The line-up for the fifth Melodicrockfest has been announced today. The festival will be held at the Home Bar, Arlington Heights in the US on the 4th, 5th & 6th of May 2018.
MRF5-USA
Thursday May 3th:
Hotel VIP Pre-Event Party
Friday May 4th:
The Defiants
Jean Beauvoir
Crazy Lixx
Grand Design
Station
Fierce Heart
Joey C Jones
Jaded Past
Steve Hill, the one-man band blues rock machine, will release his new album ‘Solo Recordings: Volume 3‘ on No Label Records in the UK on Friday 6th October 2017. To support the release, Steve will support Wishbone Ash on their 27-date October UK tour.
When it comes to one-man bands, guitarist and singer extraordinaire Steve Hill has no limits. Anything goes. He is the true exponent of a one-man band. Steve performs standing up while singing and playing guitar, his feet playing bass drum, snare drum, hi-hats and with a drum stick fused to the head of his trusty guitar, any other percussion within reach.
Steve’s an overnight sensation that’s 20 years in the making. He’s an ambitious and raucous force to be reckoned with on the Canadian and international blues-rock scene. Now, he’s ready to break out internationally.
Following the success of his JUNO nominated Solo Recordings Volume 1, which also won “Album of The Year” at the International Blues Challenge in 2013, and JUNO Award winner Solo Recordings Volume 2, Steve Hill first released his brand new album ‘Solo Recordings Volume 3‘ in Canada on March 4, 2016. Now, a year later, the album will finally be released domestically in the UK on Friday 6th October 2017.
‘Solo Recordings Volume 3‘ features originals that are outright rockers (Damned, Dangerous, Rhythm All Over, Smoking Hot Machine, Can’t Take It With You, Walkin’ Grave) to more acoustic-based melodic tracks (Slowly Slipping Away, Troubled Times, Emily) and three re-imagined and rearranged covers (Still A Fool & A Rollin Stone, Rollin & Tumblin / Stop Breaking Down, Going Down That Road Feeling Bad). The album shows an artist at the top of his game. It’s no surprise why the Montreal Gazette has referred to Steve Hill as “the meanest guitar player in Canada.”
“When I started the Solo Recordings projects four years ago, I had hopes that the songs and performances would resonate with my existing fan-base”, says Steve. “I am constantly trying to improve on the songs, both lyrically and technically, live and recorded, in order to keep the fans excited about my material and live shows. I feel that Solo Recordings Volume 3 is my best work yet and I am excited to present it.”
In January 2015, Hill was awarded four coveted Maple Blues Awards including Electric Act of the Year, Guitarist of the Year, Recording/Producer of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. Solo Recordings Volume 2 won the 2015 JUNO Award for Blues Album of the Year.
Throughout his career, Steve has shared the stage with many of his musical heroes including Ray Charles, BB King, ZZ Top, Jimmie Vaughan, Hubert Sumlin, Jeff Beck and many others. Over the course of nine albums he’s explored everything from hard rock, country, and stoner rock to folk music while always incorporating the essence of his first love, the blues.
Steve’s reputation as an exciting performer has provided him the opportunity to showcase his talents at some of Canada’s biggest music festivals including the Montreal Jazz Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, Jazz Winnipeg Festival, Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, Kitchener Blues Festival and more. Steve Hill is clearly in his element as a solo artist and one-man band, inviting listeners into a world of musical madness in the form of blues and rock ‘n’ roll.
Pride & Joy Music is proud to announce the signing of Italian Symphonic Metal band Secret Rule. The first collaboration will be the release of the band’s third full-length album ‘The Key To The World‘ on November 10th, 2017. The band will go on tour soon after the release and support the record live at the following dates among others:
16.11.17, I-Rome, Traffic Live Club*;
17.11.17 I-Rozzano, Circolo Svolta*
18.11.17 CH-Wetzikon, Hall Of Fame*
31.03.18 UK-Hartford (Hertfordshire), The Rock Den
*= as support for Kobra And The Lotus
Secret Rule was formed in the beginning of 2014 with the intention to create a special sound with powerful rhythms and catchy melodies. The band is fronted by the powerful voice of Angela Di Vincenzo (Kyla Moyl), masterminded by lead guitarist Andy Menario (Martiria) who has worked with big names such as Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio), Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Foreigner), and Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot). The line-up is completed by bassist Michele Raspanti (Graal) and drummer Nicola Corrente (Enemynside, Stick it out, Starkiller Sound).
In February 2015, the group released their debut ‘Transposed Emotions‘ (Rocksector Records) – a concept, a mixture of facts and tales which analyse our society with a look at a post apocalyptic era. The album was recorded in 2014; produced, mixed and mastered at Antfam Studios in Denmark by Tue Madsen (Halford The Haunted, Mnemic, Hatesphere, Ektomorf), while the artwork was created by Simona Speedy Saccoccia. After some gigs in Italy, the band went on tour in Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium, Holland and the UK, taking part in some festivals such as the SOS Fest in the UK and the WIZZ FEST in Belgium.
In October 2015, Secret Rule started recording their second album ‘Machination‘. The line-up for the new long player also included Sander Zoer (ex Delain, Leah) on drums, Henrik Klingenberg (Sonata Arctica) on keyboards and other special guests such as Stefan Helleblad (Within Temptation), Timo Somers (Delain), Fabio D’Amore (Serenity) and Janneke De Rooy (Paper Doll Decay). This release again was produced, mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (Antfarm Studio) and the artwork created by Simona Speedy Saccoccia.
The CD got a release on June 24th, 2016 on Scarlet Records with two tours to follow in July and August covering Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, the UK, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. On 7 October in Wetzicon at the Hall of Fame venue, the Italians supported Serenity and on 29 January, they opened for Delain.
Early in 2017 Secret Rule supported Blaze Bayley for some gigs and then started to work on new material. The new album ‘The Key to the World‘ will be released by Pride & Joy Music on November 10th, 2017. Henrik Klingenberg (Sonata Arctica) and two new guests on this new CD, Henning Basse (Firewind and MaYan) and Ailyn Giménez (ex Sirenia), also appear on this third release of the band. It again was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (Antfarm Studio- Denmark); Fabio D’amore (Serenity) handled the pre-production and Simona Speedy Saccoccia took care of the artwork again. In addition, music videos for the tracks ‘Twin Flames‘, ‘The Song Of The Universe‘ & ‘Imaginary World‘ feat. all three guests will be released in advance to the album release. The band has already scheduled some gigs for next months. In November, they will be direct support for Kobra and the Lotus.
Black Bambi, one of the multitude of bands that never ‘made it’ back in those heady days of the late 80’s and early 90’s. With legendary producer Beau Hill at the helm and with the backing of Atlantic Records everything was lined up for success right? Wrong! Black Bambi was unfortunately one of those bands that came so close. Now with new re-issues label 20th Century Music about to finally release the album to the masses we can at last hear what all the hype was about.
As expected given the original recorded date, you get a strong dose of hard rock, but with that almost bluesy groove that some bands managed to inject, something that is certainly to my own personal tastes and it’s something that I think helps the album stand out a little more than other releases from that time period.
If there’s one big similarity for me sound wise, it’s with sorely missed Scandi rockers Aces High with hints of Royal Court Of China. And those are similarities that I’m certainly happy to hear.
Beau Hill’s production across the twelve tracks of this self titled album shines through, with a tight bass line and a spaciousness to the sound with no muddying of vocals and guitar.
Stand out tracks for me – ‘Celebration‘, ‘Shadows‘ and ‘Soul Of A Child‘. Mind you there isn’t a bad track on the album.
A new reissue label focusing on the 1975 – 1995 era of popular – and not always so popular – music, has thrown their hat into the ring.
20th Century Music is a German – American partnership operating as a division of Vanity Music Group that will concentrate on both licensing material from major and independent record companies as well as uncovering undiscovered gems along the way.
Over a year in the planning stages, the label has lined up several releases with the first being the popular German power metal band from the early 1990’s, Tarot (forced to change their name to Tarot Beyond for this release). The band wound up with the opportunity to have their debut album produced by Accept drummer Stefan Kaufmann at Dierks Studios but let it slip away because “we were young and green so we missed out on a great chance. Our own fault but what can we do?” says the band.
Second out of the gate is the long lost album from Los Angeles hard rockers Black Bambi. The band was signed to Atlantic Records shortly after forming, built up a major buzz based on a wealth of press before being unceremoniously dismissed from the label before their album had a chance to hit the streets. Their story is finally told, courtesy of frontman Steven Ray Anastos, inside the album’s booklet.
Other releases scheduled before the year is over and in early 2018 include the solo effort, ‘Yonge at Heart‘ from Pet Hate frontman Alistair Terry, Drive‘s unreleased iDefi material, Lion‘s ‘Dangerous Attraction‘, Julliet‘s self titled album from 1990 and Cold Sweat‘s ‘Break Out‘ as well as releases from Parish (Crimson Glory adjacent) and Wicked Witch (pre-Savatage). All releases will be silver pressed (no CD-R’s ever) and will come with 12 – 16 page full colour booklets with lyrics, rare photos, band interviews and when available, bonus tracks and DVD material.
The self titled releases from both Tarot Beyond and Black Bambi are slated for release on August 18 and can be pre-ordered from Vanity Music Group. The company’s website, still a work in progress, can be found at 20th Century Music.
Digital fans can currently order Black Bambi‘s album on iTunes and Tarot Beyond‘s release on Amazon and other digital platforms.
UK thrash metal veterans Onslaught will tour under the ‘Thrash ’till The Death‘ banner in Europe with Artillery,support by Chronosphere and Exarsis, starting in September.
Onslaught are one of the most explosive and controversial Metal bands ever to come out of the UK. Releasing 3 now legendary albums in the 80ʼs (Power from Hell / The Force / In Search of Sanity) they will be performing ʼThe Forceʼ in its entirety to celebrate the albumʼs 30th Anniversary.
Joined by Denmarkʼs Artillery, playing their classic album ‘Terror Squad‘ in full ! Artillery are easily appointed as one of Europeʼs earliest exponents of thrash metal, this tour will pay homage to the glory of 80ʼs Thrash Metal.
When heavy metal is played by musicians who are dedicated 100%, the genre can reach a level of passion, feeling and sheer raw power like no other. Join Onslaught and Artillery for an unforgettable journey fused with abrasive brutality, technicality and remarkable riffs which have defined the development of Thrash Metal through the years.
In a musical landscape of what has lately been relatively boring releases (with some notable exceptions), there are still gems that reach out and grab you. Such a gem is Devilfire‘s ‘Dark Manoeuvres‘. Having had my interest triggered by the video for ‘Waiting For A Rockstar‘, I was looking forward to hearing the rest of the album.
This is certainly a jam packed album with thirteen tracks, kicking off with ‘Ready For War‘, quite a laid back feel but with plenty going on in the background, the instruments and vocals are not fighting or jockeying for position.
Don’t think for one minute that this is a laid back album though. Track two ‘She’s Like Fire‘ picks up the pace without jeopardizing the vocals, the sort of track that calls for the car stereo to be cranked, windows open, ‘educating’ your fellow traveler!
‘(In And Out Of Love) All Of The Time‘ while having a solid rock rhythm, it leans much more towards the blues end of the spectrum with some lovely guitar injections and a more soulful vocal.
Next up is that track that triggered my interest, namely ‘Waiting For A Rockstar‘. Talk about a catchy tune, another volume cranker for sure! Perfect single choice.
With ‘Lay It On The Line‘ your once again shown what an accomplished vocalist Alex Cooper is. Yes I’ve said it a 1000 times (now 1001) that if I don’t like the vocals regardless of the music then the album is lost to me. It is certainly a catchy tune to boot.
‘Kill Your Love‘ is leaning more towards melodic hard rock which shows the band’s diversity, it’s almost like Vega with a harder edge and a potential single.
‘Tear Me Apart‘ is a ballad, and before some of you moan, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With a great late 80’s style guitar break and punctuated with piano it does the job well.
‘God Give Me Vengeance‘ has elements of angst, an emotional track delivered with real feeling. A track that highlights the bands ability to bring everything to the fore. ‘Devil In Your Eyes‘, one criticism, it’s too short. Just as the band are building up a head of steam for what should be an all out audio assault it ends!
‘(You Gotta) Revolution‘ starts off with a great guitar intro, reminiscent of Reason, a memorable, punchy chorus underlined by the hard working rhythm section.
The same feel can also be found on the next two tracks. ‘She’s Always On The Run‘, love the vocal twists and turns, leading again to a memorable track. The intro to ‘A Thousand Times‘ again is so like a Reason track, this underlying similarity at times is certainly one of the reasons I’m enjoying this album.
And so the final track arrives. ‘Somehow‘, an acoustic track that draws you in and yet again shows the diversity of this band.
This album has had numerous plays at home, in the car and at work. A potential contender for my albums of the year list. Well worth checking out.
