HALO - Halo (1990)

IMHO the best Christian AOR-HRock band.
Better than Petra or Guardian, 'cos the keys are more predominant here, but the guitars still heavy, and more diverse songs.
The lyrics are ok, no preach all the time.
Alot people will be surprised with this band, tons of energy and driven rockin'AOR.
Produced by the Elefante bros=good sound guaranteed.
Out Of Print .


1. Jesus Music 4:20
2. Lord of All 4:39
3. Good Feeling 4:13
4. Language Barrier 5:09
5. Skyrocket 3:45
6. Lose to Live 4:33
7. Sing (of His Glory) 4:21
8. Soul Searcher 3:49
9. Time to Run 4:01
10. Timeless 1:07

Scott Springer bass, lead vocals
Barry Graul guitar, vocals
Mike Graham drums, keyboards, vocals
John & Dino Elefante co-producers


Halo (1990)
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O'RYAN - Something Strong (1991)

Well guys and gals, this is almost a perfect album, with a total 80's feel, plenty of melody an sing-along songs.

Killer uptempo melodic tracks, even the ballads are strong. I can't name a highlight, all are fabulous, no fillers here.

Really good production and sound, similar style to Joseph Lee Wood (already posted here), Tim Feehan or earlier Stan Meissner.

Top class AOR. Highly recommended.

If you can find it, BUY IT.

1. Stronger Than Love

2. Reaction

3. Don't Let It Slip Away

4. Shaky Ground

5. Something Strong

6. Emer May

7. Blood Upon a Stone

8. Lying Eyes

9. Deeper Than the Ocean

Mervyn Spence: lead vocals, guitar, piano, bass

Dieter Petereit: keyboards, bass programming

Curt Cress: drums

Pit Low: keyboards

Peter Weihe: guitars

Hermann Weindorf: piano

Re-posted HERE
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MIKAEL ERLANDSSON - The Gift (2002) Japan edition + bonus

Mikael is a well known singer in Japan and Sweden.

His sweet voice was chosen for various AOR projects like Tommy Denander's "Radioactive" or "Heartbreak Radio".

But he find a stable band role in "Last Autumn's Dream", a great swedish outfit.

This is his 4th and last solo album, a fine collection of songs, well produced an well written.

'I Send You My Heart', 'Stop', 'Excuse Me Baby' are good examples, production could be better, it's ok.

Nothing to die for, but a good listen and an opportunity to discover this underrated artist.

If you like it, BUY IT.

1. Out Of Champagne 3:16

2. Stop (Following Me) 4:04

3. I Love You 4:14

4. Soul Is My Name 4:38

5. This Is Your Life 3:31

6. Million Dollar Girl 3:34

7. I Send You My Heart 3:40

8. My Day 3:38

9. Stay 3:59

10. Excuse Me Baby 3:53

11. Love's Got A Hold On Me 3:26

12. 24-Hours 2:28

13. It's Gonna Be Alright 4:25 (Japan bonus)

Mikael Erlandsson Lead Vocals, Keyboards

Jan Eliasson Lead Guitar

Mats Persson Bass, Guitar, Keyboards

Torbjoern Wassenius Guitar

DOWNLOAD

GREENWAY - Serious Business (1988)

April Wine's guitarrist on a solo album.

Well, this has almost nothing in common with his earlier band.

Influenced by these year's AOR wave ('88), this nice recording sound more like american AOR style ala Stan Meissner, Larry Greene, Aldo Nova.

In fact, Aldo play keys here and contribute in the songwriting department.

Well produced and mixed, 'In the Danger Zone' is an AOR classic of all time.

Out of print. (U$S 75 eBay price!)

1. In the Danger Zone 4:08

2. Right Track 3:21

3. Playin' to Win 3:21

4. Serious Business 4:21

5. I Can't Hold Back 4:59

6. Let It Go 5:04

7. R U Ready For Love 3:48

8. I Believe in You 3:54

9. It's Alright 3:48

10. I Can't Say No 4:16

Brian Greenway vocals, lead guitars, slide guitars, keyboards

Aldo Nova keyboards

Andy Newmark drums

Daniel Barbe keyboards

Marty Simon Synclavier, keyboards, co-producer

GREENWAY - Serious Business

NOVAK - Forever Endeavour (2005)

Great album from the 'new wave' of Scandi-AOR scene.

Andreas Novak comes from the progg territory, he was part of the 'MIND'S EYE' project with his friend, the monster musician Daniel Flores.

After 2 discs with M.E., Daniel encouraged Andreas to record a solo album.

The result is this varied, well played collection of songs, in the modern AOR vein, with melodic-rock feel.

'Nowhere To Run' is a killer opener, the ballad 'Another Woman' and 'Forever Endeavour' are good examples of how good this recording is.

Classic sound, big production, very well played.

Tommy Denander guest in a couple tracks.

If you like it, BUY IT.

1. Nowhere To Run 4:44

2. How Does It Feel 4:15

3. Save Me 3:19

4. Forever Endeavour 4:44

5. Another Woman 4:26

6. By Your Side 3:26

7. Extreme Fakeover 4:31

8. Follow Your Heart 3:57

9. Carry On 4:40

10. Don't You Remind Me 3:31

11. Back To The Free World 3:51

12. Gates Of Defeat 5:00

Andreas Novak Vocals, Guitars

Daniel Flores Drums, Keyboards, Backing Vocals

Tommy Denander Guitar

Benny Janson Guitar

Kristian Niemann Guitar

Daniel Palmqvist Guitar

Johan Niemann Bass

Andreas Olson Bass

Martina Edoff Vocals on Track 5

NOVAK - Forever Endeavour

JOSEPH LEE WOOD - Joseph Lee Wood (1989)

What can I say 'bout this album?
It's a lost GEM.
Originally recorded in 1989, never seen the light of day 'till 2002.
Thanx to God, 'cos all tracks featured here are true diamonds.
Perfect AOR songwriting, catchy and mid-tempo passages, beautiful ballads.
Joseph's voice is clear and sweet, strong guitars, awesome keys and terrific choruses, the bandmates are pure class; Monty Smith (guitar) ex session and tourmember of Alice Cooper, Blue Oyster Cult, Steppenwolf, Johnny Winter,etc ; Chris Leighton (drums) of Bo Diddley, Ben E. King, The Beach Boys, Diane Shuur, Randy Bachman and Gregg Fox (keys) ex T.K.O.
Production in charge of Tom Hill (Queensryche), 10 points.
My fav tracks: Love Is the Light , Time to Come Home, Love You Like I Love You, Talk to Me, but all are highlights, flavoured with classic 80's sound ala Stan Bush, Michael O'Brien, Zappacosta, Survivor and, call me nuts, I can hear some Firehouse somewhere...
Top Class AOR, Highly Recommended.
Thanx Troy!
If you like it, BUY IT.

1. Don't Stand So Far Away 4:15
2. Flirting Eyes 3:49
3. When's the Last Time You Felt Like a Woman 4:09
4. To Have and to Hold 4:44
5. Won't Stop Loving You 3:57
6. Love Is the Light 3:25
7. Talk to Me 4:41
8. Love You Like I Love You 5:01
9. Time to Come Home 4:10
10. Letters in the Rain 4:58

Joseph Lee Wood: lead and backing vocals
Marty Randles: bass, drums, rhythm guitars, backing vocals
Monty Smith: guitars, backing vocals
Chris Leighton: drums, percussion
Greg Fox: keyboards, backing vocals
Bo Wittmer: guest guitar in 'Love You Like I Love You'
Skyler Duryea: backing vocals
Producer: Tom Hill


DOWNLOAD

STAN BUSH - Call To Action (1997)

Best movie tracks - Official Release '97

Stan Bush's "Call to Action" CD is a collection of 'action' themes from major motion pictures and television, including re-recorded versions of "Never Surrender" from Jean-Claude Van Damme's "Kickboxer" soundtrack, "The Touch" and "Dare" from "Transformers: The Movie", "Capture The Dream" from the 1996 Olympic Games, tracks from Stan's previous albums including "Straight To the Top", co-written with Jonathan Cain of Journey, plus some new titles, all containing "action" themes.

"Call To Action" list the most well-known material Stan has released during his recording career, and maybe his best.

Hard to find CD.

If you like it, BUY IT.

1. The Touch (1997 Remix)

2. Never Surrender (Kickboxer Soundtrack)

3. Hold Your Head Up High

4. Straight To The Top

5. Dare (1997 Remix)

6. Critical Mass (New Track)

7. Ground Zero (Botcon Theme)

8. Capture The Dream (1996 Olympic Games Theme)

9. Total Surrender

10. Highest Calling (New Track)

Lead Vocals & Guitars: Stan Bush

Drums: Bryan Hitt, Doane Perry

Guitars: Mark Ferrari, Rocket Richotte

Keyboards: Kim Bullard, Vince DiCola

and a bunch more...

ENJOY

SILVER SERAPH [Pete Sandberg] - ST (2002)

Silver Seraph is a hardrock / melodic metal band from Malmö, Sweden.
The band was put together by Richard Andersson (Evil Masquerde, Majestic, Time Requiem) and Pete Sandberg (Alien, Jade, Midnight Sun) during spring 2000 with the intention of making traditional classic hardrock in the vein of Rainbow/Deep Purple.
The line up was completed with Peter Wildoer (Darkane, Majestic and ex-Arch Enemy) on drums, Jorgen Birch (Jade and Bai Bang) on guitar and Jens Lundahl (ex-Black Totem) on bass.
Overall the album reminds me the sound and the spirit of Yngwie Malmsteen's 'Facing The Animal'. Energetic recording, solid tracks, great production.
If you are into this style, this is for you.

1. Aftermath
2. 7th Day Of Babylon
3. Cry From Hell
4. Desperate Heart
5. Shadowland
6. Shadow
7. Nosferatu
8. In The Dark
9. Black Rain
10. Loving You
11. Constant Reminder (Japan bonus)

Pete Sandberg - vocals
Jorgen Birch - guitars
Jens Lundahl - bass
Richard Andersson - keyboards
Peter Wildoer - drums


SILVER SERAPH Japan ed.
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PETE SANDBERG - Back In Business (1998)

Asian Version 1998, 13 tracks + 1 bonus

Another essential album for Pete's fans and good rock music around.
This album mixes Hard + Melodic Rock with AOR and in some places, rockin' pop touches.
Some outstanding tracks, 'Little Lover' perfectly crafted, the melodic rock driven 'Cold hearted woman' (can't stop singing this song!), and 'Stay a while', a heartful ballad.
As a bonus myself added, the unpublished 'Goddess Of Love', recorded live acoustic at the Hard Rock Cafe, Copenhagen, Denmark 2003-01-12, a collector's item.
Pete is a GREAT artist, unknown to the major audience, if you like his work and find it, BUY IT.

1. When The Night Comes 3:43
2. Little Lover 3:12
3. Stay A While 3:46
4. Pretty Angel 4:17
5. Big Bad Rap 4:00
6. Babe 3:52
7. River Of Tears 5:06
8. A December Monday 3:48
9. Cold Hearted Woman 4:41
10. Scared 5:18
11. Unchain Your Heart 4:48
12. Closer To Heaven 4:25
13. Need Your Lovin' 4:21
14. Goddess Of Love 3:13 (BONUS-Non Album Track)

Pete Sandberg Vocals
Fredrik Bergengren Guitars
Stanley Hawk Guitar
Patrik Alm Bass
Carl Colt Drums Percussion
Tommy Falk Keyboards Organ
Johan Stentorp Keyboards
Thomas Nyberg Backing Vocals
Jonas Sandquist Backing Vocals
Johan Dahlstrom Backing Vocals



PETE SANDBERG Back In Business