HEAVY PARADISE, THE PARADISE OF MELODIC ROCK!

Friday, April 18, 2014

ASTRA / Broken Balance (2014)

Astra is a progressive hard 'n' heavy act and "Broken Balance" it's already their third full-length release. The band's debut album was released in 2006 and was entitled "About Me: Through Life And Beyond" and three years later, in 2009, the second step "From Within" was a fact. I have to say that after a couple of spins of "Broken Balance" I'm really impressed here; this is a very good record all the way!

SEBASTIAN BACH / Give'Em Hell (2014)

One of the most characteristic singers ever is without doubt Sebastian Bach! Yes, the singer of the great Skid Row that released some really excellent albums back in the 80's, early 90's, nowadays he is releasing his brand new opus with the title "Give 'Em Hell". And believe me, this one is probably his best solo record ever and an album that can sit perfectly next to every early Skid Row effort.

Swiss hard rockers SHAKRA have disclosed their latest plans of releasing a "Best Of" album, which will be titled “33 - The Best Of” and it set to arrive on May 9th.
The double album includes 30 SHAKRA classics and 3 brand new songs.

No Sinner announce "Save Your Soul" UK and European Tour

Vancouver’s powerhouse blues rock band No Sinner, hot off their critically acclaimed concerts at this year’s SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, return to the UK and Europe for an extensive tour in May 2014, releasing their new single "Love Is A Madness" on 26th May.

The UK and European tour follows a sold out showcase show at The Blackheart, Camden, back in November 2013 which received an incredible reaction from the British music press.

The four-piece featuring the sultry lead singer Colleen Rennison (whose surname is No Sinner spelt backwards), not only captured the imagination of the British public, the legendary BBC radio DJ Bob Harris has also fallen for their addictive sound and will record an exclusive session with them for his BBC Radio 2 Show on their return to London in May.

Selected by Amazon UK for their 2014 "New and Emerging Artists" campaign, No Sinnerfollows in the footsteps of 2013’s featured bands (Haim, Daniel Avery and Chvrches).

"Bastard of the Blues" is the 13th full length Helix studio CD, not counting several live CDs and numerous compilation albums, and draws from the vast blues/rock/and metal influences that have driven both writers over the years. Written primarily with Sean Kelly, the CD is a continuation of 2008's "Vagabond Bones" and also contains two songs from the follow-up EP "Skin in the Game."

It's now been six years since Kelly and Vollmer combined writing forces, and it shows. The songs are more focused and bigger sounding, the lyrics more concise and catchy. The song "Bastard of the Blues" describes Helix music to a "T"-the unholy co-mingling of blues and rock and roll to produce the bastard child heavy metal; at least the variety Helix has been kicking out for close to 40 years now.

Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of the exclusive “Frontiers Rock Festival” Compilation CD which will be sold Exclusively at the forthcoming Frontiers Rock Festival which will be held at the Live Club In Trezzo (Milan, Italy) on May 1-2-3. Such compilation will be printed one-off in a very limited quantity (500 copies only) and will be sold exclusively at the Festival at the special price of 8.00 Euro.

Frontiers Rock Festival VIP tickets purchasers will have the compilation delivered within the ticket price in their special bag of goodies!

The tracklisting includes a total of 14 songs, out of which 9 are exclusive previews, unreleased or rare tracks! The Frontiers Rock Festival Official Compilation will include:

1. L.R.S. “Livin' 4 a Dream” (taken from the album “Down to the Core”) 2. Adrenaline Rush “Change” (exclusive premiere from the forthcoming album “Adrenaline Rush) 3. Moon Land ft. Lenna Kuurmaa “Heaven Is to Be Close to You” (exclusive premiere from the forthcoming album “Moon Land”) 4. Three Lions ”Trouble In a Red Dress” (taken from the album “Three Lions”) 5. Crazy Lixx “Sympathy” (exclusive premiere from the forthcoming album “TBA”) 6. State of Salazar “All the Way” (exclusive premiere from the forthcoming album “All the Way”) 7. Issa “Invincible (Acoustic)” (previously unreleased in Europe) 8. Dalton “Hey You” (exclusive premiere from the forthcoming album “Pit Stop”) 9. W.E.T. “Victorious” (previously unreleased in Europe) 10. Hardline “Fever Dreams” (taken from the album “Danger Zone”) 11. Eclipse “Into the Fire” (previously unreleased outside Sweden) 12. Angelica “Can't Stop Love” (taken from the album “Thrive”) 13. Place Vendome “Power of Music” (taken from the album “Thunder in the Distance”) 14. M.I.M. “On My Own” (exclusive premiere / special version for the FRF compilation).

Further info and ticket sales info available in www.frontiersrockfestival.com.

MALCOLM YOUNG Taking Break From AC/DC Due To 'Ill Health'

Legendary Anglo-Australian hard rockers AC/DC have released the following statement:

"After forty years of life dedicated to AC/DC, guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health. Malcolm would like to thank the group's diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support.

"In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family's privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music."

NWOBM legends Saxon have announced ‘Warriors of The Road’, a 38 date European Tour celebrating their 35^th Anniversary. The set list will feature tracks from what is known to the fans as ‘The Holy Trinity’ – Saxon’s seminal albums Wheels of Steel, Strong Arm of the Law and Denim and Leather.

Starting in Bristol and closing at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire, ‘Warriors of the Road’ will land in the UK on 30^th November to delight fans with 12 explosive shows. ‘Come and see the awesome power of Saxon live!’ – says frontman Biff Byford. The band is currently working on a live DVD that will be released to coincide with the upcoming tour.

KIX is going to release a new album!!!!

An update from KIX the band : "Look for KIX--Steve Whiteman, Jimmy Chalfant, Ronnie Younkins, Brian Forsythe and Mark Schenker—to release their first new album in almost two decades on July 22, thanks to their new partnership with Loud & Proud Records. The new album is produced by Taylor Rhodes, who last worked with KIX on 1991’s HOT WIRE album. Rhodes has also written hit songs for Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne and Journey.

“The boys and I are so happy that our old friend, Tom Lipsky, has invited us to join the Loud & Proud family,” exclaims Whiteman. “We worked with Tom and Madelyn Scarpulla on our last studio album, SHOW BUSINESS, and we’re looking forward to working with them again with the release of the first new KIX album in almost 19 years! We'll still be coming to a dump near you very soon!”

Loud & Proud Owner & President Tom Lipsky adds, “What I have always loved about KIX is they make rock ‘n roll fun. What I love about their new music is that it’s pure, genuine KIX music, straight up guitar rock with no compromise. They’re not chasing trends or trying to re-invent themselves. They’re simply doing what they do best...and now they can do it Loud and Proud!”

Stay tuned for new album news, which will be announced in the coming weeks, and check out KIX on tour at any of the following stops" (with more to be announced soon):

4/25 Columbia, MD - M3 Festival
5/24 Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma
5/31 Sandusky, OH - Ohio Bike Week
6/6 Vernal, UT - Thunder Rocks
6/21 Idaho Falls, ID - Rock The Falls
7/25 Royalton, MN - Halfway Jam
7/31 Leemore, CA - Tachi Palace Casino

CROWSAW / Smoke & Feathers (2014)

Started in ’12 by Rob Lomax originally as a cover band Crow-saw soon found their roots changing to Rock/Blues, writing original songs which soon gained them a lot of attention. In October 2013, Crowsaw made it to the final of the Highway to Hell competition and won against 19 other bands consequently winning a place at HRH Blues.

Shattered Generation fall ‘Out of Line’ with new single

Based in Nottingham, four piece glam rock group Shattered Generation are looking to make 2014 their breakthrough year.

Their new single ‘Out of Line’ could well be the track to do it, opening with an astonishing, complex guitar riff before giving way to chunky distorted chords and solid rock rhythms and vocals.

Hear it here:

https://soundcloud.com/shattered-generation-1/out-of-line

This is excellent, fun rock inspired by the hits of the 80s, an environment where Shattered Generation find themselves more than comfortable and which has allowed them to play alongside Guns 2 Roses (the largest Guns’n’Roses’ tribute band) as well as with fellow up and comers The Peckham Cowboys and The Brink.

The name of BOGUSLAW BALCERAK was totally unknown for me till now that I received the promo-kit for this really interesting release. So, before starting this review let's see a couple of things about 'how is how' BOGUSLAW BALCERAK. Balcerak is a Polish guitarist and 'Gates Of Valhalla" is entitled his second album.