AOR HEAVEN is one of the best pure AOR labels around at the moment. The German label of Georg Siegl has already released some wonderful AOR records this year such as FRONTLINE, RUBY FAITH and ABSOLUTE ZERO. Now we can add to this list the new albums of STREET TALK and TALK OF THE TOWN, two superb pure AOR records. First there is the Swedish AOR band STREET TALK and their second CD 'Transition'. Their debut from a few years ago featured a bunch of super AOR HEAVEN songs, but also some average songs (not much though).

'Transition' is much better actually, because also the production sounds crystal clear and STREET TALK can really say that they now have released a high-quality pure AOR CD. There are 10 songs on the album and of course the biggest influence on the band is JOURNEY. Without JOURNEY, STREET TALK would have sounded different. But STREET TALK is definitely not a JOURNEY clone, because actually they are much better than the last JOURNEY album!

This CD is filled with CLASSIC AOR only and right from the start until the end of the album you're in AOR HEAVEN. The musicians on the album are leader/songwriter/producer Fredrik Bergh (keyboards), Goran Edman (vocals, session singer on many Swedish AOR/Melodic Rockalbums), Sven Larsson (guitars), Mikael Berner (bass) and Christian Johansson (drums). The CD starts with "Someday (I'll get over you)", a brilliant Classic 80s uptempo AOR tune a la DAKOTA and JOURNEY. "Need someone" follows and is a lovely midtempo AOR ballad in the BAD ENGLISH/JOURNEY style.

Up next is "If anybody breaks your heart", a classy catchy uptempo AOR/Melodic Rocker in the style of the very first HAREM SCAREM album (but with a JOURNEY typed chorus). The CD continues with "Let me be the one", a calmer poppy Radio-ballad that is slightly disturbed by a saxsolo. Next track "Always stand by you" makes it up, because this is prime-time midtempo AOR, very much in the style of FOREIGNER, GIANT, SHADOW KING…

"Ye Gods and little fishes" takes us back into classy 80s uptempo AOR. Following track "Everything I do is just for you" is a huge sounding semi AOR ballad with wonderful pure JOURNEY harmonies during the chorus. This song is totally 80s and one of my favourites on the CD (although I have to say they are all favourites!). Then comes the only song
that left me a bit cold. The song is called "Energizer bunny", a nice uptempo melodic poprocker that sounds very radio-friendly, but the chorus lacks. It's not a bad song, but compared to the other superb pure AOR songs, it falls a bit out of place here. But
who cares if it's only one song, because also the final two songs are in the highest possible grade of pure AOR.

First there is "Don't give up on this love", a lovely semi AOR ballad like JOURNEY meets BAD ENGLISH. And finally, we have the terrific closing track "When you lose the one you love", a superb AOR ballad with huge harmonies and this pure 80s song sounds as good as any JOURNEY song. This 'Transition' is almost a 'Classic AOR' album and any AOR fan needs to buy this as soon as possible! Check out their site at: http://host.bip.net/berg.fredrik

Rating: 9,5/10

Another release on AOR HEAVEN that brings you indeed in AOR HEAVEN. 'The ways of the world' is the third studio-CD of the Swedish Melodic Rockband TALK OF THE TOWN. Their debut was released in the late 80s and features some wonderful uptempo AOR/Melodic Rock. The follow-up from a few years ago was more like a bridge between pure 80s Melodic Rock and weaker (read: groovy) Hard Rock. Both albums have also been re-issued some time ago and now there's 'The ways of the world'. I liked their earlier releases, but they were not sensational or something, just nice melodic rock albums. But this new CD really is totally different than anything they did in the past.

'The ways of the world' is filled with Classic 80s AOR and reminds me of early FM, WHITE SISTER, LE ROUX, ROKBOX… So basically this is yet another Classic AOR release on AOR HEAVEN this year and there's more coming up (read: ALYSON AVENUE and T'BELL). The new CD features as guest musicians the famous Swedish musicians TOMMY DENANDER (Guitars) and THOMAS VIKSTROM (Vocalist).

There are 13 songs on the album and it all starts with "The rich gets richer", a nice AOR song a la DAKOTA. Next up is "Mainstream" and then we're into classy 80s AOR/FM-rock, there's a similarity to TOTO on this tune. "Night of fire" follows and is superb midtempo pure AOR. 80s keys open up the following track "A life so frail", a lovely AOR ballad (like FRONTLINE). Up next is the titlesong of the CD, a classy 80s uptempo AOR rocker a la early FM (circa 'Indiscreet'). Then comes a bit weaker song, namely the midtempo melodic rocker "Do nothing".

But then there's "A matter of heart" and we're back into AOR HEAVEN again. This song is totally awesome pure 80s pompous uptempo AOR that reminds me of LE ROUX, PROPHET (their first), SURVIVOR and WHITE SISTER. It's an incredible song with huge harmonies! "With a little love" follows, a song with a great AOR chorus, although the start of the song is not that classic because the vocals sound a bit weaker here. Anway, the following two songs ("All that you're good for" and "Remember") are nice melodic AOR songs, but nothing that special.

Can't say that about the following two songs which brought me in AOR HEAVEN and left me impressed for a few hours (yeah it's that good!). First off there is "Nothing lasts forever", a superb AOR ballad in the style of SURVIVOR and FAITH NATION. And the following track "I believe" is terrific midtempo pure AOR song that sounds very much like THE STORM. These two songs (together with "A matter of the heart") are the best ones on the new TALK OF THE TOWN album and enter a pure AOR sound.

The CD closes with the midtempo melodic rocker "Love is all gone". This new record from TALK OF THE TOWN proves that Swedish AOR is all around these days. AOR HEAVEN is one of the few labels to pick them all up. The Swedish AOR scene is one of the biggest behind the US scene. With new releases from STREET TALK, TALK OF THE TOWN and other ones coming up from T'BELL, PROMOTION, ALYSON AVENUE… the Swedish AOR is definitely the biggest one in Europe. I am proud to introduce them all to you and for now I can only say, get the 2 new releases by AOR HEAVEN as quickly as possible. Both albums are of course available through AOR HEAVEN at: http://www.aorheaven.com

Rating: 9/10

Formed in the early 1990s, Richmond Virginia-based STEPPIN' BLIND recorded this CD in 1995. Musically this CD features 11 songs and they are all in the classy 80s cheesy and cheerful melodic rockstyle. Everything sounds perfect and go back in style to a period when rock'n'roll was all about having a good time. The melodic rock of STEPPIN' BLIND has that perfect 80s US Radiosound and reminds me a lot of HONEYMOON SUITE. Opener "Look away" is a good 80s cheerful melodic rocker (like old VAN HALEN).

The rest of the CD is yet even more melodic with a lot of quality tunes. "Different light", "Running away", "The show" and "Find me now" are all fantastic fun 80s uptempo melodic radiorockers in the style of HONEYMOON SUITE. "Day gone bad" is a good semi melodic rocker a la REO SPEEDWAGON. My favourite tracks can be found towards the end of the CD.

The final 3 songs are "Standing alone", "Another dream" and "One more chance". These 3 songs are all superb AOR rockers with very catchy choruses and hooklines, very much in the style of WHITE SISTER, NIGHTWORK, PROPHET… Man, this really is a great record, check this band out asap at: www.mp3.com/stb and e-mail them at: ehutch@oocities.com

Rating: 9/10

This band from Nebraska, USA features drummer/lead vocalist J. Mark Scott who is also a member of the band STEPPIN' BLIND (see review above). This CAIN RAZERS is musically a little different from STEPPIN' BLIND. The 15 songs on 'After five long years' can be described as 80s typed melodic poprock, like a mix between THE ROMANTICS, early 80s RICK SPRINGFIELD and THE OUTFIELD.

There are some very catchy tunes on the album, such as "You're the one", "I knew you", "Stop at the light", "Thursday afternoon" and "Hey I". The best song though is "Somebody cry", a lovely pure early 80s melodic poprocker which could have been on the RICK SPRINGFIELD album 'Working class dog'. Some of the other songs, such as "Get away", "I'll drive" and "It's no use" are a tad weaker and poppier and move along more in a style THE ROMANTICS created in the early 80s. Check out the band's website at: http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/96/cain_razers.html and e-mail them at: spikespad@yahoo.com

Rating: 7/10

'Grand design' is the third CD of melodic rockers DAMNED NATION. It's their second one on Z RECORDS and with each album they are getting more and more into Classy 80s Uptempo Melodic Rock. 'Grand design' is a very enjoyable CD filled with a lot of fantastic uptempo melodic rockers in the 80s Scandi Rock tradition (TALISMAN, DALTON, DAVINCI), yet with an updated sound (kinda like early HAREM SCAREM). If you love one song, you'll love them all, because most of the songs are in the same style.

Songs like "Stonecold woman", "Hiding from the world", "Hearts on the run" and "Love reaction" are all winners for the fans of cheerful 80s uptempo melodic rock (like HAREM SCAREM meets DANGER DANGER). My favourite songs are "Desperate call" (fantastic classy 80s midtempo AOR), "Going crazy" (another classy midtempo AOR tune like MICHAEL MORALES, HEARTLAND and VON GROOVE's 'test of faith') and "Scream of anger" (lovely uptempo AOR/Melodic Rocker, catchy chorus).

Despite these AOR orientated songs, most of the time this band is playing a tad heavier and therefore a must for fans of pure Melodic (Hard) Rock. Check out this release asap if bands like DANGER DANGER, early HAREM SCAREM, TALISMAN etc. are up your alley.

Rating: 8,5/10

Another compilation disc from the Z RECORDS camp. This one features unreleased songs from DANNY DANZI, CONTAGIOUS, DREAMHUNTER, RAINMAKER and ECLIPSE. The remaining 11 songs are all from earlier (or mostly recently) released records by the Z Label. Let's talk about these unreleased songs. First up is "Muscle in motion" by CONTAGIOUS, a nice midtempo late 80s Arena melodic rocker. DREAM HUNTER is AOR orientated with their song "When heaven knows your name" that reminds me of HEARTLAND in places.

In July 2000 we can expect the debut from RAINMAKER, a long awaited record, but the song "Father of your sins" on this compilation is a weak groovy melodic Hardrocksong that is not really impressive. Maybe their debut is better, I surely hope so. DANNY DANZI's new song "Eternity" is definitely classy 80s uptempo cheerful melodic rocker in the lines of the first DANGER DANGER record, I can't wait to hear the second CD of this multi-talent.

Last unreleased song is from the band ECLIPSE, it's called "Illusion" and can be described as typical Scandi uptempo MHR (kinda like 220 VOLT). Z RECORDS has a lot of new releases coming up and most of them follow the same style as created on earlier record, so be prepared for some more hot cheesy 80s melodic rock.

Rating: -

This is a very interesting band from Germany. VOYAGE has been compared to WHITESNAKE, EUROPE and BON JOVI, so they are playing 80s typed fun melodic rock. I believe 'Welcome to your mind' is the band's debut CD. The album contains 14 songs and although vocally it is bit weaker, musically this is prime-time German Melodic Rock a la BONFIRE, WILD FRONTIERS, STORMWAVE… VOYAGE also has some AOR influences, partly due to the fact the band has a keyboardist who gives the melodic rocksound a great polished touch. The first part of the CD is actually pretty good.

Songs like "Facing tomorrow" (nice melodic rocker a la WILD FRONTIER), "Take my hands" (great 80s typed uptempo melodic rock, very cheerful with lovely harmonies during the chorus), "Trust" (great start with the pure 80s piano-keys, very AORish, good uptempo cheerful melodic rocker a la TERRA NOVA) and "I wanna be the one" (pure BON JOVI ballad) are very nice to listen to.

Unfortunately the second part of the CD is less impressive and is sometimes a bit weak, examples are the funky rockers "I'm not to take it" and "Tell me", both reminding me of EXTREME. Songs like "Experience" and 'Welcome to your mind" aren't bad at all, but they are just ok melodic rockers and can not compete with the songs earlier on the CD. The CD closes rather nicely with the melodic rockballad "Know you too well". More info on this German Melodic Rockband at: http://www.voyage-rock.de and e-mail them at: info@voyage-rock.de

Rating: 7,5/10

A Canadian band making up their first apearance over here. As I look at the frontcover of their CD, I am thinking this is just a pure 80s Partyrockband in the style of DANGEROUS TOYS and JOHNNY LAW. But actually this band is totally playing a different style. Well, not one particular style, because their debut CD is filled with songs that range from 60s till 90s rock. So, each and everyone will find something special on the album. The start is very weak with songs like "Shut" and "See me, roll me, smoke me" ".

Happily, "Metropolitan" is much better and follows a melodic rockstyle, this is a very catchy song with some 70s influences. Then comes a punky rocker ("Love slave"), a 70s pop tune a la SMOKIE/DOOBIE BROTHERS ("Another night"), a 60s song ("Easy lover") and the intro "Shut up and get out…". The final three songs are the good ones on this CD and
show that MAJOR GOODVIBES can indeed play good music. "Nag" is a catchy early 80s typed uptempo melodic poprocker like a rougher RICK SPRINGFIELD and TOMMY TUTONE. The same comparisons can be made in the next track "Girls in love with my money", a very catchy tune. Closing track "In the end" is a nice poprocker.

I really thought this band had nothing to offer, but the end of the CD sounded very promising. Hopefully they'll continue to write more songs in the style of those last few songs, then this MAJOR GOODVIBES could really make something interesting. More info at: http://www.smg-webworks.com/Goodvibes and e-mail them at: goodvibes@smg-webworks.com

Rating: 6,5/10

Finally an interesting release of 80s Sleaze/Glam heroes LA GUNS. This release on the French label AXE KILLER RECORDS is a live recording of some of their best songs. The live recording took place at the Key Club in Hollywood, California, USA. Most of the LA GUNS classics are present such as "One more reason", "Kiss my love goodbye", "Over the
edge" and "The ballad of Jane".

It's been some time since I heard LA GUNS performing good material again, because their last couple of albums (I still don't know if those records can be considered as real albums, because they had broken up for a long time) sounded pretty weak and entered an Punky 90s Rock style. This new Live CD is a must for the fans of the old LA GUNS, because it's filled with good old Sleazy/Glam Hardrock.

Rating: 7,5/10

AXE KILLER RECORDS is an old French label, in the 80s they released many Hardrock/Metal albums. The past decade the label had a tough period that resulted in not many new releases. But now in the year 2000 AXE KILLER RECORDS is back
and for this year they are planning to re-issue and re-release a lot of 'old classics', mainly from the 80s Hard Rock scene. Expect re-releases of WHITESNAKE, SIGNAL, HOUSE OF LORDS, SCORPIONS, GREAT WHITE and loads more.

One of their first re-releases is the first KING KOBRA record with a very young Mark Free fronting the band. The original release was in 1985 on Capitol Records. I am glad AXE KILLER RECORDS re-released it, but this sure is a great pure 80s Melodic Hardrock album with very good songs such as "Hunger", "Shake up", "Tough guys" and "Second thoughts". 'Ready to strike' is in the same style as DOKKEN, AUTOGRAPH and KEEL. This album needs to be in the collection of every fan of 80s Melodic Hardrock. Visit the website of AXE KILLER RECORDS at: http://home.nordnet.fr/~lbocquet/axekiller.html

Rating: 8/10

HERO hails from the UK and they sent me their CD 'Crack of dawn'. The recordings took place in 1995, but musically it sounds like 1985-1987. This is due to the upfront keyboards and syntheziers. I don't mind at all, but sometimes it all sounds a bit too poppy. Still I can recommend this HERO to anyone who digs female fronted melodic poprock/AOR in the style of BACKSEAT SALLY, ELLEN SHIPLEY, PAT BENATAR and especially QUARTERFLASH and ANIMOTION.

There are 14 songs on the CD and I believe the first 12 were originally recorded back in 1995. Anyway, lead singer Jana Cain sounds like a cross between PAT BENATAR, RACHEL SWEET and ELLEN SHIPLEY. The CD starts with the midtempo 80s AOR tune "It's a miracle" which sounds like HEART. The songs "New horizons", "In your eyes", "I still love you", "This love" and "Somebody's child" are all poppy 80s AOR/Poprockers like T'PAU.

Much better are "Curiosity" and "Tonight". "Curiosity" starts poppy (a la BERLIN/ DEVICE), but features a very good uptempo AOR chorus that sounds very much like early PAT BENATAR. "Tonight" is the best song of the whole CD, this is prime-time early 80s Classic female fronted AOR/Poprock in the style of early PAT BENATAR, ELLEN SHIPLEY, CINDY CRUSE…

Fans of QUARTERFLASH and ANIMOTION really need to check out the song "Crack of dawn" that sounds a lot like those early 80s female fronted bands. If you like any of the mentioned bands, then you'll love this HERO. My comments are that it all sounds a bit poppy sometimes and some more rockers (a la "Tonight") wouldn't hurt. Nevertheless this is an interesting band to check out at: www.mp3.com/herouk and e-mail them at: bob@resisystems.co.uk

Rating: 7,5/10

TYPICAL comes out of Los Angeles and they sent me a Tape with 8 of their songs. Opener "Ring around the Rosy" is groovy Hard Rock, like KIX meets LYNCH MOB. Next track "Typical" is a calmer symphonic epic ballad and nothing that special. Then comes a great tune called "I'm a man". This song is a cool uptempo melodic rocker with a very surprising keyboardsolo which makes this song sound very unique. It reminds me of the first album of MYSTIC CROSS, MIRROR and there are also ome AOR references to WHITE SISTER.

Next track "Love" is a nice midtempo melodic rocker, very 80s orientated. "After all" follows and is a calmer acoustic tingled tune that sounds weak (a bit like TATTOO RODEO). Following track "Lessons" is a Party typed Rocker (with some Blues influences) and actually reminds me of BADLANDS meets EVERY MOTHER'S NIGHTMARE. The instrumental "Blind justice" follows and is definitely worth checking out to those of you into STEVE VAI and TONY MACALPINE.

Closing track is "America", a SKID ROW/KIX typed Party Melodic Hardrocker at first sight, but the chorus is very good and sounds super melodic (kinda like FIREHOUSE). A nice record by TYPICAL and you can check them out for yourself at: http://www.mp3.com/typical and e-mail them at: relesevalv@usa.net

Rating: 7,5/10

Multi-instrumentalist Kevin Webster from TYPICAL also plays in the band FOREVER KID, which can more be seen as his solo-project, because he does everything himself. Musically FOREVER KID is playing in the same style as TYPICAL, although there are also a bunch of acoustic 70s pop typed tunes on the album.

Likewise, the rockers are the best songs and so I can add that "Liquid tears" (bit like the 80s CRUE), "Everyone & eye" (melodic rockballad), "Naked place" and "Turn the page" (90s influenced rockers, some Bluesy influences, kinda like WHITESNAKE) are the best tunes on this Tape Album. The rest of the album is a little bit too calm for me and sometimes also a bit poppy. More info on FOREVER KID at: http://www.mp3.com/forever_kid and e-mail them at: relesevalv@usa.net

Rating: 7/10

Out of Sweden comes multi-instrumentalist PIERRE BALCKMANN. He sent me a CDR consisting of 13 songs. Musically it is progressive melodic hardrock and actually this guy has an own style. The sound quality is very good and instrumental this is quality melodic rock. Only vocally it lacks a bit, but it's reasonable to listen to. The songs are all in the same style, so basically what you get here is quality progressive melodic rock 60 minutes long.

The best songs to me are "King&Queen" (a bit like PHIL VINCENT, strong midtempo melodic rocker), "Paid" (nice melodic rocker), "Right times" and "WTFAY" (nice melodic
chorus). I only hated the closing track "X3M" which is some sort of bonustrack, this is a stupid House song which has nothing to do with the rest of the album, but it's probably an once-only joke (I surely hope!).

Check out Pierre's music for yourself at: Pierre Balckmann and e-mail him at: pble@falkoping.mail.telia.com

Rating: 7/10

This is the latest sensation that seperates the men from the boys, coming out of New Jersey singer/songwriter Tom Hines has a very impressive working background. This four track mini album is the result of eight months work after Tom had a near fatal car accident, he bought in producer Brian Stover and Brian's brother Kevin. Brian has previously worked on albums for Cinderella amongst others. Tom has also been involved with the video for Bon Jovi's "In And Out Of Love", Living Colour's "Middle Man" as well as various TV shows and feature films,(including "Shaft"), so this guy is an immense talent and I can't believe that he still remains unsigned.

In the middle of this activity Tom was called up to audition as the new singer for the then singer-less Skid Row.Ultimately Tom didn't get the job as da Skids manager Doc McGhee wanted to move things fast, but Tom has since become friends with the band.

Anyway Tom plays all the instruments and sings all the songs, and to be perfectly honest this is the best hard rock album I have heard in recent years. The songs rock hard like Van Halen, Ozzy, Lillian Axe, White Lion, Lynch Mob etc.. and Tom would have been perfect for da Skidders. He has a range that makes me think of a mix of Don Dokken, Mark Slaughter, Sebastian Bach, Michael Shotton, Joey Gioeli, and Jon Bon Jovi etc.. the great sound of the thumping chorus laded rocking style of the eighties is thickly endorsed throughout this album, first off is "Doesn't Do A Thing For Me" a nail biting hard rocker, thunderous drum pounding, hot shredding axe work, bouncy rhythms, a chorus hook- line to die for and amazing vocals make this song simply perfect, you'll love it, as it hits hard n' fast, no messing around.

"Contra-dic-tion" starts off very melodic, and keeps going at a steady pace and is most satisfying, the ballad "In The Wings" has a Warrant "Uncle Tom's Cabin" vibe about it with some really beautiful piano playing, the song glides through the room and sends shivers down your back, "Always Something" is the last track that leaves you gasping for more, this song is more hard rocking American rock that forces you to sing-along, a very commercial rocker, similar to Von Groove, "Always Something" again hits hard n' fast and finishes the album off. If there is one criticism that I can make about Schroeder, then it has to be that I
badly need to hear more songs!!! The standard is of very high quality and four songs is not enough and your left really gagging for more.

Tom Hines is a huge talent, he should have no problem in creating a huge following on the strength of this massive hard rock album.I have played this to several people over the last week and we have all agreed that Schroeder represent everything we love about hard rock music, it has everything you could ever wish for, you can't miss out on Schroeder, put simply, Schroder are the stars of tomorrow, so get this bought pronto today. ESSENTIAL.

email: schroeder6969@hotmail.com website: http://www.cdbaby.com

Rating: 10 (Review by Nicky Baldrian)

Yet another cool female fronted band, Storm And Her Dirty Mouth are from San Francisco, and play cool hard rock with lots of guitars and sexy sultry vocals from the lady Storm herself. Track two "Lust" is like Damn Yankees and The Black Crowes jamming with No Doubt, it's full of life and charging guitars from Geoff Learlman, with a chorus to die for. "superman" is smooth, "Ima Yora" is slightly more indy-ish, but is still entertaining, better still though is the excellent "Geraldine" this has a wonderful chorus and bounces along forcing you to sing along with Storms sexy voice, a great song, simple guitar work and
chorus line yet very effective.

"Crazy Love" opens up with some funky gritty Satch like guitar stomp from Geoff Learlman. This is a sleazyish song, if you close your eyes you can imagine Storm slowly peeling her clothes off and doing a sensuous erotic dance to this lush song that gets heavy a'la Lisa Dalbello toward the end. Yep I enjoyed this record, Storm and Her Dirty Mouth have lots of potential for both sides of the rock genre.

Rating: 7,5/10 (Review by Nicky Baldrian)

Donna Delory's new album "Bliss" has effected me very deeply, this record is classy and like Monica Marie her music is dreamy and wistful, this is jawdropping stuff, and an essential addition to your collection. Donna has been involved with music for the past decade she has released a few solo albums, eight singles and appeared on albums by Belinda Carlisle, Marilyn Martin, Madonna, Martika, numerous soundtrack albums and worked with other pop/rock legends, she's even toured extensively as part of Madonna's accompanying vocalist team.

"Bliss" is her new album and it's so beautiful each song is sexy and smooth and has tons of hit singles to offer. It comes to something when even an artist of Donna's pedigree is ignored by the European media and radio stations, they should be walking all over this album, and hopefully we will have an interview with Donna on this site in the up coming weeks.

You see she is classy, sexy and her music is everything that music should be, not this dance techno rubbish that the radios seem content on ramming down our throats, her music is elegant, charming and very very sexy, you just can't help but fall in love with her angel like voice that just makes you gasp for air as each song is sung with finness and passion, a label like Now And Then/Frontiers Records and MTM should take a chance with Donna, her style is similar to T'Pau,Donna Lewis, Amanda Marshall, Kate Bush, Fiona, Marilyn Martin, Fiona Apple etc..and there are moments of pure aor lushness a'la Richard Marx like on "Please" and Fiona on "Hold me Now", this song features some lovely instrumentation.

Other great moment are "Only Time, "Te Amo","On And On" which all sit nicely along side Kate Bush, T'Pau and Madonna."Go Talk To Mary" is even better, this is like Lisa Dalbello and is very sleek and sexy, I can just see the video to this song, possibly the best cut on the
album. On another cool song is her version of "Amazing Grace", this starts off with some celtic/Scottish inspired guitar playing that sounds like Joe Satriani, her voice is dark and spiritual on this track. Overall Donna Delory is a classy all on her own, and this is one of the most rewarding pop/rock albums I have heard in years. Absolutely ESSENTIAL. http://www.donnadelory.com or email secretroadla@aol.com

Rating: 10 (Review by Nicky Baldrian)

(SPORTIN' SAMMY'S RECORDS) 2ND OPINION REVIEW

It still amazes me how many bands are out there waiting to be unearthed, probably named after the Whitesnake album, Florida's Love Hunter released this album back in 1997, and if it wasn't for mp3.com, then we could have easily have missed this great pompous AOR record that also has some slight progressive tones a'la Cannata, Rush, Honeymoon Suite, 21 Guns, Magnum, Yes and even Giuffria in places.

Love Hunter are basically a one man band featuring the hugely talented Kelvin Fischer. Now Kelv has an amazing voice that sits very closely to Rush's Geddy Lee. On the local front, Love Hunter gained themselves a local hit with the song "Lonely Night", the song starts off with a gust of wind, and works it's way into a Rush tinted chorus line, it has a shivery quality. Love Hunter also deliver their fair share of uptempo rock songs in the shape of "You Gotta Love It", "Waiting For Me", "Love Hunter", "All I Want Is You" all of which
glide along like Honeymoon Suite and Giuffria."In My Heart You'll Stay", "You Took A Piece Of My Heart" and "Hold On To Yesterday" are all slower numbers with perhaps "Hold On To Yesterday" being more melodic.

Final verdict? A truly nice album, Kelvin Fischer is a great new multi-instrumentalist and talented song writer, his songs are skillfully played and produced, making for a winning formular of pompous AOR and melodic rock. Contact: lovehunterfanclub@yahoo.com Website: http://www.aimcmc.com/lovehunter.html

Rating: 8,5/10 (Review by Nicky Baldrian)

Coming out of New Jersey, singer/songwriter Robert Murdock issued a very very good high quality melodic hard rock album a couple of years ago, this album was full of dead catchy singable and memorable songs, and an album that I still play to this very day.

"Horizontal Hold", sees Robert returning under the banner of THE ROBERT MURDOCK BAND, so clearly this is a band effort, this is a very enjoyable album that basically continues from where Robert's debut album left off, he has matured immensily and this album is a note perfect effort, the songs relate to everyday life and will appeal to most music fans, the songs
bare comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, John Cougar Mellencamp, Nelson and Bryan Adams. Each song has terrific hooks like on the excellent "If There Really Is A God", a perfect pop/rock song a'la Bryan Adams/Bon Jovi that bounces along in ray of sunshine.

More of the same can be heard on "Behind Closed Doords", whilst "Heartbeat" and "Your Day In The Sun" are slightly more light weight but still a cut above most top 40 bands. As a whole this five track mini album is as smooth as Jon Bon Jovi's chin, a great returned to form for one of New Jersey's most talented musicans.Roll on the full album.

http://home.att.net/~docksidemusic/RMurdock.htm

Rating: 9,5/10 (Review by Nicky Baldrian)

Before you get your hopes up Chad is no relation to one Steve Perry, coming out of Greesboro, "Songs" is the follow up to Chad's debut "Different Passage", "Songs" is slightly more light weight but still features catchy accoustic/rock songs and gentle
ballads a'la Tesla, Tom Petty, Quierboys that have a certain charm and delight about them. For instance the album starts off with "Trace My Hands", "Spoken" and "Just Like You", the first two songs go nowhere, but then "Just Like You" hit's you with it's subtle charm, imagine Tesla with Joe Robinson singing and you'll get the picture. This song is a accoustic based ballad, so i'm thinking more of Tesla when they were doing their accoustic jams.

"Is It Me" is a duet with Clay Howard from Crushed Velvet, this is another accoustic based song, it's simple yet draws you in keeping you listening and is most satisfying. "Borrowed Sand" is wierd and does nothing for me being a bit to alternative for my tastes, Pearl Jam fans should love this song though!! On "Dream Of Today" Chad get into a Bon Jovi "Wanted Dead Or Alive" style, this isn't a bad song and has some nice relaxed guitar work, that goes on perhaps a bit too long before we get into the main structure of the song. Still "Songs" is a nice album. Check Chad out http://www.mp3.com

Rating: 6,5/10 (Review by Nicky Baldrian)

New York's Aztec Jade play straight ahead progressive rock, they kick a mighty punch and sit firmly along side bands like Gamma Ray, Helloween, Queensryche, Arcara, and Dream Theater. There are ten songs on this excellently arranged album, the best of the bunch are "To Believe", "Desperate Land" and "Stained", all these songs are played with skill and the production is world class, but that's not all, I haven't mentioned "Nosferatu", "Atlantis" and "Regatta Fugue II" yet, these three song are mind blowing power progressive metal at it's finest.

"Nosfertau" is a chilling shivery number, the song is a slow-ish number in the vein of Nightingale, Metallica and Queensryche, it's very effective and I just love the way Leon Ozug carries his voice over the instrumentation. "Atlantis", is magic, I love the way this sounds,
it sounds like the heavy metal/progressive version of the music in the old spice deodorant add, very proud n' loud, the synth touches are brilliant, and the vibrant powerchords are nice to listen to along with Rick Miller's thunderous drum pounding. The best of the best is perhaps "Regatta Fugue II" a grandiose song with loads of dazzling guitars that give the song it's commercial values a'la Ten, Bob Catley and Dokken.

Aztec Jade are a flash of musical genius waiting to be unearthed. The rest is up to you dear readers, you know what to do....ESSENTIAL. http://www.aztecweb@klink.net or http://www.tbecker@klink.net

Rating: 9,5/10 (Review by Nicky Baldrian)

Swedish mutli-musician Pierre Balckmann is quite hard to categorize, thus Pierre has his own unique style which may not appeal to the AOR and melodic rock fans as the music offten resembles artists such as Duran Duran, A-HA, U2, The Mission etc.

Some of Pierre's songs are quite rocky like "Paid", "Who The Fuck Are You", these two songs remind me of Dokken "Dysfunctional" era, and Warrant "Ultraphobic and Belly To Belly" era, whilst the standout cut is the brilliant "Father", this song has some nice guitar work and a catchy chorus line a'la Danny Danzi, Phil Vincent and Duran Duran, the only thing that's spoiling the song and the album as a whole is Pierre's voice, it sounds too gloomy, but minor quibbles aside if you looking for something a bit different with lots of musical styles then Pierre Balckmann is well worth investigating as he defiantly has got
something, he's just got to work out what it is and then we can really concentrate on this Swedish artist.But what I hear is ok, just nothing earth shattering. To contact the artist visit http://www.mp3.com

Rating: 5,5/10 (Review by Nicky Baldrian)

Not available to buy in the shops or anywhere else for the matter, Finland's Urban Tale's live recording in Helsinki is a very enjoyable release and well worth tracking down. What you get is eleven tracks of expertly reproduced Journey material including "Seperate Ways", "When You Love A Woman", "Lights", "Open Arms", After The Fall", "Send Her My Love", "Faithfully", "Who's Crying Now", "Rubicon", "Still They Ride", "Once You Love Somebody". Kimmo Blom pull all the songs off with his immense magic vocals, he is so like Steve Perry, Steve Augeri, Hugo and Kevin Chalfant that it amazes me that it has taking two years for the band to gain any interest. Negations are underway with various European labels so expect a full album of original material this or next year. Their original material which is not aired on this live cd is pure melodic rock and AOR a'la the above mentioned bands. You can check my interview with the band else where on this website.

Also included in the setlist is a cover of the latest Journey song "Remember Me" with Steve Augeri, the band go out in a final encore of Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" , TOTO's "Rosanna", Survivor's "Eye Of The Tiger" and a jangly AOR version of Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild". All in all some of the songs are played out of tune in places, but this doesn't stop the crowd from loving every minute of it, as you can hear their chants and scream as they sing along to all the tracks. A good cd bootleg worth tracking down for nostalgic reasons.

You may be able to get the cd by contacting the band through their website:
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~pudas/urbantale/

Rating: 8/10 (Review by Nicky Baldrian)