Escape Music 2002
Review by 26 October 2002

Here's another Japan only release which now finally sees the light of day in Europe. "Extra Strong Strings" is the first solo album by TNT guitarist Ronnie LeTekro and it was originally released back in 1999.

LeTekro also took care of all the lead vocals for the first time here, a task he handles pretty good. He may not be a power vocalist a-la Tony Harnell (TNT), but at least he knows his limits and doesn't screw up things too much [:-)]. This is not an instrumental album as I almost expected it to be at first. Nah, this is a very diverse sounding album with both POP & Rock tunes.

Magna Carta 2003
Review by 3 July 2003

This is neither the new solo album by Joey Tempest [Europe], nor the resurrection of that 80's band with Jamie Rowe [Guardian, Adriangale]. It's rather the latest release by these high-energy folk-rockers, which play ab fab music in both celtic [mostly] and norse tradition.

Modern Folk/Rock fans has been stomping their feets and clapping their hands to the music of Tempest ever since 1988. They are strangely enough based in the San Francisco Bay Area, even though their members comes from all different parts of the world. The great norse and Norwegian musician Leif Sorbye [vocals/mandolin] is really one of the leading musician of its genre.

Now & Then 1996
Note: This is still the original review...
Review by

This band features Gary Hughes, once mentioned as the UK's answer to Michael Bolton, and Vinny Burns from Dare. A great band and a very good album for sure. I especially like the vocals, Gary Hughes is one damn good vocalist. He manages to sound like Lou Gramm, David Coverdale, Darren Wharton of Dare and Tommy La Verdi of 21 Guns on the same album!

Musically this band reminds me of Giant or a heavier version of Foreigner. My favourites are "The Torch" with its Whitesnake meets Foreigner-vibe, "Stay With Me", the epic "Loneliest Place In The World"... Actually, I like them all! Great stuff.

TEN: "Name Of The Rose"

MTM 1996
Review by

The second album from Ten was a slight disappointment to me. It's a good album, but now there are a few songs that don't really appeal to me. "Turn Around" (a soft and fluffy ballad) and "You're My Religion" (Groovy...) have the questionable honour of being the two worst Ten songs so far, IMHO. There is a lot of good stuff on this album too, though. For example "Don't Cry", "The Rainbow" and "The Guest" are all excellent.

Overall, this is somewhat heavier than the first album, as the title song and "Wings Of The Storm" prove. Actually, the latter reminds me a lot of the Yngwie Malmsteen tune "Rising Force" from his "Odyssey"-album. By the way, it seems that the band has borrowed a few song titles from Asia. "Wildest Dreams", "Don't Cry"...???

Frontiers 1998
Review by

It seems that every Ten album is heavier than the previous one, and "Spellbound" surely is quite heavy and very guitar-oriented. I now see the point of the Gary Hughes' solo album, because with this album Ten has moved further away from AOR. The songs on "Spellbound" would sound quite out of place on Hughes' "Precious Ones" - and vice versa.

I find myself enjoying parts of this album very much, but on the other hand there are a few songs which do not appeal to me at all. I love the bombastic opener "Feel The Force", which must be one of the best Ten songs ever, but really rather skip the uptempo rocker "Inside The Pyramid Of Light". The title song is a good track again, similar to Led Zeppelin (or Whitesnake's "Still Of The Night", for more modern reference), but with a huge melodic chorus.

The first of three ballads is "We Rule The Night", lots of celtic influences there. The celtic thing continues with "Red", an uptempo track in the vein of Gary Moore's "Wild Frontier".

The rest of the album consists of 3 rockers, of which my vote goes to the "first album-era Ten"-like "Eclipse", and two ballads. The brilliant "Wonderland" is also one of the finest Ten-tunes ever, but the other ballad "Till The End Of Time" doesn't seem to go anywhere.

Frontiers/Now & Then 2000
Review by

The last two studio albums by Ten have been hit-and-miss affairs, but with "Babylon" they have come up with a more of a solid package. Their last album "Spellbound" hinted that were drifting further into the metal territory, but this album sees them taking a step back towards a more melodic style. "Babylon" is a concept album, a tragic love story set up in the year 2999. The story deals with such issues as love, death and revenge...

"Babylon" is the first Ten album to feature new keyboardist Don Airey, and the keys are quite upfront. The opening number "The Stranger" is a good indication of that, with its' majestic keyboard riff. It also shows that the boys haven't abandoned their AOR roots, as it loaded with melody and hooks.

"Barricade" is a heavier track, but with a strong hook that reminds me of vocalist Gary Hughes' solo album. "Give In This Time" is a nice surprise, a fullblown AOR track bringing back memories of the classic first Ten album. I wasn't expecting them to return to this style, but I am happy they did. "Love Became The Law" is another melodic track that borrows a musical idea or two from Signal's "Wake Up You Little Fool". A good midtempo track nevertheless.

"The Heat" is the first "skippable" track, not bad but nothing to write home about. "Silent Rain" is yet another in the long line of Hughes' monster ballads, just as brilliant as they tend to be! "Timeless" is a heavy rocker but quite melodic all the same, while "Black Hearted Woman" is a hyper-melodic uptempo song and no doubt one of the highlights for me here.

"Thunder In Heaven" is the kind of a track I was afraid that this album might have been full of - a heavy rocker not too far from the likes of Iron Maiden! Thankfully it's an one of a kind event..."Valentine" is another ballad, but not quite as good as "Silent Rain". It ends the album and the story, but don't worry, I won't give away the ending...

Frontiers/Now & Then 2001
Review by 20 November 2001

Despite the fact that there's obviously something wrong in the Kingdom Of Ten with Vinny Burns leaving the band on the eve of the release of this album, this is by far the most satisfying effort from Ten since the legendary debut. "Far Beyond The World" seems to concentrate on the melodic side of mainman Gary Hughes' songwriting, and gone are attempts to sound like Iron Maiden. The production (by Mr. Hughes again) isn't quite as "overblown" as it sometimes tends to be, although you will get your share of layered background vocals...but then again, if you're after minimalistic style of production, you might have typed the wrong URL!

The album opens with no fancy intros, straight into "Glimmer Of Evil", a heavy midtempo track with a strong chorus. "Strange Land" is an awesome melodic rocker with another emotional, strong chorus and some cool melodic guitarplaying from the now-departed Burns. "Classic" Ten!

"High Tide" is an uptempo track slightly in the vein of Whitesnake, but with a very GaryHughes-like big refrain. "What About Me" is the first of the two ballads, solid as always but perhaps not one the top ballads from this band. It is followed by a very heavy rocker called "The Last Of The Lovers", albeit the heaviness is balanced by smooth, melodic pre-chorus and chorus parts. "Outlawed And Notorious" and "Scarlet And The Grey" are both good tracks, not fillers but less exceptional than some of the others, like the next one for instance. "Heart Of The Lion" is a moody number with slowish verses and a hook that attacks you like...eh...a lion maybe? "Black Shadows" is a very good fastpaced number with plenty of melody, while "Who Do You Want To Love" is a keyboard-driven, lighter track that will most definitely please the fans of the AOR side of Ten. Finally, there's the title track, a good ballad that could easily be the next hit single for Backstreet Boys with a little re-arranging.

There you have it. The best TEN album since the debut and one of the best albums of 2001.

Frontiers 1999
Review by

This Dutch band has reached some success in Japan, and are now trying to do the same in Europe. They might actually succeed, as they have a good album under their belt!

What we have here is an album full of good Scandinavian-sounding hard rock/AOR. Yes, I know that they aren't Scandinavian, but they do sound a lot like Skagarack, Bad Habit or Return. Occasionally there are touches of Journey there, especially on the ballads, but mostly we're talking about uptempo hookladen "happy summer AOR".

The highlights are "Wild Thing", which has very catchy guitar riff, "Promise You Wait", the keyboard-oriented "Right Now" and the very catchy "Those Were The Days", which really should be one of the summer hits of '99! The rest of them aren't too bad either, so if you're in the mood for some catchy summer AOR, go and pick this up!

Sanctuary Records 2004
Review by Vesa Nuorala,
31 March 2004

After ten years of vacation, the TESLA guys are back in business and what a comeback. None of the bands from the same era can come close with their comeback CDs. It seems like the guys never went away and they didn’t but as Tesla they were on vacation. The guys are already „Into The Now" with this cd.

The sound is typical Tesla but this does not mean that they’re stuck in the past, just the opposite. Jeff sounds as good as ever and so does everybody in the band. The songs are great and from the start the cd takes a hold of you and doesn’t let go until it is over, but then you want to play it again. Some songs like "Into The Now","Caught In A Dream" and „Mighty Mouse" are really to my liking and I could mention every song on this cd because there are no fillers on this CD. If this CD doesn’t do well I’ll be very suprised because it has the sound that muight please to the ones who have never heard of Tesla before but like this type of music and the old fans should all get this CD.

Nitrus Records 2004
Review by Urban "Wally" Wallström,
22 January 2004

Wroom Wroom! Wroooom Wroooom!! Wrooooooooom Wrooooooooom!!! Aaarrrggghhh!!! Splatter Splatter!!! Aaarrrggghhh!!! The Horror, The Horror!!! Hmmm... I always thought that Jackyl (and their Lumberjack song), would be the first band up on a CD such as this. Too obvious choice I guess and not even the old band 'Leatherface' is included, bummer. Instead you'll get a collection of s**t heavy acts with lots of previous unreleased material.

I remember seeing 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' on VCR as a small kid in the 80's. The Swedish Video censur had pratically turned it into a 15 minute long/short flick and you couldn't understand a thing really. The eight year old kiddies of today don't know how "lucky" they are [:-)]. The new recording of this cult movie will perhaps not cause as much attention, but the soundtrack is at least better this time.

Versailles Records 1999
Review by

This CD features 14 up-and-coming bands performing their favourite (?) eighties' metal and hard rock songs. It's an interesting collection of faithful and not-so-faithful versions of songs by such bands as Twisted Sister, White Lion, Guns' N Roses and Dokken. The performers include American Dog (featuring members of Salty Dog and Dangerous Toys), Southern Rock All Stars (featuring guys from Blackfoot and Molly Hatchet) plus a dozen or so less familiar names.

American Dog have chosen to cover Twisted Sister's "Under the Blade", and they do a pretty mean and nasty version of it. Cage's "Freewheel Burning" (Judas Priest) sounds quite faithful to the original, just like Southern Rock All Stars' "Don't Believe A Word" (Thin Lizzy). LA's Guttersluts' "Welcome To The Jungle" is a one twisted version of the G'N'R track, sounding a bit like Marilyn Manson. Premonition do a very convincing Ozzy imitation with "I Don't Know", while Straightjacket Smile's "Photograph" sounds quite a lot like the original Def Leppard classic, without the glossy production though.

Quiet Riot may have been better known for their Slade covers, but Wraith have decided to choose their "Metal Health" as their contribution to this compilation. One for the "faithful versions" category, which cannot be said of Salvo's "Orgasmatron", even though I haven't heard the Motorhead original. Salvo's version features totally computrized vocals and a very industrial sound, and it might shock a few Lemmy-fans!

Tempered Steel perform Iron Maiden's "Revelations" quite faithfully even though the vocals cannot match Dickinson's, while Detox Darlings turn Faster Pussycat's "Smash Alley" into an even sleazier number than the original. Black Widow version of Dokken's "When Heaven Comes Down" is a heavier one, and the female vocals make quite a difference. Red Hot are a Mötley Crüe cover band, and try their best to duplicate the sound of "Kickstart My Heart", with reasonable results. O.C.D. turn Alice Cooper's "I Love The Dead" (from the seventies?) into an almost unrecognizable song. Last but not least, Mudbone, who are actually the same band as Straightjacket Smile, have a go with While Lion's "Wait", and do a very good version.

A very interesting concept, and some very interesting versions. I'll have to keep an eye espcially on Straightjacket Smile/Mudbone, their versions were quite good...

Indie 2004
Review by Kimmo Toivonen, 27 May 2003

This new Finnish group isn't easy to describe, as they manage to cross genre-boundaries during just one song! Lead by vocalist/guitarist Kari Härkönen, The Portion aren't your typical rock band. To start with, Kari's vocals are quite unique, the only vocalist I can compare him to is that guy from Brainstorm, the Latvian (?) band who had a hit with their Eurovision song contest entry "My Star". In fact, "Little Piece Of Love" reminds me strongly of that track...most definitely for an acquired taste, both the track and the vocals, which are quite high-pitched.

For the common hard rock fan more tolerable would be "Out Of My Thoughts Control", a rock track with good riffs, somehow reminding me of Hanoi Rocks. "Time" is also worth mentioning if only for the fact that it combines progressive rock and britpop with a chorus that reminds me of Stratovarius - only without the double bass drums!

The Portion are worthy of checking out for those always on the lookout for something a bit different, and possibly the fans Brainstorm. Visit the band's website for more information.

Regular Guy Records 2003
Review by 15 March 2003

The highly anticipated return of former ICON main man Dan Wexler has taken place, and it's with a new band called THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE. The band also features Michael Nitro on bass, Dave Fiorini on vocals/guitar and Jimmy D. on drums. However, TITT has very little in common with Icon. No, there are no traces of eighties' style metal or AOR of Icon's classic "Night Of The Crime" album, instead you'll get an album full of heavy rock tracks from a band that sounds like a southern rock band on steroids mixed with Metallica!

The first album from the band is very well produced, and the band seriously rocks. Vocalist/guitarist Fiorini is a good find, and the other guys deliver a real sonic fury to back him up. However, I just can't get too excited over the songs. Although the band's bio states the sound is "based upon good hard rock and killer melody", I just didn't find any of the latter here. Maybe the band tried to stay away from "commercial" choruses, but for me, a great hook is what makes a great song, and as much as I wanted to, there isn't a song here that really moved me.

The band states that they are doing what they really want and I say more power to them, but hopefully the next time around they want to add real killer melodies to the songs. They might be an unstoppable force then.

BMG/Jive 2003
Review by Kimmo Toivonen,
23 May 2004

Three Days Grace has sold a cool half a million copies of this album in the US, but their fame hasn't really spread to this side of the bond yet - at least they were completely unfamiliar to these ears. However, they do sound familiar - so much that I can not help but to compare them to two current hit rock bands, Nickelback and Linkin Park. One might add a touch of Metallica and Creed to the mix as well...obviously from these ingredients one comes up with something that's appealing to the rock radio programming directors. It doesn't hurt to be on a major label either!

So, we're dealing with aggressive modern rock here. It's not nu-metal really, but they might end up being lumped with the likes of Linkin Park, because there are lots of similarities, and I could imagine LP fans enjoying this album as well. The choruses are certainly similary attitude-fuelled, with the vocalist almost screaming rather than singing his lines. However, TDG doesn't mess around with rap or scratching, which does make them a lot more tolerable for me...

Inside Out 2004
Review by Martien Koolen,
10 March 2004

After six highly acclaimed studio albums, Threshold finally release their first live album. Eighteen songs on two CDS, recorded in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands, prove that Threshold has become Great Britain’s premiere progressive rock/metal band.

Their last studio album “Critical Mass"(2002) was one of my favorite progressive albums of that year and on this live recording you can enjoy four tracks from their most successful album to date: “Phenomenon"(great opener), “Choices", “Falling Away" and “Fragmentation"( a real live killer). This live album spans all six studio albums so from the debut “Wounded Land"(1993): “Sanity’s End" and “Paradox", “Psychedelicatessen (1994) is featured with: “Sunseeker" and “Innocent", from Extinct Instinct (1997): “Virtual Isolation", “Clear" and “Life Flow"(the acoustic version). Mac (Sargant Fury) became the new, permanent lead singer, since “Clone", which is featured with “Angels", “The Latent Gene" and “Sunrise On Mars". The last four tracks are from their first Inside Out release “Hypothetical", “Oceanbound", “Long Way Home", “Narcissus"(hybrid version) and “Light And Space".

Spinefarm Records 2003
Review by 8 november 2003

Somehow I’ve managed to go all these years with ever getting to know Throne Of Chaos that closer, except from compilations and one demo. TOC, as they go today, was already formed back in the mid ninetees in Finland. I must say I’m very impressed with ”Loss Angeles”. The band’s name might give you the wrong impression of their music even after they’ve changed it, but the promo picture leads more closer to their sound, though the guys look like a cross between a ’70’ies hippie and a hard rocker. But they’re more than that. In the early days TOC’s music was more influenced by growling vocals and black metal with keys, but today their music is mixing lots of influences.

Titles such as ”Acid Highway”, ”Mary Lou Is Dead”, ”Bite The Bullet” and ”Break-A-Neck” give you an example of their sound, think about what images they give you. There’s basic hard rock, hippie, groovy elements, melancholy and growling’s still there in the small scale. Add a bit of prog (say Pain Of Salvation, Dream Theater) in it and you’re pretty much there. The whole album is a moody package and yet hiding inside of all that appears this entertaining side of the band. The short, entertaining parts show these guys are capable of more than what is heard here. And at times songs such as ”Mary Lou Is Dead”, ”Acid Highway”, ”Blue Lady” and ”Bite The Bullet” reach that certain Sub-Urban Tribe lightness and atmosphere and bring out this pop side from TOC, which suites the band too. Both that and the heavier side work great.

Tuomas Nieminen has improved from his early days as a singer (his other band being Bride Adorned, who are also showing improvement) and it’s a pleasure to listen to him, he’s very versatile and really lives the songs and gives emotion to them. And the band gives its everything, which shows. TOC has a sense for style and each song is a masterpiece. Even their cover of the old and too often played ”Smoke On The Water” is amazing, TOC has given it more rage and speed and the outcome is only following the old version in the chorus, otherwise it sounds really fresh and really gives a new meaning to the song and a new spark. ”Loss Angeles” has the soft side for girls and the edge, testo and kick-ass drive for guys, definitely one of the best albums that have come out this year.

STC Recordings, 2002
Review by 17 March 2003

After calling it quits, they’re back with a CD that will satisfy every need of a Thunder fan and also hopefully some new fans will also join the rest of us.

Luke Morley has penned all of the ongs on this CD and he surely knows how to write a good tune. In my opinion, this is probably the best Thunder album after their debut. It seems like the break did some good for the guys. They sound really good and Danny hasn’t lost his good voice. It is one of the best parts of Thunder and with Morley writing great tunes they should be back in the limelight again.

I’m not going into details here but in my opinion there is no weak track here and it’s solid Thunder all the way. Personal favorites are “Loser”, “ Everybody’s Laughing” and “Somebody Get Me A Spin Doctor” - now somebody please explain me what does “Spin Doctor” mean.

Frontiers 2003
Review by 2 August 2003

One of the better... if not the best comeback album of the year? Indeed, Thunder is back in excellent shape with the roaring sound from their debut album I may add. You could say they've been "forced" to return to their roots... to be able to progress somehow.

This is the official European release of "Shooting At The Sun", now at Frontiers Records with two bonus live tracks and a live video included. Errr... at least that's what following info sheet says, since my promo copy doesn't hold any bonus tracks??? Let's hope they are recorded in A+ sound quality as "River Of Pain" (also as live video) & "Somebody Get Me A Spin Doctor", are both great songs. The latter is of course one of the "new" songs, taken from this very album.

Indie 2001
Review by 13 december 2001

By accident I bumped into this finnish metal band in the net and of course got interested, since most of the band members are from different bands that are already known in Finland. The guys are Nino Laurenne-guitars, Pasi Rantanen- vocals, Titus Hjelm-bass, Mirka Rantanen-drums and Kari Tornack-keys.

To those who don’t know these guys, here’s some info: Nino and Titus used to play in a band called Antidote in the ‘90’ies and they released 3 albums, Pasi used to sing in a band called Heat together with Jari Kainulainen of Stratovarius and Mirka Rantanen of Tunnelvision/Warmen, but they never released anything which is a shame. Kari also comes from Tunnelvision (recorded one album) and has played in tons of other bands too. All of these guys have been in the music business for a long time and it shows on this cd.

The cd consists of 5 songs, three slower ones and two that are a mix of powermetal and the 80’ies metal. One of them, “Let The Demons Free” reminded me somehow of the german band Gamma Ray and it even was more in the german powermetal style. The first song “Me, My Enemy” is sheer speed and power, a really great fast song. The slower “World’s Cry” is kinda dramatic like the title says, with a great chorus, “Voice In A Dream” could be an 80’ies song with a good mood in it and “Spread My Wings” is a good ballad. Throughout the cd you can hear keys in the vein of Dream Theater, something that you can also hear on Tunnelvision and what would be better than sounding like Dream Theater in my books !

Nuclear Blast 2003
Review by 25 november 2003

”I Will Save You, Even If You Don’t Want Me To”...ah, what a nice thought from the melodic powermetal band Thunderstone. This album really saved the end of the year 2003 for me, though ”The Burning” will be out in the stores January the 12th 2004. But don’t worry metalheads, Thunderstone haven’t gone all softie. And besides, this punchline is taken from their really fast song ”Tin Star Man”, not a ballad. ”The Burning” has one ballad though, ”Sea Of Sorrow”, and it’s a very classy one, staying true to the old Thunderstone ballads like ”Spread My Wings”, keeping you in its melancholic grip. Add some more speed and you get ”Mirror Never Lies” and ”Forth Into The Black”, later one being very heavy though. Then it’s pedal to the metal, the most mindblowing party tracks being ”Until We Touch The Burning Sun”, ”Break The Emotions”, ”Tin Star Man”, ”Spire”, ”Side By Side”, ”Drawn To The Flame” and ”Evil Within”. These must bring even a mummy back to life! A frenzy tempo rules all over. Thunderstone is like a manic roaster, ”The Burning” you feel in every cell of your body when you listen to this.

Comparing to Thunderstone’s first self-titled album, ”The Burning” has heavier sounds and songs and the tracks are more faster too. The first album had more classic metal and hard rock influences, where ”The Burning” leans more towards powermetal. The Sonata Arctica-style keyboard and guitar parts have even more room here than before. If there’s a twin dimension somewhere, ”Evil Within” is having a good competition with ”Wolf & Raven” in the soloparts, though not exactly following it note for note. Pasi Rantanen sings even better than before, going higher and having more power in his voice and seems like all the members in the band had a blast playing these songs, each of them going from beginning to end like they’re about to take their last breath, with unbelievable energy. What a lively band !

It’s hard to compare which album is better though. Where ”The Burning” is much better with sounds and the energetic fast songs, ”Thunderstone” follows right next to it with it’s more traditional touch. And both albums give that nice tingling in your toes and shivers down your spine with their great powerful harmonies, choruses, vocals and the melancholia. Both albums have about two songs that are quite average in my books, but still very good even as average. ”Side By Side” and ”Drawn To The Flame” broke the spell a bit here, so it wasn’t a total ten points of magic, but very near to it. ”The Burning” is a very balanced album, which blows emotions through the roof. It makes you sigh deeply from the emotional charge. Even when the guys are heavy and playing tough guys, they touch you and make you drop a tear. And when they’re soft, they’re still heavy. Thunderstone is a very classy band and I have to wonder how perfect can you be?

Scarlet Records 2002
Review by Martien Koolen 5 October 2002

I really enjoyed their first album “The Lasting Power”; an excellent Italian power metal album which I still like to listen to once in a while. Their second album “Hastings 1066” is a concept cd about the battle between the Normans and the Saxons and the glorious victory of William The Conquerer.

If you like Rhapsody and epic metal opera songs, then this album will be a real killer for you. Great dramatic singing by Dario Grillo and the support of the Teatro Massimo choir (from Sicily) make this album a true metal opera like you have never heard before. All the tracks have great orchestral progressive arrangements and sometimes you even hear classical influences. Songs like “Echoes Of War” or “The Scream Of Taillefer” are filled with different tempos and rhythms, which makes it very difficult for the listener to really get into them, not to mention sing along!!.

Locomotive Music/Rock inc 2003
Review by 24 May 2003

Have you ever wondered how Iron Maiden would sound like if Bruce would be singing in Spanish? Well, just try out this new album of Spanish rockers Tierra Santa and you will have an idea… These four guys have been together since 1997 and “Indomable” is their fifth album already and without any doubt this is their best release so far.

Songs like “Las Walkinas” show their great talent for composing and playing melodic power metal; this is a track that wonders around in your head for days... Undoubtedly the excellent singer Angel and the catchy choruses make you want to sing a long every time you listen to this record.