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Review: Sign X – Like A Fire

Pride & Joy Music (December 6, 2019)

Reviewer: Paul Saripo

Fantastic album, comprising well written and executed musicianship with a polished production to suit.

Some catchy riff deliveries reminding me of Foreigner.

If you like melody, riffs, epic drums and powerful vocals this album will not disappoint and should be on everybody’s list of albums to buy and certainly a band I would like to go see live should an opportunity arise.

‘Storm’ opens with a signature piano melody leading to the full elements of percussion and fret work of guitar and menacing baselines with a punchy energetic vocal delivery.

Nothing is left out of this album, ‘Rain’ is a true anthem of a track, opening with an acoustic ballad on to a crescendo of power with hearty vocals and pleasing harmony’s throughout.

‘Free your Mind’ demonstrates the bands wordsmith-ability’s  and delivers a lyrical hook that will stay with you.

‘Crush‘ ’had me thinking of a west end musical score, not only in the presentation but in the message and feel of the song, credit to these guys on the composition of this triumphant piece and finding a suitable place that sits well on the Album.

‘Sign’ this reinforces the bands range of musical ability to write original music with a feel and nod over to the likes of Deep Purple on a tin of red bull.

‘Koda X’ a melody that closes the album with  tranquillity and reflection.

For me, this is one of the best albums I have had the privilege to listen to and review. Its released today and should be in everyone’s album collection.  I will be looking out for more  from Sign X, as these guys are simply genius.

 

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Italian female fronted band SECRET RULE will release their new album ‘Against‘ on February 21st, 2020 via Pride & Joy Music.

Tracklisting:

  1. Spira Mirabilis
  2. Shades Of Humanity
  3. Rise Again
  4. Going Nowhere
  5. Digital Revolution
  6. Endless Promises
  7. Purgatory
  8. Against
  9. Deep Solitude
  10. Outsiders
  11. My Last Breath
  12. Don’t Let Me Fade

‘Against‘ now is their fifth studio album. In April 2020, the Italian Heavy Metal band will support Brazilian Melodic Death Metal SEMBLANT on their European tour at the following dates:

02.04.20 • NAMUR (BE) • BELVEDERE

03.04.20 • ROTTERDAM (NL) • Baroeg

04.04.20 • PARIS (FR) • La Boule Noire

05.04.20 • WEINHEIM (DE) • Café Central

06.04.20 • LONDON (UK) • The Underworld Camden

09.04.20 • LISBOA (PT) • RCA CLUB

10.04.20 • MADRID (ES) • Nazca Music Live

11.04.20 • BARCELONA (ES) • Razzmatazz 3

12.04.20 • LYON (FR) • ROCK N EAT official

14.04.20 • PRATTELN (CH) • Konzertfabrik Z7

15.04.20 • BERLIN (DE) • Musik & Frieden

16.04.20 • KRAKOW (PL) • Klub Zaścianek

17.04.20 • BRATISLAVA (SK) • Randal Club

18.04.20 • ROMA (IT) • Traffic Live

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Review: Bonfire – Live On Holy Ground Wacken 2018

Pride & Joy Music (June 14th 2019)
Reviewer: Grant Foster

Live albums, are they as relevant today as they were 40 years ago?

If You Want Blood, Live and Dangerous, Strangers In The Night. In the days before the internet, downloads, YouTube etc, they were a wonderful documentation of a band’s live show committed to vinyl. But even those illustrious releases aren’t entirely ‘live’.

Priest’s effort is well known as ‘Unleashed In The Studio’ for a reason! Listen to Whole Lotta Rosie from IYWB. Most of it is the studio version from the Let There Be Rock album version. And the ending? I’ve never heard it finished like that on any bootlegs from that era or since! So, how do you know what you are hearing on these ‘live’ albums, is in fact, just that?

This album recorded at Wacken 2018, sounds great. Full and muscular. Almost like a studio release. Ooops, there’s the cynic in me again. The playing and singing is full on. There’s no doubting the quality of this band ‘live’. I really don’t know what else to say. If you are a Bonfire fan, you’re gonna love this. If you’re a hard rock fan, it’s worth checking out. If you haven’t heard of the band, check out their ‘Fireworks’ album.

That’s the problem with live albums in the modern day, in my humble opinion. The songs become so over produced, that they are almost indistinguishable from the albums from which they originally came. And as anyone who has ever performed a live rock show knows, that’s very rarely the case. Now where’s my copy of AC/DC’s ‘Live From The Atlantic Studios?’ Now that’s a LIVE album!

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German Hard Rock band Bonfire for a couple of decades has been one of the busiest touring bands and consistently also is a regular guest at numerous big European Metal festivals. On August 4th, 2018 the Ingolstadt based group once again set a highlight performance at the world’s biggest Heavy Metal festival: Wacken Open Air.

The show in Wacken was filmed and will now be released on June 14th, 2019 as DVD, as CD, as LP and digital under the name ‘Live On Holy Ground 2018‘. The main film offers a superb ‘best of’ journey through time and includes Bonfire‘s own classic hits like ‘Ready 4 Reaction‘, ‘Sweet Obsession‘ and ‘American Nights‘. The DVD version with ‘Praying 4 A Miracle‘ (radio edit), ‘Locomotive Breath‘ (radio edit), ‘Sweet Obsession‘ (2019) and ‘American Nights‘ (2019) shows four bonus video clips which are also included on the CD, LP and digital as audio files. The first pressing of all three physical formats is coming hand signed by the band!

Tracklist:

1.In the Beginning

2.Ready 4 Reaction

3.Never Mind

4.Don’t Touch The Light

5.American Nights

6.Give It A Try

7.Sword and Stone

8.SDI

9.Sweet Obsession

10.Champion

Bonus Tracks:

11.Praying 4 A Miracle

12.Locomotive Breath

13. American Nights (2019)

14. Sweet Obsession (2019)

Filmed & recorded live at Wacken Open Air on August 4th, 2018

Mix & Mastering: Tom Müller (Flatliner Studios)

Produced by: Hans Ziller

Additional Recordings by Rolf Munkes at Empire Studios

Virtual set extensions for American Nights by Andreas Resch @world-of-visions.de

Locomotive Breath – Byron Mansylla, AVMS

Artwork design: The Digital Dictators

DVD information: FSK12, Playing time: 60:09 min, Full screen: 4:3, DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital, NTSC, Full HD, Region Code: 0

Line up:

Hans Ziller – Lead, Rhythm-Guitar, Backing Vocals

Alexx Stahl – Lead Vocals

Ronnie Parkes – Bass, Backing Vocals

Frank Pané- Lead, Rhythm-Guitar, Backing Vocals

André Hilgers – Drums, Percussion

Additional Musicians: Tim Breideband, Harry Reischmann – Drums; Paul Morris, Fredrik Bergh, Alessandro DelVecchio – Keyboards; Mike Gerhold & Alessandro DelVecchio – Backing Vocals

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Review: Lugnet – Nightwalker

Pride & Joy Music (Jan 25th 2019)

Reviewer: Dan Mann

Lugnet are set to release their second album in January, three years after their self titled debut. To say I’ve played that debut to death wouldn’t be overstating how much I love it, so I for one was looking forward to getting my mitts on ‘Nightwalker‘. There’s been one major change since the debut, with Jaded Heart‘s Johan Fahlberg taking over on vocals. Now I’m very familiar with Johan’s singing, but there’s still that element of will this work?

Rest easy, it works a treat! Johan slots in perfectly, his style nicely slotting into Lugnet‘s unashamed 70’s hard rock as does the other new boy, guitarist Matti Norlin, whose tone and vibe help bring it all together.

Two of the album’s tracks I’d already heard rather a lot after the release earlier in the year of ‘Begging‘ comprising both ‘Begging‘ and ‘Cockroach‘ so they were a nice taster of what was to come.

One stand out track for me is ‘Death Laughs At You‘, the opening riffs could be straight off a Black Sabbath album, with elements Of Pink Floyd‘s ‘Sheep‘ all with a distinctive Lugnet slant. It absolutely nails your full concentration!

Although the album is ‘only’ eight tracks, you get your monies worth having two songs just under seven minutes and one almost eight minutes long.

This album is a grower in every sense, I hear more little nuances and details on every listen and my enjoyment for it has increased every play.

If your already a Lugnet fan, then rejoice as your about to be handsomely rewarded. Not a fan yet? You will be after listening to this, and then you can go and increase your enjoyment by visiting their debut!

 

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Buckets Rebel Heart is the new band formed by ex Bad Company and Humble Pie guitarist Dave “Bucket” Colwell, along with former 720 & New Torpedoes drummer, Paul “Taff” Edwards. The line-up is completed by lead vocalist Jim Stapley and bass player Dave “Boycie” Boyce, previously of The Quireboys.

December 7th, 2018 sees the official release of the band’s debut album ‘20 Good Summers‘, showcasing 12 songs written by Colwell and Edwards. Mixed in Nashville, by Grammy Award Winner Ben Fowler, the album also features vocal contributions from Mollie Marriott and Rick “Georgia Satellites” Richards, among others.

The albumwill be released on Pride & Joy Music on December 7th, 2018

The band made their live debut in June, going down a storm at the Sweden Rock Festival 2018.

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Orion’s Reign are back with their second full-length studio album, ‘Scores of War‘, set for an October 19th release by Pride & Joy Music.

The album was engineered, mixed and mastered at Fascination Street Studios (Powerwolf, Arch Enemy, Dragonforce, Amorphis etc.),  in Sweden by Jens Bergen, Linus Corneliusson and Orion’s Reign, includes 11 tracks of epic/symphonic metal.

The band continues the music path it had already begun with the previous album ‘Nuclear Winter‘, offering this time a full symphonic experience profoundly influenced by epic movie scores, with a complete orchestra, bombastic rhythms, massive choirs and guest appearances such as Tim Ripper Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth), Bob Katsionis (Firewind), Mark Boals (Malmsteen) and others.

The record is extremely diversified and contains much to explore, from Symphonic Speed Metal to catchy (Hard) Rock sounds, as well as operatic refrains filigreeing rich emotionality. The single ‘The Undefeated Gaul‘ is the first appetizer of the album, with fast riffs, heavy rhythm section and furious guitar solos! Stay tuned for more single releases!

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Germany based Hard Rock band DeVicious will release their debut album ‘Never Say Never‘ on Pride & Joy Music on August 24th, 2018!

After their tour with Ammunition in Spring 2018, ‘Never Say Never‘ marks the first album release for this group.

The band says: “We are proud to announce our new partnership with Pride & Joy Music, GerMusica and Soulfood Distribution. Our debut album “Never say Never” will be available on August 28th exclusively world-wide through Pride & Joy Music. Zoran, Radivoj, Gisi, Alex, Denis and Lars want to thank the one and only Birgitt Schwanke for taking care of our album and for giving us a chance at such an established label. We could not be more happy right now.”

DeVicious are currently working on the follow-up album. In December 2018, they’ll tour Germany as support for US Hard Rock legends Hardline:

DeVicious with Xtasy & Hardline:

06.12.2018 D-Hamburg, Logo

07.12.2018 Bochum, Rockpalast

08.12.2018 D-Mörlenbach, Live Music Hall

09.12.2018 D-Munich, Backstage Club

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Swedish Hard Rock band Free From Sin have extended their collaboration with Pride & Joy Music and will release their second album entitled ‘II‘ on the German Metal label on July 20th, 2018.

Free From Sin’s self-titled debut album was released in mid 2015.  After good sales, reviews and press feedback, the Swedish based group is now back with a vengeance and with a new record called ‘Free From Sin II’!

The band has added new band members to the line-up which resulted in a much darker & heavier sounding release in comparison to the first one. Free From Sin is again going back to basics, with a classical 5 piece line-up, with hammond organ, guitar, bass & drums together with aggressively vivid vocals and now is featuring Per Englund (ex-Blacksmith, vocals), Patrik Lämborg (guitars), Fredrik Strömberg (keyboards), Ulf Kronsell (bass) and Paul Ekdahl (drums).

There is a clear message and thought throughout the lyrics, this in combination with massive guitar riffs will for sure capture the listener’s attention and mind…….cast the second stone!

With strong influences from Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Rainbow, Iron Maiden etc., Free From Sin is again merging these ingredients in riff- based songs together with a modern sound. “II” was again produced by Mankan Sedenberg with Free From Sin at Pama Studios, Sweden.

Line-up:

Per Englund (vocals)

Patrik Lämborg (guitars)

Fredrik Strömberg (keyboards)

Ulf Kronsell (bass)

Paul Ekdahl (drums)

Official Website

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Pride & Joy Music is proud to announce the addition of Italian Heavy Metal veterans Crying Steel to the roster!

‘Stay Steel‘ is the name of their new album which will be released on June 15th, 2018 on Pride & Joy Music. This is the first record from Crying Steel to feature one of the finest voices in rock, Tony Mills (ex Shy, ex TNT), on vocals!

Crying Steel were founded in Bologna in 1982 from the ashes of the Hard Rock group Wurdalak. The founding members were Alberto Simonini (guitar) and Angelo Franchini (bass), who were joined by Luke Bonzagni (vocals) and in 1983, and after various line-up changes, by Luca Ferri (drums) and Franco Grandchildren (guitar). After a couple of demos, the Italians released their debut EP “Crying Steel” in 1985.

During the next two years the group intensified their live activities throughout Italy including a performance at Heavy Metal Festival in Bologna in June 1986 with Motörhead and Twisted Sister. After more demo and promo releases, the debut LP “On The Prowl” came out in 1987. This was a revolutionary album – at least for the Italian New Wave of Heavy Metal (NWOIHM), as it was the first to be also released on CD. In September 1988 the line-up changed again. Simonini and Bonzagni left Crying Steel  and were replaced by Michele Vanni and Lisa Bisognin. In March of 1990 Michele Vanni also left when Francesco Di Nicola joined the group. In the same year, the band performed some gigs in Russia with Massimiliano Merlini as new singer in the line-up. Some more gigs followed in 1994 and 2003 – reunions which saw Crying Steel perform with the classic line-up (Simonini / Grandchildren / Bonzagni / Franchini / Ferri). In 2006, Crying Steel were signed by  Italian label My Graveyards Production and began to record the new record “The Steel Is Back” which was released in 2007. Shortly after the album came out, Simonini unfortunately decided to leave the group. Max Magagni stepped in for the release party. Luca Bonzagni then had to leave the band due to differences with the other members until Crying Steel announced their new singer Stephen Palmonari in November 2009. Another series of concerts followed and included a performance at the British Fest. The follow-up album, “Time Stands Steel”, was released in April 2013. In June 2013, Crying Steel parted ways with singer Palmonari who was immediately replaced with Ramon Punch Drunk. Before the concert held in Reno in February 2014, Friars Luigi replaced Max Magagni who had to leave due to increasing work commitments. After this line-up change, the group intensified it’s touring schedule once more and also represented Italy at Wacken Open Air’s 25th Anniversary. In 2015, they played the Greek festival “Metal Rites” in Athens with Jag Panzer and signed a record deal with local label No Remorse Records before playing with former Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bayley in 2015. In 2016, Crying Steel celebrated their 30th Anniversary with a live show at Lokomotiv Club in Bologna with their friends Rain, Markonee and later on supported the American band Riot. A special box set containing a reprint of “On The Prowl” + a DVD with the performance at Wacken Open Air 2014 was released in 2016, and Mirko Bacchilega became the new singer. In 2016, Crying Steel announced that the coming studio release will feature Tony Mills (Shy, TNT), one of the greatest voices in the international rock scene, on vocals. Crying Steel also played Paris Metal Fest in 2017.

Line-up:

Tony Mills (Vocals)

Luca Ferri (Drums)

Angelo Franchini (Bass)

JJ Frati (Guitar)

Franco Nipoti (Guitar)

Mirko Bacchilega (Piano intro on track 4, live vocals)

Official Website