A new group without a doubt embodying the return of real rock is called GALE FORCE. The outfit is a driving rock band with something to say, combining infectious guitars & vocals, emotional melodies, gutsy rhythms and time relevant lyrics with line-up to include vocalist Mike Lee (BARREN CROSS), guitarist Tracy G (DIO), bassist Randy Ovideo and rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Paul Alfery (Walk The Walk). Gale Force has been together as a band for not even two years, yet they have put together a powerful album of metallic hard rock that completely sideswiped me. Singer Mike Lee has not lost a step at all vocally, as he is all over this songs from the get-go! Highly recommended for both Barren Cross and Dio fans !

Watch: https://youtu.be/Jb4BWlO1tDw

Originally known as Schoolboys, Icon was formed in 1981 in Phoenix, Arizona by high school friends Dan Wexler (guitar), Stephen Clifford (vocals) and Tracy Wallach (bass). They were joined by future King Kobra guitarist David Henzerling and John Covington (drums). In 1983, the band was signed to Capitol Records, and changed its name to Icon. While the band opted for big hair and spandex image, the sound of their debut ‘Icon’ (1984) is quite heavy, very melodic and catchy, but edgy - like a mixture between Dokken, Lizzy Borden and Quiet Riot. “Icon” had all the necessary elements to become a big success back in 1984..Strictly limited Japanese re-issue with a superb sound quality.

Watch: https://youtu.be/cvCWNspATjY

ICON’s “Night Of The Crime” (1985) is rated by many people as one of the best melodic rock recordings ever! I bet you’d agree, if you listen to killer tracks like the opening ”Naked Eyes” and “Missing” with their great hooklines. But that’s not all! I can’t find any weak track on the whole album: “Danger Calling”, the guitar driven “Out For Blood” or the stadium rocker “Raise The Hammer” are excellent songs with fine melodies and amazing  guitar work. I’m just wondering why the band didn’t get as much success as DOKKEN or BON JOVI - that's indeed the crime of the century ! Strictly limited Japanese re-issue with a terrific sound quality - don't miss this mega classic AOR monster album !

Listen: https://youtu.be/nboSZ0u-SqQ

Player epitomized what mainstream soft pop/rock was all about in the late ‘70s – and that was the sound of Los Angeles. The band’s self-titled debut followed through on the promise of their debut hit single, “Baby Come Back". This was laid-back but engaging, and the band displayed some serious musical chops, occasionally sounding like a sweet, streamlined Steely Dan. Some of the same characteristics were evident on their next record, "Danger Zone" (1978), but as that title illustrates, Player is playing harder this time around. Pretty close to what Ambrosia was doing around the same time and highlighted by the singles “Prisoner Of Your Love” and “Silver Lining”. Strictly limited Japanese re-issue with a superb sound quality.

Watch: https://youtu.be/36jMI4tGaSQ

After the release of their second album "Danger Zone" (1978) singer / guitarist and founding member J.C. Crowley left the band. New members Miles Joseph (vocals, guitar) and Gabriel Katona (keyboards, ex-Rare Earth) joined Beckett, Moss and Friesen in the studio for the group's third album, "Room With a View" (April 1980), produced by Peter Beckett with Tony Peluso. Pretty similar in style to "Danger Zone" the album follows the paths of the huge successful west coast AOR style from Toto, Chicago and cohorts, but the album failed in terms of sales and Ron Moss left the band becoming an actor in the TV series "The Bold and the beautiful". Strictly limited Japanese re-issue with a superb sound quality.

Watch: https://youtu.be/grwAm-KY18E

Strong brand new material in the vein of MR.MISTER, FOREIGNER and ASIA. The second album (!) after the 1986 debut, which was just re-released one year ago. It picks up the original sound of BITE THE BULLET and offers highlights like “Rocks To Stones“, “Starlight“ or “You Never Knew“ among many others. It’s pretty cool when music is able to create the impression that time stands still.

MARTIN STARK

listen: https://youtu.be/cmPzbMFn0aw

After EUROPE’s mega chartbuster “The Final Countdown” every Swedish major label was hunting down for the next potential follow up and TREAT where one of them. They never came close to the world wide success of Joey Tempest and his bunch, but both “Dreamhunter” (1987) and their previous release “The Pleasure Principle” still stands as two brilliant European AOR releases of the 80s. “Dreamhunter” is full packed with hits. It’s hard to pick out stand out tracks while the overall quality is so high, but I would state the opening track “Sole Survivor”, “World Of Promises”, or  “Take Me On Your Wings” for prime examples of perfect Scandi AOR with killer hooklines. Limited re-issue, the sound quality is superb !

watch: https://youtu.be/AcKdJ4T0dfA

It didn’t happened that often that a band released two classic album within only one year, but TREAT were undoubtful one of them. Their second strike “The Pleasure Principle” and the follow up “Dreamhunter” were both phenomenal AOR albums full of killer tunes and both CDs were hard to find at the last few years, so this official reissues should please a lot of AOR maniacs. “The Pleasure Principle” (1986) contains some of the strongest Euro AOR tunes ever which could be easily described as a mix of 80s DOKKEN (“Under Lock And Key” era) and the majestic keys and hooklines out of the EUROPE master piece “The Final Countdown” – the ultimate Scandi AOR sound !! Limited edition re-issue with great sound !

listen: https://youtu.be/lz6Z7bZ6JcA

Treat started life in 1982 as rock band with Swedish lyrics until drummer Mats “Dalton” Dahl joyned them in 1983. They recorded a demo for Polygram, which were looking for a Swedish hard rock band as a counterpart to Europe and signed them in 1984. One year later “Scratch And Bite” got released in 1985 and carried such great Scandi AOR tunes like “Scracth And Bite”, “Get You On The Run”, “Hidin’” or the killer ballad “We Are One”, which tuned out not as strong as their following classics “The Pleasure Principle” and “Dreamhunter”, but already proved the great potential of the band. Strictly limited Japanese re-issue and the sound quality is simply stunning.

watch: https://youtu.be/fPl-z4xIFoY

Swedes’ TREAT 4th album “Organized Crime” (1989), a terrific collection of songs were the band mix their classic Scandinavian Melodic Rock roots with all the shine n’ catchiness of ’80s American AOR. With new members Patrick Applegren on keyboards and Joe Larsson on bass, Treat signed to Vertigo for their next effort ‘Organized Crime’ with the aim to the American public. They’ve here mixed the glossy AOR of previous albums ‘Dreamhunter’ with an Americanized mainstream rock 1988-89 approach, and headed off in a direction led by Winger and cohorts. Production wise without a doubt their best sounding album. Limited Japanese re-release with a terrific sound quality.

watch: https://youtu.be/jKa-7099RFE

Tesla came out of the gates with everything in its right place: a major label (Geffen), great producers (Thompson & Barbiero) and the best management you could ask for (Q Prime). The band were and are all top drawer musicians, and they had a batch of killer rootsy hard rock ready to record. When Tesla’s debut “Mechanical Resonance” was released in 1986, it made a major impact among the dominating glammy hard rock scene. “Mechanical Resonance” brought into the ’80s US Hard Rock scene one of the most distinctive – and best – bands of the era, which continue creating excellent nowadays. This limited Japanese re-release sounds like a million bucks - you better hurry up !

watch: https://youtu.be/uee-aYUA0u4

Orchestral progressive rock and metal of the finest sort. ROYAL HUNT never disappointed and always put great quality but this record might well be their masterpiece even after some decades in the business. Apart from their regular frontman DC COOPER they use some guest vocalists like Mats Leven (THERION, CANDLEMASS) among others. Amazing and extremely versatile and exciting stuff! “I Used To Walk Alone“ or “Black Butterflies“ will definitely convince listeners.

MARTIN STARK

watch: https://youtu.be/R9yfEw08FnQ

41 years after their first self-titled debut, the German kings of heavy metal are once more ready to shatter the eardrums with their latest record, ‘Too Mean to Die’. It’s an 11-track riff heavy slab of heavy metal in the classic Accept sound and possibly their finest release since 2010’s ‘Blood Of The Nations’. Accept have never been a thrash metal outfit, but with tracks like ‘Too Mean to Die’ you can certainly see their influence. Crashing riffs and a driving rhythm section work on every song, the pace varies but never slows too much. Accept may be closing on 45 years, but there is plenty of life in the old dogs yet.

watch: https://youtu.be/DQy6npwdwsY

CORPORATE CONTROL is classic hard rock with Paul Sabu (ONLY CHILD) on vocals. The project led by German allrounder Marcus Boeltz deliver their debut and offer cool songwriting and great musicianship. If you are into the likes of UFO, URIAH HEEP or even SILENT RAGE, CORPORATE CONTROL is what you need. “Radio“ is an absolute highlight giving you shivers all over and so is “Leaving It Behind“ or „Can’t Kill A Dead Man".  Just a pity that Paul Sabu's vocals are sometimes a bit painful.

MARTIN STARK

TRAGEDIAN is a power metal band from Germany which has got three albums out so far. They play quite a melodic and partly progressive style. Just check out the mighty “Rising Rage“ and the fast “Darkest Of My Days“. But also emotional and quiet songs are part of the repertoire the Hamburg-based band offers here, like e.g. “Crying In The Rain“. “Seven Dimensions“ is well-produced highlighting the versatile songwriting.

MARTIN STARK

watch: https://youtu.be/RnXu7yBoqAo

Michael Schenker is pretty active recently and this time, too, many guest musicians like Derek Sherinian (keys, ex DREAM THEATER) or Brian Tichy (d, e.g. ex BILLY IDOL) take part. Only the songwriting is not really convincing this time. “Immortal“ is mostly sang by Ronnie Romero (RAINBOW, CORELEONI) whereas songwriter and producer Michael Voss sings one two tracks, too. A good record with phenomenal guitars as always, but actually nothing more.

MARTIN STARK

watch: https://youtu.be/kLMn1nPqANM

The fifth album of the Australian-American “supergroup“ is again - maybe because? - another line-up-change a real killer. John Corabi is replaced by “the voice of rock“ Glenn Hughes (v/b, ex DEEP PURPLE, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION). Energy-driven classic rock, timeless music with balls and lots of groove. Let alone the eye-twinkling and brutally powerful “Like No Other (bassline)“ shine which is worth every single penny.

MARTIN STARK

watch: https://youtu.be/EmBnz2bm5KE