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DAVID VICTOR | Proof Through The Night | (MTM Music, 1999)

Getaway Machine / Tears Like Rain / American Eyes / To the Top / Proof Through the Night / Look What You Did to My Heart / One Minute to Midnight / Stand By You / Tonight / Summer Rules

Velocity's frontman David Victor has recently re-issued his 1991 solo debut courtesy of MTM Music in Europe. This album has never been officially released on CD, but there has been bootlegs floating around for sometime in the underground AOR scene. David went in the studio and "beefed up the mix" which included having to redo the drums on the album. For this he brought in Todd Beaty who has been a fan of this release for sometime and already knew the album by heart. Other than the drums, this album is the entire work of one man, David Victor.

The album starts off with "Getaway Machine" a fantastic rocker in the vein of old Rick Springfield. This is a great opener and probably the most outstanding track on the disc. "Tears Like Rain" is also an up tempo rocker, but the keyboards being more prominent in the mix. I would have preferred that the keyboards throughout the CD were replaced with heavier rhythm guitars, but I guess it's because I'm more of a hard rock follower than an AOR enthusiast. "American Eyes" is a great ballad of sort that is reminiscent of material off of the Velocity CD. It's kind of somewhere down the middle of "Supernatural Lover" and "Janine". "To the Top" sounds like it could be part of a soundtrack for a real laughable eighties movie and needless to say, it does nothing for me! "Proof Through the Night" has some clean guitar licks going through the entire song and really displays what an incredible voice David Victor has. "Look What You Did to My Heart" is a full-out eighties ballad with a superb hook. In fact, every song is very catchy with soaring vocals and strong hooks. "One Minute to Midnight" is the only song on the CD that was also featured on the Velocity debut CD! This time around it's more raw and has some bluesy keys in the background that gives the song a different flavor. The guitar solo in this one is fairly impressive as well. I had no idea that David Victor was a fairly strong lead player. I still prefer the Velocity version more, but this version is nothing to complain about. The last three songs on the CD are all rockers, but they seem to all run into each other. You have to pay close attention to when one song ends and the next song has begun. All three songs are decent, but nothing that really grabs my attention.

I do realize that David Victor most likely released the disc so the AOR fans could have a well produced version of the album on CD and I know it was in high demand especially after the Velocity CD was released.

Overall, the CD is fairly impressive considering this is older material and everything was done by one individual/musician. If you like mid to late 80's AOR you should give this album a try. If you are like myself and like more of a harder edge to your music, you should really look into Velocity's debut CD "Impact" which is also on the MTM label! If you already have the Velocity CD, I guess you'll just have to wait for the new one to come out at the end of the year or shortly there after.

Review by: Rob

VIXEN | The Best Of: Full Throttle | (Razor & Tie, 1999)

How Much Love / Love Made Me / Cryin' / Not A Minute Too Soon / Charmed Life / Love Is A Killer / Edge Of A Broken Heart / Streets In Paradise / I Want You To Rock (Live) / Fallen Hero / Bad Reputation / Give It Away / Cruisin'

Haven't looked into it really, but if I'm right Vixen recently released a new record. This best of however compiles material from their 2 first records "Vixen" (1988) and "Rev It Up" (1990). On those two records the band comprised of Janet Gardner (vocals), Jan Kuehnemund (guitars), Share Pedersen (bass) and Roxy Petrucci (drums). One of few female melodic rock bands that managed to get some commercial success.
They had some minor single hits with "Cryin'" (a Jeff Paris remake), "How Much Love" (co-written with Steve Plunkett of Autograph), "Love Is A Killer" and the Richard Marx/Fee Waybill written rocker "Edge Of A Broken Heart". All of course featured here.
This album might not hold any spectacular material, or original, but musically it is worth the money and it's way better than today's mostly average melodic rock releases.
But I'm curious to know when putting together a best of why not fill the CD all the way out? Clocking in at 56:20 there is room for another 4-5 tracks. "Rev It Up", the Diane Warren written "It Wouldn't Be Love" and "Desperate" should've made it's way to this release.
Musically it's definitely good, but one star goes right off just because of the cheap attitude from the record company.

Review by: Stefan

VOODOO HILL | Voodoo Hill | (Frontiers Records, 2000)

 Sensetive / Disconnected / Golden One (Gabi's Song) / Spun In Lost Wages / Keep It To Yourself / 24 / Just Another Monday / The Gypsy / Black Leather / Voodoo Hill

"The Voice of Rock", Glenn Hughes, does a hard rock album again. Voodoo Hill features, besides Glenn, Italian guitarist Dario Mollo, who's written the music for this album, Robert Gualdi (drums), Dario Patti (keyboards) and Max Matis (bass).
A majority of Glenn Hughes' solo work has been so so and though this isn't a solo effort it's always great hearing Mr. Hughes scream and shout. Just listen to the "Hughes/Thrall" album from 1982!
With Voodoo Hill Glennn Hughes proves he still can deliver, but unfortunataley he haven't been given that good a material to work with, especially if you compare with his 1994 album "From Now On" (Empire Records).

Review by: Stefan

VON GROOVE | Chameleon | (MTM Music, 1998)

Calling The World / Two Nights In Tokyo / Chameleon / Mission Man / When Love Comes Back / The Snake / April May / All For Rock 'N Roll / Without You / Disbeliever / Propaganda / Stop Sleeping Your Dreams Away / Soldiers Of Fortune / Barely Human

Va, va, va, va voom! Even though it's Von Groove's third record they sort of came out of nowhere, for me anyway.
An album crammed with a juicy dose of "modern" melodic hardrock.
"The Snake" is just so groovy with the distorted vocals in the verses.
Other hard hitters are "Propaganda", "Disbeliever" and "Barely Human".
Beside the 10 rockers they deliver 4 utterly brilliant performed ballads/slower songs. "When Love Comes Back" smells hit-potential a long way.
This Canadian power trio, consisting of Michael Shotton (vocals & drums), Matthew Gerard (bass & keyboards) and Mladen (guitars), blends good old songwriting with a modern production very tasteful.
"Chameleon" tastes yum, yum...

Review by: Stefan

VON GROOVE | Test Of Faith | (MTM Music, 1999)

Test Of Faith / It Should Have Been Me / I Saw The Light / Foolin' Yourself / Back In Love Again / Tell It To Me / Anything For My Baby / Only Love / The Damage Is Done / Rock & Roll Station / On The Run

With the release of "Chameleon" early last year I discovered this Canadian power trio. Their classic melodic rock/hardrock songwriting in a very fresh '90's production felt really vibrate and present.
With their 4th release "Test Of Faith" they are breaking new ground, or maybe it should be old? Because this is their most radio friendly and AORish release to date. Too safe? Well that's a thought that might occur at first, but living with this record for 4 months now it has grown a lot on me.
"It Should Have Been Me", "Foolin' Yourself", "Anything For My Baby" and "Only Love" are all of the purest radio friendly kind.
"Back In Love Again" and "The Damage Is Done" are two beautiful, acoustic and low-keyed ballads.
In the title track and especially "Rock & Roll Station" they prove that they still kick butt, if there was any doubts.
So how does "Test Of Faith" stand up against their previous releases? Very well indeed and in my opinion their 2nd best. I still rank "Chameleon" a few marks higher just because of all the energy it holds. It also feels a bit more adventurous.
Still this is a first class release and there aren't any logical reasons why you shouldn't purchase it.

Review by: Stefan

VON GROOVE | Driving Off The Edge Of The World | (MTM Music, 2000)

Driving Off The Edge Of The World / I Can't Find My Groove / South Of Zero / Stone Soldier / Slide / Blue Murder / Control / Jack The Riffer / Cold To You / I Found Heaven

The Canadian power trio Von Groove made a furious comeback with "Chameleon" two and a half years ago. A superb showcase of melodic hardrock with eighties feels that still somehow sounded current, much due to a very successful production. Last years follow up "Test Of Faith" was even with its softer approach a quality release.
Since Von Groove doesn't seem to make the same record twice every new release is always as interesting, "Driving Off The Edge Of The World" made no exception. An album that in some illogical logical way sounds as a crossing between its two predecessor's. It is definitely heavier than "Test Of Faith", but at the same time not near the fat sound of "Chameleon".
"Driving Off The Edge Of The World" offers plenty for fans who wants the hardrock melodic; clean melodies, upfront guitars, a solid rhythm section and most importantly songs you don't feel you've heard too many times before. Surprisingly there isn't a single ballad throughout the whole album, which Von Groove always has delivered with class. To say that there would be anything positive or negative with nothing in the ballardry vein feels completely irrelevant.
The title track, also the opening track, sets the course immediately. Mladen's razorsharp guitarplaying together with the dynamic from Shotton's vocals and drumplaying and Gerrard's pumping bass are an almost undefeateable combination.
Finally, if you're going to do something of a cliché you have to go all the way. That is something a band like Von Groove manages. That is also why I think "South Of Zero" is already a Von Groove classic!

Review by: Stefan

THE V.U. | Phoenix Rising | (Frontiers Records, 2000)

 Who You Gonna Believe / Keys To The City / One Track Mind / Save It For Me / Hard To Get / If I Had You Back / Walk Through The Fire / Dreaming Your Life Away / Somewhere Here / So Long

The V.U. or The View as it initially had been named, was the band that later on would become The Storm, or at least it had its origins in The V.U.
A band formed in 1985 that featured vocalist Kevin Chalfant (previously with 707 and later on of course with The Storm), Journey's bassplayer Ross Valory (also in The Storm when they excisted), Prairie Prince (drummer from The Tubes), keyboardist Tim Gorman (The Who) and guitarist Stef Burns (had been in Alice Cooper's band and joined Y&T later on). Notable guests are guitars from Josh Ramos (The Storm) and Marty Friedman (Megadeth).
So I as you so rightly have guessed this isn't really a new album, it was probably recorded around '85-'87, but it hasn't been released until now.
What is on offer on this piece of plastic isn't bad at all, actaully quite good or even more. It's totally '80's sounding rock music with all its flaws from an angle of today, but I love it. Sure, it isn't perfect all the way through, tracks like "One Track Mind" and "Hard To Get" sounds as fillers only. Boring rockers if you'd like that a description.
But when they deliver AOR like "Keys To The City", "Who You Gonna Believe?", "Walk Through The Fire", "Dreaming Your Life Away" (sounds like Josh Ramos delivers the superb guitar intro) and "Somewhere Here" I lift my hat off and once again I come to the same conclusion; this type of AOR simply cannot be done nowadays. Those who have given it a try in recent years have been failing, end of story.

Review by: Stefan