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| Let us make it clear from the - here you have a great freeking album in front of you! This Matt Serletic-produced album with 16 Frames is nothing else than a monster album that you should not miss for anything in the world. Musically the band is somewhere between British arena rock mixed with a more American sound a´la Better Than Ezra, Dishwalla and Collective Soul. Perfect. Where It Ends features 11 perfectly-crafted songs, all written by Steve Sulikowski, 16 Frames´ frontman. The band have recently toured with Sheryl Crow, Crowded House, Pete Yorn and is recently on tour with Better Than Ezra. This band must have a big break. I mean with songs like "Back Again", the titletrack "Where It Ends, "Coming Home" and "Daylight" are all four of them huge hits in my ears, and that is just four of them... Nah -enough said folks. So far - one of the best albums of the year 2009. |
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This album from 2011 released by Los Angeles-based 16 Frames have just slipped through my Modern Rock filter.Actually thought they disappeared after their last Ep "Six From 16" that had some success with the songs on shows like "Jersey Shore", "Teen Mom" and "The World of Jenks."
Their debut "Where It Ends" from 2009 is a very underrated record that is must if you’re into softer Modern Rock with beautiful harmonies and melodies.This new album, which is only available as a digital download, is like their other material of high quality.Even though they have not had a bigger budget so it sounds good and the production is very suitable for their soft melodies. And when it comes to songs it's not much to complain about either.Front man Steve Sulikowski, is a very talented songwriter and has written for artists like American Bang, Brendan James and Benny Marchant so he sure know what he’s doing.This can also been heard on tracks like "She's Waiting", "Woman" and "Looks Like Diamonds" where he shows the best side of the band.
Overall, it’s not as good as "Where It Ends" where they had a major label behind them and big production signed Matt Serlectic, but it's better than expected and well worth checking out if you like their previous releases for sure. |
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From Tampa, Florida comes the independent modern rockband 39 Stripes. The members of the band are Mike Wilson (lead vocals), Joe Costa (drums), Ray Schurr (bass guitar), Steve Henderlong (lead guitar, vocals) and Jason Bradley (rhythm guitars).The band has toured with acts like Newsboys, Jars of Clay and Flyleaf.
The band reminds me a lot of Red and other bands in the same vein, but has also elements of rockbands from the 90's. Though the production of bandmember Steve Henderlong isn't bad, a great production is what this album needed. The songs and music have both potential and with a major producer and some maturing this band could be one to reckon with in the future. For now this is a good start. Hopefully we will here more of this band in the years to come. |
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I come to think about this album the other week when I was working on a new review and remembered 6gig as one of the first bands that introduced me to the numetal genre.
I was never a fan of this genre in the early 90?s but with bands like 6gig, Stereomud and Filter a whole new world opened up with a more melodic approach compared to the very agressive style of KoRn, Helmet and Deftones that started the whole thing.
6gig is now a defunct band where the members have continued in other projects such as Lost on Lift Off (reviewed at melodic.net), MataHari and Ruler of The Raging Main.
Their debut "Tincan Experiment" is the album you should have in your collection if you?re a fan of melodic numetal, their follow up "Mind over mind" (2003) failed on many aspects - the songs weren?t there with a production that lacked power and a new drummer that just couldn?t fill the shoes of the late Dave Rankin who was found dead in his home in 2002.
No, get your hands on a copy of this one instead that contains the Active Rock breakout "Hit the ground".
Songs like the massive "Yesterday" and the King?s X smelling "Klones" will feed your numetal hunger just right. |
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| There?s a cool and funny story to this band?s name,it took 7 months to get the band together, 7 months to write songs,7 months to rehearse and finally 7 months of recording. It was an easy decision to find the name for the band says Chris M.Jacobsson,the guitarist who also produced their debut album. What do they play then? Real nice progressive rockwithout getting complex like Dreamtheater! I draw parallels with a pomprock group from UK by the name of The Quest,simple normal length rock tunes with a progressive touch to it. I must say I?m impressed with the singer Joe Booe who hits those high notes with sheer power and 100% heart and soul behind. The first time I heard the album it felt good but not great,but after 5 more times hearing it,the music grows on me.....and now I cant take it out of the cd player ?coz there are new interesting parts of the songs that I find all the time. "Stay" is a marvellous song where Joe Booe is showing his whole register,a definite pomp cabin track for the next boat trip with he guys. "Change" offers a guitar riff in the mood of Harem Scarem. And to the guys in the band:thisis the beginning of something big to come.......the pomp journey has just started. |
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A few years ago, Nina Persson and The Cardigans did a Black Sabbath cover on a TV show in Sweden, what few didn?t expect back then was to see a band from Italy doing a metal version of The Cardigans song "My favorite game".
7 Times Suicide makes a fast but heavy cover of it and it?s ok, but it?s their own material that stands out here.
This 6 track EP opens with the dark "So" that reminds a bit of 10 Years early works, the second track "Turn back time" is more melodic and also the strongest one on the EP.
7TS likes to mix numetal with grunge and a good example of this are the following tracks "Sounds like revolution" and "Fly with you".
Good stuff! |
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Now we?re talking classic AOR album. 707 released 3 albums in the early 80s and now the MTM Classix series will release their most succesful and classic album called "Mega Force" from 1982 that also was the theme to the movie Mega Force.
This time the album has been digitally remastered with the addition of 5 bonus tracks and a live version of the song "Mega Force".
707 featured Kevin Chalfant (vocals) that later reformed THE VU(View), Two Fires and The Storm. Rest of the bandmembers were Kevin Russell (guitar), Tod Howarth (keyboards), Phil Bryant (bass) and Jim McCalarty (drums). The album was produced by Keith Olsen.
This album is filled with fantastic early 80s AOR with pompish keyboards on many tracks. If you?re into early Survivor, Journey, Le Roux and Eric Martin Band then this is an album you don?t wanna miss.
Kevin Chalfants voice is very close to Journey?s Steve Perry and therefor many of the songs got a very Journeyish sound over them.
The titletrack is a brilliant track with a lots of great hooklines and a chorus with a sound that THE VU(View) later tried to capture with a good result. "Can?t Hold Back" is a rockier affair with lovely pompish keyboards a?la Le Roux and with a chorus that reminds of early Journey. Listen to the dut-dut keyboards after the 2nd chorus and it?s not often you hear classic stuff like that anymore.
"Out Of The Dark" is a classic 80s AOR/Pomp pianoballad with awesome melodies and harmonies in the best Le Roux style, classic is the word.
But best track of them all is the mega pure AOR/Pomp striker " We Will Last". Just listen to the fantastic keyboards that runs through the whole song and if you?re into Journey you will more than love this song and might ask yourself why these guys did not get any bigger.
In my opinion they could have left out the bonustracks because this album would could do without them.
So don?t miss this opportunity to get yourself a copy of this album now that it?s released for the first time on CD.
Oh, I almost missed to mention "Hello Girl", another highlight on the album. |
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MTM Classix released the mega-rare 707 album "Mega Force" earlier this year and now in September they will release a long lost treasure for fans of 707.
"The Bridge" was recorded in 1981/82 but was forgotten on the shelf and has never been released until now.
All songs have been remastered and remixed with 3 bonus tracks, which were recorded during the album session.
On vocals we find the original member Phil Bryant that was in the band before Kevin Chalfant joined forces and did the "Mega Force" album.
"The Bridge" is not as good as the "Mega Force" album and don?t have as strong songs as the mentioned album has but it is still good and should interest late 70s and early 80s AOR-fans. The sound is slightly different as well with more 70s rock/AOR a?la REO Speedwagon mixed with Boston.
The early Survivor sounding AOR-rocker "You?re All I Need" is one of the highlights on the album. The chorus has strong background vocals and classic keyboardlines.
"Want Your Love" is a great mix of Journey and Survivor were Phil sounds a lot like Steve Perry and the song features impressive keyboards too.
Best song on the album is the pure AOR-killer "Sirens Of The Sea", this is a lovely up-tempo rocker with a brilliant chorus.
The bonustracks are OK, nothing more. "The Waiting Game" contains some Survivor-ish guitarriffs with a chorus that could have been taken from a Boston album. Nice song. The REO Speedwagon sounding ballad "The Girl With The Broken Heart" is a typical pianoballad that the REO guys have done so many times before. Last but not least is the guitarrocker "Perfect Lies" that is the best song out of the bonustracks. It has a great chorus that reminds of Canadian band Santers.
This is a nice album but not a classic but there are moments on it that is really good,there are also a couple of fillers and is not as strong as "Mega Force". But if you?re into late 70s and early 80s AOR then this is an album that should complement your collection.
If you thought that "Mega Force" was a weak album then this won?t change your mind about 707. |
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Cult AOR band 707 has been around awhile now with album releases back in the 80s with "Mega Force" as the highlight that was re-released by MTM Classix in 2004 and even saw the band release a brand new album the same year called "The Bridge". There has even been different line-ups in the 707s history,on this live album the line-up is Kevin Russell (guitars & vocals), Phil Bryant (bass & vocals), Jim McClarty (drums) and Todd Howarth (vocals, guitar & keys).
I don?t know from what year this live album is recorded but there is not a single song from Mega Force album. This album feels a bit out of place and I don?t know who this may interest. Sure, there are some nice songs and they do it good with a nice sound and everything but still I can?t see who?s gonna buy this.
If you have seen them live back in the 80s then this may be a nice album to have in your collection.
9 songs are also too few and they should have tried to find some rare bonustracks for this release instead. No, this cd you can be without and if you haven?t checked out the "Mega Force" album yet - I suggest you do that instead. |
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The Spanish rock band 77 has a suitable band name since they pretty much sound like 1977 in terms of rock music, frontman Armand Valeta has the same type of voice as Bon Scott and even the music feels like a salute to AC/DC (the early era). But 77 is not a AC/DC copycat band, their songs also has traces of bands like Rose Tattoo and Kiss (their 70´s era), this is an entertaining album of raw and dirty rocknroll that smells like beer, women and sweat. It might not reach the same classic standard as AC/DC or Kiss but it´s a good album no doubt. I really dig songs like "Promised land" that features guest performances from Dregen and Nicke (Backyard Babies) and "Since you´ve been gone". The title track "High decibels" is perfect for the stage to get the crowd going, if you´re a fan of 3 chord songs then you´re in for a treat with 77´s 2nd album.
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| 7dayBinge includes Todd Harrell of 3 Doors Down on bass, Jon Nicholson of the Muzik Mafia on guitar and vocals, Kenny Olson of Kid Rock's band on lead guitar, and Shannon Boone on drums. A side project by artists who just wanted to make some music came together when Nicholson opened for 3 Doors Down in Europe. Stops in Amsterdam (during which a 7-day binge may have occurred) found Harrell and Nicholson working on some music together. Recorded at the Sound Kitchen in Nashville and produced by the band, this album features straight-up rock with a slight dusting of Southern rock. |
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| Kentucky based 7eventh Time Down released their first album "World changer" independently in 2006, this year they signed with Bec Recordings and will release their new album in Sept. The first taste of their new music is the single "Alive in you" which is out now, 7event Time Down has managed to create a sound that draws from their southern rock roots but also to infuse that American sound with radio friendly pop hooks and Brit-rock anthems. You could say they sound somewhere between Hinder and Kutless. "Alive in you" is a solid song and I have also heard another new song called "Do you believe" from the upcoming album so I know this band has potential. |
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Back in 2001, I wrote a review of a band from USA called Vision 180, behind that band were Bobby Loux (vocals) and Jason Wood (guitars).
So now 5 years later Jason Wood has a new band named 7TH dB together with Brad Bowles (vocals), Kelly Esqurie (bass), Koobs (keys,guitars) and Mikie (drums).
This is their debut album and it?s filled with nice AOR/Rock and you can hear their influences of Journey and REO Speedwagon.
If you have heard Vision 180 then you will recognize these songs on "Rewind" because every song was on the Vision 180?s album "More To Believe In".
If you haven?t heard these songs earlier, you will enjoy this album more because they are really good AOR/Rock songs. Jason Wood must be a big fan of Journey?s Neal Schon because he delivers great melodic guitar riffs throughout the whole album.
The singer Brad Bowles has a very good and strong voice and is not a new Steve Perry sound alike, I would say that he sounds more like Kevin Cronin (Reo Speedwagon) and Freddy Curci (Alias).
This is an album filled with layers of melodies and strong songs with lots of memorable hooks. There are only 8 tracks on this album and a running time around 35 minutes and I would have wanted couple of more tracks but these 8 tracks are damn fine so you won?t have a boring moment with this cd.
"Will You Remember Me" is a lovely pianoballad a?la Journey. "If This Is Love" is an up-tempo rocker with a strong chorus and good background vocals.
"Don?t Be Lonely" is a good rocker with strong riffs and a hookladen chorus.
The production is OK but with a more powerful sound the songs would have rocked even more but this is nothing that will spoil the fun.
Even if I had heard these songs before this is a nice album to listen to but next time guys I wanna hear an album with brand new songs. Keep up the good work. |
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I got this album from my good friend Cor Jan in the Netherlands and I must say it was a truly odd music adventure,this band called 7th Element released their 2nd album "Fear no evil" in 2002 so it ain?t so new but still worth a few lines on the site.
They have an odd mix of atmospheric moody moviemusic,80?s sounding new age pop and typical Christian laidback polished midwestrock.
The leader and singer Larry Hewitt has a nice voice,he is a competent musician and songwriter but his band doesn?t feel solid and tight I?m afraid.
The rhythm section is so important in a band and these guys just don?t have the groove in their bodies,the other half of the album was a sleepy story too........somebody wake me up please!
However,the intro "I long to see you" is a mighty piece and the following new age pop sounding "Since I found you" features the Aboriginal instrument Didgeridoo which is a real cool combination.
The ballad "All of my days" is also beautiful but there are too many fillers on this album so it would?ve been enough with an EP instead of a full length album. |
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Believe it or not,but this is a Double CD containing 30 songs-meaning 2 hours of pure AOR in a modern rock suit!
Ofcourse now you say that there must be many fillers on it but that?s the most peculiar thing about "Silver",there are only a few of them here like the rapmetal story "Truth",the boybandinspired ballad "Letting go",the hiphop flirting "Breaking me up" and the dancefloor rocker "This pressure"(all 4 on CD 2),even if CD 1 is so much better than CD 2-the quality level on the 2nd CD is high enough to be compared to many other modern rock/aor releases out today.
Chicago based 7th Heaven have been around for 18 years and have their roots in the 80?s melodic genre of AOR,there are some Def Leppard and Bon Jovi in their music as well as some modern pop/rock like Invertigo!
Their debut "Faces time replaces" from 2000 sold 5,000 copies but in the 80?s an album like "Silver" would have sold at least a million copies world wide.
I still think that this band deserves the same attention today like the heroes of the 80?s had,there are many possible hitsingle candidates on SILVER like "Cellophane","Ghost of me","Invisible","Misunderstood" and "Gravity" to mention a few.
This quartet featuring Andrew Blake-Lead Vocals,Guitars/Richie Hofherr-Guitars,Keyb,Vocals/Mark Kennetz-Bass and Dan Miller-Drums should be touring around the world in Australia and Europe where their music probably is more recognized and respected than in the states.
Now you have to excuse me,I have to turn up the volume and do the moonwalk to the tunes of the opening track "Gravity"......ain?t life grand! |
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Did you know that?
Martin Stenmarck loves to listen to P.O.D, Nickelback, The Calling, U2, Backyard Babies, Coldplay and Hellacopters
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