Unruly Child - 'Can't Go Home' Album Review

Unruly Child – Cant Go Home

Grunge well and truly fucked up my music. All the bands I'd loved had packed it in. Some would say a new movement was needed as the hair metal bands of the time were getting out of hand and writing copious amounts of tripe. It wasn’t until I found a magazine called Hard Roxx in 1997 that this world opened up for me again. Not only that, there were a whole host of bands that had still been releasing albums that were so underground, it was if Jules Verne had a record label. Between 89-97 I only really listened to bands that has just about managed to survive grunge and were still releasing music.

Cracking melodic rock bands passed me by – Red Dawn, Signal, Ten, Talisman, etc., the list is huge. One voice really stood out for me once I started delving back into this world, and it was a familiar voice…..the voice of one Mark Free. The first King Kobra  album was probably one of my top 5 hair metal albums of the 80s, so much so, I re-recorded the bugger at least 3 times on cassette. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that he had still been releasing music as a part of Signal, Unruly Child, and at that current time was a solo artiste.

The original members of the legendary melodic hard rock quintet Unruly Child have reunited to release a brand new album with Frontiers Music Srl entitled “Can’t Go Home”.

Marcie Michelle Free (vocalist - King Kobra, Signal), Bruce Gowdy (guitarist – Stone Fury, World Trade), and Guy Allison (keyboardist – Lodgic, World Trade, Doobie Brothers) together with the original band members from the first record, drummer - Jay Schellen (Hurricane, World Trade, Asia), and bassist - Larry Antonino (Pablo Cruise), comprise the line-up for this recording.

Well, Marcie still has the voice to melt the hardest of rock hearts. 'The Only One' is upbeat, just screams Summer and a top down in your convertible. If you don’t have one, just wind the windows down and stick it on full blast. ‘Four Eleven’ has this choppy riff that just is a bit different and completely infectious. At this point, I don’t know if it’s the quality of production, or the fact that I’m streaming the album, as it sounds a bit weak and thin in the ‘oomph’ stakes. 'Driving Into The Future' isn’t a song about Marty McFly, Initially it’s a tad music by numbers but picks up with the guitar solo and the message so far is one of a feel good album. ‘Get On Top’ is full of layered harmonies. It’s a bit of a plodder, but the vocals save the day. ‘See if She Floats’ is drowning in its own averageness. Its not really inspiring a track. ‘She Can’t Go Home’ is the closet offering we get so far to a ballad, with Free’s voice being one of the best instruments and its probably the best of the bunch so far. Transgender aside Marcie still sounds like Mark of years ago and that isn’t a bad place to be as its easy to get lost and swept away in the vocals. 'Point Of View' is again a powerful uplifting track, one that harks back to the debut album. ‘Ice Cold Sunshine’ and ‘When Love Is Here’ sees UC stepping up the harmonies and are both examples of Allison’s great keyboard playing. The latter is another that takes influence from the debit. In my eyes, you can never have enough harmonies. ABBA taught me that from an early age!

‘Sunlit Sky’ is a proggy and 70s hippyish sounding song that again features Allison’s keyboard skills. The last track ‘Someday Somehow’ is bookended by a fake audience, and is an average way to bow out

In the light of recent times and the now abundance of melodic rock festivals, the time is right surely for a UK appearance. It’s just a case of which one gets lucky (and pays the airfare) and becomes the one to showcase the excellent Unruly Child.

As a final comment ‘Cant Go Home’ is good, but not as good as the debut.

Score 75/100

Unruly Child –

Marcie Michelle free – Vocals

Bruce Gowdy – Guitar

Guy Allison – Keyboards

Jay Schellen – Drums

Larry Antonino – Bass

Trackslisting -

The Only One

Four Eleven

Driving Into The Future

Get On Top

See If She Floats

She Can’t Go Home

Point Of View

Ice Cold Sunshine

When Love Is Here

Sunlit Sky

Someday Somehow

Tokyo Motor Fist - 'ST' Album Review

Tokyo Motor Fist – TMF

Now, either Tokyo Motor Fist has come from a random name generator, or its an inspired band name. I can just imagine the conversation….Ted ‘Guys c’mon! The albums almost finished and we don’t have a band name for that Italian dude that’s given us the money to make this thing’. Chuck ‘I know, lets come up with a name something like your porn name – you know your first pet and the street where you live!’ Ted, ‘Awesome dude! Put the following things in the hat….1. Your favourite place….2. A part of a car…..3. a body part’

So out of the hat comes ‘Tokyo Motor Fist’. Its a good job they didn’t go with the second random generated name….’Paris Gearbox Elbow’.

Based on this line up I am expecting great things ,as these guys should know what they are doing and what fans expect. After all, it is Ted Poley (D2), Steve Brown (Trixter), Greg Smith (Rainbow, Ted Nugent) and Chuck Burgi (Rainbow, JLT, BOC). As per The Defiants debut last year, I want this to be every bit as good.  Best way I can describe the whole experience like the summer feel-good sound of Y&Ts Summertime Girls crossed with D2s Naughty Naughty and a slice of Van Halen thrown in for good measure. There’s not a single duff track on this album, and its one of the most feel good, uplifting, unashamed slices of 80s classic rock AOR. They’ve gone through the elements of the 80s that made their original bands great – huge riffs…check. Even bigger harmonies….check. Widdly solos….double check!

Ted Poley sounds great. Basically, he album just flies by. The first six songs just kick you in the nuts and doesn’t back off for a single second. Its hard to pick any faves as its so consistent. If I had to pick one, it would be the all guns blazing ‘Shameless’ its in a similar vein to DFPs ‘Gimme Your Good Lovin’. The album only draws breath for the ballad-ish ‘Don’t Let Me Go’, before that 80s influenced (and future classic I swear to God) ‘Put Me To Shame’. In fact its one of the best songs I heard in the last few years. It’s that good, I asked the mother in law to knit me a new set of legwarmers! ‘Done To Me’ is as if Poley was fronting Def Leppard. ‘Get You Off My Mind’ borders on arena rock with its instantly memorable chorus. Its all over waaay too quickly with the brisk and pulsating ‘Fallin’ Apart’.

Signore Perugino certainly has a knack when he is putting projects together. I’m hoping (like The Defiants) that Tokyo Motor Fist tour our shores or at the bear minimum plat a festival over the coming 12 months. TNF is one of the best debuts I’ve heard since The Defiants, and Blood Red Saints & Angels Or Kings in recent years. Its not just the Poley Show, in fact Steve Browns guitar work is simple awesome, and when its all backed up by the gruesome twosome of Burgi and Smith, it all makes for a superb album and listening experience!

If this isn’t at the sharp end of my (and your) top 5 albums of 2016 I’ll be very surprised.

Score 95/100

Tokyo Motor Fist are...

Ted Poley – Vocals

Steve Brown – Guitars

Greg Smith – Bass

Chuck Burgi – Drums

Tracklisting –

Picking Up The Pieces

Love Me Insane

Shameless

Love

Black And Blue

You’re My Revolution

Don’t Let Me go

Put Me To Shame

Done To Me

Get You Off My Mind

Fallin’ Apart

Lionville - 'A World Of Fools' Album Review

Lionville – A World Of Fools

Born as a high profile project dedicated to pure AOR with a touch of Westcoast and melodic rock, Lionville draw inspiration from acts like Toto, Richard Marx, Giant, Bad English, Survivor, and Boulevard. The project was started by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer, and guitarist based in Genova, Italy and his brother Alessandro. After years of playing the local club circuit of Genova, Stefano started LIONVILLE with the encouragement and help of Pierpaolo “Zorro” Monti (Shining Line) and Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge Of Forever, Eden's Curse, Hardline). With the involvement of singer Lars Säfsund (Work Of Art), LIONVILLE quickly began to take shape

Its surprising how fast time passes. It’s been five years since Lionville II was released. In a time where peoples musical tastes change quickly, and more and more bands come into the scene, five years is a lifetime. Good things come to those who wait……

There’s been a bit of tinkering in the lineup since ‘II’, but thankfully the sound behind Lionville remains constant with Stefano Lionetti and Lars Såfsund the two key components. Bringing up the rest of Lionville is Michele Cusato – Guitars, Giulio Dagnino – Bass, and Martino Malacrida – Drums

If I had to describe Lionville’s sound, it would be in two simple words….’silky smooth’.  Most of that is down to Såfsund’s vocals. Since he came on the scene with Work Of Art, his vocals prove to be one of the finest in this genre. If anything, the quality of songs are what makes or breaks a band, and this is the finest Lionville album yet. Its 80s AOR with a Westcoast vibe that will have fans of Toto and the like in raptures. Its aor-candy for the 21^st Century!

‘A World Of Fools’ is consistently good, with a few songs that rise above the parapet into excellent. Their stall is well and truly set out with the pacey and riff heavy opener ‘I Will Wait’. ‘Show Me The Love’ is European pop/rock AOR at its best. ‘Bring Me Back Our Love’ ticks all the melodic rock boxes in abundance, polished sound, hugely melodic chorus, and strong riffage! ‘One More Night’ is one song that is to be played at maximum volume just to show off the infectious chorus and rip roaring solo. ‘Heaven Is Right Here’ follows the same musical path. There’s a lot of positivity in this album, very uplifting any a joy to listen to, as ‘All I Want’ proves. With a song like ‘Livin’ On The Edge’ I expected a rip-snorter of a track, whereas it’s the complete opposite. Its not bad, but its not the best on the album by a long shot. ‘Our Good Goodbye’ is so Toto-esque, I half expect to hear WIllaims/Lukather and Paich to be playing on it! ‘Paradise’ is another of those anthemic arena songs that Lionville seem able to write without and issue. Its like shelling peas for them.

I’ve enjoyed the Lionville journey so far. Their debut came out of the blue for me initially, and ‘II’ was also a joy. I think with ‘A World Of Fools’ they have surpassed themselves.  Existing fans…it’s a no-brainer. If you have not listened before, what are you waiting for. Its silky smooth, highly polished Westcoast AOR. Its exactly the type of band Toto should take on the road with them.

February is proving to be a strong month for Frontiers…

Score 85/100

Tracklisting

I Will Wait

Show Me The Love

Bring Back Our Love

Heaven Is Right Here

A World Of Fools

One More Night

All I Want

Livin’ On The Edge

Our Good Goodbye

Paradise

Image Of Your Soul

Lionville are

Stefano Lionetti – Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards

Lars Såfsund – Lead & Backing Vocals

Michele Cusato – Guitars

Giulio Dagnino – Bass

Martino Malacrida – Drums

Top 5 Melodic Rock Albums of 2016

5. Hardline - Human Nature
To be honest, I wasn't expecting a Hardline album to be this good! Only Johnny Gioeli remains from the original line up, and with Ramos and the Italian contingent in the fold, it made for their finest release since their superb debut. The first four songs are some of the finest they have produced and its like a Nitrous boost to the lug 'oles.

4. Dante Fox - Breathless
Does what it says on the tin. Dante Fox have plugged along for God only knows how long and seem to eclipse the previous album releases. This is no exception, its pure quality from Manford and Willetts. Songs like 'Dynamite' and 'Young Hearts' are two of the best of the year. Highly polished and top drawer melodic rock

3. Vega - Who We Are
In any other world (1985), or any other time (1985), Vega would be huge. To be honest, they still deserve to be. Few bands pen such huge songs like the Brothers Martin. They even do it for other bands. On 'Who We Are', practically every song is an anthem. Now this could prove a bit tiresome, but not when the quality is as high and consistent as this lot. The best British melodic band that wasnt formed in the 80s...or 90s!

2. The Defiants - ST
The debut album from The Defiants is bloody huge. Thankfully its not just a Perugino project to shift some CDs. And rightly so...as songs like 'Love and Bullets' and 'Waiting On A Heartbreak' are just pure ear pronography. It was a clear runner for my fave album of the year, but because of Brexit, I'm sticking with the Brits, and this.......

1. Angels Or Kings - Go Ask The Moon
'Go Ask The Moon' is a superior release than what was already an excellent debut. Its choc full of huge choruses and sumptuous harmonies. Jackson is in the form of his life, and Tony Bell and Steve Kenny certainly have listened and learned from the best and come up with an album of pure quality. 'Heartbreak Railroad Company' is one of the best songs of the year. Who'd have thought a Brit would have penned a song quite like this....

FM - 'Indiscreet 30' Review

FM – Indiscreet

Its thirty years (yes, you heard me, THIRTY!) since FM released their most beloved (and debut) album 'Indiscreet'. Apparently they have been asked many times in the past about re-recording their classic album, and that day is now here. From my very early days in seeing them on the 'Tough It Out' tour, I always said that some of these songs sound under-produced, especially when some of the live versions had a certain amount of ‘welly’ to them. As a massive FM fan, I’ve been saying that ‘Indiscreet’ missed some 'oomph' since '89/90 as it lacked some of the ‘punch’ that was being achieved at their live gigs and also on albums on the other side of the Atlantic

So I step forward with a bit of (dreaded?) anticipation of what they have done. Why mess with their definitive album? Well, for one, modern techniques should put the expansive sound in, and it’s also quite cheap to re-record what FM would have spent a small fortune on with Portrait back in 86.

Apparently the seed was sown whilst recording the follow up to 'Heroes & Villains', where they decided to put down a backing track to ‘That Girl’ to see how it would sound with the apparent huge sounds they were achieving. It gave the song a new dynamic that was not possible in the 80s. This is what has led them to give these classic songs a new lease of life. Thankfully, FM themselves realize that they cant just re-create the original which is sacred in many of the eyes and ears of their faithful fans. It’s the 2016 FM (still brilliant) with the sound of 2016

2016 paints a different picture. The line up is now very well established with Jim Kirkpatrick on guitar, who has given FM a fresh new injection of energy, and, despite the desire to re-record, none of this would not be at all possible if it weren’t for one thing – that ‘thing’ being Steve Overland’s voice. It’s as good today as it was back in the mid 80s when I heard Wildlife, few singers still have ‘the voice’ and SO is one of them.

After just one quick listen, nothing much has been changed, subtle differences, the odd slight intro difference, but mainly the solos, bridges and general excellence of Indiscreet have remained on ‘I-30’.  For ‘That Girl’, ‘Love Lies Dying’ and ‘Hot Wired’ I expected a little more that what we get. There’s not much wrong, but a spark is missing a tad. New is ‘good’, but not quite up to the 86 versions. The ‘reasons to buy’ for me come in the shape of ‘The Other Side Of Midnight’, which is punchy and polished, ‘American Girls’, a song that should have catapulted them to the US market is fresh as a daisy, and ‘I Belong To The Night’ has some added depth and bass. Also the last three – ‘Face To Face’, ‘Frozen Heart’ and ‘Heart Of The Matter’ further add weight to the whole concept. Seven bonus tracks round out ‘I-30’, and the ‘biggie’ and real bonus for me is a song that never made it onto Indiscreet, but is of that era, and they have pulled out an absolutely storming version of ‘Let Love Be The Leader’. Also FM have recorded a brand new song for this, and that is ‘Running On Empty’ a now typical 21^st century FM type song, an upbeat and all round feel good track that FM fans will lap up. ‘Shot In The Dark’ is the song that made its way to Ozzy via Phil Soussan (and no doubt made a shit-load on the back of it) and this gives a feel for the alternate (but equally enthralling) FM version had it have made it at the time. The final track ‘That Girl’ (Acoustic) is one of the best covers they have ever done, very soulful and is a personal fave of closet FM fan, Mrs. Chesworth.

There may be a few ‘naysayers’ proclaiming that FM shouldn’t have re-done it, but I for one am very happy, as some of these songs sound fresh and lively as they did when I first heard them on cassette, only now with added ‘oomph ‘ where it belongs.

Indiscreet 30 isn’t pointless. The songs have been given the love, care and attention they deserve with a more ‘modern’ sound and twist, and ‘I30’ sits perfectly as a companion piece to the original. I can’t give it more praise than that.

What started out as trepidation and caution, ended in praise and jubilation.

FM

Steve Overland – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Merv Goldsworthy – Bass, Backing Vocals

Pete Jupp – Drums, Backing Vocals

Jem Davis – Keyboards

Jim Kirkpatrick – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals

Tracklisting

That Girl

Other Side Of Midnight

Love Lies Dying

I Belong To The Night

American Girls

Hot Wired

Face To Face

Frozen Heart

Heart Of The Matter

(Bonus tracks)

Let Love Be The leader

Running On Empty

Rainbow’s End

Shot In The Dark

Bad That’s Good In You

Love And Hate

That Girl (Acoustic Version)

Moritz - 'About Time Too' Demos

The rather nice gents from Moritz have kindly given me the go ahead to post a review way ahead of any release of their next album…….

Now I know I wasn’t there back in the 80s when Moritz went for the big time, with their fancy costumes, big songs like ‘City Streets’ and even bigger hair! Well the hair is a bit more sensible nowadays (these guys are fairly respectable human beings) and have ‘proper’ jobs away from the rock star aspirations.

Where was I. Oh yes, I wasn’t there at the beginning when songs like ‘Cant Stop Loving You’, and ‘Caught Up In The Action’ were doing the rounds, but I managed to get onto them quite late in the day when ‘Undivided’ was released on the world a couple of three years ago (Jesus! It was 2011). I was hooked on this great 80s sounding outfit. SOS followed and this, dear reader (there’s only the one) had more polish than the brass doorknobs at Mister Sheens testing laboratory.

OK so this is a demo, and Ill review as a demo. I’ll tell you what, it’s a bloody cracking demo, and I don’t think it will take a shit load of tweaking as most of the stardust is already present.

‘About Time Too (Likely to be the Album Title)/ One More Beautiful’ day isn’t a song about work productivity, its their ‘tongue in cheek’ take on how long it takes them to get albums out the door. At this rate its one every 10 years, so still not as bad as Boston! Peter Scallan’s voice has developed more of a rock-rasp than previous, and I like it. It has a sweeping, haunting sound to it, dare I say epic in nature with some sumptuous harmonies. I cant say I expected anything less…

‘Chance of a Lifetime’ has a great 80s lyric, ‘walking on a thin line, between love and hate’. It’s a huge 80s influenced song. In fact, if it were 1986 we would all be shitting ourselves with excitement! I’m an old fart brought up on music like this, and I did let out a little excited fart if I’m honest, as it brings back a lot of great memories from so many great bands (and times). The melodic rock community will love this.

‘To The Moon And Back’ just boots you in the head with its sumptuous opening harmonies. It’s giving me goosies just in its demo format; huge vocals, with harmony 80s geetar and keyboards. If Carlsberg did Moritz, it would be like this! There’s a Family Guy episode where Peter Griffin had a cold and he sung like a crooner. Apparently Peter Scallan sang this with the flu. If that’s the case when they come to lay down more vocals for the album. I’d make him record his vocals in his undies in the middle of the Pennines.

The early demo for ‘Own Little World’ shows what could be on the horizon, with layers upon layers of vocal harmonies. It is a part II companion piece of ‘Caught Between Life & The Light’ from SOS. ‘Run’ shows that its not all about pure pink fluffiness. The Moritz boys like to rock out occasionally and this is a prime example. A co-write with Ivan Gunn, it gets full marks as a soft/LOUD rocker; the best ones mix the tempo, and this one does it with flair, and has a cracking guitar solo. It will sound massive. ‘Love Long Gone’ is the kind of song that bands tried to coax out of the ‘masters’ such as Diane Warren or Desmond Child back in the day. In fact, Michael Bolton would have sold his best AOR wig to get his mitts (and vocals) on a song like Love Long Gone, and it wants to make you buy a Delorean and head back to the 80s.

You know that noise you made as a kid, when you made a sound and your mum would repeatedly hit you on the back, fast. Well that’s what the keyboard sounds like to the opening section of ‘If You Call That Lovin’. The verse is akin to Lorraine Ellison’s ‘Stay With Me Baby’ and shows that  white men can play (and sing the blues). Think Percy Sledge / Otis Redding and a smidge of Procul Harum, only with Joe Bonamassa wading in with guitar. I cant wait to see where this one goes as its not the norm for Moritz, and is a surprise package. Finally its ‘Take It On The Chin’ or ‘chins’ as I prefer to call it. If ‘TIOTC’ was to be the last song on the album, then it’s a belting way to end one. Flight Lieutenant Mike Nolan (he of the flying V display troupe) steps up and produces a face melting riff, accompanied by what sounds like Scallan catching his balls on razor wire. ‘Some you lose, some you win, you gotta take it on the chin.’ Well based on this selection, Moritz will undoubtedly be winners

I like it that they are no longer trying to be like ELO or that Kind of pomp band. I can’t say that Peter Scallan’s voice is maturing exactly, as they recorded Undivided 6 yrs ago when they were all in their late 50s!!

In fact they are maturing……the demos already are better songs, better sound, more range and diversity than before. We are all in for a treat when this is released

There a few songs that are in the pipeline that I have yet to hear, and if they have the same finesse as what’s on offer here, then Moritz have a belting album on their hands

Score – an excited ‘Oooooh!’ with a little fart!

Dante Fox - 'Breathless' Album review

Dante Fox – Breathless

Dante Fox are one of the rare breed of bands that started in 1989 and haven’t taken a break because….

-       .......of melodic rock going tits up because of grunge overnight

-       .......melodic rock has never been a true money earner

-       .......or done a Blues Brothers and ‘get the band back together and reform’ for a quick buck

In fact, they have ploughed along regardless of what’s going on around them, stuck to the plan of offering up cracking slices of music without diminishing returns. In fact, when certain bands are happy to turn out ‘average’ to ‘meh’, Dante Fox have been banging out a higher quality with each and every release.

I must admit that if I were Manford/Willetts, I’d have probably given up a long time ago, as the money in AOR is four fifths of fuck all. I guess Dante Fox would love to make a living just out of their music, but I for one am glad that they continue to put out music for the love of it. Over the last 15 plus years I’ve watched them (and listened from afar) grow as a band both musically and in a live setting. In fact, a Dante Fox show is a definite highlight, and a band not to be missed.

So what about their latest release ‘Breathless’.? Well I’m happy to report that it follows on a great tradition of cracking Dante Fox albums. Immediately you are hit by the quality of the production. Not enough is given to great production nowadays, but this screams quality. ‘Young Hearts’ is as pure AOR as it gets and is an instant memorable track after just the one listen and is destined to be on many a playlist. ‘All Eyes On You’ see follows the DF playbook, and solid riffage from Manford with a great bridge and chorus. Willetts had a marmite voice for me a few years back (only because high vocals play havoc with my tinnitus!), but on ‘Breathless’ she sounds fantastic. ‘Breathless’ has Manford digging into his ‘Best 1980s Hair Metal Riffs’ book and knock it out of the park. If anything the verse doesn’t quite match the riff, until we get to the chorus that is, and when they both entwine the result is superb.  ‘Break These Chains’ sees Dante Fox delve into ‘soft rock’ mode before kicking loose with yet another powerful chorus. ‘Broken Hearted Man’ has ballad running through it like a stick of Blackpool rock, and is also given the acoustic treatment as a bonus. ‘I Cant Stop Tonight’s ‘ Manford riff comes straight out of the blues rock FM/Thunder school of music, and is a class act indeed.

‘Dynamite’ just slayed me. The riff is reminiscent of all you/me/we loved about some of the best songs of the 80s. It’s a  AOR-sters catnip. Willetts bridge and chorus just complement the riff perfectly. If it were Pat Benatar, we’d be waxing lyrical. After a couple of listens, its straight onto my playlist. ‘Love Affair’ is a full on No Limits Powerplay (anyone?), a huge number that’s a live certainty. ‘How Will You Know’ starts off with Birmingham’s version of a Nightwish/ Evanescence track, and has a massive opening salvo.

 In a World where a lot of the melodic rock roster are on a certain European label, its great that Georg Siegl and his AOR Heaven label are a major exponent of offering up shit hot quality AOR (that’s ‘shit hot’ – punctuation is everything!). Not all the good stuff is over in Italy, in fact Dante Fox match up to or are as good, if not better than any melodic rock act plying their trade in the 21^st century.

If Dante Fox were a product it would be ‘Ronseal’ because the album does exactly what it says on the tin, I defy you to listen to this and not be…….. ‘Breathless’.

PS If you’re gonna buy one album in August, I cant recommend this one highly enough. Out 26^th August – go one, treat yourself!

Score 88/100

Tracklisting -

Young Hearts

All Eyes On You

Breathless

Break These Chains

Broken Hearted Man

I Can’t Stop Tonight

Dynamite

Love Affair

How Will You Know

Creeps Into My Mind

Broken Hearted Man (acoustic)

Dante Fox are

Tim Manford – Guitars

Sue Willetts – Vocals

Andy Perfect – Drums

Alan Mills - Bass