2021 : Melodic rock/hard-rock albums from the 1st half of 2021

From June 1, 2021, this playlist will be populated every two days with rock and melodic hard-rock albums and will feature around twenty studio recordings released in the first half of 2021.

Fargo - Strangers D'Amour (06-25-2021)

'Fargo' is a German hard-rock formation that I add to the rock/hard-rock/metal melodic playlist of the first semester 2021 releases because, after a first listen, the compositions of this new album released at the end of June 2021 are all very accessible with a series of melodic hits that one tames immediately. The band is not a new one because they exist since the early 1970s with a debut album, 'Wishing Well' released in 1979 and 'Strangers D'Amour' is their 6th studio recording and the second after their reunion in 2017, 'Constellation' dating from 2018.

'Rain of Champagne' opens the debates on a straightforward and catchy track quite classic but so effective and which whets our appetite for the future with, 'Gimme That Bone', a new rock jewel which gives esire to move and which should work fine live. Follows 'Closer to the Sun' in a more measured atmosphere then, 'Time' with its slow tempo makes us swing to the rhythm of a new melody that is simple but still as effective. What follows alternates between catchy and mid-tempo hits with, in the first category, the addictive 'Mary Says' which sets in motion the machine to tap your foot or 'Law of the Jungle' which has nothing to envy to its predecessor and in the second category, 'Dear Miss Donna Vetter' or 'No Reason To Cry' quite close to American southern rock or even 'Why Don't You' closer this time to ’Dire Straits’ without forgetting the beautiful ballad 'Homesick' that we want to repeat on a loop.

In summary, the Germans of 'Fargo' are releasing a very endearing album that takes us back decades with effective melodies that recall the best of those years and 'Strangers D'Amour' should appeal to a whole audience loving rock and melodic hard-rock of the 70s/80s which has now become a timeless style outside of all fashions...

Line Up / Musicians :
Peter Ladwig (Chant, Guitare), Tommy Newton (Guitare), Peter "Fargo" Knorn (Basse), Franky Tolle (Batterie) + Invités : Hanno Grossmann (Guitare), Torsten Lüderwaldt (Claviers)

https://www.facebook.com/FargoGermany

Kent Hilli - The Rumble (06-18-2021)

'Kent Hilli' is the singer of the Swedish group 'Perfect Plan' and, with the help of two melodic rock stars, I named the well-known 'Michael Palace' (among others 'Palace' and 'First Signal') and 'Alessandro del Vecchio' (among others 'Hardline' and 'Edge Of Forever'), he released his first solo album 'The Rumble'. As you can imagine, with such partners ('Michael Palace' providing all the instruments), we are immersed in a melodic rock that smells of the 80s and we find the atmospheres of 'Foreigner', 'Toto', ' Survivor 'or even' Europe '. The set is therefore focused on moderate rock atmospheres and this from the start with the eponymous title of the album which would certainly have made a hit in another era, then parade compositions all as melodic as each other and we can quote 'All For Love' that 'Foreigner' would not have denied, 'Don't Say Forever' and its chorus that we want to take back in chorus, the melodic jewel 'Cold', another candidate for a hit of the 80s, 'Miss up to no Good' and its marked rhythm which gives movement or even 'Love Can Last Forever' with a new memorable chorus. The ballads are not forgotten with two pearls, 'Heaven Can Wait' and 'Still in Love', certainly classic, but so effective and in which, Kent transmits a real emotion in his voice. In short, we continue our journey of melodic rock with a new album which takes us back a few decades and which is to be consumed without moderation because 'The Rumble' is added to the already long list of 2021 releases which should satisfy a large audience loving the 80s melodic rock...

Line Up / Musicians :
Kent Hilli (Chant), Michael Palace (Guitare, Basse, Claviers, Batterie, Chœurs)

https://www.facebook.com/kenthilli

Crowne - Kings in the North (06-18-2021)

'Frontiers Music' is still the origin of this super group 'Crowne' made up of artists from the melodic hard rock scene who are from, guess, well from Sweden to not change. We find the singer 'Alexander Strandell' of 'Art Nation', the bassist of 'Europe', 'John Levén', the ex-drummer of 'The Poodles', and finally, guitarist and keyboardist 'Jona Tee' from de 'H.E.A.T'. No need to make you wait, this first album 'Kings in the North' is a killer with compositions that should loop in a lot of melodic hard-rock aficionados and this from the start with the first three tracks which bring everything together the best we can find in this style and which have also been chosen as singles with each their video: 'Kings in the North' (see video above), 'Perceval' and 'Sharoline'. Everything is there to have a good time and the continuation continues in this communicative energy with melodies which all become addictive. I could quote all the titles because each one could have been the subject of a single. In short, Sweden, at the origin of an impressive number of projects in this style, adds a new one which directly competes with the 'Palace', 'Perfect Plan', 'H.E.A.T', 'W.E.T.', 'Eclipse' or 'Autumn's Child' to name a few and, for melodic hard rock fans, this 'Kings in the North' is to be consumed without moderation...

Line Up / Musicians :
Alexander Strandell (Chant), Jona Tee (Guitares, Claviers), John Levén (Basse), Christian Lundqvist: Batterie + Invité : Love Magnusson (Guitare)

https://www.facebook.com/officialcrowne/

Chalice Of Sin - Chalice Of Sin (06-18-2021)

'Chalice Of Sin' is a new melodic hard rock project from singer 'Wade Black' (' Leatherwolf', 'Crimson Glory') who is coming to release via 'Frontiers Music' their debut album under the band name. We find unsurprisingly 'Alessandro Del Vecchio' at the helm but who also participates as bassist and keyboardist. 'Wade Black' has the particularity of having an atypical voice, recognizable among a thousand, of an old metal backpacker and his style is perfectly suited to the compositions of the opus which pour out good melodic heavy metal, certainly classic but always very effective with very heavy bass lines. The first tracks set the temperature of the album with a good dose of energy allowing 'Wade Black' to give the best of himself and compositions parade with lively rhythms like 'Great Escape', 'Whiskey' or even 'Sacred Child' but also heavy mid-tempos like 'Miracle' and the epic 'Stand' and 'Nightmare'. In short, apart from the ballad break 'Through The Eyes Of A Child' which contrasts with the rest and also shows that Wade knows how to adapt to much quieter climates, everything is done to satisfy fans of a power metal fairly conventional on condition of adhering to the rather particular singing of the American...

Line Up / Musicians :
Wade Black (Chant), Martin Jepsen Andersen (Guitare), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Basse, Claviers), Mirkko De Maio (Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/ChaliceOfSin/

Chris Antblad - Age of Concord 80 (06-16-2021)

We can't stop 'Chris Antblad' who continues to release albums at impressive frequencies and, after 'Age Of Concord IV', just 3 months ago, in a little over a year, he gave us four studio recordings which thus comes add this new baby 'Age of Concord 80' who has joined the playlist of melodic rock/hard-rock/metal albums for the first half of 2021 (see link above). This time, Chris offers us songs between pop and rock that take us back to the 80s and which all have very accessible melodic lines, the format not exceeding 4 minutes. We therefore let ourselves embark on very endearing compositions that we immediately appropriate and we can quote addictive melodies such as the light and happy 'It's Summer Once Again', the heady 'What If We Never Say Goodbye' which gives want to take up the refrain in chorus, 'Not Today' and its country influences, the catchy 'I'll Be Waiting' and a new addicting chorus or even the beautiful ballad 'Here Between Now and Forever' which closes the album. In short, in this summer period conducive to escape and relaxation, what better than to listen to this kind of music because this new opus of 'Chris Antblad' is filled with unstoppable melodies which are tasted with happiness, and which are to be enjoyed and consume without moderation...

Line Up / Musicians :
Chris Antblad (Chant, Tous les instruments)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiokG5cVAhTD8neyujo6d3w

Brother Against Brother - Brother Against Brother (06-11-2021)

'Brother Against Brother' is a new project that brings together the two Brazilian singers 'Renan Zonta' ('Electric Mob') and 'Nando Fernandes' ( 'Sinistra' ) under the leadership of the label 'Frontiers Records' and, which says 'Frontiers Records', also says 'Alexandro Del Viechio' who also participates in the project as a bassist. In the role of the big brother, 'Nando Fernandez' and in that of the youngest, 'Renan Zonta', who was known thanks to the show 'The Voice' in Brazil in 2016. No surprise, with the pedigree of the two singers and with the rest of the line-up composed of guitarist 'Jonas Hornqvist' and drummer 'Michele Sanna', we embark on a melodic and powerful heavy metal and the first tracks 'Two Brothers', 'What If' and 'City of Gold' are the perfect illustration, the first sending us a first muscular composition demonstrating all the talent of the vocal duo which works wonderfully on addictive melodic lines, the following confirming this communicative positive energy released and the third much more epic and taking us into an exotic journey in the form of a mid-tempo with a heavy and well-marked rhythm and, then, unrolling a new memorable melody. The rest is like the beginning with compositions whose choruses are immediately embedded in the head that only asks to headbang between effective melodic metal ('Heaven Sent', 'Haunted Heart' and 'Demons in My Head ') and grandiose and epic atmospheres (' Deadly Sins', and 'Whispers Of Darkness') and the only pause is brought by the acoustic ballad 'In The Name Of Life' showing once again the beautiful bond between the two Brazilians.

In short, this new duo of singers, 'Nando Fernandes' / 'Renan Zonta' came straight from the prolific boss of 'Frontiers Music', 'Serafino Perugino' who is very fond of these artists associations ( cf 'Allen/Olzon' and 'Allen/Lande'), even if they won't revolutionize the style, shows all the talent of these artists who offer us a remarkable album that should feature prominently on the shelves of fans of melodic heavy metal vocal duets...

Line Up / Musicians :
Renan Zonta (Chant), Nando Fernandes (Chant), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Basse, Claviers, Chœurs), Jonas Hornqvist (Guitare), Michele Sanna (Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/BrotherAgainstBrotherBand

Def Leppard - X, Yeah! & Songs From The Sparkle Lounge: Rarities From The Vault (06-11-2021)

And to finish the playlist of melodic rock/hard-rock/metal albums of the first half of 2021, what better than to offer you the release of one of the groups that was the emblem of melodic hard-rock of the 80/90s, I named the English 'Def Leppard'. Of course, it is not a new album but a set of titles chosen in the period between 2002 and 2008, which saw the release of the albums 'X' (2002), 'Yeah!' (2006) and 'Songs from the Sparkle Lounge' (2008) : first of all, the first 12 tracks are B-sides or demos with tracks not necessarily known like this bonus 'Kiss the Day' from the Japanese version of 'X' or B sides '10 Times Bigger Than Love' and 'Gimme A Job' or the acoustic version of 'Now' or the magnificent piano version of 'Love' from the album 'Songs from the Sparkle Lounge'. Then, like 'Yeah!' was a cover album, the following 19 tracks are covers by different artists from the 70s which did not find their place on the album, the British having recorded a large number (we find in particular the bonuses of the different editions including a certain 'Space Oddity' from 'David Bowie'). And finally, to finish, and to remind that 'Def Leppard' is also a stage group, 8 tracks of live covers end this album in beautiful ways with these crazy atmospheres that they trigger at each concert and if you are fans of these supercharged concert climates, 2020 saw the release of both live with 'Hits Vegas' and 'Hysteria at the O2'. In short, beyond the original collectors of the British group, these 2h40 of very varied titles interpreted by 'Def Leppard' are a beautiful journey through time which should fill a whole public fan of rock and hard-rock who loved this splendor period between the 70s and 90s...

Line Up / Musicians :
Joe Elliott (Chant, Piano), Vivian Campbell (Guitare), Phil Collen (Guitare), Rick Savage (Basse, Claviers), Rick Allen (Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/defleppard

Kens Dojo - The Future Looks Bright (06-07-2021)

'Kens Dojo' is a solo project by Norwegian guitarist, songwriter and producer 'Ken Ingwersen' who plays in the band 'Wonderworld' and who has participated in some studio and live albums of the late 'Ken Hensley'. After a first album more than ten years ago, 2021 sees the release of 'The Future Looks Bright'. With an impressive palette of guest singers, he has concocted a varied melodic rock album with 10 compositions that can be listened to happily starting with 'I Wait For Nothing' with a memorable first chorus, then 'Raining Down', which follows. , brings a certain variety with a remarkable instrumental break in the middle of the title between two sung parts and integrates two short guitar and keyboards solos taking us back to the golden age of hard rock. What follows is more classic in a moderate AOR with first the mid-tempo 'Touch The Sky' in which singer 'Brandon Baumann' shows all his vocal talent and which still allows Kens to shine with his guitar, then, the atmosphere is subdued for a magnificent ballad, 'Gone', with a chorus which spins for a long time in the head. Change of style with 'Just An Illusion' with a fairly classic but very effective energetic hard-rock track, followed by a rhythmic 'Never Forget' taking us back to the 80s with a new addicting chorus. Follows the magnificent instrumental 'Longhaired Blues' reminding that 'Ken Ingwersen' is above all a talented guitarist and offers us a beautiful performance in a melancholy blues atmosphere by literally making singing his guitar. The last two songs sung 'The Future Looks Bright' and 'Sun Goes Down' each bring their own atmosphere with for the first a delicious mid-tempo and for the second a lively rhythm that gives an irresistible desire to headbang, the album ending with a second instrumental that has nothing to envy to the first in the style of a 'Europa' of 'Santana' and which shows once again all the feeling of Ken.

In short, thanks to a collaboration with multiple singers, 'Ken Ingwersen' offers us a very good album offering a nice variety of compositions, between AOR and melodic hard-rock, and 'The Future Looks Bright' should appeal to a large audience because all the titles are very melodic and can be appreciated from the first listening...

Line Up / Musicians :
Ken Ingwersen (Guitare) + Invités : Andrew Freeman (Chant), Rasmus Andersen (Chant), Scott Foster Harris (Chant), Åge Sten Nilsen (Chant), Chesney Hawkes (Chant), Truls Haugen (Chant), Brandon Baumann (Chant), Ray Van D (Chant)

https://www.facebook.com/KensDojo/

Eyes - Vision 20/20 (06-04-2021)

'Eyes' is not really a new formation because four of the five members were part of the group 'Aces High' in the 1990s/2000s with 3 albums, 'Ten 'n' Out' in 1994, 'Pull No Punches' in 1998 and 'Forgive and Forget' in 2004. After a reunion for a concert in 2012, the band members decided to continue the adventure and rewrite new songs with finally a new album 'Vision 20/20' has been released in June 2021. Given the pedigree of these artists, no surprise, we find ourselves with influences from the major melodic rock formations of the 80s and the energetic 'Playing to Win' or the mid-tempo 'Turn of Your Life' which debut the album are well in the atmosphere of 'Foreigner', 'Journey', 'Survivor' or even 'Boston'. The introduction of 'This Is Us' is sure to remind melodic rock fans of a certain interplanetary hit of 'Foreigner' and the ensemble is split between energetic compositions like 'Falling In Between' (The Joker) ',' Shot Down in Flames 'or the catchy and melodic final title' Cry Another Day 'and others in a more moderate tempo with' Get out of My Head ',' Never Back Down ',' More Than Meets the Eye 'or' In The Matrix '. In short, if you are fans of melodic rock from the groups mentioned above, there is a good chance that you will adhere to the revival of 'Aces High', renamed 'Eyes' and which are releasing a studio recording very pleasant to listen to and entirely in the continuity of their production in the years 1990/2000...

Line Up / Musicians :
Peter Andersson (Chant), Anders Sellborn (Basse), Björn H. Lindbäck (Batterie), Joakim Sandberg (Guitar), Åke David Rickard (Claviers)

https://www.facebook.com/onlyeyes4u/

Proud - Second Act (05-28-2021)

It is well known, it is in the old pots that one makes the best soups (french proverb) and this is the case of the Swedish formation 'Proud' which was founded at the beginning of the Eighties and which had released an album. at the time 'Fire Breaks The Dawn'. 2019 saw the reformation of the group with the key to this new album, aptly named, 'Second Act' which offers us 10 compositions in an AOR straight from the 80s and it starts strong with a catchy 'Sail Away' (see the video here) that we listen with that nostalgic little smile of memories from another era, then, 'Broken Dreams' drives the point home with a melody that gives the impression of already heard, followed by 'Magic', which is aptly named and which prolongs this very pleasant listening moment. What follows continues in this addictive atmosphere and each track brings its share of listening pleasure until the final track 'Fly Like an Eagle' which offers us a last heady chorus. In short, this 'Second Act' which saw the revival of the Swedes of 'Proud' is added to the already long list of melodic rock albums in 2021 and shows this need, after a period of health crisis in which the humans have lost all their good meaning, to return to simple things like this music from the 80s which was a source of pleasure and carefree...

Line Up / Musicians :
Anders Magnell (Chant, Guitare, Choeurs), Roberth Horvath (Basse, Choeurs), Mats Christiansson (Batterie, Choeurs) + Invité : Richard Larsson (Claviers)

https://www.facebook.com/proudthebandofficial/

Tuple - Welcome to Hell (05-28-2021)

'Tuple' is a new project initiated by Finnish singer 'Tommi "Tuple" Salmela' well known in the metal world (among others 'Tarot' and 'Lazy Bonez') and, just a year after his first studio recording 'Wooden Box', he releases his second album 'Welcome to Hell'. Quite far from the style of the groups mentioned above, his solo career is influenced by the AOR of the 80s/90s and with the eponymous title which begins the album, we have a good example of what you can listen to on this opus with a catchy rhythm and accessible melodic lines. We can also cite in the same style compositions like '1-2-3-4 Go!', 'Pride', 'Stay' or even 'Hiding in Pain' with rhythms that give pins and needles in your legs and with memorable choruses. In more relaxed atmospheres, the mid-tempos 'Hold on to Me', 'So Damn Cruel' or even 'Survive' in which the singer of 'Sonata Arctica', 'Noora Louhimo' adapts perfectly her voice to this AOR atmosphere, have nothing to envied the rest and we can also note the participation in luxury choirs of the singer of 'Sonata Arctica', 'Tony Kakko'. And to finish the album, 'Tuple' offers us a magnificent ballad that I directly added to my spotify playlist of 'rock/hard-rock/metal ballads'. In short, the metal singer 'Tommi' Tuple 'Salmela' shows another face with this new melodic rock-oriented album which offers compositions to be consumed without moderation and which should undoubtedly appeal to an audience loving an AOR influenced by major formations of the 80s/90s in this style of music...

Line Up / Musicians :
Tommi 'Tuple' Salmela (Chant, Chœurs), Riitis (Guitare, Claviers, Chœurs), Jykä Sirainen (Basse), Tom Rask (Batterie) + Invités : Noora Louhimo (Chant), Erkka Korhonen (Guitare), Janne Tolsa (Claviers), Tony Kakko (Chœurs)

https://www.facebook.com/TupleOfficial/

Phil Vincent - Stigmata (05-26-2021)

'Phil Vincent' continues to give us albums regularly and, after 'Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday' in 2020, it is the turn of 'Stigmata' to see the light of day, which now brings its discography to 23 studio recordings. We therefore find this style of melodic rock influenced by the 70s and this new opus makes us travel between the pop of the 'Beatles' or the melodic rock of 'Boston' or 'Foreigner' or the hard-rock of a 'Cheap-Trick' with some stronger guitar riffs. The range is therefore wide and, from the start, with 'No End In Sight', we are embarked on an energetic and catchy track which sets the tone of the album, this more muscular side being found in 'My Life' (taken from his album 'Tragic' released just 20 years ago years) or in 'Hideway' or even in 'Don't Turn You Back'. In a lighter atmosphere, melodic hits parade with 'Time' which has an addictive chorus that the 'Beatles' would not have denied or 'Reason to Believe' which closes the album beautifully, and we can also quote 'My Darkness' with alternations of intensity and tempo bringing a bit of progressive or this beautiful cover of 'Eleanor Rigby' intensified by saturated guitar riffs or even 'It Don't Matter Anymore' with a chorus that never leaves you more, without forgetting the beautiful ballad 'So Tired'. Also note that in parallel with this new solo album, 'Phil Vincent' released with 'D'Ercole' at the beginning of the year a new studio recording, 'Hardcore'.

In summary, 'Phil Vincent' continues on his way by offering us, year after year, quality albums and this latest baby is yet another great proof of the talent of this artist who does not make the buzz on the internet (and that's a shame). If you do not know him yet and you are a fan of varied melodic rock, I strongly advise you to go and have a "listen" to 'Stigamata', you will certainly be won over by these very endearing compositions...

Line Up / Musicians :
Phil Vincent (Chant, Tous les instruments), Max Piccolo (Batterie), Vince O'Regan (Guitare), Janne Stark (Guitare)

https://www.facebook.com/phil.vincent.9

Levara - Levara (05-14-2021)

'Levara' is a new formation which was born from the meeting of the French singer 'Jules Galli', the American guitarist 'Trev Lukather' and the English drummer 'Josh Devine'. We already knew the first four singles, 'Heaven Knows', 'Chameleon', 'Automatic' and 'Ever Enough' released a few months ago (see their youtube channel here) which already gave us a good idea of the musical direction, offering us a rather quiet AOR with harmonious melodies that we immediately appropriate and which is directly influenced by the major melodic rock formations of the 80s (normal because in the Lukather family, I would like father Luke: I have, he was one of the founding members of 'Toto'). So, six new original compositions have been added and which are all in the same style and we spend a very pleasant time listening to this first LP of the trio to which is added the guest bassist 'Sam Porcaro' and the choirs of former 'Journey' singer 'Steve Perry' (expected to release a new album soon, listen to the new single here). In short, this new cosmopolitan melodic rock project shows the talent of these artists which offers us a very good melodic rock album and which should run in a loop among a lot of fans of formations of this style which takes us back four decades back into the time machine...

Line Up / Musicians :
Jules Galli (Chant), Trev Lukather (Guitare), Josh Devine (Batterie) + Invités : Sam Porcaro (Basse), Steve Perry (Chœurs)

https://www.facebook.com/levaramusic

Seventh Crystal - Delirium (05-14-2021)

Guess where this new 'Seventh Crustal' melodic hard-rock project came from. Obviously from a Nordic country and in this case from Sweden with, at the base, the singer 'Kristian Fhyr' who surrounded himself with instrumentalists to finally create a formation which was spotted by the 'Frontiers' label. And the result is a set of 12 compositions which takes us in a modern AOR whose influences are well heard drawn from the 80s/90s with melodic lines immediately assimilable and which fit perfectly into the playlist that I have been offering to you since the beginning of June. The first four tracks give a perfect sample of this album with first of all two catchy songs with 'Say What You Need To Say' and 'When We Were Young', then, two other quieter compositions with first of all the beautiful ballad 'Broken Mirror' and the mid-tempo 'Delirium' and its endearing melody. The rest is in the image of this beginning and addictive melodies parade one after the other for our greatest pleasure. Note also the remarkable acoustic covers available on the youtube page of 'Frontiers' from 'When We Were Young' and 'Broken Mirror'. In summary, 'Seventh Crystal' is a very promising new project which has been added to the already impressive list of Swedish formations and 'Delirium' is to be enjoyed without moderation and should appeal to a whole audience adept of a melodic hard-rock influenced by the 80s/90s...

Line Up / Musicians :
Kristian Fhyr (Chant), Emil Dornerus (Guitare), Johan Älvsång (Claviers), Olof Gadd (Basse), Anton Roos (Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/seventhcrystalband

Save The World - Two (05-07-2021)

It is still in the direction of the United States that we are heading with 'Save The World' which is a formation that has to its credit an album, simply called 'One' released in 2017 and the search for album names is definitely not their greatest quality because their latest baby , which is therefore the second album (for those who do not follow) is called… 'Two'. But, this is actually not where we expect them and, it is clear that this 'Two' contains everything that we ask for a very good melodic hard-rock album with slight forays into the progressive in some titles. And from the start with 'Camera Obscurra', it starts well with a composition which flirts with a classy AOR with some modulations of intensity, then, 'Bones' takes over with a catchy rhythm with sounds of keyboards inherited from the 80s., and 'Miss Muse' (see video above) continues with a melodic jewel whose chorus never lets you go. The rest is like the beginning and each title could have been the subject of a single, whether the atmosphere is energetic (see video of 'Defenders of the Faith' here) or more measured because the Americans also offer us calmer rhythms with' When Amanda Hits The Stage ', but also remarkable ballads like the semi-acoustic 'Daphne Blue' and the beautiful power ballad 'Longer'.

In short, this second album from the Americans of 'Save The World' is yet to be added to the best melodic hard-rock releases of 2021 which should satisfy fans of melodic hard-rock and AOR...

Line Up / Musicians :
Dan Tracey (Chant, Guitare, Claviers), Robert Wright (Basse, Claviers, Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/savetheworldband/

Sonic Haven - Vagabond (05-07-2021)

'Sonic Haven' stands out slightly from the melodic hard-rock playlist since their niche is more in a powerful power metal but given the diversity of the songs, I included it in the playlist for the first half of 2021 in rock and hard - melodic rock. Lead by the German singer 'Herbie Langhans' well known on the international metal scene ('Avantasia', 'Voodo Circle', 'Sinbreed', 'Beyonf The Bridge' and 'Firewind'), this first opus offers us compositions ranging from AOR to a muscular power metal, all accompanied by unifying melodies that we want to sing along in chorus. Admittedly, the majority of the tracks are overflowing with energy and the beginning of the album shows this with the fast 'Vagabond' and its heady chorus, followed by a 'Back To Mad' with a rhythmic slightly behind but just as unleashed, 'Nightmare' which follows having nothing to envy on these two predecessors. The sequel is more varied with a catchy 'Keep The Flame Alive', just like 'End of the World' which follows or the last track 'Striking Back' with its heady chorus and its impressive guitar solo by 'Carsten Stepanowicz' (very good throughout this opus) and we can also note the heavy rather addictive mid-tempo 'The Darker Side', the catchy 'From White to Black' closer to melodic hard-rock and the ballad 'Save the Best for Last', certainly classic but so effective. In short, 'Sonic Haven' releases an album filled with good energy with a singer who sends us heavy from start to finish which should appeal to a classical power metal audience but also could reach fans of a melodic and energetic hard-rock...

Line Up / Musicians :
Herbie Langhans (Chant), Carsten Stepanowicz (Guitare), Dominik Stotzem (Basse), André Hilgers (Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/SonicHavenofficial

Robin McAuley - Standing On The Edge (05-07-2021)

Melodic, still melodic and more and more melodic, the playlist of melodic rock / hard-rock releases for the first half of 2021 that you can check out above continues to be populated every other day, and this time it's with singer from 'Michael Schenker Group', 'Robin McAuley' who has just released a new album under his name, 'Standing On The Edge', surrounded by artists from the hard-rock scene with among others, the famous archi known 'Alessandro Del Vecchio' since he produces his album with 'Frontiers' (little research on myprogmusic here). He offers us 8 compositions that he co-wrote with 'Alessandro Del Vecchio', 'Phil Lanzon', 'Howard Leese' and 'Tommy Denander' respectively coming to lend a hand to Robin for one track each. No surprise, with such artists, we are immersed in an AOR taking us back to the 80s with melodies that graft directly into the head with energetic guitar riffs of 'Andrea Seveso' softened by keyboards held by 'Alessandro Del Vecchio'. Each track could have been the subject of a single and the whole is mostly made up of measured rhythms with the exception of the tracks 'Thy Will Be Done', 'Chosen Few', 'Like a Ghost' and 'Running out of Time' a little more faster and just as addictive as the mid-tempos 'Standing on the Edge', 'Do You Remember', 'Say Goodbye' or even 'Supposed to Do Now' which all have choruses that we want to take up in chorus, without forgetting the two beautiful ballads 'Late December' and 'Run Away'. In short, nothing to throw in this opus which is listened to happily from start to finish with a 'Robin McAuley' which has nothing to envy to the best singers of this style and if you are a fan of melodic rock of the 80s, you should definitely adopt 'Standing On The Edge'...

Line Up / Musicians :
Robin McAuley (Chant), Andrea Seveso (Guitare), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Claviers, Basse, Chœurs), Nicholas Papapicco (Batterie) + Invité : Howard Leese (Guitare)

https://www.facebook.com/RobinMcAuleyRock

Hunter - Hungry Heart (04-30-2021)

After 'Revlin Project', we go back to South America (like what!) with the Chileans of 'Hunter' who released an excellent album from AOR and whose leader, 'Ed Carabantes', collaborates with 'Revlin Project'. Spotted by 'Lion's Pride Music' after having produced an eponymous album of the group in 2018, 2021 sees a re-recording of all the titles in English (5 were in Spanish) under the leadership of the Danish record company. The album has been expanded for a total of 12 tracks which make us spend a pleasant time listening to this AOR which smells good the 80s and which can be enjoyed without moderation. From the outset, with the eponymous title of the album, we are conquered by this first heady chorus which gives us an impression of already known, then, in the same style we can quote the catchy melodic hits that are 'Far Away', 'Rise Up' and 'Warmer Love' but the majority of the compositions are in a more moderate tempo with the very good 'Tore Love', 'Love Hunter', 'Snake' and 'Somebody Said (Love Is A Lonely Word)' and when the rhythm is even more measured, the power ballads 'Sad Eyes' and 'Tonight' are to be added to the best AOR ballads. In short, no need to add more, 'Hunter' is still a great 2021 discovery in melodic rock which intends 'Hungry Heart' to all those who love major bands of this style of the 80s...

Line Up / Musicians :
Ed Carabantes (Chant), Leo Correa (Claviers), Claudio Guerrero (Guitare), Juan Carlos Alfaro (Basse), Marcelo Alegria (Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/Hunterchileofficial

Touch - Tomorrow Never Comes (04-30-2021)

'Touch' is an American melodic rock group who released their debut album in 1980 during the heyday of this style (see voir here), then followed another album 'Touch II' in 1982 which was never released in physical media and is now available for streaming. It was not until 2014 that 'Mark Mangold' had the idea to revive 'Touch', which has been materialized in 2020 with as result this new album 'Tomorrow Never Comes' released in April 2021.

12 tracks for an hour of listening, this is the menu of this opus which smells of the melodic rock of the 80s starting with the eponymous title of the album and whose rhythm is very catchy with an effective first refrain which seems to us very familiar. With 'Let It Come', the vocal harmonies plunge us back into another era with delight, then, 'Swan Song', of almost 8 minutes, which is quite rare for this style of music brings a little progressive side to the together with a symphonic atmosphere close to 'Queen', then, what follows continues to offer unstoppable melodies with 'Try to Let Go' and 'Fire and Ice' and their heady choruses, a more classic 'Trippin' Over Shadows' us bringing back to formations like 'Foreigner', 'Frozen Ground', again marrying a light melodic rock with progressive components. No transition for an energetic 'Lil Bit Of Rock' N 'Roll', then 'Glass' shows a more moderate face with beautiful vocal harmonies and 'Scream at the Sky', with its 'Floydienne' introduction, charms us with its sensual atmosphere. Return to a more direct 'Wanna Hear You Say' catchy with backing vocals from another era and the album ends with an energetic 'Run For You Life' with an addictive new melody that never leaves you.

Finally, this last album of 'Touch' is very pleasant to listen to and takes us back to the 70s / 80s with a very original variety mixing different styles, which intends 'Tomorrow Never Comes' to an audience loving major groups from this era ranging from pop to hard rock through progressive rock with very accessible melodic lines...

Line Up / Musicians :
Mark Mangold (Claviers, Chant), Craig Brooks (Guitare Chant), Doug Howard (Basse, Chant), Glenn Kithcart (Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/TouchRockBand/

Temple Balls - Pyromide (04-16-2021)

'Temple Balls' is a Finnish group whose first opus 'Traded Dream' dates from 2017 and which released a second one, 'Untamed' in 2019. 2021 therefore sees the release of their 3rd studio recording 'Pyromide' which offers us 11 muscular hard-rock compositions, I quote the group's statement on their album: "Again, a huge amount of blood, of sweat and tears was poured into the magic pot of hard rock and heavy metal. We really wish you enjoyed it as much as we did! ". We are therefore directly in this atmosphere of compositions filled with good energy and the effective titles scroll one after the other: we can quote the hits full of dynamite like 'Thunder From The North', 'T.O.C.T.' or the catchy 'Unohly Night'. In more contained atmospheres, the melodic hits 'Long Ways, Long Lies', 'Fallen Youth', 'Bad, Bad, Bad', 'What Is Dead Never Dies' or 'Something to Die For' quite close to' Def Leppard ', are just as addictive and the Finns also offer us a remarkable mid-tempo with 'Heart of a Warrior' without forgetting the power ballad 'If Only I Could' to add to the best hard-rock ballads. In short, nothing to throw in this new album of 'Temple Balls' which should be adopted by a whole audience loving energetic atmospheres and direct and effective compositions with melodies that immediately enter your head...

Line Up / Musicians :
Arde Teronen (Chant), Jimi Välikangas (Basse), Jiri Paavonaho (Guitare), Niko Vuorela (Guitare), Antti Hissa (Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/templeballsrocks/

Robbie Lablanc - Double Trouble (04-16-2021)

I recently told you about 'Robbie Lablanc' in this melodic rock and hard rock playlist with his participation on the 'Darren Phillips' album'Volume Two' and it is his turn to release a new album 'Double Trouble'. Robbie is known to have participated in several projects, with, among others, 'Blanc Faces', in the 2000s with his brother and with two albums, 'Blanc Faces' in 2005 and 'Falling FromThe Moon'in 2009, and with 'Find Me' in the 2010s with 3 studio recordings, 'Wings of Love' in 2013, 'Dark Angel' in 2015 and 'Angels in Blue' in 2019. Surrounded by well-known artists from the melodic rock scene (including 'Tommy Denander' and 'Steve Overland'), 2021 sees the release under his name of the studio recording 'Double Trouble' in which he offers us 13 compositions that take us back to the 80s between pop, soul, funk and rock with melodies that we immediately appropriate. Everything is done to have a good time listening to this opus which contains melodic jewels in a very soft AOR, the style of light music that we listen to during the summer holidays. In short, this last album of 'Robbie Lablanc', sublimated by a singer who has the voice for this style of music, should be well received by a large audience in love with an elegant and refined AOR...

Line Up / Musicians :
Robbie LaBlanc (Chant, Chœurs) + Invités : Tommy Denander (Guitare, Claviers), Brian Anthony (Basse), Michael Lange (Batterie), Steve Overland (Chœurs)

https://www.facebook.com/singitrobbie/

Infinite & Divine - Silver Lining (04-09-2021)

And it is again in Sweden that we are heading with this new association between the multi-instrumentalist and composer 'Jan Åkesson' (' Stonelake' and 'Jan Akesson's Shadow Rain') and female singer 'Tezzi Persson', the line-up being completed by 'Stonelake' drummer, 'Jens Westberg'. As much in symphonic metal, we are used to having frontwomen's, as much in melodic hard-rock, it is quite rare to hear women and, it is clear, that this new project 'Infinite & Divine' has everything to work with a rock and melodic hard-rock audience because 'Tezzi Persson' shows remarkable vocal qualities with a powerful and melodious vocals which works perfectly with the compositions of 'Jan Åkesson' and which has nothing to envy to the best hard-rock and metal singers. On the menu of this first studio recording 'Silver Lining', They offer us 11 direct and effective tracks between 3 and 4 minutes with melodies that easily enter your head. The opus is particularly focused on energetic and catchy rhythmic sections with subtle variations of intensity and heady choruses as for example in 'I Feel Alive', 'Wasteland', 'Burn No More' or even 'Keep On Moving' and 'Off the End of the World' whose latters can even make think of the melodic lines of 'Bonie Tyler' in the 80s with a more muscular accompaniment. In short, this new 'Infinite & Divine' project is still a good surprise 2021 in the field of melodic hard-rock and 'Silver Lining' should appeal to all fans of this style...

Line Up / Musicians :
Tezzi Persson (Chant), Jan Åkesson (Guitare, Basse, Claviers), Jens Westberg (Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/infiniteanddivine/

Revlin Project - Trascender (03-29-2021)

This time we are leaving quite far from the Scandinavian countries since our destination is South America which is not necessarily famous for a large reservoir of melodic rock formations. And yet, this young group 'Revlin Project' has all the assets to make itself known because, created in 2015 by 'Nilver Perez' and made up of artists from Colombia and Spain, they released a first album in 2017 under the name of their leader (see here) and make themselves known their country until the signing with the Danish label 'Lions Pride Music' which leads to this first album 'Trascender'. Musically, we are immersed for 45 minutes in an AOR of the 80s with melodies all as melodic as each other and they have nothing to envy to the best formations of the genre and the comparisons with 'Autumn's Child', 'W.E.T.', 'Eclipse' or even 'Palace' to name only groups that have released an album recently, are fully justified. Everything is done to have a good time with, first of all, catchy compositions like 'World Within', 'Live Again', 'Face to Face' or even 'Keep Holding On' but they also have talent for quieter atmospheres with for example the remarkable 'Take Me to You' and 'So Alive' without forgetting the beautiful ballad 'Til the End' placed at the end of the album.

In short, needless to add, this first album of 'Revlin Project' is a pure delight of AOR which should turn in loop for a lot of amateurs of melodic rock bringing us back to the best of 80 years...

Line Up / Musicians :
Renato Costa (Chant), Nilver Pérez (Claviers), Alain Ascarza (Guitare), Pepe Irei (Guitare), Brian Henriquez (Basse), Gabriel Seri (Batterie), Ziko Franco (Chant)

https://www.facebook.com/REVLINPROJECT

Paris - 50/50 (03-26-2021)

'Paris' is a French group made up of 'Frédéric Dechavanne' and 'Sébastien Montet' who got to know each other on the school benches and who, in the 80s, started playing together being influenced by hard bands -rock melodic of the time and which finally released 2 albums, 'Only One Life' in 2013 and 'The World Outside' in 2016 . 2021 saws the release of a new album '50/50' produced by the very famous 'Steve Newman' in the middle of melodic hard-rock ('NEWMAN' and 'COMPASS'). We therefore find this AOR style that we knew on the previous opus with catchy compositions supported by incisive guitar riffs, vocal performances with choirs of the level of the best formations of the 80s and always very effective guitar solos, all this being wrapped by very accessible melodic lines. In short, even if they are not going to revolutionize melodic rock, the French of 'Paris' offer us a galette filled with compositions that we enjoy listening to and '50 / 50' is an album that should appeal to all amateurs and all lovers of accessible melodic rock...

Line Up / Musicians :
Frédéric Dechavanne (Chant, Claviers), Sébastien Montet (Guitares, Claviers, Chœurs), Rob McEwen (Batterie), Dave Bartlett (Basse) + Invités : Robert Sall (Guitare)

https://www.facebook.com/Paris-official-119011491619131/

Winding Road - Winding Road (03-26-2021)

'Winding Road' is a new Swedish band (another one !) which comes to play the troublemaker on the melodic hard rock scene and which was created in 2018 by guitarist, bassist and keyboardist 'Magnus Åkerlund' and by drummer and keyboardist 'Jan Hedlund'. And from the first titles 'It's A Matter Of Survival', 'Summertime' and 'Call On Me', we are bathed in an AOR that can be enjoyed without moderation with heady choruses that are grafted directly into the head to never come out. And the rest continues like this beginning with melodies that we appropriate from the first listen and we can quote the irresistible 'Stranger In The Night', 'On My Own Again', 'Gotta Get Close To You' or even 'We Can Run Away' which ends the album in a beautiful way. The calmer atmospheres are not forgotten with the mid-tempo 'Out of Control' and 'Before It All Falls Down' but also the two magnificent ballads 'I Lost You' and 'Take Me as I Am'. In short, in a few lines I think I have quoted almost all the compositions of this very beautiful album by the Swedes of 'Winding Road' which enters through the front door of international melodic rock and which should make this eponymous opus of the group a 2021 reference in this style so popular in Scandinavian countries...

Line Up / Musicians :
Jonas Tyskhagen (Chant), Magnus Åkerlund (Guitare, Claviers, Basse, Chœurs), Jan Hedlund (Batterie, Claviers, Chœurs) + Invité : Fredrik Folkare (Guitare)

https://www.facebook.com/WindingRoadSweden/

The Darren Phillips Project - Volume Two (03-12-2021)

'Darren Phillips' is an Australian who hosted a melodic rock radio show and therefore had to invite many artists of this style so that, over time, he made a name for himself an impressive address book. Being an author/composer himself, it was natural that he shared his demos and 2017 saw the release of a first album, 'The Darren Phillips Project – Volume 1', with the collaboration of many melodic rock artists. Among others, we found 'Dennis Ward', 'Robbie LaBlanc' or 'Michael Palace'. 2021 sees the release of a new album in which we find artists from the first opus but also new names from the melodic rock scene. We are therefore embarked on 10 compositions that take us back to the 80s with a mix of styles ranging from a moderate AOR to more muscular hard-rock. In short, this 'Volume Two' is a pleasant album to listen to with varied compositions and if you like melodic rock in general, you should probably find melodies that you like in this second opus of the Australian...

Line Up / Musicians :
Darren Phillips (Guitare) + invites : Daniel Skeed (Guitare, Claviers), Rob Wylde (Chant), Enzo Almanzi (Guitare), Alex Waghorn (Chant), Philip Lindstrand (Guitare), Dennis Ward (Chant), Anton Joensson (Guitare), Bryce Mileto (Batterie), Robbie LaBlanc (Chant), Xavier Millis (Claviers), Brennan Mileto (Chant), Chrisse Olsson (Guitare), Alex Strandell (Chant), Erik Heikne (Guitare), Dennis Butabi Borg (Basse), Herman Furin (Batterie), Mikael Skafar (Batterie), Patrik Svard (Guitare), Jon Powers (Claviers)

https://www.facebook.com/darrenphillipsproject/

Walk The Walk - Walk The Walk (02-26-2021)

Walk The Walk is a new American group formed by 'J. Adler' on vocals and multi-instrumentalist 'Paul Alfery' who provides the guitars, bass, drums and keyboards sections. Not necessarily known to the general public, they nevertheless have a great experience behind them, 'J. Adler' having worked with famous metal artists like 'David Ellefson' (Megadeth), 'Ray Luzier' (David Lee Roth), 'Tim Gaines' (Stryper) or 'Larry "Bones" Dennison' (Lita Ford, Dio) and 'Paul Alfer', on his side, collaborated with artists like 'Zakk Wylde', 'Steve Vai' or 'Tony Lommi'. They offer us an album which, I quote them, "is not going to reinvent the wheel, because we just play the music that we like". That is good, because their album of the name of the group is made to have a great time and, despite being tagged in AOR, they bring us back to a melodic and energetic hard rock of the 80s with of course references to a certain 'Def Leppard' as we can realize from the first track 'Heaven's on It's Way Down' with these characteristic choirs. The opus contains 10 for 35 short minutes and each composition is direct and effective from the first listening in a radio format not exceeding 4 minutes. In short, the Americans of 'Walk The Walk' are releasing an album taking us back a few decades with catchy melodies which intends it for an audience that has gone through the 80s in music with artists like 'Def Leppard', 'Bon Jovi' or even 'Journey'...

Line Up / Musicians :
J. Adler (Chant), Paul Alfery (Guitare, Basse, Claviers, Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/walkthewalkband/

BITE THE BULLET - Black & White (02-22-2021)

'Bite The Bullet' is an English formation that was born in the 80s from the meeting of singer/songwriter 'Mick Benton' and drummer 'Graham Cowling' with an eponymous album released in 1989. Since then, nothing, until the reissue in 2019 of their first album which relaunched them, and 2021 sees the release of a new album with 13 compositions that take us back to the 80s with groups like 'Foreigner', 'Alan Parsons Project' or 'Asia' and even, for example in 'Falling', like 'Barclay James Harvest' period 'Ring Of Changes '. We therefore navigate between catchy compositions like 'Rock to Stones', 'Black & White', 'More Than This' or even 'Bring It On' but also in lighter titles like 'Falling', 'Starlight', 'The Lonely Road' or even the beautiful ballad 'Under the Veil'. In short, the Englishmen of 'Byte The Bullet have stayed true to their original style by offering us a very nice new album and if you like an AOR between pop and rock without any aggressiveness and with catchy melodies, you should definitely buy into to this new album 'Black & White'...

Line Up / Musicians :
Mick Benton (Chant, Guitare, Claviers, Basse), Graham Cowling (Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/BitethebulletBTB/

Angeline - We Were Raised on Radio (02-19-2021)

'Angeline' is a Swedish formation which has already more than thirty years of existence but which only released a first LP in 2010 with 'Confessions', then, 'Disconnected' followed in 2011 and it took another 7 years for the third 'Shadowlands'. 'We Were Raised on Radio' which was released in February 2021 is therefore their fourth studio recording and, as you can imagine given their nationality, they offer us melodic hard-rock that smells good the 80s and this with 10 compositions made tailor-made to have a very pleasant time. The melodic hits follow one another starting with 'Helpless' which sends us an unstoppable first melody, then 'Closer' continues in an AOR that puts you in shape all day with a chorus that never leaves you, just like the two following compositions 'My Heart Won't Let You Go' and 'Raised On Radio'. The suite does not weaken and continues in heady melodic lines and the semi-acoustic ballad 'Come What May' is the perfect illustration. In short, no need to add more, the Swedes of 'Angeline' offers us a very beautiful album filled with addictive melodic jewels that will make happy among fans of melodic hard-rock of the 80s...

Line Up / Musicians :
Jocke Nilsson (Chant, Guitare), Janne Arkegren (Guitare), Uffe Nilsson (Basse), Tobbe Jonson (Batterie)

https://www.facebook.com/angelinetheband

Ailafar - State of Mind (02-12-2021)

'Ailafar' is a melodic rock band based in Thessaloniki, Greece. After 'Long Way To Imagery' in 2011, 'No Limits' in 2015 and 'Hearbeat' in 2017, 'State Of Mind' is the fourth studio recording of the band. The concept of the album is about the things that matter in life, about finding our self and the strengh to go on, motivation, Love, the values, the appreciation of what we have in every moment, the values that we lose in this modern world we're living into. It features 12 brand new songs in an refined AOR style with accessible melodies highlighting the female singer 'Tatiana Economou' who is as much at ease in energetic compositions as in quieter ones.

Line Up / Musicians :
Tatiana Economou (Chant), John Tzortzis (Guitare), Vangelis Valis Papageorgiou (Claviers), Kostas Mavroudis (Basse), Stergios Kourou (Batterie, Percussions) + Invités : Dean Mess (Chant), Mariangella Arapoglidou (Chant), Tzeni Luna (Chant), Tasos Duce (Batterie), Apostolis Mousias (Batterie), Tanja Harkonen (Chœurs)

https://www.facebook.com/ailafar/