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April 2024

• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
• Praying Mantis: Defiance
• King Zebra: Between The Shadows
• About Us: Take A Piece
• Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories

March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
• Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
• The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
• Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
• Lipz: Changing The Melody
• The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
• Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
• Turbulence: Binary Dream
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• Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
• Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help

February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
• Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
• Honeymoon Suite: Alive
• Durbin: Screaming Steel
• Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
• Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
• Striker: Ultrapower
• Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
• Robert Hart: Circus Life

January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
• Caligula's Horse: Charcoal Grace
• Grand: Second To None
• Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
• The Rods: Rattle The Cage
• 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

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Michael Schenker Fest: Revelation

Melodic Hard Rock

4.0/5.0

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Nuclear Blast
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 18.09.2019 | Released: 20.09.2019

Michael Schenker got the band back together, specifically his Michael Schenker Fest (MSF). The band features the legendary guitarist working with some of his old vocal buddies, including Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley and Doogie White. Once only a concert phenomena, MSF has become a studio and touring institution with the MSF debut album, 2018's Resurrection. Revisiting the religious motif, Michael Schenker and friends return with their second album, Revelation.

Michael Schenker Fest

Little introduction or elaboration of Michael Schenker Fest album is necessary. You'll find plenty of melodic hard rock tunes wrapped in rhythm and groove and blistering with Schenker's trademark creative and technical guitar work. You could call an MSF album simply a platform for Schenker's guitar skills, but as the consummate musician Schenker also has an ear for creating a complete rock song that favors all players. And so then, the four vocalists add their voices, sometimes all together, to compliment the songs. (Press material is rather sketchy concerning who sings, or if all sing, on which songs.)

As for those songs, you'll find some quick paced melodic hard rock with Under A Blood Red Sky, Still In The Fight, and Silent Again. Schenker's riffs can be sharp and brisk within Behind The Smile and the speedy We Are The Voice, a roaring arena anthem. You'll find some fine rock rhythm and groove within Crazy Daze and Lead You Astray, with its notable bass line. The album rounds out with a traditional Schenker instrumental where he essentially sets his fret board aflame. All said, Revelation is another fine Michael Schenker Fest album featuring his stunning guitar work wrapped in tightly woven melodic hard rock tunes. Recommended.

Axe: Final Offering

Melodic Hard Rock

3.5/5.0

The story of American rock band Axe is one of both triumph and tragedy. Formed in the late Seventies, the band had a string of popular albums, hit singles, MTV videos ... [ Read More ]

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

All said, Revelation is another fine Michael Schenker Fest album featuring his stunning guitar work wrapped in tightly woven melodic hard rock tunes. Recommended.

Alphabetical Index

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 ]