CD-Review: Sonata Arctica - "Ecliptica-Revisited: 15th Anniversary Edition"

2014 is going to be THE year for the Finnish Melodic Metal heroes of Sonata Arctica. In March a fantastic new album ("Pariah's Child") was released, a world tour followed and now a re-recorded version of the bands first LP "Ecliptica" hit the stores. I don't know where they have taken the time to record this album, but it is set to be a celebration of the 15th anniversary of their debut.

Special: Blu-Ray Review - ALICE COOPER Raise The Dead - Live From Wacken

I think there are countless Alice Cooper compilations and live-records out there, but just a few of them do justice to the master. The most impressive live document to date is the "Theater Of Death" - show from Hammersmith. Since Alice lets us wait for a new studio album for three years now another live record hit the stores these days: Alice live from Wacken during his Raise The Dead Tour in 2013.

CD-Review: Allen/Lande - "The Great Divide"

In 2005 Frontiers Records united Symphony X singer Russell Allen and ex-Masterplan fronter Jorn Lande for a project that should  become their most important effort on the Metal market: Allen/Lande. Under the leading hand of mastermind Magnus Karlsson they created with "The Battle" one of the best Melodic Metal albums in the last decade and two more strong records followed. Fans demanded a fourth album and they had to wait four long years. Finally "The Great Divide" hit the stores these days and it makes some things very different.

CD-Review: Vega - "Stereo Messiah"

When I first heard of Vega back in 2010 I thought this is just another Frontiers AOR project, but look what they have become: a very good Melodic Rock act, that gave us some amazing songs on two albums and a band that is known for their continuity. You can count on these guys and so it is no wonder that the third effort "Stereo Messiah" has again a bunch of hits to offer.

CD-Review: Billy Idol - "Kings & Queens Of The Underground"

How time flies by - nine years ago Punk legend Billy Idol released his latest record "Devil's Playground" - a fantastic piece of Rock'n'Roll. This record took my heart by storm with its dirty and rough attitude and I couldn't wait for a follow-up, but in all those years my hopes faded away. So you can imagine how excited I was when I heard of a new Billy Idol record and finally "Kings & Queens Of The Underground" found its way into my CD-player. Was it worth the wait?