A quick word, before its time passes, on the eventual emergence of Alias's unreleased second album, 'Never Say Never' on new label, Angelmilk. Recorded in 1992, it features several tracks written by James (HoL) Christian, which appeared on his 'Rude Awakening' solo album, and one from the maestro, Glen Burtnik, 'Perfect World'. Curci is in marvellous form. His athletic, expressive voice makes good songs sound great - and there are many here - and it makes great songs sound truly outstanding, and yes, there are several here, including 'XTCOI', 'Woman Enough', 'The Warden', 'Bare Necessity' and 'Wild Wild One' where you would swear it's Mark Free at the mike. All get pretty damn close to those two sublime cuts from the debut album, 'Waiting For Love' and 'More Than Words Can Say'.

Shakra can always be relied upon. They never fall short of their own high standards. They're much in the Gotthard, Bonfire vein - they know how to rock, but in a more reserved, dignified, typically European way. 'Everest' (AFM Records) never sees them truly reaching the rarified atmosphere of their twin peaks, 'Moving Force' and 'Power Ride', but is up there with lesser mortals, 'Rising' and 'Infected'. Blunier and Muster have that urgent, thick cut, tandem guitar gallop down to perfection, but it's hard to see where they go from here.

In contrast, Italy's Trick Or Treat, with Michael (Helloween) Kiske and Michele (Vision Divine) Luppi guesting on a couple of tracks, seem fresh and new.
They started life as a Helloween tribute band, and now find themselves on the other side of the glittering shop window of fame. Stand or fall.

'Tin Soldiers' (Valery Records) packs an almighty, power metal wallop. The album is brimful of slender, supple tunes and lungbursting vocal melodies that frontman, Alessandro Conti (very Michael Sweet) handles with ease. The real strength of this recording though is the axework of Benedetti and Cabri. They pepper the tracks with powerful, beautifully orchestrated solos, none of which could be described as being in the symphonic or neoclassical style, but all of which are eminently melodic and are always razor sharp.

New sleaze/glamrock sensations downunder, Hansel, have released a four track CDEP titled 'Mission To Rock'. Produced by Anton (Silverchair) Hagop, this mini series of songs has almost all of the hallmarks of great rock'n'roll. Energy, tunes, drive, ambition, they're all there. Some improvement is needed in the songwriting though. 'Murder 101' is immediate and immense. 'Mission To Rock' has the substance to match the band's undoubted style and is a real grower, but while the remaining 2 songs have ambition, they need Hagop's powerful production to carry them through.

The Eurythmics coming face to face with Weezer, both tooled up with heavy metal guitars. Sound good? Sounds like Joyfocus. The duo's 'Cyber Suburban Electro Rock Circus' (Independent) may be easy for you to say but it's just as easy to become infatuated with. An unconventional mix of delicate acoustic strumming, pizzicato strings and huge, amped up electric guitars finds a satisfyingly melodicentric balance on this, the duo's second album. There's depth too in the songs' lyrical themes, with an all too rare intelligence at work, exploring death, guilt and redemption.

Alias - 7/10
Shakra - 6/10
Trick Or Treat - 7.5/10
Hansel - 5.5/10
Joyfocus - 6.5/10

Written by Brian
Monday, June 29, 2009
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