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The meeting of minds in Nurnberg; Germany in 2009, through the brainstorm of Georg Siegl of AOR Heaven Records, sported an album, ‘Point of Destiny’, recorded and written by four European musicians; three from Germany and an English vocalist. Georg’s passion for Frontline guitarist, Robby Boebel to record again brought forth an album with Hutch Bauer on bass, Ramy Ali on the kit and Tony Mills (ex-SHY, TNT) on vocals.

The result was a melodic but very tough sounding album with solid production and songs that demanded a replay.

2017/18, sees a return to new recordings, by State of Rock , now split between the UK with Pete Newdeck on drums and Mills being Sweden based, co-writing with Boebel for a second release. Robby Boebel comments: “It’s something really special to record an album with someone which I only knew from TV before. We’ve now been friends since many years and I’m really looking forward to record another album and live dates in late 2018 with Tony.”

With the promise of German festival appearances in late 2018, an autumn release guided by video and radio promo will give us a clearer picture of the, State of Rock by December next year.

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State Of Rock

C.O.P – State Of Rock

AOR Heaven (2015)

Reviewer: Aaron Chatfield

I don’t know much about C.O.P and I actually thought this was an album from UK band Crimes of Passion (who appear to be going by the moniker COP UK). C.O.P actually features three members of Grand Illusion and hails from Sweden.

‘Loner’ starts our melodic rock journey off in fine form. Crunchy guitars, smooth vocals, orchestral keyboards, thudding bass… Yep, it’s all there. It’s a good track, instant chorus, but not quite enough on the hook for me, but it’s a fair starter. ‘I Want The World To Know is hot on the openers heals and I have pictures of a rocky training montage in my head, pounding beat, driving Rocky on to face his biggest challenge ever! Survivor, Journey, Alien, Stan Bush, they all come to mind.

‘Nightmare’ continues the theme, before the obligatory ballad softens the sound. ‘Without You’ is a good enough power ballad, riding on the vocal performance. ‘On The Run’, ‘In My Dreams’, ‘She’s Gone’ and the rest of the album, are all decent tracks and the CD closes well with ‘Darkness’, great stabbing keys and melodic guitar lines.

What you’ve got with C.O.P is a well conceived album, that wears it’s influences on it’s sleeve. Combining the current crop of awesome European and Nordic bands, such as Eclipse and H.E.A.T, with the 80’s icons like Journey and Survivor, works well, but it isn’t really carving anything new and that might bring the longevity of the album into question. My advice, if you like the bands I have mentioned, then slam this on…..and like the aforementioned Rocky movie, don’t question it, just enjoy!

 

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State Of Rock

Most great rock music can be boiled down into a three letter word, be it G ’N R, R’n’R, AOR or – as in this case – C.O.P. From Sweden, arguably the best breeding ground of modern melodic rock, come this three piece of heralded and experienced AOR-sters, including one of the genre’s top singers, a guitar hero and producer extraordinaire – and a song writing drummer.

Frontman Peter Sundell has graced a number of highly revered albums over the years. His work with Grand Illusion, Decoy and recently, Starlight Brigade, has made AOR fans all over the world drewl, in awe over his high pitched and powerful voice. As the singer of C.O.P he has finally taken the step forward as one of the true masters of melodic rock singing.

Peter’s younger brother Christian was also part of the Grand Illusion family and although he’s capable on most instruments, he has never revealed what an excellent songwriter he is. Until now, that is. It’s his songs and vision that marks the foundation of C.O.P, and it is his knack for writing instant, catchy, earworm worthy hooks that will surely make these boys a revelation to AOR fans all over the world.

The third and last part of the C.O.P equation consists of Peter and Christian’s long lost little brother Ola af Trampe, an extremely talented guitarist, producer and songwriter, also of Grand Illusion, Code and The Killbilly 5’ers fame. Without Ola, there would quite frankly be no C.O.P (and C.P would be a silly name for a band, wouldn’t it).

C.O.P are the new blue bloods of melodic rock, with their arresting songs, smash and grab choruses and captivating musicianship and they are here to show you what the State of Rock is like in 2015. “State Of Rock” is the name of their first album. The CD was mixed and record by Ola af Trampe at ChrisStudio, Nässjö, Sweden and Studio 165, Växjö, Sweden and mastered by Frank Rosato, Woodcliff Studios, Los Angeles, U.S.A.

Enough with the law enforcement metaphors, already – just listen to the music – it’s guaranteed to blow your mind and, quite possibly make you want to rock the f**k out.

Soundfiles in advance:

COP – Loner (Edit)

COP – Nightmare (Edit)

COP – On The Run (Edit)

C.O.P

Line-up:
Peter Sundell – Lead and Backing vocals
Ola af Trampe – Guitar,Bass
Christian Sundell – Keyboard, Drums

Tracklist: 1. Loner, 2. I want the world to know, 3. Nightmare, 4. Without you, 5. On the run, 6. In my dreams, 7. She’s gone, 8. In the night, 9. Broken Heart, 10. Darkness

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