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AOR HEAVEN ::: N E W S L E T T E R ::: 29/10/2021 |
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Howdy melodic rockers,
After almost 2 weeks of absolute
craziness things has cooled down to normal standard (as
we sold out of Nestor just after 1 week !!). We have
received a box or so of Nestor CDs which was remaining
from their release party, but now we have to wait almost
two weeks until November the 15th until we get a bigger
stock with the repressing !
Another annoying thing is that
Soulfood, the German distributor for labels like
Frontiers, has raised up the sales price to us at 12%
!!!!! We always had a special deal as I can easily say
that we're the ones which are selling the big numbers
over here in Germany, but now they have decided to
cancel this arrangement.
To get things right - this has
absolutely nothing to do with the label - they don't
have changed their prices to Soulfood. It's simply the
decision of Soulfood to cash more money in a shrinking
market and all I can say is that this a totally wrong
move. At the end of the day all involved parties will
lose, but the distributor don't has any risk as they
get the stock on consignment (and make twice as much
profit as the label and the artist !!).
Well, we'll see how you - the
customers - are dealing with this drastic price
increase. Below you can already see that the prices has
been raised up at 2 Euros and this are pretty much those
12% which they charge us more since November, the 1st.
wishing you a great week
Georg & Monika
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AOR HEAVEN RELEASES:
OSUKARU - Starbound
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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AOR and melodic rock from Sweden at its best, even if album number six sounds a bit rougher or harder in comparison to the first five efforts. Given the genre, there are quite versatile arrangements and surprise here and there. And frontman Fredrik Werner sounds pretty rough at times which is a cool counterpart to the partly sugar sweet compositions. Definitely check out the mid tempo monster “Somewhere Sometime Somehow“ with a guest appearance by Mark Holden (sax, BOULEVARD) or the fascinating “Joker (In The House Of Cards)“. No fillers whatsoever and production is first class! A really cool record! OSUKARU definitely plays the same league as fellow Swedes TREAT, H.E.A.T. or ART NATION by now.
MARTIN STARK |
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watch: https://youtu.be/XUZA3FPjf98 |
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SIX SILVER SUN - As Archon Fall
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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Finnish outfit SIX SILVER SUNS and their debut “As Archon Fall“ sound like a hybrid of THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA and BLUE ÖYSTER CULT. This record is a fascinating journey through the sound of the seventies with some eighties flavour. A really beautiful artwork completes the picture of a breathtaking record here. Tracks like “Children Of The Stars“, “Lord Of The Southern Tower“ or “Cosmic Bitter Blues“ for instance make the listener constantly discover new exciting details. Let’s keep track of these guys from up North!
MARTIN STARK |
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watch: https://youtu.be/5N_x8HM1leA |
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EXPECTED NEW RELEASES !!
PETER GOALBY - Easy With The Heartaches (digi pack, dig. remastered)
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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English singer Peter Goalby had a long and successful career throughout the ’70s and ’80s as singer for Trapeze and by joyning Uriah Heep as their lead singer on "Abominog" (1982), "Head First" (1983) and "Equator" (1985). Following his departure from Heep, Goalby released a solo single, guested on a few recordings and recorded a bunch of classic demo tracks for a possible solo album during the end of the 80s. This demo tracks (18 songs in total) became absolute cult classics at the AOR crowd and 11 of them will finally get released (personally overseen by Peter Goalby). This is indeed a real pleasure, cause we're talking about high class 80s AOR stuff in the vein of Uriah Heep's "Equator" album. BUY IT PRONTO !
listen:https://youtu.be/j3CCE3H9p0g |
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CRAZY LIXX - Street Lethal
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B: 14,5 € |
B: 17,5 € |
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The Swedes fully deliver for years but the 2019 album “Forever Wild“ set the bar quite high. The new one, called “Street Lethal“ is able to meet that level of quality easily. Produced by Danny Rexon (v) and mixed by Tobias Lindell (e.g. H.E.A.T.). Big choruses, lots of power and therefore, simply the perfect stuff for fans of likes of ECLIPSE, H.E.A.T or WILDNESS. There are two instrumentals, too - clearly inspired by the magnificent TV show “Cobra Kai“ add a brilliant flavor between all those melodic anthems.
MARTIN STARK
watch:https://youtu.be/O56OmUNEvjc |
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MEMORIA AVENUE - Memoria Avenue
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B: 14,5 € |
B: 17,5 € |
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The Norwegians around Jan Le’Brandt (v) und Tor Talle (g/keys, NORTHERN LIGHT) put the bar pretty high on their debut. Style-wise they play contemporary AOR in the vein of PERFECT PLAN, CARE OF NIGHT, WIGELIUS or STATE OF SALAZAR. Comes with a very powerful and round production highlighting the eleven wonderful songs. Music that sounds like a ride in a convertible car through a warm summer breeze. What a debut! Wow! Just check out “Nathalia“.
MARTIN STARK
watch:https://youtu.be/1ADdohMJ00A |
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5IVE YEARS GONE - Rock'N'Roll Rebirth
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B: 12,5 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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5IVE YEARS GONE from Italy offer easy-going rock in the vein of more recent BON JOVI or BRYAN ADAMS. Nice songs, some of which are really good and the rest is never below average. Tracks like “Mary Jane“ and “Scars Of Love“ provide a good impression of the sound of the record. There’s still potential, therefore, the album title might be a bit too ambitious, though. Vocalist Paolo Cernic is reminiscent of TOM PETTY at times.
MARTIN STARK
watch:https://youtu.be/OPyJid1azB4 |
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FANS OF THE DARK - Fans Of The Dark
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B: 14,5 € |
B: 17,5 € |
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FANS OF THE DARK consist of drummer and main songwriter Freddie Allen (ex-HOUSTON), Alex Falk (v), Robert Majd (b, CAPTAIN BLACK BEARD, METALITE) und Oscar Bromwall (g, CODE RED, PALACE). Extremely melodic hybrid of AOR and hard rock with certain slices of pop at times. And Falk’s voice is pretty unique, too. But although the name and the artwork foremost suggest differently, there is definitely no connection to the sound of IRON MAIDEN.
MARTIN STARK
watch:https://youtu.be/9ZvdueuuPpQ |
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DAVID REECE - Blacklist Utopia
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B: 14,5 € |
B: 17,5 € |
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The American DAVID REECE (ex-ACCEPT, BANGALORE CHOIR) with probably his best solo effort to date. Very solid hard rock with a rough edge here and there. Let alone the opener “Utopia“ shine. Once again, it’s Andy Susemihl (g) at his side providing razor-sharp guitars. Mister Reece did actually never disappoint. Pretty decent hard rock with quite a few highlights (“Red Blooded Hell Raiser“ or “I Can’t Breathe“).
MARTIN STARK
watch:https://youtu.be/_XUfi-o2xRc |
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NEW RELEASES IN STOCK!!
ANDY QUNTA - Legend In A Loungeroom + bonus CD (deluxe edition) |
B: 14,5 € |
B: 17,5 € |
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Andy Qunta (pronounced
'Kunta') is a British keyboard player, songwriter, vocalist and part-time
guitarist. He moved to Australia in 1982 to join the popular band Icehouse,
co-writing one of their biggest hits; "Crazy". He also
co-wrote "You're The Voice", which has since become something of an anthem since John Farnham had a worldwide #1 hit with
it, and songs for the Manfred Mann's Earth Band (penned together with Chris
Thompson. By 1988, Andy ink a contract for a solo album,
"Legend In A Loungeroom", recorded in Los Angeles with renowned session
musicians. Superb AOR stuff next to Tom Kimmel, Brian Spence and Glen Burtnick,
with a touch of his former band Icehouse. Digitally remastered plus 15 track
bonus CD.
watch:
https://youtu.be/0zL-d8cGyn0 |
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MARD EDWARDS - Land Of The Living + bonus CD (deluxe edition) |
B: 14,5 € |
B: 17,5 € |
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Following the
split of the band "The Runners", Australian singer and songwriter Mark Edwards
signed with WEA Records and released one album in 1986 entitled "Land Of The
Living". Mark Edwards spent two years writing, performing, and producing "Land
Of The Living" with collaborator Michael Hegerty. The result was a a collection
of fine poppy AOR songs showcased well by a production that is clean and
polished. The album itself was subject to a very limited CD run in the late 80s,
pressed before the use of barcodes and long since designated a true Australian
rarity. Overall a nice collection of classic 80s singer / songwriter AOR next to
Daryl Braithwaite. Digitally remastered incl. 11 bonus tracks, limited to 1000
copies.
watch:
https://youtu.be/MPSSVdJfoSs |
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CINDERELLA - Night Songs + bonus CD
(digi pack, digitally remastered) |
B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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This is
the debut album from these Philadelphia rockers, and did it ever set the world
on fire! Cinderella showed the masses that they weren’t afraid to rock with
songs such as “Night Songs,” “Shake Me” and “Push Push”. “Nobody’s Fool” is a
great power ballad and charted at #13, followed by the unstoppable “Somebody
Save Me.” At this point in their career, Cinderella had the looks and talent to
reach the top of the glam scene. Tom Keifer‘s gritty and wailing vocal delivery
put Cinderella on the pop-metal map. This classic easily gets two thumbs up! On
top Jon Bon Jovi discovered these guys and hooked
Cinderella
up as the opening act on
Bon Jovi‘s
mega everything "Slippery
When Wet" tour of 1986! Bad Reputation re-issue.
watch:
https://youtu.be/MCOrtJMQmVs |
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TEASER - Teaser +5 (digitally remastered)
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Born in The Hague in the
Netherlands in 1954, Ad van den Berg started to take his guitar playing more
seriously at the age of 17. After moving to Enschede in the east of the country
in his teens, Ad later played in local bands, such as Mother of Pearl and
Darling making his recording debut with the latter at the age of nineteen. After
joining a local outfit Maddogs, Ad wrote all the songs for the only album by
the band by then known as Teaser. This eponymous work recorded for the Vertigo
label in 1978 on the selftitled Teaser album carried a superb slice of bluesy
hard rock in the vein of BAD COMPANY, FREE and WHITESNAKE. Digitally remastered
re-issue from Bad Reputation records incl. 5 bonus tracks.
listen:
https://youtu.be/mG7FWFiFPrQ |
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JULLIET - Julliet (digitally remastered)
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Julliet
was a
Tampa-based band was born in 1985 by lead guitarist Jimmi DeLisi
and bassist Ty Westerhoff. After cycling through various
lead vocalists, they found their perfect match in Kenny McGee.
During this time, Julliet caught the attention of Kevin
DuBrow of Quiet Riot, who went on to produce their first album entitled
“Passion” (which was shelved until 2004). After moving to L.A. in 1988 things
got rolling and they got signed by Enigma / Capitol Records in 1989. What's
interesting here is that Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan produced their
selftitled debut in 1990 which showcased a superb slice of commercial hair metal
stuff in the vein of White Lion, Cinderella and cohorts. Digitally remastered
re-issue.
listen:
https://youtu.be/G_xS7otcmKk |
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FREAKSHOW - Freakshow
(digitally remastered)
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Singer Markus Allen Christopher was the singer, songwriter and bandleader of
MISS CRAZY, which has released two strong albums so far. After hooking up with
drum legend Frankie Banali (QUIET RIOT) FREAKSHOW was born and Frankie invited
his friends Jeff La Bar (CINDERELLA) and Tony Franklin (BLUE MURDER) to joyn him
as well. With nearly all songs penned by Markus the musicial direction pretty
much follows the same direction of MISS CRAZY – typically 80s US arena rock in
the vein of CINDERELLA, AC/DC, TESLA and Y & T, which got pushed to the max by
the fantastic rhythm section of Banali / Franklin, while M. A. Christoper still
sounds as the younger brother of CINDERELLA’s Tom Keifer.
listen:
https://youtu.be/K4h1LXzhodE |
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LASTWORLD - Fractured Mirror
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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LASTWORLD is a melodic
rock/AOR project by Jim Shepard (all instruments) und David Cagle (v, MARTY &
THE BAD PUNCH). Even though the first rather heavy rocker “Save Yourself“ might
be slightly misleading, most of the rest is rather melodic rock. Album number
three is quite a collection of good or even strong songs. The Chicago-based
Americans definitely deserve attention. Although the sound might not always be
comparable to competitors from e.g. Sweden, the song material certainly is for
the most part.
MARTIN STARK
watch:
https://youtu.be/SPWmY2gVHWI |
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MAD MARGRITT - The Best Of 1999-2021
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B: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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MAD MARGRITT from the US
play eighties infused hard rock. Fifteen track in total (including three
previously unreleased ones) of which “Nothing Can Keep Me Away“ with Derek St.
Holmes (v, TED NUGENT) sticks out. Sleazy hard rock which probably can only
emerge from America. MAD MARGRITT, a name to be remembered if you are into hard
and melodic rock. This Best Of is the perfect introduction to the band, not only
because the previous records are a hard find.
MARTIN STARK
listen:
https://youtu.be/L37ux7CejuQ |
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TONY MITCHELL - 11/26
EDGE OF THE BLADE - 11/26
GROUNDBREAKER - 11/12
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