GYPSY SOUL contains 14 tracks compiled from a short-lived collaboration of JK Northrup (g, KING KOBRA), Johnny Edwards (v, FOREIGNER), Larry Hart (b) and Glenn Hicks (d). Back then brought together and produced by Ronnie Montrose, GYPSY SOUL didn’t work out commercially due to many reasons. Influences go from  BAD COMPANY over WHITESNAKE to HUMBLE PIE. They’re way too good to be forgotten.

MARTIN STARK

British power metal band POWER QUEST like their fellow countrymen DRAGONFORCE play themselves from one speed record to another but definitely don’t forget great melodies and diverse arrangements. Ashley Edison, the new vocalist is one hell of a singer and together with huge choirs „Sixth Dimension“ turns out to be fantastic. Let alone the two anthems “Kings And Glory“ and “No More Heroes“ justify the purchase - and the rest is all but inferior.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67A1RjzFLQQ

Traditional metal from up north, Finnland to be precise. “Transition State“ rocks and exactly provides what fans would expect from cult metal band OZ. “Drag You To Hell“ for instance sounds like PRAYING MANTIS on speed. The first full new album since 1991 proves the band being in great shape. Mark Ruffneck, only remaining original member, and the guys are a welcome enrichment to the scene because they rock!

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0cX4B182fA

The latest SECTION A album from 2016 sees the light of day again. Finest progressive metal with versatile song structures and a very powerful production. At times pretty playful and complex but mostly melodic, this album certainly needs one or two spins more to fully work. Mastermind Torben Enevoldsen (FATE, ACACIA AVENUE) is pretty multi-talented. The Dane puts out his best effort so far.

MARTIN STARK

Listn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkrHYyUoU7Y

“Late Bloomer“ is a remarkable mixture of classic rock and (modern) country. The Swedish five-piece is able to showcase great songs without any unnecessary elements. Frontman Stefan Blomqvist makes you become goosebumps for the most part. Just take the semi-ballad “Easy“ or the cool “Ordinary Man“, which crawls out of the speakers right in your face, as reference. The final and ballad-like “Coming Home“ is a real treat, too. BLACK PAISLEY is a name to be remembered for sure.

MARTIN STARK

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLXuAnnRUN4&list=PL9YvCe_BRVKooZl7RQTF0lvtJdqlvM1k-&index=2

Target will be of interest to melodic rock fans as the band featured future Cobra/Survivor vocalist Jimi Jamison, who sadly died back in 2014. This was planned to be Target’s third album and was recorded in 1979 with the aforementioned Jamison joined by Tommy Cathey (bass/vocals), guitarists Paul Cannon and Buddy Davis, plus drummer Bill Marshall. It is an album very much of its time, being in the main 70′s US/Canadian hard rock similar to bands like Triumph and even Boston on the hard rocking ‘Taxman’, easily the stand out song on the album. With sleeve notes by the highly knowledgeable Dave Reynolds, it is good to see this early piece of Jimi Jamison’s career get a proper release.

By 1982 Scottish born singer Larry Gowan had been signed to CBS Canada for a multi-album solo record deal. The demos were reworked and a 'band' brought in, including the recently unemployed Kim Mitchell of Max Webster fame, to perform Gowan's newest commercial pop record. Gone were the 12 minute opuses of Rhinegold's past and instead offered 4 minute pop ditties heavy on the Saga keyboard bent. Artwork was supplied by award winning graphic artist Hugh Syme (Klaatu, Rush) and the album spawned two medium charting singles "Give In" and "Keep Up The Fight" (which also became a video). The album floundered into immediate obscurity and Gowan found himself without a direction.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1rWo_QlR48

A real classic of the West Coast genre, impeccably produced by Jay Graydon.  Lots of electric piano and melodic hooks.  Although all the tunes were written by Marc Jordan, the Jay Graydon production immediately brings to mind Al Jarreau albums like "Breakin' Away" and "Jareau". Feat. ace cats such as Dean Parks, Michael Omartian or Abe Laboriel the backing musicians also include saxophonist Ernie Watts as well as members of Toto, such as Steve Lukather, Jeff Pocaro and Bobby Kimball.  All that and the whole is still greater than the sum of its parts. Overall an instant classic for west coast lovers into Steve Kipner's "Knock The Walls Down", Pages and Bill Champlin's "Runaway".

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9pqTWt9jSQ&index=2&list=PLl-5Xfd5gM5xbQFcrWI1O7SOAh7o7469i

Back in In 1998 North East Melodic Rock band Change of Heart released their selftitled debut, followed two years later by their 2nd album "Continuum" and the 2005 released "Truth Or Dare". I really thought the band called it a day, but after a hiatus of almost eleven years singer / band leader Alan Clarke has found some new members and Change Of Heart are back in the saddle. Musically, Change Of Heart are still a heavy-handed AOR outfit, that straddle the fence between commercial and hard rock aggression. A mix of Ten, Magnum, and FM is where this lot are at, and keeping the sound very British if I may so, which to these ears might be a slight impediment. A really strong comeback from this classic British band.

Swedish band LAST AUTUMN'S DREAM, the brainchild of Mikael Erlandsson, has had lots of cover versions of their respective influences on their thirteen albums so far. So a pure tribute album makes totally sense. Songs by STREETS, KISS, LOVERBOY or even ABBA are respectfully revisited but not without adding a bit of an own flavour. The pleasant voice of Erlandsson alone is worth listening. Thumbs up! 

MARTIN STARK