Rocktopia: Toto - 'Falling In Between' - User CD Review

A Rocktopia user album review by Dairenn Lombard: Recorded in my backyard of Sherman Oaks, California throughout 2005, "Falling In Between" is what happens when you take six legendary musical performers and composers with combined experience exceeding one-hundred twenty years. Rich percussion, textured guitar work, nuanced bass lines with excellent keyboards blending piano, organ, synthesizer pads and more executing brilliant fusion jazz rock son structures and melody, and supporting gorgeous vocal stacks. Some songs are a little more accessible than others but the listener's patience is well rewarded. The exquisite art on the part of Jim Evans and the shimmering mastering by Steve MacMillan were a thick layer of icing on the cake. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/ZxhBp

Rocktopia: Slamer - 'Nowhere Land' - User CD Review

A Rocktopia user album review by Dairenn Lombard: In Valencia, California, legendary, British rock guitarist Mike Slamer and sure-fire Melodic Rock vocalist Terry Brock came together in 2006, and made musical magic. If you remember Jimi Jameson’s sound on the theme to NBC’s Baywatch and then mix it in with the remarkable guitar work of Dokken’s George Lynch, you come up with Slamer’s “Nowhere Land.” If I had to pick an order of tracks for this album, it would be: Higher Ground, Audio Illusion, Come To Me, Jaded, Strength to Carry On, Not in Love, Runaway, Perfect Circle and Beyond the Pale. I would have also had someone else master the disc because of the thin EQ and more importantly, some cut- off fade-outs on a couple of tracks, but these are exceedingly tiny blemishes on an, otherwise, totally perfect record. The music on this CD sounded so good, I was literally smiling the entire time I listened to this a!
lbum. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/2OaY5

Rocktopia Interview: Myland

Exclusive interviews on Rocktopia: Myland. Interview with Hox Martino and Paolo Morbini by Alexandra Mrozowska. Melodic hard rock might not be a genre with which we immediately start thinking about Italian music, and we still cannot talk about any serious revolution happening in the European rock scene yet. However, the increasing number of great melodic rock acts from Italy appearing recently might portend some future invasion in a way! Read the full interview on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/MxF33

Rocktopia: Fireworks Magazine 45 - Interview with David Coverdale / Whitesnake

Fireworks Magazine Official Website: Issue 45. Interview with David Coverdale / Whitesnake by James Gaden. Forevermore: Whitesnake are one of England's great hard rock exports. Rising up from the ashes of Deep Purple, David Coverdale issued two solo albums before putting together the band, who would go on to build a loyal fan base for their brand of blues rock, before smashing their way into the American market and achieving superstardom in 1987. After 1990's 'Slip Of the Tongue' it looked like the writing was on the wall for Whitesnake - things were put on ice while Coverdale worked with Jimmy Page. http://ping.fm/YTbUo

Rocktopia: Fireworks Magazine 45 - Interview with Francis Rossi

Fireworks Magazine Official Website: Issue 45. Interview with Francis Rossi by James Gaden. Back in Fireworks 40, I interviewed the legendary frontman from Status Quo, Francis Rossi, about his new solo album 'One Step At A Time' (click here to read the album review on Rocktopia). I very much enjoyed the upbeat feel to it and the chance it gave Francis to explore some of his pop sensibilities outside of the confines of Status Quo. Six UK shows were booked in support of the album, a thought that filled Francis with a sense of trepidation, but upon completion, a gig at St. Lukes in London was booked, for the purpose of recording a live DVD and CD of the solo show. http://ping.fm/aKRgK

Rocktopia: Fireworks Magazine Online 45 - Interview with Brian Robertson

Fireworks Magazine Official Website: Issue 45. Interview with Brian Robertson by Sue Ashcroft. Brian 'Robbo' Robertson is something of a legendary figure. Along with the late Phil Lynott, they were hell raisers of the highest order, had numerous spats and fall outs, but when it came to making Thin Lizzy one of the greatest bands of our time, they had the chemistry to create music that has inspired and continues to do so to this day. His first solo album 'Diamonds And Dirt' has just been released through SPV/Steamhammer to rave reviews. A collection of Sweden's finest musicians have joined him to release what I consider a serious contender for my album of the year. http://ping.fm/DRc6i

Rocktopia: Fireworks Magazine Online 45 - Interview with Leaves' Eyes

Fireworks Magazine Official Website: Issue 45. Interview with Leaves' Eyes: Leaves' Eyes were formed back in 2003 with members hailing mostly from Norway and Germany. The main driving force behind the creation of the band is singer Liv Kristine, formerly of the band Theatre Of Tragedy, and her husband Alexander Krull. The rest of the band was made up of Krull's previous group Atrocity. The bands current line up consists of Kristine (vocals), Krull (vocals), Thorsten Bauer (bass), Sander van der Meer (guitars) and Roland Navratil (drums). Read the full interview on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/VRMLR

Rocktopia: Fireworks Magazine Online 45 - Interview with Mark Thompson-Smith / Big Life

Fireworks Magazine Official Website: Issue 45. Interview with Mark Thompson-Smith. Big Life is a new project featuring the immense talents of the UK's melodic rock genius, Steve Newman (Newman) and ex Praying Mantis frontman, Mark Thompson-Smith. Steve Newman's reputation in the Melodic Rock circuit is impressive - with eight immense Newman albums released in the last decade, the latest being the highly acclaimed 'The Art Of Balance'. Add to this his work on other albums with artists such as Atlantic, Steve Overland, Eden, AOR Project, Frozen Rain, Far Cry, Grand Illusion and Phenomena as both performer and engineer/producer. http://ping.fm/ClRd2

Rocktopia: Fireworks Magazine Online #45 - Interview with Bloodbound

Fireworks Magazine Official Website: Issue 45. Interview with Bloodbound by Ian Johnson. Bloodbound are back with their fourth album and third singer (Urban Breed was in the band twice, either side of a stint from former Jaded Heart frontman Michael Bormann). So Ian Johnson contacted Frederik Bergh to find out what the band have been doing over the last few years, and how having so many singers might have affected them. Over to Fredrik ... read the full interview on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/2o6uQ

Rocktopia NEWS: Fireworks Magazine #45 is OUT NOW!

Rocktopia News: Fireworks Magazine 45 out now! The brand new issue of Fireworks is yet another 96 page stunning full colour glossy magazine covering the best in Classic Rock, AOR, Melodic Rock, Progressive Rock and Glam. Issue 45 features: 3 page Whitesnake cover story, exclusive interview with Francis Rossi, Duff McKagan’s Loaded, Within Temptation, Thunder, Brian Robertson, New York Dolls, Hinder, Joe Lynn Turner, Bonfire, Kingdom Come, King Kobra, Mr Mister and many more. Plus in depth reviews, and FREE 17 track cover CD featuring BRAND NEW TRACKS from Whitesnake, Bonfire, The Poodles, U.D.O. and more! All for only £4.99! Visit the official Firefest Magazine site at www.rocktopia.net to purchase a copy or use our newsagent locator to find your nearest participating WH Smith, McColls or Martins store. Now available at over 400 shops across the UK! http://ping.fm/G9E8c
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Rocktopia NEWS: AC/DC to be screened in London

Rocktopia News: AC/DC devotees from all over the globe will descend upon London’s legendary HMV Hammersmith Apollo for the exclusive world premiere of AC/DC Live At River Plate on Friday May 6, 2011. Shot entirely in HD with 32 cameras, fans will experience the thunderous excitement and intensity of AC/DC Live At River Plate on the UK’s largest movie screen (roughly the equivalent of 4 double decker buses stacked). AC/DC Live At River Plate definitively chronicles the band’s massive Black Ice World Tour and the history of one of rock music’s best live acts. Fans can enter for a chance to win tickets to this once in a lifetime event. http://ping.fm/CbpSC

Rocktopia NEWS: Chicago To Play Greatest Hits

Rocktopia News: Platinum selling, award winning group Chicago will play a special greatest hits show at London’s HMV Hammersmith Apollo. The one off gig, scheduled for on July 6, is likely to feature the worldwide number one If You Leave Me Now. Other classics include Baby, What A Big Surprise, Hard To Say I’m Sorry and Will You Still Love Me? Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday, April 15 and are priced between £39 and £45. Read the full article on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/kw0YB

Rocktopia - NEWS: Deep Purple Update: UK Concerts With Orchestra Announced

Rocktopia News: Deep Purple, one of the UK’s greatest rock exports, have today announced that they will be hitting the road this November. Featuring classic members Ian Gillan (lead vocals), Roger Glover (bass) and Ian Paice (drums, percussion) along with Steve Morse (guitar) and Don Airey (keyboards), it will be the bands first time touring with a symphony orchestra in each city. Throughout their career, Deep Purple

Rocktopia: TEN - 'Far Beyond The World' - User CD Review

A Rocktopia user album review by Dairenn Lombard: The last Ten album with Vinny Burns would be one of the best records he ever recorded with Ten; the sixth release by Ten, Far Beyond the World. The album was not without its blemishes, however. “What About Me?” and “Far Beyond the World” deliver our two, obligatory piano ballads but they are enjoyable enough, fortunately. Nevertheless, “Outlawed and Notorious” and especially “Black Shadows” were definitely mediocre at best, and several of the songs suffered from being overly long. Even my favorites. I would have started fading out “Scarlet and the Grey” around the 4:40 mark, and there were two good opportunities for “Last of the Lovers” when Hughes vocals end at the 4:26 mark, or a fadeout during the gorgeous acoustic guitar section thereafter. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/QZsSt
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Rocktopia: TEN - 'Babylon' - User CD Review

A Rocktopia user album review by Dairenn Lombard: After finding success in professional music at 22 in 1989, British rock prodigy Gary Hughes eventually launched TEN in 1996 and released their fifth album, Babylon, in 2000, the second release on the Frontiers label. According to the liner notes, Babylon is about a computer programmer's tragic love affair in a fictitious futuristic setting. As a consequence of Babylon taking the form of a concept album, you have the enigmatic accent of Gavin Fernie as the voice of a radio newscaster narrating the story through a series of reports between the songs. Even if you like concept albums like Operation:Mindcrime by Queensryche, you'll find the execution here to be contrived and cheesy. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/q9QUA

Rocktopia NEWS: Styx and Yes To Co-Headline In The US

Rocktopia News: Multi-platinum rockers Styx and prog-rock legends Yes will pair up for a summer tour extravaganza. The groups will play a 22-city Progressive U.S. Tour starting July 4th and concluding August 3rd in Mountain View, CA. Tickets will go on sale starting the weekend of April 8. Styx, consisting of Tommy Shaw, James JY Young, Lawrence Gowan, Todd Sucherman and Ricky Phillips have a reputation of being one of the hardest working bands in the music world, due in no small part to a healthy selection of tour dates year in, year out. Read the full article on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/1wIcv

Rocktopia NEWS: Track listing for Leps live album revealed

Rocktopia News: Legendary rockers Def Leppard will release a new live album, 'Mirrorball' this summer. It will include a selection of live Def Leppard classics, three brand new studio songs and a bonus DVD. 'Mirrorball' is Def Leppard's first ever live album, recorded during 'The Sparkle Lounge Tour' and features staples like: Let's Get Rocked, Animal, Pour Some Sugar On Me, Nine Lives and Photograph. Three new tracks, Undefeated, Kings Of The World and It's All About Believin' are included at the end. 'Mirrorball' will also be available through digital retailers, the first time their material has officially be made available online. Def Leppard will also be unleashing a brand new website in May, with an aim to be the ultimate Def Leppard fan experience. Read the full article on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/AeciR
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Rocktopia NEWS: Mitch Malloy Firefest & New Solo Album Update

Rocktopia News: Mitch Malloy’s Firefest backing band from Italy consists of Mario Percudani from Hungryheart on guitars/backing vox,Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge of Forever) on keyboards/backing vox, Anna Portalupi (bass) and Alessandro Mori (Drums). Mitch is currently hard at work on his new solo album, which will be on sale in time for Firefest and sees Mitch hoping to outdo his glorious debut in the melodic rock stakes. Having already written songs with Danger Danger's Bruno Ravel and Harem Scarem's Pete Lesperence, Mitch is having a blast writing for this new album. I just care about making a great record and having fun doing it and so far it's a blast just writing the songs, he told Fireworks Editor Bruce Mee. Read the full article on Rocktopia http://ping.fm/57rpa

Rocktopia NEWS: Black Stone Cherry give away MP3

Rocktopia News: Kentucky rockers BLACK STONE CHERRY are giving away a free MP3 track from their forthcoming third studio album, ‘Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea’ this afternoon, Tuesday 5th April. New tune, ‘Blame It On The Boom Boom’ will be available to take away free for 48 hours from 4pm UK time at www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk. BLACK STONE CHERRY recently announced the release of the album’s first single ‘White Trash Millionaire’ which will be available digitally from iTunes, Amazon and Play.com on April 10th. Read the full article on Rocktopia http://ping.fm/kRw8W

Rocktopia NEWS: Fozzy Frontman Dances For His Mom

Rocktopia News: Fozzy vocalist and WWE superstar Chris Jericho danced a rumba to Let It Be during Monday's episode of Dancing With The Stars, a performance Jericho dedicated to his late mother. Jericho stated she was a big fan of dance and TV dancing shows. He chose to be introduced by his given name, Chris Irvine, because it was such a personal song for him. Speaking about his performances on the show, Jericho said, Every performance I do is going to be like a Vegas show. I'm going to make sure that people have a great time. And if my technical abilities aren't great, it doesn't matter; you have to connect with the people that are watching .... Read the full article on Rocktopia http://ping.fm/kXStk

Rocktopia NEWS: Phil Collen Comments on Touring With Heart

Rocktopia News: Noisecreep have conducted an interview with Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen. The following is an excerpt: Q: The last time US audiences saw Def Leppard was on a joint headline tour with POISON. HEART are a very different kind of band. Are you trying to tap into an audience from multiple generations? A: Not really, because we do that anyway. It really came down to who was available. We wanted to have someone with a big catalog of hits. That's worked well for a few years. We went out with Poison, JOURNEY, BRYAN ADAMS, BILLY IDOL, STYX. And Heart seemed to fit the bill. Read the full article on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/6Frw4

Rocktopia NEWS: Ozzy wants a Fun Funeral

Rocktopia News: Ex-Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne wants his funeral to be fun - and he's already thinking about stunts that can be staged for laughs at his memorial. In his Sunday Times Magazine health column, Osbourne wrote, I don't care what they play at my funeral; they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and We Are The Diddymen if it makes 'em happy - but I do want to make sure it's a celebration, not a mope-fest (sic). Rewad the full story on Rocktopia http://ping.fm/BZrHq

Rocktopia NEWS: AOR Heaven Japan Charity CD Track Listing Revealed

Rocktopia News: On March 11, 2011 one of the biggest natural disasters hit the country of our close friends in Japan. The earthquake, the tsunami and the nuclear devastation and the resulting inapprehensible pictures on TV left us in sadness and depression and caused a feeling that something needed to be done to help. The original idea by the label AOR Heaven simply was to release a Melodic Rock/Hard Rock charity album for Japan and to donate all profit of the sales income of this CD to the Red Cross in Japan. Read the full article on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/vq8tw

Rocktopia NEWS: Former Manowar Drummer Passes Away

Rocktopia News: Former Manowar drummer Scott Columbus has died at the age of 54. The cause of death has yet to be revealed. The following message was posted on Columbus' official Facebook site: "For all you to know, this is Scott Columbus's girlfriend of over 3 1/3 years... and I cannot get the words out, but he died today. Please send your thoughts and prayers. I can't believe he is gone. He was the absolute love of my life." Columbus was with the band from 1983 to 1991. He returned four years later, but finally left in 2008. Read the full article on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/QndVH

Rocktopia NEWS: Derek St. Holmes Rejoins Ted Nugent

Rocktopia News: Derek St. Holmes, famed for his work with Ted Nugent's successful late 70's output, has rejoined the line-up. Holmes teamed up with Ted in 1975, playing and singing in the group for three years. He features on several of Ted's most famous albums, including 'Free-For-All', 'Cat Scratch Fever' and the classic 'Double Live Gonzo!' Holmes will augment the trio of Nugent on guitar and vocals, along with Wild Mick Brown and bassist Greg Smith. Read the full article on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/bxEJO

Rocktopia NEWS: Stampede announce new single, album & video taster

Rocktopia News: Newly reformed British melodic rockers STAMPEDE are set to unveil their new single “Having Fun” on April 11th. The track comes from the forthcoming studio album 'A Sudden Impulse', which consequently has a revised release date of May 9th 2011. “Having Fun”, which will be available in digital format only, will be the band's first single in twenty‐eight years. It follows previous singles “The Other Side” (1983) from the studio album Hurricane Town, and “Days of Wine And Roses” (1982), which were released by Polydor Records and received considerable airplay on BBC Radio, Capital Radio and across Europe and Japan. Read the full article on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/hzbxl

Rocktopia News: Steven Tyler Solo Prject?

Rocktopia News: Talk of Aerosmith frontman and American Idol judge Steven Tyler has been circulating after recent events. Daughter Liv Tyler was recently being interviewed on Jimmy Kimmel live in the US, where she commented about her father: We were driving through the hills in his fancy sports car with the top down… he was blasting me his new single; it's amazing and beautiful.. No official announcement has been made and Aerosmith are still due to be releasing a new album in the future. http://ping.fm/KkRQZ

Rocktopia NEWS: Thin Lizzy Welcome New Member

Rocktopia News: Thin Lizzy have brought in Guns N’ Roses guitarist Richard Fortus to replace Vivian Campbell on guitar. Campbell will return to Def Leppard to fulfil commitments after the Slaine Castle show Ireland on May 28. Richard Fortus will be fulfilling the guitar duties when the group play the High Voltage Festival. All the latest news from the world of melodic rock music, updated daily. http://ping.fm/NtW92

What is your favourite music related film? - Discuss in the Rocktopia Forum.

Rocktopia: A new dawn in melodic hard rock. Home of Fireworks Magazine, Firefest 2011 and Transistor Pictures ... What is your favourite rock music related film? What film or TV series has the best montage sequences? Is it Miami Vice, Cobra, Rocky IV or Joel Schumacher's The Lost Boys? Have you heard about obscure 80s B-movies such as The Wraith with its superb soundtrack featuring artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Lion, Honeymoon Suite, Tim Feehan and LaMarca? Discuss your favourite movies in the Rocktopia forum! http://ping.fm/iqOK7

Rocktopia: Shadowman - 'Watching Over You' - CD Review

A Rocktopia album review by Ant Heeks: Since their appearance at 2007's Firefest, British stars FM have become an going concern again with several tours, another Firefest, one album released and another one in the pipeline, so it's quite remarkable that vocalist Steve Overland has found the time to resurrect Shadowman again. Teaming up with guitarist Steve Morris, and once again adding the Thunder rhythm section of bassist Chris Childs and drummer Harry James, this is the fourth release to bear the name, and the follow-up to 2008's 'Ghost In The Mirror', and in short, is an absolute cracker! Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/QGu9b

Rocktopia: Agincourt - 'Angels Of Mons' - CD Review

A Rocktopia album review by Mark Warburton: Birmingham based NWOBHM style metallers Agincourt release their debut album 'Angels Of Mons' through their own label, Agincourt Music. The band were originally formed in 1991 and are heavily influenced by the NWOBHM era of the previous decade, they had two self released EPs, did a recording session for Radio One and the famous Maida Vale Studios in London, and their brand of old school metal was being tipped by may to carry them to big success. At this time the band received substantial airplay at local, national and International level, along with a video appearance on national television, as well as performing live shows at prime venues, but the arrival of grunge effectively killed off their hopes and the band split up in 1997. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/jRsEP
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Rocktopia: Sideburn - 'Jail' - CD Review

A Rocktopia album review by Dave Cockett: Rising phoenix like from the ashes of Swiss metaller’s Genocide (a band who those with long memories may remember released a couple of minor league metal albums during their decade long tenure from the mid 80's to the mid 90's), Sideburn have been active participants on the European live circuit more or less continually since debut ‘Sell Your Soul For Rock 'N' Roll' first emerged during 2007. At home they've pretty much established themselves as a veritable hard rockin’ institution; a plethora of shows with the likes of Kiss, Def Leppard and Motorhead (amongst others) met with growing enthusiasm by a steadily growing legion of fans ... read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/5xbE4