rainbow

(*/10)  Here comes Graham Bonnet part 2. After having released an album with Ezoo a few weeks ago it’s again Frontiers Music that comes up with another Graham Bonnet release. This time it’s a live album, featuring a show the singer did in 2016 at the Frontiers Music Rock Festival III in Trezzo, Italy.

Bonnet was supported by Beth-Ami Heavenstone (b), Conrado Pesinato (g) and the legendary Marc Zonder on drums. The show, and therefor also the live release, was a trip through Bonnet’s rich musical history. Most of the tunes played that day came from bands he was part of in the past. Alacatrazz, Rainbow and Michael Schenker Group material built the backbone with some own songs and Impellittri’s “Stand in Line” that have been added to the setlist too. Last but not least there’s the Russ Ballard cover “Since You Been Gone” which was already successfully covered by Rainbow. In total “Live…Here Comes the Night” includes 15 songs that feel like a journey through 80’s melodic metal and hardrock. Bonnet’s voice is far better than what we got to hear with Ezoo and since the songs are classics anyhow, things can’t go wrong with this live release.

“Live … Here Comes the Night” is a well-produced live album that comes with classical rock songs which are played, recorded and produced in a good manner. This album is a starting point for taking a trip down the memory lane.

(*/10)

Tracklist:

1. Eyes of the World
2. All Night Long
3. S.O.S.
4. Stand in Line
5. God Blessed Video
6. Will you be Home Tonight
7. Jet to Jet
8. Night Games
9. Suffer Me
10. Dancer
11. Desert Song
12. Island in the Sun
13. Since You Been Gone
14. Assault Attack
15. Lost in Hollywood

Label: Frontiers Music

Genre: Hardrock

Release Date EU: July 7^th, 2017

(8/10) Spanish powerhouse Lords Of Black is interesting for two reasons. First of all the guys from Madrid releases with "II" their second album which is full of pretty good power metal hymns. Each of these is well-crafted and csn easily love up to international standards.

The second reason why the quartet is interesting is based on an announcement from a few month ago when iconic guitarist Ritchie Blackmore announce a couple of live shows with the legendary Rainbow. After unveiling the dates it was the band that was revealed. It is Lords Of Black singer Ronnie Romero that will be the frontman for these Rainbow shows. For sure big footsteps for such a young singer knowing that the mighty Ronnie James Dio was THE voice of Rainbow in the past.

Anyhow, if I listen to Romero on the e.g. first two tracks ("Merciless" and "Only One Life Away"), then I can imagine him also doing Rainbow tunes.

But lets pay a bit more attention to Lords Of Black second album. As said, the longplayer is full of melodic metal songs that are vital and dynamic. "II" is a wake-up call for fans of the early Stratovarius & Co.. Heavy riffs meet catchy melodies while still being heavy instread of cheesey.

Next to the mentioned two tracks the more bombastic rocker "Tears I Will Be" belongs to the really strong tracks on "II" while the real masterpiece comes closer towards the end of this CD. "Ghost of You" is a nine minuted long epos that shows all the capabilities of guitarist Tony Hernando and his gang.

"II" is a really strong power metal album and we will see if Romero's sidestep towards Rainbow will be pleasure or burdon for Lords Of Black. The band has enough potential for not ending up as 'the band with the Rainbow singer'.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Malevolently Beautiful (intro)
2. Merciless
3. Only One Life Aaway
4. Everything You're Not
5. New World's Comin'
6. Cry No More
7. Tears I Will Be
8. Insane
9. Live by the Lie, Die by the Truth
10. Ghost of You
11. The Art of Illusion Part III: The Wasteland
12. Shadows of War

Label: Frontiers Music

Genre: Melodic Metal

Release Date EU: March 18th, 2016

Thin Lizzy and Manfred Mann's Earthband complete the line-up of the two Monsters Of Rock festival in June this year.

As earlier reported it is Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow that is headlining the shows in Bietigheim-Bissingen and on the Lorely.

(8/10) 'Lugnet' is a Swedish word and it means 'serenity'. And I must say that the debut album of Lugnet, the Swedish band, has this ease in each of the eight tracks.

Lugnet is Roger Solander (v) Marcus Holten (g), Danne Jansson (g), Lennart Zethzon (b) and Fredrik Jansson(d). The five guys get support on the record by Bruno Erminero who added the warm hammond sound to each of the tasty tracks. 

The five piece plays classic rock that is deeply rooted in the late seventies and early eighties. I would compare their sound with Rainbow during the "Long Live Rock & Roll" days. And even though Blackmore, Dio and Co. played in another league I was impressed by "Lugnet", the debut of the Tungelsta based band.

The first thing that stands out is the voice of singer Solander. This man sounds like a mixture of Dio, Coverdale and Tony Martin. The way he interprets Lugnet's tunes is impressive. It makes fun to listen to this guy. 

But also each of the track itself sound pretty cool. Lugnet could gain already some attention in their homeland and listening to the debut also explains the 'why'. Songs like the faster "Vein" or the galloping "In the Still of the Water" are all in one - catchy and hard. Heavy downtuned guitars meet melodic vocallines embedded in organic hammond sound waves. The guys have a sense for good hooklines and I must say that each of the songs is a small highlight for classic rock fans.

Maybe Lugnet might not re-invent the wheel, but they are hungy for rock'n'roll and they have the right attitude. This is worth a lot.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. All the Way
2. Sails
3. Veins
4. Tears in the Sky
5. It Ain't Easy
6. Gypsy Dice
7. In the Still of the Water
8. Into the Light

Label: Pride & Joy Music

Genre: Hardrock

Release Date EU: January 15th, 2016

I think it is something a lot of metal and rock fans were hoping for but never thought that it would become real. Guitar master Ritchie Blackmore activates the legendary Rainbow for a couple of shows in summer 2016. Two of those concerts will be in Germant, under the banner of Monsters Of Rock.

It was the famous festival in the 80's that started in 1980 with Rainbow as headliner and now, 36 years later, Rainbow returns.

The gigs will take place :

• June 17th, 2016 Lorely, Freilichtbuehne
• Hune 18th, 2016 Bietigheim-Bissingen, Festplatz am Viadukt

Pre-Sale started already last Friday and you can find more information on:

www.monsters-of-rock-germany.de

(8/10) To introduce Richie Blackmore is like bringing sand to the beach. The iconic guitarist has a long history. With Deep Purple and Rainbow he influenced rock music that much that still nowadays a Rainbow reunion would be highly appreciated by old and young.

But Blackmore decided already years ago to focus on medieval music. He replaced the electric guitar mainly by an acoustic one and released songs under the banner of Blackmore's Night. Together with his wife Candice Night the six-stringer went back to the studio for recording a new album.

"All Our Yesterdays" is the name of the new disc that comes with twelve new songs. This time the music feels like a journey though Europe, listening to the various folk influences that are included on the new longplayer.

Ther are some Irish references in songs like "Allan yn n fan" and "Coming Home" while the title track has some gypsy elements. Blackmore's guitar and Night's voice are equally in focus on this record. It's mainly the ballads when Candice Night can show the entire potential of her emotional and warm voice.

Blackmore has his moments in the instrumentals on "All Our Yesterdays". The sphereful "Queen's Lament" is one of these tracks which is actually more a kind of intermezzo, before the classic approach comes up to surface with "Where Are We Going From Here"; a catchy song that sound like a rocking version of a Rondo Veneziano song.

When I said earlier that the album is full of new songs than it's true in the sense that the number are all new for Blackmore's Night. However, there are some cover version too on "All Our Yesterdays". Mike Oldfield's "Moonlight shadow" one of those and Blackmore arranged it slightly different by still not going to far away from the original. However, the solo parts are slightly different and newly interpreted. Not a big surprise.

"I got you Babe" from Sonny & Cher became another cool cover version that shows the full potential of musicians and song.

Richie Blackmore and Candice Night stick to the bands trademarks and fans of the earlier records will enjoy also the new longplayer. But there is still the mighty wish out there in the metal world dor a Rainbow reunion.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. All Our Yesterdays
2. Allan yn n fan
3. Darker Shade of Black
4. Long Long Time
5. Moonlight Shadow
6. I Got You Babe
7. The Other Side
8. Queen's Lament
9. Where Are We Going From Here
10. Will o' the Wisp
11. Earth, Wind and Sky
12. Coming Home

Label: Frontieres

Genre: Rock

Release Date EU: September 18th, 2015

(8/10) The horizon is something wide and endless. This is also valid for Horisont; the band. The album is called "Odyssey" and also this fits - more in the way of an endless journey than having no direction.

The style of Horisont is classic rock that is multi-layered. The band from Gothenburg merges many different influences into a picture that is convincing with beautiful details and that gives always new perspectives. Each time you listen to the album you'll find new small little sonic highlights. 

The songs on "Odyssey" combine classic rock influences with early NWOBHM elements and progressive elements. 

The opener is the first impressive piece on the longplayer. You have to be brave to place a 10 minutes long opener at the beginning of an album. Horizont took this bold decision - and it was the right one. This epos reflects everything the band has to offer. Classic metal riffs, a bit if Rainbow-inspired melodylines and keyboard sections that reminded my to German space proggers of Eloy. Even though the tune is ten minutes long it doesn’t come with any length.

The other songs are shorter. Three to five minutes long, each track presents a soulful vibe, sometimes harder and sometimes more emotional. A number to recommend is called "The night stalker". It's a beautiful half ballad with a lot if blues included. For me one of the best tracks on “Odyssey”.

Rockers are on the album too. One is called "Back on the street" and it comes with Thin Lizzy inspired guitars and some UFO cross-references. 

But also the unforgettable Rainbow made an impact on Horisont. "Blind leder blind" is one of the numbers that reflects this influence. Rainbow's "Rainbow rising" times isn't too far away.

The guys also added a song to "Odyssey" that is kept in Swedish when it comes to the lyrics. "Städer brinner" is the name of the tune that comes with a solid groove and word, that I don’t understand J

The end of the album is booked for a tune called "Timmarna" which is again one of the longer tracks on the album. It’s a soulful half-ballad with a lot if twists and influences.

I haven't heard of Horisont before I got this album. A pity, since this is excellent music and it's another evidence of the great work of Rise Above who signed the band. 

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Odyssey
2. Break the limit
3. Blind leder blind
4. Bad news
5. Light my way
6. The night stalker
7. Flying
8. Back on the streets
9. Beyond the sun
10. Red light
11. Stader brinner
12. Timmarna

Label: Rise Above

Genre: Classic Rock

Release date EU: September 18, 2015

(8/10) If you google 'Lynx band' you will find many many results. But it's just a small amount links that brings you to Lynx from Sweden. This has to do with the fact that the band existed in the 80's (pre-internet times) and released only one album. "Caught in the trap" came out in 1985 and was the only album from the five-piece band.

Lynx is Mats Eriksson (v), Per Larsson (g), Mats Hermasson (key), Kauno Vaattovaara (b) and Carl Moser (d) - all of them having a faible for good melodic metal that is based on Rainbow and the early Europe. But also Loverboy and TNT could be cross references for the sound of Lynx.

The result of their work is/was suprisingly good and nothing sounds like rip-offs from the before mentioned bands. Lynx has their own sound that combines melodies with a certain heaviness. The keyboards build a strong foundation for many songs ("Win or loose" or "Don't fool me") but the guitars riffs are never pushed too much into the back. Just listen to the excellent "Fingers crossed". Dokken have not written better songs even in their "Under lock and keys" days. "Fingers crossed" is a thrilling hardrock anthem that has an irresistable hookline and a power that puts a spell on you. For me the best tune on the album.

Another song that's worth to be mentioned is "Final race". The organ reminds to Deep Purple's releases in the eighties and the drums are merciless pushing this song. And also "Nightwaker" with its mystic touch has a lot of identity. 

I could continue this way since there is no single filler on the album. It's great that No Remorse re-released this pearl of melodic metal. I wonder how I could miss this album in the 80's since it contains great music and will be loved by fans from the above mentioned bands. Melodic metal can't be played much better.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. My own way
2. Win or loose
3. Fingers crossed
4. Man without a face
5. Don't fool me
6. Final race
7. Nothing in return
8. Master of evil
9. Nightwalker
10. In the night
11. Race to hell
12. Keep on giving me love porta (Bonus)

Label: No Remorse

Genre: Melodic Metal

(9/10) It was in 2012 when drum legend Ian Paice arranged a concert in the Royal Albert Hall in London. He called it the "Ian Paice's Sunflower Superjam". It was actually meant to be a private charity event that the iconic drummer organised together with his wife Jacky. The couple managed to bring together a bunch of excellent and well-kown musicians that supported them that night. The result was an outstanding evening with some of the most important heores in rock.

Luckily this event didn't stay just a private one. The concert was recorded and filmed and we all can join in via CD or DVD/BluRay.

The guys who performed the songs sound like the 'who is who' of rock. Names like Bruce Dickinson, Alice Cooper, Uli Jon Roth, Brian May, John Paul Jones and Ian Paice are a guarantee for excellent live music. Bruce Dickinson sings "Black night" from Deep Purple and does a great Gillan-like scream in the beginning - introduced by a "You now what comes next". He does a great job and having Brian May on the six string makes this version evem more special. Alice Cooper is performing "Elected" and the Cooper-hit "School's out". The first track supported by Uli Jon Roth on guitar while Brian May plays the axe on "School's out". Very cool stuff.

With "Pictued within" also Jon Lord (R.I.P.) was honored that night. The soulful intepretation of Steve Balsamo is awesome and gets under your skin. Uli Jon Roth added an old Scorpions song, "The sails of Charon" from the "Taken by force" album, to the show and also "Since you've been gone", with Brian May in the lead, is just a treat for your ears.

"Ian Paice's Sunflower Jam" is an impressive document of an extraordinary evening. Each rock fan should call this record his own. This is music history in all meanings of the words.

(9/10)

Tracklist:

1. Ain't no telling
2. This wheel's on fire
3. The sails of Charon
4. Rock and roll
5. Pictures within
6. Something about you
7. Lessons in love
8. Emerald
9. Behind blue eyes
10. Black night
11. Since you've been gone
12. Elected
13. School's out
14. Smoke on the water

Label: earMUSIC

Genre: Classic Rock

Axel Rudi Pell played a 25 years anniversary show lat year as part of the Bang Your Head festival in Balingen, Germany. The guitar wizard invited many friends for this special night. The result was an impressive setlist, containing hits from ARP and classic hardrock tunes from bands like Deep Purple and Rainbow. 

My highlight was that also some Steeler songs have been played. Steeler released two great records in the 80's that contain real metal pearls. Great to hear those anthems again.

The gig was recorded and it will be released end of April this year as Digipak 3 CD, Digipak 3 DVD (NTSC, code free), Blu-ray and download. Great metal stuff is coming....

• Call der princess - Steeler
• Night after night - Steeler
• Rockin' the city - Steeler
• Undercover animal - Steeler
• Nasty reputation - Rob Rock, Joerg Michael
• Warrior - Jeff Scott Soto, Joerg Michael
• Fool fool - Jeff Scott Soto, Joerg Michael

(Current ARP Band):

• Burning chains 
• Strong as a rock
• Long way to go
• Hey hey my my
• Mystica 
• Into the storm
• Too lat / Eternal prisoner / Too late
• The masquerade ball / Casbah
• Rock the nation

​

• Drum battle - Vinnie Appice, Bobby Rondinelli
• Black night - Ronnie Atkins
• Sympathy - John Lawton
• Tush - John Lawton
• Mistreated - Doogie White, Tony Carey, Johnny Gioeli
• Since you've been gone - Graham Bonnet, Michael Voss, Doogie White
• Long live rock'n'roll – Doogie White, Graham Bonnet, Tony Carey 
• Smoke on the water – all guests

(8/10) And again Finland. This time with real heavy metal from Mausoleum Gate. The first thing that hits your eyes is the cover. I think if there is a competition for the worst cover this year Mausoleum Gate will end up in the top 5 - at least.

Fortunatley the cover doesn't reflect the music. The selfnamed debut of the five-piece comes with six songs. The band plays oldschool heavy metal - pure and straight.

The opener "Magic of the gypsy queen" is with the keyboard sounds and the giggles quite unusual. After this short intro the song itself is showing where the band base their musical inspiration on - the NWoBHM. The song has many crossreferences to the earlier Iron Maiden. Also the riff rocker "Mercenaries of steel" represents this background. I have also heard some parallels with Stormwitch too - esp. in the verse.

The heart of the album are the two songs with an epical length. "Lost beyond the sun" is the first one. It is a very slow one that convinces the listener with great melody lines. The tune has a silent beginning that creates goose bumps. Rainbow is not that far away. The pace increases during the track and some cool hammond parts fit very well.

"Mausoleum gate" is with eleven minutes the masterpiece of the album. Acoustic guitars and very melodic vocals introduce the hymn. A very soulful start into the song. "Mausoleum gate" has a pretty strong progressive touch too. It feels like a journey in time.

An additional benefit is the production. The sound is rough and basic. Being grown up with some demo tapes in the 80's I must say that I like what I hear. The sound fits to the music and it is a great experience to enjoy the warm and human sound in this perfectionized world. 

Mausoleum Gate is a band which will be liked by all fans of traditional heavy metal. Another release from Cruz Del Sur that shows the label of the label for good metal.

Just next time with a better cover artwork, please.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Magic of the gypsy queen
2. Demon driod
3. Lost beyond the sun
4. Mercenaries of steel
5. There must be demons
6. Mausoleum gate

Label: Cruz Del Sur Music

Genre: Heavy Metal

On April 4, 2014 a lot of well known musicians gathered in the Royal Albert Hall in London. The reason for this happening was a sad one. It was the death of keyboard legend Jon Lord. The show was under the header "Celebrating Jon Lord". One of the songs was "Above and beyond" which was performed by Deep Purple.

The event is recodred and available in different formats.

Tracklist:
1CD – The Composer
01. Fantasia from Sarabande
02. Durham Awakes from Durham Concerto
03. All Those Years Ago (with Steve Balsamo and Micky Moody)
04. Pictured Within (with Miller Anderson) 
05. Sarabande from Sarabande (with Rick Wakeman)
06. One From The Meadow (with Margo Buchanan)
07. Bourrée from Sarabande
08. Afterwards (with Jeremy Irons and Paul Mann)

2CD – The Rock Legend
CD1
01. Things Get Better (feat. Paul Weller)
02. I Take What I Want (feat. Paul Weller and Micky Moody)
03. Silas and Jerome (feat. Phil Campbell from The Temperance Movement, Ian Paice and Bernie Marsden)
04. I’m Gonna Stop Drinking (feat. Phil Campbell from The Temperance Movement, Ian Paice and Bernie Marsden)
05. Soldier of Fortune (feat. Steve Balsamo, Sandi Thom and Micky Moody)
06. You Keep On Moving (feat. Glenn Hughes, Bruce Dickinson, Ian Paice, Don Airey and Micky Moody) 
07. Burn (feat. Glenn Hughes, Bruce Dickinson, Ian Paice, Don Airey and Rick Wakeman) 
08. This Time Around (feat. Glenn Hughes) 

CD2 Deep Purple celebrating Jon Lord
1. Uncommon Man
2. Above And Beyond
3. Lazy 
4. When A Blind Man Cries
5. Perfect Strangers 
6. Black Night
7. Hush (feat. Bruce Dickinson, Rick Wakeman, Phil Campbell, Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody)

DVD and Blu-ray includes the above tracks as well as an over 60 minute documentary “Two Worlds”.

(8/10) It was a sad moment four years ago when the news spread around the world that one of the most talented singers in Heavy Metal died - Ronnie James Dio. 

Now, almost four years after the exact date of death, a new release with the small Italian rooted singer is out there in the stores. It is another live recording. This time it is the show in 1993 which took place in the legendary London Hammersmith Odeon. It was the last night on European tour for promoting Dio's "Strange highways" record. This is also reflectd in the setlist. The live album contains with "Strange highways", "Pain", "Evilution", "Hollywood black" and the closer "Here's to you" already six tunes from the album. This gives the DVD an extra since these tracks aren't on many other live releases and Dio hasn't played them afterwards very often either in his shows. From this standpoint the DVD is pretty unique. These tunes compete with the old classic from Dio, Sabbath and Rainbow. Songs like "Heaven & hell", "The last in line" and "We rock" are crucial parts in rock history and it's always a pleasure to listen to them. The setlist also shows the  discrepancy between the new and the old material. The "Strange highways" material was written after Dio's first reunion with Black Sabbath, which led to the "Dehuminizer" disc in 1992. After this release and the following split, Dio had to re-activate his own band and the result became pretty dark and complex. It reflects the period in the band's history very well and shows the difference to the older stuff.  The line up for the album and the tour included next to the extrovert singer also guitarist Tracy G., ex-Dokken bass player Jeff Pilson and drum legend Vinny Appice. This line-up was pretty much discussed and it was guitarist Tracy G. who actually a hard time in this period.

The DVD also contains a section with behind the scene material, which of course always entertaining to look at. It contains interviews with all band members - funny enough during they get their make-up - and also some backstage sequences. Not revolutionary but fun. And listening to Dio is always a pleasure.

All in all I have to say that this release is for Dio the fans. It is already number three after Ronnie's death and they are not that different from each other - expect partly in the setlist. Since this disc focus on a newer and less captured period of the band I think that this DVD is a good additional item for all die-hard Dio fans and collectors of the band.

(8/10) 

Tracklist:

01. Stand Up And Shout
02. Strange Highways
03. Don’t Talk To Strangers
04. Evilution
05. Pain
06. The Mob Rules
07. Children Of The Sea
08. Holy Diver
09. Heaven And Hell
10. Man On The Silver Mountain
11. Drum Solo
12. Heaven And Hell (reprise)
13. Jesus, Mary & The Holy Ghost
14. Hollywood Black
15. The Last In Line
16. Rainbow In The Dark
17. We Rock
18. Here’s To You
 

Label: Eagle Vision

Genre: Heavy Metal