with Outland really leaning hard on those synths for hooks!  I don't mind, as this still rocks pretty hard!

Epic doom metal is a genre I really should listen to more, as they really know how to make a song sound huge, and this is no different, with Sarah Ann's vocals soaring over everything!  Smoulder is pretty new to the scene, but they rock the doom as well as Candlemass or Visigoth!

Pattern-Seeking Animals has been slowly releasing videos for nearly every song of their prog rock debut.  This one caught my ear for having some nice, upbeat melodic hooks (despite the dour lyrics!) and a classic 70s vibe.

Stormwarrior is a peculiar band, playing blazing fast power metal, but focusing all their lyrics on Norse mythology and classic Viking culture.  In the end, they've created a pretty unique style for themselves, and this new song shows them carrying on with that style.  Fun stuff, if you can handle the high speed shredding and pounding!

A new video for Find Me's latest album.  Like I said in my review, this is very solid AOR, full of anthemic vocals and synths.  This song actually has a pretty decent guitar solo, but the rest of the guitars really do sit back in mix overall.  For those who like their rock synth heavy.

Finishing how we started with some more AOR.  Edge of Forever has been rocking for quite a while, and their experience shows.  With the crunchy guitars and layered vocals on the chorus, it's the perfect kind of uplifting that makes this genre shine!

Last Played - August 2019!

I think August is going faster than July did!!  Still, I've been trying to catch up on a bunch of the new releases.  Here's what I've been playing lately!

Crazy Lixx - Forever Wild

Taking a look at the cover art, you’d think it would be just chock-full of cheesy 80s anthemic rockers, and while you wouldn’t be wrong, when they’re this good, it just doesn’t matter!  Crazy Lixx is a band dedicated to keeping that classic pop metal sound alive, and they sound great on their latest record, comparable to the best of Def Leppard or Scorpions.

Of course, there are some pretty predictable songs, like “Wicked” being a straight-forward rocker about the wild life, and “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” is the kind of power ballad that dominated the radio in the late 80s.  However, if this kind of stuff was going to bother you, you’re listening to the wrong record.

What really stands out is the heart and passion these guys have for this sound.  This isn’t some half-baked effort to capitalize on a minor trend, but a band who makes the most of what made this kind of music great in the first place.  With so many fist-pumping anthems, especially “Break Out,” “Silent Thunder”, “Terminal Velocity,” and “Never Die (Forever Wild),” it’s hard to not just headbang along with a massive smile on your face.

As far as I’m concerned, there is no such thing as a dead genre, where nothing more worth saying with a certain style of music.  There is always room for high-quality, well executed rock music in my books, and Forever Wild knocks it out of the park. 

Paragon - Controlled Demolition

I was pretty impressed with Paragon’s two videos from earlier, so I figured I’d throw in their new album on and get a full dose of their sound.  What I got was more of the same: crunchy, heavy, thrashy, Accept-inspired German metal!

This being my first experience with a Paragon album, they certainly know how to lay on the riffs.  Whether they’re stomping at a mid-tempo pace and powering ahead with high speed thrashers, it’s non-stop crunching from beginning to end.  And on top of it all is Andreas Babuschkin’s vocals, sounding very Udo-like, full of soaring power and strength. 

Some tracks do stand out, though.  First, you have “Reborn” and “Mean Machine” really blowing things up at the beginning, but later tracks like “The Enemy Within” and “Black Widow” maintain that power.  In the middle is the 8 minute epic “Deathlines,” which starts off with a slower vibe, but eventually kicking into double-speed madness before settling back in that earlier, haunting tone.  Other tracks are not as strong, but don’t drag the album down, making the album feel fairly solid from beginning to end.

Much like it’s cousin “Fight the Fear” by Herman Frank from earlier in the year, it’s straight ahead metal, though Paragon does provide a thrashier vibe.  Definitely a blast to listen to when you want that Teutonic metal sound!

Monkey3 - Sphere

I know I joked about having posted half the album in my video posts, but I really was impressed with what I found.  Finally, I decided to give the whole album a go and listen to the other half.  To be short, it’s just as good!  

On the videos, I made reference to their Pink Floyd influence, but as I’m taking in the whole thing, I’m also hearing bits of Tool, post-rock, doom metal, along with all the psychedelia they’re throwing around.

However, their biggest trademark is their sheer wall-of-sound approach to song-writing.  These guys sound gigantic!  Not a single corner of your headphones will feel empty once they get going.  Even with the beginning of “Ida” starting as something of an acoustic ballad eventually gives way to outright sonic force.

Another thing I liked about the album is how liberating it felt.  As opposed to Tool with their angst-filled brooding, Monkey3 have more of a lighter, flying feel.  It really gives me the impression that these songs would be an absolute blast to play live, as the musicians have all kinds of room to noodle and explore.

If there is a potential flaw, it’s that the album doesn’t really have a lot of diversity in tone.  While each song is memorable in its own way, they all go for the same tone throughout the album.  It’s certainly not a bad thing for a band to stick to their sound, but those looking for more variety in their albums may find this one a little single-minded.

However, for me, this stuff was amazing.  From the explosive “Spirals” to the epic “Ellipsis,” I was completely blown away.  Seriously, I think this is the best album I’ve heard this year so far!  Full of passion and great musicianship, this is clearly a band I need to listen to a lot more!!

Find Me - Angels In Blue

To round things out, I decided to listen to some old-fashioned AOR.  While Journey will likely always be the reference point for this kind of music, Find Me look to build on that foundation by having more emphasis on synths, a sharper production, and putting the drummer right next to the vocals in the mix.

Of course, the singer is always going to be center of this kind of music, but the guitars really do feel like background music and don't really do that much soloing.  While it's not a bad choice, it's definitely something I noticed listening through the album.  The lyrics are also that specific kind of sentimental one expects from this kind of music.  Nothing awful, but nothing really noteworthy.

However, if you're in for some anthemic rockers from the early 80s, it's hard to go wrong with what Find Me is providing here.  While the songs do kind of blend together, it is pretty fun to listen to while it's on.  Like I said earlier, there is no such thing as a dead genre, and as long as we have bands like this providing new, solid AOR, that will remain a fact.

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It's been fun to finally catch up on some new releases, but I know I'm still struggling to make new articles for this blog.  While I'm not giving up on it, I don't think I can really make any promises regarding the frequency of my output.  I think I can do a videos post before the end of the month, but we'll have to see, as this week is going to be busy for me.

Still, I'm glad to talk about some new stuff, and hopefully even more great rock is around the corner.  Until then, rock on!  \m/

New Videos - February 2019 Part 3!

I feel like these video articles are all I'm doing these days, but I can't help sharing all the cool music I'm finding!  I promise I'll get to other types of articles, but for now, let's check out some great rock music!

Let's start off with another one from Anthem.  As I mentioned before, this Japanese band has been going for a while, but this video is for their first major international album, so their pulling all the stops.  Great piece of speedy metal!

I know I post a lot of metal here, but I can't deny the power of good AOR, and I'm thankful for labels like Fronteirs Records and their mission to give this kind of music an opportunity to shine.  Here's another uplifting, 80s-style epic from Find Me, and it doesn't disappoint!

Sticking with the 80s for a moment, here we have epic 80s hair metal coming from Swedish glam rockers Crazy Lixx.  While they may not have the classic pedigree of Def Leppard or Dokken, they have the right sound and attitude to for it!

Saint Vitus seems to be coming back, bring their style of old-school doom metal with them.  While the intro seems different, that middle section and is pure Sabbath-y, with crunchy riffs and a wailing, haunted guitar solo!

Here we have another piece of melodic progressive metal from Darkwater.  After this song and the previous one, between the atmosphere, the riffs, and the synth solos, this is sounding like an album I shouldn't miss!  

Let's wrap things up with some Queensrÿche.  As expected, they bring their classic 80s style with some solid riffing and great melodies to go along with their message.  Todd La Torre really shines on this one!

New Videos - December 2018, Part 2!

You know, the more I look around, the more alive the whole rock and metal scene feels!  It's so great to know there are so many good bands out there still making great music!

I admit that I'm not as familiar with Rhapsody of Fire as I should be, but I do know they've been making story-driven symphonic power metal for 20 years now, and it would seem that their epic tales will go on.  Their new singer sounds great on this fantasy epic!

So, apparently, the lead singer of Dimmu Borgir has been doing this band on the side for years, going for more of a Motorhead approach to metal.  As it turns out, this is from what they've claimed will be their last album.  Uptempo riffs and a good-time feel will make you feel like roaring out on that motorcycle one more time!

Hey, remember last week when I was psyched over the Herman Frank last week?  Here's another one!  This is more of a slow-paced stomper with a great shout-along chorus that would have filled arenas in the 80s.  I think I'm really looking forward to this album!

Well, this is a bolt out of the blue!  I admit I don't have much knowledge of the Japanese metal scene, but I know there are a handful of power metal bands out there like this  (Galneryus comes to mind).  Very impressive!

Of course, we can't have one of these lists without some good old-fashioned AOR!  Full of anthemic lyrics, heavy guitars, and huge synths, this one from Find Me fits right next to Journey and Night Ranger for that classic 80s sound.

Let's finish this one off with something special.  And by that, I mean viking Manowar.  This is so campy and cheesy that I can't help but smile!  While the video might look pretty laughable, the music is pretty solid and epic.  For those who don't take their metal so seriously.