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N.O.W – Force Of Nature

At age six, Alec Mendonça stumbled across the Boston debut album along with some old Beatles records which changed his life forever. When he turned 14, he started playing more professionally and got a Luthier home made bass. At age 18, his grandmother offered him the opportunity to have either a car or a decent bass. Although every single hormone in his body urged for a car, he went with his heart and got his first fender Jazz Bass special, even recording an album in 1996 that had some airplay in Brazil, but then it all came to a halt due to sickness in the family. After a hiatus of 14 years taking care of family business, Alec Mendonça was finally back to the world he loved, the music world. There were so many tunes popping up into his mind that he decided to form a band and make a record out of it. N.O.W. was born then, and by joining forces with stellar Brazilian keyboardist Jean Barros, all the basis of the songs were done in Studio 430. After 3 months, Alec put down 12 songs! Alec had to travel to the studio so many times he lost count of that, sometimes spending the whole day away from home for months, but it was worth it. With the demo CD in hand, he only wanted the right vocals to do it and although Alec can sing, his voice is more of a background voice. Taking his chances, he decided to send the tapes to some people he knew through the internet and caught the attention of gifted vocalist Philip Bardowell (ex-Peter Criss, Ace Frehley from KISS, ex-Beach Boys, ex-Unruly Child) who loved the songs so much that he decided to sing the songs for Alec. Philip said and I quote : “Alec, I’ll pour my heart into your songs” and by what you hear on this album, you can be sure he did! Guitarist Carlos Ivan brought a touch of uniqueness to the album as well, making his guitar lines sound vintage but current at the same time. All the songs reflect some stories that happened in my life or in the life of people I miss or lost.

After only 10 days of putting up the new tunes on MySpace page, Alec got in touch with Escape Music and the deal was secured for this release. The rest I hope becomes history … as you can be sure that a lot of love and emotion have been put into the making of this album, it’s a 32-year-dream coming finally true ... so enjoy and play it loud! To be released on February 19, 2010.

December 24, 2009 Barrie Kirtley

Jayce Landberg – Good Sleepless Night

Swedish guitarist and composer Erik Jayce Landberg was born in the winter of 1977. Due to his father’s professional commitments, he saw himself growing up in the countryside, between Stockholm and Switzerland. Being exposed to a constant change of cultures, Jayce developed a strong interest in art and poetry, but had originally no interest in playing music.

However, after his mother’s repeated pressure to play an instrument like the piano or the violin, he saw himself confronted with a difficult choice. At age 14, he finally gave in and decided to pick up the guitar and soon after immersed himself in composition and writing from the very beginning. The piano was Jayce’s next choice, on which he later composed pieces like “Winter” and “Marilyn”. Being exposed to rock and classical music simultaneously, he soon absorbed the essence of the two genres and originally endeavoured to combine them like his predecessors Malmsteen and Uli Jon Roth. At 18 Jayce left his Swiss household to permanently relocate to Stockholm were he joined several bands until he finally met with singer Göran Edman (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum, Vindictiv). The two of them set up to record two songs, “Lost Without You” co-written with Göran and the epic ballad “Marilyn” which Jayce originally wrote as a classical music piece. The recording was released as a single in Europe and attracted soon the attention of record companies abroad. As a result, Jayce signed a deal with Escape Music to record his debut album “Break The Spell” (ESM178) also featuring Göran on vocals. “Break The Spell” was a great way to introduce Jayce, and this second release sees him hone his sound to perfection and this array of songs will appeal to fans of guitar orientated rock/metal in the vein of Yngwie Malmsteen.

The new release, “Good Sleepless Night”, sees Jayce effortlessly turning out fantastic tunes and beautiful guitar passages backed up with a great rhythm section and, of course, Göran Edman and Mark Boals (track 8 - Invasion) handling vocals. The inclusion of John Léven (Europe) on bass is the icing on the cake.

Jayce has matured into a great guitar player and songwriter and this new release is a magnificent showcase of his talents, undoubtedly a great start to 2010. The release date is February 19, 2010.

December 23, 2009 Barrie Kirtley

Avenue Of Allies Music update

In addition to the specialised melodic rock retailers, the physical CD of the Stargazer album, as well as Fire’s “Thrill Me” and “History Of A Bad Boy” by The Steve Grimm Band, is now listed on http://www.cdbaby.com . All albums will shortly also be available worldwide as digital downloads from iTunes, Amazon, Napster, Rhapsody and others.

Avenue Of Allies’ first release in 2010 will be Sora’s “Desire And Truth”. A guitar oriented classic rock and melodic hard rock album featuring Erol Sora (John Lawton Band). The band’s second album is recapturing the spirit and sound of great British bands from the late 70s/early 80s such as MSG, Whitesnake, Rainbow, UFO and Gary Moore. The CD will be in stores on February 26, 2010.

March 2010 will see the release of the solo debut of Sven Larsson, guitar player for the Swedish AOR band Street Talk. “Sunlight And Shadow” is a celebration of Sven’s love for westcoast AOR, showcasing his renowned guitar skills and including guest appearances of his Street Talk colleagues. We can look forward to an album in the classic Toto-vein with hints of Journey and Steve Lukather’s solo albums.

December 21, 2009 Gregor Klee

December 18, 2009 Chris Lambert

Giant – Promise Land

Giant, the powerhouse rock quartet, now formed by founding members David Huff and Mike Brignardello, together with Terry Brock and John Roth, will unleash their highly anticipated fourth album, “Promise Land”, on the international markets.

Formed by the brothers Dann and David Huff, together with the experienced jazz-rock keyboardist Alan Pasqua and Nashville session bass player Mike Brignardello, Giant would soon become, with the release of their debut album “Last Of The Runaways” (A&M Records, 1989), one of the most respected trademark bands of the melodic hard rock scene. Following countless live performances, the band recorded the follow-up “Time To Burn” (Epic, 1991), an album still regarded as a main source of influence for many melodic and hard rock bands nowadays.

With the sudden change of musical climate and after another world tour without Pasqua, Giant disbanded, with their members becoming involved again in different projects. Particularly Giant’s frontman and lead guitarist Dann Huff went on to become one of the most in-demand producers of our era, working in the rock, pop and country music with countless artists including Shania Twain, Megadeth, Faith Hill, Madonna and Bon Jovi.

In 2001, the Italian uprising melodic rock indie Frontiers Records, prompted Giant to release “III”, an album that would landmark the rise the new melodic rock scene, particularly in Europe.

Unfortunately Dann’s busy schedule along with the other members’ commitments, made the reunion impossible to carry on as planned. However the vision of bringing back Giant as a living band unit, with a recording and touring line-up and with of course the possibility to offer the enormous legacy of the music produced was developed, until it became apparent that Dann Huff could not be a full part of this concept, even though he loved everything that Giant was. Thus original members, drummer David Huff and bassist Mike Brignardello, started an endless search for the right musicians that could be part of a renewed Giant line-up. And in the end the choice fell on singer extraordinaire Terry Brock (Strangeways, Seventh Key) and John Roth (Winger) on guitars.

In April 2009 the band started the writing and the recording sessions of the new album, with Dann Huff himself participating to the sessions, co-writing with the new line-up members the haunting ballad “Our Love” and the straight out rockers “Double Trouble”, “Plenty Of Love” and “Save Me”. He offered songs from his catalogue, such as the album title track, “Through My Eyes” (both co-written with Mark Spiro) and “Two Worlds”. He also later guested on lead guitars on “Save Me” and “Believer (Redux)”, the latter being a song written by Erik Martensson and Robert Sall of new melodic rock sensations W.E.T. with Miqael Persson (with two more: “Never Surrender” and “Prisoner Of Love” fruit of the Martensson/Persson collaboration).

“We have worked so hard and we are very happy and proud of this record, along with Dann”, says David Huff and truly the production and band members’ songwriting and performances shine all over the album!

“Promise Land” includes the following songs: Believer (Redux); Promise Land; Never Surrender; Our Love; Prisoner Of Love; Two Worlds; Plenty Of Love; Through My Eyes; I’ll Wait For You; Dying To See You; Double Trouble; Complicated Man*, Save Me. The album also includes “The Making Of Promise Land” documentary - interactive multimedia bonus.
*Bonus track only available in the first pressing in digipak

“Promise Land” was mixed by Ben Fowler (Van Zandt, Cher, Meat Loaf) and mastered by Joe Palmaccio (3 Grammy Awards).

December 18, 2009 Mario de Riso

Rick Springfield-Jeff Silverman – From The Vault

Frontiers Records will release “From The Vault (A collection of works by Rick Springfield and Jeff Silverman)”, including previously unreleased and remastered demos and a new edition of Rick Springfield’s hit album “Venus In Overdrive” on February 26, 2010.
Frontiers Records is set to release a collection of newly mastered and some previously unreleased demos from Grammy Award winner Rick Springfield and veteran producer, engineer, songwriter and lead guitar player from his first touring band, Jeff Silverman. Springfield and Silverman started recording together in the late 70s. “I would go to (Jeff’s) studio when I wanted to record some really great sounding demos”, says Springfield. “We also wrote quite a few songs together, which was something I hadn’t done with another musician before”. Silverman states: “Rick and I discovered that we had a great deal in common. Our professional relationship began to evolve into more than just playing live. It grew to recording his demos together, writing together and eventually making records together.”

“From The Vault (A collection of works by Rick Springfield & Jeff Silverman)” consists of 13 tracks, originally recorded between 1986 and 1999, that have been digitally remastered by Jeff Silverman, giving the audience an entirely new listening experience. Many of the tracks, such as “Dancin’ On The Edge Of The World”, “Right Planet, Wrong World”, “You Write The Book”, “Dream in Colour” and “Religion Of The Heart” are previously unreleased versions of the songs. Others such as “Somewhere”, “Monkey”, “Love Receiver” and “My Depression” were later recorded for Springfield’s albums. Springfield states that the songs on this CD are the result of long hours slaving over a hot studio console in Jeff’s studio and have never been released like this before. “Even though many of the songs on the CD were never released”, agrees Silverman, “the care, the hard work and love that went into making every song the best we could make, was always our main objective.”

As a perfect companion to this release, Frontiers Records will also be reissuing in Europe a special edition of Rick Springfield’s latest album, “Venus In Overdrive”, originally released in July 2008. Debuting in the USA on the Billboard chart at #28; this achievement marks Springfield’s highest chart position since the mid 80s.

This 2010 version comes with the worthy addition of a bonus track (a new recording of “Celebrate Youth”) and a concert DVD, “Live In Rockford”, originally released in October 2006 in the USA only. Filmed live as part of the HDNet Concert Series at the historic Coronado Theatre in Rockford, IL, Rick showcases his talent and everlasting energy in this special release.

“Live In Rockford” includes the following tracks: I'll Make You Happy; Will I; Affair Of The Heart; I've Done Everything For You; Rock Of Life; Red House; Don't Talk To Strangers; I Get Excited; Baker Street; Broken Wings; Beautiful You; Living In Oz; Love Somebody; Jesus Saves; Kristina; Human Touch; Jessie's Girl.

To date, Rick Springfield has sold over 19 million records and has charted a whopping 17 top 40 hits, including his #1 hit, “Jessie’s Girl”. Having performed for millions of fans over the last three decades, and showing no signs of slowing down, Rick continues to play 100 shows a year, sharing his love of performing, unstoppable energy and his unique brand of crowd interaction with thousands of fans each night. Rick literally wades deep into the crowd at each show. His tour dates also include a 5-day fan oriented cruise. This year, the 3rd annual Rick Springfield & Friends cruise is set to sail in November 2010. In 2005, Springfield returned to daytime TV’s General Hospital as the character he originated in the 80s, Dr. Noah Drake, as well as assuming an alternate character, Aussie rocker Eli Love. More recently, Springfield appeared on a 4 episode ARC on Showtime’s hit show Californication’s 3rd season.

Jeff Silverman is a veteran producer, engineer, songwriter, accomplished musician and singer. He started playing piano at the age of 5, then guitar at 10 and made the decision to make music a lifelong career not long after. After traveling around the US in club bands after high school, he arrived in L.A. in 1976 and almost immediately met up with Rick Springfield for his first US tour of the “Wait For Night” album. He has been a staff songwriter at Motown/LA and has co-written with a number of artists, including Rick Springfield, Michael Peterson and Tommy TuTone. Jeff has also mixed, mastered and edited for artists such as Charice, Boyz To Men, David Cassidy, George Clinton and Prince and has performed live with Rick Springfield, Roger Miller and Redbone. He currently operates Palette Studios his own Pro Tools HD3 studio in Nashville, Tennessee where he writes, produces and records.

Links: http://www.rickspringfield.com & http://www.palettemusic.net

December 17, 2009 Mario de Riso

Machines Of Grace – Machines Of Grace

Machines Of Grace offer a tribute to their metal ancestors and a modern hard rock edge. Founded by Zak Stevens and Jeff Plate, both ex-Savatage. After Savatage’s break-up, they joined Circle II Circle (Stevens) or TSO (Plate) amongst others. They completed the self-titled Machines Of Grace album together with Matt Leff (guitar) and Chris Rapoza (bass). The album was mixed by the famous studio expert Paul David Hagar (The Goo Goo Dolls, Avril Lavigne, Pink, etc.). You will get a superb mixture of modern rock, classic rock, melodic metal and acoustic rock. Catchy song structures, a modern production, intense singing melodies and simply a proper dose of rock characterize this debut. “Machines Of Grace” will be released at the end of February through SAOL/H’Art in Europe.

December 17, 2009 CMM

Brian Howe – Circus Bar

Frontiers Records are delighted to announce the release of Brian Howe’s forthcoming solo album, entitled “Circus Bar”, on February 26, 2010 in Europe and March 9 in the USA.

Long regarded as one of rock’s legendary voices, Brian Howe started his career in 1983 as lead vocalist for Ted Nugent on the “Penetrator” album and fronting his band on the subsequent world tour. In 1984, drummer Simon Kirke and guitarist Mick Ralphs asked Brian to replace Paul Rodgers as the lead singer in Bad Company. Brian decided to accept the offer and continue the legend of the band. This was not an easy task, but along with Kirke and Ralphs, Brian created, wrote, recorded and toured for the following 10 years, headlining every major venue around the globe.

Along with Bad Company’s highly acclaimed 1993 live CD, “What You Hear Is What You Get - The Best of Bad Company – Live”, Brian wrote and sold with Bad Company something like 19 million records, highlighted by such radio and video hits as “Holy Water”, “If You Needed Somebody”, “No Smoke Without A Fire” and “How About That”, not to mention a few of the group’s previous hits as recorded on the live CD.

Thirteen years after the release of his debut solo album, “Tangled In Blue” (later renamed “Touch” in Europe), Brian is back and ready to unleash his awesome new solo album entitled, “Circus Bar”. “When I decided I wanted to make a new CD”, tells Brian, ”I wanted to try to make everything memorable and enjoyable. Therefore I set aside a week for writing with my new producer Brooks Paschal and I decided we would go down to my favourite place in the entire world: Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, an incredibly inspirational place for me to be. We realized after three days that we had written enough songs for the CD and that took any pressure I had been feeling away and it soon became obvious that the CD should be named after that wonderful little bar where we spent our evenings eating, drinking and listening to the local music. The bar was started by circus performers and still has posters and pictures of all the great circus acts from throughout the years”.

Some friends helped Brian in shaping up “Circus Bar”, an album that promises to be a career landmark for this amazing singer: Wayne Nelson of Little River Band dropped by the studio for a few days and also Pat Travers popped in and played guitar on “My Town”. “I didn't want to have too many established musicians on the record, because I wanted to keep the feel somewhat fresh and spontaneous”, explains Brian.

The album includes also two stunning – newly recorded – remakes of the Bad Company hits “How ‘Bout That” and “Holy Water”.

Produced by Brooks Paschal and mixed by Rafe McKenna (Giant, Bad Company, Tesla, Ten), “Circus Bar” includes the following tracks: I’m Back; Life’s Mystery; There’s This Girl; Could Have Been You; Surrounded; Flying; How It Could Have Been; My Town; How ‘Bout That; Feels Like I’m Coming Home; If You Want Trouble; Feelings; Holy Water; Little George Street.

“I like to think that this CD is representative of an established artist with a modern outlook on what’s happening in today’s music scene”, concludes Bryan. “It’s been 13 years since my last record and on this CD I have given everything I have: music that appeals to anyone who likes big melodies with an edge”. 100% gold class awaits the faithful fans who will purchase “Circus Bar”. You better believe it: Brian Howe is back to rock!

Links:
http://www.brianhowe.com
http://www.myspace.com/brianhowe01

December 16, 2009 Mario de Riso

Riverside DVD postponed

Progressive rock band Riverside will release “Reality Dream”, their first ever (double) DVD, on January 11, 2010 (in US on February 23) and not in early December as it was previously announced. The release date was postponed due to technical problems that occurred at the pressing company.

A preview of the “Reality Dream” DVD – the track “Before” – is available on Metal Mind Productions’ official channel on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=MetalMindPoland

December 14, 2009 Agnieszka Swiatnicka-Kulpinska

Fireworks # 38 (December 2009/January 2010) out now!

Without a doubt the best melodic rock mag on the planet, edited by Bruce Mee and designed by James Gaden. 100 pages in full colour, written in English. Highly recommended!

Including 2 free CDs
CD 1, “Feel The Heat!”, features 19 tracks from the following acts: W.E.T., Overland, Grand Design, Salute, Winger, Strike Twice, Kings Of Modesty, 4Bitten, Pump, Grimmstine, JoyFocus, Marenne, Markonee, Subsignal, Stonelake, Dr. Grind, Janey Summer, Heaven’s Touch & Bad Sign.
CD 2, TSM/SLW Vol. 3”, features 19 tracks from the following acts: Prozac Daisies, Stockholm Stoner, Hilary Scott, Brunorock, Musicspeak, Essenza, Naked, Kooznetz, Arbogast, Naughty Boys, Man The Destroyer, Edgehill Avenue, Phil Vincent, Alex Falcone AphasiA, Dirty Beloved, Val Kinzler, Trusties, Big Rocket & Ray Gilman

Contents
Ace Frehley | Voices Of Rock | Lynch Mob | Twisted Sister | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Danny Vaughn | Hybrid Ice | Tilt | Volbeat | Steve Vai | Outloud | Mr. Big | Marseille | Don Airey | Steve Hackett | Pump | Yes | Gotthard | Grimmstine | House Of Lords | Lanny Cordola | W.A.S.P. | Destine | Kiss | Winger | Porcupine Tree | Guilt Machine | Lita Ford | Oliver Weers | Richard Mace | Grand Design | Bad Way | The 69 Eyes | Subsignal | Russ Ballard | Rock Scandinavia | The Florida Scene

Other stuff
Album Reviews – Re-issues – Multimedia – Firin' On All Six! (concert reviews) – The Music Is Out There (Nicky Baldrian’s column) – The Melodic Rock Labels (The Laser’s Edge) – Independent Music supporters (incl. Chris Lambert of http://www.rockreport.be )

URL
http://www.rathole.com/fireworks

Street address
Fireworks Magazine
10 Dunnock Close
Offerton, Stockport
SK2 5XD United Kingdom

E-mail
fireworks.mag@ntlworld.com