Search ALL of Heavy Harmonies:

Search specific categories:

THE Hard Rock and AOR Reference on the Internet!

Bands: 10511 CDS: 25667 Songs: 305386

Aug. 20, 2025: Temporary Message Board Closure

The company hosting the message board sprung a surprise price hike on me that would have more than tripled the monthly hosting costs, so I've been scrambling to find an alternative. I've purchased a license for self-hosting a different platform and am hiring a consultant to migrate the existing board's content (posts, user profiles, etc.).

However, this means I need to shut down the message board for anywhere from 3 days to (hopefully less than) a week so the data can be migrated. While this is an expensive proposition up front, it should result in some long-term savings.

The current message board will be closed down at some point this Saturday, August 23. I will post updates here. The main site (where you are reading this), will NOT be affected.

-Dan

Your ongoing support of Heavy Harmonies is appreciated!

#s A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Compilations Soundtracks Tributes

New Comments

The following are the newest comments about discs in the Heavy Harmonies database. Click on the album name to go to the page for that CD and add comments of your own!

CD: The Warning - Live From Auditorio Nacional, CDMX
From: CC	Date: September 3, 2025 at 15:04
Not really a fan of live albums, but bought this because they are one of my fave modern bands and have seen them live a few times, and they always sound great. Overall this is a pretty damn good album. Fantastic sound and pretty much covers all their most popular songs.

CD: Cinderella - Gold
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: September 3, 2025 at 13:44
This is a weird compilation. Two full discs for a band that only had four albums to start with. The first three-quarters of the set plays like the band's discography on shuffle until all the hits get played, in whatever order, and whichever deep cuts happen to pop up are tossed in as well. It's very random, but Cinderella are a band with few truly bad songs, so—it's fine. I'd be curious to know where the live tracks were recorded; of course they jam!

CD: Chicago - 19
From: Wild Obsession	Date: September 3, 2025 at 12:10
Yes, I agree the background on the song, and the potential artists that is was being proposed to is interesting information. And I wasn't trying to insult Oz, I just personally find "Look Away" to be abysmal......(yet it's been stuck in my head since my snarky comment......😒

CD: 38 Special - Strength in Numbers
From: Planet Y	Date: September 2, 2025 at 10:15
Found an original vinyl copy, still in the plastic. I love this sound, a bit like a southern Boston (the band), with melodic songs, guitars to add power when necessary and cool, sharp vocals. This is a top album for me.

CD: Motley Crue - From the Beginning
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: August 29, 2025 at 18:57
The only people who will buy this are the ones who want the Dolly Parton collab (which is awful, of course, but everyone loves Dolly as a person, so we try not to say so too loud).

CD: Motley Crue - From the Beginning
From: CC	Date: August 29, 2025 at 12:46
Another day another Crue compilation.

CD: Chicago - 19
From: endtimes	Date: August 29, 2025 at 2:26
Wild Obsession, I am not such a fan of sugary ballads either. But Oz's info was still interesting. A few people here after all with some brains

CD: Tygers Of Pan Tang - The Wreck-Age
From: hair metal again	Date: August 26, 2025 at 16:12
Excellent release for TYGERS OF PAN TANG with a strong melodic commercial edge in their sound and John s vocals shining all over."desert of no love","protection","women in cages" are the highlights.great band through the years

CD: Chicago - 19
From: Wild Obsession	Date: August 26, 2025 at 15:21
"Look Away" is "tripe".

CD: Chicago - 19
From: Oz	Date: August 26, 2025 at 3:37
Before "Look Away" was suggested to Chicago, the song was one of two ballads offered by Epic Records to Cheap Trick, who chose "The Flame" instead (also a no. 1 on Billboard, July '88). "Look Away" was also offered to EUROPE, but was turned down due to frontman Joey Tempest's refusal to record material written by outside writers. HUGE mistake, since that '88 Europe album would have really needed a big hit, if keeping up the success of Final Countdown. Pride was Joey's sort of downfall from the top of Billboard consequently, and Kee Marcello was devastated, since he felt they could have performed the song even better than Chicago did. Written by Diane Warren and produced by Ron Nevison, "Look Away" reached the no. 1 on the US Billboard chart in Dec '88. y American songwriter Diane Warren has written so very many hits, amazing really.

CD: Roxx Gang - Boxx Of Roxx
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: August 25, 2025 at 13:18
I'm a sucker for a complete live show from back in the day, so Disc 2 is worth a listen. Roxx Gang banged out most of their album and a couple extras, live at The Basement in Dallas and broadcast on Z-Rock. Sound quality is pretty good while still capturing the full atmosphere of a raucous club show, complete with dim-witted stage raps ("Hey Dallas, show me yer tittays!") and an audience of drunken yahoos. Kevin Steele brags about just getting back from Hollywood from shooting a video, and sings with a little extra rasp in his voice to make up for a relative lack of melody. That's okay; these are songs you pound drinks and shout along to, not ones you belt out with your eyes closed and your hand on your chest. But the world in which this was recorded feels very remote; most of the people you hear whooping it up are probably grandparents now.

CD: Roxx Gang - Thing's You've Never Done Before
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: August 25, 2025 at 12:56
... unsung heroes—just not mine.

CD: Roxx Gang - Thing's You've Never Done Before
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: August 25, 2025 at 12:55
This is the one album that counts from these Florida sleaze-metal back-benchers. There are some cool riffs here, but nothing too shreddy. Kevin Steele's vocals are on the lower end, and he probably became a singer more for his enthusiasm and attitude rather than his vocal abilities. These are like the heaviest, rowdiest songs off the first two Poison albums, with "Scratch My Back" and "No Easy Way Out" being the singles/videos. Neither of them got much airplay; there were just too many bands doing this and only so many hours in the day. "Race With The Devil" and "Fastest Gun In Town" sound almost like the same song to me, and then there's the requisite fake-blues of "Bball N' Chain," and the attempted power ballad with its overwrought dying-of-a-broken-heart lyrics and sha-na-na chorus, and the party ends with a very frank declaration of intent and a simulated orgasm. I dunno, man, they seemed to be trying so hard and yet it all comes off as pretty average. I'm sure they're somebody's

CD: Peter Cetera - Solitude/Solitaire
From: Macca	Date: August 25, 2025 at 9:18
A great hi tech AOR album...........Not sure why I avoided buying for decades........this andhis"one ore story" album I just purchased on CD........both great buys..... production back then was so crisp and clear.....Ceteras vice is god like...great timbre....essential purchase

CD: Peter Cetera - Solitude/Solitaire
From: Macca	Date: August 25, 2025 at 9:17
A great hi tech AOR album...........Not sure why I avoided buying for decades........this andhis"one ore story" album I just purchased on CD........both great buys..... production back then was so crisp and clear.....Ceteras vice is god like...great timbre....essential purchase

CD: Accept - Objection Overruled
From: Revelation	Date: August 24, 2025 at 6:20
hair metal again, I don't need to write so much, you said it. Great great comeback album, only bad thing was 93, a tough year for established classic hardrock and metal bands.

CD: Quiet Riot - Quiet Riot
From: Revelation	Date: August 24, 2025 at 6:16
Totally agree, mr "rockhardrock". But two great songs don't make an album. What were they thinking. Shortino never sounded better though. After this one, the bass player did a "Sarzo" meaning to jump from one band to another for years.

CD: Quiet Riot - Condition Critical
From: Revelation	Date: August 24, 2025 at 6:12
Another Slade song and mostly fillers, horrid sound. No wonder Rudy jumped ship! You just don't win TWICE on any lottery! Even the album's song titles sound very Spinal Tap-ish also. Avoid!

CD: Quiet Riot - Metal Health
From: Revelation	Date: August 24, 2025 at 6:05
Average band, and they won on lottery with SLADE's song, huge hit. But what the band had problems with, is to write strong songs themselves. Shock full of fillers on all their albums. So yeah Stixx that this one reached stunningly 6,000,000 or so copies is insane. But the bigger they come... oh yes. Sound quality on most their albums is also demo quality, for some reason. Deaf management that did not put them way more often with outside writers...

CD: Masquerade - Masquerade
From: OriginalMasters	Date: August 24, 2025 at 5:26
The wizard on guitar here, Thomas Eric soon after called Thomas G:son (born Gustafsson) is a famous songwriter with plenty of pop hits mainly in his home country (and EU). But here he is way cooler, on this stellar slab of melodic hard rock that is way better than Max Martin's (also Martin White and born Martin Sandberg) first band It's Alive. Also G:son is impressive with his guitar skills. Unfortunately, by 92 grunge had taken over, so most Swedes do not even know about this great album nor its guitarist. Similar to debut by Glory and Swedish Erotica, Masquerade's debut is very much better than their other albums. But this is a little gem. Good vocals too that have hints of the sound of Per Henriksen, who sang lead on Fate's Scratch'N Sniff a couple of years earlier.

CD: Black Tiger - Black Tiger
From: Ydol eM	Date: August 24, 2025 at 3:07
An unassuming album by an unassuming band from Central Europe. On the other hand, I must admit that at the time when they started, they were like Robinson Crusoe on a desert island of the Czech AOR scene. Actually, the situation hasn't changed a lot (MOONPARK might be the exception), perhaps it's caused by a lack of traditions for hard aor rock music (does anybody remember/know some "local" interpreters of the late 80s/early 90s, eg Michael Penk, BSP, Nova Ruze...?). The debut of BT could have been suitable for Frontiers Records within the millennium period, imo MELODICA alike. I like Black Tiger. Their music is like the town they are from (I hope) - cosy with a hidden potential, where you'll always love coming back to. 85/100.

CD: 2 - 2
From: michaelmouseboxer	Date: August 23, 2025 at 21:49
This one's a very hard sell. The sole release of the Condiracci/Leatherwood project is an uninspired EP that has little to interest AOR fans. For the most part, this is mellow pop rock that never gets above second gear, although the opening "Like a Train" weirdly has a psychedelic tinge and a grungy guitar solo. Tracks 2, 5 and 6 are mildly upbeat and probably the most fun you'll have with the CD, but there's almost nothing in the way of memorable refrains. The singers sound eerily similar to each other and only unwillingly raise their voices above a croon. The entire release is only about 20 minutes long, but between waiting for a decent chorus and almost falling asleep during the slower songs, it felt much longer. Stay away.

CD: The Squirts - III
From: Andi	Date: August 23, 2025 at 11:05
This is not Hardrock

CD: Tiffany Kills - World on Fire
From: Andi	Date: August 23, 2025 at 11:03
Vocalist similar to the Black Sabaath album Headless Cross

CD: The Outlaws - Los Hombros Malo
From: Planet Y	Date: August 22, 2025 at 6:56
Gone are the country-styled guitar duals, but Outlaws do sound heavier and more direct than before. The muddy sound doesn't do the album any favours. Great sleeve.

CD: Player - Player/Danger Zone
From: Planet Y	Date: August 22, 2025 at 6:49
I only know Danger Zone, which I was lucky to find on vinyl in a bargain bin, together with Sneaker's brilliant Loose in the world (1982) album. Player is a softrock band that added some heavy guitars to their second album Danger Zone, resulting in an album that combines sophistication with rock power in a way that has rarely been achieved before and after.

CD: Nighthawk - Midnight Hunter
From: masmusic	Date: August 19, 2025 at 12:03
Just gave this a listen to! It's really good, catchy songs really good vocals!

CD: AOR - The Promised Land
From: John A D	Date: August 19, 2025 at 10:20
Wow, what a ride! The Promised Land is pure melodic rock magic—catchy hooks, soaring vocals, and that classic AOR spirit shining through every track. It’s the kind of album that makes you feel good and takes you back to the golden days of the genre, yet still sounds fresh. Definitely a must-listen for any melodic rock fan!

CD: Black Eye - Black Eye
From: Ydol eM	Date: August 17, 2025 at 14:59
Is David Readman able to sing a mediocre album? Yes, he is. This time, one of the many Frontiers projects fell short of my target. Despite the qualities of all the members, their heavy/power metal won't send you flying into another galaxy. Heavier, weaker than any PC 69 record (the songwriting and production could have been better), with often overly forceful singing. IMO, DR is like J.S. Soto, both are more suitable for rock than metal music. Black Eye... hmm...metaphorically not so too far away from it...70/100.

CD: TabU - Ven a mi
From: jaroslav	Date: August 16, 2025 at 16:51
Pretty melodic rock

CD: The Sweet - Full Circle
From: masmusic	Date: August 16, 2025 at 10:30
This is a really awesome release by Sweet. Not your typical Sweet release. However Andy Scott's guitar playing riffs are more on the harder side of melodic but fit in very well. Paul Manzi's vocals are top notch. This is the same vocalist who sang Fox On The Run. I refer this as a more mature version of Sweet. I give this a well deserved 9/10

CD: A.S.A.P. - Silver and Gold
From: Hofmann	Date: August 15, 2025 at 9:49
Indeed, not supposed to be Maiden (and Adrian did the right thing to leave No Prayer (their worst album) and this is his other side, the melodic side and it's very cool. Not all guitar players can sing, but I actually like his raspy voice quite a lot. Not a platinum album but something to be very proud of now when he has all the million sellers anyway with Maiden. I will now check out Smith-Kotzen because samples sound promising.

CD: DeVicious - Black Heart
From: Ydol eM	Date: August 15, 2025 at 9:23
A bit misdirecting front cover (not the band themselves, but the heroines who will save and protect our world), a bit imbalanced sound, anyway still a good piece of melodic hard n'heavy in the vein of PRETTY MAIDS, JADED HEART, or MILLENIUM. Btw. Auslander is right about the lyrics... I suppose the Nobel committee won't be taking this one up, but despite this, it’ll get a spot in my collection. 80/100.

CD: Eyes - Full Moon (The Lost Studio Sessions)
From: masmusic	Date: August 15, 2025 at 9:10
I gave this a good listen to last night. The first 3 tracks are awesome! The next 6 are good. Mark Weitz is a very good vocalist, He may not be JSS but he fills in and get the job done. I would rate this disc 7/10

CD: Whitesnake - Slide It In
From: OriginalMasters	Date: August 15, 2025 at 6:15
You bet, Oz. Mel Galley laid down about 90% of all guitars here and (similar to Sykes on 1987) also plenty backing vocals and writing (since DC cannot really play the guitar). Everyone knows about Sykes MAJOR importance of 1987, but way fewer fans realize the almost as popular (with more blues+soul perhaps, a little more classic 'Snake) Slide It In (double platinum RIAA, making it the 2nd most successful studio album from Whitesnake Inc.) was 90% Galley's work. Moody's Slow & Easy is a classic for sure, but Galley's "Love Ain't No Stranger" and "Give Me More Time" show what a great songwriter Mel really was (RIP). Truly lots of people talk about Sykes for 1984, but no, that was Galley (Sykes played a few solos on the US remix only). Mel also wrote fine songs with his project Phenomena, so despite the horrible accident (and insensitive firing/dismissal) he continued in the business with his brother Tom and esp. Phenomena II: Dream Runner is a marvellous album with many fine performers.

CD: Slade - The Live Anthology
From: Clayton Avalanche	Date: August 15, 2025 at 4:07
Slade are one of the best live-bands in rock-history. This compilation of their live-albums is all you need. The best of the best!!!

CD: The Sweet - Cut Above the Rest
From: Clayton Avalanche	Date: August 15, 2025 at 3:29
Very good comeback-album as a Trio after former Lead-singer Brian Connolly left the band. Stand-out-tracks are the hardrockers 2,4,9 and the progressive-rock-opus "Mother Earth".

CD: Audioslave - Audioslave
From: CC	Date: August 14, 2025 at 18:57
I was never a fan of Soundgarden or RATM beyond a few songs from both bands, but I always said Cornell had an amazing voice and loved his backing vocals on Alice Coopers song Stolen prayer. When this project was announced I really did not think much about it until I heard Cochise. Holy fuck, what a song. It encouraged me to buy the debut album. While nothing was quite as good as that single, I really did like the album as it was basically a throwback classic rock album, far removed from the music you usually expected from the two bands that were combined for this. Between Cochise and Chris' theme tune for Casino Royale, I got two of my favourite modern rock songs.

CD: Steve Walsh - Black Butterfly
From: Ydol eM	Date: August 13, 2025 at 13:37
It would be a rather common hard rock..., but it has some points that add its value. The first is Steve Walsh himself. He seals the music with more pompy and melodic sound. The second is well-balanced (vocal-guitar-keyboards) arrangements. And last but not least is the person of Jerome Mazza - simply I like the way how he sings here (...and also these songs are more AORish). All in all, this is a mature and juicy hard rock within the range of DEEP PURPLE through CROWN OF THORNS to SEVENTH KEY. No stage to win, Only music within. 80/100.

CD: Stage Dolls - Stripped
From: Simon	Date: August 13, 2025 at 11:39
Cool Eric, drums indeed remind a little of Bryan Adams' "Waking Up the Neighbours" CD with the great Mickey Curry on drums. Fantastic huge sound on this one too. Great Norwegian band.

CD: Richie Sambora - Aftermath Of The Lowdown
From: Simon	Date: August 13, 2025 at 11:32
Tough to see the former KINGS of melodic rock scene, and once close brothers and stellar songwriting team, JBJ struggle with his voice (hurtful) and see Sambora having a hard time to let go of the bottle (recent clips are not nice). But from the start until at least around Have A Nice Day, the band was just AMAZING and we can value those recordings and concerts all the more. 13 years, come on Richie, give us a new full-length album please and rock out. Born To Rock and the other songs sound good! Aftermath is ok, the only song stuck in my head now while listening though is "Burn the Candle Down", good but not essential stuff.

CD: Y and T - Ten
From: Simon	Date: August 13, 2025 at 11:17
Pablo, very nice story about Meniketti signing your poster I also like this album very very much and thought it deserved better fate/success than it got. "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" is so very good, annoying it did not chart higher! So many good songs to choose from. "Come in From the Rain" and "Let it Out" could have been fine singles to follow up. Another snare sound that is amazing, one of the very best actually. Jimmy DeGrasso shared drums on this one with session and Journey drummer at the time, Steve Smith, who played on 9 out of 12 songs. Joey Alves, who left before this album, and by many insiders considered only second to Malcolm Young’s rhythm guitar playing, died on March 12, 2017. RIP Leonard Haze (fast foot), Phil Kennemore & Joey.

CD: Y and T - Contagious
From: Simon	Date: August 13, 2025 at 10:49
Great album, with a WONDERFUL snare sound, from one of those acts that seemed to have it all, but luck. Sold ok, but the one from same label same year that sold was (of course) G N'R (another diamond snare sound btw). "Contagious" was a great single, but another video for "Temptation" or the very catchy "Bodily Harm" would have been nice. But videos were costly, and many bands did not get to make more than one/few. Y&T did not achieve gold/platinum sales, but as a note, In Rock We Trust has sold over 450,000 copies, close to reaching gold certification status. And I feel a lot of rockers do respect the band, for one thing that Meniketti can rip a great bluesy guitar AND has a great great voice. Other highlights are "Fight For Your Life" and "Armed and Dangerous" on this rather consistent album. High rating deserved.

CD: Britton - Rock Harder
From: Simon	Date: August 13, 2025 at 9:20
Eric, I found the reissue recently and well, I actually like the songs quite a lot as well. Guitarist Jim McMellen is certainly above average with plenty cool riffs and solos, rhythm section (incl. former Great White drummer) is very tight, and Michael has a great voice, clean and strong. The remaster is "too loudness", as so common, but EQ is easily fixed and then, despite the not superb sound quality, it's a pretty good collection of songs. And sure bro, guitar solo in "Living On the Red Line" is awesome.

CD: Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
From: MetalllianStallion	Date: August 12, 2025 at 18:48
Ironically, like the name of the song' Shot in the Dark". Jake was shot last year multiple times while walking his dog in the middle of the night in Vegas. LA TIMES - Rocker Jake E. Lee says shooter ‘emptied his clip on me,’ feels ‘very lucky’. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-10-18/jake-e-lee-shooting-las-vegas-injuries-ozzy

CD: Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
From: MetalllianStallion	Date: August 12, 2025 at 18:35
Jake E. Lee's Final Words to Ozzy, "I should've thanked him for that" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PROfpmK_imo Jake E. Lee on 'Horrible' Ozzy Headbutting Firing, "Why do it like that?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX9VsEmqIls Jake E. Lee on Ozzy's Ultimate Sin: I don't want to get F'd again, Shot in the Dark Inside the Album https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crnnLpS0xSU George Lynch on the Brutal Ozzy Betrayal That Shattered Him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_twblpBGvc

CD: Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
From: MetalllianStallion	Date: August 12, 2025 at 18:31
They claimed Ozzy worshipped the devil. NO, he MARRIED the DEVIL👹. Sharon learned her music mafia management tactics from her father, Don Arden (Harry Levy) manager of Black Sabbath. As far as the bass player, you can hear it from the horse's mouth, as Jake E Lee said he saved Soussan from being fired multiple times on the Ultimate Sin tour, only to be repaid with a knife in his back. Jake was gracious till the end with Ozzy, harboring no bitterness.

CD: Yngwie Malmsteen - Odyssey
From: Revelation	Date: August 12, 2025 at 6:17
Amy. You write so very well. Also felt Yngwie never had good management/real support during his amazing first decade! Love this quite catchy CD. Joe’s best ever vocals!

CD: The Dan Reed Network - Dan Reed Network
From: Revelation	Date: August 12, 2025 at 6:11
Actually one of king producer Bruce Fairbairn’s amazing sounding productions that only sold a couple 100,000 but deserved much more. I like all songs and the only thing missing for this funky talented band was the most important ingredient; LUCK.

CD: Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
From: Revelation	Date: August 12, 2025 at 6:02
Soussan was fired from Vince Neil Band since Stevens felt he was false and mediocre. In fact 100% of the cool bass lines on EXPOSED are recorded by Steve Stevens himself. What Osbournes did esp. to Robert John Daisley (and Jake and probably tens of other musiscians), and not giving him any credit last decade at all, despite being their main song writer throughout the entire 80s, is pure evil. Also Lemmy says in his book, he got only coffee money for his part in writing the huge hit that was Mama I’m Coming Home, that was the main reason why No More Tears reached US sales 5M recently. Bob Daisley, again, played the awesome cool bass on No More Tears. But him wanting royalties and trying to sue Osbournes for rightful salary/payments, made them hate him and even erasing him and RIP Lee Kerslake (drums) from recordings. Also evil and very greedy! Bob Daisley’s 2014 book ”For Facts Sake” is very well reviewed and highly recommended!

CD: Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
From: Revelation	Date: August 12, 2025 at 5:30
'Shot In The Dark' is a song that was originally written way back in 1982, four years before Ozzy did it on the 'Ultimate Sin' album. The story goes like this... Long before FM were formed, singer Steve Overland had the band Wildlife which also featured his brother Chris, drummer Simon Kirke from Bad Company and bassist Phil Soussan and they recorded two albums. The track was recorded in demo form in a slower AOR pace by Wildlife. However when Phil Soussan left the band to join the more lucrative Ozzy Osbourne band he was asked by the Ozzy camp if he had anything to offer and wallah! Ozzy liked it and re-wrote a few of the lyrics and took on 50% of the writing credits, unbeknown to Overland bros, whose writing credit was wiped out. To this day, Overlands have never received a penny for their song. Phil Soussan stole Overlands’ song, spread rumours to get the incredibly talented Jake E Lee (very cool playing here!!) fired. But what you give is what you get?

CD: Queensryche - Rage for Order
From: Revelation	Date: August 12, 2025 at 4:48
Mick. Good points there man!

CD: Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
From: Revelation	Date: August 12, 2025 at 4:47
Best lineup and album!! Killer sound, pounding drums, rich bass, main songwriters Tate & DeGarmo shine on every song. One cool thing why this album is very often in top of various lists is that it was not an album with hits, ballads or pop songs (common at the time to say the least), but just a serious hardhitting metal/hardrock album with a cool storyline/concept. Judas Priest’s Defenders disc has a similar darkness (no pop hits) approach that so many like. Hard not to love this classic album. New lineup without Tate, DeGarmo & Rockenfield is so average (sorry poor) in comparison imo. Totally different animal. BTW, Since departing from Queensrÿche, DeGarmo has made his living as a professional private jet pilot. He and Vito Bratta are missed by and faves of many many hardcore rockers. But staying your whole life in that nasty cut throat biz called r ’n’ r is not for everybody. Respect!

CD: Halestorm - Everest
From: CC	Date: August 11, 2025 at 18:34
disappointing. incredibly dark album with little or no hooks. what happened to the band who had fun and wrote catchy, fun rock songs?

CD: Treat - Treat (1992)
From: Simon	Date: August 11, 2025 at 9:49
Songs like Bangin' On Your Door, Poor Man, Dog Day Comin' Down, Learn To Fly and the beautiful Justice, are as good as other killer Treat songs. Stellar production and replacement vocalist (who has a good career still), Mats Leven, never sounded better than on this album and the Swedish Erotica debut. Some fillers, but not bad fillers, so overall rating still high. 1992, that was the problem. Cool the band came back from 2005, and still rockin'! "In 2005, a compilation album was released called Weapons of Choice, which sold surprisingly well around the world and led to the band reforming with the 1989 line-up plus Nalle Påhlsson on bass."

CD: Electric Angels - Electric Angels
From: Simon	Date: August 11, 2025 at 9:43
The band was originally managed by guitarist Bruce Kulick of Kiss fame, who also produced a demo for the band. One of the band's original unreleased songs, "Put the 'EX' in Sex" had conveniently become the title of a later Kiss song. Jon Bon Jovi was a fan of the band and "Bed of Roses" was a tribute to the Electric Angel's "True Love and Other Fairy Tales" which included the lyrics, "...our bed of roses has become a bed of nails". A blond backstage at an Angels show at Club Bene in Sayerville, New Jersey said to Bon Jovi, "Oh my god, you look just like Jon Bon Jovi." Bon Jovi contributed an endorsement statement to the promotional tape for Atlantic Record's, "Electric Angels." (Wikipedia). Despite lack of sales, it's a wonderful album.

CD: Electric Angels - Lost in the Atlantic
From: Simon	Date: August 11, 2025 at 9:40
First 2 songs are amazing, great album. edwithmj has good points, I feel the same, very good disc (even though Atlantic did not promote it). Excellent sound too.

CD: The Loveless - A Tale of Gin and Salvation
From: Simon	Date: August 11, 2025 at 9:37
Electric Angels (1990) was an excellent Hanoi Rocks-type debut (an album also endorsed by Bon Jovi). The planned follow up, incl. superb songs like "NY Times" and "God's Children", was stopped by their label I think. This album by The Loveless is very much a third Electric Angels album and also very very strong! Feelgood well done rock 'n' roll!

CD: Lace - Lace
From: plastic sheet	Date: August 10, 2025 at 19:27
The overall average level; the third piece is a golden song.

CD: Thundermother - Black and Gold
From: Ydol eM	Date: August 8, 2025 at 2:39
If you still long for (arena) hard rock of the second part of the 80s with female vocals, for example, LITA FORD did at that time, then feel free to play this catchy, well-balanced album. For me, a pleasant surprise and their best up to now. A high-octane roller coaster ride that keeps you coming back for more. 85/100.

CD: Passion Street - Million Miles Away
From: jaroslav	Date: August 7, 2025 at 8:50
Phenomenal melodic rock ❤️

CD: Heartland - Mind Your Head
From: Rockey	Date: August 7, 2025 at 1:25
A very good disc but not as good as the previous cd Move On. But this release does have its moments not a bad release. Better than 111.

CD: Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: August 5, 2025 at 20:40
Sharon pulling his strings? Maybe. But I do think a part of him really did want to do the show very badly, since his most recent farewell tour was cut short. He was always pretty open about how much performing meant to him. As far as a price to pay? You could make the case that his last few years of life were his price, "permanently disabled" in insurance-company lingo, or an "invalid" to use the old-fashioned term. To quote a character in one of Jim Thompson's novels, "Oh yes, there is a hell, my boy, and you do not have to dig for it."

CD: Arrival - Arrival
From: liebig	Date: August 5, 2025 at 19:46
A good blend between Melodic Pompy Rock and Hard Rock Nothing to die for 6/10

CD: Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
From: MetalllianStallion	Date: August 5, 2025 at 18:58
As you can see by Ozzy's quotes above he definitely believed in God, and a final judgment. Unlike Jimmy Page who I think was pretty deep into the occult, it seemed Ozzy the family man was more of a 'sinister showman' from the way people spoke of him. Of course drugs/booze seemed to be one of his biggest vices, along with his witch wife Sharon who has screwed over more musicians than a squadron of hovering groupies. Jake E Lee who cowrote many songs on Ozzy albums, but got majorly screwed out of millions in royalties. I have to wonder if it was Sharon pulling the strings making Ozzy perform with Sabbath last July with Parkinson's. Even hocking Ozzy's DNA in a soft drink 'Liquid Death' (KISS would be envious). The loving wife was doing media interviews almost immediately after his death. I think Ozzy went along to get along with her as the band's manager, as it was more of a business arrangement in many ways, than a actual marriage. Ozz-Man, now you know what's on the other side.

CD: Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
From: MetalllianStallion	Date: August 5, 2025 at 18:21
Ozzy, the self proclaimed "Prince of Darkness" leaves this world to find out what's on the other side. Osbourne, in a 2010 interview with Classic Rock Magazine, said: “I don’t know what happens when you die. And I don’t want to find out.” In his memoir I Am Ozzy (2010), he reflects on the reality of death and the possibility of judgment: “If there is a heaven and hell, I’m going to be in the middle of them both.” Osbourne told Rolling Stone (2004): “I’ve always believed there’s a God. I don’t worship the devil, I never have.” In “Sinner” (from The Ultimate Sin, 1986), Osbourne touches on moral accountability: “I’m a sinner, I confess to all the evil I’ve done I’ve got no one but myself to blame. ”In a 2009 interview with The NY Times, he commented: “There’s gotta be a judgment. There’s got to be a price for some of the things I’ve done. But I hope I can make peace with God before I go.” BBC(2002), “I’m not sure if I deserve heaven. But I’m hoping God sees something redeemable in me.”

CD: Enuff Z'Nuff - Xtra Cherries
From: Doug	Date: August 5, 2025 at 16:57
Is it just me but does the ending riff to "Back to the Wall," sound like a straight up Queen riff and "Heavy Metal" sure sounds a lot like Stone Temple Pilots', "Meadow." I admire Chip stepping up to take on vocals, but not gonna lie, I miss Donnie.

CD: Junkyard - Old Habits Die Hard
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: August 5, 2025 at 10:37
Old Habits Die Hard is an official release of about half the songs from the widely-circulated Joker/XXX releases listed elsewhere on this site. It's been a long time since I listened to the full collection (they used to offer the songs for individual download on their official website, for free), so I can't say if these are the best bananas from the bunch, but it's all prime Junkyard, with their punked-up, bloozy tales of life on the slide. Best ones for me are "Out Cold," "Fall To Pieces," "Holdin' On," "Staredown," "Take Me Home" and the poignant "Hangin' Around With My Dreams." Tales of poverty, failure, addiction and bad, bad love, all delivered with serious rock 'n' roll swagger.

CD: Junkyard - Shut Up - We're Trying To Practice
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: August 5, 2025 at 10:24
Cleopatra were mostly known around 1999-2000 for putting out crap, like poorly re-recorded greatest-hits compilations and tribute albums featuring out-of-work hair-band guys in various configurations. With Shut Up, they really found a diamond in the rough.

CD: Junkyard - Shut Up - We're Trying To Practice
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: August 5, 2025 at 10:19
R.I.P. David Roach. What a great band! I still listen to the debut often, and the other two full-length albums are perhaps unfairly overlooked as a result. This right here is my kinda live album: a full set from the band's Hollywood stomping grounds and at their peak. Sound is professional (an A+ soundboard at the very least), but with that raw and ragged quality of a real rock 'n' roll show. The guys goof around onstage, thanking MTV and KNAC for the airplay, and run through most of the debut, plus a couple covers and two non-album tracks. Best enjoyed as a whole, at full volume and with a couple drinks, to really get the feel of "being there." Junkyard were always underdogs, championed only by hardcore sleazehounds like us.

CD: Billy Idol - Billy Idol
From: Ydol eM	Date: August 5, 2025 at 9:00
Billy Idol is unique and the original. The punk rocker who plays pop with a self-rock attitude and glam pose. Simple, but never limple. 70/100.

CD: Roxanne - Roxanne
From: curemeok	Date: August 5, 2025 at 6:28
Japanese first CD pressing is D32Y-0170

CD: Babylon A.D. - Revelation Highway
From: hair metal again	Date: August 4, 2025 at 7:55
glorious come back for BABYLON A.D. offering some new songs and some old recordings of THE PERSUADERS era done again!great hard rock sound ,fine melodic lines and especially Derek sounds like the old days!among the best hard rock releases of the recent years as expected

CD: The Black Crowes - By Your Side
From: Oskar	Date: August 3, 2025 at 5:28
I understand and respect the above, but I've never liked, nor will I ever like, The Faces, Rollins, The Band, Neil Young, etc., etc. I don't like folk soul rock, and I think this band is just a song band, not an album band. They're highly overrated and incredibly boring.

CD: The Black Crowes - Three Snakes And One Charm
From: Oskar	Date: August 2, 2025 at 13:22
I totally agree with Geoff, very, very, very boring. That folky sound is not for me, The Band, Neil Young, Rollins... no thanks. For me, it's a very overrated band. If you like Steelheart, Badlands, Def Leppard, Blue Murder, etc., forget about this band completely.

CD: Dare - The Best Of Dare - 40 Years of Music - Collectors Edition
From: 123charpenay	Date: August 1, 2025 at 15:10
marvellous best of.class and very smart music .what pleasure!!!!!!!!ok on 34 songs we have an avalanche of ballad and very(too much) soft songs.perfect for sleeping.so i ve make a selection.and here waouh!!!!!!top class irish a o r .a must have.beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CD: Strategy - Love Tactics
From: Swazi	Date: July 31, 2025 at 16:13
Can you believe it! A band from Munich/Germany! 😃 Really awesome as far as I am concerned! Very well played and the frontman has sprung right out of the 80‘s. Highly recommended. 🤘👍

CD: Dorothy - The Way
From: CC	Date: July 31, 2025 at 15:22
Have known about Dorothy for a while, but for some reason never got around to buying her music despite following her on social media. Recently I decided to rectify that by buying all four of her albums at the same time. The first to show up was Gifts, and I really loved that. Then her second album and that wasn't as good. Finally this and the first album showed together. Like the 2nd album, the debut really did not excite me, but this one, much like Gifts was an absolute monster. She has had a bit more exposure recently due to her collab with Slash and it featuring on a WWE show, and I think it is at exactly the right time as she has really found her niche with the last two albums. She really does have a great voice, and the songs have just gotten better and better. That said if Tombstone is the only song you have heard by her, don't think for a second that it is representative of the whole album.

CD: L.A. Guns - Hollywood Raw: The Original Sessions
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: July 31, 2025 at 12:50
A cool set of demos from one of my favorite bands of the era. I've long spoken of my dislike for the production on the debut, so maybe it isn't surprising that I find these versions not too bad, in terms of sound quality. Most songs are pretty much as we would come to know them, but notably, this version of "Sex Action" still has the lyrics and melody of its original incarnation as "Love And Hate." "Electric Gypsy," "nothing To Lose," "Shoot For Thrills" and "One More Reason" are also strong renditions, with the latter including the "eighty-five dollars, ain't she great" line that didn't make the album. If the second disc really is the original '85 EP with Michael Jagosz and not retouched, I have to say the band's identity is already in place, especially on "Don't Love Me" and "It's Not True."

CD: Tarzen - Madrid
From: AOR Hunter	Date: July 31, 2025 at 12:17
This is an absolute masterpiece of the most spectacular AOR. The Peyronel brothers were born with pure rock in their veins. At last we can enjoy this tremendous album in a remastered CD version.

CD: Rick Springfield - Tao
From: TheMetalChurch	Date: July 30, 2025 at 12:41
I can only find one good song on this release. WAY too many ballads and the songs seem very contrived. There IS a such thing as trying to hard...

CD: Animalyze - Powerhouse
From: 123charpenay	Date: July 30, 2025 at 10:29
danish dynamite!!!!!with this debut album animalyze play directly in champion s league!!!!dazbuff in his comment says clone of def leppard.in the booklett the title is "rock n roll is back".i m agree.in the booklett they says that animalyze is the baby of motley crue and kiss.i m ok.personaly this band reminds me first roxville for the voice of the singer and the quality of the music,second motley crue for the guitar s riffs and the rythm section,third king zebra for the very catchy choruses and def leppard for the chords.no doubt we are in july.at this date this is the best record of 2025.the japan import is essential cause we have two super bonus tracks.track 11 "can t be tamed" an excellent rock song with a remarkable choruse.track 12 a super live version of "hot but dangerous".you can buy this jewel closed eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CD: Joe Satriani - Is There Love In Space
From: hair metal again	Date: July 30, 2025 at 4:43
very good release for JOE SATRIANI in his classic sound and way of performing!nice flow in the songs with many ideas and guitar lines that keep the interest as usual!"hands in the air","if i could fly" and "just look up" are the standout songs

CD: Oz Knozz - 10.000 Days and Nights
From: jaroslav	Date: July 28, 2025 at 14:39
A litte prog

CD: Dokken - Lightning Strikes Again
From: jaroslav	Date: July 28, 2025 at 13:01
Boring CD

CD: Desmond Child and Rouge - Runners in the Night
From: jaroslav	Date: July 28, 2025 at 12:50
Boring CD

CD: AC/DC - Black Ice
From: jaroslav	Date: July 28, 2025 at 10:09
Awfull music

CD: Mad Max - Night Of Passion
From: jaroslav	Date: July 28, 2025 at 9:31
Phenomenal rock music!!!

CD: Joe Satriani - Strange Beautiful Music
From: hair metal again	Date: July 28, 2025 at 1:49
excellent release indeed for JOE SATRIANI going back to the basics doing his thing !great guitar lines and ideas along with fine musicianship and a perfect sound make Strange Beautiful Music a must have!All the songs stand out and i think that this one is among his best ever

CD: Pole Position - Bigger
From: Ydol eM	Date: July 27, 2025 at 12:51
I agree to both comments above (Geoff and Azmodel). A disappointing, but definitely not bad album, with the clear best song. Modern hard rock for that time being, with echoes of grunge, followed by alternative rock. Better than TERRORVISION, but weaker than eg DIZZY MIZZ LIZZY (imo). Another band trying to climb on a bandwagon that was already too far away. 70/100.

CD: Joe Satriani - Engines Of Creation
From: hair metal again	Date: July 26, 2025 at 14:20
very good release for JOE SATRIANI going with the flow using drum machine and programming in his sound !this is what is happening at the moment and i d say that in some point it worked ok! "attack","until we say goodbye" and "borg sex" are the standout songs

CD: Yes - Big Generator
From: Ydol eM	Date: July 25, 2025 at 12:10
It took me a rather long time to get into YES music. Actually, I still have a problem absorbing their sophisticated progressive rock in full context. This is mainly because of Anderson's vocal and complex song structures. On the other hand, I must admit exceptional musical skills and originality. This album is probably my most favourite Yes album because it reflects the zeitgeist of that time when pop rock and AOR weren't derogatory words in harder-edged music. A bit similar to RUSH'87. The music with its own wings. 80/100.

CD: Steve Vai - The Elusive Light And Sound Vol.1
From: hair metal again	Date: July 25, 2025 at 9:25
nice collection of Steve s cinema and tv work that shows his skill and unique way of writing down guitar lines and solos!highlight the excellent song "love blood"that was nearly to be released in Sex And Religion

CD: Joe Satriani - Crystal Planet
From: hair metal again	Date: July 25, 2025 at 0:08
very good release for JOE SATRIANI once again in his own unique style which could be better if some fillers were missing,but the good songs are really worth!"love thing",'time" and "house full of bullets" are great songs indeed

CD: Gary John Barden - Love and War
From: jaroslav	Date: July 23, 2025 at 13:13
Absolutely TOP music, composed Gary John Barden and Michael Voss, one of the best rock CD from last 40 years ❤️

CD: Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: July 22, 2025 at 15:01
So with all that said (and the way music fits into our own lives is a big part of our attachment to it), I would put No More Tears right up there with the two Randy Rhoads albums in Ozzy's solo career. The production is heavy, even if Ozzy himself tried to present a friendlier version of himself, after a decade of conservative hysteria. To but fair, he'd been doing this at least since "Rock 'n' Roll Rebel" back in '83. No Rest For The Wicked was heavy too, but for me, No More Tears just has a better batch of songs. And it's struck me that everyone loves "Mama, I'm Comin' Home," but many don't realize just how bitter the Lemmy-penned lyrics are, disguised in their warm melody.

CD: Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: July 22, 2025 at 14:45
Our good friend Ozzy Osbourne has gone to the Night Land, as the Cherokee say. No More Tears was my formal introduction to the Ozzman. I'd heard the duet with Lita Ford of course, but I really don't think I'd heard any of his own music, solo or with Sabbath. But his reputation preceded him and I had heard enough lore that "Ozzy" equaled "danger" in my mind. So now it's the fall of 1991, and I've just started middle school. MTV were still doing the "block" format they'd done all summer, grouping music of similar genres together, and every afternoon at 3, just after I got home from school, they did a "double Hard Block." Half an hour of metal, basically. And this was where I heard "No More Tears" for the first time. Along with same-era music by Metallica, Skid Row and Alice In Chains, and with the realization that I was growing up, the feeling I recall from the fall of '91 is an increase in heaviness and darkening of mood.

CD: XYZ - XYZ
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: July 22, 2025 at 10:02
... like "Take What You Can" and "Nice Day To Die." The lyrics—are you sure AI wasn't around back then? Case in point: "Souvenirs." I get it, it's about a relationship where the other person never really committed, but "I walked across the skies and slept upon the clouds, now you shattered the sun and left a rainbow in my heart"—what the fuck? But of course, lyrics were almost always secondary to this kind of music; sounding cool was always more important than making sense or being creative. Anyway, the spotless production, technical guitars, and Terry's treacly voice (and French accent!) give XYZ more of a slick, urbane feel, rather than gutter-dwelling sleaze. Even when they TRY to be sleazy, it still feels like high-class sleaze. A good album, but I prefer the follow-up, Hungry.

CD: XYZ - XYZ
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: July 22, 2025 at 9:45
This disc came out in late 1989, and "Inside Out" was a minor hit over the winter into early 1990. Even if you hadn't read the above comments, you would not be surprised to learn it was produced by Don Dokken, as XYZ is like a Double-A minor-league version of his namesake band, and he produces them as such. Diglio is a shredder in the vein of Lynch, and his flashy riffs have a glossy sheen, while the clean parts of ballads have that thin but echoey tone that lets you know we're not strumming cowboy chords here. Terry Ilous sounds more than a little like Don Dokken, but thinner and more nasal. It's hard to describe, but something about the timbre of his voice tricks your ears into thinking he's singing a lot higher than he is. Words with more open vowel sounds often have a shrieky, dog-whistle quality to them, like "come on, honey, NOOOOOW!" before the solo in "Inside Out." Highlights include that song and the other singles, "What KeepsMe Loving You" and "Maggy," plus more metallic trac

CD: Love On Ice - Nude
From: TattooPaul	Date: July 21, 2025 at 23:51
To Me, this has a sound similar to Saigon Kick's fist record with a singer with a slightly wider range. I enjoyed it

CD: Glass Tiger - Simple Mission
From: James IV	Date: July 21, 2025 at 15:34
Now this album their third release from 1990 is exactly what we had been waiting for! The first album was a good start for the band. The second release had more top notch standout tracks all over it! This release I have given it a 90/ 100 as the style is even more in your face and not on the lighter side of AOR like their previous two efforts. Again there is something very special here indeed. Great songs with no fillers in my opinion which affected my rating on their first two releases especially the debut. I love this release, every song is a standout track like Rescued ( By the arms of love ) and One night Alone and of course Animal Heart which I bought on cd single when released, but all the tracks have something to offer the listener. All standout tracks indeed. Their best release for me. Shame these guys never matched it 😔 As previously mentioned, 90/100.

CD: Bigfoot - Bigfoot
From: Ydol eM	Date: July 21, 2025 at 12:24
Yeah, MetalllianStallion is right. "Forever Alone" is really a well-crafted and nice ballad, a bit Tyketto alike...

CD: Tainted Saints - Tainted Saints
From: jaroslav	Date: July 20, 2025 at 8:15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v74qwBosuc&list=PLkWQn4IKJCob7MN0WcZwNFUpmfgh8aR5k&index=1

CD: Sign of the Wolf - Sign of the Wolf
From: MetalllianStallion	Date: July 19, 2025 at 18:10
Bruce Mee (Fireworks Magazine) strikes gold assembling this lineup of players, as I'm sure this release will go in my top 5 for 2025. Andrew Freeman (Last In Line) is the youngster with this group of seasoned musicians. This album is straight up 80's inspired hard rock as 'most' of the dudes heyday was in the 80's or 70's (Tony Carey Rainbow). Straddling the line of MHR with a few melodic metal leaning tracks. Elements of Dio, Rainbow, with a splash of Deep Purple (keys). This is genuinely a great album that has passed my repeated listen test. Of course 'Sign of the Wolf' isn't reinventing the wheel but it's not a tribute band either. It's more of a recreation of that classic rock sound that so many of us love (let's see A.I. do this). There are so many Euro bands floating around today that often imitate, but never truly replicate that 80's inspired sound. Sign of the Wolf - S/T (2025) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5t5-7NBr2Q&list=PL44gxJwuwoabs5teJlItWmxGOhaSoaGD_&index=3

CD: Noize Toys - Fallin' In Lust...Again
From: MetalllianStallion	Date: July 19, 2025 at 16:41
A big comments circle jerk over this one, but I don't hear it. To me they sound like a PBF bowel movement with elementary playing ability. For Koogles to give a RATT comparison here is hairband blasphemy. Maybe the singer G.G. on the SPOT was doing double duty as he sounds a lot like Jose Anes from the band Rock Candy, from Buffalo, NY (80's hard rock mecca). RC is a step up in quality from this band, but both are indie quality that never got signed to a major label. Image is everything, so maybe if the band would have spelled their name with a double "Z" NoiZe ToyZ destiny would have been on their side. Anybody know G.G. Spot's real name to put a end to my sleepless nights? Noize Toys - Fallin' In Lust...Again (1987)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou3KZLT0Qp4&list=RDOu3KZLT0Qp4&start_radio=1 Rock Candy Sucker for a Pretty Face (1987) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOWTeleMKjs&list=PLovExl5CQwvAvLbHI-NeCbh6ktxzPd7J1

CD: Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings
From: hair metal again	Date: July 19, 2025 at 8:05
exactly as Jez very well describes this is typical DT with all the trademarks of their sound present and especially excellent changes of lines in the songs!flawless music from start to finish ,it needs a few spins to remember the ideas and get into them!great band indeed

CD: Joe Satriani - Time Machine
From: hair metal again	Date: July 18, 2025 at 3:30
Very good album for SATRIANI once again having a little bit for every taste plus a great live cd full of great sounds and a stunning performance!

CD: Dangerous Toys - Hellacious Acres
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: July 17, 2025 at 8:27
Nothing here is as brainless as "Sport'n A Woody," but there are still some pretty juvenile moments. "Gimme No Lip" was the first single, and a musical cousin to "Woody," but it's all about girls who talk too much. "Sticks And Stones" is undeniable fun, but its message of young rawkers standing up against censorship is pretty dated and passé. The aforementioned "Line 'Em Up" was the second single, an ill-advised attempt at funk-metal that only garnered light Headbanger's Ball airplay in the fall of '91. The album itself didn't fare that well in general either. And I've already mentioned the stinky cover. But "Angel N U" slams, with its nasty attitude and long, dueling-solo section. (P.S., the joke in my first post today should have read "rapid ear movement.")

CD: Dangerous Toys - Hellacious Acres
From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: July 17, 2025 at 8:15
For some reason, I had "Line 'Em Up" running through my subconscious for what seemed like half the night while I was asleep, despite not having heard the song in a long time. Rapear movement? Did I eat something funny? I dunno. So I'm revisiting Hellacious Acres again this morning. I already commented on Jason McMaster's dissatisfaction with the final product, but I have to think Roy Thomas Baker was probably equally unimpressed with the band. Look, I love D-Toys, but you gotta figure they would represent a big step down for someone like RTB, even if he may have been something of a has-been by 1991. Queen, they were most definitely not, despite their assertions at the time that this was a more "mature" album. The only nod toward maturity is "Best Of Friends," a rueful ballad of the early stirrings of mortality—somebody your own age died!

CD: Steve Vai - Flexable
From: hair metal again	Date: July 16, 2025 at 0:48
very good debut for STEVE VAI bringing to life his unique way of thinking and writing down music ! big variety of sounds make Flex able quite diverse as it states exactly and it needs 2 or 3 spins to get into it!brilliant

CD: W.A.S.P. - Helldorado
From: hair metal again	Date: July 14, 2025 at 8:51
well said in the above comments as Blackie tried a return to the roots after the disasterous previous one and somehow he did but this time sounds to repeat himself and the lyrics sometimes are pretty lame!"damnation angels " and "helldorado" are the highlights from a release that sounds very familiar to the WASP nation

CD: Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies
From: hair metal again	Date: July 13, 2025 at 1:46
excellent release for ALICE COOPER with his unique creativity and songwriting ability offers thrilling rock music .many classics here as well such as "billion dollar babies","no more mr nice guy" and ' i love the dead"!a must have for sure

CD: Shooting Star - It's Not Over
From: hair metal again	Date: July 12, 2025 at 15:15
excellent release for SHOOTING STAR ,as always offering a classy sound with many fine melodic lines and good songs!"its not over" ,"believe in me" and "get excited" are the highlights but the rest is also flowing nice

CD: Alice Cooper - Dirty Diamonds
From: hair metal again	Date: July 6, 2025 at 3:49
excellent release for ALICE COOPER once again writing down big songs with catchy choruses ,unique clever lyrics and a fine sweet hard rock feel ! all the band members are on the same line and the result is that classic Alice sound !flawless from start to finish with all the songs stand out make Dirty Diamonds shining in his long catalogue

CD: 1st Avenue - Tears and Triumph
From: Rockey	Date: July 5, 2025 at 10:18
A great debut too bad they disbanded.

CD: Giant - Stand and Deliver
From: edukiki	Date: July 3, 2025 at 14:39
El mejor album de AOR y rock melodico con diferencia del año 2025, me da igual quien cante , quien toque la guitarra, valoro la musica, y si son otros musicos, pero huele a GIANT totalmente en su conjunto,

CD: Hollow Haze - Between Wild Landscapes and Deep Blue Seas
From: Ydol eM	Date: July 3, 2025 at 12:08
Despite having only one album here on HH, Hollow Haze aren't newcomers. They've been acting in the power&progressive metal scene for more than 20 years. Their last album has brought a new singer (a perfect choice!), a new record company and a new musical approach, which has reflected in more modern, more symphonic, more melodic, and more enhanced hard'n'heavy than ever before. As if KAMELOT with POVERTY'S NO CRIME played under the creative guidance of Alessandro Del Vecchio (IMO)... This music won't beg for your attention. It will grab you right away. Straight shot to the lizard brain. 80/100.

CD: Millenium - Jericho
From: CC	Date: July 2, 2025 at 12:25
Quite funny reading these comments, as I don't agree with most of them. I bought the first Millenium album back when it came out and that was most certainly AOR so no, they have not always been a bit heavy. I actually really liked that album but for some reason never picked up the follow ups. I saw this one cheap the other day so took a punt on it. Now while yes it is a different beast to the debut, it is certainly not Brutal Metal worthy, and defo belongs on this site. For me as someone who is a fan of heavier rock, I have to say this was disapointing. The debut was so much better. Nothing wrong with this one, but just nothing special

CD: Paul Laine - Stick It In Your Ear
From: James IV	Date: July 2, 2025 at 12:21
It has all been said above! Every song is just a dream. Just Rock perfection. One of my all time favourites - 100/100.

CD: Vanilla Ninja - Love Is War
From: jaroslav	Date: June 30, 2025 at 12:59
Awful music

CD: Joe Satriani - The Extremist
From: hair metal again	Date: June 30, 2025 at 3:27
very good release for JOE SATRIANI back in 92 with a great sound and many brilliant ideas!all his releases are flowing nice and rarely you lose interest!"cryin","summer song" and " the extremist" are the standout songs

CD: Starship - No Protection
From: Macca	Date: June 29, 2025 at 9:07
Ignore the naysayers.........great pop rock hi tech melodic AOR..... glossy super production..crystal clear..Peter Wolf Keith Olsen, and Narrada Michael Waldren all involved....it gets no better. This was the era for the very best of Keys and gtr driven AOR.. Great melodies.....and great vocals from Thomas.....it gor even better after this with "Love Among the cannibals" where they jettisoned Grace Slick..and went harder edged, with Mutt Lange involved......

CD: Animalyze - Powerhouse
From: DazBuFF	Date: June 27, 2025 at 9:38
These guys sound like def lep clones to me, but I really like their sound! If you get the Japanese version you get 2 extra songs. One more studio track and a live version of a former song on this cd.

CD: Bryan Adams - Tracks Of My Years
From: CC	Date: June 27, 2025 at 9:38
Just for the record, the covers on this are from the 60s with a handful being from the 50s. Pretty decent selection that avoids most of the obvious songs everyone seems to cover.

CD: Caught in Action - Devil's Tango
From: Macca	Date: June 27, 2025 at 8:13
PRETTY DARN GOOD...Reminds me of Canadas Haywire...which is no bad thing..............singer is very much the same too. they just had a brand new one out too.............

CD: Kix - Rock Your Face Off
From: CC	Date: June 26, 2025 at 13:08
I will be honest here and say Kix were never one of my faves. I liked their stuff, and was a particular fan of the album Hot wire (mostly because it was my introduction to the band), but they were never an essential band. I had over the years picked up all their studio albums but this one passed me by. I either did not realise it was ever released or just forgot about it. Anyway, I recently saw something about it recently and thought now was a good a time as any to buy it. When you consider it had been 19 years since their last album, they just seem to have picked up where they left off. No "modern" elements, just old school Kix. Nothing on here is mind blowing, but it is just good old fashioned hard rock, exactlty what you would hope from this band.

CD: Skew Siskin - Skew Siskin
From: hair metal again	Date: June 26, 2025 at 11:44
fantastic debut for SKEW SISKIN back in 92 with a great production ,massive hard rock sound and great female vocals along with fine songwriting!the band is very solid and the songs very well peformed !"in another world","when the sun goes down" are unique songs but the rest is also remarkable!flawless from start to finish and a classic of the 90 s hard rock scene

CD: Harem Scarem - The Early Years
From: 123charpenay	Date: June 26, 2025 at 9:57
out of love is a super song.for the rest, nothing extraordinary.this record is reserved to the die hard fans of harem scarem.

CD: Treat - Coup de Grace
From: titothetitan	Date: June 25, 2025 at 9:50
A triumphant comeback from one of the best AOR bands out there. But the album isn’t perfect — there’s an excessive number of tracks (plus the Japanese bonus track) and a few fillers. I find Tangled Up to be a pretty bad song.

CD: Barely Legal - Dirtier Than You
From: MrMetal	Date: June 24, 2025 at 13:03
then released her first eponymous Solo album in 1997 which included PAUL STANLEY, industry heavyweights Kenny Aronoff and Ricky Phillips, as well as recording a duet with EDDIE MONEY This resulted in Lou taking over lead vocals with BARELY LEGAL and the remaining lineup featuring Roman (d), Arnold Umali (g), and Trevor Andres (b)(Solo, AWOL, STRANGE BREW, MIKE LUNO BAND +). They would tour across Canada and eventually settle in Vancouver, British Columbia in order to begin working on a studio release (many sources incorrectly list the act as originating from Vancouver when it was actually from Winnipeg). This would result in privately releasing their “Dirtier Than You (EP)” 500 copies were pressed, while becoming impossible to find nowadays (fetching over $500 in some cases). They toured somewhat to support their lone release in 1996 with new guitarist Randy Gable (THE DARBY MILLS PROJECT, BOONDOCK +) but would disband shortly afterwards.

CD: Barely Legal - Dirtier Than You
From: MrMetal	Date: June 24, 2025 at 13:02
The group was formed in the late 80’s by Lou Greenberg. At that time there was a female singer involved named Lenita Ericson from Michigan, who eventually went on to Solo projects & played the Winnipeg club scene with acts such as SHAKE NAKED in 1989. Joey Saltel (LAWSUIT, NUTHIN’ PRETTY) would eventually take over lead vocals with Roman Breuer also joining sometime during the early 90’s. During that period, Lou Greenberg then decided to work with the DEAD BEAT HONEYMOONERS out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and released their eponymous debut LP in 1992. This put a temporary halt to BARELY LEGAL until that act reformed in 1993 with Lenita again as their lead vocalist. But that was also short-lived as she was approached by several major labels in Canada as well as by the all-female act VIXEN while showcasing in Toronto. They were in need of a lead vocalist for their project named HELLS BELLES, and she would join them for a very brief period. Lenita continued to write songs and perform, then rel

CD: Ten - The Name of The Rose
From: titothetitan	Date: June 23, 2025 at 16:29
The album opens strongly, with the excellent "The Name of the Rose" followed by "Wildest Dreams." "Don't Cry" and "Turn Around" fall a bit short but are still good. "Wait for You" and "The Rainbow" bring back the initial energy, but from there the album declines and loses momentum. It’s an album with many highlights, but in between there are long instrumental sections and songs that don’t quite excite. I think the album lacks consistency overall

CD: Lodgic - Nomadic Sands
From: Macca	Date: June 23, 2025 at 10:05
This is a great album...surprised no reviews it was a shelved release that finally saw the light of day. Its World trade meets yes with a touch of The Police., of course it is, as its a vehicle for Billy Sherwood and Mr Allison. Crisp clear as day production...AOR melodies and wonderful sequenced shimmering keyboards.......... a top notch Pop rock prog release........... essential purchase

CD: Sweet F.A. - Temptation
From: hair metal again	Date: June 23, 2025 at 4:05
very good release for SWEET F.A.back in 91 with amazing musicianship ,big production ,great performance and looks but unfortunately the songs werent as strong as expected ,the choruses not memorable and as a result Temptation didnt hit the spot!bought it back in the day ,but didnt got many spins because of the above...revisiting it brings back those memories and of course that sweet hard rock sound that doesnt exist anymore

CD: Landfall - Wide Open Sky
From: Reginaldo Caixeta	Date: June 22, 2025 at 16:31
Brazilian monster melodic hard rock at its finest! If you like bands like Journey, Talisman and similars this is a must have! Highly recommended!

CD: Pat Benatar - Best Shots (1987)
From: Ydol eM	Date: June 22, 2025 at 15:08
This compilation may contain all her greatest hits (some of them in their single versions), but there is no surprise for her fans. Carte de visite for beginners or another item for die-hard collectors. 70/100.

CD: Whitesnake - Best Of Whitesnake
From: Ydol eM	Date: June 21, 2025 at 11:28
Crystal clear (all songs are digitally remastered), but rather sterile sound. Most of the songs are from the 80s. No additional value, no bonus, or a new track to enrich this collection. A safe bet. 75/100.

CD: Alice Cooper - Dragontown
From: hair metal again	Date: June 21, 2025 at 1:27
very good release for ALICE COOPER always writing down catchy tunes with great lyrics and under his trademark way of performing even though he updates his sound!all the songs stand out and you wont find weak moments!all his releases are must haves

CD: Buckcherry - Roar Like Thunder
From: Doug	Date: June 20, 2025 at 12:19
I agree with CC's comments, solid album. I too am a BC fan!

CD: Summers - 364
From: Doug	Date: June 20, 2025 at 12:17
Good album, totally agree with the comments, lead singer sounds just like Joe Elliott.

CD: Robert Tepper - No Rest For The Wounded Heart
From: 123charpenay	Date: June 19, 2025 at 12:58
this record have his moments.good singer,perfect production.tracks 2,6 and 8 are some super songs some hits.tracks 1,3 and 10 are some very good songs.the rest is very very average.......

CD: Robert Tepper - No Easy Way Out
From: 123charpenay	Date: June 19, 2025 at 12:55
discover this record only now.better late than never.good singer,good production.track 1 is a hit.track 2 an excellent song.the rest is a nightmare.it s sound very eighties in the vein of i ten or michael bolton "every body s crazy".but "no easy way out" have absoluty not the same level.it s a mix of poor aor with poor pop/variety.the rare guitar s solos have very very weak.it s a pity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!finally i ve lost nothing.

CD: Great White - Twice Shy
From: hair metal again	Date: June 19, 2025 at 2:39
excellent release for GREAT WHITE as usual with a bluesy hard rock sound and that amazing vocal work from Jack that is the mane attraction!all the songs stand out and there are no fillers from rockers to ballads!89 was a fantastic year for the hard rock genre and Twice Shy is no exception

CD: Reach - Prophecy
From: CC	Date: June 18, 2025 at 20:36
Much better than the last album, but still a far cry from their brilliant debut.

CD: Wolfsbane - Live Faster...
From: CC	Date: June 18, 2025 at 18:52
Re-recorded version of the debut album

CD: D-Tale - D-Tale
From: jaroslav	Date: June 18, 2025 at 16:37
Excelent melodic hard rock

CD: Balance II - II
From: jaroslav	Date: June 18, 2025 at 15:44
Beautiful nice photo

CD: Dokken - Beast From The East
From: titothetitan	Date: June 18, 2025 at 13:37
I gave incorrect information above. This album was not recorded exclusively on April 29 in Tokyo. This album is a compilation of live performances in Japan from dates between April 20 and 29, 1988.

CD: Caught in Action - Devil's Tango
From: gonzaloaor	Date: June 18, 2025 at 7:45
De los mejores discos del 2022 y más, gran cantante y grandes composiciones Simple Man, It Was Always You y I Will Wait de las mejores

CD: Treat - Ghost Of Graceland
From: 123charpenay	Date: June 17, 2025 at 11:48
totally agree with my brazilian friend tito.average record.

CD: Treat - Ghost Of Graceland
From: titothetitan	Date: June 17, 2025 at 11:04
Coup de Grace was a triumphant comeback from one of the best AOR bands. This follow-up, for me, fell short of expectations. It's more polished, more introspective, and less inspired — as if the band was trying to be more 'mature' or conceptual, but lost some of the spontaneity of the previous album. The title track even tries to be grand, but it doesn't hit as it should. Killer choruses are missing in much of the album — something that has always been a trademark of the band. The production is too clean, almost 'cold.' Competent, but it lacks the brilliance, energy, and inspiration of Coup de Grace. An okay album.

HeavyHarmonies.Com	BrutalMetal.Com	HeavensMetal.Com
This site contains Ebay and Amazon affiliate links, which may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.