Rocktopia: Madam Adam - 'Madam Adam' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Mike Newdeck: Having been signed once already to Virgin under the moniker Red Handed, it seemed unlikely that the band would be signed by a major label again, such is the stigma associated with leaving a major label. Previously known as Agynst - a name they subsequently dropped when they realised nobody could pronounce it - the band finally broke free from the shackles of Virgin and changed their name to Madam Adam in a bid to hide their past and thus attract other record labels. It worked and Roadrunner signed them. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/OJ7Dr

Rocktopia: Kopek - 'White Collar Lies' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Mike Newdeck: Dublin band Kopek isn't quite the new band you'd expect. They formed almost a decade ago when their average age was just fifteen, won just about every local rock talent competition you can name, as well as taking the coveted award in 2005 for winning the global battle of the bands competition at the Astoria in London. They've toured Switzerland and Belgium and have recently completed a tour in America supporting Saving Abel, My Darkest Days and Hinder. This album has already gained a release in 2010 in America but it was only a matter of time before it was released closer to home. Read the full review on Rocktopia http://ping.fm/03Ehr

Rocktopia Live On Stage: Pallas - Concert Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine concert review by Gary Marshall: Pallas - The Peel, Kingston, UK, 5th February 2011.This was my first visit to The Peel and I was impressed by the intimacy of the venue, but also the facilities and the sound, the latter of which was spot on. Unfortunately, due to so called punters deciding that rather than listen to the band they'd rather chat amongst themselves, I ended up moving after a couple of songs and watching the gig in the Back Bar where fortunately there was a TV feed on a big screen and a small but perfectly adequate PA. So, the big question was whether new vocalist, Paul Mackie, could cut the mustard on the songs we have come to associate with the ubiquitous Alan Reed (who was in attendance). Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/fzazs

Rocktopia NEWS: Roadrunner offer free Download MP3 sample pack

Rocktopia NEWS: Roadrunner Records are giving their fans the ultimate Download Festival warm-up with an MP3 Sampler featuring a track from the current album of each of the label’s bands performing at the festival. The sampler, which is available over at Roadrunner UK’s official Facebook in exchange for liking the page, features the following tracks. Read the full news on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/GtArj

Rocktopia - Trust Company - 'Dreaming In Black And White' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Mike Newdeck: After releasing the gold certified album 'The Lonely Position of Neutral' in 2002, Trust Company were unceremoniously pulled out of touring by the label to record the follow up 'True Parallels'. The writing and recording process was rushed, yet the album release was unbelievably delayed by ten months. After all the fuss Geffen chose rather oddly not to promote the album and although it achieved minor success through the one and only single 'Stronger', it failed to reach the heights of its predecessor. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/qEAhO

Rocktopia: Demon's Eye - 'The Stranger Within' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Sue Ashcroft: Someone once said to me that no music is unique, but it is all uniquely derivative – I can't really say that about Germany's Demon's Eye as, considering they have been a Deep Purple tribute band for over thirteen years, they couldn't sound like anything else really. However, this is a collection of original tracks and, just to add authenticity to the whole Purple/Rainbow comparisons, they have enlisted former Rainbow vocalist Doogie White to sing on it and also to write the lyrics for the title track. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/1HqLD

Rocktopia: Trust Company - 'Dreaming In Black And White' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Mike Newdeck: After releasing the gold certified album 'The Lonely Position of Neutral' in 2002, Trust Company were unceremoniously pulled out of touring by the label to record the follow up 'True Parallels'. The writing and recording process was rushed, yet the album release was unbelievably delayed by ten months. After all the fuss Geffen chose rather oddly not to promote the album and although it achieved minor success through the one and only single 'Stronger', it failed to reach the heights of its predecessor. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/FO69w

Rocktopia: The Art Of Dying - 'Vices And Virtues' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Mike Newdeck: There's definitely something in the water in Lake Michigan, with anything half decent in the modern rock genre invariably coming from a Canadian band. Add to that long list Vancouver band 'The Art of Dying'. After winning the Vancouver Fox Seeds competition (previous winners include Nickelback, Faber Drive and Matthew Good) in 2005 'The Art of Dying released the independent self-titled debut in 2006 and the resulting single 'Get Through This'. Five of those songs have been reworked and re-recorded for this their major label debut ('Get Thru This', 'I Will Be There', 'You Don't Know Me', 'Inside It's Raining' - now simply 'Raining' - and 'Completely'). Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/e43wv

Rocktopia Live On Stage: The Cult - Concert Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine live review by Mark Wharburton: The Cult, Manchester Academy, Manchester (UK), 30th January 2011. In walked the band after a short musical intro, against a backdrop of stars and a skull and crossbones,and struck into a new Cult track 'Every Man And Woman Is A Star'. Astbury strode quickly and confidently across the stage channelling the late great rocker Jim Morrison with long wavy locks, a mix of darkness and mystique with his Hells Angel attire, black leather gloved hands and a dead furry friend dangling on his belt, with his requisite cowboy boots. Whilst Billy Duffy under the white shaft of light with his white Gretsch guitar shining brightly, bearing more than a passing resemblance to Gordon Ramsey. The backdrop now changed to a rolling silent movie which played throughout the whole show, from war torn images to Diva's of music, the 60's, right through to American Indians and plenty m!
ore evocative imagery. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/aEWw8

Rocktopia - Live On Stage: Devin Townsend Project / Aeon Zen - Concert Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine concert review by Phil Ashcroft: Devin Townsend Project / Aeon Zen, Academy 2, Manchester (UK), 6th March 2011. In these very pages I've been raving about Aeon Zen and their young multi-instrumentalist Rich Hinks since I first heard his/their second album 'The Face Of The Unknown', and being that they were basically a one man band with guest vocalists and rarely ever played a live gig, I wasn't really expecting to see them anytime soon, not least as support to the enigmatic Devin Townsend. In the live band Hinks is content to play bass and sing backing vocals along with singer Andi Kravljaca (Silent Call), guitarist Matt Shepherd, drummer Steve Burton, and last but not least, Dragonforce keyboard player Vadim Pruzhanov. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/Mwtmj
ownsend-project-aeon-zen&Itemid=125

Rocktopia: Liam Davison - 'A Treasure Of Well-Set Jewels' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: It is a rare occurrence to receive the promo of a new album in the morning, and have the opportunity of speaking, unplanned, with the artist concerned later the same day. Better known as a guitarist with Mostly Autumn, Liam Davison was attending the Best Of The Year awards show at the Classic Rock Society, and it was after the band had won the 'Best Band' and 'Best Album' categories (and several others individually or collectively) that I had the chance to speak with the slightly diffident subject of this review. 'Treasure' has been a long-time in coming he confided, and would not have happened but for the encouragement of various people and also Wymer Records. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/0l7SW
mid=121

Rocktopia: Ghost - 'Opus Eponymous' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ray Paul: There are a number of bands doing the rounds under the title of Ghost, but none like the version from Stockholm. The band themselves are nameless and dressed in skull face paint and hoods, and they offer a macabre mixture of gothic black metal with commercial overtones. Beginning in fine fashion with a haunting church organ piece called 'Deus Culpa' its quite clear the band have decided on a mood to their personas that takes us back to the dark ages. Read the full review on Rocktopia http://ping.fm/iP1QQ

Rocktopia: Oliver Weers - 'Evil's Back' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: For those who are unfamiliar with the name, Oliver Weers is a Copenhagen based vocalist who got his first major break when he appeared on the Danish version of pop reality show The X Factor – if you haven't seen it, check out his rendition of the Queen classic 'The Show Must Go On' on the web – and whilst he didn't actually win (then again, not winning never did Chris Daughtry any harm!), it did bring his undoubted vocal talents to the attention of the hard rock world. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/GZpa4

Rocktopia: Brian Robertson - 'Diamonds And Dirt' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Sue Ashcroft: I've always had a soft spot for anything Thin Lizzy related and none more so than for Robbo – Brian Robertson has inspired guitarists the world over during his time in Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, and in Wild Horses with former Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain. What I want to know is - why on earth has it taken so long for him to release a solo album? Considering the musicians on this offering you couldn't really expect it to be anything other than a hit, but the quality of the songs is just immense and Brian will certainly quell any nay-sayers with this tremendous album. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/qKoz8

Rocktopia: Uncle Sid - 'Eye Rock' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Duncan Jamieson: Five years since their 'Rock The Universe' album and there's been a change of personnel at the mic stand. Wolf Child's delivery wasn't a perfect fit for their brand of classic American hard rock and metal so they've sought to remedy that with the introduction of Lor Dane. There's no doubt she's got powerful lungs and can reach those high notes, but to these ears she over sings and it becomes caterwauling. Over an album it's very draining, turning what should be a listening pleasure into somewhat of a chore. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/f1Beq

Rocktopia: Neversin - 'Neversin' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Duncan Jamieson: Although this is their first internationally it's actually the third album from the Italian band Neversin. Having started out, as many bands do, as a tribute band, they've found their own sound along the way. It's an eclectic mix, sometimes easy to like but difficult to love. Imagine if Green Day decided to add Iron Maiden style guitar runs and a little melodic rock sheen then you'll get an idea of what to expect from Neversin. 'Jail' combines all these elements in one song and mixing classic rock with more modern styles is clearly their game plan. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/V1ANu

Rocktopia: Interview with Oliver Weers

Rocktopia Interviews: Oliver Weers. In spite of all the things one might say about the competence of so-called 'celebrities', produced on a massive scale by all the TV talent shows of today – sometimes a real pearl appears among the participants of such competition. Without a doubt, such a 'pearl' emerged in one of the editions of the Danish version of X-Factor in the person of Oliver Weers. Soon after that, there was a terrific debut album entitled 'Get Ready' (2008), then supporting Motley Crue and Whitesnake. Read the full interview on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/4UDhd

Rocktopia - Live On Stage: Iron Maiden - Concert Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine concert review by Brent Rusche: Iron Maiden, Singapore Indoor Stadium (Singapore), 15th February 2011.Although loved by some and loathed by many, business travel can offer some unforeseen benefits, and this time it did not disappoint. On assignment for my day job (and no, journalism is unfortunately not how I pay the bills), I was afforded the chance to witness history in the making…for the first time ever in their illustrious 30 year career, Iron Maiden performs in Singapore! This gig represented the second stop on the latest leg of the tour in support of their latest release, 'The Final Frontier'. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/QD9Bx

Rocktopia: Jakks - 'Fire' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Michael Monroe - 'Sensory Overdrive' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Michael Monroe - 'Sensory Overdrive' - CD Review

Rocktopia: D'Ercole - 'Rock Scar' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Armonight - 'Suffering And Passion' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Jakks - 'Fire' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Michael Monroe - 'Sensory Overdrive' - CD Review

Rocktopia: D'Ercole - 'Rock Scar' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Jakks - 'Fire' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Armonight - 'Suffering And Passion' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Michael Monroe - 'Sensory Overdrive' - CD Review

Rocktopia: D'Ercole - 'Rock Scar' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Michael Monroe - 'Sensory Overdrive' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Isabel Loeches: There was a big expectation after Hanoi Rocks broke up regarding what's next? for Michael Monroe, and his comeback last year saw the live album ' But now 'Sensory Overdrive', the long awaited studio album, is the candy that we sweet-tooths have been salivating for. The recordhas been produced in Los Angeles by the legendary Jack Douglas (who has worked in the past with big names like Cheap Trick, Patti Smith and John Lennon amongst others). Michael has surrounded himself with a great bunch of musicians consisting of his old mate, ex-Hanoi Rocks bassist Sami Yaffa (New York Dolls, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Mad Juana), whom he already worked with outside of Hanoi Rock in his 90's project Demolition 23, Ginger from The Wildhearts and ex-New York Dolls guitarist Steve Conte (Company of Wolves, Willy DeVille) on the guitars completing the combo with d!
rummer Karl Rosqvist (Danzig). No doubt that this album comes along with the quality promise. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/VA1vA

Rocktopia: Jakks - 'Fire' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ian Johnson: I really hate to say anything negative about a band who play melodic rock but if Jakks want to make it in this genre, then they will have to get rid of singer Alec Michels I'm afraid. And before the world gets up in arms by this statement, I checked with a couple of other people who have this CD and they said the same thing. In fact I actually drew the short straw with this review as the others I spoke of didn't want to review 'Fire' because of Mr. Michels. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/rcbkI

Rocktopia: Armonight - 'Suffering And Passion' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Armonight - 'Suffering And Passion' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magzine / Rocktopia album review by Faye Coulman: As its brooding and ever so slightly clichéd title suggests, 'Suffering And Passion' contains all the essential ingredients for eyeliner-flecked, goth metal perfection. Having sparked glowing comparisons with genre titans Within Temptation and Tarja, these fledgling metallers are already causing quite a stir across the continent. But although the band's debut deals in a winning repertoire of honeyed female vocals, metal and maudlin piano, the sum of these trademark parts is riddled with various shortcomings. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/oUO5Z

Rocktopia: Jakks - 'Fire' - CD Review

Rocktopia: D'Ercole - 'Rock Scar' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: D'Ercole, the band set up by Damian D'Ercole and Phil Vincent, released the follow up to the 2010 D'Ercole album 'The Art Of Self Destruction'. The name of the new album is 'Rock Scar' and this CD is another fine example of a group of like minded people who get a kick out of writing melodic rock, which they obviously love, and then recording it for the many other lovers of the genre. Ok, Ok I know nothing on here is that new or that original in it's outlook, but I don't really care about that because D'Ercole have recorded twelve highly melodic and decidedly catchy songs that anyone who calls themselves a fan of hard rock will want to hear. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/B7SFa

Rocktopia: D'Ercole - 'Rock Scar' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Jakks - 'Fire' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ian Johnson: I really hate to say anything negative about a band who play melodic rock but if Jakks want to make it in this genre, then they will have to get rid of singer Alec Michels I'm afraid. And before the world gets up in arms by this statement, I checked with a couple of other people who have this CD and they said the same thing. In fact I actually drew the short straw with this review as the others I spoke of didn't want to review 'Fire' because of Mr. Michels. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/7tMlA

Rocktopia: Armonight - 'Suffering And Passion' - CD Review

Rocktopia: D'Ercole - 'Rock Scar' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: D'Ercole, the band set up by Damian D'Ercole and Phil Vincent, released the follow up to the 2010 D'Ercole album 'The Art Of Self Destruction'. The name of the new album is 'Rock Scar' and this CD is another fine example of a group of like minded people who get a kick out of writing melodic rock, which they obviously love, and then recording it for the many other lovers of the genre. Ok, Ok I know nothing on here is that new or that original in it's outlook, but I don't really care about that because D'Ercole have recorded twelve highly melodic and decidedly catchy songs that anyone who calls themselves a fan of hard rock will want to hear. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/GPK8S

Rocktopia: Armonight - 'Suffering And Passion' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magzine / Rocktopia album review by Faye Coulman: As its brooding and ever so slightly clichéd title suggests, 'Suffering And Passion' contains all the essential ingredients for eyeliner-flecked, goth metal perfection. Having sparked glowing comparisons with genre titans Within Temptation and Tarja, these fledgling metallers are already causing quite a stir across the continent. But although the band's debut deals in a winning repertoire of honeyed female vocals, metal and maudlin piano, the sum of these trademark parts is riddled with various shortcomings. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/zRejR

Rocktopia: Michael Monroe - 'Sensory Overdrive' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Isabel Loeches: There was a big expectation after Hanoi Rocks broke up regarding what's next? for Michael Monroe, and his comeback last year saw the live album ' But now 'Sensory Overdrive', the long awaited studio album, is the candy that we sweet-tooths have been salivating for. The recordhas been produced in Los Angeles by the legendary Jack Douglas (who has worked in the past with big names like Cheap Trick, Patti Smith and John Lennon amongst others). Michael has surrounded himself with a great bunch of musicians consisting of his old mate, ex-Hanoi Rocks bassist Sami Yaffa (New York Dolls, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Mad Juana), whom he already worked with outside of Hanoi Rock in his 90's project Demolition 23, Ginger from The Wildhearts and ex-New York Dolls guitarist Steve Conte (Company of Wolves, Willy DeVille) on the guitars completing the combo with d!
rummer Karl Rosqvist (Danzig). No doubt that this album comes along with the quality promise. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/DjPPC

Rocktopia: Paul Young - 'Chronicles' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Paul Young - 'Chronicles' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Emerald Sun - 'Regeneration' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: For a sextet that originally coalesced in Thessaloniki, Greece as long ago as 1998 to only now be releasing their second album, when five of the six original members are still in the present line-up, has to be considered unusual. Indeed, the one casualty (the band's vocalist) only left after the present album had been started. So, unusual or not, what can be guaranteed, and is indeed self evident as soon as the music begins to unfold, is that Emerald Sun not only play their particular brand of melodic power metal with class and panache, but have also penned seven hugely enjoyable and succinct songs (plus one instrumental) each clocking in at under five minutes, plus one quite remarkable twelve minute magnum opus also featuring guest vocalists Mariangela Arapoglidou and Vagelis Maranis (Sanvoisen – remember them? – also responsible for co-producing th!
e album with the band). Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/7A2MF

Rocktopia: Kingfisher Sky - 'Skin Of The Earth' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: The debut album 'Hallway Of Dreams' from this Dutch ensemble featuring Judith Rijnveld on vocals and ex-Within Temptation drummer Ivar De Graaf, was a somewhat disconcerting mixture of progressive and power metal and bombast with much gentler, idiosyncratic and melodious material that reminded me of a cross between classic Renaissance, even older Pentangle and some of the more contemporary Blackmore's Night material – without being a precise clone of any of them. Despite this potentially uneasy amalgam, it was clearly sufficient for the organisers of the first 'Fused' prog metal festival to give them the headlining slot on the third day. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/cDKz4

Rocktopia: Exclusive interview with Vanity Blvd.

Rocktopia: Kingfisher Sky - 'Skin Of The Earth' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: The debut album 'Hallway Of Dreams' from this Dutch ensemble featuring Judith Rijnveld on vocals and ex-Within Temptation drummer Ivar De Graaf, was a somewhat disconcerting mixture of progressive and power metal and bombast with much gentler, idiosyncratic and melodious material that reminded me of a cross between classic Renaissance, even older Pentangle and some of the more contemporary Blackmore's Night material – without being a precise clone of any of them. Despite this potentially uneasy amalgam, it was clearly sufficient for the organisers of the first 'Fused' prog metal festival to give them the headlining slot on the third day. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/tSm8A

Rocktopia: Paul Young - 'Chronicles' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: The untimely death of Paul Young, the former singer with Sad Café and Mike and The Mechanics in 2000, was another great loss to the music world. And things would not have changed but for the fact, that not long after his death a few of his friends were going through his home studio and found what turned out to be a treasure trove of unreleased and unfinished songs by the man. Step forward the good guys Khalil and Barrie at Escape Music who decided to polish up and finish off the tracks in question and let fans of Paul hear what he was working on before he died. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/StUXR

Rocktopia: Emerald Sun - 'Regeneration' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: For a sextet that originally coalesced in Thessaloniki, Greece as long ago as 1998 to only now be releasing their second album, when five of the six original members are still in the present line-up, has to be considered unusual. Indeed, the one casualty (the band's vocalist) only left after the present album had been started. So, unusual or not, what can be guaranteed, and is indeed self evident as soon as the music begins to unfold, is that Emerald Sun not only play their particular brand of melodic power metal with class and panache, but have also penned seven hugely enjoyable and succinct songs (plus one instrumental) each clocking in at under five minutes, plus one quite remarkable twelve minute magnum opus also featuring guest vocalists Mariangela Arapoglidou and Vagelis Maranis (Sanvoisen – remember them? – also responsible for co-producing th!
e album with the band). Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/4Dvy3

Rocktopia: Exclusive interview with Vanity Blvd.

Rocktopia: Exclusive interview with Vanity Blvd.

Rocktopia Interviews: Vanity Blvd - In a rock’n’roll world considerably represented, or even dominated by men, female-fronted rock bands were more or less an exception to the rule. However, bands such as Heart, Saraya, Femme Fatale and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts proved that where the loud guitars and heavy sound appear, there is no place for sexism. In the 00’s, the situation is no different – among the newly founded glam/sleaze bands the female-fronted ones are the definite minority. Still, such bands as Swedish rockers Vanity Blvd, fronted by a charismatic singer Cindi Savage, prove the old rules to be completely wrong. Read the full EXCLUSIVE interview on Rocktopia, http://ping.fm/WmImO

Rocktopia: Exclusive interview with Vanity Blvd.

Rocktopia Interviews: Vanity Blvd - In a rock’n’roll world considerably represented, or even dominated by men, female-fronted rock bands were more or less an exception to the rule. However, bands such as Heart, Saraya, Femme Fatale and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts proved that where the loud guitars and heavy sound appear, there is no place for sexism. In the 00’s, the situation is no different – among the newly founded glam/sleaze bands the female-fronted ones are the definite minority. Still, such bands as Swedish rockers Vanity Blvd, fronted by a charismatic singer Cindi Savage, prove the old rules to be completely wrong. Read the full EXCLUSIVE interview on Rocktopia, http://ping.fm/Gr1fE

Rocktopia - John Wetton to issue start studded new solo album

Frontiers Records is proud to announce the release of the sixth solo album by esteemed British singer/songwriter John Wetton; RAISED IN CAPTIVITY is due out on July 1st in Europe and the 12th in North America. The album was recorded in Los Angeles during a brief break between touring commitments and is produced and mixed by multi-instrumentalist Billy Sherwood (Yes, World Trade, Yoso). The new offering finds Wetton teaming up with current and former musical partners, including some of the biggest names from the British music scene over the past four decades: Genesis’ Steve Hackett, King Crimson’s Robert Fripp, Deep Purple’s Steve Morse and many more. http://ping.fm/SddeS

Rocktopia - Airrace to go 'Back To The Start' with new album

Rocktopia - Airrace to go 'Back To The Start' with new album

Rocktopia - Airrace to go 'Back To The Start' with new album

Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of Airrace comeback album entitled Back to the Start on July 1 in Europe and August 23 in North America. Mostly known in the Hard Rock circles for being the band that saw the musical debut from John Bonham's son Jason on the band's debut album for Atco Shaft of Light, Airrace was instead brainchild of former More guitarist Laurie Mansworth. http://ping.fm/wG8LB

Rocktopia: Clandestine - 'The Invalid' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ant Heeks: Formed in 2006, female fronted Clandestine are creating some serious waves in their native Los Angeles, winning the title of 'Best Female Fronted Band' from Rock City News magazine after the release of their self-titled EP. Offering a diverse mixture of contemporary progressive metal, electronica and punk, debut album 'The Invalid' is set to boost the band into the major league, mixed by Sylvia Massey (Tool, System Of A Down.) I will readily admit that this type of music is not something I normally find comfortable listening at all, in fact I find it about as comfortable as falling down the stairs, but there is something quite compelling about Clandestine's amalgamation of the likes of Evanescence, Dream Theater, Tool, Rush, Linkin Park and Lacuna Coil that makes me want to listen more, and listening more is what you need to do with this album as it is not an ins!
tant fix, but infinitely more rewarding with each outing. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/51TFH

Rocktopia: Thunder - 'Rough & Ready' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ant Heeks: As Thunder have released more official live CD's than they have studio albums, when I first heard that they were releasing another one I initially wondered if we really needed it? But this one is slightly different from the norm. This is a 4-disc pack containing 2 shows recorded on the 2005 'Magnificent Seventh' tour, but varying in sound quality. Discs 1 & 2, 'Rough' were recorded directly from the mixing desk at Club Citta, Kawasaki, Japan, and obviously contain no overdubs or mix tweaks – to all intents and purposes it's a bootleg, and because of this there is minimal crowd noise. Discs 3 & 4, 'Ready', were recorded at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, and is a full multi-track recording. Read the review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/s5NXv

Rocktopia: Bombay Black - 'Love You To Death' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: It's been over two years since previous album 'Psycho Magnet' wiped its feet and received a review from my colleague Neil Daniels in Fireworks 34. It came with a production from the renowned Beau Hill but Neil suggested that overall it had no awards for originality or song writing although overall his conclusion was that it's a bloody fun album. This time around, band members Ty Sims and Erik Johnson have successfully resumed production duties and I wouldn't exactly describe 'Love You To Death' as a fun album at all as lyrically it visits some very dark places and vocalist and main song writer Erik Johnson seems to have used the album to exorcise quite a few demons! Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/5WsvB

Rocktopia NEWS: FIREFEST 2010 Live CDs - Now Available for Pre-Order

Rocktopia NEWS: FIREFEST 2010 Live CDs - Now Available for Pre-Order

Rocktopia NEWS: FIREFEST 2010 Live CDs - Now Available for Pre-Order

Rocktopia News: FIREFEST 2010 Live CDs - Now available for pre-order! Shotgun Symphony - 'Highway to Tomorrow', Bangalore Choir - 'All or Nothin'', Strangeways - 'Where Do We Go From Here'. As with all Firefest releases these albums are limited to 1000 copies of each and once they are gone, they are gone. Read the full press release on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/1c3pE

Rocktopia NEWS: FIREFEST 2010 Live CDs - Now Available for Pre-Order

Rocktopia News: FIREFEST 2010 Live CDs - Now available for pre-order! Shotgun Symphony - 'Highway to Tomorrow', Bangalore Choir - 'All or Nothin'', Strangeways - 'Where Do We Go From Here'. As with all Firefest releases these albums are limited to 1000 copies of each and once they are gone, they are gone. Read the full press release on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/Tn8uJ

Rocktopia: House Of Lords - 'World Upside Down' - User CD Review

A Rocktopia user album review by Dairenn Lombard: 'World Upside Down' echoes shades of Dokken, a little Yngwie Malmsteen, and even Eddie Money. Yet, this is another masterpiece by Kal Stahlenberg, his mastering and Dennis Ward’s legendary mix delivering a modern sound that is sharp and heavy. Melodic Rock fans will enjoy founding member Gregg Giuffria's keyboard synthesizer work, but it is tasteful and far from contrived. Rather than overbearing, it heightens the definition of the melody in each song. However, my favorite audio aspect of this record is the rock solid, heavy and steady drum work by B. J. Zampa from his studio in Connecticut where he also tracked the legendary Jimi Bell. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/vzbbM

Rocktopia: House Of Lords - 'World Upside Down' - User CD Review

A Rocktopia user album review by Dairenn Lombard: 'World Upside Down' echoes shades of Dokken, a little Yngwie Malmsteen, and even Eddie Money. Yet, this is another masterpiece by Kal Stahlenberg, his mastering and Dennis Ward’s legendary mix delivering a modern sound that is sharp and heavy. Melodic Rock fans will enjoy founding member Gregg Giuffria's keyboard synthesizer work, but it is tasteful and far from contrived. Rather than overbearing, it heightens the definition of the melody in each song. However, my favorite audio aspect of this record is the rock solid, heavy and steady drum work by B. J. Zampa from his studio in Connecticut where he also tracked the legendary Jimi Bell. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/Bg1Kj

Rocktopia: Electric Boys - 'And Them Boys Done Swang' - CD Review

A Rocktopia album review by Alexandra Mrozowska: There are two possible scenarios following every band's reunion - in sort, it's simply make or break. While many legendary bands follow the second path, prompting their listeners to wonder whether to laugh or cry over the newly released records, Swedish funk metal legends Electric Boys have proven their class along with 'And Them Boys Done Swang', scheduled to be released on June the 3rd via Escape Music. After a long hiatus, preceded with the more hard rock oriented record 'Freewheelin' (1994), this time Conny Bloom and the boys once again went for a mix of hard rock and funk metal with a significant touch of 60s psychedelia and Beatles’ style while recording their latest album. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/alhUc
21

Rocktopia: Robin George's Lovepower - 'LovePower And Peace' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Imagine an album that has a cast list that contains among many others Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep), Pete Way (UFO/Waysted), Sean Harris and Brian Tatler (both Diamond Head), Conny Bloom (The Electric Boys/Hanoi Rocks), 'Fast' Eddie Clarke (Motorhead/Fastway), John Wetton (Asia/King Crimson) Spike (Quireboys), Chris Slade (AC/DC / Asia), Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann) and Pino Palladino (Genesis / The Who). Add to that list hugely respected soul singers Jaki Graham and Ruby Turner and saxophonist Mel Collins (Bad Company / 10CC /Dire Straits), honestly I could go on, but you get the idea by now ... read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/zxROu

Rocktopia: Maiden uniteD - 'Mind The Acoustic Pieces' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Steven Reid: Coming together in 2006 at the request of the Dutch Iron Maiden fan club, Maiden uniteD are a star studded tribute to Steve Harris' troops, however, as you'll have gathered by the album title, 'Mind The Acoustic Pieces' is no ordinary set of covers. Instead Maiden uniteD have completely reworked and rearranged the entire 'Piece Of Mind' album into a stripped back, acoustic setting where the tone is set by acoustic guitar and piano. It is an unusual idea, but one that works spectacularly well, to the extent that it actually has you completely reappraising the songs and appreciating all over again just how strong the less celebrated tracks on this album, such as 'Flight Of Icarus', 'Die With Your Boots On' and 'Quest For Fire', really are. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/IKb89
910:cd-reviews&id=1281:maiden-united-min-the-acoustic-pieces&Itemid=121

Rocktopia: China - 'Light Up The Dark' - CD Review

A ROcktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: This may just happen to be the melodic hard rock band from Switzerland that is not so far represented in your collections. (I am making the assumption that if you are reading this magazine then you have at least one CD by Gotthard, and likely also something by Krokus…) The reformed band: singer Eric St Michaels along with ever-present guitarist Claudio Matteo, long-standing bassist Brian 'Beat' Kofmehl and new drummer Billy La Pietra recruited second guitarist Mack Schildknecht and the quintet headed into the studio to record the band's first new studio album for fifteen years. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/fa8nL

Rocktopia - Live On Stage: Europe - Concert Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine concert review by Monica Castedo-Lopez: Europe, O2 Sheperd's Bush Empire, London (UK), 19th February 2011. Sweden's biggest hard rock export returned to the UK with the Balls 'N' Banners tour exactly one year since their last tour on these shores. With no new album to promote, they nonetheless succeeded in selling out the Shepherd's Bush Empire and thrilled the audience with a formidable performance. In fact, this is one of the best shows I've seen from the band and it couldn't have been a better moment as they filmed this gig for a live DVD and CD release later in the year. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/9mNNc

Rocktopia: Mindflow - 'With Bare Hands'

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ant Heeks: Brazilians Mindflow were first formed back in 2006 by guitarist Rodrigo Hidalgo and drummer Rafael Pensado, while living in Australia of all places. Upon their return to Brazil they added bassist Ricardo Winandy and began to develop their sound as an instrumental unit. Then a producer friend of the band bought in vocalist Danilo Herbert, and began writing and recording. Two independent self-produced albums surfaced, then for third album 'Destructive Device' the band reached out to the U.S.A. to enhance their reputation, and enlisted producer Ben Grosse (Marilyn Manson, Megadeth, Slipknot etc.). Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/ZPNLJ

Rocktopia: Chrome Molly - 'You Can't Have It All ...' / 'Stick It Out' (re-issue) - CD Review

Rocktopia: Kingdom Come - 'Rendered Waters' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Kingdom Come - 'Rendered Waters' - CD Review

Rocktopia: Kingdom Come - 'Rendered Waters' - CD Review

=?iso-8859-1?Q?Rocktopia:_Dalriada_-_'Ig=C3=A9ret'_-_CD_Review?=

Rocktopia: Chrome Molly - 'You Can't Have It All ...' / 'Stick It Out' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by John Tucker: A band that never really fulfilled their potential, Leicestershire's Chrome Molly arrived too late to capitalise on the NWOBHM, although guitarist John Antcliffe had been a one-time member of Blitzkrieg (and original drummer Chris Green jumped ship to join the 'Krieg when Brian Ross reformed the band in 1985). So with Mark Godfrey behind the drumkit vocalist Steve Hawkins, bassist Nick Wastell and Antcliffe landed a three-album deal with Powerstation Records – the Stockport County of record labels – and fulfilled two-thirds of their contract before being dumped. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/uOhGK

Rocktopia: Dalriada - 'Ig�ret' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: Dalriada are a Hungarian folk metal/rock group and this is their sixth studio album to date, though this is my first experience of the band. What is different about Dalriada is the fact that they sing in their native tongue, which adds a whole new dimension to what you're listening to. Also they use a vast array of musical instruments, including fiddles, accordions, flutes and assorted stringed instruments which bring out a whole different slant, style, sound and attitude to your usual folk metal recording. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/Bbthg

Rocktopia: Dalriada - 'Ig�ret' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: Dalriada are a Hungarian folk metal/rock group and this is their sixth studio album to date, though this is my first experience of the band. What is different about Dalriada is the fact that they sing in their native tongue, which adds a whole new dimension to what you're listening to. Also they use a vast array of musical instruments, including fiddles, accordions, flutes and assorted stringed instruments which bring out a whole different slant, style, sound and attitude to your usual folk metal recording. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/76Vfe

Rocktopia: Chrome Molly - 'You Can't Have It All ...' / 'Stick It Out' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by John Tucker: A band that never really fulfilled their potential, Leicestershire's Chrome Molly arrived too late to capitalise on the NWOBHM, although guitarist John Antcliffe had been a one-time member of Blitzkrieg (and original drummer Chris Green jumped ship to join the 'Krieg when Brian Ross reformed the band in 1985). So with Mark Godfrey behind the drumkit vocalist Steve Hawkins, bassist Nick Wastell and Antcliffe landed a three-album deal with Powerstation Records – the Stockport County of record labels – and fulfilled two-thirds of their contract before being dumped. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/5bfbU

Rocktopia: Bloodbound - 'Unholy Cross' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: Bloodbound are back with album number four and as much as I liked their first three CD's, 'Unholy Cross' blows them all away because for me this is the album the band have been threatening to make since the debut 'Nosferatu'. The strength of this new release is in the songwriting and consistency of the music, which is way above what the band have done before, and I found myself happily singing away to the songs after only a few play throughs of the album. Firstly though I will say that if you don't like bands such as Edguy, Helloween or Maiden then you should steer as far away from this release as possible, yet if you like any the bands I have just mentioned and/or the music on the previous Bloodbound albums, then you just can't go wrong with this new release. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/s9dzM
e&id=1274:bloodbound-unholy-cross&catid=910:cd-reviews&Itemid=121

Rocktopia: Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone - 'Fighting Back' / 'Children Of Madness' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by John Tucker: The trouble with Paul Di'Anno's post Iron Maiden career is that he's never really settled to anything. His first solo outing following Maiden's now largely-rehabilitated 'Killers' was a soft-rock pick-and-mix which suited neither his voice nor his fans, followed by the Gogmagog fiasco. Battlezone came next, then Killers, then various attempts to capitalise on his Iron Maiden past , and all the while he was morphing from the frontman Geoff Barton described with roughly hewn stable-lad charm to an Uzi-toting loony who's now been up before the beak for benefit fraud. The only real consistency to his career has been truly bad hair. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/ozSps
iews&Itemid=121

Rocktopia: Manigance - 'Recidive' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: Should language be a barrier to good music? Personally I don't think so, as I have never found listening to a band who perform in their native tongue much of a problem. In my record collection sits many a release by bands who sing in Japanese, Spanish, Italian, Hungarian, French etc and I love them all. Yet one band who do sing in their own language sit head and shoulders above all the rest, a band who I think are one of the premier progressive metal bands doing the rounds at this moment in time, and they are also a band who are criminally overlooked because they do not sing in English - their name is Manigance. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/h4KL1

Rocktopia: Tommy James - 'In Touch' / 'Midnight Rider'

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Steven Reid: This two albums on one CD set continues Angel Air's extensive reissue of Tommy James solo output and as with the other titles already released comes complete with excellent liner notes which have been put together with Tommy's cooperation. By 1976 Tommy James had already had a hugely successful career, penning and performing numerous US hits with his Shondells and also as a solo artist. That success had come through Roulette Records who were owned by mobster Morris Levy, whose label James was desperate to leave, eventually freeing himself from his contract by refusing to write any new songs. Read the full review on Rocktopia http://ping.fm/59LrN

Rocktopia - Live On Stage: Peter Frampton - Concert Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine concert review by Phil Ashcroft: Peter Frampton, Academy 2, Manchester (UK),3rd March 2011. The last time I saw Peter Frampton in Manchester he was playing at the King's Hall in the middle of Belle Vue Zoo Park. It was such a long time ago that my main memories of the day - apart from how powerful the support act Gary Wright was with just three keyboard players and a drummer, and that Frampton encored with the brand new song 'I'm In You' - were the fairground rides and how huge polar bears were. Three and a half decades later I still have a very big soft spot for Peter Frampton (and Gary Wright… and polar bears!) and the thought of him playing an almost three hour set so close to home brought back a lot of happy memories for me. Read the full review on Rocktopia http://ping.fm/bk5H8
temid=125

Rocktopia - Live On Stage: Houston, Serpentine, Vega - Concert Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine concert review by Phil Ashcroft: With the recent upturn in interest in AOR it only stands to reason that there will be younger bands coming through playing music in that style alongside the long-standing well known names of the genre. Hopefully there will be many more gigs like this to come – in fact there will as a six-date tour has already been booked as well as all three of these bands playing at Firefest – but getting three of the best new bands around for the princely sum of £8 is a deal that I'm betting will never be repeated. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/jVioD

Rocktopia: No Gravity - 'Worlds In Collision' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: When the Italian progressive metal band Moonlight Comedy called it a day their guitarist Simone Fiorletta had a vision/idea to record a new album with a slight difference from the usual band formula. His idea being that he would ask some of the best singers in prog metal today to sing on his album. With each of the tracks specifically tailored to the singers talents, Fiorletta would himself write all the music but the singers would then be able to write their own lyrics and vocal melodies for each of the songs that they were given. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/7yT0O

Rocktopia: Twin Spirits - 'Legacy' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ian Johnson: I lost track of keyboard wiz Daniele Liverani after his three part 'Genius Rock Opera' came to an end, and until now Ihad been unaware of his work with Twin Spirits. Thankfully those nice people over at Lion Music sent me this new album by the band and I have realised that I have been missing out on some very interesting progressive metal music. As this is the third album by the band I cannot comment on what the first two releases sound like, but if they are only half as good as 'Legacy' then when I buy them I'm in for a bit of a treat. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/fVkNU

Rocktopia: Salem Hill - 'Pennies In The Karma Jar' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Gary Marshall: Despite owning all their output, Salem Hill had never been a band that featured in my thinking for album of the year or even made it onto the shortlist for such an accolade. I therefore ran through their back catalogue and the realisation dawned that they had what I think of as a particularly American trait, a predilection for throwing in unrelated heavy and off kilter bits into their music under the impression that this passed for Progressive. I am pleased to say that they appear to have eradicated this trait from their music and as a consequence this album makes for an extremely pleasing listen, almost all the way through. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/bbuU8

Rocktopia: Joe Bonamassa - 'Dust Bowl' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Hot on the heels of the massively successful Black Country Communion album, Joe Bonamassa returns with his 12th full length solo release, 'Dust Bowl'. Far from fading under the gaze of public attention that Bonamassa has received since the tender age of 12 when no less than BB King singled him out as a unique talent, Joe has grown with every album and I doubt there is a more inspirational guitarist out there right now. Whether the BCC experience has rubbed off on him or not, 'Dust Bowl' sees Bonamassa add a harder edge to some of the blues based tracks on this album, which results in an album that doesn't only contain phenomenal guitar playing (was there ever any doubt of that?), but twelve fantastic, eclectic songs. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/mGV1s
cd-reviews&Itemid=121

Rocktopia: Red - 'Until We Have Faces' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steve Bott: I have to say I was floored with the quality and immediacy of the debut Red album, 'End Of Silence', back in 2006. An incendiary emotion permeated the material, fusing uncompromising musical aggression and dramatic subtlety to great effect. The 2009 sophomore effort 'Innocence & Instinct', though still full of excellent songs, lacked its predecessors intensity and as such received a lot fewer visits. After just one or two spins of 'Until We Have Faces' I was left wondering whether the bands principal songwriters, Jasen Rauch & Anthony Armstrong, alongside producer Rob Graves, had lost their creative edge as the album just seemed to wash over me, registering very little impact. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/vYvjt

Rocktopia: Tokyo Blade - 'Thousand Men Strong' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Duncan Jamieson: NWOBHM pioneers Tokyo Blade had been off the radar for about a decade before they released 'Live In Germany' in 2009 and now two years on sees them release their first studio album since 1995's 'Burning Down Paradise'. It's good timing as NWOBHM has been undergoing a renaissance over the last couple of years and this record is a triumphant return to form and apparent heir to their classic early records 'Tokyo Blade' and 'Night Of The Blade'. The record sees the introduction of ex-Domain singer Nicolaj Ruhnow. The classically trained baritone has the requisite chops and necessary menace and wails as evidenced on 'Condemned To The Fire' and 'The Ambush' to be a convincing NWOBHM frontman. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/R9KIU
Itemid=121

Rocktopia: Bobby Harrison - 'Anthology' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Steven Reid: Across the thirty songs featured on 'Anthology', the one thing that remains consistent throughout is the impressive, gritty, bluesy howl of Bobby Harrison, a frontman who could undoubtedly sing with the best of them. Whether it is the blues rock of SNAFU, the more funked up Freedom, the out and out funk of some of his solo work or the more in your face rock approach of Nobody's Business, the true stand out performance is always the voice that brings it all together. Harrison first came to prominence with a short sting playing the drums with Procul Harem and while he may not have been in the band long, he did feature on the classic Harem hit, 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale'. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/hnNVh

Rocktopia: Rainbow - 'Rising' (Deluxe Edition) - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Bott: If you're any kind of lover of rock music then the album 'Rising' will need no introduction. Its status as CLASSIC cannot be denied and is totally justified. Since its release 35 years ago it has become one of the most influential, reverential and untouchable pieces of work amongst more contemporary musicians that it is possible to name. Despite containing only 6 songs, with a total running time of just over 33 minutes, it became a benchmark against which all future Rainbow releases were measured (unfairly in my opinion) and is regarded as the pinnacle, in terms of performance, for each of its 5 protagonists. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/ERHE9

Rocktopia: Tommy Bolin - 'Teaser Deluxe' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by James Gaden: I'm a bit stuck with this one. First things first, I absolutely love Tommy Bolin's 'Teaser' album. I think it's an eclectic work of genius and love every note on it from start to finish. What I really wanted was for the album to be remastered. The CD version is old and quiet, it needs some serious pep to bring some sparkle back to such a magnificent record. When I saw 'Teaser' deluxe was coming out, I thought it would be like the Rainbow or Black Sabbath deluxe editions, with a remastered disc and maybe some out-takes or bonus stuff on disc two. Bring it on! But then I discovered that it isn't that at all. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/R0AKH

Rocktopia: Danny Peyronel - 'Make The Monkey Dance' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Steven Reid: For many readers of this web site the name Danny Peyronel may well be a mere footnote in the long and winding history of the band UFO. Peyronel joined the band in 1975 and was gone a year later, however he did play keyboards on the album 'No Heavy Pettin'', as well as contributing to the song writing on a number of tracks, including the singles 'Highway Lady' and 'Can You Roll Her'. That however is only a short part of the Peyronel story. Prior to joining UFO, Danny had been an integral member of the young upstart rockers The Heavy Metal Kids and after his brief stint touring with Schenker, Mogg and Way, Peyronel played with a wide variety of bands, as well as being an in demand song writer, putting together tracks for an eclectic bunch of artists including Meat Loaf, Sade and Mason and Fenn (Nick Mason of Pink Floyd and Rick Fenn 10CC),!
which was sung by none other than Floyd main man David Gilmour. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/vJBix

Rocktopia: Pride Of Lions - 'The Roaring Of Dreams' - User CD Review

A Rocktopia user album review by Deirenn Lombard: This album took me days to warm up to because of some of the arrangements and Toby Hitchcock's voice; you either love it, or you don't. While there are hints of Bobby Kimball in his style, Toby is the vocal equivalent of Yngwie J. Malmsteen: technically proficient, but 100% intensity with only occasional subtly can be difficult. Fans of Dennis DeYoung could enjoy Hitchcock as he has that Broadway showtunes-style that is, at times operatic. However, though there are no problems with the pitch or technique in general, I personally couldn't get behind it. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://www.rocktopia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=916:user-cd-reviews&id=1255:pride-of-lions-the-roaring-of-dreams&Itemid=347

Rocktopia: Foreigner - 'Rockin' At The Ryman' - DVD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine DVD review by James Gaden: It would be so, so easy to just review this with the word 'Wow'. Foreigner are a great band with a great collection of songs, I think we all agree. In Kelly Hansen they have found a fantastic replacement for Lou Gramm, who not only can sing these great songs but adds a new dimension as a frontman which wasn't the great Lou's forté. In Mick Jones they have the original member who had a significant hand in all of these songs and has a desire to keep playing them. And in this DVD they have one of the best live discs I can remember for a long time. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/7zluV

Rocktopia: Presto Ballet - 'Invisible Places' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Gary Marshall: I'm not sure what happened with the marketing for this album but the first I heard it had been released and on-line retailers had already run out of stock. The reason I raise this is because Presto Ballet (PB) are one of a select group of artists whose albums I simply must have the moment they are released as I love what they do. For the uninitiated, PB were formed by guitarist and songwriter Kurdt Vanderhoof (Metal Church) with the specific aim of paying homage to the style of Progressive Rock that has inspired him (and his band mates) over his lifetime but specifically music from the seventies, using classic analogue instruments and old recording techniques. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/vdcGN

Rocktopia: The Dudes Terrific - 'TDT II' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Mark Warburton: The Dudes Terrific are an American rock n roll band out of Nashville, Tennessee, and 'TDT II' is their sophomore effort which finds the band right where they left off from their debut album 'Born Yesterday'; in top rocking form. The group features the songwriting duo of Doug Forshey on lead vocals and guitar, and Matt Goedken on lead guitar and vocals, and is rounded off by the rhythm section of Ruben Garcas on drums and Michael Jeffers on bass. So from the opening chords of the driving 'Crushed' - which is kind of catchy and is at the crunchy rock'n'roll end of AOR; not as polished as the 80s FM material, more the AOR of the reformed Skynyrd - to the closing drum fill of the hard Later on there are some big keyboards, giving a full sound, and some blistering guitar too. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/AT5OE
tent&view=article&catid=910:cd-reviews&id=1252:the-dudes-terrific-tdt-ii&Itemid=121

Rocktopia: Samandriel - 'Awakening' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Mark Warburton: Hailing from Edmonton, Canada, Samandriel are a female-fronted five member melodic heavy metal band formed in 2008 by guitarist Oskar Jankovic and bassist Ryan Hopper. 'Awakening' is their self-produced debut work. Comparisons to other female-fronted metal bands are appropriate here, so think Nightwish, Epica, After Forever, and the like. Yet, Samandriel counts a broad spectrum of metal genres as their influences including Blind Guardian, Kamelot, Iron Maiden, Fates Warning, and native comrades Rush. Although combining Nightwish with Blind Guardian might get closer to the sonic texture on 'Awakening'. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/Ys2IT

Rocktopia: Francis Rossi - 'Live At St. Luke's London' - DVD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine DVD review by James Gaden: As anybody who paid any attention to my interview with Francis and review of his 'One Step At A Time' record in Issue 40 will have seen, I really liked the Status Quo frontman's second attempt at a solo album. Sure it's poppier than Quo, but that's what solo albums are for, right? To do something different from what you would normally do in your parent band. Some Quo fans kick off when Francis brings that breezier side of his writing to the table, so to have a solo album as an outlet rather than let down the hardcore rockers seems sensible to me. In my last interview with Francis he said he was committed to doing some solo shows as part of the promotion, and was one part terrified and one part exuberant about it. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/GuCFq
t-lukes-london&catid=911:dvd-a-blu-ray-reviews&Itemid=123

Rocktopia: Backstage Heroes - 'Too Rude To Be Cool' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Mark Warburton: With their roots firmly in post US Punk, Turin's rock rebels Backstage Heroes aren't trying to rewrite rock history. They blatantly love the Glam scene of old, this album is sleazy, bluesy rock'n'roll with influences inspired by the usual Guns n Roses, Motley Crue, AC/DC and Aerosmith template whilst giving it their own twist. Sometimes that's just enough. Any band that writes and sings the lyric I'm just singing Rock and Roll baby is alright with me and let's face a fact, occasionally we just want to be entertained. Opening track 'One Way' is rough, heavy and strong. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/nmSqx

Rocktopia: Steve Morse Band - 'Coast To Coast' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Phil Ashcroft: If 'Southern Steel' was Steve Morse's return to the instrumental power trio then 1992's 'Coast To Coast' further emphasised his mastery of the genre. Joined again by bassist Dave LaRue and drummer Van Romaine, LaRue would also co-produce the album, which had a bigger sound and shone with many jaw-dropping pieces of music. From the opening repeated flurry of notes that heralds the brilliant 'User Friendly' to the closing acoustic piece 'Flat Baroque', Morse gives a masterclass that shows exactly why he won Guitar Player magazine's top guitarist award so many times. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/Ihhe6

Rocktopia: Steve Morse Band - 'Southern Steel' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Phil Ashcroft: After the relatively gentle strains of 'High Tension Wires' Steve Morse returned to the familiar scenario of leading a power trio, again teaming up with bass player extraordinaire Dave LaRue and killer drummer Van Romaine, and from the opening notes you knew that Steve was back and rocking. Opening track 'Cut To The Chase' is classic Morse with it's pacy rock rhythm and arpeggio-filled melody, with Steve's impeccable solos traded with Night Ranger's Jeff Watson in a tasty guitar duel. On the other side of the coin the ringing harmonics and fretless bass of 'Vista Grande' are just gorgeous, whilst 'Battle Lines' is a Dregs-like Southern workout and 'Simple Simon' throws in some odd time signatures. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/o8KfC
atid=910:cd-reviews&Itemid=121

Rocktopia: Marillion - 'Live From Cadogan Hall' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Many bands have reinterpreted their music into an acoustic setting and indeed it is something that Marillion have also done through the years on numerous occasions. Where the band's previous studio album 'Less Is More' differed from almost all of these other projects was with the level of deconstruction and then reconstruction that they put the songs through. Not content to simply use acoustic guitars, the band set about learning to play dulcimers, auto-harps, xylophones and glockenspiels among many other instruments and then used this eclectic and out dated equipment to record songs from their catalogue in different styles and time signatures. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/QX4eN

Rocktopia: Steve Morse - 'High Tension Wires' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Phil Ashcroft: The first of three re-issues from Greek label Metal Mind, 'High Tension Wires' was the former Dixie Dregs and future Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse's third solo album, originally released in 1989. This album saw him easing back into his solo career after a three year spell with US progressive rock legends Kansas that produced two of the band's most melodic AOR-friendly releases, 'Power' and 'In The Spirit Of Things'. With help from regular Steve Morse band bassist Jerry Peek and Dixie Dregs bandmates Allen Sloan (violin), Andy West (bass), T Lavitz (keys) and Rod Morgenstein (drums), it was a surprisingly light affair on which he favoured subtle atmospherics and ringing acoustic guitars to his usual displays of speed and dexterity, although it has to be said that few guitarists can match the feel, technique and soaring melodies of Morse i!
n full instrumental flow. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/bQM4j

Rocktopia: T.Rex - 'Get It On - The Collection' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by John Tucker: T.Rex have always been my 'guilty pleasure', although I don't actually feel guilty about listening to them (with the possible exception of the 'Futuristic Dragon' album). Way back when I was just becoming musically aware, I came across a cheapo T.Rex compilation on the Music For Pleasure budget label in the Woollies sale for 15p. Despite the fact that three bob was a lot of money back then, I liked what I'd heard of the band in the singles charts and the album carried both the 'Ride A White Swan' single and its B-side, so for 15p it was a bargain. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/uL9wu

Rocktopia: Mass - 'Fighter' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ray Paul: Its quite staggering how many bands never even got off the ground in the late 70's and 80's due to record company problems, and it seems Mass can be included in that list. Problems with A&M records in the early 80's all but stopped the band in their tracks despite selling 10,000 units of their 4 song EP in the Boston area alone! What we have here is a collection of songs gathered together under the title of 'Fighter' put together by Christian record label Retroactive Records. Now don't let the Christian side of it sway your opinion, though there are certainly influences from Stryper, but also the likes of Iron Maiden and Angel! Having Judas Priest's Tom Allom handling production duties gives the guitar sound a crystal cutting edge that tears out the speakers and helps this release rise above the average. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/uzbdN!
k/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=910:cd-reviews&id=1232:mass-fighter&Itemid=121

Rocktopia: Big Life - 'Big Life' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Mark Warburton: 'Big Life' is a new project released through the AOR Heaven label in late April 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 eightimmense 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. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/nxE99

Rocktopia: After Hours - 'Against The Grain' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ant Heeks: Formed back in 1987 when commercial melodic rock was at its peak, U.K. based After Hours were swiftly signed to the BMG/Ariola label, and debut album 'Take Off' appeared a year later, giving the band a healthy following throughout Europe, which culminated in a sponsorship deal with Adidas to promote a new range of sports clothing, also called Take Off. Unfortunately, while recording the second album 'After Hours', three members decided to leave following record company pressure to relocate to Germany, leaving vocalist John Francis and guitarist Tim Payne to finish the album on their own ... Read the full review on Rocktopia http://ping.fm/u3AdE

Rocktopia: Greg Lake - 'Manoeuvres' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Phil Ashcroft: Two years after the release of his self-titled first solo album, label Chrysalis were pushing him to go back into the studio to record the follow-up. It was worrying that he had no songs written, having used all his surplus up on his 1981 album, but he did at least have a settled band in guitarist Gary Moore, bassist Tristan Margetts, keyboard player Tommy Eyre and drummer Ted McKenna. Also, having toured extensively for a couple of years as a solo artist he was starting to get a handle on what style would work best for him, and as a result his 1983 album 'Manoeuvres' had more of a consistent direction to it than his predecessor, even if the best songs didn't quite match the highlights of 'Greg Lake'. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/AvkzE
s&Itemid=121

Rocktopia: Greg Lake - 'Greg Lake' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Phil Ashcroft: Back in 1979 after the break-up of Emerson, Lake & Palmer singer/bassist Greg Lake found himself at a loose end, and having taken a strained band situation as far as humanly possible it seemed like a solo career was the best option. Recruiting friends like successful guitarist Gary Moore, Sensational Alex Harvey Band/MSG drummer Ted McKenna, bassist Tristan Margetts and latter day SAHB keyboardist Tommy Eyre, Lake set about making his first solo album. However, he didn't really have any idea what direction he wanted to go in, as this CD re-issue of his first self-titled album shows. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/XhrX3

Rocktopia: Sunstorm - 'Sunstorm' - User CD Review

A Rocktopia user album review by Dairenn Lombard: Channeling the power of Heaven Tonight on Odyssey by Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force, Mr. Joe Lynn Turner opens up your speakers with the hot, radio-friendly Keep Tonight – such a passionate track with all of the depth and power we’ve now come to expect from a Dennis Ward production—the Ron Nevison of the 21st Century. Sounding just as fresh as when he wrote these songs in the mid-1980s, Turner is the champion of the heart and soul of tracks like Fame and Fortune, with a hook so catchy, it should be criminal this song did not dominate rock radio throughout the world. While he also wrote Love's Gone Wrong, the secret ingredient to this record is Jim Peterik (Pride of Lions, Lifeforce, Survivor, etc). Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/lmCFa

Rocktopia: Bloody Mary - 'Party Music For Graveyards' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Faye Coulman: Although stylish and impeccably produced, this extravagantly gothic outing is haunted by the too-obvious influence of HIM, Lacrimas Profundere and other such crooning culprits. So it's predictably laden with darkly romantic clichés, spooky keyboards and stereotypically low, gravelly vocals that come off a little forced in places. Opening number 'Velvet' kicks off promisingly on a melodic tangle of riffs and tombstone-heavy bass that's executed with all the passion and panache you'd expect from an Italian outfit. But as the album unfolds, there's precious little variation in melody and Bloody Mary's initially catchy sound veers into the realms of repetitive filler. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/IdJSY !

Rocktopia: Moon Safari - 'Lover's End' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Gary Marshall: Whilst I love a wide range of musical styles (virtually everything covered by this web site, and more besides) my heart still belongs to Progressive Rock and Moon Safari are a prime example of why. Most genres of Rock such as AOR or Hard Rock have fairly narrow parameters by which they are judged, yet Prog has a huge number of sub genres from Metal across to Folk and Neo, with numerous stops in between. Add another notch to the list as I think Moon Safari have created a whole new genre to themselves, Harmony Prog or maybe West Coast Prog. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/x6oFI

Rocktopia: Electric Wizard - 'Black Masses' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ray Paul: You could be forgiven for thinking Electric Wizard's brand of stoner doom is an acquired taste and past releases would testify to this. With 'Black Masses' the band has probably put together their most accessible release to date, nudging themselves closer to the likes of Monster Magnet and Cathedral is a good move. That's not to say the band have gone all commercial on us, album title-track 'Black Masses' is an unforgiving juggernaut of Sabbath inspired riffs with a chorus sounding like a pagan chant in a forest. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/KNMtJ

Rocktopia: Sammy Hagar - 'Loud And Clear' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ray Paul: This is a long overdue re-release of Sammy Hagar's classic live release 'Loud and Clear', so full marks for BGO Records. There is a nice booklet with reproduced photos from the original release, though sadly you cannot ever replicate the excitement of the original red vinyl! Along with Kiss' 'Alive 2' and Hawkwind's 'Live 79' I thought Sammy's live release had all the energy a live record should have, you know, almost like the feel of owning a great bootleg of a legendary show. http://ping.fm/SLoHJ

Rocktopia: Sirenia - 'The Enigma Of Life' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by John Tucker: Oi, Morten! No! First the good news. 'The Enigma Of Life' is the first time a vocalist for Sirenia has ever recorded two consecutive albums, so in that respect Spanish frontwoman Ailyn has already written herself into the band's record books. The down side is that familiarity breeds contempt, and what was once the great strength of Sirenia is fast becoming its downfall. Morten Veland is a man of unquestionable talent; I have had the pleasure of interviewing him a few times now and find him a driven and extremely gifted songwriter and musician. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/39p15

Rocktopia: Survivor - 'When Seconds Count' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: A band born in the bitterly harsh Illinois winter of 1977/78, Survivor would go on to become one of the most successful - to many of their fans, genre defining – bands that the then vibrant US AOR scene ever produced. From what were relatively inauspicious beginnings (although to be fair, with a songwriter as consistently strong as former The Ides Of March man Jim Peterik they were always going to command attention), Survivor found themselves catapulted into the harsh glare of the international spotlight when the title track from third album 'Eye Of The Tiger' was chosen as the main theme for the Sly Stallone box office smash 'Rocky III'. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/y4r6v

Rocktopia: Survivor - 'Too Hot To Sleep' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: It's rather fitting that the Rock Candy reappraisal of the Survivor back catalogue should end on a high with their last album of the 80's, the oft overlooked and to my mind criminally underrated 'Too Hot To Sleep'! Both bassist Stephan Ellis and drummer Mark Droubay had quit the Survivor ranks following the relatively poor commercial showing of 'When Seconds Count' – the latter in search of pastures new, whilst the former was forced to step down due to ongoing health issues – which just left the central songwriting nucleus of Jim Peterik (keyboards), Frankie Sullivan (guitars) and Jimi Jamison (vox). Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/BNOgV

Rocktopia: Starcastle - 'Fountains Of Light' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Phil Ashcroft: Sometimes your opinion of a band's best album is tempered by which order you heard them in, but to be honest that's not the sole reason why 1977's 'Fountains Of Light' will always be my favourite Starcastle album. It's true that it was the first one I heard when an older cousin brought it round for me to listen to, and within seconds of the opening synth arpeggio and subsequent bombastic burst - with drummer Steve Tassler matching some of the awesome drum rolls of my then favourite album, Rush's '2112' – I was totally hooked. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/H8SUG

Rocktopia: Starcastle - 'Starcastle' (re-issue) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Phil Ashcroft: I don't think it's being unfair to say that despite a lot of the best groups in the world being from the USA, a lot of them took British bands as a blueprint and added their own flair and sense of showbiz to the mix. Champaign, Illinois natives Starcastle were no exception, the six piece band having been raised on a diet of Yes albums but adding a more upbeat feel and a higher level of multi-part vocal harmonies. In keyboard player Herb Schildt they had a skilled technician who used far more classic synth sounds than the mellotron and piano favoured by Mr. Wakeman, but there's no denying that Gary Strater's dextrous bass playing was modelled on Chris Squire or that the high and fragile voice of original REO Speedwagon singer Terry Luttrell was reminiscent of Jon Anderson. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/zAYl2
com_content&view=article&catid=910:cd-reviews&id=1214:starcastle-starcastle&Itemid=121

Rocktopia: Within Temptation - 'The Unforgiving' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Andy B.: The stable of excellent bands and musicians that Roadrunner has assembled is becoming more and more impressive. Alongside such names as Coheed and Cambria, Slipknot, Zakk Wylde and Slash, sits Within Temptation, who are by no means overshadowed by the other names in the RR roster. In fact, it would be fair to say that, with the release of this album, some of those 'bigger' names could find themselves being eclipsed. With the release of their previous album, 'The Heart Of Everything,' the WI guys decided that they couldn't better that album in terms of writing, performing and production, and so looked to steer a different course with the next project. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/N361C

Rocktopia: Ghost - 'The Engraving' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ray Paul: Ghost are from Norway and offer an infectious brand of metal somewhere between the likes of Iron Maiden and Bonfire. Title track 'The Engraving' has some nice twin guitar work that gives the song a distinctive feel and is not unlike early Helloween. Kim Sandvik's vocals are strong and have a confidence to them that lends well to the songs. A churning riff that took me back to a band called Artch that I was fond of many years ago, serves A.W.A.T very well and has a strong melodic metal chorus that the likes of Bonfire made a living out of. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/KTvgS

Rocktopia: Legion - 'Code Of Honour' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: I've lost count of how many times I've written about Legion singer Phil Vincent in these pages, the prolific jack of all trades who's released countless solo albums and multiple releases with band projects Tragik and Circular Logic. It seems his latest bands, D'ercole and Legion - the latter his collaboration with UK guitarist Vince O'Regan - are adopting the same workaholic traits with both releasing their second albums mere months after the debuts (D'ercole's 'Rock Scar' is also reviewed elsewhere in these pages). Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/TmFwc

Rocktopia: Eden's Curse - 'Trinity' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: Sometimes in this job you just drop lucky when an album comes along that you get to review and, in all senses of the word, the album in question is a bit of a monster (with a capital M). The monster in question this time around is by Eden's Curse, who are back with studio album number three, and to be honest with you, you would need a hammer and chisel to get the CD out of the death deck at Johnson Towers, as it hasn't left said CD player since it arrived. What though you may ask makes this new album so special?, well just about everything really. There isn't a duff track in sight, the songs are all (and I mean all) of such a high standard that the rest of the melodic metal albums released this year will be held up in comparison alongside 'Trinity', and in many respects I think they may and will be found wanting. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://www.rockt!
opia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1208:edens-curse-trinity&catid=910:cd-reviews&Itemid=121

Rocktopia: Helix - 'Smash Hits Unplugged' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: If ever a title was self-explanatory then 'Smash Hits Unplugged' by excellent Canadian rockers Helix is a prime example. Having had a string of hit singles in the 80s and 90s in their native country - and Sweden too where their 1985 'Long Way To Heaven' album reached number one - the band have been touring incessantly for almost four decades with a mind-boggling amount of line-up changes, singer Brian Vollmer being the only ever-present. For the last couple of years the four surviving members from their heyday have been reunited. Read the full review on Rocktopia http://ping.fm/EyExm

Rocktopia: Jolly - 'The Audio Guide To Happiness (Part 1)' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Phil Ashcroft: There's some kind of bizarre spiel attached to the press release for this album by New York neo-prog band Jolly, and while I don't usually agree with the lazy practice of using large amounts of text from the press release in reviews, I'm just not intelligent (or interested!) enough to try to explain what is allegedly going on here in my own words. The four piece band are claiming that Under the guise of rock music, Jolly has devised a therapeutic auditory experience scientifically designed to bring the brain to a state of pure happiness. By combining sophisticated arrangements, ambient textures, aggressive dynamics, and infectious melodies with binaural brain wave technology, a new medium is born. Read the full review on Rocktopia http://ping.fm/DXJEH
s-part-1&catid=910:cd-reviews&Itemid=121

Rocktopia: Protest The Hero - 'Scurrilous' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: The undoubted technical prowess of Canadian progressive metallers Protest The Hero has always, for me at least, been tempered by singer Rody Walker's propensity for screaming and growling when he's quite capable of singing. Now that their third album 'Scurrilous' is finally with us after a three year gap since 'Fortress', I'm sure many of their long term fans will be disappointed that there's hardly any of his vocal excesses on it, but for me it's opened them up to a wider potential audience so hopefully more people will discover their incredible musicianship and some killer tunes because of it. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/Diya9

Rocktopia: Mr Mister - 'Pull' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Here's one that's been doing the rounds on the bootleg trading circuit for many, many years. Mr Mister went stratospheric with their US number one album 'Welcome To The Real World' and number one singles 'Broken Wings' and 'Kyrie' back in 1985, but the follow-up 'Go On' in 1987 failed to live up to the sales of it's predecessor, and this album, recorded in 1989, didn't get as far as the general public and was shelved by the new regime at the RCA label. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/PbvAp

Rocktopia: Von Hertzen Brothers - 'Stars Aligned' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Although they're a brand new name to me, 'Stars Aligned' is actually the Von Hertzen Brothers fourth album, the first three appearing in their native Finland between 2001 and 2008, but with the ever interesting Spinefarm label picking up album number four you can bet you'll hear a lot more of this band in the near future. Respected rock journo and Editor of Classic Rock's Prog offshoot magazine, Jerry Ewing, described them to me back in November as being like Transatlantic with Tommy Shaw singing, and whilst there are a lot more modern prog elements to the music and production than I was expecting, that's actually not far wide of the mark. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/3Qc7i

Rocktopia: TEN - 'Return To Evermore' - User CD Review

A Rocktopia user album review by Deirenn Lombard: While some die-hard Ten fans will probably disagree, Return to Evermore is an album with a bad case of having a split personality. First, the good news. "Strangers in the Night" and "Sail Away" are, incidentally, magnificent pieces and "Even the Ghosts Cry" and "Evil's On Top in the World" are textbook Melodic Rock ear-candy, especially thanks to Vinny Burns' replacement on guitars, Chris Francis. For some reason, though, the album veers off into alternative rock-land with tracks like "Lost Soul" and "Tearing My Heart Out", which seem to be inspired by the initial work of Alice In Chains or even The Black Crowes. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/I4uGg