HONEYMOON SUITE Feel It Again (Gottdiscs)
On 'Feel It Again' Honeymoon Suite have fleshed out the content of previous compilations into a substantial body of work almost unsurpassable in the melodic rock genre.
This is a magical, 2 disc journey through all the singles plus a selection from more recent album releases, 'Lemon Tongue' and 'Dreamland'. An added bonus comes in the form of 8 previously unreleased tracks on the second CD. Sublime.
RIOT Army Of One (Metal Heaven)
Mark Reale's back with his baby seal and hugely underrated vocalist, Mike DeMeo. A lot of 'Army Of One' is clearly written, arranged and produced to a formula that creates the right chemistry in the Japanese market. But it's a formula that works no matter which hemisphere you're listening from. Yes, the band have their own identity, but fans of Winger, John Sykes, Fair Warning, Whitesnake and Danger Danger will find an awful lot to swoon over here.
A.C.T. Silence (InsideOut Music)
Fourth album from Sweden's unsung heroes.
On 'Silence' the band have perfected the gilt edged pop/aor/pomp/prog hybrid they got so close to on previous albums. This new effort is just brimming over with memorable melodies, inviting hooks and serpentine plotting that hold your attention 100% of the time. It's unconventional, but they never were the band most likely to conform. I love it.
TOMMY M Completely (Superdrive Records, Norway)
Given that 'Completely' is arranged, produced and mostly written by Rolf Graf, you would expect it to display all the smooth, silky, westcoast / AOR vibe of Graf's dayjob band, Lava. It does, but it's a little rougher round the edges with more of a pop undertone. As per usual, Graf's songs (with occasional help from Sven DenHaug) are compact and self contained, with sinuous melodies and grow on you hooks.
The album's only problem is deciding just which market it's aiming at.
SLAMER Nowhere Land (Frontiers Records)
'Nowhere Land' apparently has everything you could ever want in a melodic rock album. To know that Mike Slamer, Terry Brock and Billy Greer form the core of the band is an attention grabbing start.
Consummate craftsmen all, playing at the peak of their form on a set of songs that consist of superbly sustained melodies and exquisitely structured songs.
The problem is this : sometimes technical expertise is lacking in emotion. Perfection can often inhibit the expression of feeling.
There is no doubt that 'Nowhere Land' impresses, big time. It's just that it often fails to truly engage.
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