A couple of days ago an album called Life Motion by a band called Intelligent Music Project came up in my Spotify music suggestions. Based on the cover I thought it might be the sort of chilled or ambient instrumentals I listen to when working. On closer examination I saw the names Simon Philips, Ronnie Romero and John Payne across the bottom. I put in on and it kept me company while I worked. The music turned out to be mainly AOR with a hint of progressive elements (if you really used your imagination). Later that night I did some research and found out that the Intelligent Music Project is the brain child of Bulgarian Dr. Milen Vrabevski. In fact, this is the fifth album and like the others it features an all star line up.
New JSS Live Album
I was listening to Human Clay – The Complete Recordings at the weekend and thinking that I much prefer it when he sticks to hard rock or AOR, rather his metal adventures with Sons of Apollo and his own band Soto. Today the news that Jeff Scott Soto has released a live album on digital platforms. It was recorded that the 2019 Frontiers Festival. Not sure what the content of the whole album, but this teaser is the style I prefer. This apparently will be a bonus album to accompany a new solo album due later this year.
Winger – Better Days Comin Jam
All star web jams are all the rage during lockdown.
Winger have done a version of the very appropriate “Better Days Comin’”.
Thanks for the great version and the positive message guys!
Vanden Plas – The Epic Works 1991 – 2015
This box set covers the bands career, including
1 Colour Temple
2 AcCult
3 The God Thing
4 Far Off Grace
5 Spirit of Live
6 Beyond Daylight
7 Christ 0
8 The Seraphic Clockwork
9 Chronicles Of The Immortals: Netherworld [Path One]
10 Chronicles Of The Immortals (Netherworld II)
Axe – Final Offering
Axe, featuring Bobby Barth, have a new album out on the 20th Sept on Escape Music. I haven’t heard anything from the band in a long time. A welcome return to my speakers.
The Defiants -Zokusho
The Defiants, featuring Paul Laine, Bruno Ravel and Rob Marcello, are to unleash more D2 style rocking upon us shortly. If this first sample is anything to go by, it will be well worth exploring.
Innuendo – ei8ht
Innuendo are a band that I reviewed a few times during the 2000’s and then around the mid-2000’s they disappeared off my radar for quite a few years. They then popped up in 2017 with “The Road Not Taken” and here they are again with their eighth album.
They consist of main songwriter Brett Richey who plays guitars/bass/keys together with Pat Laferty on vocals, with Tom Carr completing the lineup on drums. Brett plays in a number of gigging bands, but Innuendo is where he gets to showcase his own songs.
I remember being partial to their 2000’s albums, with ‘three’ being particularly memorable for me. Their last album was a somewhat mellow affair that it took me a few listens to get into. This time the band are giving us the short sharp shock treatment with 11 songs squeezed into 36 mins.
The band describe the music as ‘ultra-melodic, AOR, classic hard pop-rock’ and talk about the music harking back to an era when music made a statement. Their music has evolved from the acoustic hair metal/AOR of their early albums to a more mainstream retro pop-rock sound.
Neal Morse – Jesus Christ The Exorcist
Neal Morse has a new progressive musical released called ‘ Jesus Christ The Exorcist’. It seems it has been in the works for quite some time. The subject matter is pretty obvious from the title. I have only dipped into this and further listening is definitely required. Featuring a variety of singers, it is a great way of bringing the life Jesus to the world.
Stan Bush – The 80’s
Stan Bush has a new single called the 80’s released. Yeah, all melodic rock fans hark back to the 80’s as the heyday of the genre. Needless to say, the spirit of the 80’s are evoked by this slice of nostalgia.
Black Star Riders – Ain’t The End Of The World
The Black Star Riders have a new album called ‘Another State Of Grace’ out on 6 Sept, with single ‘Ain’t The End Of The World’ released ahead of that. A bit of Thin Lizzy mixed with new wave attitude on this one.
Unruly Child – The Hard Way
Another Frontier’s release in the offing is Unruly Child’s ‘Big Blue Word’ album which is released on 9 August.
Eclipse – United
Eclipse have a new single out called ‘United’ ahead of a new album, ‘Paradigm’, which scheduled for release in October. The single has been selected as the official theme for video festival Dreamhack Showdown.
I discovered these guys on the back of W.E.T. as delved into the background of the other members, having originally been attracted to W.E.T. due to Jeff Scott Soto’s involvement as lead singer.
Dennis Ward joins Magnum
Dennis Ward is to replace Alan Barrow as the bassist in Magnum. Since Alan moved Stateside he has been finding it increasingly difficult to meet band commitments. In steps Denis (PC69), who is currently helping the band record their new album which is due for release in 2020. Here is Alan saying goodbye to the fans: