CD-Review: Dion Bayman - "Afterburn"

The Pop/Rock sensation from Down Under is back: Dion Bayman came out of nowhere in 2013 with his album "Smoke & Mirrors", which surprised and impressed me very much back then, so it was easy for Dion to end up in my top list of the best albums last year. Just one year later Mr. Bayman reaches for the stars again with his new record "Afterburn" on September 23rd.

CD-Review: Kissin' Dynamite - "Megalomania"

When it comes to German Metal/Hard Rock acts, Kissin' Dynamite are handled as the big hope in this genre since their very first album, so it's unbelievable that these guys release already their fourth album in September. "Megalomania" is the follow-up to the great "Money, Sex & Power" and has big shoes to fill. The title promises a monster of an album, but what has it really to offer?

CD-Review: Unisonic - "Light Of Dawn"

It's really strange how fast time passes by. It's been two years now since the German "supergroup" Unisonic released their selftitled debut album and to me it doesn't feel like such a long time. Speaking about this one Unisonic had to deal with very mixed reactions from the fanbase and critics. After the single "Unisonic" fans expected singer Michael Kiske to return to his Helloween-roots and at the end of the day this album sounded more like a mixture of Hard Rock and AOR instead of Power Metal. But what about the new album "Light Of Dawn"?

CD-Review: Miss Behaviour - "Double Agent"

Sweden is always good for a surprise. I didn't had the Swedish Melodic Rockers Miss Behaviour on my radar this year. I know their previous record "Last Woman Standing" and had very mixed feelings about it. On the one hand well crafted melodic rock tunes and on the other one just standard fare off the shelf. And now these five guys come along with their new record "Double Agent" on August 29th and one thing is for sure: this album is essential!

CD-Review: NIVA - "Incremental IV"

When it comes to quality AOR music, NIVA was a huge surprise to me in 2013. "Magnitude" was an all-inclusive package for each Melodic Rock fan and just one year later singer and songwriter Tony Niva presents us his follow-up "Incremental IV" on August 29th. You know, I'm always a bit skeptical if music is released in such a short period of time ( take a look at the new Avalaon) and so I didn't know what I should think about the new effort.

CD-Review: Night By Night - "NxN"

The newcomers Night By Night from London are around since 2008 and since that time they were busy with touring (in support of Jettblack, Heaven’s Basement, Alannah Myles, Acey Slade, The Quireboys and so on). So I was wondering why we had to wait so long for the debut album "NxN", because touring without a record is a bit difficult I think. But you know "Good things come to those who wait" and so "NxN" will hit the stores on July 14th. 

R&M4U-Classics: Hardline - "Double Eclipse" (1992)

I think it is time for another "classic": Hardline - "Double Eclipse". In the last two weeks this album rotated very often in my CD-Player again. Hardline are one of those bands, who never got the success they deserved, although well-known musicians were involved in making the debut album. Journey's guitar-player Neal Schon and drummer Deen Castronovo as well as singer Johnny Gioeli (who became the vocalist of Axel Rudi Pell) are responsible for this masterpiece.

Live-Report: RICHIE SAMBORA feat. ORIANTHI live @ Huxley's, Berlin (June 22nd, 2014)

It was around two years ago when I wrote my first live-report to Richie Sambora's "Aftermath Of The Lowdown" show in Berlin. It was the same venue, same people (I've seen lots of people, who attended the show in 2012) and also most of the musicians were the same. So what was different at this evening? First of all of course the appearence of the Australian Rock chick Orianthi, a new setlist and the fact that Richie reached a point in his life where he is absolutely satisfied with himself and with those things he wanted to reach two years ago when he decided to be a solo artist again.

Live-Report: AEROSMITH - The Global Warming Tour (O2 World Berlin, 09.06.2014)

It seems like all those big rock legends love Berlin these days. It's stunning how many great bands played in the capitol of Germany a few days ago. Everything started with Black Sabbath (June 8th). Yesterday (June 10th) the Rolling Stones played their asses off and in just two weeks Bon Jovi guitar-hero Richie Sambora visits the city, too (Live-Report will follow). Yeah and another legend came to town: the "bad boys from Boston", Aersomith, visited Berlin during their Global Warming tour on June 9th, 2014! It was my first Aerosmith show and I waited a very long time to see them live ... up to 12 years.

CD-Review: Night Ranger - "High Road"

Another institution in Rock is about to release a new album these days: the new effort from the American arena-rockers Night Ranger is called "High Road" and singer Jack Blades describes it as the perfect summer feel-good record. Their last album "Somewhere In California" was released three years ago and had everything a Night Ranger fan could ask for.

R&M4U-Classics: Johnny Lima - "Version 1.2" (2005)

In my last Classic-post I told you, that I was looking for some more stuff in the vein of older Bon Jovi after I've listened to their suberb album "New Jersey". To my luck I found lots of great bands and musicians with a similar style, but nobody else could blew my mind like JOHNNY LIMA did. I just can say it again and again: Lima is one of the most underrated musicians in the Melodic Rock scene. He deserves so much more. He is an excellent songwriter, a pretty good singer and producer, who has much more to offer than the well-known "top-acts" of the scene nowadays. If you need a proof just listen to his album "Version 1.2" from 2005!

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.