Rocktopia: Sons Of Icarus - 'You Want It All' (EP) - CD Review

A Rocktopia album / EP review by Dave Evans: The blurb says Sons Of Icarus; are all set to soar into rock's heady stratosphere... It is a confident boast that befits the bullish attitude of a group of musicians still in their early 20's. There is however no doubt the band have earned their growing reputation. Winners of Marshall Amplifiers 'Ultimate band contest' in 2010, and subsequent opening slots at Download and Sonisphere. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/zIHzH

Luley - 'Today's Tomorrow' - CD Review

A Rocktopia album review by Nikki Tylar: Klaus Luley was singer guitarist with German Hard Rock gods Craaft who released 3 studio albums between 1986 -1992 and one live album in 2003. Before that he was a member of AOR gods Tokyo who released three brilliant albums from 1981-83 and another with a completely different line up. So after years of apparent silence Mr Luley is back, has it been worth the wait? Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/o3fwJ

Rocktopia: Daughtry - 'Break The Spell' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ant Heeks: I admit that I am a bit of a latecomer to the music of Chris Daughtry. After stumbling across the video to 'September' about six months ago on YouTube I was inspired enough to get hold of the 'Leave This Town' CD, and I have never looked back. And I don't want to get into the Reality T.V. argument here, apart from to say if the U.K. version of The X-Factor produced an artist with this much talent then I certainly wouldn't have any issues with them. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/Spsz2

Rocktopia: Astral Doors - 'Jerusalem' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Alan Holloway: To be honest, when I was asked to review an album called ‘Jerusalem’ by a band called Astral Doors I was wary that it might be some drippy hippy religious twaddle, which will be a laugh to any fans of the band, as these swarthy Swedes are anything but drippy, although they might well be hippies in their spare time. As you can see, I’m a newbie to the band, although five previous albums and an EP (not to mention a ‘Best Of’ compilation) show that there are plenty of fans out there. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/Di3nT

Akin - 'The Way Things End' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ray Paul: It's clear with some releases you have to take a little time to digest them and the let the true beauty of the music blossom on each listen. Akin are one of those bands, formed in France in 1998 they are a mixture of Within Temptation and Anathema. Like most gothic style female singers Adeline Lucas has a distinctive tone that weaves some strange magic that sets the band apart from the competition.
Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/xiXS0

Rocktopia: Europe - 'Bag Of Bones' - CD Review

A Rocktopia album review by Nikki Tylar: Ever since their reformation back in 2003 Europe have released increasingly excellent heavy rock albums, with each release improving on the last. Their live shows in recent years have been nothing short of breath-taking with as many male devotees as female these days. If Deep Purple, UFO, Thin Lizzy, Led Zep etc floats your boat then Europe 2012 is the band for you. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/jFXT0

Rocktopia: Xandria - 'Neverworld's End' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Dave Scott: Xandria is a symphonic metal band from Germany formed by Marco Heubaum in 1997. There has been several line up changes especially at singer with previous vocalists including Lisa Middelhauve and Kerstin Bischof; the current vocalist is Manuela Kraller. The band released their first album in 2003 entitled 'Kill The Sun' with 'Ravenheart' and 'India' in the following two years. Their last record came out in 2007 entitled 'Salome - The Seventh Veil'. Now in 2012, Xandria's latest offering 'Neverworld's End' is unleashed. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/kOWVX

Rocktopia: Michael Thompson Band - 'Future Past' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Rob McKenzie: Michael Thompson is a guitar virtuoso who has been on the scene a long while. Following the classic album ‘How Long’ released in 1988, he has now released ‘Future Past’ again under the Michael Thompson Band moniker and is now blessed with the vocals of Larry King (Soleil Moon). The band also includes the talented Khari Parker on drums and Alan Berliant on bass. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/1ktkm

Rocktopia: Mark Spiro - 'It's A Beautiful Life' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ian Johnson: Mark Spiro has one hell of a musical resumé to his name; to date he has 45 gold and platinum records adorning his walls, a plethora of tracks written for artists whose albums have gone on to sell in excess of 100 million records, and a writing canon that includes songs written for the likes of Loverboy, Winger, Kansas, REO Speedwagon, John Waite, Laura Branigan, Julian Lennon and many, many more. Read the full review on Rocktopia

From: http://ping.fm/xHAI8

Rocktopia: Xanadu - 'The Last Sunrise' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazione / Rocktopia album review by Gary Marshall: There was a certain irony that I first listened to this CD right after a run through of the new Arena album because I was struck by certain similarities between the two outfits in terms of song structures, although Xanadu are certainly heavier in approach. Subsequent plays also brought the likes of fellow Poles, Riverside and Believe to mind along with touches of Sieges Even, Threshold and Subsignal. From that illustrious list you’ll detect that Xanadu are in good company. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/wLXu3

Rocktopia: Coastland Ride - 'Coastland Ride' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Brent Rusche: Giving this self-titled album its proverbial first spin, I was pummeled by waves of nostalgia. Although unaware of Coastland Ride but privy to the fact this was a reissue, I was convinced that this was originally released in the mid/late-80's but unable to compete with the bar of excellence set by contemporaries of the day (Toto, Survivor, Foreigner, Journey, etc). Couple that with unfortunate circumstances such as inner-band turmoil, poor timing and/or any number of insalubrious marketing decisions, I could only assume this group met an untimely demise at the unscrupulous hands of the music industry. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/XlSAr

Rocktopia: Manfred Mann's Earth Band - '40th Anniversary Box Set' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: South Afican born keyboardist Manfred Mann has seemingly been a fixture of the British musical scene forever, but originally burst onto the popular music scene in 1963 with his eponymously named beat and R&B combo, which developed out of the Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers that had coalesced sometime the previous year. However, it was not until their third single release ‘5-4-3-2-1’ in 1964 that the Paul Jones-fronted version of the band (Chapter 1) grabbed the record buyers attention. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/p01Gr

Rocktopia: Mr. Big - 'Live From The Living Room' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by James Gaden: Like Deep Purple, Mr. Big are one of those great live acts that play so well, when they issue yet another live album, you don’t mind. Well, I certainly don’t, because not only do they always deliver the goods, they also happen to be my favourite group. As such, I experienced a rather geeky feeling of euphoria when the original line up of Eric Martin, Billy Sheehan, Paul Gilbert and Pat Torpey reformed. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/x8F35

Rocktopia: Kelly Clarkson - 'Stronger' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Bott: Despite my rather rugged exterior people who know me will tell you that I have a very soft spot for a wide range of styles, not necessarily all within the rock music spectrum. Anyone who finds former American Idol star Kelly Clarkson appealing will find comfort in the fact that 'Stronger' follows a familiar musical blueprint and pretty much continues from where 2009's 'All I Ever Wanted' left off. If I'm honest the album is far more pop than rock but that has never been an issue for me having once worshipped at the altar of Abba back in the 70s. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/NMunD

Rocktopia: Intense - 'The Shape Of Rage' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by John Tucker: 'The Shape Of Rage' – interesting title; interesting album too – sees UK power metallers Intense on a new label although still ploughing the furrow they know best. Although there was what frontman Sean Hetherington calls “a massive leap” between 2007's 'As Our Army Grows' and its predecessor 'Second Sight' their third full album takes on from where '…Army…' left off and delivers another slice of balls-to-the-wall traditional British metal. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/6rsbL

Rocktopia: Interview with Paul May

Rocktopia interviews: Paul May is a Christian guitarist best known for his longstanding collaborations with ex Judas Priest singer Al Atkins. The pair have recently hooked up together for a heavy metal album dubbed Serpents Kiss. May also plays in the popular Midlands bands Temple Of Dogs, A.N.D. and V-Rats. Read the full interview on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/JiXns

Rocktopia: Interview with Brent Jensen

Rocktopia Interviews: Neil Daniels interviews Brent Jensen, the author of No Sleep 'Til Sudbury, a memoir about the Northern Ontario rock scene during the 1980s. Read the full interview on Rocktopia

From: http://ping.fm/3ZwRp

Rocktopia: Dirty Deeds - Interview with former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans

Rocktopia Interviews: Dirty Deeds - Neil Daniel speaks with former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans, best known for his stint in AC/DC between March of 1975 and June of 1977 when he played on 'T.N.T.' (which was only released in Australia and formed half of the international debut 'High Voltage'), 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' and 'Let There Be Rock'. Read the full interview on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/Gz412

Rocktopia: Interview with Darren Upton

Rocktopia Interviews: Darren Upton. Neil Daniels interviews British based writer Darren Upton, author of the W.A.SP. biography 'Sting In The Tail'. Read the full interview on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/bfhT7

Rocktopia: Lillian Axe - 'XI: The Days Before Tomorrow' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: “This is the best Lillian Axe record that I have ever written”, so says lead guitarist and long time Lillian Axe stalwart Steve Blaze. A bold and I think brave thing for anyone to say, and one that may come back to bite him in the end. ‘XI: The Days Before Tomorrow’ is an album that can take its place amongst the many other great recordings put out by the band but the jury is still out on whether it as good as say ‘Love And War’, ‘Psychoschizophrenia’ or ‘Lillian Axe. Well as they say only time will tell. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/cUmxf

Rocktopia: Hellspray - 'Part Of The Solution' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Alister Strachan: Hellspray first came together in their native Sweden in 2005 and save for a couple of well received EP’s ‘Part Of The Solution’ is their debut full length release. It’s been well worth the wait because this is one of the best metal debuts I’ve heard in a long, long time. The Hellspray sound is an amalgam of Classic British Metal and European Power Metal mixed with a smidgeon of Trash as well as a plentiful supply of Hard Rock dynamics. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/Uuqkk

Rocktopia: Eden Sands - 'Living Kills' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Dave Scott: Eden Sands is a melodic metal band from Lorraine in France and were formed back in 2006. They have spent a few years putting together their debut album and in 2011 it finally saw its release. The band comprises of Ex Northwind vocalist Stefan Tudela, Yoan Da Costa (guitar), Maxence Hughes (guitars), Vinz (bass) and Benjamin Nogaret (drums). Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/Sqlkk

Rocktopia: Disturbed - 'The Lost Children' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Bott: ‘The Lost Children’ is the first official collection of Disturbed B-sides and rarities that lends itself to quite an easy review. If you are familiar with the band but have never liked them then the material contained here will not change that opinion. If you’re already a fan then you’ll love the CD immediately but chances are you will have the songs in some form or other by now, though it is nice to have them all together. If you’ve never heard Disturbed before because you were under the misconception they were too heavy with no sense of melody then you have been sorely misled and this generously priced set is perhaps a good place to start. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/tAKf1

Rocktopia: Dead By April - 'Incomparable' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Mike Newdeck: Annoying? Frustrating? Or even clever, these are some of the words that have been used to describe Gothenburg‘s Dead By April. For pop fans there’s way too much screaming going on and for fans of the metal core genre the music is simply far too twee to be taken seriously. That maybe the case, but surely there’s something clever about fusing two extremely different genres of music. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/wXU04

Rocktopia: Anvil - 'Monument Of Metal: The Very Best Of Anvil' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Alister Strachan: Since Anvil re-entered public consciousness following the success of Sacha ‘Teabag’ Gervasi’s heart warming film ‘Anvil – The Story of Anvil’, much has been written about why the band never made it to the big time back in the 1980’s. Was it down to the ambitious arrangements and less than stellar production on their third album ‘Forged In Fire’? Should they have let Jonny Z (the man behind Metallica and Overkill’s early success) manage their career instead of signing with big shot manager David Krebs of Aerosmith fame? Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/QikR7

Rocktopia: Gamma - '2' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: In my humble opinion, the latest trio of Rock Candy re-issues by Le Roux, Harlequin, and this album by heavy pomp-rockers Gamma, are three of the strongest on a label that has issued well over a hundred well-respected discs. However, unlike Le Roux and Harlequin, Gamma had some well known musicians in their ranks and managed to get their albums out to the rest of the world. They even played some headline shows in the UK back in the early 80's, their Manchester Free Trade Hall performance having since become the stuff of legend in these parts. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/8JPN6

Rocktopia: Harlequin - 'Love Crimes' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Natives of Winnipeg in the Canadian province of Manitoba, melodic rock quintet Harlequin debuted in 1979 with the superb 'Victim Of A Song' album on Epic records, immediately getting themselves noticed in their home country but ultimately failing to get much recognition elsewhere. Respected record producer Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick) had played a part in getting them their record deal but had been too busy to produce the album, but on this sophomore release a year later he took control and helped them come up with what was probably the strongest of their four major label releases. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/jNOpY

Rocktopia: Orion The Hunter - 'Orion The Hunter' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Dating back to 1984, Orion The Hunter's sole disc came about directly from former Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau's 1980 solo album, when wary of it seeming too much like a Boston record Goudreau brought in vocalist Fran Cosmo to sing three of his own songs alongside the others sung by Boston's Brad Delp. However, it didn't really cut much ice with Boston leader Tom Scholz, who pulled strings at Epic to get promotion of Goudreau's album stopped and later sacked the guitarist from his band. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/2oIDy

Rocktopia: Le Roux - 'Up' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Rock Candy has had criticism in some circles for re-mastering titles that are already available in CD form. Despite the fact that they do them incredibly well and str mainly the best version available, some are understandably reluctant to shell out again for an album they already have a serviceable copy of. Occasionally, the hike in quality is so vast that it's like hearing the record for the first time (the previous version was done from a vinyl copy), and when the album is a bona fide classic - like the one you're currently reading about - then you really have no excuse not to. Read the full review on Rocktopia

From: http://ping.fm/TlMCy

Rocktopia: Angeline - 'Disconnected' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by James Gaden: This album is the second of original material by Swedish rockers Angeline, following up their successful first effort ‘Confessions’. In actuality, the band started in 1987, but after recording a mini-LP and a single in the nineties, the band were hit for six when their vocalist passed away. Guitarist Jocke Nilsson took over lead singing duties and the group soldiered on as a covers act, even making a covers album in 1997. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/QbPXo

Rocktopia: Helix - 'Wild In The Streets' - CD Review (re-release)

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: By 1987 Canadian rockers Helix could feel a change coming that they really had no control over. Signed to the US arm of Capitol Records, the 'Long Way To Heaven' album had failed to live up to the sales of 'No Rest For The Wicked' and 'Walkin' The Razor's Edge'. It had done well elsewhere but the label didn't really care about that, and with the usual tales of changes in Capitol personnel, the band were sent away to make another record only because they were still contracted to. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/3TubI

Rocktopia: Helix - 'Long Way To Heaven' - CD Review (re-release)

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Back in 1985, Canada's hardest working band were faced with the task of recording a follow-up to the successful 'Walkin' The Razor's Edge' during the briefest of breaks in their busy touring schedule. After two self-released albums and two platinum discs on the Capitol label with 'No Rest For The Wicked' and 'Walkin'...', the pressure was on to come up with another hit album, but the main problem for Helix had been that they were never prolific writers. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/jiWSz

Rocktopia: Billy Joel - 'Piano Man: Legacy Edition' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Neil Daniels: Originally released in 1973, ‘Piano Man’ was Joel’s first album on Columbia Records although his debut ‘Cold Spring Harbour’ came out two years previously on the tiny label, Family Productions. Joel was distraught when his debut was released: there was an error with the mastering which caused his vocals to sound high-pitched, like a chipmunk. It sent the singer-songwriter into depression. However, ‘Piano Man’ is a fine album and has stood the test of time. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/mVYN5

Rocktopia: Haken - 'Visions' - CD Review http://ping.fm/QQfhF

Rocktopia: Wrathchild - 'Stakk Attakk Two' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Bott: Hard to believe but Wrathchild have now been around for just over 30 years and still include former members Marc Angel (bass) and Phil Vokins (guitar). Back in 1980 my musical endeavours stretched as far as Rainbow, Whitesnake and Abba meaning anything touted as 'glam metal' were shenanigans a genre too far (though I was something of a Sweet fan back in the 70s). 'Stakk Attakk Two', as the title may suggest, gives an insight into what the band has been up to during the last few years as well hinting at their own origins and debut album 'Stakk Attakk' which was recorded released way back in 1984. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/Nes8M

Rocktopia: Sonic Station - 'Sonic Station' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: Alexander Kronbrink is a Swedish composer and producer, who at an early age took up playing the guitar. A family friend who lived just down the road played piano and soon they were both jamming away and writing songs together. At around the age of twenty Kronbrink decided that he would dedicate his life solely to music and a lifelong passion began. After playing in a lot of different bands and genres he soon found a love for west coast rock, artists like Kenny Loggins, Lee Ritenour, Jay Graydon and Steely Dan became his passion and he decided that this was the kind of music he wanted to play. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/xNUm3

Rocktopia: House Of Shakira - 'HoS' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: Like many of you I have a lot of fond memories of House Of Shakira. I loved the way their songs had a different, fun and strange outlook on the usually rigid melodic rock genre. And after listening to their debut album ‘Lint’ (which always brought a smile to my face) and then getting to see them at the God’s Festival, I soon became a massive fan of the band. Now five albums and some fifteen years later HOS are back with a brand new self titled album and once again with those inevitable line-up changes that have always seemed to dog this band. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/lvPDQ

Rocktopia: Also Eden - 'Think Of The Children!' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Paul Jerome Smith: Third album from the band from Gloucestershire and the first to feature newish vocalist Rich Harding (he has also appeared on the 2010-issued EP ‘Differences As Light’) in replacement of founder member Huw Lloyd Jones (also known as co-promoter of both the Summer’s End and Fused Festivals in Lydney). In fact Harding is all over this album like a rash: not only vocalist and lyricist it would seem he was also jointly responsible for conceptualising the thought-provoking CD booklet. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/d08e3

Rocktopia: Airbag - 'All Rights Removed' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Dean Pedley: ‘All Rights Removed’ is album number two from Airbag, the Norwegian progressive rockers who have much in common with fellow country mates Gazpacho in taking most of their inspiration from the trio of heavyweights that is Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree and Marillion, even down to the suitably abstract cover art. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/2No6m

Rocktopia: Tyketto ? 'Dig In Deep' - CD Review

A Rocktopia album review by Nikki Tylar: So here it is at long last the new album by the reformed (original line up) Tyketto. There was no little trepidation as I played this for the first time as it is for me the most exciting reformation of recent times. Recent history shows us that these things can go many different ways, The excellent Mr Big comeback, the rubbish Van Halen single trumped by a surprisingly excellent album, The brilliant but ultimately ignored Airrace, or the farcical…I give you the current Black Sabbath situation! Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/KFDSf

Rocktopia: Jack Blades - 'Rock'n'Roll Ride' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ant Heeks: The dust has barely settled on Night Ranger’s ‘Somewhere In California’ album, and vocalist/bassist Jack Blades is back with his second solo release, the extremely aptly titled ‘Rock’n’Roll Ride.’ Such is the positive vibe throughout the whole of this CD, it could have quite easily been Night Ranger’s follow-up to ‘Somewhere…’, as it follows a similar path, but without taking anything at all away from Mr. Blades, as it’s strong enough to stand on its own two feet. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/XpqWY

Rocktopia: Human Temple - 'Halfway To Heartache' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: This is the third album from Finnish melodic rockers Human Temple. Their first two albums were both critically acclaimed, and were said to be full of catchy and intelligent pieces of melodic rock. Yet this third release sees the band take a slight departure from the more melodic hard rocking music of their previous two albums. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/5uYqo

Rocktopia: Coastland Ride - 'On Top Of The World' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Brent Rusche: For those familiar with their debut (see review in the Reissues section of this issue), the sophomore effort from Sweden's Coastland Ride shows them in sublime form. Although very much still indulged in Westcoast AOR bliss, this recording exceeds its predecessor in all respects. The album flaunts an updated (and slightly heavier) sound, bigger production, better songs and last but not least, superior musicianship. Everything expected from this band is represented with surprises aplenty. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/cRqKo

Rocktopia: Chris Antblad - 'Century' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steve Price: Despite his involvement in Spin Gallery, Swedish singer/songwriter Chris Antblad is probably not that well known to many in the melodic rock community which is probably a shame based upon the evidence of this album. Having originally been signed up to be released on a now defunct label the release has been rescued, after a protracted delay, by a boutique label that appear to be doing a good job of putting out material you and I thought we would never hear. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/vGYgG

Rocktopia: Arena - 'The Seventh Degree Of Separation' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Even though I am a huge fan of guitarist John Mitchell’s work with It Bites, Frost* and Kino (among others) and keyboard player Clive Nolan’s output through Pendragon, Shadowland and Caamora (again amongst others), I have to admit that it is when this pair of hugely talented songwriters and musicians team up in Arena that the planets align in a manner which allows them to truly shine.Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/TadTS

Rocktopia: Jeff Scoto Soto - 'Damage Control' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by James Gaden: A popular figure in the melodic rock genre, Jeff Scott Soto has amassed a loyal following who appreciate the brand of music he has delivered throughout his career, be it with Yngwie Malmsteen, the popular Talisman, Takara, the high profile group Soul SirkUS and many other notable projects. There was always the thought that something bigger might be awaiting Jeff, and when he was called up by Journey to take over lead vocal duties on tour, the majority of Soto's fans thought that was his time. read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/xJQi5

Rocktopia: Warp Drive - 'Something To Believe In' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Phil Ashcroft: The world of rock music is full of amazing coincidences, isn't it? I hadn't listened to or thought about Florida's Warp Drive for probably in excess of ten years, but five minutes after having a conversation about them with someone at last year's Firefest, AOR Blvd label co-owner Paul Rudland handed me this CD. I wasn't completely bowled over by their 1989 debut 'Gimme Gimme', and a recent return to it confirmed that it hasn't really stood the test of time, at least sound-wise. read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/l8W6Y

Rocktopia: Frequency Drift - 'Ghosts' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Gary Marshall: Frequency Drift formed in 2006 and this is their third CD following on from 'Personal Effects Part 1' in 2008 and 'Part 2' two years later. The band consists of Antje Auer (vocals & violin), Christian Hack (guitar & flute), Jürgen Rennecke (bass & stick), Andreas Hack (keyboards) and Martin Fox (drums). It seems that they've trimmed the number of vocalists from the previous albums but have continued to call on some guest musicians to contribute, notably Frank Schmitz (violin) and Nerissa Schwarz (electroharp). Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/cAkWu