Melodic Rock Fanzine #91

CONTENTS

04_Whitesnake 05_Hardline 06_Leverage 0 7 _ T. To l k k i ’s Av a l o n 08_First Signal 10_Restless Spirits 12_Reviews 1 4 _ J i m P e t e r i k & Wo r l d S t a g e 15_The Brink 17_Sweet Oblivion 18_Chaos Magic 22_Neal Morse 23_Alan Parsons 24_Fortune

Melodic Rock Fanzine The official Frontiers Music s.r.l. magazine Year #15 - Issue #91

MIND KEY “Aliens in Wonderland” (CD / Dig.) - HOLLOW HAZE “Between Wild Landscapes and...” (CD / Dig.) - VISIONATICA “Enigma Fire” (CD / Dig.) - BILLY SHERWOOD “Citizen: In The Next Life” (CD / Dig.) - G. BONNED BAND “Live in Tokyo 2017” (CD+DVD / Dig.) - VANDEN PLAS “The Epic Works 1991 - 2015”(Boxset)

Editor-in-chief: Elio Bordi Concept, Graphics & Design: Elio Bordi Writers: Bruce E.J. Atkinson, Duncan Jamieson, Barry McMinn, Fabiana Spinelli.

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©2019 Frontiers Records s.r.l. - All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Printed in Italy.

ARDOURS The Last Place On Earth” (CD / Dig.) SPREAD EAGLE “Subway to the Stars” (CD / Dig.) UNRULY CHILD “Big BLue World” (CD / Dig.) SOLEIL MOON “Warrior” (CD, Dig.) ROXY BLUE “S/T” (CD / Dig.)

Bruce Atkinson: First, congratulations on the new release…”Flesh And Blood” shows us more sides of Whitesnake, that we really haven’t seen before…

David Coverdale: Thank you, Bruce...Very happy to hear that, but to be honest I’m surprised that YOU’RE surprised...:) BA: What has become a tradition with yourself, is the creating of new and potent song writing partnerships and with “Flesh And Blood”, we see this with your partnering with not only Reb, but also with Joel…

Please take us through these creative relationships…

DC: It’s really simple...first you find musicians you admire & believe can help you take Whitesnake to a higher, maybe better place... then, after discovering what very decent people they are, invite them to have a musical conversation with you with a couple of acoustic guitars... It was immediate with both Reb & Joel the chemistry was there... immediately...& as I believe both of them have said, I like to work very quickly...I have a myriad ideas that are percolating if...& only if, the seed of the song or riff, inspires me... If not, I drop it immediately...I wouldn’t waste theirs or my time on something I didn’t believe in... We clicked... turn on the magic...We had a whole lot of fun putting ‘Flesh & Blood’ together... It’s an exquisite feeling to hear how people are enjoying it...

BA: I think that "Flesh & Blood" is a summary of the whole history of Whitesnake, from the blues beginnings, to the 80s and to the most epic sound of "Forevermore"...

DC: Yes, I agree...& so do a lot of fans who interact with me on social media...The important thing is for the artist to be happy with the work before he presents it to the people who support him...We are thrilled the album’s been so incredibly well received & successful

4 | MRF

on so many levels...

BA: David, it has been eight years since “Forevermore” and four years since your excellent effort “The Purple Album”.

I realise that you have toured extensively throughout the past eight years—but I am curious to know, does the writing ever stop, or do you and the others constantly write?

DC: I’m always writing, a riff here, some piano chords there. I’m sure it’s the same with Reb & Joel, I rarely write when I’m touring, too much distraction, but, at home or in the studio as soon as I sit at the piano or pick up a Taylor... I’m off!!

BA: Now, turning to the actual new release…this is a multi format affair…and a huge one at that! Please take us through the conception and the completion of “Flesh And Blood”.

DC: Mmm... Too epic a story for the time I have...You may have heard that I’d been suffering from advanced arthritis in my knees for probably 10 years or more...& it was only getting significantly painfully worse, so, at the end of my 2016 world tour my wife & I agreed that 2017 would be a year of surgery & recovery but, the universe & Frontiers, of course, decided it was time for a new Whitesnake studio album... In fact, I was busier in 2017 with more projects than ever while recovering from very invasive surgeries!!...We put the 87 30th Anniversary box set together...The PURPLE Book... The PURPLE LIVE DVD, the Unzipped box set more, I can’t think of now, but, we also wrote 16 or 17 new songs made videos. Man, it was crazy times, but well worth the whole shebang, obviously...

BA: The association with Frontiers’ seems to be a most positive one; you and the band seem to have a great deal of freedom, especially with your art of making

music…

DC: I wouldn’t have it any other way...I’ve worked very hard for many years to afford the artistic freedoms I enjoy, they understand that...

BA: After "The Purple Album", will there be a chance to see Deep Purple Mark III again?

DC: Unlikely, the loss of Jon Lord is immense in every way, Glenn is very busy with his career, Ritchie is also busy with ‘Blackmore’s Night’ & ‘Rainbow’ & Whitesnake is my full time occupation.

BA: Some time ago in an interview you declared that there was the possibility of a new album with Jimmy Page, is it true?

DC: I love Jimmy. I loved working together, I know there is discussion regarding a special box set, a remix of the album & some unreleased songs...I don’t feel that either Jimmy or I have the time to make a full, new album, but I’m totally open to writing a few new songs if we do something special with ‘Coverdale Page’. It was such an honor to work with him & become friends...

BA: Now, looking ahead, what can we expect from Whitesnake—is there more touring planned?

DC: We’re hoping to take the Flesh & Blood World Tour through 2020...but, we have a helluva lot of Whitesnake projects that are being planned for the next 3 to 5 years...It’s very, very exciting!!

BA: I’ve noticed throughout the last couple of years, Whitesnake has touched down in places that you have not visited before—will we be able to see this more as well?

DC: It’s up to the promoters where we play, to be honest, when our agents reach out, it’s first come first served...Rarely to do with any decisions by the artists...

Duncan Jamieson: You’ve been really busy over the previous year with a whole bunch of albums that you feature on. How did you find time to fit in this new Hardline album too?

Johnny Gioeli: I have an evil twin brother!

Hahahahaha no, for me life is “balance” and I find and make the time. Not always easy but balance is the key.

DJ: What do you put your recent prolificacy down to?

JG: I don’t really think about it. I just task and go- Making music whether writing, recording, or performing isn’t “work” it’s a privilege. So when I am busy, I am happy busy.

DJ: Since you started Hardline back up in late 2011 how has your writing relationship with Ale Del Vecchio developed over those three records?

JG: We’ve grown together as writers for sure…It started out I was a little suspect of this new hot-shot little kid on the streets of Italy. Hahahahaha But after knowing him for just a short time, he became one of the most important people in my life. We help each other with whatever needs to be “helped”.

This makes for not only a wonderful music experience, but a more incredible life experience as well. He’s my bro.

DJ: Why did you choose ‘Life’ as a title?

JG: I’m at a mid point in my own life (that

means I’m old..hahaha) where its only natural to “reflect”. I think its important for all of us to look at our own book of life and adjust or let it be… For me, I try to live as purposeful life as I can. Do the best I can fulfill as many dreams as I can, make people happy, sing, dream more, sing more… Life the album is a realization of the past and future for me. When the last chapter is written, are you fulfilled?

DJ: Mario Percudani takes over from Josh Ramos on this album. Why did Josh leave and what does Mario bring to the project?

JG: Josh was let go for a number of reasons.

Without getting into to much detail…I just needed to make the change. I wanted “more”.

DJ: There are some tracks that capture the classic big melodic rock groove of Hardline like ‘Place To Call Home’, ‘Take A Chance’, ‘Out Of Time and ‘Hold On To Right’. What tracks standout for you on the new record?

JG: I’m a sucker for the ballads, always. “This Love”, “Who Wants to Live Forever”, “My Friend”. “My friend” is my favourite. My “Friend” are the fans. All of them… All. DJ: There’s a cool cover of Queen’s ‘Who Wants To live Forever’. What led you to cover that tune? Were you a big fan of the band? What did you think about the movie ‘Bohemian Rhapsody?’

JG: I LOVE Queen / Freddie…. His mere epicness has always drawn me to this song. I

HARDLINE “Life” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

wanted to merely SING it. For them. For him.

As a tribute in my style. I love this song.

LOVE LOVE LOVE. DJ: It was the 25th anniversary tour in 2017 of your classic debut ‘Double Eclipse’.

What were some of the highlights you remember of that tour?

JG: Oh man…. The memories galore! It was a time to reflect on that time-period with BIG smiles and laughter too. From the many road stories, shows, experiences….this was a cool tour. We’ll do it again for sure.

DJ: You got stung by Pledge music recently in funding your solo album, that was done to support Joe Barber.That must have been particularly galling. What happened and do you want to tke this opportunity to ask for further help for Joe? JG: Yeah, I did. Bad. But not me…Joe got stung but the fans around the world support me and Joe AGAIN and we raised more! Joe is kicking ass now in NYC with a very special TV internship all because PEOPLE CARE. It’s a great world. We all want the same things in life…. happiness, health, love… and a little cash here and there…

DJ: Will you be going on the road to promote ‘Life?’

JG: YES! On it now!!! We are solid thru the end of 2020! Check Facebook, Twitter, Intstagram and all that social shit!

Johnny Gioeli and co. are back with some more prime melodic rock. Since the affable American reprised the name in 2011, it’s now three albums he’s made with the core of his Italian band who include Alex Del Vecchio and Anna Portalupa. Josh Ramos has gone since the last album and is replaced by guitarist Mario Percudant who equips himself well here, adding the necessary swagger while Marco Di Salvia takes over on the drum stool . ‘Life’ picks up from where the last album ‘Human Nature’ left off; Big grooves, big riffs and big hooks ensures it follows the blueprint of the classic Neal Schon inspired debut ‘Double Eclipse in 1992. ’Place To Call Home’, ‘Take A Chance’, ‘Out Of Time’ and ‘Hold On To Right’ all pack the wallop that Hardline did so well when they originally burst onto the scene. Hardline have always been better when they’re rocking out, rather than tackling ballads and that generally holds true here too. However, there’s a spirited cover of Queen’s classic ‘Who Wants To Live Forever’ which shows off what a fine singer Gioeli still is. If you liked their last album, then this is a safe bet.

Duncan Jamieson (92/100)

MRF | 5

Duncan Jamieson: It’s been almost a decade since ‘Circus Colossus’. Did you ever think at any stage there wouldn’t be a new Leverage album?

Tuomas Heikkinen: No, I was always sure we would continue. It just took longer than expected.

DJ: With some line up changes does it almost feel like starting over?

TH: Yes and no. I’ve known all these people for a long time, and I guess that is the key compared to if we had auditioned or looked for musicians unknown to us before.

DJ: How did you find Kimmo Blom and Mikko Salovaara how have they settled into the band?

TH: Like said, I’ve known both of them for a long time. In fact, we decided to release new music first and only after that came to the conclusion that this is the new Leverage.

DJ: You came back last year with the EP ‘The Devil’s Turn’. Why did you go down the route of an EP? Were you testing the waters?

TH: Yes, you can say that. We were looking for somewhat of a new approach, and the EP gave us the opportunity to test drive the new lineup and the whole process.

DJ: There’s more than an hour of music.

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How long did the song writing and recording take?

TH: Some of the stuff was written to a point during last few years, some of it was written last summer. So I can’t really tell how long the writing would have taken from the scratch. We recorded and mixed pretty fast, all within a month.

DJ: hat songs are you particularly proud of on this record?

TH: All of them, for different reasons. We expanded our range with some of the songs, and some are just a very natural continuum of what we did in the past.

DJ: How would you say the band’s sound has changed or evolved since the early days in the noughties?

TH: We wanted to be a little more down to earth and raw this time. Also, we limited the amount of huge choirs and ‘orchestral’ elements to only when needed from being the standard.

DJ: The lyrics cover a number of interesting, unusual themes. What lead to you write songs about ‘Wind Of Morrigan’, ‘Tiger’, ‘Rollerball’ and ‘Troy’ for example?

TH: On the ones I’ve written alone, it’s what the song in my head seems to be about.

Could be a punchline or an image, too. Tiger

LEVERAGE “DeterminUs” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

is the result of Mikko and me talking about writing a song about a WW2 Tank. Morrigan is the result of me listening to ancient Celtic music last summer. Troy’s lyrics are written

by Kimmo, he sent me the text and I wrote the song to that.

DJ: On the sleeve former members Pekka Lampinen, Tortsi Spoof and Pekka Heino are thanked for “being who they are” which suggests you’re still on good terms.

TH: We definitely are. They’re all great guys.

And they’re all out of Leverage for different reasons, with no grudge what so ever.

DJ: Any live dates scheduled that fans should look out for?

TH: Yes, we have a few festivals here in Finland this summer, next up is Tuska Festival in Helsinki at the end of June, some other gigs for the fall, and are planning a more extensive set of gigs with a 6 month ‘bumper’ since we all work music in other areas, too. We want to do all we can, it’s been and will be a blast to get out to play the new and old Leverage music with this group. But the logistics are not easy with many of us being members of active ‘work’ cover or tribute bands, that are also being booked for months ahead. But we’ll figure it all out.

It’s been almost a decade since the Finnish rockers last graced us with an album and some probably thought they might never hear them again after three members left but they’re back, and in style. Re-energised, it’s a welcome return. Not a band who like to be pigeon –holed as they mix up a myriad of different rock and metal genres. New singer Kimmo Blom fits in and copes well with the variety of materila. There’s the lengthy atmospheric songs that combine power metal and prog such as ‘Red Moon Over Sonora’, ‘Troy’ and the terrific ‘Wind Of Morrigan’ which also incorporates some folk influences. Then there’s the harder, thrashier material like ‘Tiger’ and ‘Mephistocrate’ The twin guitars are given ample room to solo. However, it’s not solely metal as there’s a melodic rock vibe incorporated too due to the vibrant keyboard sound plus the big, hooky choruses. Add the classic rock of the Dio-meets -Udo ‘After World’s Disciple’, the Deep Purple groove of ‘Rollerball’plus a convincing power ballad in ‘When We Were Young’ and you have over an hour of music that should appeal to most readers of these pages..

Duncan Jamieson (92/100)

Fabiana Spinelli: Hi Timo, welcome to MRF, but first of all, welcome back! This is a magic moment for you: a new Avalon’s chapter, tons of warm messages from your fans all over the world, also a pic with your ex-mates Stratovarius. Can you tell us what’s really going on?

Timo Tolkki: Well, what’s going on… easy, I’m feeling like I’m born again! After a very bad period, battling with depressions and anxiety, I have been really thinking about my life and what it means.

And I think I’m ready to come back to life, I find Universal life energy within me that feels amazing.

It’s like a fish that came to a dry ground from water and you dont think for a minute to go back.

FS: What does ‘Return To Eden’ exactly represents to you, as an artist and as a human being?

TT: It represents everything. This album is a key part of my rebirth, it comes from two years of hard work and I think this is the best result I can reached. As an artist and human being, it’s the same to me, I speak with my music, it’s my way to express my feelings and my thoughts. Thanks to my music and to what I’ve experienced, I’m not scared by anything right now, I have no fear: things just come their way, I live the present and ‘Return To Eden’ is happening now and it’ amazing. This album is made for people and I want to share a positive message, there’s always a message in my songs, a message of love and peace.

FS: As you said once, ‘The Key To The

Universe Is Love’…

TT: That’s true! And I really believe that, it sound a little bit naif, but it’s simply true. Ten years ago I was in a darker place, so I needed to go through the emotions I had inside, I could not anymore escape of what I had inside. It made me even more depressed but it was necessary for me to go through all that. It was like going to the desert and wandering through that until I started to see green patches and signs for life. I’m not thinking so much about the future, it just simply arrives and we are here to live our times.

FS: This new Avalon’s chapter got a stellar cast: can you tell us something about your guests, starting from the great job that Aldo Lonobile did for this record?

TT: Oh, guests are awesome, talented singers and musicians, I’m blessed to have such a good cast for Avalon! This part of the work is entirely by the label, but yes, Aldo did a great job, he did everything so well… as a songwriter and producer, he was stunning. This album also refers to a book, ‘The Celestine Prophecy’ that I read more or less fifteen years ago, it was a breathtaking reading because it perfectly fits with my situation at the time. Try to think if you’re in a condition of desperation and you don’t know what to do with your life, and then things start to go to the right side, you see your path. There’s a time for everything, I can only tell people my story.

FS: You also start a blog, ‘Hymn To Life’, is it going to be a kinf of diary or a tool to stay in

touch with your fans?

TT: Both, I think. I use Facebook a lot, I almost use it as a blog and my fans are happy to write and interact with me, they write to me more than four hundreds questions and I answered them all.

We’re living dark times, as an artist I have a mission, to spread a positive message. Nothing to do with religion, I think catholic religion is dark, I need God to be mercyful, but He’s not like that in the Bible. Instead Universe don’t judge anyone, it’s full of love. Everyone think that the world is ruled by hate, but it’s wrong… people are often wrong (laughing, ndr)! They need to escape from this world…

FS: Do you think Avalon is that world they’re looking for? A new dimension?

TT: It could be a good start! I have so much music still in me, I want to share it in a beautiful place.

I’m going to do a lot of things, a new tour in Colombia after the summer, and maybe some other dates in South America. Then, I need to come back to play and express myself in music, I always do it… I don’t compose for the fans, I write the most genuin music I can give them, not what people would like to ear.

FS: If the world had one thing to say about you, what would you want it to be?

TT: Oh wow, what a question! Maybe that I’m really sensitive as human being and that I always tried to spread a message of love in my music, in different ways. I hope I will remembered as this kind of person, I’m working on it!

MRF | 7

Vitale Nocerino: After some years here we are with the new chapeter of the First Signal project. How come it took 2 years?

Harry Hess: It always comes down to the songs, finding the right material and everyone’s schedule lining up to get it done.

VN: What about the making of the new “Line Of Fire”? I mean, writing pricess, how did you choose the songs, how did you record them and more...

HH: I am just a singer on that project but we did include one song that I co-wrote many years ago called “Born To Be A Rebel”. It was a pleasure once again to work with everyone involved. All the other songs were submitted to me and then I choose what I really like more. In a way it’s fun since I then try to put my “touch” on them and sing them in my way.

VN: Talking about the album title, can I ask you if there is a particular meaninh behind “Line Of Fire”?

HH: Line of Fire comes from a phase that means getting caught in the middle of something. It gave also a wide view and help to creat the artwork also.

VN: What do the lyrics talk about?

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HH: There are varying themes on the record.

There is not a common theme on them. A lot of the songs are about relationships and getting through life in general ot love in general.

VN: I have seen from the credits that a lot of great songwriters helped you with the songs. Ho wdo you like this way of working on the music and songwriting? Do you face difficouties? Were they focused on your way and mood of doing music?

HH: We compile songs that have a common thread and sound like they would work together. They are all rock songs at the end of the day so it really didn’t feel like a problem.

VN: This new First Signal chapter, compared with your previous works, seems to point to an even more AOR sound. Do you agree?

HH: Absolutely, it is definitely meant to be of an AOR record as opposed to the work I do in Harem Scarem or even my solo stuff. I like it as well since with this project I put out a little bit more melodic side of my art.

VN: Are you going to play live or organize a new tour to support “Line Of Fire”?

HH: I would love to at some point, we have never discussed it but I would be open to it.

Let’s see in the future. it could be a really fun thing to do. I love to play live!

VN: The band is now nine years old. Are you satisfied with how things have gone so far?

HH: It’s really an outlet for us all to put out AOR material that all involved are proud of and keep that brand alive for the fans that like that style of music. It has been very well received over the years.

VN: I’ve always enjoyed about your sound is that the backup vocals are always so rich and amazing. Is there a formula that you follow?

HH: Yes, I’ve always liked big choruses so I spend a lot of time layering vocals to enhance them. All of the backing parts are sung 4 times by me and then I like to add other singers in to double what I have done to thicken it up.

VN: What will your future moves be?

HH: For me personally I am working on a new Harem Scarem record and I hope to do another First Signal in the next few years.

Barry McMinn: So what made you want to make more of Hard Rock album rather than a more Metal album in the vein of Lords of Black?

Tony Hernando: The whole point when a side project is proposed or arrives out of the blue into my life has to be making it personal and different to other things I've done before, and of course this was a great opportunity for me to show different skills of my playing and song writing and collaborating with musicians who are not in the "metal" camp as such...at least not as much as I've related lately because of the Lords Of Black albums I've been doing. Serafino and the Frontiers guys knew about my wide music tastes and it was very cool having this proposal, this task of asking me to write songs in a more Melodic Hard Rock vein...since I was a kid I was very open to any kind of music, and I find many things I love in the different genres in Hard Rock and Metal, although probably anything that is guitar driven and with a stellar singer is my personal fave thing, so it's great having an opportunity like this, surrounded by musicians I admire as professionals and now even more so as friends.

BM: When putting the album together did you have a vision for the album?

TH: Not really, in the very beginning I was just writing some songs which seemed to be offered to some of the artists within the Frontiers roster, but it developed in a great bunch of songs that needed some real attention and it was then when the project turned into this...and man, what a journey has been!

BM: You have some of the finest vocalist in the

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genre on the album, did you write the album especially for these guys?

TH: Some of the songs were specifically written for Johnny Gioeli for example, and others have been a cool journey till their completion, turning all of them in very special songs. All the singers have made a beautiful job and I'm very proud of all of them and what they have brought to the table, me, as the primary song writer and producer, my goal is always making the songs great and make everyone shine.

BM: Did you approach this album differently than the Lords of Black album?

TH: Musically and lyrically yes, it's very different... of course you can find many details specially when it comes to the guitar riffs and solos that you can't deny it's me, no matter if t's here or in Lords Of Black or whatever, since of course it's my style, my sound...but the harmonies, structures, even the tuning is different to Lords Of Black. Speaking of the recording and production process, well, then it's not that different, as a Producer I tend to do things in a certain way, although it always changes a little bit with every record I do because you are learning new things all the time.

BM: The album still has some heavier elements, did you have to tone down your guitar playing to suit the album?

TH: You mean if I contrived myself to not show off or overkill to much with the guitar? I don't know, I don't think in those terms, never...I just try to play for the song, the song is everything to me and it has to say something and has to be a cool journey for me and the listener...

BM: When putting an album like this together,

how important was it to make this a totally different animal to Lords of Black?

TH: I wouldn't do a metal album which was close to Lords Of Black, what would be the point? For that there's Lords Of Black, which is one of the best new proposals in Metal, with its modern meets classic elements... Lords Of Black rule!

BM: Were you approached by Frontiers to do something different, or did you approach them with the idea of putting together a Hard Rock album?

TH: As I said, Serafino, the President and the guys knew about my background and were wondering if I would be up to do something like this...and it's very cool having an opportunity like this, within a label that it's quite unique, encouraging the artists to come up with different projects besides our main acts. And considering that Frontiers was originally a label more focused on Aor and Melodic Rock I thought I was going to make the "ultimate Frontiers" record, you know? the songs, the Restless Spirits moniker, the cover...everything is just that!

BM: Do you see Restless Spirits as a just a solo studio project, or would you like to take it on the road as a full on band, even for just a few festival shows?

TH: Taking Restless Spirits out on the read would be certainly incredible, but financially wise... I don't know, maybe it can be managed as a cool package as other acts with several singers have been getting more and more popular lately. I don't know, sure it would be awesome, at least for some dates or festivals or making a live dvd out of it!

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New releases available on www.frontiers.shop - The official Frontiers Music s.r.l. shop!

WHITESNAKE “Flesh & Blood” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

CHAOS MAGIC Feat. C. Nix “Furyborn” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

CRAZY LIXX “Forever Wild” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

This is Whitesnake, supercharged Rock n’ Blues delivered just the way David Coverdale and Company have done for forty some years! Thirteen searing and heated performances that will rock, sway and leave your heart pounding and your lungs grasping for air. The Whitesnake band members are just as tight, fiery and explosive as ever! However, what we hear on ‘Flesh & Blood’ is a maturity of performance. Reb Beach and Joel Hoekstra make for a formidable guitar duo and combined with the ever so awesome Tommy Aldridge on drums and the power of Michael Devi’s bass. One that is groomed very nicely by keyboardist Michele Luppi, with his flourishes of ivory! The full title of this release is actually “Flesh & Blood Skin & Bone”… and it tells the whole story of this legendary group! Each performance is delivered with rock solid confidence. Each track displays the high quality of talent from each member. The assembled collection of songs radiate power, passion and rise ever upward! “Flesh & Blood” is an exciting recorded Work, and revealing different sides of both David and the crew!

Whitesnake is a true band, with everyone contributing to rhythmic thunder that we hear and will enjoy on this their latest offering! This is Whitesnake, Flesh & Blood. Bruce Atkinson (99/100)

‘Furyborn’ is the fantastic new album from Chaos Magic featuring the wonderful vocals of Caterina Nix, working alongside fellow Chilean producer, singer, and musician Nasson. For the new album Nix has put together a few duets with a cast featuring the likes of Evergrey’s T. Englund, R. Romero, as well as featuring Mistheria (Bruce Dickinson) on keyboards. The album is pure earcandy for all fans of Symphonic/Melodic Metal.

Nix has a haunting vocal style that will just blow you away, right from the opener ‘You Will Breathe Again’, there is a majesty about the album. The pairing of Caterina and Englund is one made in Symphonic Metal heaven. ‘Path of the Brave’ features Romero and is another stunning piece of music, a real powerhouse of a track that just makes the hairs on the back on neck stand up. Other tracks of note have to be ‘Beware of Silent Waters’ with Mistheria on keyboards. This is a haunting track with Nix showing what a wide and powerful range she has. If you like something a bit darker and heavier, then the album closer ‘I Am Your Cancer’ is the one for you. All in all, a great album featuring one of the finest female vocalists of our generation.

Barry McMinn (98/100)

Back in 2002, a new and exciting band came out of Sweden, bringing a fresh sleaze approach to the world of rock, with their debut release’ Loud Minority’ receiving critical acclaim in 2007. With five studio albums under their belt Danny Rexon and the rest of the band return in 2019 with their new album ‘Forever Wild’ and once again, the guys from Malmö bring the heat with another rock monster of an album. The album takes up where the 2017 ‘Ruff Justice’ left off, with Rexon leading the vocal attack on ten totally rocking tunes that will really get the juices flowing.

From the opener ‘Wicked’, to the closer ‘Never Die’, the quintet really pull no punches with this one. For those of you that thought the groove filled sleaze lived only on Sunset Strip then believe me, Malmö is the new Hollywood. Tracks of note, and there are many, but my personal faves have to be ‘Yesterdays Face’, the storming rocker ‘Eagle’, the power ballad ‘It’s You’ and the superb ‘Weekend Lover’. These are just some of my favourites but I’m sure you will find your own. This is ten killer tracks, no fill, all killer.

Barry McMinn (93/100)

FRIST SIGNAL “Line of Fire” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

T.Tolkki’s Avalon “Return to Eden” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

RESTLESS SPIRITS “Restless Spirits” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

It’s so easy to fall in love with an album like ‘Line Of Fire’, where Canadian rock vocalist Harry Hess (Harem Scarem) meets a great Swedish producer like Daniel Flores (Find Me, The Murder Of My Sweet). A sophisticated melodic rock, full of vibrant life and energy, blessed by some songwriters the likes of Stan Meissner and Sören Kronqvist: everything here perfectly fits if you like range from aor to arena rock! ‘Line Of Fire’ is the third work with the monicker First Signal, a project born in 2010 under the flag of a collaboration with German producer Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69, Khymera). Today, with Michael Palace on guitars, Johan Niemann on bass and the same Flores on drums, the unique voice of Harry Hess finds its own place when not in Harem Scarem. A pleasant record with high quality songs, enhanced by great variety and never a dull moment. Hess is always a guarantee and ‘Line Of Fire’ satisfies the expectations, also of the most demanding AOR/melodic rock customers! Fabiana Spinelli (96/100)

After fighting his personal demons, Timo Tolkki is back to find his place in the (metal) Universe with the third installment of Timo Tolkki’s Avalon, the first real and outstanding metal opera before the several projects which have proliferated in the last two decades. And here we are, with this little gem from the forming genius of Stratovarius, helped by another giant at guitars, Aldo Lonobile, mastermind of Secret Sphere, who also co-produced the album. A brilliant vocal cast includes stars like Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering), Zak Stevens (exSavatage), Todd Michael Hall (Riot V), Mariangela Demurtas (Tristania, Ardours), and the mighty Eduard Hovinga (ex-Elegy).

‘Return To Eden’ is freely inspired by ‘The Celestine Prophecy: An Adventure’, a 1993 novel by James Redfield. Everything here is full of life, energy and freshness: you will find the sophisticated style of Lonobile combined with the genius of Master Tolkki, that make this album a real little Eden.

Fabiana Spinelli (98/100)

Restless Spirits is the new project from Lords of Black guitarist Tony Hernando, with a more Melodic/Hard Rock approach for this album.

Bringing on board six singers for the project, a veritable who’s who of today’s rock scene of Johnny Gioeli (Hardline, Axel Rudi Pell), Deen Castronovo (Revolution Saints, ex-Journey), Dino Jelusic (Animal Drive), Kent Hilli (Perfect Plan), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline), and Diego Valdez (Dream Child). With such an array of fantastic artists you’d expect something rather special and you’d be right. The album gets off the flying start with ‘Stop Livin' To Live Online’ featuring Gioeli on vocals. This opener really sets the bar high for the rest of the album. The song starts off with a slow piano intro but soon bursts into flurry of soaring guitar licks.

‘Unbreakable’ also starts off with a little piano intro, only this time it’s alongside a great guitar riff from Hernando, with Castronovo providing the vocals for this one. It’s hard rocking all the way with ‘I Remember Your Name’, with Hilli providing the vocal might for this one, before ‘Cause I Know You're The One’ gives us a taste of Jelusic’s vocal prowess. Definitely one of the albums of 2019.Barry McMinn (95/100)

New releases available on www.frontiers.shop - The official Frontiers Music s.r.l. shop!

ALAN PARSONS “The Secret” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

Who would've imagined this? Alan Parsons The Great, eleven-time Grammy nominated legendary music icon and master of progressive rock, in the guise of the sorcerer’s apprentice! The one and only British Lion pulled out from the hat a wonderful piece of art inspired by his passion for magic, illusion and sleight of hand. Musically, you’ll find here all the elegant pop rock with symphonic nuances and a soul of progressive rock that have made the Alan parsons Project’ sound so recognizable. ‘The Secret’ seems to be closer to the Eighties production, to records like ‘Eye In The Sky’, than to the last solo album in 2004, with its electro-sperimental stuff. Melody, orchestrations, an awesome cameo of Steve Hackett: everything here is a precious detail, enhanced by the impressive vocals of Parsons himself, Jason Mraz, Todd Cooper and Lou Gramm. If you’re looking for grace, beauty and finesse, ‘The Secret’ is the right place to go, with its strings and percussions, enjoyable to the most exigent fans. Fabiana Spinelli (100/100)

SWEET OBLIVION Feat. G. Tate “Sweet Oblivion” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

Maybe the last anniversary of ‘Operation Mindcrime’ was really special to Geoff Tate, so much that his unique vocal style seems to be back at that time. And his label is here to satisfy his wish with a magnificent project committed to one of the best italian guitarists and producers today: Simone Mularoni (DGM). And if Tate is the heart of Sweet Oblivion, Mularoni is the brain, with the invaluable contribution of Paolo Caridi on drums and another DGM member, Emanuele Casali, on keyboards. If you think that this album is a stage enlightened only for Geoff, you’re wrong! This is a pretty vintage, delicious work full of elegance and absolutely classy. We’re talking about songs of refined melodic metal, with a touch of prog metal by Mularoni’s guitar that often pushes Geoff to sing at his highest peaks. ‘Sweet Oblivion’ seems to be the album that all the Queensryche fans are waiting from Tate, finally here in all his majesty! Fabiana Spinelli (87/100)

J.PETERIK & WORLD STAGE “Winds of Change” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

What we hear on “Winds Of Change” is nothing short of epic! Song after song! The music is just that beautiful. Jim assembles stunning vocalists to sing and write along with himself.

Mike Reno of Loverboy, And Dennis DeYoung of Styx fame and a plethora of others—equally talented and accomplished! He also does the same with invited musicians that play alongside, and whom contribute their playing skills to his vision. Not that it needs to be said, but Jim also plays guitar and keyboards throughout this release. Now, I could continue with writing a line or two on each of the twelve tracks, but I don’t have enough space! Suffice to state…”Winds Of Change” is a limitless offering of music and harmony, from a wide group of musicians that have united to build towers! As you look at the liner notes you will notice the list of amazing singers and musicians that have collaborated and offered up their talents. In turn, they have given us an album of state of the art performances that constantly hit their mark…straight to the heart!

From the surprising orchestral colourings to the soaring beds of music, “Winds Of Change” is truly a ‘tour-de-force’ of musicality. Bruce Atkinson (91/100)

JORN “Live on Death Road” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

The Frontiers Rock Festival Jorn show in April at Live Music Club @ Trezzo sull’Adda Milan was recorded live and now sees the blue-ray and CD release entitled ‘Live on Death Road’.

This is Lande at his live best and as the song says, he’s ‘Bringing Heavy Rock to the Land’.

Joining him are his band of Tore Moren (guitar), Alessandro Del Vecchio (keyboards), Sid Ringsby (bass) with Beata Polak and Francesco Jovino (drums). The album shows why Lande has been one of the most prolific vocalists in this genre over his varied and outstanding career. With such a vast back catalogue to choose from, this set for the Milan show is just superb, bringing in some of my favourite Lande moments as well as a few surprises. Songs which include ‘Sunset Station’, the excellent ‘Blacksong’, and the superb covers of Saxon’s ‘Ride Like the Wind’, Dio’s ‘Rainbow in the Dark’, Ozzy’s ‘Shot in the Dark’ and the Black Sabbath Dio era classic ‘Mob Rules’. Each and every song simply outstanding, with the covers given that special Lande spin. As live albums go this is a corker. I just hope 2019 sees not only a few more live shows, but also a new studio album. Barry McMinn (92/100)

NEAL MORSE “Jesus Christ the Exorcist” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

With ‘Jesus Christ The Exorcist’ Neal Morse transforms his rock into a monument. It took ten years and a boundless quantity of material written about the Story Of Stories, to allow Morse to aspire to perfection. An authentic rock opera with a stellar cast of musicians and vocalists, included Ted Leonard (Spock's Beard, Enchant), Nick D'Virgilio (Big, Big Train, Spock's Beard), Jake Livgren (Protokaw), Matt Smith (Theocracy), Wil Morse and more. A double album, about two hours of music that will encompass all the spectrums and genres Neal Morse is known for, from prog rock to pop, with a touc of soul music in the amazing voice of Talon David in veste of Mary Magdalene. A set of songs where singers narrate the gospel performing at their best, with a solid base played

by Neal Morse (keys, guitar), Paul Bielatowicz (lead guitar), Bill Hubauer (keys), Randy George (bass), and Eric Gillette (drums). A record that requires all your attention, a colossal to celebrate a resounding victory. 100/100 Fabiana Spinelli (98/100)

THE BRINK “Nowhere to Run” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

This youthful outfit from Cambridge are a glimpse of the future. Their influences are wide and you expect they have a music collection that has hair metal, next to emo and alt rock.

Fourteen tracks and a reworked acoustic song show they have plenty of creativity and the standard of the material is uniformly good. They come out rocking on their debut, with a low slung sleazy feel on ‘Little Jane’ and this sleay element permeates the whole album. There’s also the bubblegum alt rock of ‘Never Again’ and ‘Are You With Me’ that recall the likes of All Time Low. The mid album run of ‘Said And Done’ with its G’N’R attitude, and the back to back rockers ‘Fairytale’ and ‘Don’t Count Me Out’ keep energy levels high. Lyrically it’s upbeat and empowering (Bon Jovi’s Tommy and Gina even get a name check). Producer Nick Tauber (UFO, Thin Lizzy and Marillion) gives it a full, punchy feel. While accomplished for a debut it could do with a couple of real killer tracks that would put them firmly on the map.

Perhaps not on the brink of greatness yet but by the same token they’re not on the brink of extinction. A bright young talent. Duncan Jamieson (89/100)

Bruce Atkinson: I will begin with one word, WOW!, this is such a beautiful Creative Work… When did you begin putting this one together?

Jim Peterik: Thanks so much Bruce! it’s been in my head to do this for a few years but was busy working on Pride of Lions, Ides of March and Peterik / Scherer albums and other projects. Finally after an enthusiastic call from Serafino Perugino the head of Frontiers who said “Maestro Jimbo - it’s been almost 20 years since you first World Stage album, don’t you think it’s time?” I agreed with him and started calling some of my favorite Rock Stars.

BA: You, yourself Jim, have been so involved in this business, and with great respect I say a musical veteran! Which brings me to ask, how do you keep so enthusiastic?

JP: I’m a fan of great Rock and Roll first and foremost and I’m blessed to call many great rockers my close friends. They kick my ass and I kick theirs! We just keep motivating each other to do our best work ever, the proof is in great songs and inspiring performances.

BA: Jim, with such an array of Artists involved in World Stage, how difficult was it to complete this vision?

JP: With all the artists on their own time

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table with tours and recording it is never easy to “herd the cats” lol! But i was lucky on catching many artists between tours or off the road for a short time. I tried, when I could to write and record with each artist in the same room- as opposed to sending digital files across the internet. For the most part me and the various guest were face to face, in the trenches writing and recording.

BA: When listening to this album, one hears not only your signature throughout, but each of the other Artists’ as well.

With the music we hear, are these songs you collaborated with, and if so—how different was the creative process-say with each Artist?

JP: When I’m writing with an artist I try to captured what is really magical in that person’s style, the elements that got them to the top. For instance with Mike Reno of Loverboy we were out to capture that energy of working for the weekend. Of course to that I naturally add my own musical influences to make it something brand new. with proof of heaven my collaboration with Dennis Deyoung you can clearly hear the drama and theatrical nature that he brought to styx but I think you can hear my influence as well.

BA: With such beautiful music and songs, one can certainly hear the passion and

heartfelt emotions that were present in the recording of each piece.

JP: Thank you, that’s really what it’s all about. Much of that comes from the care and love we put in each song and recording.

We wanted to make music that would last for the ages, not disposable music that would be listened to once and forgotten.

Hopefully we’ve achieved that.

BA: I would also say that you-yourself bring something special to each and every song we hear, and not only on this release, but everything you set forth to do! No doubt you have massive support from all involved…Artists, the label, and the respective management…

JP: I’ve made many wonderful friends in the business, there is a lot of mutual respect involved. We are all trying to do the same thing, keep great music alive. And the fans are the most important friends of all. you keep me going!

BA: I would like to finish up this interview with a sincere Thank-you to you and your fellow musical friends! The care and attention on Winds Of Change is ever present, and your vision is ever expanding…

JP: It’s truly a labour of love and along with my wonderful family, the music I love keeps me alive. Rock steeady!

Duncan Jamieson: It must be a great feeling finally seeing your album out on Frontiers.

Tom Quick: Yes, it is an incredible feeling. We’ve been working on this album for quite some time and it is fantastic to finally be able yo share it with the world.

DJ: It’s been a long road. Tell me how you got together and how you got to where you are now?

TQ: The current lineup got together in 2015. In 2016 we teamed up with our producer Nick Tauber and began writing. We took his experience and knowledge to put together around 25 tracks. Some were old ideas which we rewrote, however we mostly focused on writing new material. We spent 2 years writing and recording, making sure we used every possible avenue to create a brand new, modern sounding, commercial rock record.

DJ: You combine a modern rock sound with a nod to classic rock. It sounds like you’ve got a varied record collection. What bands have inspired you to do what you do?

TQ: As a band we definitely have a very eclectic music taste. We take influences from many different styles and artists, ranging from classic rock, blues all the way through to country. We take influences from rock bands such as Bon Jovi, Black Stone Cherry, 30 Seconds To Mars, John Mayer.

As well as country artists such as Keith Urban.

DJ: How are the songs written in the band?

TQ: The songs are mainly written by Tom (vocals), Lexi (lead guitar) and Gaz (bass). Starting with either a vocal line or a guitar melody. We bring our

ideas together and each put our own influences into each track.

DJ: How was it working with producer Nick Tauber and what did he bring to the record?

TQ: Working with Nick was a fantastic experience for us. His extensive knowledge of musical composition the industry itself helped us immensely when creating something new and fresh. He brought a valuable asset to the record and to the team, which was his 30+ years experience. We learned a lot from him, he showed us new ways of thinking when creating music, which is something we cannot thank him enough for.

DJ: If someone wanted to know what The Brink were all about, which song or songs would direct them to first?

TQ: For someone wanting to listen to us for the first time I would suggest 3 songs to them. Firstly, ‘Break These Chains’, I feel that song shows our classic rock influences the most and brings the record back to our roots of why we wanted to be musicians in the first place. Secondly I would suggest ‘Save Goodbye’, everyone loves a ballad and I feel this song has a place in modern rock, while still giving a nod back to what influenced us in the first place. And finally ‘Are You With Me’, this song is about unity and compassion. It is a song for every single music fan, no matter what style they’re into. It brings across our message that no matter who you are or what you believe in, there is always a place for you in the world of music.

DJ: Frontiers have been talking about ‘The New Breed ‘. Do you feel part of a new van-

guard?

TQ: Yes, absolutely. I feel this idea of a ‘new breed’ of rock is a fantastic message to get across to modern day fans. I feel ourselves, as well as others of our label mates are finally being given the chance to show the world the there is some fantastic new music waiting to be heard, and that all of us are guiding rock music into a new era.

DJ: For those who pick up the CD, what can they expect from The Brink as a live act?

TQ: From a live show they can expect a lot of energy, passion and power. We want to give them an experience they won’t forget. The album itself takes you on a journey, with our live show we want to take them on that journey personally.

DJ: What’s been the best live experience for you so far?

TQ: The best live experience we’ve had so far would be playing to a packed out London show at The Underworld back in March. The crowd were absolutely incredible and we loved every minute of it. Without fans like that, we wouldn’t be where we are today and we appreciate all of their love and support. We cannot wait to go back there and play for them again.

DJ: What have you got planned for the rest of the year now?

TQ: For the rest of the year we will be playing some festivals and we have a run of shows across the UK. We are currently planning to take our music and live show across into Europe towards the end of the year, as well as bigger UK tour... watch this space!

MRF | 15

Fabiana Spinelli: Hi guys, welcome to MRF with this brand new project! When and how this adventure starts?

Geoff Tate: I received an email from Mario at Frontiers Music with some music attached from one of the musicians on the label. He thought that the music was inspired by what I had done in the past and was interested in getting us in the studio to see what we could come up with.

Simone Mularoni: This brand new project came to light from an idea of Serafino of Frontiers. He called me a few years ago and asked me if I wanted to join forces with the amazing Geoff Tate and I immediately jumped on the train since I grew up listening to the timeless Operation Mindcrime and Empire.

After that call I started to write a few ideas and also asked to a couple of great friends of mine and amazing musicians to help me out crafting the album. The next step was to find the right musicians to complete the lineup and I thought about this for a few months. I found Paolo (drummer) after recording the last Hollow Haze album in my studio, he did a fantastic job and he had this great mixture of hard rock and metal style. I played guitars of course but also bass: i never have the chance to record bass with my main band so I took this opportunity to have fun with this instrument. Last but not least I asked to my buddy Emanuele from DGM to take care of all the keyboards, since I know him since many years and I trust him completely.

FS: Every detail in “Sweet Oblivion” oozes royal elegance delightfully, can you tell us

something more about the songs? Is there a fil rouge or a concept behind?

GT: Thank you. I thought that this team of amazing musicians had definitely listened to a lot of my past records. So it was very familiar territory that we started in! I think ‘Sweet Oblivion’ it’s an interesting collection of individual songs. There are many shades of dark on this record. Dark but fun.

SM: Wow this is a great compliment indeed!

There’s not a concept in the classic meaning but I can surely tell you that there’s a fil rouge linking all the songs together. As many of the records I work on, i always start thinking about a certain “style” or a certain “vibe” that I wanna achieve with the songwriting, both musically and lyrically. And after writing the first songs I realized that what I was coming up with was a mixture of eighties’ hard rock ala but with a modern approach in terms of sound and overall production techniques and choices. I spent many sleepless nights trying to find the best songs’ structures, trying not to be that “cheesy” and adding a few cool prog touches to the songs. I’ve always been mesmerized by the ability of Queensryche to combine “easy” riffs with that elegance and intricate arrangements. Of course I cannot compare myself to those idols, but I’m really proud of the final result and I hope people will appreciate too.

FS: What’s the most important aspect of this project, in your opinion?

GT: Over the last three years I have released three concept style albums so it was about time to do something different. This is not a

nostalgic look to the past, I don’t look back very much, I really like the time I am living in now.

SM: Without a doubt it’s the majesty of Geoff’s voice! I always thought that even a “weak” song could become a masterpiece if the lead singer succeeds in interpreting it convincingly. Of course I’m not saying that my songs are “weak” Lol… this is just to explain how a great voice can transform and enhance the music. Geoff has one of the most distinguishable voices of the entire rock and metal scene and he can be really deep when he interpret the lyrics. Also, I think that this album brings him back to a certain style of music that he wasn’t singing since many years and all of us fans was waiting since a long time for him going back to his roots in a way. Of course solos too are a strong point in my opinion!

FS: You’re both busy men, with music, productions and for you Geoff, also a wine farm! Do you think you’ll find the time to tour with Sweet Oblivion?

GT: Well, I would never say never, but… I am pretty busy over the next two years. Maybe then!

SM: I’d really love to! It would be great to bring these songs live, maybe mixing them with some of the classics of Geoff’s career.

It’s not easy because we’re both super busy with our schedules and my job as a producer is taking more and more time every year, leaving really small space for live performances. But who knows, if the fans will appreciate the album I’m sure there will be offers!

MRF | 17

Barry McMinn: This new album Furyborn does not feature Timo Tolkki, was he involved in any part of the new album?

Caterina Nix: No, he wasn’t unfortunately. He was having some medical issues at the time when I started writing, so I sent 3 demos of my own material to Frontiers to see if I could do something solo. They really liked my work and gave me their support for me to write an entire album, but we kept the name Chaos Magic cause it had been conceived as a project that could feature guest musicians and we thought it would be a good idea. Besides, we already had the name out there, with the first Chaos Magic album, and people were already familiar with it.

BM: So without Timo, did you approach the album any differently?

CN: Absolutely. I wanted a different sound that would reflect my musical vision. So I had in mind a particular sound, mixture of alternative, melodic and a bit of progressive metal with some electronic details. Heavy and present guitars and fun arrangements.

BM: For this album you have come together with fellow Chilean Nasson, so how did he get involved with this new album?

CN: I was familiar with his work here in Chile, and we had worked together several times in the past. He’s just one of the best musicians I know. He plays several instruments, sings great, is an amazing songwriter and a very tasteful and modern producer. I’m very lucky to have him in the band and in the project. He really gave the album the sound it needed.

BM: As well as Nasson you have a couple of guest singers duetting with yourself, the mighty Tom Englund and the superb Ronnie Romero. How did these guys get involved?

CN: I had their voices in mind while writing the new songs… Nass and I are huge fans of Evergrey and we were like… we need to make a song for Tom. We wrote Furybon thinking about

18 | MRF

what Tom could bring to the table with his voice and presence, so we wrote the song first, and then, after it was finished we asked him if he would sing in it. Thankfully, he said yes! As for Ronnie, we had met a couple of times in Chile and Spain and as being both Chileans working in the Rock/Metal industry and under the same label, it made perfect sense for us to work together. Besides, his voice is made of gold! So Franco Lama (my other cowriter) and I wrote Path of the Brave for him, taking into consideration his path in the music business for the concept. For Bravely Beautiful, we have the wonderful Ayilin Gimenez. I had already written the song and I wanted a very sweet and tender voice to sing this duet with me, and Ailyn was the perfect fit, she did a great job. Another guest we have is Mistheria. He is Bruce Dickinson’s keyboard player and creator of the Vivaldi Metal Project. We worked on Beware of Silent Waters with him, and he created a wonderful atmosphere with his sounds and arrangements. He joined us o tour twice and he’s a great friend and a big supporter! I owe him a lot.

BM: The first album was written entirely by Timo, so did you write all the songs for this album?

CN: Yes! I’m so lucky to have the opportunity to create an album of my own with the support of Frontiers. I worked closely with Nasson and Franco Lama (a great guitarist and songwriter) to create this and design the sound.

BM: Personally I just love the whole album, but are there any songs that have a special place in your heart?

CN: Wow, hard question… Each song has its own story… I think the one that touches me most is I’d give it All which I wrote after suffering an important loss… I skip it when I listen to the album, cause it makes me cry. But I have my favourites like Path of the Brave and Falling Again, which I love performing live!

BM: Would you like to take Chaos Magic on tour, or do you still see this purely as a studio project?

CN: We have toured Europe twice performing Chaos Magic songs, and we absolutely love playing live and tour life in general, so yes, we are currently working on booking for 2020!

BM: You were involved with one of my favourite albums of 2016, the Vivaldi Metal Project, how did you come to sing on that album?

CN: Such an amazing work! As I was saying above, Mistheria is an incredible musician, writer and performer. He was recruiting members for the album and contacted me through Delta’s keyboard player Nico Quinteros and offered me to sing in the album. We became really good friends and he has done a lot for me and the band. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be singing in the Vivaldi Metal Project show in Dokke’em festival in the Netherlands, I am really thrilled!!

BM: We are half way through 2019, so what does the rest of 2019 have in store for Caterina Nix? CN: I had a baby 6 months ago, so travelling is a bit hard right now (I’m going to the Netherlands for 5 days and it seems like an eternity!) So, we are working on booking for 2020 and during 2019 we will probably throw a release party for the album here In Chile and play a few local gigs. It would be great to play some shows in other countries in Latin America too.

BM: Is it too soon or are you already starting to thinking about the next Chaos Magic album?

CN: I’m always thinking about new songs, about the sound that I’d like the next album to have etc. We are not currently working on the next album, but I’m definitely emotionally connected to its development.

WHITESNAKE “Flesh & Blood” Exclusive Red 2LP €22.99

ALAN PARSONS “The Secret” Exclusive Blu LP €22.99

SPIRITS OF FIRE “S/t” Exclusive Red 2LP €25.99

S.PAETH’S MASTERS OF CEREMONY “Signs of Wings” Exclusive White LP €22.99

INGLORIOUS “RIde to Nowhere” Exclusive Crystal LP €22.99

THE END Machine “S/T” Exclusive Silver 2LP €25.99

TEN “Illuminati” Exclusive Blu 2LP €25.99

L.A. GUNS “The Devil You Know” Exclusive Yellow LP €22.99

NAZARETH “Tattoed On My Brain” Exclusive Splatter 2LP €26.99

NEAL MORSE “Jesus Christ the Exorcist” Exclusive White 3LP €31.99

LAST IN LINE “II” Exclusive Gold 2LP €25.99

HARDLINE “Life” Exclusive Gold LP €22.99

S. PAETH’S MASTERS OF CEREMONY “Singns of Wings” CD: €13.99 CD + T-Shirt: €25,00 LP: €19.99 Exclusive White LP: €22,99

THE DEFIANTS “Zokusho” CD: €13.99

BLOCK BUSTER “S/T” CD: €13.99

WAYWARD SONS “The Truth Ain’t What it Used To Be” CD: €13.99 LP: €19,99 Exclusive Orange LP: €22,99

CRASHDIET “Rust” CD: €13.99 Limited Clear Blue LP: €19,99

BILLY SHERWOOD “Citizen: In The Next Life” CD: €13.99

THE FERRYMEN “A New Evil” CD: €13.99

HOLLOW HAZE “Between Wild Landscapes And Deep Blue Seas” CD: €13.99

ARDOURS “Last Place on Earth” CD: €13.99

Fabiana Spinelli: ‘Jesus Christ - The Exorcist’ is simply monumental, how was this great piece of art born?

Neal Morse: My first inspiration was Jesus on the cross. Then, I tried to imagine flashbacks on the Ist Century, thinking about scenes and characters, trying to keep the instrumentals shorter, because while I was writing I was thinking to the stage, so you know… it’s difficult if you have too many long instrumentals when you have the actors on scene. I loved the idea of some part of dancing, I just went piece by piece I think, starting from the scene on the cross: “Father, why are you forsaking me?”, to the band that come in when He’s been executed. If it was a film, there will be a flashback to three years earlier, to Jesus’ life.

FS: How long was the writing process?

NM: I’ve written the first track in 2008 and I think I spent almost three months on it! One month was only to record the demos, I played all the instruments by myself, I did the drums and I’ve got some friends coming at home and helping me. The original tracklist was two hours and half long, so I didn’t do really much with these demos, I written the lyrics thinking to the stage, and I gave all to this man called Michael Caplan to show it to producers and he did that for a couple of years!

And then, last year I was thinking “What can we do at Morsefest in 2018?” and so I had the idea to bring back ‘Jesus Christ The Exorcist’, but I knew it needed a rewrite, so I just did that, cutting some parts. And when I was ready to go back working on it, Michael Caplan call me and he said “Youre not gonna believe this, but Ive got a company interested

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in the musical!” I replied, “Thats great, ‘cause I am in the middle of a rewrite as we are putting it on at Morsefest 2018 in a few months!”

Very timely! The company is called Frontiers Music Srl and after some communication, we struck a deal! I didn’t have much time, only two weeks to do the rewrite, but it just… came. It needed to be shorter and it was amazing that happened just like that!

FS: Why did you choose to title it ‘The Exorcist’?

NM: It was a kind of working title, I thought “ok, I keep it now, but maybe I’ll change it”.

What I was really thinking is that the part of the story that really jumped out on me was the one when Jesus was casting out demons from people. So, we have a piece like ‘The Woman Of Seven Devils’ with amazing Mary Magdalene, I thought it could be a challenging title, a little bit controversial, but I hope it helps people to check it out! “Oh, ‘Jesus Christ The Exorcist’? Sounds weird, let me see what it is!”, something like that (laughing, nda)!

FS: Why did you choose the character of Pilate for yourself?

NM: Oh Fabiana, it was the only role I can sing! When I’m writing music at home, I exactly know what I can sing and what I can’t! So, I enjoyed writing it because every male role has high notes, most musical do it!

I wrote myself practically out of the show (laughing, nda)! My wife told me “Honey, you have to sing a role in this show, you need to be in the show!” and she was right so I choose Pilate for myself!

FS: Ted Leonard did a perfect job, I love his version of Jesus, but I also loved so

much Matt Smith as John the Baptist. Can you tell me how did you choose all the different characters?

NM: Oh yes, they were perfect! Well, some of them are were on early in the process. I send the tracks to Matt Smith and he send back them with the vocals immediately. I know Ted really well and I knew he would be perfect, we worked a lot together with Spock’s Beard and he also was the fifth man in Tansatlantic on the last tour we did. I wasn’t sure about Jake and Nick, of course they’ve wonderful voices, but I wasn’t sure about the roles: when I wrote ‘Better Weather’ and ‘Love Has Called My Name’, I was thinking who could be better for Judas… and I decided Nick has to be Judas, and he loved the tracks.” The hardest one to cast for me was Mary, she was the last one to join the cast…

FS: I’m impressed by Talon David, she’s incredible! So strong but also so sweet, just as the character of Mary Magdalene…

NM: And if you can see her on stage… and I hope you’ll get it, she’s a wonderful performer. She’s a friend of us, she went to school with my kids, she’s really young, only 22 now! I was really looking forward to a singer who can perform the rock opera and in particular, the final notes of ‘The Woman Of Seven Devils’: not a lot of people can do them, they’re really high and continous. Five weeks before the show, again my wife said “What about Talon?” and I call her… and she send me a video of her singing ‘… Seven Devils’, she was absolutely amazing and she simply was in! It’s not only the voice, she really feels the role, she brings pathos to the show!

Fabiana Spinelli: ‘The Secret’ is based on your passion for magic, illusion and sleight of hand. Can you please tell us something more about this concept?

Alan Parsons: Sure! Magic is something really important in my life, a part of it! I’ve always loved magic tricks, I used to love seeing them and I learned to do some because I really, really enjoy sleight of hand. I spend hours seeing magic shows, magicians, sorcerers and I love reading books about magic and prestidigitation, I’m a proud member of the prestigious Los Angeles Magic Castle and I also write handbooks for the Japanese company Tenyo. So, it goes natural to write about this stuff and be back with an album based on magic!

FS: There’s something magic also in the song ‘Miracle’, because of your first meeting with Jason Mraz…

AP: Oh, it is! We met two years ago thanks to a mutual friend who grows coffee in a farm close to my home. Jason was there to ask some informations about coffee cultivation and our friend was thinking about a meeting, because we both, Jason and I, work in music business! Jason recorded (but never released) his own version of ‘Eye In The Sky’ and when I listened to it I thought it was really good! Earlier last year, I called him to ask if he was free to sing on

my new album and luckily he was and I really enjoyed the song! He said ‘Miracle’ is his personal ‘Eye In The Sky’, he did an amazing job from Dallas, while I was here in my studio in Santa Barbara.

FS: Yes, I read that Jason often compares ‘Miracle’ to ‘Eye In The Sky’, it’s something about the melody and atmosphere. But in your opinion, in what these two songs are different?

AP: I must say to Jason that these songs are not that similar! (laughing, nda) But I agree about seeing ‘Miracle’ as a song from the Eighties, it could be a song from 1982. I think being out of time is one of the reasons my music is known for: all my records could be recorded at any time during the last 40 years! Of course, all the APP albums are written with Eric Woolfson, missing from ten years now, and I always have the same musicians with me from 1995, so it’s easy to hear a continuity in my production.

FS: Speaking about ‘Eye In The Sky’, you’ve just won a Grammy for its new edition! But what do you think about this system of contest and prizes in music business?

AP: Oh darling, in America winning a Grammy is everything! All the machine goes alla round that, I’m an eleven-time Grammy

nominated and this time I win in the category Best Immersive Audio Album, together with my colleagues Pj Olsson and Dave Donnelly. I thik it’s impossible to live out of this system, you can only try to do the best you can.

FS: Who are important musicians for you and who do you think are the best in the history of rock and progressive music?

AP: My hero is Pete Townsend. The Who played in London when I was just a teenager and it changed my life and of course, The Beatles.

FS: What kind of music do you listen today?

AP: In current music, Imagine Dragons are pretty damn good. They have great production with layers of sound.

FS: ‘The Secret’ is on the road! From the italian Frontiers Rock Festival to venues all over Europe, do you like those big summer rallies?

AP: I really like summer festivals! But I think lots of my fans prefer to sit and watch the show with a beer in their hands (laughing, nda)! I love playing in theaters, but playing open air is special… if it’s not too hot! We’re going to tour from Italy to Switzerland, Russia, Germany… I love Europe, it will be an intense year promoting the album!

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Duncan Jamieson: Thirty four years is long time between records. What took so long?

Mick Fortune: Well I personally was ready to go from the early 90's on. Bobby Birch continually mentioned a reunion when we got together to jam. It just didn't come together.

DJ: I believe Rockingham in Nottingham in 2016 was the catalyst. Tell me about that first Rockingham?

MF: Yeah Ray Kruijen contacted me on fb and asked if I was Mick Fortune from Fortune's 1985 album and suggested I contact David Herron regarding the Rockingham Festival. I mentioned that Ray said we would fit in and David said “Yes what do you need?” This lit a fire under me to get things rolling for the gig. It was a great gig! We were amazed at the reception we got.

DJ: The album emulates the classic ‘Fortune’ album to a tee. Some songs were tunes you had from back in the day.

Which ones are those?

MF: Don't Say You Love Me, Overload, The Night, What a Fool, and Right Moves.

DJ: There are also a few new songs. Did

you approach the writing of them the same as you did back in the day?

MF: Yeah pretty much. Someone has a basic line like on Freedom Road. Rich had a verse and chorus, then Larry came up with a great melody line, lyrics, and a bridge for it.

DJ: I believe you’ve a whole other album of material up your sleeve for a potential future release. When can we expect that to appear?

MF: As soon as Frontiers gives us the go ahead, we'll be on it!

DJ: How does it feel to be sharing a stage with these guys again?

MF: Feels very cool! Looking forward to doing more gigs!

DJ: The band is back but Roger Scott Craig co-writes and performs on some tracks but isn’t part of the band. Why is that?

MF: Roger is not into playing gigs at this time. Says he's retired. I personally think 30 plus years was way to much retirement at it is.

DJ: How have things changed back stage for you these days than back in the 80s?

FORTUNE “II” (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

MF: Well up to 1983 it was party time for me, like way to much fun for one guy. Now it's a lot more laid back, yet still a lot of fun!

DJ: Were there any hard feelings when Larry Greene and Roger Scott Craig went on to form Harlan Cage in the 90s, which even included a few reworked Fortune tunes?

MF: I cared but not that much lol. We all met together in 1989 to discuss a reunion but I wasn't into it. Now I realize that my thinking was way incorrect. I got really side tracked back then. Bob Birch looked at me like I was nuts and I guess I was. So Larry and Roger did Harlen Cage. But Fortune has the best Rocking balance in my opinion. It's a good recipe let's not change it! :) DJ: Have you been surprised by the enduring cult reputation of Fortune’s classic debut? What do you put its appeal down to?

MF: Like I mentioned earlier, I had no idea we even had a reputation until Rockingham!

Why the appeal? The drums of course! ( ; Seriously, the right recipe of good material and the right guys to lay it down!

It’s almost thirty five years since this LA band released their self-titled aor and they’ve managed to capture that magic in a bottle twice. This is the musical identical twin of the debut, even the album artwork is very similar. If this had come out in 1986 that might be a criticism but in 2019 it’s more of a revelation. Big upfront, pompy keyboards pump out melody, Larry Greene’s coolly delivered vocals carry the songs and Richard Fortune’s guitar squeezes out delightfully stinging solos. The songs are perfectly crafted aor. Greene has an assured, measured voice that rises up to heavenly hooks fashioned by the angels of aor. The songs are a mix of reimagined songs that didn’t make the debut and brand new material. The only time there’s a reference to anything that suggests it’s not 1985, is the emotionally potent ‘Little Drop Of Poison’ that’s dedicated to Amy Winehouse. ‘Don’t Say You Love Me’ And ‘What A Fool I’ve Been’sound like long lost classics. ‘Freedom Road’, ‘All The Right Moves’ and the pomptastic ‘Overload’ are a match for anything on the debut. Anyone who is a fan of the debut or Greene’s subsequent band Harlan Cage can’t go wrong here.

Duncan Jamieson (96/100)

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