R&M4U-Classics: Bon Jovi - "New Jersey" (1988)

Today I reveal another classic for you: Bon Jovi's "New Jersey" from 1988. I've already mentioned that album in my last post and I thought it's time to discuss this album, because Bon Jovi was the most important influence in my youth and their older records still define my taste of music today. With this band everything started. I was 12 years old when I listened to "It's My Life" for the very first time. I loved that song so much, so I got their album "Crush" in 2000. That was my first rock record and with that one I started to discover the whole Bon Jovi discography. But it's not about "Crush" here, because this one is by far not the best album Bon Jovi did.

R&M4U-Classics: Kane Roberts - "Saints and Sinners" (1991)

Hey folks,

with this post I'd like to introduce you to a new series of posts, called "Rock & Metal 4 You - Classics". I think the name says it all: with this series I'll discuss some records, that have stood the test of time to me and which affected my life in many different ways. 
I always wanted to give this blog a more personal note and with all that review and interview stuff this idea got a little bit lost, so I'm very happy to use this new format as a platform where I can tell you something about those records and mix it up with things that happend in my life. 
You know, so many memories of mine are captured in many records and to me it is true magic when music can bring back those feelings you had a long time ago. It doesn't work with every album, but those who can do it are true classics to me! Those records won't get a rating here, because they are all amazing. 
I'm sure there will be many albums you already know, because they are belong to the "big ones", but there will be also some LP's you've probably never heard of. So, you are able to discover new music for you or at least you'll re-discover some older stuff you may have forgotten in all those years. 

Today I'd like to start with an album that isn't very well known: "Saints and Sinners" by Kane Roberts!

CD-Review: Elvenking - "The Pagan Manifesto"

When I read that the guys of Elvenking recorded a new album I was really excited. Some years ago I discovered this band, that combines Power Metal with folk music and anthemic stadium-sized choruses, topped by a pretty good singer, who has much of dirt and attitude in his voice. It was this mixture that made Elvenking so interesting and always special to me. "Red Silent Tides" is still one of my all-time-favorites and also the follow-up "Era" was packed with amazing songs. It seems like nothing could go wrong with the new effort "The Pagan Manifesto" ... or not?

Live-Report: H.E.A.T - Touring Down The Walls European Tour (Berlin, 06.05.2014)

After a great show from Reckless Love on Sunday, another fantastic Melodic Rock group from the North visited Berlin: H.E.A.T! Every fan of the genre should be familiar with this name. They always deliver quality work - you can count on these guys, so I was excited for the show. The concert was a premiere in many ways: it was the kick-off-show to their European tour, the first time that the guys were playing in Berlin and it was the first time that H.e.a.t came to Germany as a headliner.

Live-Report: RECKLESS LOVE - Live in Berlin (04.05.2014)

With "Spirit" the Finnish Glam Rockers of Reckless Love released one of the best party rock records in 2013. During their European Tour the band visited Berlin for the very first time and it was also my first chance to see these guys live on stage. Read here if this ride was worth the money or not.

CD-Review: Darkhorse - "Let It Ride"

These days the debut album from newcomers Darkhorse hit the stores. Ok, "newcomer" seems not to be the right word, because if you take a closer look at the band line-up you'll see that no other than former Danger Danger vocalist Paul Laine founded this band and that makes everything more interesting. Laine was absent for 9 years. At least I haven't heard something new from him for so long and now he is back in the Rock circus with a group that is supposed to be a country rock band. If you are shocked now, then you can skip this review, but open-minded people and fans of the genre may find an insider tip here.

CD-Review: Brother Firetribe - "Diamond In The Firepit"

What a surprise - the Finnish AOR rockers Brother Firetribe are back! Their last album was released back in 2008 and over the years I lost sight of them. Two weeks ago I didn't know that a new album is coming. I didn't expect something new from these guys and now here it is - out of nowhere - the third effort "Diamond In The Firepit". In those six years of silence the band should have had enough time to collect a bunch of great songs.

CD-Review: Timo Tolkki's Avalon - "Angels Of The Apocalypse"

Metal operas and allstar-projects are all the rage in recent years - everyone knows that. In 2013 former Stratovarious guitarist Timo Tolkki jumped on that train and founded a metal opera project called "Avalon". I had mixed feelings about this one: on the one hand it copied a lot from Avantasia, but on the other hand you've found some pretty good earworms and great singers on it. Now, only one year later, Timo Tolkki presents us his second part. I was wondering if the quality of the songs suffers from this short period of time.

CD-Review: Stamina - "Perseverance"

I love the unexpected. Why I'm telling you that? What I mean is it's always exciting to get promo-material from bands you've never heard of before and sometimes you are so surprised that you weren't familiar with a band that delivers this kind of quality music. Same with the Italian Melodic Metal band STAMINA. Founded in 2006 by guitarplayer and songwriter Luca Sellitto the band has released two records so far and I think many of you didn't recognize this. In February their third effort "Perseverance" hit the stores. Let me tell you what you can expect from this one.

CD-Review: Sebastian Bach - "Give 'Em Hell"

Sebastian Bach (ex-Skid Row), the man with tha largest flap in Rock, released a few days ago his new album "Give 'Em Hell". Bach takes every opportunity to tell everybody how great he is and of course he said this from his new effort as well. If megalomania is a disease, Sebastian Bach suffers from it. But what lies behind these big words? Let's find out!

Live-Report: SONATA ARCTICA - Pariah's Child World Tour (Leipzig, 18.04.2014)

First of all I hope everyone of you had a great Easter weekend. For me it started with my first Sonata Arctica show ever. During their "Pariah's Child World Tour" the Finnish Melodic Metal heroes visited Leipzig, Germany on April 18th, 2014. When I arrived at the location ("Hellraiser") I didn't know what to expect from a Sonata Arctica show. I didn't watch any live-videos, I just wanted to be surprised this time.

CD-Review: H.e.a.t. - "Tearing Down The Walls"

H.e.a.t. - the melodic rock icones (yes I would call them like that because they never failed so far) from Sweden came out of nowhere in 2007 and with their first two albums they really set a sign in the melodic rock world. At this time no other band was able to transport this 80's mood in such a fantastic way. Then the big shock: singer Kenny left the band, but luckily the band found in Erik Grönwall another gifted vocalist and the third album "Adress The Nation" was another highlight and their best album so far. Now the new record "Tearing Down The Walls" is out and it has big shoes to fill.

CD-Review: Confess - "JAIL"

The "New Wave of Sleaze Metal" gained a huge fanbase over the last ten years and especially Sweden is the stronghold of Sleaze. Year after year new bands try to find their place in the scene. Some days ago the new Sleaze Metal band CONFESS released their debut album "JAIL". Let's see if they can keep up with the rest of the scene.

CD-Review: Edguy - "Space Police: Defenders Of The Crown"

Here it is - "the best and heaviest Edguy album ever" and by the way "the best Heavy Metal album of all time". At least it was announced like that by mastermind Tobias Sammet. It is well known that Tobi is a little megalomaniac and you shouldn't take everything too serious, but last year he said his new Avantasia record would be the best one and he was damn right. It was my album of the year. So if Mr. Sammet says "here is the best Edguy album ever" expectations are high and what you can read in the press sounds also very promising. So, can this new record do justice to its big hype?

Live-Report: Rock Meets Classic 2014 (Leipzig, 30.03.2014)

Mat Sinner is a genius. Point. Beside his acivities with Primal Fear and Voodoo Circle he made a name for himself with "Rock Meets Classic" in recent time. Year after year he presents us Rock Legends, such as Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Robin Beck, Bonnie Tyler or Steve Augeri (Journey) together with his Mat Sinner band and the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague. You see, the guestlist is pretty long. This "Rock Meets Classic" celebrated its 5th Anniversary and it was a blast. With Alice Cooper (feat. Orianthi), Mick Box & Bernie Shaw (Uriah Heep), Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Rainbow, ex-Deep Purple), Kim Wilde and Midge Ure (Ultravox) Rock Meets Classic featured the best line-up ever. But let's start at the beginning.

Exclusive Interview with TONY KAKKO (Sonata Arctica)

If there is a band that went through many musical changes in the last ten years it has to be the Finnish Melodic Metal band SONATA ARCTICA. When metalheads hear this name they are happy or getting angry. The band is known for Power Metal classics like "Ecleptica" or "Silence", but those records went hand in hand with more progressive albums like "Unia" and "Days Of Grays". The fanbase is split. Now Sonata Arctica come along with a new album, called "Pariah's Child" and it has the difficult task to please old and new fans. Singer and songwriter Tony Kakko took the time to talk with me about the new album, musical development, critics ... and wolves. Here is what he had to say.

CD-Review: Steel Panther - "All You Can Eat"

If you are into 80's Hair Metal, you can't ignore the American cock-Rockers of Steel Panther. In a very short time they've gained a huge fanbase and most of all this is due to their image. Steel Panther are the worst nightmare for feminists, intellectuals,believers and many more. Especially the latter won't be happy when they see the cover artwork to the new album "All You Can Eat". Steel Panther stands for Rock'n'Roll, drugs and sexism like no other band, so the concept is clear. The question is: will this work a third time or is the whole thing worn off?

Exclusive Interview with NILS MOLIN (Dynazty)

Without a doubt Swedish Rockers DYNAZTY are one of the most promising groups in Metal right now. With each album the young band got stronger and stronger and also the forthcoming album "Renatus" is no exception, although Dynazty sound more different this time. The Hard Rock outfit turned into Power Metal, so it was time to ask vocalist Nils Molin some questions about this decision, the departure of Joel Fox Apelgren, Melodifestivalen and much more.

Exclusive Interview with NIC MAEDER (GOTTHARD)

If there is a man, who was not to be envied in 2011 it has to be GOTTHARD vocalist NIC MAEDER. After the tragic death of Steve Lee he had big shoes to fill - and he succeeded.
Now in 2014 he is an integrated band member, that gives the Swiss superstars a more fresh and younger note. The forthcoming record "Bang!" proves it (Review is coming soon). So it was time for me to talk with this very charismatic guy about the new album, the pressure of being the new Gotthard singer and his past. Here is what he had to say. 

CD-Review: Sonata Arctica - "Pariah's Child"

Beside the German band Freedom Call another Power Metal group wants to go a step back to their roots this year. Sonata Arctica are one of those bands that changed their musical style very much over the years. Starting as a traditional Power Metal band they quickly became a Progressive Metal band and the latest output "Stones Grow Her Name" felt more like a very melodic Hard Rock record. "Pariah's Child" was announced as the big revelation for die-hard-fans. Is this true?

CD-Review: Dynazty - "Renatus"

If there is a young talented band from Sweden that could impress me with each new album more and more, it has to be DYNAZTY. They came out of nowhere and with their latest album "Sultans Of Sin" they presented the best Hard Rock record in 2012 in my opinion. Now - two years later - they come along with their follow-up "Renatus" and one thing is for sure: this is their most controversial record to date.

CD-Review: Pretty Maids - "Louder Than Ever"

The Danish cult rockers PRETTY MAIDS don't want to take a break: it's exactly one year ago when Ronnie Atkins and Co. released their latest album "Motherland", which was followed by a long European-Tour. Inbetween they recorded their new effort "Louder Than Ever" - an album that consists of re-recordings from songs of the 1995 - 2006 era, plus four brand new tracks. Let's see if those new versions make sense.