CONTENTS 04_Foreigner 06_Crazy Lixx 08_Harmony 09_Wicked Sensation 10_Bloodbound 12_Reviews 14_White Widdow 15_Harem Scarem 16_Black Fate + Axenstar 17_Bailey 20_Rated X 22_Triosphere Melodic Rock Fanzine The official Frontiers Music s.r.l. magazine Year #10 - Nr. 6 / Issue #65 Editor-in-chief: Elio Bordi Concept, Graphics & Design: Elio Bordi Writers: Bruce E.J. Atkinson, Duncan Jamieson, Barry McMinn, Vitale Nocerino, Rob “Ezy” Bone, Primo Bonali. 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 Facebook: facebook.com/frontiersmusicsrl Twitter: twitter.com/FrontiersMusic1 Editor and publisher: Frontiers Records s.r.l. Copyright©2014 Frontiers Records. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Printed in Italy.
Band: Foreigner
Interview with: K. Hansen and J Pilson
Interview by: Primo Bonali
Question: 33 years passed since the release of “4”. Did you expect that the album could have such a long life? KH: I don't think it's surprising when you actually listen to the album. There is some really excellent writing, performing & arranging that really speaks for itself. JP: Great songs, great performances and great production are timeless. F4 has all 3 in spades, so no, I'm not surprised. Q: Can you reveal what will be the “surprise” tracks (if any) which you will be including in this live package (by “surprise” tracks I mean songs that normally Foreigner would not play live in their regular live show)? KH: I don't want to say exactly but there are going to be some tracks that we have never done live before! JP: Just that we'll be doing "the best of Foreigner 4"- and more! Some of the arrangements may be a surprise as well, but I can't give away too much! Q: What are your expectations from this release and how did it come about? KH: I have no expectations but the idea came from the anniversary of the release as a way to celebrate. JP: If we can do F4 justice, and bring it to life with the energy and passion the band has always maintained- we'll be very happy. I'd love it if it gave people a chance to really reflect on what a great and classic album this truly is. Q: It’s almost 10 years that Foreigner had a rebirth around new members such as Kelly Hansen and Jeff Pilson. How would you describe the band’s health and general feeling these days? KH: I think the band is really strong and it's great to be in a group with people who really "get it" and understand how fortunate we are to be playing & performing such great material. JP: Running on all cylinders- that's how I'd describe it! This version of the band is so special in that everyone is really focused and dedicated to Mick Jones' vision of what Foreigner is really about. Our energy live is at its' peak,
and the musicianship is top notch. We have the finest front man in rock and a band that kicks absolute ass every night. We're as happy and confident as we've ever been. Kelly, How did you join Foreigner? KH: Actually, I was at a point in my career where I wasn't happy with where I was going and what I was accomplishing. I thought to myself, "I really need to try to be proactive about what I am doing." Because, most of my career, things have just landed in my lap out of luck, I guess. So I started looking actively for things to do. One of the first things I saw was an article on the Internet about a charity show that Mick had done with Jason Bonham, Jeff Pilson and some of the guys from Foreigner. I thought it was alluding to a Mick Jones solo project, but really, it was talking about a revamping of Foreigner. Being in LA and being a singer for 30 years, I knew some people, I made some phone calls and I got in touch with the band. We went back and forth, and they sent me a karaoke CD of five original Foreigner hits, the actual real recordings without vocals, and said, "Put your voice on these." So I did. Those actual versions that I did, ended up being for a while some of the music that we would use to advertise shows on the radio. Mick got to hear the CD in New York, and they were coming out to do some rehearsals. So I sat in, we played for about an hour and a half, and it sounded really good. They called me an hour later and said, "Listen, we're booking shows for next weekend, can you start rehearsing tomorrow?" So, I had five days to learn the set, and from that point it was a juggernaut. Q: What is your position about the comparisons with Lou Gramm? KH: First of all, I respect Lou’s contribution to this band, and it’s impossible to deny – even if I wanted to – his impact, vocally and in other aspects: it’s great, and there’s no denying that. But I came into this group with the understanding that there were going to
be contrary voices, there were going to be people who would hear me and never accept me, hear me and eventually accept me, hear me and immediately accept me, and that was going to be a part of what it is for me to be in this band. That was not going to go away. To try to pretend that I was not going to experience that would be fooling myself. So I just had to be honest with myself and say, “Are you prepared for this?” And frankly, I just had to say, “You know what? I’ve never listened to critics or people who don’t agree with me; I’ve always done what I think is right to do.” Mick and I were both strongly in agreement on that idea of you do what you think is right and, hopefully, your fans will follow you and they’ll get it. Q: First time you listen to Foreigner? KH: I don’t remember the first time I heard FOREIGNER but I was well aware of the band, I respected the recordings that they were making, I thought that the songs were great. I don’t know if you remember or not but, back in the ’70s, when FOREIGNER came out, some of the critics were very brutal about the fact that they thought the band was manufactured in the record company’s offices and it wasn’t really a real band – none of that was true, of course. But I always liked the band from the beginning because I was a guy who loved commercial rock and pop music. I lived in L.A. at the time, and there was time where if you did commercial straight-ahead pop or rock music in the States, the critics hated you for whatever reason. Q: Anything you would like to say or add for the European fans especially? KH: As always, it is a joy for us any time we get the opportunity to come to Europe and play for such awesome music fans! JP: We can't wait to see you in Octoberthe acoustic tour will really be a magical one. Europe is like a second home to us now- and we couldn't be happier about it! Foreigner and Europe really go together well! MRF | 5
Band: Crazy Lixx
Question: So, knowing that this is Crazy Lixx’s fourth record, why the self titled status? Answer: Originally it wasn’t meant to be self titled but going through possible titles we found that nothing really stuck. Then I presented the idea of making it self titled and we all kind of felt it was suiting for the album, considering this album really came out the way we feel a Crazy Lixx album should sound. Then as always with self titled albums, fans and press can’t just leave it at that (like with Metallica’s ‘Black Album’ or Whitesnake’s ‘1987’) and because of the symbol on the front of the album I’ve already heard some people referring to it as ‘CL’. But I think that’s nice. People can call it whatever they want as long as they enjoy it. Q: Being the Producer as well, Danny, did you put more pressure on yourself during the recording sessions? A: I always go to great lengths to make the best out of my vocal recordings but most of the production work was actually made more with the guitar and bass recordings. I think I might have pushed the guys more than I did myself actually. But in the end I think we got a great result out of it. When it comes to recording vocals, for the past 3-4 years I’ve always done 6 | MRF
Interview with: Danny Rexon
it the same way; I record myself in my own home studio and give it as much time as it needs to sound how I want it to sound. Q: What would you say is different with this album than the previous three? A: I think it’s more complete than the others, from the song writing, music and lyrics all the way to the playing, musicianship and production of the album. All in all we’ve become better at pretty much everything that has to do with making an album and also zoned in on what truly is the “Crazy Lixx Sound”. Q: In preparing for the review of this selftitled effort, I noticed that the energy level is very high, and everyone seems so up; was it hard to capture all of that energy… And keep focused? A: It was actually easier than ever because we set out to make our best album ever but without the pressure of a close deadline or limited, expensive studio time. This time we recorded bits and pieces when we felt up to it and where we felt it would be best and most comfortable to do it, instead of booking a high-end studio for two weeks and then working our asses off day and night to get it all done before the studio time was up. The kind of work strategy that we had on this album suits us a lot better. But
Interview by: Bruce Atkinson
then of course it took a year to get it done, from the first drum recording to the final masters. And that’s without considering the song writing that was done before that. Q: We hear eleven fantastic slices of rock on this effort… How many songs did you go in with, and would some of those left be for the next album? A: We looked at around 40 more or less complete demos for this album and a lot of the songs that we left out are sure to be in the running for a follow-up album. My guess would be that we can probably add 10-15 new demos to that pile in a year or so, so there’s no shortage of material for more albums, that’s for sure. Then again, we try to set our standards higher for each album so a lot of the stuff that we left out now probably won’t make the cut in the future either. Then there are songs that were great but simply didn’t fit in because there were already too many songs of the same style, tempo or lyrical content selected for the album. We try to have diversity on an album and when you get many songs of the same style you simply leave out some of them for later. That doesn’t necessarily mean they weren’t good enough, they just had to make room for another kind of tune.
Band: Harmony
Question: The new album is the bands third release but the first full album to feature new vocalist Daniel Heiman, so why did Henrik leave the band? A: Henrik chose to leave the band to focus on Darkwater. He has never been involved in the writing process in Harmony and feel that the music we create in Darkwater is more his thing. We also felt as a band that it was a good thing since there has been a lot of confusion why we have had two bands going, with almost the same members. We split as friends obviously, and we are all still in Darkwater. Q: Was Daniel the obvious choice to replace Henrik? A: We actually had a few auditions but didn´t find anyone that we were completely happy with, and we always had Daniel on our mind since his guest appearance on our previous album. So it definitely felt right in the end, and we were very happy when Daniel agreed to do the vocals for the album. Q: What does Daniel bring to the band? A: Hi brings a new dimension to our sound, he has this very wide range but his 8 | MRF
Interview with: Markus Sigfridsson
voice is still very raw and natural. Both Henrik and Daniel are amazing singers, but they are different. Q: How do you think ‘Theatre of Redemption’ compares to the bands two previous albums? A: I think that we have evolved on all levels, the song writing, playing skills etc. The production is also a step up from Chapter II: Aftermath. The album is still as varied song wise as the previous ones, in which our strength lies, I think. Q: The album is veritable smorgasbord of styles and influences, but still keeping that Melodic Metal vibe, what songs are you particularly proud of and why? A: From the songs I wrote I´m most happy with, at the moment, is “Son Of The Morning” and the title track “Theatre of Redemption”. Son Of The Morning has this oriental vibe that I like, it has some Rainbow influences, I´m also happy with the lyrics on this one, they fit the sound I think. For Theatre Of Redemption I´m happy with the whole arrangement, it´s moody and has this dark but hopeful feeling to it. I think Tobias would be most proud of Inhale,
Interview by: Barry McMinn
that he wrote. It´s a really good song and probably the most catchy song on the album. Q: As well as Daniel’s vocals the band have brought in Ulrik Arturén, how did Ulrik get involved in the album? A: I´ve known about Ulrik for a long time, but never worked with him, his quite famous where we live. A friend recommended him when I asked for a professional back up vocalist. He was happy to help out, and I must say that we are so happy with what he came up with, he really adds something special to the album. Q: Will the band be taking to the road in 2015 to promote the new album? A: We don´t know yet, we would love to though. Since Daniel is a guest vocalist on the album we can´t guarantee anything. We just have to wait and see, much depending on how the interest for the album is. Q: What does the future hold for Harmony, where would you like to see the band in 3 years time? A: Hopefully we will have at least one more album out and be playing live more.
Band: Wicked Sensation
Question: The new album is a really rounded record. You must be pleased with it. Answer: Absolutely! The making of this album led us through different troubling situations, but the result is very good and I think its easily a step forward after CRYSTALLIZED which counts in my personal WS faves. Adrenaline Rush is full of great ear catchers, melodies as well as powerful riffs and hooks. We spent time in the songwriting of this album and if you listen you will hear what I mean. I doubt that it`s possible to produce albums like in a factory and expect a milestone to come out of such a rush work. It needs its time to create and write songs and a production as well... In our case we sadly had to deal with other problems as well, but now it`s done and we like it very much. Q: Tell us how writing and recording the material differed from your previous records? Although this is your fourth album, it’s quite a change as you have David Reece replacing Robert Soeterboek due to health reasons. How is Robert doing now? A: Since i have my own recording studio things became more comfortable and easier to handle, having a own studio gives more room to be creative and you
Interview with: Michael Klein
can try different kinds of recording tricks with microphone set ups, re-amping and so on, without having somebody behind you who stares at the clock on the wall, because time's money. A real studio out there costs a lot of money, not very helpful if you sit there and trying to lay down tracks with this pressure behind you. Robert sadly became serious problems with his voice in the middle of the recordings. We tried to make a break and give him time to rest, but it did not make it better. Robert told us to find a singer to complete this album and decided to step back from this production. We found David who agreed to help us out. Robert had a surgery and have to make a long break of singing, but the surgery was successful and he works on his voice and will be back soon! Q: What’s it been like having David as a band member? A: David Reece is not a member of Wicked Sensation, he only agreed to help us out, he knew Wicked Sensation before and liked the material so he agreed to sing on Adrenaline Rush. As a matter of fact his voice is not so far away from Robert, so he was the right decision for this Album and he did a good job I think. Robert is still a mem-
Interview by: Duncan Jamieson
ber and we will start working again as soon as he is recovered. Q: Athough of course David is American, he lives in Germany. That must have made the recording process easier. A: David lives in the U.S. the recordings happened through file sharing over the internet. We sent him the instrumentals and pilots and he recorded in a studio in his area, very simple actually and for many other acts already normal if you have to work over such a distance. We was still able to talk about things to change, or try out other ideas... So this was basically easy to do. Q: You also have Harry Hess of Harem Scarem helping out on some choruses. How did you get him involved? A: I made a record with Harry called "First Signal" in 2010 who was released on Frontiers Records. Since I played guitars for him on this project I have a good contact to him. Harry is a very nice and handsome person and a "real pro" he is an amazing singer and I had to ask him for some choirs on Adrenaline Rush. Like with David we shared files and Harry sended us his vocaltracks, we`re very happy to have him on the album! MRF | 9
Band : Bloodbound
Question: I was introduced to “Bloodbound” back in 2006, with their debut album… The group had a massive impact then and with the release of “Stormborn”, I would say that you and your mates will repeat that feat! Answer: When we started to record the album we felt we had something really good going on. And now with all the amazing response so far, it seems that people agree with us and that is just a great feeling. Q: How long have you been with the group-five years? A: I joined the band in April 2010, so a little bit over four years now. Q: Patrik, are you able to partake in the song writing as well as laying down your fine vocals? A: I haven’t been very involved in the song writing so far, but that’s not because I can’t be. Tomas and Fredrik who are the main song writers want me and the others to participate more and are encouraging us to come up with songs and ideas. For me, I just think that those two are doing such a good job and don’t feel that I, for my own ego or anything, need to contribute with material just for the 10 | MRF
Interview with: Patrik Johansson
sake of it. I write songs all the time and co-wrote a couple of songs on “Unholy Cross” and “In the name of metal”, but this time I didn’t have any material that suited the album. Maybe I’ll have more for the next one. Q: Now, with the way that Bloodbound delivers their musical creations with the operatic elements and such, do you find that reproducing all of this live is somewhat difficult? It certainly must have a strain on your voice, what do you do to keep your voice in top form? A: With Stormborn we have a lot more keyboards and choirs and stuff so for some things we’re gonna need to use a sampler or backing tracks to reproduce the sound live. We haven’t rehearsed the new material yet, but if we manage to do the songs justice live, which I really think we can, it’s gonna be very powerful. About to keep the voice in form. I don’t do too much in that matter to be honest. But for me the best way is to sing a lot to keep the motor running so to speak. As long as you don’t feel sore in the throat of course. Q: May we talk more about the new album? Is “Stormborn” another con-
Interview by: Bruce Atkinson
ceptual piece? A: I would not exactly call it a conceptual album. Most of the songs have their own story. But Tomas who wrote most of the lyrics were very inspired by the tvshow “Game of Thrones” this time. So songs like “Stormborn” and “Iron Throne” are based on that. Which I think fits the music perfectly. Q: If we think back to when you first joined up with your fellow bandmates… And going through the years and albums, “Unholy Cross”, and “In The Name Of Metal”, did you feel that a change of direction was happening? A: When I joined the band they made it very clear that they wanted to return to what bloodbound was from the beginning. They had released “Tabula Rasa” and felt that that direction wasn’t the right way for the band to go, musically. Which suited me perfectly because I loved the first album “Nosferatu” and are more into that kind of music. Then “In the name of metal” was more of a “back to the roots”-album, a celebration to Metal if you like, and contained these Metal anthems that are made for live shows. And I think we kept the foundation of the Bloodbound sound.
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RATED X “Rated X” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.) Another Frontiers project, masterminded by Serefino but this one threatens to become a fully-fledged band. When you have Joe Lynn Turner handling the vocals, his sometime writing partner Karl Cochran on guitar and a legendary rhythm section in Carmine Appice and Tony Franklin, who worked together in the mighty Blue Murder, it’s easy to get excited about this. Rockier than Turner’s recent Sunstorm records, “Fire And Ice” and “Lhasa” have that epic blues rock feel of Blue Murder while there’s a Deep Purple feel to “On The Way to Paradise” and a Rainbow groove to “Get Back My Crown” (JLT loves doing a song on most albums that revs like “Death Alley Driver”). A lot of the material bumps and grinds, creating room for the musicians to stretch out and solo, taking turns in the spotlight. Such an approach, helps remind you of those cherished 70s rock albums in your collection. Turner adds a bit more grit to his voice than usual here to fit the material. Seasoned professionals deliver a solid effort. (DJ 97/100)
WHITESNAKE “Live in ‘84 - Back to the Bone” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.) The 80’s albums of Whitesnake dominated the album charts of the day with “Ready and Willing”, “Come an’ Get It”, “Saints and Sinners” all top 10 charting albums. But it was the 1984 album “Slide It In” that is the main feature of this review. This year sees the 30th Anniversary of the album’s release and to celebrate this milestone, Frontiers Records have released the live CD/DVD combo “Back To The Bone 1984”. The DVD and CD are pure Whitesnake, this is the band at their very best and at the height of their popularity. This is also an album that reflects upon three of the band members who recorded “Slide It In”, Cozy Powell, Jon Lord and Mel Galley, all now deceased. As you can imagine all the hits are here from that great era of the band, with added bonus material including Jon Lord’s final performance with the band on the DVD/CD Digipak, with the CD featuring the best of the Bootlegs entitled “Snakeskin Boots”. This is a not just another live Whitesnake album, this is history. This is the band at their pinnacle, with what is still regarded as its finest line-up and is a must by for all fans of the band and that era. (BM 90/100)
CRAZY LIXX “Crazy Lixx” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.) Wow! This sounds so fresh and new, that one wouldn’t think that “Crazy Lixx’s latest is actually the group’s fourth excursion! From the opening blasts of “Hell Raising Women” we are hit with hard rock galore! And it just keeps coming; big fat riffs, a huge Rock Voice and a driving bottom that just keeps driving us towards Rock Heaven! This self-titled collection shows the Swedish quintet at the top of their powers. All barriers are gone, this record must have been recorded with the adrenaline set to maximum! Every song shines, every agarangement pops! Danny Rexon’s singing is at a level I haven’t heard for a long time. The playing is tight; some nice changes in every song and everything is loaded with huge choruses! The twin guitars of Edo Liam and Andy Zata are red hot, and they both add meat to the vocals. And on every number! That rhythm section-whew! Can these two play! Joel Cirera on drums and Jens Sjoholm on bass, never a lull in the bottom end! There is so much energy on this “Crazy Lixx” album, you are going to have to press pause midway through just to catch your breath! This is definitely a “Call to Action” from five fantastic Rockers! An album worth its weight in platinum! (BA 92/100)
HEART “Home for the Holidays” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.) This isn’t a regular Heart album. It captures them live with their slippers kicked off, in front of the fire, singing a few festive songs with some of their showbiz friends. It’s like a warm sweater, the instrumentation mellow, suiting the Christmas themed songs, but despite not being your typical Heart record, Ann Wilson’s voice still shines through, strong and emotive. You surrender to the sentimental mood and friendly welcoming ambience. It includes a poetry reading and amiable guest appearances by the likes of Richard Marx, Shawn Colvin, Pat Monahan and a full Choir. Sammy Hagar pops up on two tracks, in his laid back, beach bum mode which might sound at odds with the frosty theme but his contribution is a good one and his original ‘Santa’s Goin’ South’ will prove to be a fun draw for Red rocker devotees. Just when you’ve got that post-Christmas lunch sleepy feeling, the guitars finally get plugged in for the old favourite ‘Barracuda’ before they play a spellbinding version of ‘Stairway To Heaven’. The song is a perfect fit for them. If you’re looking for music to get you into the festive spirit then ask Santa for this one. (DJ 90/100)
(Ulterium Records)
HARMONY “Theatre of Redemption” (Ulterium Records)
AVATARIUM “All I Want” (Nuclear Blast)
WICKED SENSATION “Adrenaline Rush” (AOR Heaven)
ZERO ZERO “Heroes Live Forever” (Steelheart Memories)
Not the most prolific band on earth (two albums released in the last eight years), Swedish Power metallers Axenstar are returning to the scene with a new record-deal just signed and a brand new strong album (in the band's own words: "this could be the best Axenstar album so far). Produced and mixed at “Studio Underground”, “Where Dreams Are Forgotten” sounds great and features a nice mix of melody and power, something that Melodic Power Metal fans will definitely appreciate. Composed by 11 Metal hymns, the Classic '80s Metal influences are always there, as songs like the epic “The Reaper” and the melodic “Inside The Maze” clearly show, while a song like “My Sacrifice” tends to incorporate some slightly updated elements. The strong songwriting is always supported by an immaculate musicianship that let the band also enter into some slightly more Progressive fields, and especially the guitar-parts shine thru the whole album. All in all, a powerful and enjoyable album. Listeners of the genre please take notice! PB (85/100)
“Theatre of Redemption” is the third album from Swedish Melodic Metallers Harmony, featuring the vocal might of Daniel Heiman as new vocalist. With this new album we see the band make the most of Heiman’s superb vocals as he delivers power and grace on all the 10 tracks, from the opener “The Window of My Soul”, right down to the last track “In Search of”, as he brings a Geoff Tate styled power to proceedings. Highlights of the album for me have to be “Crown Me King”, a big chunky riff drives this one, then at the other end of the Melodic Metal scale is the superb “Son Of The Morning”, a track with more Eastern Promise than a case of Turkish Delight. “Hands of Time” is another riff laden spectacle that really brings out best in all the band, from the rampaging guitars and towering vocals to the powerhouse rhythm section. All in all a great return from the band and with Heiman on this release, it’s time for the band to be the hot topic on the lips of the Melodic Metal fans the world over when this albums gets released. BMM (90/100)
With bassist Leif Endling from Candlemass and ex-Evergrey guitarist Marcus Jiddle on board this EP will create interest. The strong vocals of Jeanne AnnSmith distance this material from the participants previous work, with its retro feel, going back to the late sixties and early seventies “All I Want” is the most direct with a catchy riff akin to Blue Oyster Cult and Smith’s vocals reminding you of those iconic female vocalists of the sixties; Janis Joplin and Grace Slick. There are some likeable pots and pan sounding percussion midsong and it comes as no surprise that Michael Blair has previously worked with Tom Waits. “Deep Well” has a broad early Rainbow sound; you can imagine Ronnie James Dio singing this one. It gets darker and gloomier with “Pandora’s Egg”, the first of three live songs included. The spacey “Tales Of Telepathy” is the pick of the bunch with a good extended solo from Jiddle that has the spirit of Hendrix. Jiddle, good throughout, has a lot of room to noodle on these songs. Good though the studio tracks are, the live songs have an extra dimension to them. Interesting for dark retro fans. DJ (86/100)
It’s the fourth album for the German rockers and they’ve come through adversity to make perhaps their strongest release to date. Singer Robert Soeterboek, who has a great Coverdale quality to his voice, had to unfortunately pull out due to throat issues. However, he’s been replaced by none other than David Reece of Accept, Bangalore Choir and Tango Down fame. He’s a great choice and helps give the music a fresh American feel to add to the European hard rock sound. The Whitesnake comparisons made on their last album “Crystalized” are a little less pronounced this time (although “Misery” and “Leave Me like A Fool” do have some of that Coverdale swagger). Guitarist and song writer Michael Klein has created a well-balanced album with harder rockers like “King Of The World”, more melodic tracks like “Same Old Situation” and “Blue Painted Sky” a sunny, top down radio rocker, and the well sung acoustic “This Time”. The title track appears late on the record. It’s a heart pumping, fast and heavy song and would have made a great opening song. Wicked Sensation, David Reece and melodic rock fans in general will be well satisfied with this release. DJ (90/100)
New chapter in the “Lost UK Jewels” Series and another one to look for. Originally formed in the mid-eighties, Zero Zero was put together when a young Stevie Doherty (vocalist/guitarist) left an early version of Strangeways to create a brand new band. The slew of demos that followed proved that they were probably one of the finest UK AOR bands to have never been signed. They did come close, with offers from both Atlantic and Carrere but, due to management mishaps, it all fell through. Including all the material that the band recorded back in the day, coupled with two new songs, “Heroes Live Forever” featuressome superior British AOR-Melodic Rock, and songs like “Forget About Love”, “Heroes Live Forever”, “Warning Light” and “Lvers And Losers” are here to prove it; the first bunch of songs (dated back 1986) are more into a Journey meets B.Adams vein, while the second lot (recorded in 1993) have a more in-your-face Hard-Rock approach a la Firehouse/Von Groove. Digitally remastered and strictly limited to 500 copies, this Cd is highly recommended. REB (90/100)
AXENSTAR
BLOODBOUND “Stormborn” (AFM Records)
“Where Dreams Are Forgotten”
Patrik Johansson seems to have fitted in nicely with “Bloodbound”, and this being his third album with them, seems to be flexing his musical muscles a little more aggressively! Of course, this is music that is not for the faint of heart… Both in lyrical content, and the compositions themselves. “Bloodbound” have created a complicated and telling story; with the waves of music creating the cinematic atmosphere of an epic tale that will not fade very quickly. In fact, I’m thinking the group have outdone themselves on this release! Prepare yourselves for a musical journey that is full of drama, aggressive, melodic yet molten and very thought provoking. The musicianship heard here is beyond “10”, the writing and lyrical content is full of emotion and mystery… And the whole of this Recorded Work can be described as Epically Bombastic! It exudes confidence from each and every member to the extent that we are in for some surprises regarding some of the musical elements employed herein. “Bloodbound”; “Stormborn” is setting a high water mark, one that will resonant for a long time to come! BA (92/100)
FOREIGNER “The Best of 4 and More” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.) On October 3rd & 4th 2014, Foreigner performed and recorded an unique event at the prestigious “Borgata Hotel” in Atlantic City. For the first time ever, the band presented a show called "The Best of Foreigner 4 & More", a show that their fans asked for since years and that the band decided to put together, with a repertoire consisting of some of the best and most loved songs of Foreigner “4” plus a selection of other Foreigner timeless hits. In front of a very passionate audience, Foreigner delivered at their best, exactly as everyone is expecting by an awesome band like them, and they played some of fans’ favorite songs with class and feeling, with a special mention to Kelly Hansen's incredible vocal performance. Hits like “Waiting For A Girl Like You”, “Say You Will”, “Jukebox Hero” and the #1 global hit “I Want To Know What Love Is” have been played along with slightly less-known tunes such as “Night Life”, “Break It Up” and “Girl On The Moon” for a final result which is no less than spectacular. As responsible for creating a genre (AOR), with ten multi-platinum albums and sixteen Top 30 US hits, Foreigner are still keeping the flag flying high. (PB 92/100)
BAILEY “Long Way Down” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.) I’m not sure if we can take this! First we had the first rate debut of “Three Lions” and now the stellar debut of that group’s front man: Nigel Bailey with “Bailey: Long Way Down”! Opening with “Feed The Flames”, this debut will be a force to be reckoned with. Showcasing not only his powerful voice and guitar playing, his song writing and composition is surpassing the scales! “In The Name Of The King” is epic in proportion and will serve as Nigel’s lead-off single & video. If you were blown away by the “Three Lions” material, you will be floored by “Long Way Down”. This album is loaded with hard British Rock and melodies thick and lush, plus a vocal range that simply amazes. Nigel shows musical emotion on each and every track. “Dirty Little Secret” works on so many levels, showcasing this humble musician’s high degree of song smithing. Continuing to show his immense Talents, “Long Way Down” is full of riff-driven guitar work fuelled by heart and soul! This whole collection is driven by heart and soul, Nigel has so much music in him it is obviously hard to contain! Nigel Bailey is on the verge of becoming a major Talent & Musical force in the finest tradition of British Hard Rock! For “Bailey”, yes the debut is called “Long Way Down”; the music? It is nothing but up! up! up! (BA 93/100)
HAREM SCAREM “Thirteen” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.) The Canadian rock band called it a day back in 2008, but good rock bands are like zombies; you just can’t kill ‘em off. Resurrected, the band have returned with 10 tracks that have all the classic Harem Scarem trademarks. Pete Lesperance’ guitar unpeels slabs of melodic rock groove throughout and he dispatches some lovely wellcrafted solos. Harry Hesse’s voice is as unmistakable as ever, aided by a good production sound that adds layers of harmonies and helps those choruses work their infectious magic. The great musicianship on “Garden Of Eden”, the sing-a-long ‘Live It’, the mature, reflective “The Midnight Hours” and the uber-feelgood “All I Need” have Harem Scarem sounding refreshed and re-invigorated. Fans of the band will be cock-a-hoop. Indeed the whole album proves that the number “Thirteen” needn’t necessary be unlucky. (DJ 94/100)
YES “Like It Is” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.) A double CD/Live DVD package-this is a live documentation of Yes World Tour of 2014 in which they presented two iconic Yes albums in their entirety. CD1 of this package is their stellar performance of 1977’s “Going For The One”. The atmosphere created here is one of reverence, and as the group flows through each selection, those gathered grow warmer, taking in all of the subtle perfection wafting from the stage. CD-2 is of course the performance of the very first album “The Yes Album”, first heard in 1971. Unbelievable that these musical passages are all of forty-three years old! The magic here is that each piece does not sound like it’s been dusted off, on the contrary, they sound freshly minted! “Like It Is…” captures an inspired performance from these five legendary musicians: Jon Davison-Steve HoweAlan White-Chris Squire, and Geoff Downes: with each member putting forth a stunning show of musicianship! It’s all here, everything that ever made Yes two steps ahead of their peers! Now, with the accompanying DVD you can fully relive this magical concert! (BA 85/100)
BLACK FATE “Between Visions & Lies” (Ulterium Records)
WHITE WIDDOW “Crossfire” (AOR Heaven)
TOKYO “Listen To Your Heartbeat” (Steelheart Memories)
DEVILMENT “The Great and Secret Show” (Nuclear Blast)
TRIOSPHERE “The Heart Of The Matter” (AFM Records)
PAVLOV’S GOD “The Pekin Tapes” (Rockville Music)
Harkening from Greece, “Black Fate” began back in 1990. The group released a couple of demos, “Black Fate” and “A Piece Of Dream”, which found favourable reaction in their home country. A major change in the line-up during the 2000’s saw the group finally releasing their debut full length album, “Uncover” and continued to make headway. As 2007 approached, the group changed their line-up slightly and had a renewal of energy and commitment and saw the release of “Deliverance of Soul” in 2009. The time came for this group of highly trained and inspired musicians to sit down and start to compose a new collection of heroic music… And they did! “Black Fate” are finally ready to release! “Between Visions & Lies” is that very album. A classically tinged Heavy Metal collection that rocks! Full of technical expertise and flash, melodic and driving, we experience eleven molten passages that will amaze! The group are also ready to amaze us with taking this album on the road. 2015 should see their collective efforts rise higher and louder. “Black Fate” will be rewarded for all their hard work and determination. “Between Visions & Lies” will make sure of that! BA (90/100)
“Crossfire” marks the third release from these Australian rockers. The record continues where their second ”Serenade” left off. Again, full of huge production, with dominant keyboards and thundering guitars, “Crossfire” has a little more octane in its tank! Yes, the group are still stirring that big AOR Arena Rock style, but this time out, just a little harder edged! What this album has contained within will go a long way in cementing “White Widdow’s rightful place in the skies of Melodic Rock. The guys continue to drive forth giving us a very energetic symphonic, (in places), melodic soundscape. A musical tapestry filled with up-tempo, heartfelt renderings. With that harder edge, it will be easier for some to take notice, and yes impact the Global AOR charts as well! “Crossfire”, a very solid effort, another plus for the guys that make up “White Widdow”. BA (90/100)
Not to be confused with the german band sporting the same name, the UK combo called TOKYO started life as a Pomp Rock oufit (a la Magnum) before adopting the more familiar AOR sound that characterized the UK scene in the late '80s. During 1988 – on the back of winning a “Metal Hammer”-sponsored “battle of the bands” - they recorded an EP entitled “Listen To Your Heartbeat” for Great Western Records. In addition to this, the band cut various demos from 1984 on to 1989, and all of this material is here featured (first ever time on CD!), as Volume 8 of the “Lost UK Jewels” Collectors Series. Classic '80s British AOR with some Pomp Rock influences, close to Strangeways, Airrace and Virginia Wolf, that will definitely please any fan of the genre. As usual, strictly limited to 500 copies, fully remastered from the master-tapes, and with a nice full-color 16 pages booklet (containing a band-history, pics and memorabilia), “Listen To Your Heartbeat” might be a nice addiction to your precious CD collection. REB(88/100)
Originally formed by Daniel Finch back in late 2011, Devilment experienced a lot of problems before having a stable line-up. With Dani Filth (Cradle Of Filth) invited to take the slot behind the mic but extra-busy with his main band, and some other musicians leaving the band to other commitments, Devilment has been on a hiatus situation for a long time. Finally, with some right guys accepting the role (Nick Johnson on Bass, Colin Parks on Guitar, Lauren Francis on vocals & Keyboards, and Aaron Boast on Percussion) and a recorddeal offered by Nuclear Blast, the band entered “Grindstone Studios” in Suffolk, UK, during September 2013, with Producer Scott Atkins (Cradle Of Filth, Behemoth, Amon Amarth, etc). The result is the debut-album entitled “The Great And Secret Show”, 13 tracks of pure Metal madness, heavy guitarriffs, thrashy parts and insane melodies, with lyrics centered around the poetically macabre, songs celebrating the band's Witch County origins, murderously unstable relationships, exotic cinematic women, mind-altering Victorian drugs and the phantasmagorical beauty that exists behind the thinly veiled curtain of existence. I'm sure you got the picture... PB (88/100)
Triosphere are led by the towering vocals and thunderous bass lines of Ida Haukland, along with the guitars of Marious Silver Bergesen and T. O Byberg and the rampaging drumming of Orjan Jorgensen. Together they have produce another stunning slice of Melodic Power / Progressive Metal. If you’re a fan of the genre like I am, then you’ll just love this album from the off. The power driven melodies that have become part and parcel of what Triosphere are all about are here in spades with this new album. The album has so many great tracks that I could wax lyrically about them all, but editorial restrictions make this impossible, so here are the highlights the opener “My Fortress”, a stunning way to open the album, both epic and sublime. “Departure”, which is a massive bass driven anthem. “The Heart’s Dominion”, the track of the album for me. Power and grace all wrapped up in one tight slice of power driven metal. These are just a few of my highlights of what is another stunning release from these Norwegians. BM (98/100)
Formed in St Louis Missouri in 1972, Pavlov’s Dog first saw the light of day with their debut album “Pampered Menail”, but little did we know this album wouldn’t have been released if it wasn’t for the bands untitled album, which was just called “The Pekin Tapes”. An album recorded in just 3 days at Golden Voice Studio in Pekin Illinois. When ABC Records heard the untitled album they signed the band and instead of releasing “The Pekin Tapes”, then went into the studio to record what would be “Pampered Menial”. In 1977 Golden Voice Studio burned down with the masters of “The Pekin Tapes” lost in the blaze, but in 2014 a copy of the album was found in a private inheritance and now after painstaking lengths to restore the tape, “The Pekin Tapes” finally sees the light of day some 41 years late. The album is true to the era, there is an air of the progressive about it with frontman David Surkamp having a Geddy Lee vocal style. This may not be to everyone’s taste, but for nostalgia and history buffs is a must for fans of 70 rock like Blue Oyster Cult. BM (75/100)
Band: White Widdow
Question: Last time we chatted, it was with the release of “Serenade”… So has your approach to recording this new record been any different? Answer: This album was considerably more difficult to write and record, mostly due to the fact that towards the end of the writing / rehearsal sessions our drummer and good friend George Kristy committed suicide. This brought the band to a stand still, in severe shock for some time at the loss of our friend. It was a very hard time to be able to pick up the pieces and keep pushing forward. However I think that after pushing through the tragedy we have ended up with our best album so far. Q: Knowing your previous work, I must say that the expectations are high… So when preparing for the sessions, did you and the group feel any undue pressure? A: Yes, there is some pressure for sure to bring out an album as good or better than “Serenade”, but the only way we can even try to do that is the same way we made that album, and that’s to put our heart and soul into 14 | MRF
Interview with: Jules Millis
every song and every performance and give it everything we can, and that’s what we have done with “Crossfire”. Q: I would imagine that “Crossfire” being your third effort, shows White Widdow at a more comfortable stage, would that be correct? A: I think that we had a much clearer idea of what to do and were more familiar with how to make the best album that we could. We’ve been working with each other now for 6 years, so Xavier (Keys/Producer) was much more familiar with how to get the best performances out of the rest of us in the studio. Q: Let’s talk about the record label, AOR Heaven, you have been with them since the beginning, which is a good sign that the relationship is a very good one… And being that they are a smaller label, would it be fair to say that they have a more personal relationship with you? A: Georg & Monika at AOR Heaven are very big part of the White Widdow story, without them we wouldn’t have gotten this far. They
Interview by: Duncan Jamieson
signed us after hearing only a three song demo and have never interfered with our creative process. They support us 100% and we would rather be with a label that can focus on each release for a longer period of time, rather than a larger label that has too many releases per month to be able to give any release the true focus that it deserves. Q: Again, talking about “Crossfire”, what are your expectations for it? A: We just hope that everyone that has enjoyed our first two albums, will enjoy “Crossfire” as much or even more! And hopefully we can also win some new fans with the new album as well. Q: White Widdow are a very roadworthy group, so are you hoping to increase your touring in the next year, and do you have any area that you will be focusing in on? A: We certainly love to tour the countries that appreciate our music, we are currently booking a tour for 2015 that will include the UK, Greece, Switzerland and hopefully Germany and Italy once again.
Band: Harem Scarem
Question: It’s great to have you back with an album of new material! Answer: Thanks! We’re excited to be back. Q: The record is classic Harem Scarem. Big guitars, great vocals, harmonies and those damn catchy melodies. Why was the time right to get back together again and make new music? Answer: Basically, I think we just had to step away from it for long enough. Speaking for myself, when we shut it down after Hope, I was just out of tricks. I really felt I had said everything I had to say musically in HS at that time. But after 6 years away from it and post the 2013 “Moodswings 2” tour, it we felt totally inspired to write new music and see what Harem Scarem sounded like in 2014. Q: When you previously split did you really think that was the end of Harem Scarem? A: Hard to say. When you’re ending something the last thing you’re thinking of is when you’re going to be starting it up again. We never had any hard fast rules or
Interview with: Pete Lesperance
thoughts on Harem Scarem’s future, we just knew we were done with it for the time being. Q: You went down the pledge route for making this album. How did that work for you and what have you learned from this experience? A: Actually, our situation is a bit of a hybrid really. We do have label support in Europe (Frontiers) and Japan (Marquee / Avalon). For us the Pledge Music thing was more about reconnecting with our fans and offering them the opportunity to pick up some HS swag that we don’t normally offer, as well as bringing them behind-the-scenes videos to show them what goes into making our records. The Pledge Music campaign runs until Dec 9th and so far we’re thrilled at the response we’ve had. Q: You were quite consistent in the nineties releasing records up to your last album “Hope”. How has the gap affected the way you’ve approached “Thirteen”?
Interview by: Duncan Jamieson
A: The best thing the gap did for us was give us some time to recharge creatively. I think we really enjoyed the writing and recording process for “Thirteen” more then we have in the recent past. It felt fresh to us and I think it really comes out in the tracks. Q: Musically and lyrically it feels more mature than the past. Would you agree? A: Hard to say from my perspective as I’m obviously way to close to it but I’m glad you think so. I can definitely say that I think it’s some of Harry’s best lyrical work. Q: You are great at last year’s Firefest in the UK. Have you any plans to come back over to Europe to promote “Thirteen”? A: We will hopefully be putting some dates together for Europe in the Spring. Q: What’s next for Harem Scarem? A: At this point we’re finishing up the Pledge campaign and waiting for the album release. After that… It’s anyone’s guess. MRF | 15
Band: Black Fate Interview with: Gus Drax Interview by: B. Atkinson
Question: Black Fate has an interesting history… Could you briefly bring us up to date on the group’s membership? Answer: Sure! Black Fate was formed back in 1990 in Larissa Greece. The band released two demos called “Black Fate” and “A Piece of Dream” which earned great reviews from the Greek metal media and the band started playing their first shows. In 2000 after a few line-up changes the band released Its first album called “Uncover” and two years later the two first demos were also re-released together on an
album with the title “A Piece of Dream”. In 2007 Nikos Tsintzilonis met Vasilis Georgiou and decided to put Black Fate back on track. They started working on new material and writing new songs for a new album and began to make plans for a new beginning of the band. The result of all this work was the album "Deliverance of Soul" that was released in 2009. After the album release the old line up couldn't follow the bands live obligations and the search for new band members started. Me and Vasilis Liakos joined the band which led to this
Band: Axenstar Interview with: M.Winterwild Interview by: P. Bonali
Question: Hello guys! How are you doing? Let's start talking about your new album “Where Dreams Are Forgotten”. How do you feel about it? What do you think are the main differences between this album and your previous ones? A: We are just fine and we are really excited about the release of the new album! We are very happy with how the 16 | MRF
album turned out, I think we have really managed to write 11 strong tracks and I'm sure the fans will love it! I think the main difference between this new album and the previous ones is the fact that it feels like the whole band has contributed to the songwriting and the songarrangment this time and I think that have really made the songs as good as they can be. Q: What’s the lyrical concept or main
days line up. Q: Obviously you have been doing a lot of Live Work, when you do. Do you preview some of the new material or do you wait until you finish recording? A: We have actually played some of the new songs live already yes. We like doing that,rehearsing and playing them live. Its a good way for us to see how they work and if we need to change anything in them. We don’t want to have parts within songs that we have second thoughts about and i think this is a good way to work. Q: Speaking of recording, when did you begin work on “Between Visions & Lies”? A: It was late 2010 I think. Q: So, with all of the complicated movements within each piece, is it a complicated process in laying everything down? A: Not really to be honest. We practiced the songs for a while and were ready to go in the studio and record everything well and give it our best! Q: You are now with a new label…how is that working out? A: So far so good! We are very happy with our relation with Ulterium Records. The guys know very well how to do their job and we are very very satisfied with how things are working out so far. Emil and the rest of the guys know very well how to promote the album and the band in general! theme of the album? Why a title like “Where Dreams Are Forgotten”? A: It's hard to say, there is no lyrical theme throughout the whole album. The lyrics deal with a lot of different subjects like loss, war, death well mostly negative stuff really. The title is taken from the lyrics to the song "Sweet Farewell" and that song is about a guy who has lost his will to live and he has realized that the one thing certain in life is that we're all going to die, so he has reached the point where his dreams are forgotten. Q: What can you tell us about the powerful production made at “Studio Underground”? A: I think it's a very good one! I think the sound on the album is the best we have had on any album and Pelle Saether at Studio Underground did a great job engineering and mixing the album. Q: How is the swedish scene and market for Heavy Metal at the moment? A: I think it's pretty strong, as always haha! There is a lot of great Swedish bands around and more are on the way up. I would say that the market for Heavy Metal will always be big since once you start listen to metal you're hooked for life!
Artist: Bailey
Question: When I received this assignment, Nigel, I must tell you I was simply amazed that a solo effort was coming our way from you, what with the Three Lions bursting on the scene and all; you must be just chalk full of music! Answer: Thanks very much! It’s a passion I have had for many years, my whole life revolves around music, playing, writing or listening. Q: Please take us through the events that steered you to make this decision in releasing music on the Solo plateau… A: This album was recorded before I was introduced to Vinny and Greg. I had been signed to Frontiers as a solo artist and then met the Lions and things have gone from there. Q: Upon first listen, “Long Way Down” is different than the Three Lions release; although both run in similar musical rivers…are the songs on this record more personal? A: A little I guess because these were the first songs I got to record, but I don’t really write from personal experience although that sometimes plays a part and gives me an idea to elaborate on. I have a vivid imagination when it comes to lyrics. There are obviously similarities to the Three Lions record but still
Interview with: Nigel Bailey
quite different as the songs on Long Way Down were written with no collaboration with other musicians. Q: Whom did you enlist to help on this? A: I recorded the Vocals, Bass and Guitars. Mario Percudani plays guitar on the record and Alessandro Mori plays drums. Ale (Del Vecchio) put the Keyboards down and also sang some BV’s. I’m very lucky to have had such great musicians and nice guys on the album. Q: In my opinion your Talent absolutely shines here… Sort of what was promised on the group’s debut is fully realised here… So did you work with a little more freedom? A: With Long Way Down and Three Lions, we were allowed to write the music we love, there was no agenda or instructions. Both albums are exactly how I wanted them to turn out and Im very proud of them. Q: What was it like working with Mr. Del Vecchio! He seems to be everywhere these days! A: He’s a Legend! Not only is he a fantastic producer, vocalist, and keyboard player but he is one of the nicest guys in the world. Its a pleasure to work with him. Q: What are your hopes, Nigel, for “Long Way Down”?
Interview by: Bruce Atkinson
A: I hope people like it, naturally. I think it has some great songs, great musicianship and I hope that the listener gets the feeling of passion and energy that was put into making it. Q: I know, I keep going back to the Three Lions, however, the group is so powerful and your debut on the scene the same; so now with just as powerful a solo debut, are you going out by yourself with live gigs, or would you incorporate some of this material in the Three Lions’ set? A: Yes, I have a sold out live show to launch the album in December in my hometown of Bradford and am honoured to have been asked to play with Bailey at the Frontiers Rock Festival again in April next year. I hope to have some more live dates for next year also for both Bailey and Three Lions. Im sure there will be some cross overs on the live shows. At my launch party I’m very pleased that Vinny and Greg, plus the Mancubs have agreed to join me for a couple of tunes and Vinny is playing guitar on the solo stuff too. Q: I notice that there is another Bailey on this record, is this a family member? A: Yes, thats my brother Andy, he is part of the Bailey live line up and also the Three Lions. Its great to have him on there and live our voices work so well together, he has an amazing voice. MRF | 17
Band: Rated X
Interview with: Joe Lynn Turner
Interview by: Duncan Jamieson
Question: It’s a stellar line-up. How did you feel and react when Serafino from frontiers approached you about the idea of getting together? Answer: I was extremely into the idea that Serafino presented... He has a good understanding of what it takes to make great music. I always wanted a band I could call my own... As I was on the road touring so it took a bit of time to create the right situation but we prevailed in getting the right players in the right positions! Q: Carmine and Tony have a rich history. What’s it like playing with the rhythm section of the late, great Blue Murder? A: Absolutely incredible! As I listen back to what they laid down i am still amazed at the power... Timing... Style and expertise they both have shown on this cd. I would put them up against anyone out there! Q: Guitarist Karl Cochran has been seriously ill. How is he now? A: Yes... Tragically Karl suffered a stroke about 7 tracks in while working on the album. With strong will and determination he has made incredible progress so far... We have organized a few benefit concerts to assist in covering medical bills. We have raised a good sum of money so far and it allows Karl to get the best treatment he can possibly receive and it has encouraged him further in a positive way to keep working hard to overcome this affliction. Needless to say this was a severe and heartbreaking event for us all. Karl is an amazing player... A guitar hero waiting to happen. You can clearly hear that on the Rated X CD and we are supportive in our prayers and efforts that he will have a full recovery. It's difficult but very possible! I might add that when we were confronted with this problem we needed a guitar player of virtuoso ability so I invited my long time friend Nikolo Kotsev from Brazen Abbot to finish the remaining 4 tracks and he played brilliantly. Q: Who’s written the songs for this record? A: The songs started with Alessandro del Vecchio writing and recording demos. Al is quite a talented person to have so
many accomplishments... But as we went on we needed more material so I dug into some solo songs I was holding on to. In the end I have to say it was a collaborative effort on the part of everyone involved to create what you hear on the Rated X CD. We changed lyrics... Musical parts... Solo sections etc. to create a style unique to Rated X. I believe we have achieved the sound we were looking for. Q: You’ve made good use of technology in recent years to help you record with musicians in different loctions. Do you enjoy making music this way? A: Well... It was more of a necessity to record in different locations and at different times because we were all busy in other situations during that timeline. We did use technology to our advantage ...cell phones... Skype... Texts... sound files etc. Were employed so we could keep in constant touch with each other and comment on the performances we were recording and to in some cases adjust the parts played to better fit with the over all concept of our sound. It's more difficult to record this way but we had no choice and I must say that I was never sure how it would all work once we went to mix the record. Listening back after the mix I was amazed at the unity and cohesive sound of the band. It sounds like a live band in the studio playing all together... So much energy... Excitement and interplay happening at the same time! But I do believe that it takes true professionals with experience and great ability to construct such an outcome! This is a testament to us all! I am very proud of everyone! Q: It’s rockier than the recent Sunstorm material. Was that deliberate? A: Oh yeah! It's all about the material and attitude! From the beginning we all knew what we wanted in song and sound and we tried to stay true to our vision. That was tough to do sometimes but we seem to hit the target with Rated X. Q: How does this band rate when compared to previous bands you’ve been in? A: Lol! Well... We are all seasoned professionals with experience and adjusted
personalities. We checked our egos at the door so to speak... So it was much easier to communicate with each other without that getting in the way! With all respect and love to the bands and players I have worked with throughout the years the guys in Rated X are a pleasure to work with! Q: You previously worked with Carmine in Mother’s Army. Do you feel that band were under appreciated? A: Absolutely! What a band! Way ahead of our time! People didn't get it... The tides of music were changing and 'MA' got caught in the middle of the transition somewhere. I still listen and get impressed every time I hear the CDs. We had a box set released 2 years ago and only 10,000 units were sold. Maybe if we had the promo machine working we could have surfaced into the world arena but to no avail. I recommend the listeners to go back and check out the 3 CDs we made...there is some great music with timely messages in the lyrics! Q: Is this going to be more than a one off project? Do you see this becoming afully fledged gigging band? A: It started as a project... But we all wanted a band that we could call our own and that takes a commitment. So, we discussed the prospect of working as a band and the time and energy we would have to give in that the situation and we agreed to give it a shot. It’s tougher these days because of the new paradigm in the music industry but we feel we have what it takes to succeed. If the public will give us a listen I’m sure they will agree that we can deliver great music that is viable and needed in the rock music scene today. Q: Are there any shows lined up? A: We have to get the music out to the people and create a demand for the promoters to book live shows...that's the way of the world today. The CD is finally out and the reviews are amazing! We can only hope that by Spring 2015 that our agents have a few tours lined up so we can bring Rated X to the stage. We are confident that we can recreate exactly what you hear on the CD plus the energy of a live show... It will be rocking! MRF | 21
Band: Triosphere Interview with: Tor Ole Byberg Interview by: Barry McMinn
Question: So how long have you been working on the album? Answer: We have been working on this album for quite some time. Marius introduced us to the first riffs and ideas already right after the release of The road less travelled. So the writingprocess has been going on continuously since then. But since we have been busy playing a lot of concerts, we haven't had the time to fully concentrate on finishing the album and beginning to record it until about a year ago. So it has been a long process, and we are really glad to finally share the result with everyone. Q: Following such a successful album in’ A Road Less Travelled’, was there any pressure on the band when working on the new album to take up where that album left off? A: The Road Less Travelled received amazingly good critics around the world, so yes, the pressure was definitely on. But we kept working the way we always do; playing the different ideas together and crafting the songs until we were 100% happy with them. After that, we could only hope that what we were happy with would also get a good reception in the public. Q: This is the bands third album, so how have the band as a whole developed since the debut? A: The years since the release of “Onwards” have been really full of experiences; we have learned a lot about each other as musicians, as individuals and us as a band. We have become much more confident in our sound, and better songwriters. Triosphere have always sounded as “Triosphere”, but we’re definitely more “grown up” now. Q: What aspects of this new album are you most proud of? A: We are really proud of all the aspects of this album. The variety of the songs, the cover art, the sound. It all fits well together. The album was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren, at Fascination street studios. I think he did a really good job, creating the right sound for these songs. Q: The band have been labelled as a Progressive Power Metal band, but how would you describe the sound of Triosphere to someone not familiar with the band? A: We have seen a lot of different opinions on what Triosphere sounds like. I would say that we are a mix of sevral different sub-genres within metal and rock. From progressive power metal to melodic hard rock in a unique combination, and with a modern edge. There is something for every taste in our music.