CONTENTS 04 06 07 08 09 10 12 14 15 19 20 22
Kiske Somerville Strangeways Issa Frontiers Special CD Offers Circle II Circle Asia Reviews Athorn White Widdow Two Fires Unruly Child Bangalore Choir
Melodic Rock Fanzine
The official Frontiers Records magazine Year #6 - Nr. 5 / Issue #40 Editor-in-chief: Elio Bordi Graphic & Design: Elio Bordi Writers: Bruce E.J. Atkinson, Fulvio Bordi, Duncan Jamieson, Barry McMinn, Vitale Nocerino, Rob “Ezy” Bone, Fabio Mainardi. Headquarters and general contacts: Frontiers Records - Via Gonzaga 18 80125, Napoli - Italy Tel: +39.081.2399340/7753 Fax: +39.081.2399794 E-mail: elio@frontiers.it Website: www.frontiers.it Myspace: www.myspace.com/frontiersrecords Editor and publisher: Frontiers Records US Headquarters: usa.frontiers.it Copyright©2010 Frontiers Records. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Printed in Italy.
Band: Kiske Somerville Album: Kiske / Somerville Interview with: Amanda Somerville Interviewed by: Duncan Jamieson
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KISKE SOMERVILLE - Kiske / Somerville (Frontiers Records) Michael Kiske (Place Vendome, ex-Helloween) and Amanda Somerville (Avantasia, Symphony X) combine forces to add their formidable vocal talents to a set of big, bombastic rock tunes courtesy of Primal Fear’s Matt Sinner and Magnus Karlsson. Kiske and Sommerville’s sonorous voices work terrifically well together, trading verses seamlessly and sharing choruses to powerful effect. Many of the tunes are top drawer melodic rock as you might expect from Sinner and Karlsson. It’s heavier than Kiske’s Place Vendome project, with a slight Epica feel in places due to Sommerville’s delivery such as on “Set A Fire”. At its best on the melodious “If I Had A Wish”, the meaty riffed “Arise” and the grandiose, almost Queen-like “End Of The Road” it demonstrates that duet albums don’t need to be all about sappy ballads. This record is an original concept that they’ve pulled off admirably. Duncan Jamieson (90/100)
Question: How did this project take place? Did you already know Michael before this album? Answer: I was contacted by Mat Sinner, who asked if I'd be interested in taking part in a kind of "Dynamic Duo" album with Michael and I was very interested in it. I'd worked with Michael before on projects like Aina and Avantasia, but it was always kind of around 3 corners; never directly. That's why it was so great to finally be able to work together more intensely and also face-to-face! Q: “Kiske - Somerville” has a stellar line-up of musicians. My doodle of who worked with whom and on what projects ended up looking like a diagram for a microchip. Would you introduce your cohorts, and tell us which of the gentlemen you have collaborated with before? A: Certainly! Mat Sinner (Sinner, Primal Fear) was the creative mastermind behind the project as the producer and principal songwriter. I'd never worked with him before, but it was really a great experience because he's very competent as a musician / producer / songwriter, but he's also a very laid back, nice guy. After we did the recordings, it went so well that he asked if I'd like to g on tour with him with another project he was overseeing called Rock Meets Classic, and that was also a lot of fun. Magnus Karlsson did some great guitar work and songwriting for the album, as well. I'd never worked with him before this and haven't had the chance to meet him in person yet, but I'm sure I will. Jimmy Kresic co-wrote some songs and performed keyboards and did an excellent job. This guy is a freak, and I mean that very positively!! He was on the Rock Meets Classic tour with Matt and me and totally blows me away as a musician and as a person. He's quite the character! Martin Schmidt is a great drummer and all-around good person. It was in his studio that we recorded my vocals for the record and he did the engineering. He was also on the Rock Meets Classic tour and we had a blast together. Sander Gommans and I had worked together already back in his After Forever days and he and I also did the HDK project together. We wrote 3 songs for the album and he also played some guitar parts on the project. He's also quite a talented guy and has become an even better musician and songwriter since I first started working with him back in 2003. Q: How do you think the two
voice merge together? A: In my opinion, we're a good mix. Although our styles and colors are very different, I think they blend together well for a nice end-result and I'm really happy with how everything turned out. Q: Was this your first time working with Frontiers Records? Was it a good experience? A: It wasn't really my first time because I'd helped Oliver Hartmann out with a few things for his albums while he was still signed with Frontiers, though it was my first time being really involved with them. And yes, it's been a very good experience. Q: Is there a specific song which you think could be considered the highlight of the album? Why? A: For me, a personal highlight was being able to have 3 songs on the album that I co-wrote with Sander Gommans. I'm just as much a songwriter as I am a singer and it means a lot to me to have my own material be a part of a project that I'm so heavily involved in. I love all the other songs that are on the album, as well, but being able to sing my own creations, words, feelings, melodies - that's special. Q: Michael is known for his vocal range, including the ability to hit some impressively high notes and his fast vibrato. Which songs on the new album best showcase these particular talents? A: I don't know that one song particularly showcases his talents better than the others because you can hear his trademark sound in every one. However at the end of "One Night Burning," there's a high harmony in that little "This love is killing me" part and he's singing that together with me. That's HIGH! Q: You and Michael met for the first time while shooting the videos for “Silence” and “If I Had A Wish”. How was it to finally meet him in person? A: If you've seen my video blog I did for the video shoots, you can see that I was very excited, of course. And it's funny, because those videos I record are really candid. I'm just showing my camera in people's faces at random intervals and so when you see Michael's face when I explain that it's the first time we've met face-to-face after working together on earlier occasions, he looks a bit confused. That's because he never realized that it was me who sang the "Silver Maiden" demo for him, for example, or that I was also part of Avantasia, so that was all news
to him! And it's great that I got that initial surprised reaction on camera. :-) Q: How would you describe the general musical feeling of the album? A: It's very diverse and eclectic and that's right up my alley. My style is very ranged and I don't like having all the same type of song on an album. Music should be a journey and this album definitely delivers that. Q: How easy/difficult is, from a singing point of view, sharing lead vocals with another singer? A: I'm at home behind a microphone, no matter what I'm singing or who I'm singing with, so doing this type of duet sort of thing comes as natural as anything else to me. It's quite an honor to be sharing the mic with Michael. Q: You recently had a full tour with Epica stepping in for Simone, how did it go? A: I had a lot of fun and as far as I'm concerned, it went very well. The fans were gracious and encouraging and it wasn't anything that was completely foreign to me, since I co-wrote their songs and sang most of the pilot vocals for the productions. Being that I've played a role in the band from nearly the very beginning, it was very natural. Q: You recently released also 'Windows', you first solo album. What kind of reactions did it bring? A: Since it was released independently on a very small scale, there weren't any earthquakes going on, but I'm happy with the responses I received from the people who've heard it and the media that gave it attention. I am extremely proud of that album and so grateful for all of the amazing input by Sascha, Miro and everyone else involved. Q: What are your projects for the next future? A: The Kiske - Somerville release is coming up early autumn and I have some live events planned, though I can't go into detail about that just yet! Basically, I'm just going to keep on doing what I do, try to do it as much as I can and that makes me happy. :-) Q: Is a tour for “Kiske Somerville” in the works? A: We would love to do one, but it certainly comes down to how well the album does. So it's up to the fans!!! Unfortunately, the people who would be doing work for a tour like this, which would be very expensive (as tours simply are), need more security than just Michael's & my desire to want to perform the songs live. MRF | 5
Band: Strangeways Album: Perfect World Interview with: Ian J. Stewart Interviewed by: Fulvio Bordi Question: As a long time fan of yours, I confess I couldn’t believe the band was about to release a new album after all this time as I noticed about it. Please, tell us where did it all start. Answer: It started when Kieran Dargan at Firefest contacted me about playing the event this year,initially I was not that keen but he was very persistent and eventually after talking to Terry and the rest of the guys we decided to get back together and maybe do an album as well. Q: Since the opener title track, listened can surely find out all of you band’s members have been growing up as musicians since your past classic releases. Songs feature a new, more mature way to treat arrangements, sounds, harmonies and melodies constructions. What’s your point of view? A: I think we've all matured musically and it's 20 or so years on since we recorded Native and Walk so it's a natural progression I think. I know we all listen to loads of different styles of music and I think that comes out in Focus on:
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the playing. Q: How did you work together as a band? Did you follow the same methods you used to work with before disbanding years ago? A: We did the usual pre-production,I did some demos of the songs and gave them to the guys,then we went into Chapel studios to record the drum tracks then brought it back to my own Red Dog studios for completion. We tried to make the whole process as much fun as possible. It was great to work with Terry again… What a voice! Q: Let’s focus now on sound production. Who did work on it and are you totally satisfied of the final result? A: I produced the album and mixed it with my long time friend John Lee who also worked on past records, I don't think as an artist you are ever completely satisfied with what you do but I'm still pleased with the final result, good songs and great feel from the playing, if we could of got Mike Shipley to mix that would of been great but that kind of expense wasn't in the budget. Overall we're
pretty pleased with it though. Q: If I had to find out just a word to describe “Perfect World”, I would choose “completeness”. The tracklist comes out as a great balanced combination of songs featuring huge energy, with other ones done with delicate and melodic unique skill. A real world with multiple visions. What’s your point of view? A: I think the album has some nice dynamic atmosphere's, some quite intimate sections and some full blown rock out sections, I think a lot of modern melodic rock kinda starts and finishes on the same level which is fine but it's not what we're about. I like using the food analogy,some music is just Mcdonalds (burgers) but I hope we try to cover all the food groups in our music, a little bit of everything :) Q: Will the band tour around with live dates? A: We are currently talking to agents about the possibilities and there is a lot of interest, the band all want to do it so hopefully it will happen. We of course are all looking forward to playing Firefest in October!!
STRANGEWAYS - Perfect World (Frontiers Records)
Since the first time I’ve been noticing Strangeways were joining together in the original line-up and working on songs for a new come back release, I couldn’t believe all was real and, at the same time, I really was unsure the band would still be able to release songs worth their classic all time past masterpieces such as “Walk In The Fire” and “Native Sons”. Anyway, since the first time I put the CD into the reader, I’ve been throwing all my doubts out of the window! “Perfect World” is the best return album the band could ever make. The title track displays a band still more grown up in songwriting, in melody and in performing technique along the years. Arrangements sound tasty and enriched with multiple colors in harmonization , while the band performs with heart, skill and great energy. All the eleven compositions feature a perfect balance between high, intense Hard Rock moments and soft, melodic and ethereal atmospheres. Very difficult finding out the album’s best moments, because every single composition glitters of its own light. A great coming back for one of my best Hard Rock bands ever. Fulvio Bordi (98/100)
Artist: Issa Album: Sing Of Angels Interview with: Issa Interviewed by: Bruce Atkinson Question: I would like to begin with a brief history of your career so far… I understand you have been singing since you were seventeen? Answer: Let me start by saying hei and thanks for the interview. Well yeah I have been singing since I was 17 years old but I would say I started more professional at that age. I think you would have had a big laugh if you saw me as a child cos I was the girl that made shows and recorded on my tape sterio and also got money from my parents to be still for a moment- and I always had on my crown on my head and red lipstick- haha well - I can’t sat the princess dream came true but regarding music it went great. In my years with music I have done so much I don’t know where to start - but I’ve done a lot of demo singing for song writers for labels like Universal and Warner and I’ve had the pleasure to meet amazing people and travel with as well. I’ve also been so lucky to travel and see all of Norway with coverbands - I truly believe that life is a school so I’m above grateful for that time as it’s been the foundation for me as a performer. Also I’ve done a lot of guest parts on records and backings for Eurovision etc. Well I think I’ve covered all I could do before I decided to focus on my own carrier as I think it’s imporFocus on:
tant to have some weight on your back before this. Q: Through the years, you have garnered praise from the music industry in both Norway, and Europe… So this must be a big jump, coming out as a solo Artist… A: Ahhh well I guess it is in many ways - I think the big difference now as a solo artist who is out there is that you have to handle everything yourself - I mean if you are in a band you would be together on everything from critics to tour but as solo you have to deal with it all yourself. Well when that is said I have to praise all the people around me ‘cos they have been as supportive as it gets - and I really appreciate that and all the good reviews doesn’t hurt either. Also to be able to take all the decisions on my own behalf is really grate - no fuzz. I think this was the perfect time for me to release my debut as I feel I have the experience and weight for it now. Q: Let’s start to talk about your new record, “Sign Of Angels”… Please take us through how this came about… A: Well it’s a funny story - I’ve been contributing on a lot of albums in Norway and one day a friend that im related to with music called me and said that Frontiers was looking for a singer
on a duet with an artist - he asked - can I recommend you? Well of course I said yes and I sent him some demos of me to pass on - Well I can start by saying that I probable live the singers dream by this, but I can not even start telling how much work and foundation for this I’ve done before it - You would not believe it - Well anyway from this Frontiers contacted me and wanted to see if we could cooperate and release a record with me - So it went from there I guess. I’m really grateful for all the time and work they have put into me and well of course it’s gonna be a next album from me - and I just hope I’m lucky enough to keep on working with Frontiers in years to come. Q: It seems that this Autumn and Winter will be very busy for you… Are you hoping to find some time to start recording again, or is it too early to think of such things? A: Yes I am - I’m writing material these days and with the technology today it’s possible to fit recordings into any schedule. I also record a bit myself so it’s easy to try out material before you enter in the studio. I never want to be an one record artist and I hope I can be around in music for many years to come.
ISSA - Sign Of Angels (Frontiers Records)
“Sign Of Angels” is the debut of powerhouse vocalist Isabell Oversveen from Norway. Aptly titled, this debut unveils the voice of an angel! Issa’s vocal range is immense, and rich… Belying her young age. Surrounded by veteran musicians and producer, Issa covers a number of song styles. Most tracks are “radio friendly”, however this does not de-track from the enormous talent this gal has! Issa has a “smokey” edge to her voice, the timbre is so rich, yet she can soar to unbelievable heights in just the next breath! Twelve highly produced tracks make “Sign Of Angels” a very refreshing and commanding debut. Issa is also a songwriter, although she has enlisted some assistance for this record, her talents in creating interesting and textured musical journeys is very evident here. One can tell that she enjoys singing, and is series about it… Surrounding herself with vast talent, but never surpassing her own… We should expect to hear much more from this wonderful find! “Sign Of Angels”… A rich, varied and adventuresome debut… Pick this one up and catch a rising star! Bruce Atkinson (90/100)
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!!FRONTIERS RECORDS SUMMER 2010 SPECIAL OFFERS!! Buy 3 albums from this list and you will receive 1 more FREE EXTRA cd chosen by Frontiers! FIRST COME - FIRST SERVED! Send your orders and / or Paypal payments to info@frontiers.it Handling and shipping costs: for 1 to 3 items - €5,60 for 4 to 6 items - €8,50 Every shipment will contain max 6 items (plus 2 Frontiers presents) (ex: if you order 12 items we will ship 2 package of 6 items ordered)
AMBITION "Ambition" - €3.99 BASSINVADERS "Hellbassbeaters" - €3.99 BOB CATLEY "When empires burn" - €3.99 BOB CATLEY "Spirit of man" -€3.99 BRIAN HOWE "Circus bar" - €5,99 CONSTANCIA "Lost and gone" - €5,99 COSMO "Alien" - €3.99 CRASH THE SYSTEM "The crowning" - €3.99 CROWN OF THORNS "Faith" - €3.99 ECLIPTICA "Impetus" - €3.99 DAVID READMAN "David readman" - €5,99 DOKKEN "Lightning strikes again (limited)" - €5,99 EVIL MASQUERADE "Theatrical madness" - €3.99 FREDERIKSEN-DENANDER "Baptism by fire" - €3.99 GLENN HUGHES "Songs in the key of rock (digipak)" - €3.99 GLENN HUGHES "Soulfully live … cd (ecolbook)" - €5,99 GLENN HUGHES "First underground nuclear kitchen" - €3.99 GLENN HUGHES "Soul mover" - €3.99 GREAT WHITE "Back to the rhythm" - €5,99 HAREM SCAREM "Hope" - €3.99 HEADRUSH "Headrush" - €3.99 HONEYMOON SUITE "Clifton hill" - €3.99 HOWARD LEESE "Secret weapon" - €5,99 INDIGO DYING "Indigo dying" - €3.99 JADED HEART "Sinister mind" - €3.99 JEFF SCOTT SOTO "Jss live at the gods 2002" - €3.99 JEFF SCOTT SOTO "Essential ballads" - €3.99 JOE LYNN TURNER "Live in germany" - €5,99 JOHN WAITE "Downtown journey of a heart" - €3.99 JOURNEY "Generations" (ecolbook) - €5,99 KELLY KEAGY "I’m alive" - €3.99 KHYMERA "The greatest wonder" - €5,99 LANA LANE "Red planet boulevard" - €3.99 LANA LANE "Storybook: tales from... DVD" - €3.99 LAND OF TALES "Land of tales" - €3.99 MICHAEL KISKE "Kiske" - €3.99 MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND "How long" - €5,99 MIND KEY "Pulse for a graveheart" - €5,99 ON THE RISE "On the rise" - €3.99 PATHOSRAY "Sunless skies" - €3.99 PERFECT WORLD "Perfect world" - €3.99 PINK CREAM 69 "In10sity" - €5,99 PLACES OF POWER "Now is the hour" - €5,99 PRIDE OF LIONS "Sound of home" - €3.99 PRIDE OF LIONS "Black ribbons" - €3.99 8 | MRF
PRIDE OF LIONS "Live in belgium" - €3.99 PRIDE OF LIONS "The roaring of dreams" - €3.99 PRIMAL FEAR "New religion (limited edition)" - €3.99 RAMOS - HUGO "The dream" - €3.99 REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE "New era (Tolkki/Kske /Sammet)" 3.99 RING OF FIRE "Burning live in tokyo 2002" - €3.99 R O B E RT B E R R Y " T h e d i v i d i n g l i n e " - € 5 , 9 9 R O YA L H U N T " 2 0 0 6 l i v e C D " - € 3 . 9 9 SAINT DEAMON "Pandeamonium" - €3.99 SEVENTH KEY "Live in atlanta" - €3.99 SILENT RAGE "Four letter word" - €3.99 SPIN GALLERY "Embrace" - €3.99 S TA R B R E A K E R " L o v e ’s d y i n g w i s h " - € 3 . 9 9 S T E V E L U K AT H E R " E v e r c h a n g i n g t i m e s " - € 6 , 9 9 STREET LEGAL "Bite the bullet" - €3.99 STYX and CYO "One with everything" - €3.99 SURVIVOR "Reach" - €3.99 TA L L S T O R I E S " S k y s c r a p e r " - € 5 , 9 9 TED POLEY "Smile" - €3.99 T E R R A N O VA " E s c a p e " - € 3 . 9 9 THE LOU GRAMM BAND "The lou gramm band" - €5,99 THE MURDER OF MY SWEET "Divanity" - €3.99 THE TROPHY "The gift of life" - €3.99 THUNDER "I love you more than rock n roll" - €1.99 THUNDER "Bang!" - €5,99 THUNDER "Robert johnson’s tombstone" - €3.99 THUNDER "The magnificent seventh" - €3.99 TONY O'HORA "Escape into the sun" - €3.99 TOTO "Bottom of your soul" - €1.99 TOTO "Bottom of your soul - summer 2006 tour" - €1.99 TRW "Rivers of paradise" - €3.99 TWO OF A KIND "Two of a kind" - €3.99 V.A. "Rock the bones - volume 4" - €3.99 V.A. "Rock the bones - volume 5" - €3.99 VICIOUS MARY "Vicious mary" - €3.99 VISION DIVINE "9 degrees west of the moon" - €3.99 WETTON/DOWNES "Heat of the moment ep" - €3.99 WETTON/DOWNES "Icon acoustic tv broadcast" - €3.99 WETTON/DOWNES "Icon acoustic tv broadcast dvd" - €3.99 WETTON/DOWNES "Icon ii - rubicon" - €3.99 WHITE LION "Bang your head festival 2005" - €5,99 XCARNATION "Grounded" - €3.99 ZILLION "Zillion" - €3.99 ZION "Zion" - €3.99
Artist: Circle II Circle Album: Consequences Of Power Interview with: Zak Stevens Interviewed by: Primo Bonali
Q: ‘Consequence of Power’ is your fifth and new album, who was responsible for the songwriting? A: Mitch Stewart and I write the majority of the material. Mitch has been the main driver of the process, especially over the last three albums. He writes riffs and sends me the results via e-mail (MP3s). Then I assist with the arrangements and with writing all the lyrics and the vocal parts. So together we have created a pretty strong song writing team, along with Andy (guitar) and Johnny (drums). These guys still have to write all their own parts since Mitch and I come up w/ just the basis outline. So every guy in the band is extremely important in the final analysis as far as song writing is concerned. Q: Songs like “Whispers in Vain” and “Redemption” sound very Savatage-like. Is this just coincidence, or are you thinking: ‘Now I’m going to write a Savatage sounding kind of song”. Focus on:
A: Actually we didn’t make it a focus to write like Savatage on this record, but some things did sound very Savatage-esque in the final result. ‘Redemption’ is really the only song that stood out me to be in that vein, but I’ll have to check out ‘Whispers in Vain’ again now that you said that… Q: Although there are some musical similarities between Savatage and Circle II Circle, what are in you opinion the biggest differences? A: There are many differences, but probably the most obvious is the fact that “Watching in Silence”, for example, has the most Savatage-like sounds because I wrote the album with Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery in one-on-one writing sessions with each of them. So you’re naturally going to get more of a similar sound due to the writers on the album all being previous Savatage members. As the years, albums, and overall history has developed with CIIC, you get less and less Savatage influence. This is a typical natural progression you
see most bands that have member coming from another prominent band. The writing for the past three albums has been outside of the Savatage influence and in-house in the current line-up so that has resulted in us coming into our signature sound in the past five years or so. So what you have on C.O.P is the latest of a song writing process that has been developed over that same time frame and you can see the obvious differences. Yet we still strived to maintain the recognizable CIIC sound that we’ve had throughout our career. Q: What is the Consequence of Power? A: C.O.P. is really about the risk and rewards of having limitless resources, money, and power. There is always the lure of greed and the decision making process to do the right things or to do the wrong things. There’s always a consequence waiting when you inherit lots of power. That’s my basic take on the meaning behind the title.
CIRCLE II CIRCLE - Consequences Of Power (AFM Records)
Fifth album for the band created by the popular ex SAVATAGE singer, Zak Stevens, and another release to really look forward to! Described as “a melodic Power Metal album for all the fans from the old SAVATAGE era to the CIRCLE II CIRCLE european fans and breaking new ground for a new fan base in America”, this new effort is – on the opposite – strongly based on a “traditional” Heavy/Power Metal sound that can easily recall bands like Riot, Seven Witches, Dio (R.I.P.) and similia. A really solid rhythm section, some great Metal guitar riffs and the usual awesome vocal-lines make this album an unmissable purchase for all who love this powerful sound. Unfortunately the dramatic and epic “grandeur” of Savatage is left behind on this Work, and only on a couple of tracks ( “Take back Yesterday” and especially the final “Blood Of An Angel”) Zak decides to look back to his glorious past and he gives us the best songs of the album, two songs that are worth the full price of the Cd and that well show the class, the melody and the superior songwriting of this band. Primo Bonali (88/100)
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Band: Asia Album: Spirit Of The Night Interview with: John Wetton Interviewed by: Barry McMinn
Question: Time is galoppin like a mad horse. ASIA and the 30 years of runnin… Did you ever think the band can last (and succesfully) all the years? Answer: We didn’t even lan past the first tour (in 2006), but it just keeps on going. The band spirit is good, and we will keep the momentum going as long as we feel we want to. Desire is everything for us, and as long as we want to play, we will. This is our second album since our reunion, nobody could have predicted this, that we would be setting out on our 5the world tour, with two new albums. Q: Back then… you were monickered as the ADULT Oriented Rock… Was this some honour for you in those times? A: We were AOR who crossed into POP, our first album was the biggest seling POP album in the world of 1982. AOR is not such a bad label to take, but we have our own niche, we’re not prog, not pop, but all of these things in measure. Q: Have you done a first balance of this reunion? Was the fans reaction more or less Focus on:
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enthusiastic than you expected? A: This is now year 5 of our reunion. Fans reaction to shows and to our two new records (so far) have been ecstatic. We could not have wished for a more loyal and caring audience. Q: What has been the highlight(s) and lowpint(s) of your career? A: Highpoints would be for me the single "Burlesque" with Family, "Red" album with King Crimson, U.K.playing to over 100,000 people in Philadelphia in 1978,ASIA's first album,Battle Lines (solo album in 1995)being the main theme for a British feature film (Chasing the Deer). Lowpoints - any of the many times I've felt betrayed. Q: Outside of business, what do you enjoy doing in your free time? A: Being with my son and family, walking in healthy places,visiting places I've never been before,and visiting people and places that I know well. Eating good stuff, not smoking, swimming in the sea
which is five minutes from my home. Doing crosswords. Watching Match of the Day. Drinking good cappucino with good friends. You know the drill. Q: How does it feel to be still very creative like this? A: We are older but also a lot more tolerant with each other. People are allowed a bit more space, time and more comfort zones. In our thirties we were more brutal, there was no give and take. I feel very comfortable in the band now, I can say whatever I want and when I bring a tune in everyone will listen to it. That is the good side of being older, the downside that you don’t have the full energy anymore so we have to build that into the touring. Fortunately and I’m touching wood here, my voice have been behaving quite well on tour over the last five year. No smoking and drinking helped a lot there of course. We don’t play more than for shows in a week and travel shorter distances in between. It’s a lot easier but still rock ‘n roll at least for the road crew it is, hahaha.
ASIA – Spirit Of The Night | CD and DVD(Frontiers Records)
In 2006 we saw the reunion of one of Rocks iconic bands from the 80’s as John Wetton (bass and lead vocals) Steve Howe (guitars), Geoff Downes (keyboards) and Carl Palmer (drums) reunited after some twenty-three years after all four had last played together. This year the band gave us two albums to ponder upon, firstly the new studio release ‘Omega’ which once again cemented the band as one of finest bands from that 80’s era who can still produce great new material. The second of course being the live album that celebrates the band reunion ‘Spirit of the Night – Live in Cambridge 09’, this album comes both in CD and DVD format, so both ear and eye candy for the fans of the band. The band aren’t just musicians they are masters of their craft and this is brought out both visually and musically as they delve into the past for great tracks like ‘Heat Of The Moment’ and ‘Don’t Cry’, but also features tracks from ‘Phoenix’ and a rather fantastic version of ‘Fanfare For The Common Man’, one of the most iconic instrumentals of all time. In a nutshell this is a must buy for both fans of the band but also fans of great Progressive Rock. Barry McMinn (89/100)
ATHORN -Phobia (AFM Records) Heavier than the artists that are normally featured on these pages this new band from Hanover play what they themselves call “Symbiotic Metal”. It’s a faily accurate description as they take elements of thrash, death metal, nu metal , prog metal and some melody and blend them altogether. Lead singer Carston Frank was formally wth Human Fortress, and it’s his voice,singing cleanly and growling, that will lead to comparisions with Nevermore. Despite the diverse influences they do channel all these genres successfully into their own sound. It’s a record that gets stronger as it goes on. The slow brooding title track creates a compelling ambience. “At The End” and “A Matter Of Time”,and “The Ferryman” raise the tempo well, adding more melody than the earlier tracks. Best of all is the dynamic closer “Schizophrenia” which is heavier than an elephant falling on you from a great height but then reigns back on the power atmospherically in a similar way to Lanfear. Definitely an album for those who like their musc hard, heavy and varied. Duncan Jamieson (78/100)
FERREIRA - Better Run!! (Escape Music) Now, this is serious!! Marco Ferreira is a force to be reckoned with… the next “six-string slinger”! A multi-talented musician, Marco Ferreira has released a body of Work that has injected much needed energy in the world of Progressive Hard Rock! “Better Run!!” is his latest effort and showcases his vocal abilities as well as his mastery of guitar. The album drives along touching a variety of sonic delights. A very atmospheric as well as ambitious set of rhythms, this release is a result of a rising star in the Hard Rock sky. Surrounding himself with three very proficient musicians — Ferreira is a quartet that increasingly touches the stratosphere! All in all, a very serious Work, and their label is also serious about the group. Escape Music is promoting this album aggressively, and the packaging is bold. Great liner notes and info on each member of the band. Marco has also produced this album… showing us, his incredible talent and keen sense of dynamics… both sonically and in the arrangements. A fast-paced record, “Better Run!!”, pushes the listener relentlessly into a set of rich and complicated rhythms. One can totally plunge themselves in this deep expression of music…feeling the power of each musical statement. Ferreira: “Better Run!!”… Hard — Progressive Rock at its best. Bruce Atkinson (88/100)
The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Don’t Mess With A Big Band (Surfdog) Setzer’s riotous brand of rock ‘n’ roll is as audacious as his pompadour hairstyle. The American first came to prominence in the early 80s when the rockabilly Stray Cats had big UK hits with “Rock This Town”, “Stray Cat Strut” “Runaway Boys”, which are all included here, and then he went onto to win 3 Grammy Awards in the 90s with his big orchestra. Two of those awards were for “Jump Jive And Wail” and “Sleepwalk” which both sparkle on this disc of 19 live tracks recorded last year in Japan. The choice of Eddie Cochran and Carl Perkins covers tells you exactly where his sound comes from and his own compositions could equally have been penned in the 50s. The big brass band swings with a cool that brings a jazz sensibility and knowing humour to the music and Setzer’s distinctive hollow bodied guitar chimes like a bell. Out of step with fashion, rock ‘n’ roll is a dying art, so thank goodness for people like Setzer who keep its flame burning brightly. Duncan Jamieson (80/100)
SALUTE - Heart Of The Machine (Escape Music) Mikael Erlandsson is one of the best singer/songwriters in Sweden today with a successful career as a solo artist, especially in Europe and Japan. He has such a distinctive husky voice and many will recognise as the lead vocalist and keyboards player for “Last Autumns Dream”. With tracks like “Higher” boasting an amazing guitar solo and “The Long Haul” Salute are onto a clear winner, the balance is just perfect. The stand out ballad “Feed Your Hunger” is stunning, Mikael’s haunting vocals are in a class of their own here. Salute excel in catchy choruses and effortless melodies, the songs just seem to flow as if it is no boundaries for them; a true sign of professionalism! “Your Servant Tonight ” is a song that could gain commercial success as it is just so well crafted with that endearing guitar chord infused into the chorus. Mikael is so good at bringing out the best in a song…”Tearing Me Down” is proof of that. The whole CD just smacks of class rock and is possibly the finest recording you will hear this year. Vitale Nocerino (90/100) ELVENKING - Red Silent Tides (AFM Records) I never liked very much the label “Folk - Power Metal” that have been always associated with this italian band, so I admit I never approached the previous albums of Elvenking in the right way. And, judging from the beauty of this work, how I’ve been wrong! “Red Silent Tides”, their brand new album, in fact, is a great example of Melodic Metal played with variety, class and an unique style, produced in an almost perfect way by our dear Dennis Ward (of Pink Cream 69 fame). And on top of it, the beautiful vocals of singer Damnagoras, that mark a sort of trademark on the sound of Elvenking. Jumping from the traditional Power Metal (“Dawnmelting”, the single “The Cabal”, “Runereader”) to a more melodic approach (“The Last Hour”, “Silence De Mort”), the music here is always fresh and you hardly could find any boring moment. And it’s very nice and not so usual to listen to a great violin-solo in the middle of a Metal song (forget Blackmore’s Night! We’re talking about Heavy Metal here!), so… thumbs up for this great band! Primo Bonali (88/100)
STEVE LUKATHER - All’s Well That Ends Well (Mascot Records) Steve Lukather marks his new solo step with this surprising “All’s Well That Ends Well”, a release in pure classic eighties Toto style! Steve, introducing this new album, talks about a result done of deep hard work, taking care of every aspect in music, a real journey. Well, better words couldn’t be done to describe it. The first track “Darkness In My World”, anticipates in some ways this journey with its emotional and melodic growth along seven minutes, with great sounds, superb guitar solo and a very inspired voice. The following “On My Way Home” and “Can’t Look Back” carry on this intense emotional ride, and the dramatic ballad “Don’t Say It’s Over” slows down the tension just for a while. “Flash In The Pan” is a funk up-tempo, with a great guitar riffing and a super melodic rock chorus with an endearing arpeggio arrangement. “You’ll Remember” is a superb song with perfect melodic hooks and bluesy flavor; “Brodie’s” comes as a handbook soul composition with an awesome guitar solo; “Tumescent” closes the album with its hard and syncopated riffs, fusion, progressive moments and very high technique level performance. Perfect job Steve! Fulvio Bordi (90/100) 12 | MRF
TOM GALLEY (creator of Phenomena) - Blind Faith (Escape Music) The brains behind the Phenomena projects returns with his latest offering of epic AOR/melodic rock. As Tom Galley's past releases set the course for arena rock to flex it's musical might beyond the simple heavy pop song, having in the past utilized musicians and vocalist such as Glenn Hughes, Max Bacon, Scott Gorham, John Wetton, Brian May, & Tony Martin to name a few for his projects - with Blind Faith, the conceptual approach is still in full form and current AOR scene stalwarts are within the album to deliver the melodic rock goods. Reminiscent of Richie Zito's Avalon, Deacon Street, & Voices of Rock projects as well as combining the heaviness of Pink Cream 69, some of the epical overtones of Brazen Abbot, and the pop mastery of Street Talk. It's a concept album where you don't get too lost into the music (not being harshly novel-like many big prog-rock projects), each individual song stands out on it's own; however, there is more to Blind Faith than just simply a collection of songs, so those who want to delve into the more intelligent & intricate side will have food for fodder. Tommy Hash - www.ytsejam.com (89/100)
STAHLMANN - Stahlmann (AFM Records) The industrial metal might of Germany has been dominated by one name and that name is Rammstein, but a new breed of German Industrialist is taking the scene by storm and leading the way are Stahlmann (Steel Man), who donned with silver painted faces as part of their Steel Man personas are about to unleash their debut album simply entitled Stahlmann. The band is big on the dramatics not just with the painted faces but also musically as the debut depicts. Huge pounding drums beats engulfed in massive electro keyboards and programming with frontman Mart leading the way with a typical angst filled German vocal, while Alex and Tobi push the guitar to its limits in true Industrial Metal style, but the heart of the bands sound comes from the punishing rhythm section of Fire-Abend on bass and O-Lee on drums who are the undoubted titans of the band. With massive Metal tracks like ‘Hass Mich Leib Mich’, the heavily gothic ‘Teufel’ and ‘Marschierin’ interwoven with the almost poppy ‘Auf Ewig’ and dance groove metal of ‘Kaltes Herz’ and the mood ridden ‘Mein Flehen’. This is a very listenable album, even if I don’t understand a single word of the German lyrics this one easily spans the multicultural language barrier as the music and rhythms make all the statements required. Barry McMinn (80/100)
JAMES LABRIE – Static Impulse (InsideOut Music) Over five years after the melodically induced Elements of Persuasion hit the racks, and introducing us to axeman Marco Sfolgli at the same time, Static Impulse takes LaBrie into a totally different direction, reflecting the harder edge that has been given to his other band of note, and then some.The one thing that stands out on this record is the use of guttural vocals from drummer Peter Wildoer (also w/Darkane) - not used in the sense of consistency where you are turned off, per say, but used in a sense where you might scratch your head a few times. Along with LaBrie for this album is keyboardist/co-writer Matt Guillory, axeman Marco Sfogli, and bassist Ray Riendeau to create the metal monstrosity that sits along the lines of recent Dream Theater, Jaded Heart, & a less extreme Soilwork. Static Impulse offers up a mass of metal from the DT frontman, it's something of a individual musical statement, not straying too far out of the prog-metal aura, while not going too far into different tangents while pondering into different (heavy minded) musical territories; it's an album that encompasses the musical mindset of James LaBrie at a personal level. Tommy Hash - www.ytsejam.com (91/100)
STRATOSPHERE – Fire Flight (Escape Music) Make way for a new Scandinavian Band! Enter Stratosphere, a tight knit Quintet that mixes symphonic progressive and melodic rock in a manner that will leave you speechless. The band is the brainchild of keyboard virtuoso Jeppe Lund, himself a huge fan of symphonic rock and he has dreamed of making a record such as “Fire Flight”. With Goran Edman on lead vocals; his clean, yet powerful voice is one of a kind. Goran blends perfectly in a loud music setting and excels on the neo-classical twist. Both his lead and backing vocal qualities are state of art. They seem to capture the elements of symphonic progressive rock and mix them with melodic overtones with a sprinkle of originality just for good measure. Opener “Russian Summer” is a huge song with soaring melodies, whilst “The Battle Within” echoes the halcyon days of Rainbow.The Haunting song “Shining Star” is a pleasure to listen to and gives a chance for Goran to show off his vocal prowess to maximum effect. The ballad “Princess of the night” is a beautifully executed piece; in fact the whole album is just a complete pleasure to listen to. Vitale Nocerino (85/100)
HEART – Red Velvet Car (Legacy) As far as other critics go, it looks like I'm on my own here, as I've read a lot of positive comments. I didn't like the last album for the same reasons. I just think that modern day Heart is all about the Wilson Sisters' desire to feel authentic, but left behind are all commercial attributes that brought the band a lot of fans from Heart (1985) through to Desire Walks On (1995). Choruses are not a focus here. Big hooks aren't either. That's not to say that Ann can't be melodic – she is as always, an outstanding emotive vocalist. The album is largely acoustic driven singer/songwriter material with the exception of the Zeppelinesque riffing of WTF, Wheels and Death Valley plus the back end of Red Velvet Car. I'm finding that I just don't like the all-to-brief choruses and while the vocals are always sensual, electric and supremely delivered, I find the choruses here just plain annoying. The tracks I am attracted to are the more rocking WTF, but also the raw emotional Hey You and the Nancy Wilson sung Sand. But the majority of tracks leave me cold in the long run. The production is great, the vocals are unquestionably good, but the end result isn't appealing enough for me. Andrew McNeice - www.melodicrock.com (68/100)
ALTER BRIDGE – III (Roadrunner Records) Here we are with the so long awaited third Alter Bridge’s studio release. The band, along the years releasing two albums and making live shows all over the world, has been gaining so much well deserved credit, respect and admiration for their music, featuring a perfect combination of melody, power, straight guitar riffs and pure wild energy. “III” comes out on the scene featuring still more power, passion and highly inspired melodic paths. The band really beats down hard more than ever and choruses really print their melody in mind since the first shot! Sound production is superb, with a really heavy approach and a bit darker atmosphere than the past. All the band’s performance comes out great from the speakers, rhythm section really kicks butts, while guitars cut with their raw sounds and riffing. Special mentioning for Myles Kennedy’s performance, in great shape, deeply inspired and perfectly fusing together with all the rest of the band in an unique musical monolith! Surely one of the 2010 hi-lights! Fulvio Bordi (85/100) MRF | 13
Duncan Jamieson: Can you please present the band to our readers? Athorn: We formed the band in autumn2008 after we did some jam sessions together. Before we started ATHORN we knew each other for many years. Some of the guys already played together in different bands like CRIPPER and ZELYON or met up on concerts and festivals. The characteristic of ATHORN is that each member has different musical influences, so we can put our own expectation of modern powerful metal into reality. Stefan likes classic rock and melodic metal. Soren, the guy behind the battery, is our progressive and alternative maniac. Carsten prefers Swedish melodic death, Tobias gets a smile when he listens to bands like DEATH or CYNIC thus death metal and Thomas' influences are bands like BLACK SABBATH with DIO, ACCEPT and heavy/doom metal. If we have to explain the sound of ATHORN we would say: Imagine a brew of the best various styles of metal. If you are thinking now that mixing many different styles of music could be a problem in the song writing process, we want to say: "maybe, but not for us, harhar!" Of course when you combine our different musical preferences there is sometimes friction. But on the other hand, we need these situations to get the most out of it. Every song is the result of five different musicians! That's the secret behind the sound of ATHORN. DJ: What about the album “Phobia�? A: Well, Phobia is - after our EP "Livable Hatred" from 2009 - the first statement of the band and we are very satisfied with the result! The song writing and production definitely represents the level of ATHORN at this point of time but there is also a lot of potential for the future. Of course it would be great to reach as many people as possible, who like our music in the same way as we do, but it's very difficult to find a place between all the other bands in the metal scene, or even prevail against some of them. On the other hand the most important thing for us is simply playing the music we love to play! It would be great to do some festivals or maybe a smaller tour in Europe next year, or some cool support gigs... we'll see. DJ: What is the story about the deal with the amazing label AFM Records? A: Last year we released our EP "Livable Hatred" to be aimed at getting attention in the metal scene. After that, we've got contact to Sandra Eichner of Rosenheim Rocks. Sandra was very impressed of our sound and she provides us her support. Sandra has many good contacts in the music business and the result was the contract with AFM. Of course it's an advantage. A label like AFM has a lot of possibilities to force the way of ATHORN. The album will be released on the basic music market worldwide. This opens many doors to play in front of larger audiences and reach a lot of metal fans.
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Band: White Widdow Album: White Widdow Interview with: Jules Millis Interviewed by: Fabio Mainardi Question: So here we are with your first album! What are your feelings about and what are your expectations? Answer: Hi There! We're very excited to have our debut album finished and released, hopefully people will enjoy our music, that's all we can really hope to expect, anything beyond that will be great. Q: Can you tell us about your recordings process? Do you write together or some of you bring to the group the basic lines and then you rehearse them in studio? A: Myself (Jules - Vocals), Enzo (Guitar), Xavier (Keyboards) and Trent (Bass) write together as a team, almost every song will start out from one or two of us having an idea or melody line that we will then work on together, from there we will rehearse them in the studio until we are happy with how the song is sounding, Then we will lay them down into a demo for us to fine tune them. We did this for all the songs on the album, making sure that when we recorded the earlier demos that any changes we wanted to make to them we had already in place before we began the recording process for the album. When we recorded the album Focus on:
tracks, we layed down Drums and Guitars at Toyland studios in our hometown of Melbourne, then recorded all bass, keyboards and vocals also in Melbourne. After finishing all the recorded parts, we sent all the tracks over to JM Studios in Sweden to be mixed and mastered by Martin Kronlund (Gypsy Rose, Joe Lynn Turner, Overland, Salute, Bangaloire Choir). We then corrosponded with Martin over e-mail to fine tune the mix with him to give us the type of sound we were after. We're very happy with the finished album. Q: Are you happy with the songs that wind up on the album? Which one do you thing best sum up what White Widdow is all about? A: Yes for sure, of course sometimes it's hard to choose what songs will be left off the album, because you become attached to the songs you write and always want to see them make the record. But i think we have a good balance of both faster rockers and more melodic songs, with a couple of slower mid paced songs to smooth it out. If i had to choose one song to represent White Widdow and sum up what we are all about, it would probably be "Tokyo Rain", the album opener, mainly because it has a good mix of riffing gui-
tars and a wall of keyboards with a big anthemic chorus. Q: You are all from Australia where you toured heavily in the past year, the album has been mixed and mastered in Sweden and you are out with a German label, a global project indeed! Where do you see your band in a, let’s say, 5 years time frame? A: Yes we like to perform live and tour in Australia whenever we can, being on a European label we'd love to get over to Europe for a tour. I'd like to see White Widdow in 5 years with 3 albums released and have toured Europe & Japan, hopefully more than once! Q: It’s not a mystery you have been influenced by the Melodic Rock and AOR of the 80’s, tell us who are your heroes and who are the ones you feel more influenced by. A: Myself and the guys all grew up listening to Bon Jovi, Dokken, Whitesnake, Def Leppard, Survivor etc, but i think for us as a specific influence on our sound it is bands like White Sister who are one of my heroes for sure, as well as Aviator, Treat and Giuffria. All bands that blended big guitars with big keyboards, which is the sound we are really aiming for.
WHITE WIDDOW - White Widdow (Aor Heaven)
Less then an year after their digital only EP released in 2009, the Australian band White Widdow, lead by the charismatic brothers Millis, front man Jules and Xavier on the keyboards along with bassist Trent Wilson, the talented guitar virtuoso Enzo Almanzi and Jim Naish on drums, is now in full force to give us a good and fresh Melodic Rock. Mixed and Mastered by Martin Kronlund (Overland, Joe Lynn Turner, Hammerfall, Bangalore Choir) at JM Studios in Sweden, White Widdow is an athemic and energetic album where all tracks are filled by big guitars and catchy choruses. It’s not a mystery this group is heavily influenced by the masters of the 80’s Arena style Melodic Rock, but despite some odd clichés they succeed to give their music a unique sound and clear vision to their project. Guitarist Enzo Almanzi and keyboardist Xavier Millis (a two time ARIA, Australian Record Industry Award nominee) unquestioningly take the lion share for their music style. It’s clear that their solid live performances established themselves as great performers and the careful work of mixing and mastering run by Martin Kronlund (Overland, Joe Lynn Turner, Hammerfall, Bangalore Choir) made the difference. All in all a well rounded and roaring rock album and a serious “opera prima” for this young gang. Fabio “Deuce” Mainardi (88/100) MRF | 15
Band: Two Fires Album: Burning Bright Interview with: Kevin Chalfant Interviewed by: Fulvio Bordi Question: Hi Kevin! All of my compliments for this brand new exciting chapter in Two Fires saga. So many years have been passing by after the publication of “Ignition”. What did you do along these years? Answer: Thank you for the warm regards concerning the new recordings. I have stayed very busy producing music. I built a studio and have been building it up gradually. I always seem to be recording someone and helping with arrangements and song construction. Along with all of that, the band has continued to perform. I have several ventures with many artists. One is Voices of Rock Radio with singers Wally Palmar, Derek St. Holmes, Jimi Jamison and John Cafferty. Q: Which was the spark leading you to build back the band and rise up a new studio effort? A: I collaborated this idea once again with Serafino Perugino from Frontiers Records. Q: Let’s talk about the music. I think the album’s title is the best one to represent what the CD features. The music, in fact, comes out of the speakers with Focus on:
some kind of double connected personality: it looks like burning with a solid rockin’ guitar work and a boiling rhythm section, while melodies and keyboards just shine bright. What is your impression about it? A: How can I top that… I agree whole heartedly. Thank you. Q: Melodies and atmospheres look like still more epic than the past. What’s your point of view? A: That was the theme actually. We wanted the music to stick and be more timeless. I hope we have made that impression. Q: In your opinion, how “Burning Bright” sounds and looks like different than Two Fires’ previous releases? A: My live band played a lot more of the music this time around. The band is gelling nicely and I wanted to bring that to the record. I did invite some talented guests to be apart of the tracks, but mainly the live band. I believe that makes a big difference. Q: Let’s focus for a while on your vocal performance. Your voice sounds perfect, in great shape! How did you feel along the recording sessions?
TWO FIRES - Burning Bright (Frontiers Records)
A: Thank you again. I actually had a rough time through this process. This year has proven to challenge my health. In January of this year, I sang sick and caused some temporary damage to my voice. In taking some of the medication, I actually burned my voice with acid reflux. What that means is, while I was sleeping, acid from my stomach came up my throat and burned my left vocal chord. I had to sing through this time, but it seemed to take forever. I am completely healed now, but it sure scared me like it would never be normal again. I caution singers who take Prednisone for lung issues or bronchitis, be sure you raise the head of your bed to allow you head to be higher than your stomach when you lay down. Prednisone is an effective drug to help one symptom, but if you are not careful, it can create new one. Q: Any tour dates planned to support the album? A: Yes, I have been in contact with a couple of Euro promoters as well as a new agent here in the states. We will be busy with the many projects we work around. Two Fires is in time for 2011.
Maybe this is the best surprise of the year until now in Melodic Rock scene! “Burning Bright” gives us back Two Fires with a new renewed line-up and a new passionate fire burning along all the tracklist. The band, headed by classic Melodic Rock vocal talent Kevin Chalfant, comes back in line carrying on the path started by The Storm band in the nineties and followed up with the Two Fires’ previous studio releases, but now with a new solid, compact guitar approach, a still more epic flavor and, more than all, a new awesome melodic inspiration. Since the opener “ Is It Any Wonder”, passing through “Lost In The Song”, the kicking title track recalling Journey’s “Raised On Radio” era, “Still in Love”, “Rentless”, Two Fires put listener under siege, not leaving him alone since the last closing track. “Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid” is an astonishing song written by Kevin Chalfant with Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie; while “Shattered Without You” comes out with a superb combination between Journey and Bon Jovi. No doubt, pearl of the month! Fulvio Bordi (90/100)
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Band: Unruly Child Album: Worlds Collide Interview with: Bruce Gowdy Interviewed by: Fulvio Bordi Focus on:
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UNRULY CHILD - Worlds Collide (Frontiers Records)
After about eighteen years, Unruly Child’s first classic line-up joins back together giving life to their fourth studio chapter. So here they are, Marcie Free on vocals, Guy Allison on keys, Bruce Gowdy on guitars, Larry Antonino and Jay Schellen as rhythm section bringing us back the original, pure Unruly Child’s trademark, a real dream come true for any band’s long date fan and Melodic Rock lover. “Worlds Collide” is not just some kind of past glory revival, but a real follow-up of the legendary debut album, released in 1992. Each song glitters as a potential melodic masterpiece born by a so inspired songwriting and dressed in classic Unruly Child sound, but at the same time enriched with today’s contemporary elements everywhere around. Any listener won’t believe his own ear since the opener “Show Me Money”, the real “On The Rise” successor. It is some kind of starting declaration of war introducing a tracklist of twelve new UC classics. Also, astonishing performance from Marcie Free! Melodic Rock welcomes back one of its huge protagonists. Emotional! Fulvio Bordi (96/100)
Question: After about sixteen years, the Unruly Child’s original line-up is back on track with the new so long awaited “Worlds Collide”. This is a real dream coming true for any long time band and Marcie Free’s admirer. Where did the idea for it start? And did the band join together easily? Answer: Frontiers always kept in touch with me over the past, and always hinted a reunion, and after talking to Marcie (2009) they have been contacting her also, but this time seemed different, I really haven’t spoken to Guy since the last UC III record, been 5 years or so, I thought what the fuck. I called Guy first then I called Marcie, not to have an answer right away, but feel out if we all could talk and be friends, and to my amazement we had some incredible laughs, like we did on the first record, and then I asked Marcie if she would be interested, doing a record. That was the hardest part getting Marcie, Guy & I to commit, then Frontiers pushed which we had no problem they wanted Jay& Larry, so I put in those calls, both we extremely into it. Q: “Worlds Collide” is a real new gem shining in Melodic Rock scene. How did you put together all the material for the new compositions? Do they all come from the same writing sessions, or each one comes from different moments? A: The writing was over a 3 to 4 month period. Guy & I would just sit down, I always have ideas, but we just write what we feel at that moment, like The Very First Time. Wasn’t sure if Guy would like it, but we worked for hours, and few sessions, and then said wow. We knew Marcie would sound great on it. Frontiers wanted the 1992 UC sound, of course it’s going to have 16 years of other musical influence’s, and then you put Marcie into the mix of writing and you get songs like, Show Me The Money, You Don’t Understand, When Worlds Collide, the three of us really have a good writing connection, always have. Q: …And what about the band working together? I mean, one of the very first things coming in mind listening to “Worlds Collide” is the unmistakable band’s trademark incredibly kept after all this time. Did you follow the same way you worked on the debut album? A: We all, Jay, Larry, Guy, Marcie & I all feel lucky that this was meant to be, that’s why it has it’s UC sound, this is, the original band. And yes we followed how we did the
first record, but Guy, Marcie & I start with good songs some don’t make it. On this record we didn’t have as much time as we did on the first record, that record took 2 years to come up with, and now we all live further away, than we did back when. So time was of the essence, we did the writing, performing all in 6 1/2 months not bad. Q: What is like having Marcie Free as band mate after all this time? A: I just picked up Marcie at the airport, were doing a video on Very First Time, we shot it yesterday, and Marcie & I had breakfast and I took her back to the airport today, were great friends and were both excited about this record, we think it came out great, very happy. We all have a great sense of humor that’s why were Unruly, it fits. Time is a great healer. Q: Please, tell us about your feelings just after the recording sessions took to a definitive end. A: All of us were saying is that it, but there’s more work to do. Marcie, Guy & I, Jay & Larry will be doing interviews to let our fans know were still here and kicking some ass, I think this record has some fire to it, it doesn’t sound stale. We all still have a lot of passion, you can hear it in Marcie’s vocals, one of the best ever, in Jay’s playing, Guy & Larry. Were waiting to see how our video comes out, hope it’s good. Q: Why did you entitle the album “Worlds Collide”? Is there a particular meaning connected to your come back? A: Actually Marcie came up with and song idea called When Worlds Collide, she sent it to me and Guy & I finished it. I thought what a great title, great imagery. We put the Unruly sound to it. Q: How do us fans have to consider this brand new release: as a new natural chapter after UCIII, or a new starting point for the band? A: I like the way you asked this question, I do think, we have chapters in our lives, and this is a new bright chapter, were all museoids. Which means, we’re music freaks, and are glad to have each other knowing we can trust each other’s playing or singing, knowing we all want this to be the best it can be. The past is the past, we still have the first record to reflect to, and now there’s a bright future. Q: In your opinion, which are the main differences between “Worlds Collide” and the classic UC debut released in 1992? In my opinion songs keep the
band’s original sound, but at the same time there are new actual sound inserts all around; while the songwriting displays a new renewed verve. What’s your point of view? A: I totally agree we have a renewed verve, Guy & I love a vast styles of music, and we include some new stuff on this record, knowing Frontiers wanted the UC first record style, it wouldn’t work if we came out with a totally different style, our fans wouldn’t embrace it, but with this group we have a style & sound the UC sound. And were all young at heart. (When We Were Young) Q: Where did you take ispiration for the album's lyrics? A: If we say were going to make a record we just get into that mode, we don’t have or ever have the time, like we did on the first record, we wrote for 2 years on the first record, and on this record, we had about 3 to 4 months. We write about what were feeling or what going on around us, or just write a good pop song. Q: I think songs such as “Read My Mind” (just to find out one…) make anyone understand class can’t be bought everyday at the supermarket . Please, tell us how did this song come out. A: Again, I wasn’t sue if Guy would like the idea, I told him that I like singers that spit out fast words, like we did in the verse’s, then he came up with the melody & verse lyrics, and then I said the music has a little, Is It Over, vibe, so he came up with the chorus lyric, and again we were pleasantly surprised how it came out, then we wanted to be a little different, we thought Guy should shine on some special moments on this, like the intro piano and fading into the ending, back to Guy. It has a 70’s progressive vibe. Q: Do you listen to music from other artists, nowadays? If so, who? A: I like Train, BT, Nickelback, anything that Mutt Lange does, I still love good production, I’ve currently listened to composers for film because that’s where I’ve been working, but I love anything good. Q: What about concerts? Will the band support this release touring around? A: We’ve been asked this a lot, it’s simple, we would love to tour, we need to have a couple weeks to a months of dates to play to make finical sense, unless someone wants to pay a lot of money for 1 or 2 shows, if the record does well if think we’ll get that opportunity.
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Band: Bangalore Choir Album: Cadence Interview with: David Reece Interviewed by: Fabio Mainardi Question: Hi guys ! Congratulations for this new great pounding album! Can you tell us something about the making it. Answer: Thank you! Andy Susemihl and I started last year, with the thought in mind we have to obviously maintain some of the old sound, but we have all grown musically and I think that shows on the new album. A: Before we go on to some other things, you released your very first solo album last year entitled "Universal Language". I really have been enjoying it a lot! Tell me about that, the recording process for it and how it's been recieved so far. A: : I've always wanted to do a solo record my whole career and the time was right to do it. I live in Germany now and when I arrived in 2008, I was at my favorite pub when Andy Susemihl walked in and we started talking about working together. I've known Andy since my days with Accept and his with U.D.O. and always admired his talent so we started to write songs and soon I realised how seriously talented he is. During the recording process I asked him to produce me because I could feel he understood where I was coming from, we wrote 15 tracks and all in all it took about 2 months to complete ,that said the response was and is very good at the moment. Q: Did you already have some Focus on:
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demos to work on or you started writing and rehearsing once you joined back together? A: After Georg Siegl agreed to release an new BANGALORE CHOIR record we sat down and started writing in 2009 always 'ON TARGET' in our minds, this record was and is so popular to this day. I also reached out to Tommy Denander, Christian Tolle and Martin Kronlund as you can see on the official 'CADENCE' album. Q: Did any of you take the lead on the production stool or decisions came out of you all? A: Andy and I are the main songwriters I decided since Andy did such a great job on my solo album 'Universal Language' I knew he was the right man to produce the BANGALORE CHOIR album. Q: Your latest work is dated back in 1992, what has been the trigger that made you decide for a come back? A: My fans! They asked for a BANGALORE CHOIR album over the last few years and I feel the time is right for another release it has always been my dream. Q: During these years rock music had big turn arounds, what have been your experiences so far and what you bring with you to be part of your new album? A: As I have noticed the rebirth of hard rock over the last couple years is not so one sided anymore the Hair
Metal is back the old 70th Metal style is back and I think that's great!!! Our album fits into the a couple genres perfectly. Q: What about your thoughts on the current rock music scene, and what about internet and file sharing? A: Rock music is my passion it's in my head 24/7 and it always will be and I'm glad it's still alive, but the rock scene will not survive if people continue file sharing and do illegal downloading for free, actually its a slap in your face if you see your just finished album (not even released yet!) on pirate sides with original title and an advice of getting the promo cd ready to download. Don't get me wrong, internet is great to communicate with your fans, friends and musician buddies don't want to miss it at all !!! Q: Is this a one shot project or are you going to record new music soon after your forthcoming Euro tour? A: Actually we are writing on a new album right now. Q: Bangalore Choir is scheduled to perform at the Firefest festival in the UK in October. Are you planning on doing any other shows besides that at some point? A: Yes, were touring Europe in early October and will do Firefest October 30th 2010 and then in November we will play all of Scandinavia for four or five shows.
BANGALORE Choir - Cadence (Frontiers Records)
Almost twenty years after 'On Target' dated way back in 1992 David Reece is back again with his Bangalore Choir. Reformed the killer partnership with guitarist Curt Mitchell and bassist Danny Greenberg plus the addition of guitarist Andy Susemihl (U.D.O.) and drummer Hans in't Zandt, Bangalore Choir are ready to conquer the throne of the Melodic Rock scene. Although David is one of the most underrated singer in the latest years, gone the debut with Accept and then the short run with Bangalore and the recent solo album, here we are with a great rocking album with a take no prisoner attitude. You will be shocked by the power of David’s voice and his vocal abilities through out all the 11 tracks, starting from the opener ‘Wahzoo City” until “Surrender of your Love”, well supported by the blistering guitar riffs and catchy melodies by the talented duo Mitchell- Susemihl. We are in front of solid musicians grown up in the 80’s sound and this album is full of references to that gold period, but with a cool modern breeze all wrapped around. Listening to Cadence you can’t help but hoping for new music from Bangalore Choir because they know to rock and they rock hard. Bangalore Choir will go on tour soon in Europe, Asia and US will follow after, so don’t miss them in action. Fabio “Deuce” Mainardi (90/100)