Ted Poley - 'Beyond The Fade' Album Review

April 2016 saw Frontiers put out The Defiants, and excellent album by Danger Danger members Bruno Ravel, Rob Marchello, and sometime singer Paul Laine. Well, May 2016 sees the turn of Ted Poley. Rock stars have to make a living you know, and one album every seven years (9 if you go off his last solo album) doesn’t cut the mustard. I’m guessing D2 broke a huge fucking mirror and have waited for 7 years of potential bad luck to subside before getting back in the studio(s). Danger Danger were one of my bands of the festival when they played the inaugural Frontiers festival in Milan back in 2014, so it’s a mystery why they haven’t recorded on the back of this. At least if you’re a D2 fan, its bonus time, as you get not one, but two albums from the guys in a matter of a few weeks. I’m also guessing that Serafino has another album due out in June by Andy Timmons and Steve West?!

Hands up as to who is the most prolific writer in rock history? Elton John, Jagger/Richards, McCartney? I doubt it, as I reckon its Alessandro del Vecchio. He is the Frontiers ‘go to’ guy for writing and producing, along with the brothers Martin. I honestly think Ale writes a song before he has a crap every morning, he’s that prolific!

Has Ted come to the part with the attitude ‘Screw It!’ or has he ‘Get His Shit Together’ and about to ‘Rock America’? Gladly it’s the latter, as the Martin Bros / Del Vecchio combination has come up trumps and Ted has delivered an album true to his brand, style and personality!

The album starts with a ‘Bang Bang’, with ‘Let’s Start Something’, ‘Everything We Are’, and ‘Hands Of Love’, with the latter coming straight out of the debut Danger Danger songbook, and it has JLT as a writing credit. James Martin keeps it all in the family for ‘The Perfect Crime’ as Issa pops in for duet, and it proves to be a great choice as they fit each other like a studded leather glove. ‘Starts’ sees Ted up the ante a fair bit and it is one of the best on offer here with its pacey chorus. ‘Higher’ proves to be no less catch and has a chorus that just screams ‘get the top down on the car’. ‘You Won’t See Me Crying’ has some proper fist pumping moments, just dog out your hair brush or ‘air mic’ of your choice and sing along, and is followed by a heart-breaking ballad, the excellent ‘We Are Young’. Its up and down in tempo for the last two song, the bouncy ‘Sirens’ and the wind down of the lengthy, melancholic power ballad ‘Beneath The Stars’ with its cool out solo by Percudani. You just want to hear more!

It aint ‘Danger Danger’ or ‘Screw It,!’ (what is?), but its probably the best Ted Poley solo album and you cannot say fairer than that. Poley basically sings his arse off on ‘BTF’. Whether he needs to record or tour remains to be seen, but Ted Poley is just the guy needed at the likes of HRH AOR or Rockingham.

I have to doff my cap to all concerned here, especially the songwriting and production. I’ll forgive Ted if it takes him another 7 yrs to deliver an album if they all prove to be as good as this one. ‘Beyond The Fade’ is a polished, accomplished and very worthy addition to any AOR fans CD collection. 

SCORE - 85/100

Tracklisting -

Lets Start Something

Everything We Are

Hands Of Love

The Perfect Crime

Stars

Higher

Where I Lost You

You Won’t See Me Cryin’

We Are Young

Sirens

Beneath The Stars

Ted Poley – Vocals

Alessandro Del Vecchio – Drums, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, and probably

Mario Percudani – Guitars

Anna Portalupi - Bass

Vega - 'Who We Are' Album Review

In any other World (1985), or any other time (also 1985), or any other dimension (also also 1985) Vega would be huge, HUUUUGE I tell ya! In a world like this today, its good to know that some people such as the Vegaboys (TM pending) are still striving to be the best they can possibly be, and in the process giving enjoyment to many a rock fan – old, young and all in-between.

This coming Friday, May 13^th sees the release of Vega’s fourth album entitled “Who We Are’’, and, looking at the cover they really couldn’t give a toss about what people think about them – with booze, fags, and not exactly flattering caricatures adorning the cover. And that’s Vega for you! They’ve courted discussion, last years Memorex-gate dig at HEAT for using tapes’ and also been (and still are) at the forefront of European and World AOR, with the Martin’s writing not only for Vega but also a lot of other bands, and they will always give you a great opinion on their own music and direction.

I think Vega have a formulae, which is ‘every song an anthem’, and this mantra has certainly seen them through the last three albums, and has woven its way into ‘WWA’. ‘Explode’ is Vega’s Ronseal opener. Its part ‘Waiting For The Big One’ 80s MTV for the masses with a modern Vega ‘twist’, and Workman has never sounded better. ‘We Got It All’ is certainly an autobiographical mission statement for Vega, and is certainly powerful. ‘Every Little Monster’ is going for the ‘every song exceeds the last’ approach and is as catchy as Joe Pasquale’s ‘I know a song that’ll get on your nerves’, its an instant implant. So far it’s melody, melody, melody, all the way. With ‘Nothing Is Forever’ we hit a ballad that could be a contender for Eurovision. White Flag’ is Vega’s first single from WWA, and have a video to accompany it. It’s the no brainer choice – power, melody, groove, andAORsomeness.

‘Generation Now’ has a more menacing opening, and huge chorus. You could get bored typing ‘huge chorus’ constantly but that’s what we continuously have here. Where bands may put fillers towards the back end, not Vega, If anything two of their strongest come back to back in ‘Ignite’, and ‘Saving Grace’, with the latter sounding a bit Diving For Pearls-like and for me is the best song on the album.

Vega have done themselves proud here. As ‘Who We Are’ will be on many a fan’s Top 10 lists of 2016, for certain.

Vega should be huge, but whether or not their upcoming tour will change fans perceptions remain to be seen. I don’t think a tour with Magnum will bring a lot of new attention, whereas a support on the ‘Heart’ tour would have done. If I were Vega, and Frontiers, I’d try to get them some airtime and gig time in the States. The double denim and layered hair brigade should go nuts over one of our finest rock exports

So, is ‘Who We Are’ better than their debut? I think so. The only thing stopping Vega is themselves. For me, FM have always been the pinnacle of British melodic rock, but now the younger generation are hard on their tails…..and about to overtake!

Where Frontiers have a gem in The Defiants, its more or less a project, but Vega are the real deal! I'm always going to go for the British underdog.

Essential ! 

Score – 95/100

Tracklisting

Explode

We Got It All

Every Little Monster

Nothing Is Forever

White Flag

For Our Sins

Generation Now

Ignite

Saving Grace

If Not You

Hurt So Bad

Catch the guys out on tour with Magnum starting this week

 

Album Out May 13^th

 

Blood Red Saints - Live Review, Manchester Academy 3, Sat 2nd April 2016

The latest and ongoing roadshow that is Blood Red Saints rode into town, the town being their 'local', Manchester. On arrival I was a tad worried as there were very few people there, what with it being T minus thirty. Thankfully the room (Academy 3) filled as they took the stage.

I'm a tad biased towards BRS are they are a great modern epitome of Melodic Rock. A lot of bands try to emulate some of the 'classic' bands of the 80s/early 90s, but not many do it as good, or as well, or as honest as BRS. Shit dudes, no one out there does with half the fun as these guys. Right from the off, the audience is brought along for the ride. Because what you get here are some great songs, played extremely well, and a bit of a comedy show thrown in for good measure

Tonight's gig was brought to you by its sponsors 'Covonia', and 'TW&SSC' (The Wheeltappers & Shunters Social Club). Why? Well, erstwhile singer/stand up comedian Pete Godfrey was suffering with a cold/dodgy throat, and secondly, I think he could be on a mission to convert BRS into The Grumbleweeds/Barron Knights (ok my references are as old as Petes humour, so we're on a par, and hopefully you are).

The set was quite short, just 30 mins, but with BRS being 'home', rebellion was just around the
corner with a proposed '32 minute' set planned. Romeos Daughter would allow them 45, but fuck it, they are at home and there was some serious drinking to be had later!

We were treated to a quite edited set from the recent HRH gig, but resplendent all the same. The BRS staple faves were in attendance, from Kicking Up Dust, the harmonious Mercy, with Pete Newdeck filling in some of the vocals. Let's face it, they can all fill in as few bands can offer you 5 part harmonies. Only the likes of Van Canto could do it better! Guitarist Lee Revill was a cross between Indiana (Jones) and Croc Dundee, and shines on the 80s influenced numbers as he channels his inner George Lynch. The new song 'Tragedy' sees Godfrey dig into his Steps DVD collection and mimic the same moves. If there isn't a Steps tribute band, I nominate 'G' to be a front runner should one ever be on the cards. Rob Naylor seems to get the most grief from Godfrey during the gig, but the jibes wash off him easily due to the slickness of his style!

If you're lucky enough  to get your asses down to Cardiff, or over to Milan, then you're in for a treat. Many can mimic, but few stand heads above the crowd like Blood Red Saints. A triumphant show of hook laden, catchy songs, and also a great laugh. What more could you want?

Nordic Union - ST Album Review

That great sage Myles Kennedy one sang, “The sun always sets, the moon always falls”, as does Serafino Perugino’s desire for a nice little earner of a ‘project’. This tine, for the first time in 2016, it’s a joint venture, or in this case a Union (make that a Nordic Union) between WETs/Eclipse/Ammunitions Erik Martensson, and Pretty Maids’ Ronny Atkins.

Unlike some of the others that have appeared on Frontiers (other label projects also available), Atkins isn’t a well-travelled performer. What I mean is, apart from the odd Avantasia stint, he is 100% Pretty Maids man. If it were a marriage, he’s is the equivalent of cheating on his missus by looking at a porn mag!

Martensson in comparison is a bit of a slapper - a man of many bands, and now projects, but a man of immense talent. That said, the bloke is constantly on fire and improving with every release he as done to date.

After just one listen I felt like a kid at Disney theme park. I had to do back and do it all again. The production is huge and Martensson has a style to his writing that screams ‘quality’. You can tell as the sound of NU is a blend of Eclipse and WET. Think W.E.clipse and you’ll see where I’m coming from

‘The War Has Begun’ takes its lead from Eclipse’s ‘Bleed and Scream’ and is a power anthem for the modern age, a battle cry for the disenfranchised and underdogs of the world, and Magnus Henriksson adds his considerable talents to a cracking guitar solo. I have a confession, and that is that I’ve never been a Pretty Maids fan really, but that could change as Atkins sings his Nordic arse off. ‘Hypocrisy’ is a prime example of this. Mash it with the killer opening riff and a chorus that is injected straight into your brain for immediate repeat.

It could be an obvious choice to point the finger at Martensson and suggest that these songs are Eclipse cast offs. But that, dear reader, couldn’t be farther from the truth. The frenetic pace is knocked back with ‘Every Heartbeat’ a song that highlights Atkins’ vocals. Actually both this and ‘True Love Awaits You’ both err on the side of power pop/rock and could see NU appealing to a wider audience than the typical Frontiers roster. ‘When Death Is Calling’ shows the heavier side (and much better side) of Nordic Union. When Atkins sings the title line, its like the modern version of Blackie Lawless.

Its proven to be a great choice for Frontiers in putting Martensson and Atkins together. In Martensson you have a great songwriter, producer (and singer in his own right) and in Atkins a perfect foil to deliver the melody and lyrics.

2015 was a hit and miss year for Frontiers, with some quite average releases but they (Frontiers) have hit 2016 with a huge bang. Let the high consistency continue!!

It’s quite an essential purchase for melodic rock fans.

Score 90/100

Tracklisting

The War Has Begun

Hypocrisy

Wide Awake

Every Heartbeat

When Death Is Calling

21 Guns

Falling

The Other Side

Point Of No Return

True Love Awaits You

Go

AORzones top 10 albums of 2015

10. Room Experience
Italian Gianluca Firmo and friends are trying to Eclipse (pun intended) Sweden and become the new hub of melodic rock. Its full of tinkly, parpy keyboards and more parmeggiano reggiano than Italy can muster. Its AOR at its purest and an absolute delight

9. Stryper - Fallen
Stryper continue their rich vein of form and their heavier direction thankfully. Mushy ballads have all but disappeared, and in comes power, strength, positivity and most of all, heaviness!

8. Gronholm - Relativity Code For Love

Another surprise for me in 2015. Id never heard of them until this, and boy, is it a cracking album. Lee Small has NEVER sounded better than this.

7. Revolution Saints - ST

I know, lets get 3 giants of rock (ok one is a real short arse) to come together for an album, and lets make the not regarded as as a singer the singer! Castronovo IS one hell of a singer. This was the album that the current Journey should be striving to make

6. Newman - The Elegance Machine

I am a late arrival to the Newman party, and I'm ashamed to admit it. The last 2 albums Ive had to review have been an absolute pleasure. Its more on the heavier side of melodic, but who gives a shit. This bloke is one of Britain's finest exponents of melodic rock, long may he continue

=4. Age Sten Nilsen's Ammunition - Shanghaied

Age does a 'Dio', and ditched Wig Wam for a new life. He basically forms Eclipse MKII for one of the BEST melodic rock albums of 2015. Massive choruses, not a dud on the album, it could easily be my No.1. From here on in the results are that close.

=4. FM - Heroes and Villains

I am a tad biased when it comes to my beloved FM, but they wouldn't be in here if it wasn't any good (my proof - the disappointing Overland Ousey album). FM are in a very rich vein of form and this is one of their best pieces of work and sits close behind Indiscreet and Tough It Out, its that good!

3. Romeos Daughter - Spin

OK its not exactly an AOR album as such, its a defining album for Romeos Daughter. They could have given up the ghost since reforming , but like their friends FM, they choose to plough through the field and make new music that is probably their most consistent and best work to date. They should be the darlings of Radio 2, but for some reason are overlooked, and that is a huge travesty.

=1. Blood Red Saints - Speedway

Its a contrast to the joint winner of my 2015 list, but BRS are more 'classic' 80s AOR than anyone else on this list and they are a brand new band. Thanks to the dulcet tones of Pete Godfrey, and the superb songs (no fillers here folks) they deserve to be No.1 on their own

=1. Eclipse - Armageddonize

Erik Martensson's Eclipse are at the other end of the melodic rock spectrum to Blood Red Saints. More raw power and edge to their music, they are the 2015 Oxford Dictionary meaning of 'anthemic rock'. Not a shit song on the album, its slayed me from the off. My best album of 2015 despite the aggro it took to get me the album on vinyl. A HUGE album!