SPV/Playground In 1990 ZENO was collapsing and bassist Ule W. Ritgen hooked up with vocalist Tommy Heart (ex. V2) aimed high together with guitarists Helge Engelke and Andy Malacek plus drummer C.C. Behrens. Signed by WEA they debuted with their self-titled prima opus in 1991. The resy may be said to be history, eleven albums…
Mike Paradine/Digital Only iTunes, Amazon etc How often do you get a genuine product in your hand with close to a 100 % heart and soul? Ask yourself that question with Eurovision Song Contest prone bands, manager tricks and doctored live albums. Then have a listen to MIKE PARADINE GROUP! Mike who? Let´s not be…
Frontiers/BAM Back to the roots by a media covered ”divorce” from former vocalist Jack Russell and the addition of the voice of XYZ. GREAT WHITE had their best sales back in 1989, with the slick and sticky “…Twice Shy album”. What many seem to forget is that they started out already in 1977, around vocalist…
SPV/Playground Formed in 1998 by GAMMA RAY drummer Dan Zimmerman and vocalist/guitarist Chris Bay, the band went on to stardom, healthy sales, extensive touring and unexpected member changes. Their debut “Stairway to Fairyland” got them a good start in 1999 and all in all this is their seventh full-length release. Today´s lineup lacks Dan, who…
Steamhammer/Playground The story of UFO dates back to 1969, and goes on and on. The voice of Phil Mogg has always been there, the nucleus of Pete Way, bass, Andy Parker, drums, plus Michael Schenker is perhaps the names most people associate with their heyday. Schenker left in 78 though so to be fair there´s…
Massacre/Sound Pollution Israelian progressive death force PREY FOR NOTHING releases their second album. Drummer Iftah Levi, bass player Amir Salomon and guitarist Yaniv Aboudy had been in one of PAUL DI`ANNO´s may backing bands around the world. After a tour they decided on disbanding their old unit, DAMNATION, and become more faithful to their mutual…
DKS Music/BAM Finland Finnish band ANCARA has lots of eighties touch, not least the pedigree of the musicians. The band debuted in 2008 with “The Dawn”, followed by an EP, “The World”, which reached the top ten singles chart in Finland. Second attempt, “Beyond the Dark” was yet again a native hit in 2007, and…
Cyclone Empire/Sound Pollution Spanish band DARKNESS BY OATH hasn´t really impressed me n the past. Since their formation in 2002 they have been addicts to the Gothenburg sound, even featured on a tribute to AT THE GATES. The first demo came in 2005, their debut followed a year later and a second assault in 2009….
Cyclone Empire/Sound Pollution Formerly known as DEVASTATOR, this straightforward band admits to being in for a rocky ride by naming themselves after being in a BLESSED CURSE situation. The trio of Tyler Satterlee, guitars/vocals, Derek Bean, bass, and Patrick Hamby, drums have been at it since 2001, first as ATROSITY, well, well, and now as…
Inner Wound/Sound Pollution Swedish quintet ANDROMEDA dates back to 1999. Six albums and one DVD later they are well-known in Scandinavia and Europe. They have played ProgPOwer USA and Slottsskogen Goes Progressive, and this is said to be their most mature effort so far. This might be over the wall even in prog circles. Opener…
Lion Music/Border Fellow Swedes of long running melodic progressive hard rockers HOUSE OF SHAKIRA are back, now slightly revamped. Originating from 1991 the band has released nine albums, all in all, and a live DVD. Named after a bordello the band are serious enough, and have revised their situation 2007, when their previous full-length album…
Lion Music/Border British traditionalists VENDETTA set out on their second quest for world domination. Their debut was a scorcher, so I guess I have high expectations. New grooves, more complexity and even sampled dialogue is said to be new elements since last time. Let´s check it out. Guitarist Edward Box has been in the business…