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PASSION PLAY | Time Stands Still | (Now & Then Records, 1997)

Blood On Our Hands / Half A Man / Tear Down The Walls / Time Stands Still / Made From Love / Mean Business / Sad / Heart / Taking Care Of Business / Surrender To The Night / Time For The Hero / Living In A Nightmare

Even if you have a low budget it is possible to make a fine record. That is if you have songs worth the name.
This AOR/melodic rock outfit's main problem is the lack of descent songs. I wish there were at least one song that I could point as something a bit original, but there isn't.
Do yourself, and your economy, a favour by not buying this whatever you want to call it. No passion marks for Passion Play.

Review by: Stefan

PC 69 | Electrified | (Digital Dimension Ent., 1999)

Shame / Stranger in Time / Break the Silence / Electrified / Over the Fire / Losing my Faith / Higher Kind of Love / Burn Your Soul / Rocket Ride / Best for You / Gone Again

I'm really not familiar with this band (that is better known as Pink Cream 69), but I do know that they are from Germany and a lot of people claim that this is their strongest release. I would have to say that this is another one of those bands that should have a major record deal instead of bands of the eighties that are fresh out of new ideas and sound very "tired" in recent years. I guess I shouldn't complain because this cd is actually released in the U.S. - which is more than we can say for a lot of other hard rock acts!

Wasting no time, "Shame" starts off the cd with a chorus that will stick with you after the first listen. It's a very upbeat and cheerful number. "Stranger in Time" reminds me of the material off Warrant's cd "Dog Eat Dog" - love the vocal performance on this one! "Break the Silence" is one of the heavier numbers on the disc and maybe has more of a "European feel" to it. Having said that, it will surely still appeal to American Arena Rock fans. "Electrified" is a true highlight on the disc and would be a radio hit if given the chance. "Over the Fire" is by far the weakest song on the cd. It's very heavy and reminds me of Iron Maiden maybe (?) Rest assured that is the only track on this cd that sounds like that! "Losing my Faith" and "Higher Kind of Love" are both top notch rockers with strong hooks. "Burn Your Soul" is in the same vein as "Break the Silence" heavier and more European sounding - but still a incredible song! "Rocket Ride" displays a different side to the band by slowing things down a bit. This is another track that has so much potential to be huge. "Best for You" picks the pace up a little bit, but after awhile I find the song gets quite redundant. It's not a bad song by any means, I'm just not liking the chorus as much as the rest of the songs. The cd ends with a monster piano balled entitled "Gone Again" which is a superb way to end the disc. If you fast forward after the song ends, the same song starts up again, but this time it is sung with a corny accent - it's pretty funny!

Overall, this is an incredible release that will please fans of Danger Danger (Four the Hard Way) and Warrant (Dog Eat Dog). I hear a lot of influences from both bands in their music. I would say that they do have their own sound, but people like comparisons and those are the two bands I'd compare their sound to.

Review by: Rob

AXEL RUDI PELL | The Masquerade Ball | (SPV, 2000)

The Arrival (Intro) / Earls of Black / Voodoo Nights / Night and Rain / The Masquerade Ball / Tear Down the Walls / The Line / Hot Wheels / The Temple of the Holy / July Morning

Axel Rudi Pell is back with his second full length cd that features new vocalist Johnny Gioeli (Brunette, Hardline). His last release "Oceans of Time" received rave reviews on the internet - but for some reason it didn't get me too excited. The thing I noticed when I heard the new release was how there's a lot more mellow, moody numbers on this release. Is that a good thing? Well, yes and no. Sometimes, when songs are slow and about eight minutes in length it really loses the listeners interest. I can only speak for myself, but that is what it does to me.

"The Arrival" starts things off with some mood music that sets the scene for the musical journey you are about to embark on. "Earls of Black" is up next and is the typical hard rockin' number that you expect from Axel - very European in style and of course way too long and drawn out.

"Voodoo Nights" sees the band going into more of a melodic rock anthem, similar to material that you would find on the awesome HARDLINE disc - one of my favourite songs on the disc without a doubt (the background vocals could be better though.) "Night and Rain" starts off very slow with some emotional guitar playing, Johnny comes in and it turns out to be the closest thing I've heard Axel do to a blues-tinged rock number. The title track is up next and is just shy of eleven minutes in length. Yes, that's right an ELEVEN minute song - does anyone else think that's too long? Needless to say, this song can't keep my attention throughout its entirety - so I skip this track every time. I love the moody songs on this release, but why must he make his songs so long? I think that's ridiculous and unnecessary! "Tear Down the Walls" is probably one of the most generic song titles you could ever come up with. I mean, how many bands have a song called "Tear Down the Walls?" Aside from that, the song is an upbeat rocker and a decent track. "The Line" slows things down again and we have another incredible vocal performance from Mr. Gioeli. Again one thing that takes away from this song is it's almost eight minutes long - too long for my taste. "Hot Wheels" is another rocker in the same style as "Voodoo Nights" & "Tear Down the Walls." "The Temple of the Holy" is another slower piano number which goes over quite well. The cd ends rocking with the ten minute song "July Morning" which would be a great song if it wasn't so long - talk about being repetitive near the end of the song!

So, there you have it! Overall, I like this release more than the last one, but I feel that once you've heard one Axel Rudi Pell album - you've heard them all. If they were to make their songs a maximum of five minutes in length, I would love this release - but having the songs so long really does more harm than good.

Review by: Rob

PHANTOM´S OPERA | So Long To Broadway | (Escape Music Ltd., 1997)

The Raven / I Believed / Cheasters Dead / Lotta Time / Contraire My Love / She Rides / So Long To Broadway / Beg / On-Line / Father / It Ain't Over / Stay

Escape Music has been responsible for some fine AOR albums during the last 7-8 months.
Phantom's Opera should not have been released on Escape Music, or ANY other label for that matter.
This is not a case of wrong category or something like that; it's just a case of crappy music. The album sucks all the way through.
Strong contender for the "Worst album of the year".

Review by: Stefan

PHOENIX DOWN | Under A Wild Sky | (Frontiers Records, 1999)

Reckless / I Want It Again / Walk / Love Gone Wrong / In Another Life / Blind / Rain / Neverland / Alive And Well / Rebel Heart

This is former Alice Cooper guitarist Kane Roberts third solo outing under the band name Phoenix Down. At first I wasn't expecting much from this release, but after hearing the cd twice I was hooked! What we have here is a nice mix of modern heavy rock, melodic hard rock and a fantastic collection of slower ballad-type numbers.

Things get started with a song that was written by Mike Slamer (Steelhouse Lane) and is the heaviest track on the cd without a doubt. It has a Rob Zombie meets Metallica feel to it which personally, I found quite intriguing from the get go. I'm sure most hard rock fans will not take an instant liking to the song - but the good thing about this album is - there's something for everyone on here. "Want It Again" reminds me very much of the material found of the Winger release "Pull" - a hard-hitting track, but retains a certain amount of melodic sense. "Walk" is the first big AOR ballad with eighties sounding keyboards a bombastic chorus and very melodic. A VERY impressive number and the first of two songs written by Jim Peterik (Survivor). "Love Gone Wrong" is a slower song, but not a ballad by any means. In this song Kane sounds similar to Paul Laine (Danger Danger) and it's an incredible song as well. "In Another Life" is a blues tinged slower number with an excellent vocal performance by Kane and a huge sing-along chorus that makes the song instantly likable. "Blind" heads back into that darker nineties sound that started off the cd, but it's not quite as heavy. The guitar work in this song actually has a Bon Jovi vibe happening - but sounding very modern at the same time. "Rain" is my favorite track hands down - it's an incredible ballad that has become an instant classic in my opinion. "Neverland" is another nineties sounding track, but it's the only one on the album that I don't care for at all. "Alive And Well" sounds very much like old Rolling Stones. I'm not a huge Stones fan, but this song suits Kane's vocal style well. "Rebel Heart" is the last track on the cd and has been re recorded. It was first featured on Kane Roberts solo cd "Saints & Sinners" and I haven't heard the original, so I can't compare the two songs - but it's best described as an upbeat late eighties rocker.

The only complaint I have with this release is the production is a little dry. Other than that, it's an incredible album that I will enjoy for quite a long time. If you are a huge Kane Roberts fan, I'm sure you'll want to pick this one up. If you want a hard rock cd mixed with some nineties flavored tracks - you'll want to take notice of this release.

Review by: Rob

PRETTY MAIDS | Spooked | (Massacre Records, 1997)

Resurrection (Intro) - Freakshow / Dead Or Alive / Die With Your Dreams / Fly Me Out / Live Until It Hurts / Spooked / Twisted / If It Can't Be Love / Never Too Late / Your Mind Is Where The Money Is / Hard Luck Woman / The One That Should Not Be

One of yours truly's all time fave raves, Pretty Maids, are still going strong. I'm generally not that much into hardrock/metal, but something in their style and sound makes me real weak for 'em.
Their albums are almost everytime built around 70% melodic hardrock stuff and 30% AOR-smashers, this album follows the same formula, so fans of the band will like it that's for sure. "Live Until It Hurts" are any AOR-fans wet dream, hooky and catchy chorus, keyboard mayhem and harmonies as good as always!
Their last effort "Scream" went on like a roller coaster the whole time. Some songs were amongst their best and some songs weren't. "Spooked" may not have a song like "Walk Away", but the valleys aren't as deep and as many as on "Scream".
"Dead Or Alive", "Die With Your Dream", "Fly Me Out" and "Never Too Late" are pure melodic mayhem for my ears, even if it's in a rougher package than the average AOR-act.
They're also doing the Kiss-song "Hard Luck Woman", even if it smells like they're trying to ride on a commercial wave it's an ok version.
If they'll continue doing albums like this you can count that I'll be living it until it hurts.

Review by: Stefan

PUBLIC DOMAIN | Radio Nights | (MTM Music, 1998)

Radio Nights / No Shame / If I Were You / Saving Grace / Immortal Way / Clues / China Rain / Child In My Heart / Shadow Of Eden / Silence Of Your Heart / Confetti / Marching on / Crimes Of Passion

This is simply one of the best records released this year - musically as well as lyrically.
Musically it's fairly simple FM-rock with an 80's feel in a more dressed down 90's production. A superb vocalist, all harmonies are there, keyboards of course - just not as fluffy and over produced as in the 80's, electric guitars are used in a tasteful way together with acoustics' and everything backed up by a solid rhythm section.
There are no really "heavy" songs, but some up-tempo tunes we find. Opener "Radio Nights" belongs to those. "Clues" is another one, which blossoms in a beautiful chorus. "Shadow Of Eden", "Silence Of Your Heart" and the pre-taste from MTM's latest sampler (Volume 2) "Marching On" are also totally amazing radio friendly FM-rock.
All songs are wrapped up in a beautiful story and it's in slower songs like "Confetti" and "Saving Grace" you first discover the depths of the lyrics.
It's life-reflecting stories, mostly about love, but also about people's destinies.
Now, it would be really foolish not adding this one to your collection. You might think it's pretty average at first, but give it some quality time and you'll discover its depths - 13 pieces of jewellery.

Review by: Stefan

PUSH | Shaken, Not Stirred | (Z Records, 1999)

Never Again / Heart Attack / Alone / Almost Pornographic / The Only One / Ship Comes In / Guess I'll Always Love You / Need You Here / Shaken, Not Stirred / Rock And Roll Livin' / Casanova / Those Were The Days

Just Like Pretty Maids this is a Danish melodic hardrock 4-piece. That's where all similarities ends really. Whereas Pretty Maids has some class and originality in their material Push falls very flat.
Opener "Never Again" might stand out as a decent AORish rocker but still feels kind of pale compared to current releases in the genre, Westworld for example.
Even though if the hoarse and static voice of Martie Peters doesn't contribute in any positive way it must be said in his defence that the material is weak to even make anything decent out of. He is responsible for major part of it…
Check out Westworld or Von Groove instead.

Review by: Stefan