Melodic Rock Index
News about melodic rock artists and labels
Find Me - "No Tears In Paradise" (Official Lyric Video)
From the album ANGELS IN BLUE.
FIND ME have announced that their third album, "Angels In Blue" will be released on February 22, 2019.
Vocalist Robbie LaBlanc on the new album: "I really like our first album, but I like "Dark Angel" better than the first one. I have to say that I love our new one the best of all three so far. I hope everyone else agrees, haha. There are some really amazing songs on this record and Daniel stripped the production down a bit on this one, which I really like. I had a lot of fun on this album vocally and I think you’ll hear that in the tracks. They were a joy to sing and there wasn’t one key change on any demo that was presented. It was like the songs were written right for me to sing them. Really, really cool!"
Songwriter, drummer, and producer Daniel Flores adds, "Like always, everything is built around Robbie's voice and range. Carefully structuring all arrangements around the melodies, crafting a powerhouse for every song. I think we have nailed down what that means for Find Me's melodic rock approach. Third time's the charm!"
Of tracks from the album they are particularly fond of, Flores says, "As a producer I tend to fall in love with all songs on the records we do, but the songs 'Desperate Dreams' and 'No Tears In Paradise' are two favorites." With LaBlanc adding, that "'Waiting For A Lifetime' and 'Show Me What You’d Die For' are two that quickly stand out in my mind as favorites. 'No Tears in Paradise' as well. I love our cover of 'Desperate Dreams' by Survivor, I thought it came out really nice and hopefully a great tribute to Jimi Jamison."
FIND ME is an ongoing collaboration between Swedish musician, songwriter and producer Daniel Flores (Issa, The Murder of My Sweet) and singer Robbie LaBlanc from Blanc Faces. The partnership was put together by Frontiers President, Serafino Perugino with a vision to unleash yet
another AOR behemoth from the label. Mission accomplished! FIND ME’s debut album, “Wings of Love” and the follow-up release “Dark Angel” were greeted with rave fan and critical reviews, with fans left begging for more music from the duo. No demand could have been easier to fulfill as Daniel and Robbie simply love working together. The result of their latest collaboration is “Angels In Blue”. Once again, a delightful and massive melodic rock album full of mighty, anthemic AOR songs with Robbie’s soaring lead vocals and amazing performances from Daniel Flores and guitarist Philip Lindstrand. Sonically, this powerhouse album sits in between the classic sound of Journey and Giant and newcomers like W.E.T and Eclipse. Yet another unmissable album for the Melodic Rock/AOR crowd from Frontiers…
"Robbie and I really hope you can hear the sweat and tears we have endured during the making of this record. Every finished record is a miracle in the making and this one in particular was hard to make. Thank God it all came through in the end. This is for you guys, the fans who make my work feel like a walk in the park everyday," says Flores.
"I’m really excited Find Me's third album is coming out. I hope the fans love it and I want to express my great respect to all the guys in the band: Phil, Michael, Daniel, Johnny, Rolf, Soren, and all the great writers like Alessandro Del Vecchio and Michael Palace. What a great bunch of musicians and talented, talented people. I am very lucky to be involved with such beautiful and talented people. God bless you all," concludes LaBlanc.
Tracklisting:
1. No Tears In Paradise
2. Chain Of Love
3. True Believer
4. Straight For Eternity
5. Can’t Let Go
6. One Last Kiss
7. Living A Lie
8. Angels In Blue
9. Show Me What You'd Die For
10. Waiting For A Lifetime
11. You Are The Only One
12. Desperate Dreams
13. Only The Lonely
Lineup:
Robert LaBlanc - Lead vocals and backing vocals
Daniel Flores - Drums, percussion and additional keyboards
Sören Kronquist - Keyboards
Philip Lindstrand - Rhythm guitars
Johnny Trobro - Bass
Michael Palace - Lead guitars and rhythm guitars on “Can't Let Go” and
“Only The Lonely”
West Bound - "Never Surrender" (Official Music Video)
From the album "Volume 1".
West Bound is a hard-hitting new rock band formed in the L.A. area by vocalist Chas West (Resurrection Kings, Bonham, Lynch Mob, etc.) and renowned guitarist/producer Roy Z (Bruce Dickinson, Halford, Tribe of Gypsies), with a line-up completed by Jimmy Burkard (guitar), Jason Cornwell (bass), and Dave “Chilli” Moreno (drums). Additionally, Stephen LeBlanc provides keyboards on the album and Brian Tichy (ex-Whitesnake, Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner) drummer/guitarist, played on and co-wrote two songs with Chas. West Bound offers up their take on the classic hard rock sound with soulful vocals, a touch of the blues, and killer melodies.
On where the inspiration of the band’s sound came from, Chas West says his “inspiration for the band’s sound came from “influences from the ‘70s and ‘80s classic hard rock, back when music was—in my opinion—real and passionate, from the heart and soul. Bands like Led Zeppelin, Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Foreigner, Aerosmith, Van Halen, etc. were what we grew up on and we went back to our youth when writing the songs for the album.”
If you remember the great bluesy hard rock explosion from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s with bands like Tesla, Cinderella, Badlands, Tora Tora, and Salty Dog and enjoy the modern throwback hard rock like Rival Sons, Massive Wagons, Inglorious and the like, you are going to find West Bound right up your alley.
On the first single and video, Chas explains that “the song Never Surrender is one that Roy Z and I came up with in the studio. It’s about going through struggles in life and never giving up on your dreams. People can relate to it in their own lives…it’s a theme we all know as human beings. Sometimes the tough times can help you define your true character.”
West Bound’s debut album, “Volume I” will be released on February 22, 2019 on Frontiers Music Srl. The band is currently in the midst of planning tour dates to support the album’s release. Expect more news on that in the new year.
Tracklisting:
1. Never Surrender
2. Dance Of Life
3. Ain't Gonna Drown
4. Beautiful Dream
5. Nothing
6. Roll The Bones
7. On My Own
8. Keeper Of The Flame
9. Turn To You
10. No Room For Sympathy
11. The Traveller
Lineup:
Vocals - Chas West
Guitar - Roy Z
Guitar - Jimmy Burkard
Bass - Jason Cornwell
Drums – Dave "Chilli " Moreno
Starbreaker - "How Many More Goodbyes" (Official Audio)
From the album DYSPHORIA.
Tony Harnell, the critically acclaimed singer/songwriter and former vocalist of multi-platinum hard rock band TNT, and Magnus Karlsson, current PRIMAL FEAR guitarist extraordinaire, have rejoined forces for the release of the third STARBREAKER album! Entitled “Dysphoria”, this new album showcases everything the project has become known for: metal sensibilities, melodic songs with killer hooks, thought provoking lyrics, inventive, intricate guitar playing, occasional prog twists, and a crisp production. Along with explosive performances from Harnell and Karlsson, these are the trademarks which the listener will find in “Dysphoria” and that make this album so very unique and special.
Of calling the album “Dysphoria”,Tony states that the “title is simply a reflection of a state of mind and I thought it fit the lyrical theme of the songs. If I tried to summarize the lyrical theme of the album I would say it’s beautifully sad, but infinitely hopeful. Life is always my biggest inspiration. It was an easy album to write lyrically for that reason. There was no writer’s block and the themes are probably pretty obvious. I don’t like to paint too clear a picture for the listener, it’s best to let the words speak to them without guidance”. On the first song released from the album, he says, “’Pure Evil’ is the heaviest the album gets and not indicative of the album as a whole, although there are some metal overtones throughout.”
Of the music direction on the album, Magnus states “Tony’s voice gives me inspiration to write my riffs and melodies. I imagine his voice, so in my head, I visualize the finished songs with great production. The two first albums didn’t take much more than a year from finish to start. This release was made over a much longer period because of our other bands and productions. It's the first time I worked on an album with breaks in the production. In the end, it came out much better. I’m really happy with the sound on a Starbreaker album. Thanks to Simone Mularoni (DGM) who did a great job with the mix. And Jonni Lightfoot and Anders Köllerfors who really made the songs shine! Tony’s voice sounds better than ever, just amazing! You can have the best songs, best production or fastest guitar solos, but if the vocals aren’t top notch, you have nothing!”
STARBREAKER started as Harnell's side project while he was still fronting TNT. He was initially working on a solo record, with Karlsson, former TNT drummer John Macaluso, and bassist Fabrizio Grossi, but they morphed into STARBREAKER, releasing their first self-titled studio album in 2005. In late 2007, Harnell flew to Sweden to write the bulk of the songs for the new album with Karlsson, and started recording the new songs at the end of that year. The group's second album, "Love's Dying Wish" was released in August 2008. It featured new bassist Jonni Lightfoot, who replaced Grossi, and was produced by Harnell and Karlsson, with Tommy Hansen (TNT, PRETTY MAIDS, HELLOWEEN) serving as the mixer.
The songwriting for the new STARBREAKER album started back before Harnell rejoined TNT in 2016, but it was after his ultimate split from that band, in October 2017, that he and Karlsson put the pedal to the metal and quickly completed the new record, “Dysphoria"
BAND MEMBERS:
Tony Harnell - vocals
Magnus Karlsson - guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
Jonni Lightfoot - bass
Anders Köllerfors - drums
Inglorious - "Ride To Nowhere" (Official Audio)
In amongst their touring commitments, Inglorious spent 2018 writing and recording their third studio album, “Ride To Nowhere”. A much darker, more reflective album than their previous releases, the new songs further hone the Inglorious sound – the pulsating rhythms, driving guitars and infectious vocal melodies.
“This album is different in many ways. The songs came about very quickly. As with all our songs we start with a riff, and this time having new guitarist Drew added a new and heavier feel to a couple of songs. We wrote the basics mostly together all in one room on acoustic guitars and then I went away and crafted the stories I wanted to tell. For me this album is very personal. I am for the first time writing about a lot of my feelings, relationships and losses...” – Nathan James
From the body blow riffs of the first single “Where Are You Now?”, to the beautiful melodies and bluesy overtones of “I Don’t Know You,” from the assault of “Freak Show” to the acoustic ballad “Glory Days”, “Ride to Nowhere” is an absolute gem of an album, showing not only all the influences from iconic rock albums of the 70’s, but also offering the band’s own sound and interpretation. As with Inglorious “II”, the album was mixed by the legendary Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith).
“We’re all really happy with the way the new record sounds and look forward to seeing how the fans receive it. I personally can’t wait to play the new material live on the road!”- Phil Beaver
Tracklisting:
1. Where Are You Now?
2. Freak Show
3. Never Alone
4. Tomorrow
5. Queen
6. Liar
7. Time To Go
8. I Don’t Know
9. While She Sleeps
10. Ride To Nowhere
11. Glory Days
Following their show stealing mainstage performance at Download Festival 2018, Inglorious have announced a full UK tour across January and February 2019. The band will be bringing their stunning live performance to venues across the UK to support the release of “Ride To Nowhere”.
Full dates are as follows:
28th Jan 2019 - Southampton, Engine Rooms
29th Jan 2019 - Bristol, Academy
31st Jan 2019 - Norwich, Waterfront
1st Feb 2019 - London, Shepherds Bush Empire
2nd Feb 2019 - Birmingham, Institute (FRONTIERS ROCK UK Festival)
3rd Feb 2019 - Nottingham, Rock City
5th Feb 2019 - Newcastle, Boilershop
6th Feb 2019 - Glasgow, Garage
7th Feb 2019 - Manchester, Academy 2
8th Feb 2019 - Bingley, Arts Centre
FM - "Killed By Love" (Live Music Video)
From the album "The Italian Job".
Hot on the heels of their 10th studio album, ‘Atomic Generation’, the UK’s melodic rock finest FM started their tour cycle with a stunning appearance in front of the Frontiers Rock Festival crowd in Milan, Italy in April 2018.
FM offered up a set which included fan favourites and classic cuts taken from their first two albums, ‘Indiscreet’ and ’Tough It Out’, alongside cuts from recent releases ‘Heroes And Villains’ and the aforementioned ‘Atomic Generation’, plus surprise song choices such as the 1987 single ‘Let Love Be The Leader’ thrown into the mix.
The band’s performance was simply faultless and mind-blowing. The rhythm section of Pete Jupp and Merv Goldsworthy didn’t miss a beat, while Jem Davis produced rich sonic tapestries with his keyboards, Jim Kirkpatrick was absolutely amazing on guitar, and Mr. Steve Overland offered a breathtaking performance, showing the world why he is one of the truly legendary voices in rock.
“Knowing we were recording and filming the show, there was a lot more pressure than normal for this performance. But that aside, we knew the Italian fans and the fans who had travelled from around the world would not let us down. As you will see from the footage, it was a marvellous evening and they did indeed deliver us the energy we needed. We were blown away by the audience reaction. Fantastic crew and venue added to the overall energy. This is also the only live album that features some of the newer material from ‘Metropolis', ‘Rockville', 'Heroes & Villains' and 'Atomic Generation'. It is a good representation of where the band is today,” says bassist and founding member Merv Goldsworthy.
‘The Italian Job’ documents this show. An absolute gem of an album, it is unmissable not only for FM followers, but all fans of the melodic rock genre.
TRACKLISTING
1 Intro
2 Black Magic
3 I Belong To The Night
4 Life Is A Highway
5 Let Love Be The Leader
6 Someday (You’ll Come Running)
7 Killed By Love
8 Metropolis
9 Over You
10 Closer To Heaven
11 Does It Feel Like Love
12 Story Of My Life
13 Love Lies Dying
14 Bad Luck
15 Tough It Out
16 That Girl
17 Other Side Of Midnight
Steve Overland – vocals & guitar
Merv Goldsworthy – bass
Pete Jupp – drums
Jem Davis – keyboards
Jim Kirkpatrick – guitar
Toby Hitchcock - "Promise Me" (Official Music Video)
Powerhouse American vocalist Toby Hitchcock is back with a brand new solo album, “Reckoning”. The album was written and produced in collaboration with Swedish producer Daniel Flores (Find Me, The Murder Of My Sweet).
Toby first came to the attention of melodic rock fans when former Survivor founding member Jim Peterik hand-picked him to be the lead singer for Pride Of Lions, the band that would mark Jim's return to the rock scene.
With Pride of Lions, Toby has sung on five studio albums which are considered true classics among the melodic rock/AOR faithful. Often compared to Bobby Kimball (Toto), Jimi Jamison (Survivor), and Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Hitchcock’s voice has the depth, feeling and the feel of each of them, while still keeping his own identity and trademark.
When Pride of Lions took a small hiatus in 2011, Toby took the opportunity to hook up with Swedish songwriter/producer Erik Martensson (Eclipse, W.E.T., Ammunition) for his first solo album, “Mercury’s Down.” The album was a display of the talent of the two young guns, with Toby showing an unbelievable set of pipes on some heavier material, specially penned for him by Martensson.
In 2017, work on a new solo album started with Toby once again looking to Sweden for another exciting collaboration. Swedish producer Daniel Flores (Find Me, The Murder Of My Sweet) crafted a superb set of songs that are an absolute AOR gem of an album.
Toby Hitchcock says, "[b]eing able to record my second solo album was a big step for me. I didn’t want to be a “one hit wonder” type of artist. So I’m very thankful for the opportunity to record a sophomore album. Working on my own solo record is really a great way for me to be creative on my own, so it’s very satisfying, and I love the feeling. Both of my solo projects were produced by different artists. So they feel completely different. This is a great thing for music lovers, as it brings a different vibe. This allows me to really explore my vocals and just have a great time doing it. Both albums have been amazing to work on and I couldn’t be happier."
“Reckoning” is a must hear release for all melodic rock/AOR fans out there. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Jerome Mazza - Immortal Lyric Video
Jerome Mazza – Outlaw Son
Release Date: 23 November 2018
Catalogue No: ESM325
Bar Code: 5 031281 00325 6
Track list: Neverland 4:03 / Immortal 3:58 / The Dark Side 3:10 / Streets On Fire 5:03 / The Last Goodbye 4:38 / Undercover Love 4:08 / Song For The People 3:37 / Save The Best Til Last 3:38 / Crossfire 4:12 / Calm Before The Storm 4:00 / Outlaw Son 3:44 / Unfinished Business 3:19
Jerome Mazza – Lead & Background vocals
Tommy Denander – Guitars / Keyboards
Steve Overland – Backing vocals
Brian Anthony – Bass
Chris Metzger – Drums / percussion
Produced by Khalil Turk & Tommy Denander
Mixed and Mastered by Brian J Anthony
Executive Producer: Khalil Turk for Escape Music Ltd.
Jerome Mazza is a singer / songwriter born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennyslvania.
At the age of 8 he taught himself how to play the guitar and sing after being influenced by guitarist and singer Mark Farner (Grand Funk).
Playing guitar and singing through his teenage years Jerome joined his first band at age 19 and toured the east coast in various rock and pop bands. He started writing songs at age 25 and was very influenced by progressive rock band Kansas.
In 1990 Jerome became the vocalist for Christian metal band Angelica. To this day the album “Walking in Faith” by Angelica remains their most respected release.
Moving on to 2015 Jerome recorded a solo album and then joined forces with Torben Enevoldsen for the band “Pinnacle Point”. It was at this point that Khalil from Escape Music approached Jerome when he discovered him on YouTube singing for the band “Pinnacle Point”. Khalil invited Jerome to sing duet with Steve Walsh on the song “Born In Fire” on the new Steve Walsh CD “Black Butterfly” (Nov 2017 ESM311). Jerome’s performance was so outstanding that Khalil asked him to be a guest to sing additional songs on the Steve Walsh “Black Butterfly” album. It was an easy decision for Jerome to make and the result was explosive!
It became obvious that Jerome should record a new solo album and here it is in all its glory! This is a masterpiece of melodic rock featuring Jerome’s incredible vocal range. With backing from musicians that were also featured on the Steve Walsh “Black Butterfly” album, this will be one of the most talked about releases of the year!
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