Reviews

"Crossroads Moment," the solo studio album from former Survivor frontman Jimi Jamison, easily challenges the best Survivor work. It stuns with the flawless polish that American "west coast" AOR can conjure up

The third studio album from Finnish melodic heavy metallers, building on a further consolidation of the band's sound and style. One for fans of old-school Angel Dust, or newer bands like Platitude and In Crave

As the opening act of a painful pop era, during which Gentle Giant slowly fell apart and lost their artistic identity, "The Missing Piece" doesn't come off badly as a whole, but it sits well below their usual artistic standards.

""The Missing Piece" as the opening act of a painful pop era, one in which Gentle Giant slowly fell apart and lost their artistic identity, doesn't come off badly as a whole, but it's way below their usual artistic standards."

The long-awaited debut from the homegrown champions of progressive/heavy metal.

It's a beautiful feeling to listen to a band that, even three decades into the craft, can still pull off an album that sounds youthful, hungry to prove itself, unburdened and unmistakable.

It's true that Don't Mess With Texas play a pretty typical take on post rock, but that doesn't make their music any less good.

"Interview" is the last album from the legendary masters of eclectic progressive rock that still deserves attention, even from those who aren't among their loyal devotees.

"Interview" shows a few signs of vulnerability, mostly down to the breakneck pace at which it was written, but it's still a very good album with plenty to enjoy for fans of eclectic progressive rock and highly virtuosic instrumental…

Anyone who dug Place Vendome's debut will grab "Streets Of Fire" without a second thought. A German/Scandinavian melodic hard rock alliance with Michael Kiske commanding the vocals, and he's killing it

The 8th album from German power metallers Wizard serves up another slab of Wizard muscle power metal. Once again the band is chronically short on charisma and distinctiveness, nowhere near enough to justify an eternity of copying itself.

"Besides the staggering range in songwriting and instrumentation, what blows you away again and again is the production, which was phenomenal for its day and makes the album sound like it was recorded yesterday. "Free Hand" gave the band…

With "Free Hand," Gentle Giant cooked up yet another evergreen sonic stew of staggering stylistic variety, seasoned with a generous helping of their trademark cheeky humor and self-irony.

Džinovski is the debut from Zagreb legends Hladno Pivo. At first glance it looks like a typical punk record, but there's a whole lot more going on under the surface.

Obidil formed in 2000, and two years later they dropped their debut, The Magic Word.

With »Immortal?« Arena have created yet another progressive rock masterpiece of staggering sonic and ambient dimensions, delving into the darkest corners of the human psyche and revealing some bleak visions of the near future.

Matt Barlow's return to Iced Earth. A lead vocalist swap that hardly paid off for Schaffer, if at all. The Crucible Of Man is the musical continuation of its predecessor!

"I Am" boasts a thrilling fluidity and stylistic variety that will have every music romantic who loves the golden age of progressive and experimental music licking their lips.

"The Power And The Glory" ranks among the studio peaks of the legendary clowns of eclectic progressive rock. With their one-of-a-kind sonic mix and vivid philosophy, they warned about the pitfalls of absolute power and putting too much…

"The Power And The Glory" ranks among the studio highs from the legendary jesters of eclectic progressive rock, who used it to warn about the pitfalls of putting too much trust in social institutions.

»No World Order!« is the stripped-down follow-up to "Powerplant" (1999). Gamma Ray ditched some of the trickier arrangements from "Powerplant" and came out with an even more aggressive heavy metal album!

The new solo studio album from a seasoned multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer will win over fans of the Alliance AOR camp in particular, with an art rock twist!

Honkin' on Bobo is a hugely welcome collection of covers of more or less familiar blues numbers, with which Aerosmith paid back a debt to the legacy of the blues giants that was never truly settled.

"The Visitor" is a dark prog rock epic that gave the band their first masterpiece. This gorgeous concept album is one of the classics of 90s prog rock, and it belongs in every household.

Label: Metal HeavenRelease date: 02/27/2009Production: Herman FrankAlbum length: 46:09 minGenre: Heavy Metal Herman Frank (ex-Accept guitarist, co-founder of bands like Victory and Moon Doc', and producer of records for the likes of…

The solo studio debut from the former Accept guitarist, who has produced records for Saxon, Rose Tattoo, Molly Hatchet and Messiah's Kiss, is a new milestone in riff-driven, old-school German audacity

Optimism for a new era!

With "Us", the versatile artist and indestructible charismatic added another magnificent achievement to the story of popular music, stamping it with an unusual dose of personal feeling.

With "In a Glass House," Gentle Giant created yet another evergreen masterpiece, one that earned its place in golden letters in the annals of eclectic progressive rock.

"We'll Talk About It Later" ranks among the finest achievements in the history of jazz rock fusion and marks the creative peak of a legendary band.

This record may not be the best entry point for anyone wanting to dive into this musician's work, but it sure shows off his talent. He manages to conjure up a fascinating wall of sound with basically nothing but a saxophone.

The legendary British pioneers of jazz rock fusion delivered a top-class showcase of instrumental fluidity, rhythmic wizardry and a finely tuned knack for building infectious motifs right on their debut.

Another beauty in Stauss's catalogue of jazz secrets, then. The man seems like an inexhaustible source of surprises and inspiration.

“Molecular Heinosity” is yet another record that will easily sate all lovers of highly virtuosic instrument abuse, especially insolently fast guitar shredding, but with it the keyboard master of honed fingers hasn't said a thing that's new.…

Joe Bonamassa, probably the hottest piece of iron in the modern school of blues rock right now, has recently returned with the long-awaited album The Ballad Of John Henry.

"Passion" is Gabriel's peak when it comes to experimenting with world music, and it cemented his role as the leading patron connecting musical talent from every corner of the globe.

"Balance of Power" catches a legendary band running on fumes, and it comes off as a pale reflection of their former glory.

"Amor Vincit Omnia" is Latin for "love conquers all." Sadly, Pure Reason Revolution won't be conquering anything with this album.

Sinner's evergreen "magnum opus" is both the heaviest album of their career and a record that helped cement the first stage of the melodic rediscovery in heavy metal in the mid-nineties!

"Still" is an intriguing solo effort from a brilliant poet who, as a musician and composer, managed to exceed all expectations, but don't go expecting a lost King Crimson album.

A mature outlook on the world and on life.

"So" is one of the best pop rock albums in the history of popular music, an album that catapulted a progressive rock icon into the ranks of music superstars.

"The Century of Self" boasts, above all, a high degree of flow, with individual motifs and sections building a multicolored sonic collage of many mighty atmospheres.

Compared with Gabriel's later film projects like "Passion", "OVO" and "Long Walk Home", "Birdy" is a less interesting and less ambitious effort, but it's still worth the attention of anyone who loves quality film music.

"Security" is the embodiment of songwriting and production mastery in every respect, the record that cemented the legendary artist as a great sonic innovator.

"Melt" ranks among the finest gems in the legendary singer's career, the record where his love of world music fully blossomed for the first time.

A solid stone in the solo mosaic!

"Night Passage" is a hugely successful return to some of the sonic ground rules that let these jazz fusion legends renew their commitment to total musical spontaneity.

The second chapter of Peter's solo career is a brilliant experimental stew that casts the artist as a tireless adventurer, serving up eclectic sonic expressions that prove he was in constant artistic growth.

"Peter Gabriel (I)" is a superb debut that heralded the magnificent solo career of one of the most original musical artists of recent decades.

"8:30" is pure nirvana for jazz fusion connoisseurs, nailing the live energy of legends at the peak of their powers down to the last detail.

All you fans of Zappa, Weather Report and Soft Machine – keep an eye on this lineup and this album, because it might be just the thing for you.

"Mr. Gone" is nowhere near the dramatic drop in quality some critics claimed when it came out, boasting a string of seriously likable compositions.

This one might suit people who are more into classic prog than the avant-garde crowd, and it makes a good way into the band for anyone who isn't too keen on experimental styles.

"Bay of Kings" is a superb, classically flavored album that offers a deeply honest portrait of a prog rock legend in the role of acoustic guitarist.

Given the unbelievable hardships the legendary duo faced while making "Gaucho", it's a genuine miracle they closed out the first decade of their career with one more masterpiece, this time truly their last.

The debut demo from Kamnik heavy metallers.

"Rupi's Dance" is Ian's best and most mature solo effort to date. It'll make the heart of every longtime follower of this immortal rock icon skip a beat.

The legendary fathers of grindcore are back with their 13th studio album.

If you've ever wondered who the best female vocalist in modern rock is, there's no reason left for doubt.

As an EP, Pray is an effective teaser for the new Grave Digger album "Ballads of a Hangman", with tracks that didn't make it onto the album itself and a perfect Motorhead cover!

On this album, Satriani proves he's not just a guitarist, but a whole lot more. His banjo, harmonica, and keyboard work stands out too.

We've waited a long time for "Faith," but Crown of Thorns have pulled it off, confirming and building on their return to the roots of the album "Karma." What we've got here is another excellent, melodically polished AOR release.

"Aja" is the embodiment of the wildest jazz rock dreams the steely duo ever shared, captured at the peak of their creative powers.

The Fire Still Burns shows that the fire of musicality and real feeling was still burning in Ballard back then. Melodic rock fans, you can't afford to miss this one.

"Highly Strung" marks Hackett's further move away from the prog rock legacy and Celtic mysticism that defined the early years of his solo career.

With "The Royal Scam," the legendary Steely Dan duo pulled off one of their most magnificent feats, and it still stands proud today like an obelisk of compositional and production perfection.

Despite the nasty studio mishap that seriously rattled the good mood of the steely duo, "Katy Lied" is an excellent transitional album, one that opened a new chapter in the story of this legendary studio project.

“Pretzel Logic” is yet another helping of compositional, instrumental and production polish, cooked up to the one-of-a-kind Steely Dan recipe.

Live At The Electric Ballroom stands as a timeless monument to Freddie King's genius, caught between the vitality and impulsiveness of a performer at the peak of his creative powers.

"Empyre" is a new step up for Burning Point. As such, it cements the band's place on the metal scene and proves that with stubbornness, faith and relentlessness you can hit any goal you set!

Put on "Contdown to Ecstasy", one of Steely Dan's peaks, and you'll slip into total musical ecstasy in no time.

With their debut, Sweden's Hope offer a band-aid for everyone who keeps piously hoping that Bryan Adams will take pity on you and put out a "Reckless"-style album in the new millennium.

If you're into traditional "eighties" AOR sound that's sworn deep allegiance to Journey, then don't think twice, grab "Soul Salvation"!

"Can't Buy a Thrill" is one of the best albums in the history of popular music, made at a time when pop was still the yardstick for compositional and technical polish and walked hand in hand with prog rock.

The quick follow-up to "The Inner Sanctum" (2007) doesn't carry the same metal consistency, but the band serves up more of their old-school rock flavor here, and once again it wins the listener over!

"Chamelon in the Shadow of the Night" is a superb album on which Hammill matured into a confident solo artist and made it clear for the first time that he had no intention of staying in the shadow of his parent band.

"Ghost In The Mirror" confirms the AOR perfection of both previous Shadowman albums! Stick FM's vocalist in Heartland and success is guaranteed. The new album carries a bit more of a retro-classic feel.

The debut from a reactivated band that was first born some 20 years ago. A good AOR album that still holds a lot back, and it's saved by the excellent TNT vocalist Tony Mills (ex-Shy)!

"Fool's Mate" is a solid debut that successfully embodies Hammill's musical roots. With its sacred simplicity and likable, pastoral affability, it's of course light-years away from his later solo and VDGG masterpieces.

At 68, Tom Jones still has no plans to say goodbye. 24 Hours is the new album from the legendary vocalist, on which the Welshman sets out to blend tradition with modern production tricks.

"Moving Pictures" always holds a special place in the universe of rock music. The place of a rock masterpiece! The most important album of Rush's career."

The final word on the prog rock era and a deeper dive into defining art rock, on the most successful Rush album of all time!

»Live At Montreux« isn't the best official live recording from the prog rock legends, but it's far from the worst. In terms of quality, it sits in the upper tier of their live albums.

"Cumin' Atcha Live 2008" is a document of Tesla with every ounce of their power intact: fresh, tight, beautifully preserved and uncompromising on stage. Welcome home, boys!

I'd say Hostsonaten carry on the fine Italian tradition of Mediterranean symphonic music with a melancholic touch.

"Ballads of a Hangman" is the album where Grave Digger most successfully flirt with their old-school "The Reaper" roots in their "Schmidt era". A new Grave Digger bomb straight to the face!

""Comin' Atcha Live 2008" is a document of Tesla with all their power intact: fresh, tight, in superbly preserved shape, a band that takes no compromises onto the stage."

"Wish You Were Here" isn't just one of the band's key achievements. It's one of the greatest achievements in modern music, and in the annals of progressive rock it still shines as brightly as ever.

Straight Shooter is Bad Company's second album, and the guys unexpectedly rein things in here, with the band's colors coming across more alive than ever.

The follow-up to "Into the Now," with a great combination of gritty "groove" and melody that remains the band's core stance. Beneath the trendy wall of sound, the classic Tesla configuration shines through

"Times change, and so does Tesla. Luckily, they're growing upward!"

Label: EMI RecordsRelease date: September 29, 1986Producer: Martin BirchAlbum length: 51:18 minGenre: Heavy MetalRating: 10/10 After the groundbreaking Powerslave, the standard-bearers of British heavy metal Iron Maiden had probably…

The sixth studio album from the giants of heavy metal.

Asked why Venus isle took so long to make, Johnson said he didn't want to repeat himself, so he went looking for new ways to express himself while trying to hold on to his perfectionist approach.

"Two for the Show" is a great, thoroughly authentic live album that cemented the triumphant march of arena rock and of the movement's leading band at the time.

Mrtvi kanal, probably the most musically polished punk arbiter among the bands that made up the second wave of the Riječki novi val movement, with the release of the anthology "Prošlost i budućnost"!

Grč, Croatian horror punk alternative weirdos and one of the strangest acts of the Rijeka New Wave, are finally stepping out of the shadows after 26 years of demo status, thirsty for new "blood sacrileges"! Not for vegetarian stomachs!

The fourth compilation from the giants of thrash metal.

With "Danger Money," UK made another great record for their studio farewell. In songwriting, playing and sheer range, it falls only a little short of the unforgettable debut.