Signed by major label Mercury, Norwegians PIONEERS released this debut album "In A State Of Rock" in 1984. The album has become a huge collectors items, cause the band featured none other as later Stage Dolls members Torstein Flakne and Steinar Krokstad plus bass player Morten Skaget, which later changed his name to Morty Black and became a member of TNT. Their musical style was the incipient Scandinavian Melodic Rock / AOR sound of the mid-Eighties; anthemic poppy choruses ready for the arenas, something that catapulted Europe to stardom two years after. You can easily figure out here where the Stage Dolls sound comes from ! First time ever on CD, digitally remastered and only limited quantities !

Listen:https://youtu.be/PPMyPwEeBe4

Sic Vikki’s debut “Kiss Me In French” (1993) was one of the best Melodic Rock / AOR albums created by an American band during the ’90s, but the band already recorded a stack of demos long time before. FNA records is releasing now the songs that got it all started. "The Early Years", clocking in at just under 80 minutes, features an 18 track album (11 regular tracks and 7 bonus tracks), six of which were written or co-written by Steve Plunkett (who produced their debut "Kiss Me In French"). Obviously recorded at different stages of the band during the ’80s – if material in the vein of Warrant, Danger Danger, Winger, and of course, Autograph – is your thing, this is highly enjoyable material and a collectors piece.

Listen:https://youtu.be/CA3Z6J3M8WY

AUDREY HORNE from Norway once again surprise with their mix of 70s and 80s hard rock with many slices of NWOBHM – kind of Thin Lizzy meets Iron Maiden  Surprising foremost because the guitar players in the band usually play really heavy and powerful. “Devil’s Bell“ offers stadium anthems at times and frontman Tosche is reminiscent of Ozzy in his classic BLACK SABBATH years (“Danse Macabre“). Interesting record, though, which will push the band once again for sure.

MARTIN STARK

Watch:https://youtu.be/IehkMkrIEbw

Second album by German hard rockers with Herbie Langhans (SONIC HAVEN, FIREWIND) on vocals. It’s a lose concept album about the experiences in life of the members of the band. They each wrote or provided two or three songs and stories. No fillers but also no (real) killers on this record, too. Style-wise a record somewhere between hard rock and melodic metal but one that spreads lots of positive vibes throughout and one that simply sounds great.

MARTIN STARK

Watch:https://youtu.be/WgBu39rtwbI

The debut from Torben Schmidt & Co hit the scene way back in 1986 like a sledgehammer - the album is full of AOR anthems like „Move It In The Night“, the sensational „I’m Alone“, the rockin’ „Damned Nation“ and so on - it’s hard to state a fave track while the album is full of highlights. The production is powerful and crystal clear while the mix of guitars and keyboards is simply perfect and it was a proof that the Europeans can also come up with great AOR stuff which wasn’t that self-evident way back in 1986 while the Yanks did dominate the AOR market. Limited Japanese re-issue with a superb sound quality and incl. 5 bonus tracks.

Watch:https://youtu.be/bwhTD68eGao

Three years after their eponymouse debut Leatheerwolf had been picked up by the major label Island Records. The label looked for a more polished sound and hired AOR producer Kevin Beamish (Fortune, Y & T, REO Speedwagon) for the job. The result was off course a more radio friendly sound, but the triple axe attack still shines through and tracks like “Rise Or Fall”, “The Calling” or “Cry Out” still remains as primes examples of the classic US 80s metal sound. Their Iron Maiden influences clearly shines through, but with the addition of decent keyboards in the background and catchier hooklines the whole package sounded more polished without loosing their trademarks. Limited Japanese re-issue with a superb sound quality.

Watch:https://youtu.be/VNyZtmUR7sQ

Known as YESTERDAY & TODAY during the '70s, the band's name change first appeared on 1981's well-received "Earthshaker". It was the release of 1982's "Black Tiger" though that landed the band on the world stage, the quartet masterfully blending its blues-based hard rock swagger with an increased emphasis on melody. Powered by vocalist/guitarist  Dave Meniketti's shredding solos and powerful singing, songs like „Open Fire“,  "Hell Or Highwater" and "My Way Or The Highway" are stripped down, no-nonsense slabs of blues strut and attitude. Both the title track and "Open Fire" are muscular Y&T standards and classics of the genre. Limited Japanese re-issue with a superb sound quality.

Listen:https://youtu.be/5k07TRJIpn8

In 1987, after firmly establishing herself as one of filmdom's most sought-after actresses, the multifaceted Cher staged a highly successful musical comeback with her selftitled album. The album scored a Top Ten hit with her version of the Michael Bolton / Mark Mangold penned power ballad "I Found Someone" (previously a minor hit for Laura Branigan), a Top 20 hit with the biting, Bon Jovi-penned "We All Sleep Alone". With 5 songs penned by Desmond Child and 2 tracks penned by Diane Warren you can be sure to high quality stuff.  The list of guest musicians is endless and contains nearly all first class players from Lukather over to Bonnie Tyler. Limited Japanese re-issue with a superb sound quality.

Watch:https://youtu.be/ykIRhszzm9U