Rocktopia: Pallas - 'XXV' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Gary Marshall: So, here it is, the long awaited follow up to the band's debut album, 'The Sentinel', from way back in 1984, but it also happens to be their first release since the departure of vocalist Alan Reed whose sonorous and inimitable style had become synonymous with the band's sound. Like several other bands one can mention (Genesis, Marillion, Spock's Beard and Saga) who all had singers who seemed irreplaceable, the question has to be whether Pallas can overcome this change and make it successful like the first three of the above? The answer is in the affirmative albeit with their sound moving into slightly different territory. http://ping.fm/Tb956

Rocktopia: Trans-Siberian Orchestra - 'Night Castle' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Gary Marshall: Despite trawling through my back copies of Fireworks, several times, I'll be damned if I can find a review of this album from when it was first released in the US back in 2009, which seems amazing when so many of us correspondents would have been vying for the privilege. Amazingly, the album hadn't received a European release until now and I assume that it has now for the same reason as the re-release of 'Beethoven's Last Night' (BLN) which is in anticipation of the band's first trip to play live in Europe during March when they will play BLN in its entirety and then presumably feature material from this album rather than the usual Christmas based themes they ply every year in the US (three of their five albums having been Christmas themed). http://ping.fm/dlFz5
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Rocktopia: The Wildhearts - 'Endless Nameless' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Things had begun to look up for The Wildhearts after 'P.H.U.Q.', with that album going straight into the top ten in the UK and a tour supporting AC/DC around Europe also being a huge success. However with the band's label East West continuing to upset the band at every move, most noticeably by releasing albums of material that were unsanctioned by the band, the chance to continue that tour across America was scuppered after only a few dates when Ginger and the boys finally got their wish and parted from their label. A new deal was quickly inked with Mushroom Records (outside East West's offices!) and the band set about recording a new album. That said, on a personal level, if the cracks had started to appear during the recording of 'P.H.U.Q.', then by the time that 1997's 'Endless Nameless' arrived they were gaping wounds. http://ping.fm/lki5B
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Rocktopia: The Wildhearts - 'P.H.U.Q.' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Having initially been conceived as a double album (the longer, more adventurous tracks became this album's predecessor 'Fishing For Luckies'), the provocatively titled 'P.H.U.Q.' was The Wildhearts second full release and by the time it hit the shelves in 1995, the cracks within the band were already beginning to become really obvious. Rich Battersby was now manning the drum stool, with both Stidi and Bam (no, not characters from The Flinstones) having flitted in and out of the band for (almost) the last time, guitarist CJ being unceremoniously shown the door during the recording of the album and Ginger going public about having considered suicide. Not that you've have known from the quality of the music on show. http://ping.fm/E5guv

Rocktopia: The Wildhearts - 'Earth VS The Wildhearts' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Over the years there has been enough scandal, intrigue, splits, reunions, record company wrangles, drug fuelled capers and magazine office trashings by The Wildhearts to just about fill an entire issue of Fireworks. However, more importantly Ginger and the merry revolving door of musicians that have made up the band, have in between all that, somehow managed to knock out some of the smartest, melody infused aggressive rock and roll of the last two decades. Formed in 1990 after Ginger was thrown out of The Quireboys (for being too wild!), it took The Wildhearts two years of line up shuffles and two front men (including the late Snake of Tobruk) before Ginger decided to take lead vocal duties on himself and things got going for real. http://ping.fm/Nk1H2
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Rocktopia: Orden Ogan - 'Vale' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: A few issues* ago I had the pleasure of reviewing the new album by Orden Ogan, 'Easton Hope', which turned out to be quite a fine piece of melodic folk metal (though the folky parts were not always that evident). So when the reissue of their debut album 'Vale' came to me I was very intrigued to hear what the band sounded like in their earlier days. Well although not a million miles away from the 'Easton Hope' album (as you would expect), for me 'Vale' has a slightly more melodic edge to it, with the songs benefitting from strong arrangements and tight, powerful musicianship, and well, just a great set of songs. http://ping.fm/ZTNjD

Rocktopia: Evergrey - 'Glorious Collision' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: Just one of a whole raft of great bands to emerge from the late 90's progressive metal explosion that swept through Europe like wildfire (think Vanden Plas, Poverty's No Crime, Threshold, etc.), Sweden's Evergrey were perhaps a little different than most – different insofar as their influences also readily embraced the gothic rock/metal infused sounds brought to the mainstream by Nightwish; and a darker, more reflective sheen a la the much missed Tad Morose. http://ping.fm/7RcEg

Rocktopia: Whitesnake - 'Forevermore' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ant Heeks: As an impressionable teenager back in the mid-Eighties, while having an interest in music but not following any particular genre, I remember stumbling on a programme named The Chart Show, which solely featured music videos rather than mimed performances in a studio like Top Of The Pops. Every few weeks the show featured a Rock chart, and I gradually became more and more interested. This was a time when commercial Rock music was reaching its peak, and the video was just as important as the song. I recall seeing for the first time the video for 'Living On A Prayer' with Jon Bon Jovi soaring above his audience on a harness, and thinking it was pretty cool, and suitably impressed when Def Leppard performed 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' in a house while it was being demolished. http://ping.fm/k12be
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Rocktopia: Shakra - 'Back On Track' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: Wrought from the same AC/DC patented blast furnace steel that half a dozen years previously had also produced fellow Swiss contenders Gotthard, Berne based hard rockers Shakra exploded into our collective consciousness with their self titled debut as long ago as 1998. Boisterous and exuberant, yet blessed with a self assured confidence rare in a new band, the jungle telegraph (already wowed by Gotthard) soon began to resonate to their particular beat, … and to be honest the band have barely looked back since. http://ping.fm/h5JKD

Rocktopia: Coldspell - 'Out From The Cold' - CD Review

A ROcktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: Anyone out there remember R.A.W., the Dalton offshoot band who released a brace of excellent, albeit overlooked albums in the mid 90's? If you do and like me have a soft spot for the classy Scandie Rock infused melodies of the 80's (think Treat, Glory, etc.) chances are you've already picked up on Coldspell, but if you haven't pull up a chair and let me enlighten you as to the delights of this particularly intriguing dish. Formed as long ago as 2005 (primarily as a showcase for the not inconsiderable songwriting talents of former R.A.W. guitarist Michael Larsson), Coldspell subsequently debuted some four years later with their 'Infinite Stargaze' set. http://ping.fm/LvjEu

Rocktopia: Voodoo Circle - 'Broken Heart Syndrome' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: Despite maintaining a continuous presence on the scene for years now, within the wider rock and metal community German guitarist Alex Beyrodt remains something of an unsung hero. Still perhaps best known for his time with Sinner or more recently Primal Fear; for more than a decade he's also dabbled with a variety of excellent side projects – most notably the all too short lived The Sygnet (with then Jaded Heart front man Michael Bormann), and the much missed Silent Force (with ex Royal Hunt vocalist DC Cooper). Commendable as both of these side projects were however, for my money it was the emergence some two years or so ago of Voodoo Circle that marked the summit of his recording career to date. http://ping.fm/nSdLz

Rocktopia: Motorhead - 'The World Is Yours' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine ablum review by Dave Cockett: Governments come and go, mighty empires emerge from parochial backwaters only to crash and burn in the purifying flames of progress, but Motorhead … ahh, Motorhead will endure forever. Formed in 1975 when Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister was given the boot from space cadets Hawkwind following a much publicized brush with Canadian customs over certain illegal substances, Motorhead grabbed life by the balls and have been squeezing hard ever since. Widely acknowledged as godfathers of the hard rock meets punk movement that eventually morphed into the NWOBHM, their no frills brand of riff driven rock n' roll has been shaking audiences for more than three decades now ... http://ping.fm/ODbYk

Rocktopia: Bonfire - 'Branded' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: Should you find yourself lucky enough to release an album that everyone lauds as a classic, once the dust has settled you'll discover that it can be a bit of a double edged sword … especially if it happens fairly early on in your career. On the one hand it undoubtedly opens doors, bringing with it the much needed media focus essential in establishing your band as major players on the international scene, but the flipside is that you set yourself up for almost surefire failure by making it damn near impossible to follow. In some respects that's exactly what happened to Bonfire after unleashed the mighty 'Fire Works' back in late '87. http://ping.fm/L4XPc

Rocktopia: Stratovarius - 'Elysium' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: With an expansive history that goes back more than 20 years, Finland's Stratovarius are quite rightly lauded as one of the founding fathers of modern day symphonic power metal. Their first couple of studio forays were admittedly inclined towards a more traditional type of power metal, but with first 'Dreamspace' and then 'Fourth Dimension' (in '94 and '95 respectively), they established a post Helloween framework that really did take the genre to new heights. The much anticipated international breakthrough came a year later with the brilliant 'Episode' opus, and for the best part of a decade thereafter they were unassailable ... until it all came crashing down. http://ping.fm/MvLBy

Rocktopia: Mark Alexander - 'Sanctuary' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Rob McKenzie: Mark Alexander has just released his first solo album entitled 'Sanctuary'. Famous as pianist / keyboard player for Meatloaf and Little Steven, Mark has stepped up to centre spot to take on vocals. Also, apart from additional guitar provided by Randy Flowers (Meatloaf), all instruments are played by Mark himself. To add to this autonomy, all songs are also written, produced and engineered by Mark. The album kicks off with 'The King' with its intro of foreboding strings and lavish layers. The main part of the song has a mid tempo pounding beat interlaced with Randy Flower's rock licks and a catchy hook and chorus. http://ping.fm/SMLkF

Rocktopia: Benedictum - 'Dominion' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Brent Rusche: For the record (no pun intended), let me state that this is a very difficult review for me to compose. Forever the optimist when listening to bands of which I have no prior knowledge, it bothers me when I fight to find something positive to say. What's more, I have the dubious honour of those very thoughts now printed for public consumption…oh the trials of journalism! http://ping.fm/T6R0p

Rocktopia: Ralf Scheepers - 'Scheepers' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Brent Rusche: Armed with an intimidating stature and a set of pipes to match, Ralf Scheepers is credited with over a dozen recordings fronting bands by the likes of Tyran Pace, Gamma Ray and with his own creation, Primal Fear. To further that legacy, Mr. Scheepers has now made a triumphant stride in his illustrious career by releasing a solo album on Frontiers Records simply entitled, 'Scheepers'. http://ping.fm/HOY16

Rocktopia: Rainbow - 'Down To Earth' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by James Gaden: 'Down To Earth' is a big album in the history of the mighty Rainbow. It was the first one without legendary and much loved vocalist Ronnie James Dio at the helm, with vocals being handled by Graham Bonnet. While his vocal work on this album takes some beating, there wasn't an overwhelming wave of support for Bonnet, who, clad in Hawaiian shirts, along with shades and his short hair more akin to being a James Dean wannabe than a rock god, upset some of the hairier, leather clad fans. However, what we must bear in mind is that Rainbow's driving force, Ritchie Blackmore, decided that without Dio, he'd pursue a more commercial sound and introduce shorter songs and a bluesier element, in place of the sweeping epic castles and dragons imagery of the past. http://ping.fm/ytFMZ
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Rocktopia: Danger Zone - 'Line Of Fire' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ant Heeks: This album was recorded back in 1989, but it's taken until now for it to see the light of day. The band was formed by guitarist Roberto Priori in Italy back in 1980, and after several line-up changes the first album 'Victim Of Time' was released in 1984. But Danger Zone didn't gain any serious attention until around 1988 when they supported Saxon, and were subsequently offered a major production deal. They went into the studio with executive producer Stephen Galfas, who had previously worked with the likes of Savatage, Meatloaf, Stryper and Saxon, and recorded 'Line Of Fire'. http://ping.fm/gurgy

Rocktopia: Blackmore's Night - 'Autumn Sky' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Andy B.: As I have no doubt said with previous reviews of Blackmore's Night albums, if you were a Deep Purple or Rainbow fan back in the day, and you don't like this music by now, then you never will. And as I have also said, if that is the case then you are not listening hard enough. Blackmore always has been and always will be a brilliant guitarist, and since teaming up with Candice Night, the gates of melody have opened wider for his music and, although he has lost people along the way, he has also made more friends with the stuff he's doing. Who wouldn't like to be in the position of doing what you want to do, rather than what other people demand? http://ping.fm/lCHiF

Rocktopia: Steve Hackett - 'Live Rails' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Gary Marshall: Released through his own website (Hackettsongs.com) this two disc album represents the first leg of touring to promote his excellent 'Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth' CD and it shows a band at the top of its form. He may be a solo artist but that doesn't mean that Hackett hogs the limelight and it really comes across as a tight knit and cohesive band that are playing these songs. I could probably come up with a different set list that ticked all the boxes for me but actually I have no gripes at all because despite some of my favourite tracks being omitted, what is present is so well played and beautifully balanced in terms of Hackett's strengths and variety of material, that all the bases are covered. http://ping.fm/P6blP

Rocktopia: Helloween - 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys - Parts 1 and 2' (Deluxe Edition) - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: When you look at the proliferation of power metal bands we've seen over the last couple of decades, it's easy to take it for granted that the scene has always been there in one form or another. Sure, heavy metal acts have always gravitated towards the hard and aggressive way of doing things, whilst the emergence of thrash in the early 80's introduced the concept of speed metal riffs; but it would take the rise to prominence of a German band that fused the two together to create the blueprint for the future. That band was Helloween, and the ramifications of their watershed 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys' sets still reverberates down the ages. http://ping.fm/RrnvP

Rocktopia - Fused Festival 2011 line up announced

The Classic Rock Society & Summer’s End are proud to announce Fused Festival 2011, taking place in Lydney, Gloucestershire on April 1, 2 & 3. Get the full line up details by clicking the link! http://ping.fm/WbEGd

Rocktopia: Robin Beck - 'The Great Escape' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Bruce Mee: Robin Beck's debut album'Trouble Or Nothing' was the soundtrackof my life back in 1989. Catapulted to overnight recognition (if not fame & fortune)thanks to that Coca-Cola backed single, 'First Time' was actually something of a misdirection as the remainder of the album, produced by hit-generator Desmon Child, contained track after track of glorious, bombastic melodic rock. The 80s rarely sounded better than this cocktail of brashness and sex-appeal, all generously coated in Ms Beck's sultry, yet powerfully determined gritty vocals. http://ping.fm/aPiBz

Rocktopia: Magnum - 'The Storyteller's Collection' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by John Tucker: The snappy title and cutesy artwork give way to a double CD compilation of Birmingham's finest's first fifteen or so years. It's pretty much a game of two halves: the seventeen largely opulent tracks on the first disc take things from 1978's debut album 'Kingdom Of Madness' to the start of the Polydor Years, and demonstrate why the band were so revered in the UK but seemingly unable to make any headway elsewhere; the second disc concentrates largely on the three albums of that major label period and rounds off with a couple of oddities. It all pretty much flows in sequence, so you can decide whether the Polydor years showed the band either taking a more mature and /or accessible approach to songwriting or being moulded and forced to come up with 'hits' by desperate A&R men. http://ping.fm/Oahzx
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Rocktopia: Krashkarma - 'Straight To The Blood' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by John Tucker: After all the hoo-ha about female fronted bands, how about kicking off a new wave of female backed bands? Metal quartet KrashKarma are driven from the rear by drummer/vocalist Niki Skistimas, who alongside vocalist/guitarist and producer Ralf Dietel wrote the eleven songs offered up on 'Straight To The Blood', the band's debut album and the follow up to their 2009 EP 'Seven Deadly Sounds'. 'Straight To The Blood' is very much a metal album for the twenty-first century, the young band unshackling themselves from any constraints and drawing on a diverse range of influences to produce a toe-tapping monster which at one and the same time has Eighties swagger, nu-metal attitude and toe-tapping sing-along charisma by the bucketload. http://ping.fm/nLFB9
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Rocktopia News: AhORa ROCK melodic rock podcast issue 7 out now!

AhORa rock is a FREE melodic rock, AOR, hard rock and heavy metal podcast available exclusively on Rocktopia. It can be streamed in real time or downloaded to your hard disk. We support our favourite music and pay licensing fees (for a certain number of downloads per month), therefore we would like to ask you to register as a member (registered users can log in from the main page or the 'Podcast' section ('Main Menu' - 'Podcast'). Registration is free and takes less than a minute, plus you also get full access to many other Rocktopia community features, such as the forum, user reviews, Rocktopia chat rooms and Rocktopia Touch, our own social network. Join the fun! http://ping.fm/uZikU

Rocktopia - Black Country Communion offer free live tracks

Black Country Communion have joined forces with “Planet Rock”, the UK’s leading classic rock radio station, to offer rock fans the opportunity to download two exclusive free “live” Black Country Communion tracks... http://ping.fm/Wol20

Rocktopia Blogs: ANOTHER MOMENT IN TIME AND SPACE (6) by Paul Jerome Smith

Over 500 Frontiers Records releases listed by catalogue number, from FR CD001 to FR CD509: Love 'em or hate 'em, Frontiers Records has recently and very quietly notched up a significant milestone: they reached their 500th release. I suspect that very few will have noticed because the actual 500th release (FR CD500) was their re-issue of 'Surveillance' by Triumph: although read on to discover why in reality it was FR CD501 ('JSS: Live At FireFest V') to which the honour should actually be attached! http://ping.fm/Aj5Ek

Rocktopia: TEN - 'Stormwarning'

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ant Heeks: It's been five years since the last Ten album, 'The Twilight Chronicles', but you would have to look back ten years to the 'Far Beyond The World' album to when the band were a fully fledged touring outfit. In that ten years there have been a fair few line-up changes, resulting in the band becoming little more than a studio project for mainman Gary Hughes, and as far as I know in that time there have been only two concerts, both in Gary's hometown of Fleetwood. Not really good enough for a band that used to tour the U.K. on a regular basis, and were also a big draw in Japan too. So when I heard that a new Ten album was on the horizon I was interested to hear who would be involved. http://ping.fm/zc16L

Rocktopia: Battlelore - 'Doombound'

A Rocktopia / Firefest Magazine album review by John Tucker: Back for their sixth full album, in 'Doombound' the Tolkein-loving Finns have written and recorded their first concept album. Lyrically, 'Doombound' is based on J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional hero Túrin Turambar from 'Turambar And The Foalókë' which is itself drawn from the Finnish mythological poem 'Kalevala', so in one fell swoop the band have paid tribute to both the legends of their homeland and their Hobbit-forming inspiration. I'll be the first to admit to having a soft spot for Battlelore. Not only are they a great live band, both visually and musically, but also their material has an atmospheric, wholly organic and unpretentious quality about it; it's not forced, and it's not commercially polished: they do what they do and they do it very well. http://ping.fm/Tih39
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Rocktopia: Magna Carta - 'Midnight Blue' / 'Live And Let Live'

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Creating a blend of folk and rock, Magna Carta have been making music since 1969 and over their 35 albums have sold an amazing 8 million units. Gentle and meandering would be the best description of what you'll find on both the reissued 1982 'Midnight Blue' and the new collection of live material 'Live And Let Live', and if I was to be brutally honest, my first encounter with the music of Magna Carta has left me rather nonplussed. There's no doubt that this is a collection of talented musicians, however the manner in which it is presented is rather polite and tiresome, especially across the nineteen tracks on 'Midnight Blue'. If however you have a liking for this gentle folk/country/rock (almost AOR) outlook, then I have to say that this package is beautifully presented and brimming with extras. http://ping.fm/e290c
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Rocktopia: Burning Tree - 'Burning Tree'

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: Opinions on what should or shouldn't get plucked from the archives and given the reissue treatment can vary considerably depending upon who you're talking to. We all have our own little melodicrock favourites and wish lists, and whilst there will undoubtedly be a degree of crossover, to a large extent one man's meat could quite easily be another's poison. Nothing wrong with that; 'variety' we are often told 'is the spice of life' and certainly, from the perspective of a reissues label, not pinning all your hopes on one particular genre sounds like sage business sense ... something Rock Candy seem to have been acutely aware of since the get go. http://ping.fm/Fn2w7

Rocktopia: Axel Rudi Pell - 'The Crest' (Deluxe Edition)

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: The recent upsurge in 'Deluxe Edition' reissues of previously released albums is clearly cause for consternation amongst the hard rock fraternity, and it's not hard to see why. Ok, in the grand scheme of things I suppose I can see the point in remastered/expanded editions of albums originally released years ago – Leppard's 'Pyromania' and 'Hysteria' sets for example are excellent – but there's an increasing tendency to repackage stuff that's only been out for a matter of months. Fans are (quite rightly) decrying it as a rip off and a slap in the face for those who supported the original release, and going forward it's only going to make people more wary of jumping in when in all likelihood a better version will be available in a couple of months. http://ping.fm/O1xGI
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Rocktopia news: Firefest 2011 - Friday venue change!

The Friday night show featuring Jimi Jamison, Terry Brock and Houston has now been moved to the same venue as the other two days; the main room at Rock City in Nottingham. It was only earlier this week that we’d announced that the first day of our three day marathon at Trent University had sold out, prompting calls from people who didn’t have tickets to move the show to a bigger venue. However, this decision was taken out of our hands later in the week when we were told by the people at Trent Uni that plans were afoot to demolish the building in summer to make way for a new Students Union building, one that unfortunately wouldn’t be finished in time for the show. http://ping.fm/FCCsl

Rocktopia - The Gracious Few live at the Camden Barfly, London

The sheer power of this band is amazing. None of them are strangers to success, with Taylor, bassist Patrick Dahlheimer and drummer Chad Gracey having shifted 20 million records from their previous band Live, and lead vocalist Kevin Martin and guitarist Sean Hennesy from Candlebox having several million copies and some platinum albums under their belts too. The quality of their performance and sound were a clear indicator that these guys were the real deal and despite all having played stadiums, being in the Barfly bothered them not one bit, because they are delighted to build this new band from the ground up and do it all again from scratch. http://ping.fm/VJL8r

Rocktopia Blogs - Album Of The Week #10 by James Gaden

Another week, another album pick, so this week I go for one of the all time classic James Gaden shots in the dark... Frederiksen/Philips - 'Frederiksen/Philips' (Empire Records). I remember one day browsing through the Loud1 Records store catalogue (you're much missed Gez!) reading through the titles that he had in stock, and saw the name 'Frederiksen/Philips'. I'd been a fan of former Toto singer Fergie Frederiksen since hearing him hold his own with the Voices of Classic Rock, who had drawn my attention because they featured three of my favourite vocalists, Joe Lynn Turner, Jimi Jamison and Glenn Hughes. http://ping.fm/pcVQ9

Rocktopia: TNT - 'A Farewell To Arms' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Controversial is the best word to describe the previous two albums from TNT, with both 'The New Territory' and 'Atlantis' confusing fans and critics alike with an eclecticism that veered dramatically from the style with which the band made their name. Both also coincided with vocalist Tony Mills (Shy/Serpentine/Siam) joining the band, and while he has taken more than his share of the 'blame' for the diversification, really that has been down to the song writing of guitarist Ronnie LeTekro. http://ping.fm/Ncz2F

Rocktopia: Bullet - 'The Entrance To Hell' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: When guitarist/vocalist John Du Cann and drummer Paul Hammond were unceremoniously sacked from Atomic Rooster (despite the fact that Du Cann had written the bulk of their previous album), the pair went on to form the band Bullet with bassist John Gustafson. Only after the trio had spent some time recording material for their debut album, which was to be released on Purple Records, was it discovered that there was already a US band also called Bullet, causing a swift rethink. http://ping.fm/dBMFI

Rocktopia: Push UK - 'Strange World' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: At the recent Firefest show this CD was given to me by Paul Rudland, the co-owner of fledgling melodic rock label AOR Blvd and whose business partner happens to be ex-Shades man, tape trader and journo Kelv Hellrazer. Unfortunately the package went missing somewhere in the house and it took me a while to find it, so my apologies to Paul, Kelv and the guys from Push UK for this not appearing in the last issue, but hey, these guys have been sitting on these songs since the late 80s so what's a couple of months between friends? http://ping.fm/hwauB

Rocktopia: Larry Peterson - 'Blaze Bayley - At The End Of The Day' - Book Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine book review by Steven Reid: Larry Paterson, who is best known as the ex-drummer in Blaze Bayley, first published this book in 2009, at which time he was still a member of the group. Now a year down the line, Larry has revised and updated his account of Blaze Bayley the man and the band. The book's main focus is Blaze himself, however quite pleasingly it is less of a biography and more of an account of the ups and downs of a passionate metal-head getting to live out his dream as a rock and roll frontman. Blaze's upbringing is briefly covered and while his time in Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden are more than touched on, this period of time isn't really what the book is about. http://ping.fm/xaowK

Rocktopia: Mick Rock - 'The Faces Of Rock 'n' Roll' - Book Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine book review by Neil Daniels: Mick Rock is one of the most famous and revered photographers in the business; his most notable work includes iconic shots of Queen during the seventies and David Bowie. This collection spans his entire career which dates back to 1972 when he took photos of Bowie, who was then relatively unknown; Rock also charted the rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust. Rock's career skyrocketed thereafter as he worked with Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Syd Barrett, Ike & Tina Turner, and today's icons Lady Gaga, the Killers and U2. http://ping.fm/2iyZg

Rocktopia: Melidian - 'Lost In The Wild' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: As Dave Reynolds' excellent sleeve notes state, there are differing opinions of the one and only Melidian album from 1989. One school of thought believes it's an undiscovered classic that never got the recognition it deserved, whilst others believe it's overrated and got just about exactly the right amount of recognition it deserved. I'm afraid I'll have to plead that I belong to a third school who at the time thought it was a reasonably good album with a handful of decent songs, and despite the fact that this revisitation suggests I may have sold it a bit short, it's still a long way away from the classic status deserved by so many other Rock Candy releases since that fine label's inception in 2005. http://ping.fm/tas1s

Rocktopia: Stryper - 'The Covering' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Whatever your opinion of the covers album craze there's no denying that it's thrown up some interesting releases, my own personal bugbear being that the time spent making them could be better spent writing and recording some original material. It's well known from interviews that the members of Stryper are big rock fans (now back to the original line-up of Michael Sweet (vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Robert Sweet (drums) and returning bassist Tim Gaines), particularly British bands of the 70s, so what they've sensibly done here is not pick anything too obscure and infuse everything with those unmistakable Stryper guitar and vocal harmonies. http://ping.fm/Pf7Jw

Rocktopia: Shinedown - 'The Sound Of Madness' (Deluxe Edition) - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Bott: The original US release of this album was back in July 2008 and several months later it was an easy choice as my album of the year. The ensuing 2 years have seen several versions of 'Sound Of Madness' become available but this is far and away the definitive edition, though currently only on sale in America (at the time of writing). Critical opinions were very much divided when the CD first appeared 2 years ago. Comparisons to Nickelback were indicative of the feelings towards 'modern' sounding bands whilst the AOR community seemed to have a difficult time admitting that Shinedown had created something of a hard hitting melodic gem outside the pink & fluffy box. http://ping.fm/DArYY

Rocktopia: Notorious - 'Radio Silence' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Robin George is one of those nearly men, both in the sense that he has collaborated with some of the biggest names in rock and metal (Phil Lynott, Glenn Hughes, John Wetton, Robert Plant, David Byron) and also in the sense that a lot of the projects he's been involved with nearly got an album released! In recent years Angel Air Records have made it one of their goals to collaborate with George to allow much of this hidden and unreleased material to see the light of day. http://ping.fm/8mm4u

Rocktopia: Cloverseeds - 'The Opening' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Formed in 2004, French quintet Cloverseeds have thus far recorded a brace of EP's and a full-length album, all of which were released independently in their native country, before signing to US label The Laser's Edge for 'The Opening', which should surely gain them a bigger audience. They play modern progressive rock with alt-rock leanings and plough a similar furrow to bands like Riverside, Oceansize, Muse, The Pineapple Thief and certain aspects of Porcupine Tree or the latest Pain Of Salvation record, which means they're sometimes heavy and dark, sometimes ambient and sombre, and build up their songs slowly with stark layers and vocalist Ced Oleon's unique and impassioned delivery. However, immediate they are certainly not! http://ping.fm/rYzQT

Rocktopia: Moritz - 'Undivided' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Moritz is a name that I thought would be a footnote in the 80s UK AOR scene, half remembered from the pages of Kerrang! and Derek Oliver's 'Wimpwire' column without even leaving the legacy of a proper album. The memories came flooding back when good friend and Powerplay writer Rob Evans handed me a copy of their retrospective 'City Streets' CD, an eight track album comprised half of demos along with their 1988 'Shadows Of A Dream' EP. After the nucleus of the original band regrouped with a female singer to form If Only for their excellent 'No Bed Of Roses' album and leader Greg Hart had another shot with the AOR trio GTS, 2010 sees a majority of Moritz reunited for a new album with Hart joined by fellow guitarist Mike Nolan, keyboardist Andy Stewart, bassist Ian Edwards and singer Pete Scallan, drummer Mick Neaves being the only completely new name. http://www.rockt!
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Rocktopia: Bad Habit - 'Atmosphere' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: It's amazing to think that Bad Habit have been with us for twenty-five years now, quietly going about their business and recording a stream of quality albums. After lengthy periods of inactivity after 'Adult Orientation' (1998) and 'Hear-Say' (2005), 2009's 'Above And Beyond' was perhaps their strongest statement, and it's encouraging to see that the Swedish quintet have kept the ball rolling and may even have delivered their best album, and after a wait of only eighteen months too! With a constant line-up for well over a decade now, band leader Hal Marabel (guitars, keys), Bax Fehling (vocals), Patrik Sodergren (bass), Jaime Salazar (drums) and Sven Cirnski (lead guitar) play consummate AOR with great attention to sublime musicianship and big choruses, of which the thirteen tracks on 'Atmosphere' are all prime examples. http://ping.fm/xeUDK
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Rocktopia: Miss Behaviour - 'Last Woman Standing' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Being old-school to the core, one of the things I miss about days gone by is that internet forums and pre-release soundbytes leave very few surprises in the music world and almost no chance of stumbling on something good without having heard about it first. However, when the latest batch of releases from the impressive and rapidly growing Avenue Of Allies label dropped through my letterbox, I stuck this little gem from young Swedish quartet Miss Behaviour into the player without any pre-conceived ideas. Somehow I'd managed to miss their 2006 debut album 'Heart Of Midwinter' completely so I can't gauge exactly how far they've come since then, all I know is that 'Last Woman Standing' is certainly worthy of your time if you like quality melodic rock / AOR. http://ping.fm/PfTQV
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Rocktopia: Creation's End - 'In The Beginning' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Another new name on the US progressive power metal scene, Creation's End were formed several years ago by rhythm guitarist/keyboard player Rudy Albert and drummer Dario Rodriguez. The pair had been sitting on a collection of songs they'd written between 2003 and 2006 and seemingly getting nowhere with them until a meeting with celebrated drummer John Macaluso (TNT/Malmsteen/Ark etc.). Macaluso was enthused by what he heard and invited them to record at his newly refurbished studio, as well as hooking them up with bassist Joe Black, ex-Riot and Masterplan singer Mike DiMeo, and the final piece in the puzzle, Italian guitar maestro Marco Sfogli, who Macaluso knew from when they were both in James LaBrie's solo band. http://ping.fm/Tyhbn !

Rocktopia: Seventh Wonder - 'The Great Escape' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: It's unfathomable that their rapidly improving discography - from the patchy 'Become' (2005) through the impressive 'Waiting In The Wings' (2006) to the simply awesome 'Mercy Falls' (2008) - didn't see Seventh Wonder raise their profile significantly outside of their native Sweden. The latter was widely lauded by those in the know as a masterpiece, but if you thought that 'The Great Escape' couldn't possibly scale the same lofty heights, then think again. In common with fellow Scandinavians Circus Maximus, Silent Call and Magic Pie, Seventh Wonder generally shy away from the darker and heavier end of the progressive metal genre and concentrate on soaring melodies and challenging guitar and keyboard parts, but it's singer Tommy Karevik who's the band's biggest asset. http://ping.fm/DrJ4j
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Rocktopia: Fireworks Magazine interview with Robin Beck

Back in 1989, Robin Beck’s ‘Trouble or Nothing’ was the soundtrack of my life. While the Coca-Cola promotional song ‘First Time’ became the world-wide smash hit, it was far from being the best track on an album that was simply over-flowing with bombastic anthems and attitude, all guided by Desmond Child’s magical touch. Quite why Robin Beck never became a rock superstar on the back of this album is a mystery to me - I guess the world saw her as a ballad singer due to that one song, and never had a chance to see hard-rocking, ballsy singer she truly is. http://ping.fm/I0rL0

Rocktopia: Fireworks Magazine interview with John Waite

With a new album ('Rough & Tumble') just released on Frontiers Records and his third tour in as many years booked for the spring, ex-The Babys, Bad English and solo artist John Waite has managed to turn around his dour reputation over the last couple of years with a series of low-key UK dates filled with friendly banter and after-show signing sessions. During the first few seconds of our transatlantic phonecall he manages to get the first question in: Where are you calling from? After I answer Wigan! he evaporates any nervousness I might have had by doing an impromptu Eddie Waring impression. Can this be the same John Waite who's given many an interviewer a hard time? Read on ... http://ping.fm/NZXe9

Rocktopia: Firework Magazine interview with Houston

Houston – we have absolutely no problem.. From putting a track on our Fireworks CD last year as an unsigned band, Swedish AORsters Houston have been picked up by Spinefarm/Universal, had their debut album released in UK with two bonus tracks, have a headline show scheduled for March 4th in London and will be appearing at Firefest in October. That's quite a lot happening over the past few months, and Mark Warburton caught up with Freddie and Hank to get the details. http://ping.fm/mtwAu

Rocktopia: Fireworks Magazine interview with Danny Vaughn - Ultimate Eagles

2010 shaped up to be a very busy year for Danny Vaughn, as he has been working on a number of projects, including tribute band Ultimate Eagles, The 80s Rocked, a solo tour, and a tour with Tyketto, so I thought it was time to catch up with him to get all the info. Danny has found a new musical partner in ex-Thunder bassist Chris Childs, as they have been working together on all of the projects except, of course, Tyketto. As Chris was present while Danny and I were chatting, I thought it was only right to get his opinions on the collaborations too. http://ping.fm/HYAIP

Rocktopia: Fireworks Magazine Issue 44 - Interview with Miss Behaviour

Sweden's Miss Behaviour released their first album 'Heart Of Midwinter' back in 2006, but then the band went through a series of personnel changes. Fast forward to 2011 and the excellent sophomore CD 'Last Woman Standing' is now available from Avenue Of Allies. Ant Heeks got in touch with original members guitarist Erik Heikne and keyboardist Henrik Sprooge to get the background on the band. Rocktopia is Fireworks Magazine's OFFICIAL home on the web. http://ping.fm/gXMKM

Rocktopia: Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi - 'Seventh Star' (Deluxe) - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by James Gaden: Black Sabbath had quite the time of it back in the eighties. Not content with losing original singer Ozzy Osbourne in the first place, the band managed to bounce back with Ronnie James Dio behind the microphone. Everything was going just fine until around the time of 'Live Evil' which saw the band fall apart. Ronnie went off to form his own self titled band, leaving Tony Iommi to ponder his next move. A brief stint with another legendary singer, Ian Gillan, spawned 'Born Again', the marmite album that fans either love or hate, no middle ground. Personally I loved it, but things continued to unravel as Gillan went back to Deep Purple. The next thing you know, Iommi had decided a solo album was the way to go and began work on what would eventually become 'Seventh Star'. http://ping.fm/U8fWY
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Rocktopia: Black Sabbath - 'The Eternal Idol' (Deluxe) - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by James Gaden: With Ray Gillen on board for vocals, Tony Iommi completed the Seventh Star tour and began work on a new album to be issued once again under the Black Sabbath moniker. He chose to bring back Eric Singer for drum parts and hired bass player/songwriter Bob Daisley to assist with the songwriting (despite the original versions of this album making no mention of this). Once again, Sabbath's ability to lose singers like Spinal Tap lose drummers reared it's head and Gillen quit the band. In came another relative unknown, Tony Martin. And guess what? Despite all this, once again, 'The Eternal Idol' is excellent! http://ping.fm/4TJoE

Rocktopia: Tonight - 'Drummer Man' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Credited as being the first band who coined the phrase Power Pop, Southend band Tonight are the classic tale of a talented band that got caught up in record label politics, their star burned very brightly, but very briefly. Forming in mid 1977 it is almost inevitable that the Tonight sound is infused with the energy and swagger of punk, however it is amazing just how sixties influenced the twelve tracks that were intended to make up the band's debut album are. Imagine if Paul McCartney and John Lennon had formed a band in the late seventies and you won't be far off the sound presented here. http://ping.fm/QTvne

Rocktopia: Sinocence - 'Scar Obscura' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Full of stinging guitars and razor sharp riffs, the second album – 'Scar Obscura' - from Irish metallers Sinocence was first released through Rising Records in 2009. However having made the decision to head down the independent route, the band have decided to rerelease it with some enhanced content, namely a video interview and a photo gallery. Now those added extras may not sound too exciting, but that doesn't matter when the fact is that the actual music Sinocence fire out with a confident roar, negates the need for any extras whatsoever. Mighty riffs, pounding drums and, I'm glad to say, a tremendous singer who resists the temptation to growl at any time, make for a wall of sound that is crushingly heavy, yet has a melodic core that raises Sinocence well above the run of the mill metal acts that seem to be ten a penny right now. http://ping.fm/Mb8ic
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Rocktopia: Kiko Loureiro - 'Fullblast' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Mónica Castedo-López: Kiko Loureiro, best known as the amazing axe man in Angra, launches his third solo effort, stylistically oceans away from the work of the Brazilian power metal heads. Produced by Kiko himself, 'Fullblast' presents the excellent taste of this young guitarist when it comes to composing instrumental songs. Rocking and powerful yet still conserving beautiful and tuneful melodies throughout, the song writing is supreme and the playing is truly elegant and clean. The most representative tracks of the album are the opener 'Headstrong' and the follower 'Desperado', both combining speed, slow tempos, heaviness and mellowness, and in that style is also 'Se Entrega, Corisco!', which adds some Brazilian music elements. http://ping.fm/thRNY

Rocktopia: Stray - 'Valhalla' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: There are so many types of rock and metal that it is easy to become befuddled by the sheer volume of genres and sub-genres springing up on an almost daily basis. That's why sometimes the sheer bliss of discovering an album with no pretentions to be anything other than what it is, is extremely refreshing. 'Valhalla', which is Stray's first studio album in almost a decade, is one of those albums, doing exactly what it says on the tin, with their brand of melodic bluesy rock being a blast of sharp, uncompromising, yet hugely melodic rock and roll. http://ping.fm/SO9TE

Rocktopia: Arjen Lucassen's Star One - 'Victims Of The Modern Age' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Does Arjen Lucassen never sit down for a couple of days and think it would be nice to have a rest? Well judging by the fact that we have a new album from his Star One project coming hot on the heels of last year's Guilt Machine release, I would guess not. Whilst that last CD was a more subtle (if excellent) effort than Arjen's most renowned outfit Ayreon, he has always stated that his previous album directly influences what direction the next will take, as he strives not to repeat himself album after album. http://ping.fm/Udt3E

Rocktopia: Devon Allman's Honeytribe - 'Space Age Blues' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: The son of the legendary Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers has obviously spent a lot of time around talented people over the years and some of it has obviously rubbed off on him. The guitarist and singer formed Honeytribe in 1999 with bassist George Potsos and drummer Gabriel Strange but they didn't get around to releasing any music until 2006 when their debut album 'Torch' was released. With the line-up still intact 'Space Age Blues' is the impressive follow-up, although I hear a lot of traditional blues-rock and funk and there's nothing remotely space age about any of it. http://ping.fm/n8rHj

Rocktopia: Degreed - 'Love, Life, Loss' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Like labelmates All I Know, Degreed were also formed in 2005, this time in Stockholm, Sweden by four students of the Conservatory of Music. Featuring brothers Robin and Mats Ericsson (bass/vocals and drums respectively), their cousin Micke Jansson (keys) and guitarists Daniel Johansson and Jesper Adefelt, Degreed play a kind of modern melodic rock that I can really appreciate, full of melody, sharp guitar riffs, excellent vocals and a keyboard player who adds class to every song. http://ping.fm/evAbZ

Rocktopia: From.uz - 'Seventh Story' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: With the net of progressive rock being cast ever further across the world, I have finally reached a stage where I am no longer surprised by where the next exciting prog band springs up from. That said, I'm not sure that even with that outlook I ever expected to be listening to the third release by a band from Uzbekistan (hence the band name)! It never ceases to amaze me that musicians from around the world have the passion, skill and musical knowledge to deliver some outstanding progressive albums and in the case of progressive rock/metallers From.uz, they are exceptionally gifted on all three counts. http://ping.fm/3ayhQ

Rocktopia: All I Know - 'Vanity Kills' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Another debut release on Andrew McNiece's Melodic Rock label, All I Know are a young Belgian trio who were formed in 2005 and were brought up on the music of the 80s from their parents' record collection. The full time members of the band are vocalist/guitarist Ward D, bassist Amely M and guitarist/vocalist Michael N, with drums supplied by additional musicians Karel De Backer and Bram Steemans. Despite recording this album independently last year they couldn't get any label interest going, until now. http://ping.fm/SfOby

Rocktopia: Danielz and Tara Zara - 'Behind The Mask' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: During the mid eighties Tarazara came tantalisingly close to hitting the big time. With the backing of Dennis Stratton (Iron Maiden) they had produced some well received demos, had offers of a record deal on the table from FM Revolver and Atlantic and also managed to appear on national TV through Channel 4's short lived (and slightly misguided) rock music show 'ECT'. Somehow though, none of these near misses actually gave the band the breakthrough they had worked extremely hard for and up until Angel Air Records intervened, these seventeen tracks had never been officially available to buy. http://ping.fm/ASjwr

Rocktopia: British Lions - 'Live At The Old Waldorf, San Francisco 1978' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: It was surprising when the ex Mott The Hoople and Mott foursome of Overend Watts, Dale Griffin, Morgan Fisher and Ray Majors remerged under the name British Lions with ex-Medicine Head frontman John Fiddler on vocals. Not least for the fact that Fiddler's hippie persona appeared at first glance to be a strange fit with the rock and rolling ex-Hooplers. With their singer suitably de-hippified, British Lions released their excellent eponymously titled debut album in 1977, before setting off to tour America. Support slots were gained with Blue Oyster Cult and UFO, however before long the band were headlining and it's from that leg of the tour that this surprisingly strong recording comes from. http://ping.fm/0xyLW
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Rocktopia: Tommy James and The Shondells - 'Live And On Fire' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: There are not many artists who can claim to have had over 100 million sales across their career, however there isn't all that many that can claim to be active writing music for both Broadway and motion pictures 44 years after their first number one hit single. Tommy James can rightly lay claim to both. If you don't recognise his name, you will definitely have heard his music, whether that be through his US number hits 'Hanky Panky' (1966) and 'Crimson And Clover' (1969), or his 1968 UK No.1 'Mony Mony', which was also taken to the top spot by Billy Idol twenty one years later. http://ping.fm/dYl7h

Rocktopia: Elixir - 'All Hallows Eve' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by John Tucker: Timing is everything. Elixir arrived right at the tail end of the NWOBHM party, releasing their first single 'Treachery' in 1985 when things were pretty much over 'n' done with. Which is a great shame. Had they come together a couple of years earlier a band of their talent and self-belief could easily have made a bigger name for themselves at a time when the UK was seemingly producing all the best metal music. After two albums and a messy split it looked like Elixir's entry in the book of metal was complete, but then the band's 'proper' line-up of vocalist Paul Taylor, guitarists Norman Gordon and Phil Denton and the Dobbs Brothers Kevin (bass) and Nigel (drums) re-united following a get-together at Stormin' Norman's birthday bash in 2001 and the rest, as they say, is history. http://ping.fm/TxLoR
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Rocktopia: Gov't Mule - 'Mulennium' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by John Tucker: For those not in the know, Gov't Mule sets, particularly on special occasions like New Years Eve, do tend to jam on late into the night. 'Mulennium' is no exception: three discs capture the original line-up of the blues trio of Warren Hayes, Allen Woody and Matt Abts welcoming the 21st Century at the Roxy Theater in Atlanta with a three-part three-plus-hour set that wrapped up at 3:43am. Numbers-wise it might just be half a beast, but these guys sure know how to party! The band tend to tape almost everything – check out their website and download the gig of your choice – but 31st December 1999 wasn't originally recorded for formal release. http://ping.fm/XZA5c

Rocktopia: Seventh Void - 'Heaven Is Gone' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by John Tucker: Although already an entity before the untimely death of Pete Steele (the original roots of the band can be traced back to 2003), Seventh Void are the de facto successors to the crown of the truly great Type O Negative. Joined by guitarist Matt Brown of Uranium 235 and bassist Hank Hell of Inhuman, Kenny Hickey (now handling both guitar and lead vocals) and drummer Johnny Kelly have wasted precious little time in channelling their energies into promoting their once side-project. The first fruits of their extra-curricular collaboration was the band's debut release 'Heaven Is Gone' which was originally released in America (with a better cover – this one looks like it was drawn by a two-year-old with a chainsaw in a dark room) ... http://ping.fm/3XjXL
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Rocktopia: Evil's Desire - 'Initium' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks album review by John Tucker: Another top notch metal female voices band, again from The Netherlands; it's got to be something in the water there, I tell you! Overtly symphonic in an Epica/After Forever way – no bad thing there – Evil's Desire are from Hellevoetsluis and originate from a metal act called Violent Queen which still exists today. The way vocalist Daphne Gobius du Sart tells it, the new songs just didn't fit in with the old ones, so the members decided set up a new project which they called Evil's Desire. At the time, I was in another band together with Eric [Mol]. That band had split up and Eric asked me to sing in this new project, and this 'new project' soon became a band. http://ping.fm/syzMr

Rocktopia: Walter Egan - 'The Collection' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: Walter Egan was a west coast kid. Unfortunately, he was born and raised in New York City and it wasn't until April 1974 that he made it to California following the break up of his band, Sageworth. The band had been admired by Linda Ronstadt's manager, Chris Darrow, but only Egan ventured to the State that had enthralled him so much, Darrow initially accommodating him and then hooking him up with two local musicians with whom he formed the band Ghost Riders. A couple of years passed before a record offer for Egan (but not the others in Ghost Riders) materialised and a four year helter-skelter of recording the four albums presented in 'The Collection' began. http://ping.fm/M7Nt5

Rocktopia: Curved Air - 'Retrospective' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: You will excuse me starting this review with two confessions. The first is that I have purchased the first two Curved Air albums twice: when they were first released, on vinyl – and then (when I could resist it no longer) - I repurchased them on CD (and despite retaining the vinyl albums for their individualistic presentation). The second is that – along with most young men of my age, I lusted after vocalist Sonja Kristina – a lust that was fuelled when I saw the band perform live, and one that only faded very slowly with time! You might just call me human! http://ping.fm/sdWOu

Rocktopia: Delain - 'Lucidity' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: The reality was that when John Tucker's great review of the European (Dutch) release of this album appeared in Fireworks 27*, I had already sourced a copy (via the USA!) over six months previously having picked up the strong positive vibe about the band. Holding the album in my hands and its sounds in my brain I can well remember doubting the combined intelligence at their record company for not realising the need to get it into other markets, and quickly! Now, some FOUR years after its initial appearance, Roadrunner have recognised that the band has built up quite a following in the UK, and have deigned to release it here! http://ping.fm/n9dFc

Rocktopia CD Review: Curved Air - 'Retrospective'

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: You will excuse me starting this review with two confessions. The first is that I have purchased the first two Curved Air albums twice: when they were first released, on vinyl – and then (when I could resist it no longer) - I repurchased them on CD (and despite retaining the vinyl albums for their individualistic presentation). The second is that – along with most young men of my age, I lusted after vocalist Sonja Kristina – a lust that was fuelled when I saw the band perform live, and one that only faded very slowly with time! You might just call me human! http://ping.fm/ZoImQ

Rocktopia - Fireworks Magazine: Interview with Gary Hughes / TEN

Fireworks Magazine online issue 44, an interview with Gary Hughes / TEN: I have to admit it, I never thought it would happen, but Ten are finally set to return with their excellent new album 'Stormwarning', their first new material in five years. Although mainman Gary Hughes released a solo album 'Veritas' in 2006, we haven't heard anything from him until Frontiers announced late last year that Ten would be returning with a revamped band line-up and a new producer in Dennis Ward. Ant Heeks sat down for a chat with Gary to get all the details. http://ping.fm/ADP2f

Rocktopia: Magenta - 'Live At Real World' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: While Magenta is currently taking a break from live appearances, we are in the meanwhile treated to a double CD plus DVD package capturing their acoustic concert augmented by a string quartet and oboe that was performed in front of a specially invited audience of the band's fans at Peter Gabriel's Real World studios near Bath on 21 November 2009. The double CD contains the audio recording of the concert but additionally three songs recorded at Real World the following day ('Night And Day', 'I'm Alive' and 'All Around The World'). http://ping.fm/P0P3b

Rocktopia: Amberian Dawn - 'End Of Eden' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: Oh fan of neo-classical symphonic power metal, seek ye an album of full-on operatic vocals? Then seek ye no further, for 'End Of Eden' is absolutely overflowing with them, including a guest appearance from professional opera singer, baritone Markus Niemanen on the quite splendid 'Virvatulen Laulu'! It seems like no time whatsoever has passed since the band's debut 'River Of Tuoni' announced the arrival of soprano/lyricist Heidi Parviainen and her classically-influenced chums led by songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist/musical leader Tuomas Seppälä and bassist Tommi Kuri in 2008. http://ping.fm/kgZHc

Rocktopia: Heleno Vale's Soulspell Metal Opera - 'Labyrinth Of Truths' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: This is the second installment of Brazilian drummer Heleno Vale's metal opera project, the very tasty 'A Legacy Of Honour' not yet having received a European release. 'Labyrinth Of Truths' is also a wonderfully delicious proposition, but is in parts much heavier than its predecessor and is very definitely a METAL album – more Avantasia and Savatage than, say, Ayreon and Pictorial Wand. And my mention of Savatage is not merely serendipitous, because amongst the plethora of guest appearances that HV has attracted to perform on this album are none other than former Savatage protagonists Jon Oliva and Zak Stevens who respectively voice the Insanity and the Conscience inside the Labyrinth on 'Into The Arc Of Time'. I'm not going to suggest this is typecasting! http://ping.fm/ucmi8
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