Sleaze rock with metal elements from Gothenburg/Sweden delivered by this smashing four-piece by the name of SMOKING SNAKES. Their debut with eleven energetic songs is full of melody, groove and foremost of attitute. Brett Martin's vocals are reminiscent of Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P.) at times. But the majority of the songs are rather in the vein of HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, CONFESS or PRETTY WILD. A strong production suits the material extremely well. Tracks like "There Is No Tomorrow" or "We Are Alive" sound like POISON on stereoids. The fast "Angels Calling", the opener of "Danger Zone" is irresitibly cool and takes no prisoners.(MS)

DURBIN with album number four. The American Singer James Durbin (ex QUIET RIOT) and his traditional heavy metal in the vein of DIO, JUDAS PRIEST or BLACK SABBATH, but also influenced by classic US metal, takes no prisoners. The band, consisting of American and Italian musicians around Aldo Lonobile (g, SECRET SPHERE), sounds like they know what they are doing. A powerful voice, dramatic compositions and blazing guitar solos, that's the real deal here. There might be one or the other outstanding track missing, though, but there is no filler, too. Just check out "Made Of Metal" and ""Hallows. (MS)

Without doubt, CRAZY LIXX are music-wise, visual-wise and given their attitude, too, nothing but the personified eighties! Melodies and massive backing vocals all over the place. This compilation, with numerous re-recorded older songs (e.g. "Fire It Up", "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" oder "Ain't No Rest In Rock N' Roll") of the five-piece around Danny Rexon (v) as well as three brand-new tracks, freaking rocks. CRAZY LIXX simply play in their own league. The irresistable title track is a really good argument right away. So is "Sword And Stone", originally an unreleased KISS track. Massive! (MS)

Canadian band HONEYMOON SUITE with their first album in one and a half decade and the ninth output in total. It's a pretty versatile and fresh record with typical melodic rock tunes like the titletrack or the emotional ballad "Love Comes", with mature pop songs like "Tell Me What You Want" or "Broken" as well as solid and simple rockers ("Done Doin' Me"). "Give It All" is reminiscent of DEF LEPPARD to a large degree, though. A top class production highlights the material and with Johnnie Dee you get a frontman who still has got his voice. Really good output, boys! (MS)

In the early 90’s, STAR STAR was the East coasts answer to the West coasts Hollywood/Sunset Strip Glam bands. While glam rock fans were taking interest in STAR STAR, reading rave reviews about the Roadrunner release entitled “The Love Drag Years”, the die-hard fans found out that STAR STAR had a previously released Indie album “Go Go Girls In Love” (1988).The issue with the indie pressing of “Go Go Girls In Love” was that it was a very scarce release and when a fan could find a copy, it was extremely expensive. Along comes FnA Records, once again with its deep glam roster, releasing a scarce hair band for the fans to get the album at a fair price. The artwork for “Go Go Girls In Love” has been kept close and the tracks were remastered. (BS)

The Italian label Steelheart Records is known for digging up some rather obscure demos and releasing them on CD. The two albums by the Americans from MONA LISA, who were active at the end of the 1980s, are now in the starting blocks with two such CDs. They offer typical US hard rock of the late 80s with some strong DOKKEN influences. The releases underline the great potential of the band, who unfortunately failed to hit the big time. The material on "The Collection Vol.1" comes from the cassette EP "Grounded For Life" (1988) and the "Homemade Demos" (1987). Limited to 500 copies (Lost US Jewels Series Vol. 17). (BS)

The Italian label Steelheart Records is known for digging up some rather obscure demos and releasing them on CD. The two albums by the Americans from MONA LISA, who were active at the end of the 1980s, are now in the starting blocks with two such CDs. The releases underline the great potential of the band, who unfortunately failed to hit the big time. The material on "The Collection Vol.2" now offers a mixture of sleaze rock and metal and originally comes from the cassette "The Art Of Seduction" (1991) and 5 songs from the successor band TATTOO TAXI and 3 live recordings. Remastered, ltd. to 500 copies and "Lost US Jewel Nr.18". (BS)

THRONE OF THORNS from Belgium play powerful and melodic power metal with lots of anthems. Fans who dig BLIND GUARDIAN, KAMELOT, HELLOWEEN or ORDEN OGAN should pay attention! Guitarist and mastermind Thomas Jethro Verleye and the guys deliver a record full of sumptuous songs, dramatic sounds, epic stories and everything is refined with a certain touch of progressive metal which makes the material exciting all the time. Nevertheless, the compositions are easily accessible. Just check out "Atomic Retribution" or "Underworld". THRONE OF THORNS seem to be a new sparkling star in the genre. (MS)

REVOLUTION SAINTS, probably the most successful and certainly the best so-called allstar project from Frontiers Music, puts out album number five. For the second time, the line-up is Deen Castronovo (v/d, JOURNEY), Joel Hoekstra (g, WHITESNAKE) and Jeff Pilson (b, FOREIGNER, ex-DOKKEN) as well as Alessandro Del Vecchio (keys, HARDLINE, EDGE OF FOREVER), who produced once more and also wrote most of the material. It's a fine AOR record in the vein of JOURNEY or GIANT. "Against The Wind" is a timeless piece of music showcased by absolute top players. Compositions like "Can't End It Right Know" or the title track are superb and Castronovo's voice simply magic. (MS)

The names Nick Adams (v), Randy White (g), Tommy Gun (g), Crippler Ramirez (b) und Toby Ventura (d) sound like the eighties, leather, spikes and of course, America. But the boys are from Bielefeld/Germany and their mixture of metal, hard rock, sleaze and glam is entertaining and offers some really cool songs in the vein of LIZZY BORDEN, RATT, TWISTED SISTER, MÖTLEY CRÜE or W.A.S.P.. Anthems like "Above The Law", "Monstrous" oder "Hungry Heart" are great stuff. COBRAKILL and their sophomore album rock. Of course, you don't have to take everything too serious here, but the five-piece is really fun! (MS)

The Norwegian band Freakshow was formed in 1992, by previous members of the groups Frenzy, Eternity and Seventh Seal. In January 1993 they entered the studio to professionally record a nine-track demo. Despite the excellent musicianship and top-notch sonics of their tape, Freakshow failed to spark record company interest and folded merely half a year later. Their music is a combination of melodic hard rock, AOR and prog rock in the vein of Van Halen, Winger, TNT, Europe, Da Vinci and Dream Theater (Images and Words). Rock Of Norway are now releasing this hidden gem of an album based on the master tapes (+ 4 live tracks). Limited edition 500 copies. (BS)

There are bands that seem to never age or even put out an album which does not meet the usual quality level. MAGNUM is definitely one of those. "Here Comes The Rain" offers a lot of the MAGNUM magic which means atmosphere, very strong hooklines and lots of pomp. At the end of the day, it's not as heavy as most of the more recent records but also in 2024 Tony Clarkin (g) knows where to showcase his riffs and where Bob Catley's majestic voice should take the lead. The production is powerful and ladden with details as usual. No fillers whatsoever can be found. Just check out "The Seventh Darkness" and "I Wanna Live". Wonderful music! (MS)

Former SURVIVOR keyboarder, the IDES OF MARCH vocalist and PRIDE OF LIONS mastermind plays gigs and sometimes puts out records under the WORLD STAGE banner. It's classic US melodic rock offered here with a lot of pathos and lots of illustrous guest like Kevin Cronin (v, REO SPEEDWAGON), Kelly Keagy (d/v, NIGHT RANGER) or Don Barnes (v, 38 SPECIAL) among many others. JIM PETERIK is a phenomena and still one of the best songswriters out there for sure. Timeless and rather slow tracks like "Forever's The Last Place You Look" or "Fire And Water" perfectly fit soft rocking songs like "Last Dream Home". (MS)

"Live At The Bottom Line 1979" shows the legendary outfit around frontman John Waite in great shape. THE BABYS with their frontman's charismatic voice and song gems like "Head First", "Isn't Time" oder "Every Time I Think Of You" can't go wrong. The sound of the recording is pretty good, given the age of it. It's warm and easily transports you into the day and age and right into the legendary New Yorker venue Bottom Line. What a pity that this outfit has been so short-lived. So it's even greater to finally have this release. And it showcases three songs from their live-set on an album for the first time. Highly melodic and partly quite dreamy and melancholic rock. (MS)

German band SCANNER around frontman Efthimios Ioannidis and guitarist Axel Julius are back. The latter is resposible for all the songwriting including the lyrics. The concept album about the survival of mankind in a far away future is the first SCANNER output in almost a decade. "The Cosmic Race" is melodic power metal with epic moments and partly pretty fast songs which illustrate the story musically. Just check out "The Earth Song" and "A New Horizon". Style-wise mostly at home in the territory of GRAVE DIGGER, HELLOWEEN or (old) BLIND GUARDIAN but without being that good (for the most part). (MS)

KENNY MCGEE (v, JULIETT, HEARTLESS) with a new solo album. The American has lost nothing in terms of power and attitude over the years. A track like "Tennessee Run" sounds pretty much like a POISON ballad we probably haven't heard in decades. "That’s The Guitar My Daddy Played"is a pretty emotional track. KENNY MCGEE provides a fantastic voice showcasing timeless and amazing song material. This album is American hard rock as it should be. The only negative fact is that only eight songs are to be found on "The Picture" making it an enjoyable but short ride. (MS)

BAD TOUCH and their cool and easy-going classic rock in the vein of bands like BLACK CROWES, THE ANSWER or even THUNDER deserve to be checked out. The English band from Norfolk adds a certain amount of fun respectively play their compositions constantly with a twinkling of an eye. Lots of Seventies in their retro-sound flavored material, too. It's already album number five, though. You can literally smell the sweat the five-piece pours on stage for sure. Exciting band, great record, this "Bittersweet Satisfaction". (MS)

The 1983 debut of the later MR.BIG frontman Eric Martin. The ERIC MARTIN BAND, formerly called 415, and their at times slightly rough hard and melodic rock fully delivers. "Sucker For A Pretty Face", the first of three albums of this short-lived band, is an essentiell item to every serious collection. The characteristic voice of the American already shines bright on this debut but also songwriting and production are of the finest sort. You get seven (!) extra tracks from the very sessions along with the eight songs originally chosen by the major label back then plus the THE SUPREMES cover "Stop In The Name Of Love". (MS)

EDGE OF THE BLADE, the British AOR formation around singer John Francis (AFTER HOURS), Alan Kelly (SHY, 7HY - guitars, drums, keys) and the Spanish lead guitarist Miguel Angel Lopez (WHITE BLAST), is back with a new, fourth released entitled "Trick Of The Light". The CD appears as a neat gatefold card case and picks up seamlessly where its predecessors left off. Very well produced melodic rock is offered in the wake of the musicians' former or other bands. Also a must for JOURNEY fans! Tips for playing are the songs “Ecstasy” and “Love Stands Tall”.

Keith Atack, Englisch guitar player and long-term touring member for e.g. BONNIE TYLER with his solo debut. And "Nine Lives" is a remarkable record celebrating classic Seventies hard rock in a very impressive way. The material showcases an absolute stunning production, too. With Lee Small (v, PHENOMENA, LIONHEART, SWEET), Chris Childs (g, THUNDER, TYKETTTO), Bob Richards (d, ASIA, OVERLAND, SHY) as well as Nick Foley (keys), there are brilliant and very experienced players on board. Tracks like "Dead Man's Boots", "Remember Or Forget" oder "Stone Cold" are fantastic and from now on, the scene definitely has to have the name ATACK in mind. (MS)

TERJE, that's Terje Eide (v, ON THE RISE). The Norwegian delivers a strong AOR record with huge melodies and timeless arrangements. ""Recalibrate" convinces with very pleasant hooklines ("Recalibrate" or "Light Of A New Day"), a nice portion of solid rock ("Rollin'" or "Pathways") and exciting songwriting ("Why Don't We" or "To Be Continued"). Suprisingly, the multi-instrumentalist played and recorded everything on his own which is hardly recognizable, though. A detailled and breath-taking artwork completes the picture here on this slightly futuristic looking record in a propper way. Hats off! (MS)