Stuff by Woody
Legends Uriah Heep release their latest album Outsider on June 9th on Frontiers Records. Tracks to be included are ‘Speed Of Sound’, ‘Is Anybody Going To Help Me?’, ‘Can’t Take That Away’ and ‘Say Goodbye’.
Finnish melodic rock gods Brother Firetribe are back with their third album Diamond In The Firepit out at the beginning of May on Spinefarm Records. They have a new video out right now for their lead track ‘For Better Or For Worse’. I love this band, grab your air keytar and crank this one up… unless you’re chicken…
Tesla return with new album Simplicity which is released on June 9th via Frontiers Records. Tesla are not touring the UK but will appear in the Midlands for a show at the Download Festival at Donington Park in June. Tracks to be included on the new album are ‘Ricochet’, ‘Cross My Heart’, ‘Break Of Dawn’ and ‘Til That Day’.
Download have announced Richie Sambora will join the Saturday main stage line-up which also features the likes of Winger, Buckcherry and of course headliners Aerosmith. I didn’t see that one coming.
Bryan Adams has announced a UK arena tour celebrating 30 years of the Reckless album. Adams hits the Midlands twice with a show at the LG Arena on the 19th November and Capital FM arena in Nottingham on the 13th November.
Everyone’s favourite AOR band Night Ranger will release their brand new studio album High Road in early June on Frontiers Records. It will include the tracks ‘Knock Knock Never Stop’, ‘Don’t Live Here Anymore’, ‘Only For You Only’ and ‘Brothers’.
Here’s the first official video from it for ‘High Road’
The Midlands Legends that are Magnum have only gone a made a bloomin’ video for the track ‘Too Many Clowns’ to promote their latest album Escape From The Shadow Garden. Enjoy their escapades below…
Sebastian Bach lets loose his new solo album Give Em Hell on April 18th on Frontiers Records. He’s playing The Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton on the 8th July so that’s one for your diaries! And here’s his video for ‘Temptation’ lifted from his latest opus.
And here’s another lyric video for the track ‘Taking Back Tomorrow’
Outloud return with their third album Let’s Get Serious which is released via AOR Heaven on May 23rd. Songs set for inclusion are ‘I Was So Blind’, ‘Bury The Knife’, ‘All In Vain’ and ‘Another Kind Of Angel’.
Mother Road features Steelhouse Lane vocalist Keith Slack and Soul Doctor guitarist Chris Lyne. Their debut album Drive hits the shelves on May 23rd via AOR Heaven and will feature the following tracks ‘Drive Me Crazy’, ‘Out Of My Mind’, ‘ Dangerous Highway’ and ‘Dirty Little Secret’.
Rubicon Cross are the band put together by Firehouse vocalist CJ Snare and English guitarist Chris Green (Pride). Their debut album will finally see the light of day in May on the INgrooves record label and will feature tracks like ‘Next Worse Enemy’, ‘Save Me Within’, ‘R U Angry’ and ‘All The Little Things’. Check out their first video for ‘Bleed For Me’ below!
The wonderful Delain have released their first video to support their album The Human Contradiction it’s for the track ‘Stardust’ get your dribble buckets ready…
Keep an out for two new bands featuring members from other acts we love! First from Italy is Room Experience which features an as yet unnamed vocalist, but trust me it’s a big name, but features the Charming Grace / Shining Line song writing and backing of Pierpaolo Monti and Dave Barbieri – definitely one to keep an eye out for you heard it here first! Also featuring ex-members of Alyson Avenue and Shiva are new female fronted AOR Scandinavian’s Divine Rain – more news as I get it!
The release of the Loud Lion album Die Tough will finally see the light of day via MelodicRock Records on May 19th. It will include tracks like ‘Love Will Break Your Heart’, ‘Lion Eyes’, ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ and ‘None More Fast’.
The MelodicRock Records release of Lillian Axe’s One Night In The Temple has been delayed until May 19th.
Another new band to emerge and definitely one that will get people interested considering its band members is Underworld. I will get more news to you as soon as I hear it but for now I can tell you the band features Steve Augeri on Vocals and Kee Marcello on Guitars.
The Winery Dogs have announced a date at The Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton on the 7th July. It clashes with Extreme in Brum so not a great date for some BUT three guesses which one my Black Country ass will decide to go to!
Laney’s Legion have released a video for their second single ‘Poptastic’ which is available from all reputable download thingy places.
MelodicRock Records will release the debut album from Australia’s The Radio Sun on May 19th. The album entitled Wrong Things Right will feature the following tracks, ‘Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover’, ‘Let’s Talk About Love’, ‘Summer Girl’ and ‘Head Over Heels’.
UK rockers FM have released a new video for the track ‘Cold Hearted’ which is lifted from their current EP Futurama. Remember the FM guys hit the Black Country this November 23rd at The River Rooms in Stourbridge.
7HY which stands for 7 Hard Years have just released a promo video showcasing snippets of songs that will feature on their forthcoming album which is scheduled for release in June. The band features ex members of Shy and Marshall Law as well as American vocalist Shawn Pelata whom many of you will know from his band Line of Fire.
Winger are not messing about with the promotion of their new album Better Days Comin as they have just released their third music video from it, this time for the track ‘Tin Soldier’. Sadly the band has no Midlands headline shows planned but they will be playing the Download Festival this summer.
Journey guitarist Neal Schon has a new video out for the track ‘Exotica’ to promote his forthcoming solo album SO U. An instrumental with commentary from the band, something tells this album isn’t going to be everyone, you’ll hear what I mean.
And here’s something a little more palatable the video for ‘What You Want’
Edguy have released their first video from their upcoming album Space Police – Defenders Of The Crown. Check out ‘Love Tyger’ below.
California Breed has released a lyric video for ‘Midnight Oil’ which is lifted from their forthcoming debut album on Frontiers Records.
Well Jeff Scott Soto did warn us his next solo album was going to be a heavy one he wasn’t joking either. Soto will feature the line-up which recently toured with him – guitarist Jorge Salan, guitar/keys BJ, bass David Z and drums Edu Cominato. The album is called Inside The Vertigo and will be released in late 2014 and followed by extensive worldwide touring and festival appearances in 2015! Check out the sample below for the track ‘Final Say’..
http://youtu.be/fb7K_CqA0D8
L.R.S have just released a new video to promote their recently released album Down To The Core on Frontiers Records. It’s for the ballad ‘Almost Over You’ it’s my personal favourite from the album and I can’t get the blasted thing outta my head! One of my songs of 2014 without a doubt!
Ged Ryland’s Rage Of Angels have announced another couple of live shows including one here in the Midlands at The River Rooms on July 9th. The new line-up features Irvin Parratt on keyboards, Gavin Cooper on bass and of course new vocalist Jason Morgan.
Fahran have released another video, the second with new vocalist Matt Black (ex-Serpentine) for the track ‘I Heard A Joke Once’. Their new album Chasing Hours will be released in May.
Popular Canadian rockers Helix return with their 13th full album Bastard of the Blues which will be released via Perris Records in May.
Cult rockers Kix have signed to Loud and Proud Records and plan to release their first album in nineteen years on July 22nd.
Escape Music release the new album from cult UK melodic rockers Seven on June 20th. The album features Mick Devine (Vocals), Keith McFarlane (Guitars), Pat Davey (Bass), Simon Lefevre (Keyboards) and Austin Lane (Drums). Songs to be included are ‘Inside Love’, ‘Headlines’, ‘Don’t Break My Heart’ and ‘Never Too Late’. You can check out the lyric video for the track ‘Shoot To Thrill’ below.
John Waite has revealed he will release another compilation album entitled Best in May. It will feature some re-recorded Waite Classics, some tracks from his last album Rough and Tumble, live tracks and some rare tunes.
I was always a big fan of Estonian girl band Vanilla Ninja’s ultra melodic pop rock so I’m very keen to hear the new Moonland project which features ex-Ninja Lenna Kuurmma. It will be released via Frontiers Records. No firm release date just yet but keep an eye for three official videos coming soon. An EPK has just been released which features a lot of song snippets to highlight what to expect. Got to say I’m excited about it, just my sort of thing! Alessandro Del Vecchio has produced the album and features lots of guest writers including Pierpaolo ‘Zorro’ Monti & Dave ‘Rox’ Barberi of Charming Grace who donated the track ‘Over Me’.
I was a big fan of the debut Sonic Station album so I’m overjoyed to learn of the release of their second upcoming album Next Stop which is out on May 23rd via Avenue Of Allies. They have already released a digital single and video for the track ‘Amelia’, crank it up!
The debut album from Rik Priem’s Prime will be released on May 23rd via Avenue of Allies. The band are fronted by popular rock vocalist Carsten ‘Lizard’ Schultz, they are shooting video for ‘Babylon Rising’ so keep an eye out for that. The album will feature the following tracks ‘The Future Is Now’, ‘Hungry At Heart’, ‘Kneel Before The Pieces (of a Broken Heart)’ and ‘Run Angel Run’.
Ratt vocalist Stephen Pearce has announced he has left the band following internal struggles, many which have become common knowledge. He has stated his time with Ratt is over although he will continue to write record and perform as a solo artist and potentially with future bands/projects.
Michael Schenker’s Temple Of Rock returns to the Robin on December 16th, another one to add to your gig diaries.
So record label Avenue Of Allies goes quiet for a few months but they are coming back with a trio of releases this May including the new one from Italian AOR’sters Perfect View. Red Moon Rising will be released on May 23rd and will include the following tracks ‘Where The Wind Blows’, ‘By My Side’, ‘Living In Disguise’ and ‘Dead End Street’.
More re-mastered goodies coming from Rock Candy this May include, Rick Springfield – Working Class Dog and Rock Of Life, Lynch Mob – Wicked Sensation and Georgia Satellites – S/T.
A new female fronted rock act from Sweden Adrenaline Rush will release their self titled debut album will be released at the end of August on Frontiers Records. It will be preceded by a digital single/video for the track ‘Change’, so keep your eyes peeled. They have released an EPK, which you can hear snippets of some of their songs and also hear from the band themselves.
Record label AOR Heaven has revealed they will be releasing new albums from Dead End Heroes and Acacia Avenue in June.
If you haven’t already heard Dead End Heroes features vocalist Carsten ‘Lizard’ Schultz, bass man Paul Logue (Eden’s Curse), guitarist Rolf Munkes. Their debut album Roadkill will feature the following tracks, ‘Cry For The Moon’, ‘The Wind Howls Fire’, ‘And The Loser Is’ and ‘The Fire’s Worth The Loneliness’.
Acacia Avenue is a multi vocalist project from Torben Enevlodsen and featuring on their second album Cold amongst others are Steve Newman, Peter Sundell and Rob Moratti. Tracks to be included are ‘Angelina’, ‘Love Will Survive’, ‘Signs Of Love’ and ‘How Many Nights’.
Can’t say I’m overly excited by the new H.E.A.T material and their new video for the track ‘Mannequin Show’ does nothing to change my mind, but these guys are so popular at the moment that I’m sure I’m in the minority in losing interest.
The Quireboys have a brand new album Black Eyed Sons out on June 16th via Off Ya Rocka records. It’s a three disc affair including a bonus live DVD and Live CD. The new album will feature tracks like ‘Julieanne’, ‘Stubborn Kinda Heart’, ‘You Can Never Tell’ and ‘Mother’s Ruin’.
Another new act hitting us this year is Strong here’s the video for their debut single ‘The Truth’ enjoy!
Extreme and one time Van Halen vocalist Gary Cherone’s other band Hurtsmile will release their second album Retrogrenade on June 2nd via the increasingly popular fan fund site Pledge Music – a public release is set to follow shortly after. It features the following tracks ‘Rock N Roll Cliche’, ‘I Still Do’, ‘A Melody for You’ and ‘Walk Away’.
It seems the Queensryche debacle has finally come to an end, Geoff Tate has relinquished his claims on the band name – so the other original members now fronted by Crimson Glory singer Todd La Torre will be the only band using the name Queensryche following a final fling American tour by Geoff Tate’s version under that name. Tate will continue to write record and tour under the name Geoff Tate: The Voice Of Queensryche.
It seems Scorpions drummer James Kottak has been jailed in United Arab Emirates following a drunken incident at Dubai airport according to a report in a United Arab Emirates based newspaper. It is claimed he made various anti Muslim comments and made rude gestures to Pakistani and Afghan passengers. Kottak has admitted to drinking but denies the other charges of racism.
Well that’s all the juicy bits of news from the past month; I’ll be back in a month’s time with even more news and gossip from the world of AOR and melodic rock.
