The former TOTO tribute band MINDFEELS and their sophomore album, eight years after the debut, arouse attention here. TOTO meets Westcoast sound, musical excellence meets amazing melodies. The Italian outfit convinces in all respects. They provide a vivid mix of solid rockers, playful hookline monsters and quieter sounds, just like their (obvious) main influence. Pretty refreshing, though, is the fact that the four-piece manages to keep an individual sound to a certain degree despite their affection for TOTO. Mix and master by Roberto Priori (DANGER ZONE). (MS)

A really cool debut by the Italian outfit MAYHEM MAVERICKS around frontman Marchello Spera (STREETLORE) and Andrew Trabelsi (g/keys, SHINING LANE) is offered here. The band rose out of the ashes of ALCHEMY. The material is rather hard rock than melodic rock despite the massive keyboards allover. Hot rockers like "Killing Eyes" or "I Can Feel The Heartache" foremost as well as the emotional ballad "With Me" are absolute highlights. As rough references for the given sound you can take for instance WHEELS OF FIRE or DOMAIN. (MS)

The roots of this band go back to the seventies and until their official incarnation in 1987, Clay Babb (g), Karl Reiche (b) and Mark Cox (dr) made lots of experiences in music and finally found the right vocalist in Mike Moore for their vision of pounding and roaring but melodic metal. The sound has got elements from ACCEPT, SKID ROW, BANSHEE or LIZZY BORDEN. "Quarter To War" is an appropriate example of the sound. THE POUND is one of those many bands which basically had it all but were only short-lived and/or came into being at the wrong time. (MS)

SINISTERIA from Toronto/Canada are part of a long tradition of hard rock outfits from the mapleleaf-country. Just imagine a cool mixture of MÖTLEY CRÜE, BLACK SABBATH and AEROSMITH and add a lot of groove, there you have the sound of SINISTERIA. "Long Run" or "Hellbound For Heaven", for instance, or the "single" called "Lay A Heavy" provide you both with strong melodies and powerful riffs. Even though these songs from the early nineties have never been on an official album, there are three unreleased demo tracks, too, to complete the picture here. (MS)

SKIN AND BONZ are one of those many cool bands popping up end of the eighties and beginning of the nineties. The Americans from California came into being 1991 and, of course, did not stand a chance against the dramatically changing music taste in those days, let's talk "Seattle". Their slightly sleazy sound is partly reminiscent of KIX, DANGEROUS TOYS, THE BLACK CROWES or TORA TORA. They offer ten great songs from those days that simply rock. The title track is a good appetizer here. If bands like POISON or L.A.GUNS put out that song, it would likely have become a hit single. (MS)

Swords in hand and ride into battle! The Swedish melodic power metal band VANDOR storm the grounds of honorable warriors like RHAPSODY (OF FIRE), FREDOMM CALL, DRAGONFORCE, SONATA ARCTICA and YGNWIE MALMSTEEN. Epic, anthemic and, of course, cliche-ladden songs, which are more or less obligatory in this very style can be found on album number three. A great, multi-facetted sound and many above-average songs let "The Ember Eye Part 2: The Portal Of Truth" shine. Frontman and lead guitarrist Vide Bjerde doesn't have to hide at all. (MS)

RAVE IN FIRE is a yound female-fronted hard rock and metal band from Madrid/Spain. There are moments that remind you of SAHARA, WARLOCK or CHASTAIN. Especially the songwriting is obviously well taken care of. Also the combination of vocals (Selene Perdiguero) and guitar is pretty remarkable. This sophomore album is slightly more exciting in terms of arrangements and style than the debut "Sons Of A Lie" from 2023, which was already really good, too. Check out the highly melodic "Still Standing". Give those young bands a go! (MS)

The guys have been roaming the Hollywood/Los Angeles club circuit from 1988 to 1993 and, according to rumours, werde pretty xxx. CYCLONE SOUND are reminiscent of GUNS'N'ROSES, FASTER PUSSYCAT und TORA TORA which is actually pretty fun. Once again a release that has been found in some kind of deep archieve. The majority of the songs are unreleased, which comes as surprise, because they are powerful, authentic and kick ass hard rock with elements of Sleaze and a slice of Southern Rock. CYCLONE SOUND mangage to deliver roaring vocals (Gabriel “Jag” Rivera) and really massive guitars (Tim Orrahood), the latter sounding a bit like Eddie Van Halen at times. Great collection of songs. (MS)

BOA have once been a very promising jound hard rock and melodic rock outfit from Boston/USA. Eönian Records puts out this collection of presumably all of their material here - for the first time officially. Obviously the guys only put out two sought after demo casettes in 1987 (two songs) and 1990 (six songs), the latter being the first six on this CD. Their very sound is a cross between SOUTHGANG, POISON, BLUE TEARS, TRIXTER or even EUROPE which makes it pretty interesting. The production is fine and especially frontman Mike Alberta does a great job here. (MS)

Bands like RIOT, HOLY MOTHER, SARACEN, TANK or TYGERS OF PAN TANG are comparisons to this Northern Irish outfit, founded in 2014, for sure. Melodic metal with versatile arrangements and dramatic vocals (John Harv Harbinson) as well as an impressive rhythm section can be found. A powerful production is the icing on the cake with this fifth album of the band, which is more and more NWOBHM-orientated with each output. "Tyrannosaur (Screaming In The Night)" or "My Immortal Beloved" are just two highlights of this record, which will be a game changer for the band. Comes with a beautiful Rodnew Matthews artwork (e.g. MAGNUM). (MS)