HEAVY PARADISE, THE PARADISE OF MELODIC ROCK!: May 2017

Monday, May 29, 2017

REVIEW : DEGREED -- Degreed (2017)

Degreed is a band that is synonymous with the new generation of modern melodic rock. I simply love this band and each and every record from Degreed is pure candy in my ears. After the pretty solid "Dead But Not Forgotten" album, which received some great feedback from both fans and press, it's time for a new record simply entitled "Degreed".

REVIEW : PUSSY SISSTER -- Arrogance (2017)

One of the last promos that I received for a review is this young band of Pussy Sisster. These youngsters are from Germany and they have already played in some serious gigs such as wacken,masters of rock,knock out festival and many more.

Pride & Joy Music is delighted to announce the signing of Italian Progressive Metal band SOUL SECRET for the release of their fourth album “Babel” which will be released on July 28^th, 2017.

Songs from this record will premiere live in Germany at the band’s opening performance for this year’s NIGHT OF THE PROG FESTIVAL at the Loreley on July 14^th, opening for none other than MIKE PORTNOY.

Soul Secret are an Italian progressive metal band based in Naples. After a long time playing together, they hit the market in 2008 with their debut album "Flowing Portraits", published by ProgRock Records and with Mark Basile (DGM) as guest singer on the whole album.

Pride & Joy Music is delighted to announce the signing of Swedish Hard Blues Rock band BADGE for the release of their third album “If It Hurts It Must Be Good”! The release was set to July 28^th, 2017!

BADGE was put together by guitarist/singer Matti Norlin and drummer Fredrik Haake in 2002. Matti´s love for Pre War Blues and both their ambition to create new and exciting music is the drive.

Since then BADGE has released two albums "Kill Another Fuzz" in 2010 and "If I Could Love I'd Love This" in 2013. Their new album" If It Hurts It Must Be Good" will be available via Pride & Joy Music from July 28^th, 2017.

Sicilian guitarist Antonello Giliberto has released the video of the "making of" the guitar recordings of the new instrumental album, the third, titled "The Strategy Of Chaos".

After "Journey Through My Memory" (MINOTAURO RECORDS), which has had great reviews all over the world, the guitarist still has a record featuring engaging riffs, guitar solos rich in technique, melody and taste.

An album that will not disappoint symphonic metal fans with extreme guitar parts.

The musicians involved in the recordings and the cover will be announced in the coming weeks.

Antonello Giliberto - The Making Of "The Strategy Of Chaos" (NEW ALBUM Guitar Sessions)

Friday, May 26, 2017

The Rat is BACK!!!

Great King Rat

"Out Of The Can"

Re-release of 2nd album out now!

”Great King Rat was one of Sweden's best kept secrets, even after the self-entitled debut album was released in 1992. It was actually not until after the group had disbanded they received more appropriate recognition.”

- (Janne Stark - Author of "The Encyclopedia Of Swedish Hard Rock And Heavy Metal”)

To the music business and hard rock fans who at the time came across the band it was a ”no brainer”.

Even big rock celebrities such as Jimmy Page and John Bon Jovi praised their talent. This was a young promising band with albums jam-packed with great music that still sounds as classy as it did 25 years ago.

With the new album "RISE AND SHINE" recently released (27:th of jan 2017) and with the band reasently ended a major North American Tour with multi-platinum selling "AMARANTHE" Smash Into Pieces now returns to tour Scandinavia and Europe.

The band releases a new video trailer of the song "Let Me Be Your Superhero", watch it here: http://bit.ly/2qVPXRx

Follow SMASH INTO PIECES here:

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REACH 'The Great Divine' Album Announced, New Power Trio Line-Up

Swedish hard rockers REACH is back – now as a power trio with a brand new album just recorded and mixed. The album has been produced by Jona Tee (H.E.A.T), and Tobias Lindell (Europe, Avatar, etc.) mixed the album. With a modern sound and strong melodies showcasing the bands abilities this new album called "The Great Divine" will take the listeners by storm. REACH's new album is due for release in 2017.

The new material consists of 10 songs written by singer and guitar player Ludvig Turner ranging from the heavy opening track "Into Tomorrow", the spooky ”Nightmare” and the modern and catchy "Running On Empty" to the radio friendly ”One Life”. More titles and album cover revealed in near future.

The SoapGirls proudly announce the Party in Hell tour, which sees the band bring their unique brand of ‘Revolt Rock’ to venues across the UK, including The Camden Rocks Festival on June 3^rd at The Black heart at 5pm and The Rebellion Festival in August.

“Society is already living in hell, they are taxed to death, becoming more constrained with government policies, senseless murders, terror attacks and the pc brigade. So, we aim to bring the space where people are reminded that there is place for individual freedom, where the common ground is to let go, embrace the silly and forget the stresses of whats become a living hell for most. People need to make the most of what they have and not wait to die before living, one life, hell or not lets Party.

This tour we are pushing the message of standing up and not to be silenced out of fear of being rejected. In many ways we all have a reject side to us that we keep hidden in order to fit it, so we hope to encourage all who come to the shows to embrace that hidden reject and their individuality. If you are coming to a show for the first time be forewarned, there are little if any boundaries. You might find our shows a little like that medicine your grandma tried to shove down your throat only to find that it wasn’t as distasteful as you'd imagined and you can’t wait for the next dose. We pretty much don’t really plan the shows too much as it’s as much about the crowd and the venue as it is about what does or doesn’t happen on stage. We love that every show is individual and some are themed, so, if you find yourself in a crowd dressed in nothing but waste and body stockings you know you are in for one helluva night, p.s. the music rocks just saying. See you there fellow Reject! love” Mille and Mie

Swedish traditional heavy metal band, MEAN STREAK, have released a lyric video for 'Tear Down The Walls', the track is taken from their fourth album, Blind Faith, due out in Europe via ROAR Rock Of Angels Records on June 2rd, in Japan via Marquee/Avalon incl. one exclusive bonus track on May 31st and in USA via HighVolMusic on June 16th. The video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/za5LUd7IE9s

MEAN STREAK recently released a music video for ‘Caught In The Crossfire‘, which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/TT45Jj8qxU0

TEN RELEASES FIRST AUDIO TRACK FROM NEW ALBUM “GOTHICA”

The British Melodic Hard Rock band TEN, are releasing today the first single from their forthcoming 13th studio album entitled “Gothica”, our in July 7, 2017 via Frontiers Records. The brand new track entitled “Paragon” is a powerful, yet highly emotional ballad, full of all the trademark textures and flavours one always comes to expect from TEN.

REVIEW : JORN -- Life on Death Road (2017)

JORN is without any doubt one of the best hard rock/metal voices out there. His DIO, Coverdale-esque voice along with a more harder edged tone makes Jorn Lande one of the most characteristic shouters in the metal world in general.

REVIEW : SERENITY BROKEN -- RE/ DeFINE (2017)

The Greek heavy rock band of Serenity Broken strikes back with its brand new opus which is entitled "Re/DeFine". I was really curious about this new record from these heavy rockers 'cause I liked a lot their debut "Commercial Suicide" which was released back in 2012.

REVIEW : SECRET SPHERE -- The Nature of Time (2017)

Secret Sphere is back in music business with their, already, ninth full-length album. "The Nature Of Time" is entitled the band's newest opus and after my first spin I have to say that I like it a lot! Since their creation Secret Sphere achieved to build a strong reputation around their name and a strong base among the fans of the melodic progressive/power metal scene.

Former Guns N’ Roses and current Art of Anarchy guitarist, vocalist, and producer Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal has signed a deal with EMP LABEL GROUP who will re-release his epic 2015 independent solo release LITTLE BROTHER IS WATCHING on CD and DOUBLE LP on August 25^th.

REVIEW : THE FERRYMEN -- The Ferrymen (2017)

The Ferrymen is a new exciting band that consists of the extraordinary guitarist Magnus Karlsson (Primal Fear, Magnus Karlsson's Free Fall), vocalist Ronnie Romero (Lords Of Black, Rainbow) and drummer Mike Terrana (Rage, Axel Rudi Pell, and more).

REVIEW : RADIATION ROMEOS -- Radiation Romeos (2017)

The new band/project of Frontiers Records is called Radiation Romeos and its led by the amazing singer Parramore McCarty, best known for being the front-man of such legendary US metal acts Warrior and famed Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens' solo project, Atomic Playboys. The name of the band came from a line in the already classic tune of “Atomic Playboys".

REVIEW : THE GRAND MASQUERADE -- MMXVI (2016)

The brand new hope from the Swedish melodic hard rock scene is called The Grand Masquerade!! Yes, this 4-piece melodic hard rock sensational is aiming at big, really big, things in the near future. Their music is pure late 80's melodic hard rock with some strong AOR pinches that makes the final result a must purchase for each and every fan of this scene.

REVIEW : HAREM SCAREM -- United (2017)

2014 was the year that the legendary band of Harem Scarem returned to the music business with their "Thirteen" album. It was also, the year that these Canadian rockers returned stronger to their roots with a sound that recalled back to their glory first two records.

REVIEW : Mark Slaughter -- Halfway There (2017)

One of the most characteristic voices back in the glorious late 80's, early, 90's, U.S. hard rock scene was without any doubt Mark Slaughter! With his main band Slaughter achieved to release some gems that stood in the test of time as classics. Do you remember the hit "Up All Night" (that reached No 21 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart)? I'm sure that you all remember this and the other great tracks such as "Spend My Life", "Fly To The Angels", "Mad About You", "Days Gone By" e.t.c.

REVIEW : VITNE -- Jupiter (2017)

VITNE is an artist that here in Heavy Paradise will always have a welcome home. It's one of those musicians that put passion and heart in his music and that's a thing that reflects in his music. The new record is entitled "Jupiter" and I have to say that it's the best record in Vitne's career so far.

The truth is that I love this band. Every single record of Degreed is pure candy in my ears. They achieve, in each album, to marry perfectly the classic melodic rock sound with the modern rock and the result is just awesome. Nowadays, Degreed present their brand new song which is entitled "Shakedown", from their upcoming new album, and it's brilliant. The sound seems to move to some more classic Scandi melodic rock paths and the chorus line doesn't get catchier. I'm sure that if the whole record sounds like this gem, then we will be talking about for one of the top albums of 2017!! Let's wait and see (hear!!!). Till' then enjoy this little gem here : https://youtu.be/1Y-dGjA9bqY

REVIEW : Starsick System – Lies, Hopes & Other Stories (2017)

Starsick System is a band that has its heavenly sound influenced by bands such as Sixx A.M., Alter Bridge and Shinedown to name a few and mixes perfectly melody and power!! Their debut album "Daydreamin'", in 2015, received positive feedback from both fans and press and left a big promise for the future for bigger things.

Now this is a record that I was looking forward to listening to impatiently!! Their debut album was a damn fine piece of pure early 80's hard rock stuff in the vain of bands such as Whitesnake, Bad Company and Deep Purple (just to name a few). So, Inglorious' brand new 'II' opus is finally here and after the first spin I have to say that is another great one.

REVIEW : That Rock Guy – Nothin’ To Lose (2017)

THAT ROCK GUY is probably one of the most hard working bands out there! Performing over 1000+ live shows in the last three years alone it is quite impressive! So, the time is right for That Rock Guy to release its debut album with the title "Nothin' To lose".

AYREON UNVEIL NEW VIDEO FOR RUN! APOCALYPSE! RUN!

Watch the brand new video here: https://youtu.be/bU-yWohX5F4

Prog master and multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen is back with a brand new video for Run! Apocalypse! Run! from his stunning new Ayreon album 'The Source', out now on Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group.

Speaking about the video Arjen has said “Oh yessss... time for some good old speedy proggy metal: Run! Apocalypse! Run! This lyric video features vocals by Tommy Karevik, Hansi Kürsch, Michael Mills, Russell Allen, Floor Jansen, Tobias Sammet, Nils K Rue and James LaBrie. Video created by the amazing Wayne Joyner.”

TEN Announces New Album "Gothica"!

Melodic hard rock band TEN has announced they will release their new album "Gothica" on July 7, 2017 via Frontiers Music Srl. The highly anticipated new album promises to be one of their strongest collection of songs to date. It is full of all the trademark textures and flavors we have come to expect from TEN, arguably one of the best and most consistent melodic hard rock bands in the genre. “Gothica” renews TEN’s longstanding association with the Frontiers label and proudly displays all the hallmarks of classic TEN albums and will surely continue to build upon the rich legacy that the great British rockers have forged over a career spanning 22 years and counting.

“Gothica” emerges as their darkest album to date. Embracing history, romance and erotic horror in equal measure as it does, the title proves to be a fitting name. As listeners, we are transported from the darker side of human nature to the nocturnal supernatural, a dramatic realm of nightmares and the forbidden. “Gothica” is cinematic in every sense of the word. A web of musically elaborate spells, evoking embers that spark the imagination courtesy of the classic song writing of vocalist Gary Hughes.

Greek based alternative metallers Serenity Broken are coming back to discography with their new album which is entitled "Redefine" that is scheduled on 27/5 on all digital platforms.
The cover was handled by Bewild Brother (http://bewildbrother.com/)

Monday, May 1, 2017

LILLIAN AXE REISSUE TWO CLASSIC ALBUMS VIA ROCK CANDY RECORDS MAY 12TH

LILLIAN AXE REISSUE TWO CLASSIC ALBUMS VIA ROCK CANDY RECORDS MAY 12TH

Two of the most underrated - but widely respected - heavy metal releases of the late ‘80s were undoubtedly the first pair of albums by New Orleans-based hard rock outfit, Lillian Axe - 1988’s self-titled debut and 1989’s ‘Love + War.’ And on May 12th, both will be reissued as “special deluxe collector’s editions” via Rock Candy Records - complete with multi-page booklets, essays, and fully remastered audio, shaped from 24 BIT digital technology.