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New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
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April 2024
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March 2024
- Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
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February 2024
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January 2024
- Corvus: Immortals
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- Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
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- Gotus: Gotus
- Metalite: Expedition One
- Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
- Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
- The Grandmaster: Black Sun
Reds'cool: Bad Story
I get some music pitched to me from Russia. Often it's material, like death metal, metalcore, or industrial stuff, of which I have no personal interest in and doesn't fit the site. Then, about once a year, something interesting comes along like St. Petersburg's Reds'cool and their second album Bad Story.
Reds'cool: reds'relaxed.
Eschewing modern notions, Reds'cool is essentially an AOR melodic rock band in the classic tradition and, unlike many of the other Russian bands pitched to me, sing in English. Bad Story has a good selection songs from edgier straight up rockers like Bad Bad Story to more moderate like Fooling Myself to ballads like Confession.
Songs like Confession, another ballad Love and Pain, You Must Go, and Feel You have airy sway of traditional AOR, with the latter song having energetic blusters within the steady groove. There's a generous amount of classic rock guitar solos, well-placed accenting keyboards as within You Must Go, and clean melodic vocal lines. Although listening to the live performance below, the singer (no band member names were given) doesn't seem as a strong as on record.
Additionally, Bad Story gets high marks for good production, thanks to the notable Michael Wagener (Dokken, Motley Crue, Great White, Alice Cooper, et al.) who produced, mixed and mastered the album. The only downside maybe that, by comparison to some of their European peers, with only nine songs at 40 minutes, it's a tad short. However, if you're wanting another good band delivering classic AOR melodic rock, look to Russia and check out Reds'cool's Bad Story. Recommended.
Reds'cool - Bite
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In Short
If you're wanting another good band delivering classic AOR melodic rock, look to Russia and check out Reds'cool's Bad Story.
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New & Notable
Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]