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Wed
19
Aug

THE STATION & JEFF COSCO Pre-Orders Available

Artist: 
Jeff Cosco
PRE-ORDERS OPEN NOW
 

 

Tags: 
Jeff Cosco
House Of Shakira
The Station
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Wed
19
Aug

THE STATION Gather Pre-House Of Shakira Material on Archive Set

Artist: 
The Station
Categories: 
MelodicRock Classics Label
 
MelodicRock Classics is proud to bring another chapter of AOR history to light in partnering with Swedish band The Station, to bring their unreleased archives to fans September 25.
The Station are of course, the pre-cursor to the much-loved House Of Shakira.
 
‘Once Upon A Time (1989-1993)’ features some glorious Scandi anthemic melodic rock, some songs will be familiar to HoS fans, while others help show the origins of the band’s sound.
 
In 1989 all band members agreed on a rule. They vowed to musically “try every new idea with an open mind”. This approach boosted creativity and made for a versatile and dynamic songwriting. It was a simple golden rule that shaped The Station- both then and there, and for the future.
 
The songs are Engineered by Peter Edlund & Göran Elmquist; Mixed by: Peter Edlund, Göran Elmquist and The Station and Mastered by: Mats Hallstensson @ Room of Doom Stockholm
 
The Station are:
Mikael Zifa Eriksson – Vocals
Mats Hallstensson – Guitar, keyboards, vocals
Anders Lundström – Guitar, keyboards
Bernt Ek – Bass, vocals
Henrik Andreasson – Drums, percussion
 
Track Listing:
01. Warm Me Up 04:10 (1989)
02. Life’s Magical Ball 03:52 (1989)
03. The Morning After 04:27 (1989)
04. You Touched Me 03:36 (1991)
05. Susan 05:09 (1992)
06. The Twin Tree 04:41 (1990)
07. Angel Of Love 03:30 (1992)
08. Love Was Good 04:24 (1992)
09. American Dreamer 04:08 (1992)
10. Open Eyes 04:23 (1990)
11. Big Time Bomb Revolution 03:37 (1993)
12. Icaro’s Flight 02:36 (1993)
 
Bonus Track
13. You’re The One I Care For 05:13 (1990)
 
Tags: 
The Station
House Of Shakira
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Thu
06
Aug

JEFF COSCO Teams With MelodicRock Classics For Remastered AOR Gems

Artist: 
Jeff Cosco
Categories: 
MelodicRock Classics Label
MelodicRock Classics is excited to get back to business with a trio of classic AOR releases from American singer/songwriter Jeff Cosco.
Jeff has been involved in a lot of recordings over the years, but MRC will concentrate on three in particular, all which will be part of the 500 Series of releases, meaning 500 units only…EVER!
 
There are no bonus tracks to the original recordings, but this is the first time ever that all have been released on proper CD pressings and all tracks are remastered by JK Northrup.
 
Pre-orders and audio preview next week.
 
September 25 will see the release of the following:
 
Jeff Cosco & Times Square – Jeff Cosco & Times Square (1989)
Jeff Cosco & Don Mancuso – Stuff From Years Beers Ago (1980s)
Rred Heart – Bridge (Don Mancuso, Jeff Cosco, Ron Rocco)(2004)
 
Jeff Cosco is an American singer/songwriter and recording artist whose work spans rock, pop, and Americana across more than three decades. Known for his powerful vocals and melodic storytelling, Cosco built a national career that included studio and performance work for major entertainment brands such as Disney and HBO, along with extensive touring throughout the United States.
 
Throughout the late 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, Cosco released a series of albums that blended heartfelt songwriting with radio ready production, earning him a dedicated following and consistent regional airplay. His catalog reflects a wide range of influences, from classic rock and soul to acoustic-driven pop and showcases the versatility that made him a sought after vocalist and collaborator.
 
Cosco’s studio career included work with award-winning producers, contributions to television and film projects, and performances on stages ranging from intimate clubs to large theaters. His songs have been featured in national broadcasts, live entertainment productions, and branded media for major networks.
 
Today, Cosco continues to write and record new music while his earlier albums find renewed life through international re-releases and remastered editions. His classic catalog represents a distinct era of American songwriting — melodic, expressive, and built on the timeless combination of voice, guitar, and craft.
 
JEFF COSCO AND TIMES SQUARE
01. Holdin' On 4:37
02. Show Me 4:38
03. My Heart Is A Home For You 4:07
04. Rock This Town 5:13
05. We Got A Love 4:13
06. Don't Lock Me Out 4:02
07. Listen To Me 4:56
08. Reach Out 4:21
 
JEFF COSCO, DON MANCUSO – STUFF FROM YEARS (BEERS) AGO
01. Call Of The Eagle 4:51
02. Gypsy 5:06
03. Princess Of Darkness 4:26
04. I'll Keep Rollin' 4:18
05. Rattle The Bones 3:57
06. Mary, Merry-Go-Round (Live) 4:05
07. Winds Of Love (Live)               3:32
08. J D Philosophy 2:28
 
RRED HEART - BRIDGE
01. Old Shoes
02. Bridge
03. Falling Down
04. Into The Night
05. Let Me Feel It
06. No Room
07. Oh Well
08. Toys
09. Dim
10. Underground Mind
11. Deal With That
12. Inspire Me
13. Window
14. Jamaica
Tags: 
Jeff Cosco
Don Mancuso
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Tue
23
Jun

SPREAD EAGLE - The Brutal Divine (Album Review)

information persons: 
content: 
15%
Produced By: 
Rob De Luca
Release Date: 
2026
Released: 
World
Musical Style: 
Hard Rock
Artist: 
Spread Eagle
Categories: 
Reviews
Spread Eagle’s 2019 return wasn’t a patch on the 1990 debut, but it was missing the band’s guitarist, now 2026’s ‘The Brutal Divine’ features just two of the original 4 guys and is further removed from the acclaimed MCA release.
 
I’ll give them 10% for the opening track ‘Flat Earth Vultures’ and another 5% for at least coming close to holding the melody of UFO’s ‘Pushed To The Limit’ cover, but the rest is an absolute mess.
 
Heavily compressed, almost unlistenable in parts, the production for this album is just horrible and I can imagine the emails going back and forth between the band and label when this was delivered.
 
Sounding more like an indie garage band demo than a record made by a band previously on a major label, there is no excuse for this quality of sound in 2026.
 
That said, the songs aren’t much chop either. The opening track and a couple of others show promise, but stuff like ‘Ant Farm’ and ‘Jail Rat’ are just rubbish.
 
There are so many other releases to choose from, save your money.
Tags: 
Spread Eagle
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Tue
23
Jun

FRONTLINE - Rebirth (Album Review)

information persons: 
content: 
0%
Produced By: 
Frontline
Release Date: 
2026
Released: 
Europe
Musical Style: 
AOR / AI
Label: 
Frontiers
Artist: 
Frontline
Score: 
0
Categories: 
Reviews
Year: 
2026
The band and label really shot themselves in the foot (and head) with this one. Already contentious in their ‘comeback’ with just the vocalist remaining (RIP Robby), Frontline were forced into admitting the creation of this record was assisted by AI.
 
AI in music creation is here and won’t be going away, but what’s acceptable to fans is still very limited. Helping create demos or production effects is one thing, but outright synthetic music creation is not something that’s going to be accepted any time soon.
 
The lack of clarity and honesty surrounding this release means I can’t relax and enjoy it. I can’t attach any emotions to something made with no emotion. The band hasn’t been honest about what is AI on this release and what isn’t, so what else is the listener to do? The material is typical Euro-AOR and very generic, so even without the AI controversy the band would be struggling.
 
I don’t want to and I don’t have to listen to AI music. For me AI in music is like steroids in sport. It totally overshadows the end result.
Tags: 
Frontline
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Tue
05
May

ERIK GRONWALL - Bad Bones (Album Review)

information persons: 
content: 
99%
Produced By: 
Fredrik Thomander, Co-produced by Jona Tee
Release Date: 
May 22, 2026
Released: 
EU
Musical Style: 
Melodic Rock
Label: 
Greenwall Entertainment
Artist: 
Erik Gronwall
Score: 
99
Categories: 
Reviews
Year: 
2026
All fears are allayed; all ridiculously high expectations are met.
 
The Erik Gronwall fronted H.E.A.T delivered 4 of my favourite albums of the last 20 years. I was gutted when he left, but my biggest fear was that as a fan, I wouldn’t get another album like the now much loved H.E.A.T records as Erik moved on to whatever musical path he chose.
 
So my obvious desire for this album was that it just sounded ‘like Erik’; that pure melodic voice. Not the metal guy, or the covers guy – because in reality Erik can sing anything, anywhere, anytime and make it sound good.
Melodic rock is the sound we’ve come to love and that’s exactly what this album delivers big time.
 
‘Bad Bones’, is I think Erik’s ‘real’ debut solo album despite recording two earlier records for Sony Music following his Swedish Idol win. One featured the songs sung on the TV series and the other was largely session writers.
 
This is totally Erik Gronwall. It isn’t an ‘instant’ album despite the obvious hooks. It takes a few listens to find its groove and then even more to get to know all the intricacies of the songwriting. But it is so very rewarding.
 
Stylistically ‘Bad Bones’ delves into all areas of Erik’s career to date. The sound is close to H.E.A.T, with touches of the band’s evolution in sound, while also taking in some new influences and that grittier hard rock sound heard with Skid Row and New Horizon.
 
By now you’ve heard ‘Born To Break’ and ‘Bad Bones’, two high energy tracks that sum up the album – powerful singing, but never over the top; multiple hooks and killer guitar work.
The moody groove of ‘Praying For A Miracle’ is sonic gold for me, but the unexpected chorus anthem, bathed in melodies is pure heaven.
The big Queen-esque pomp-ballad ‘Who’s The Winner Now’ needs to be all over radio, while ‘Lost For Life’ offers a different twist on mid-tempo melodic anthems.
‘Twisted Lullaby’ sounds like a song that would comfortably slide onto the darker Into The Great Unknown record.
 
The next few tracks are where the album takes a grittier turn, and to these ears, any of these tracks might have fit into a new Skid Row album.
 
Closing out the album is a sultry, warm and somewhat haunting track ‘Written In The Scars’. Another side of Erik’s monster voice is showcased here and it’s a perfect end to the album.
 
Beautifully produced, superbly performed, expertly written and passionately executed. Ten tracks at around 3 minutes a piece, there is no room for anything less than perfection.
Tags: 
erik gronwall
H.E.A.T
Skid Row
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Tue
21
Apr

CHEZ KANE - Reckless (Album Review)

information persons: 
content: 
85%
Produced By: 
Danny Rexon
Release Date: 
2026
Released: 
EU
Musical Style: 
Melodic Rock
Links: 
Frontiers
Label: 
Frontiers
Artist: 
Chez Kane
Score: 
85
Categories: 
Reviews
Year: 
2026
 
For me, it is a case of diminishing returns for Chez Kane. Loved the debut, thought the follow-up was still pretty strong but suffered from a poor choice of song sequencing (never open with a ballad), now we have the third album ‘Reckless’ to dive into.
 
As with the other two records, this is a project driven by Danny Rexon from Crazy Lixx – written, produced , mixed and played by Danny with Chez getting writing credit on a couple of songs.
 
I’m not sure I’d want to put my name to these lyrics though – they border on utterly ridiculous and something perhaps Spinal Tap might even say no to. I mean, I’m all for an 80s revival, most of my life has been spent living in that decade, but I’d be happy to see the ‘I wanna lick you, thump you, pump you, bonk you, do you…’ lyrics left behind.
 
And the less said about the cover art the better.
 
Atrociously cringe worthy and cheesy lyrics aside the music is right out of 1988, and the hooks and melodies are there to reel you in. Chez can sing like an angel, she has a really strong voice that to be honest, if wasn’t featured here, the rest of the album would fall apart. The selling point here is big catchy cheesy songs delivered with sure conviction. I prefer the second half of the record for song strength.
 
I think the reviews are going to be mixed here. Can’t fault the catchiness of it all and the great retro feel, but the image and the lyrics almost capsize the ship. And I really miss a big ballad in amongst the mix. Chez sang a few brilliant ballads across the first two albums. 10 all up-tempo tracks don’t allow much room for the listener to catch their breath.
 
Three albums in, I reckon it’s time for Chez to pivot on the next record. Each album has been increasingly ‘over the top’ and the mid boggles at where #4 could go given the trajectory so far.
Tags: 
Chez Kane
Danny Rexon
Crazy Lixx
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Tue
21
Apr

HARDLINE - Shout (Album Review)

information persons: 
content: 
94%
Produced By: 
Hardline
Release Date: 
2026
Released: 
EU
Musical Style: 
Melodic Hard Rock
Links: 
SPV
Label: 
SPV
Artist: 
Hardline
Score: 
94
Categories: 
Reviews
Year: 
2026
 
Hardline have quite the catalogue since realigning themselves as a European line-up with Johnny Gioeli fronting as the only original member. Their sound changed instantly, but I’ve always had a liking for the material and JG is a masterful vocalist. He turns up on other projects, but I think it’s here that he always sound most at home and the best version of himself.
 
The change to a new label seems to have given the band a fresh lease on life. This is a supremely energetic hard rock record with melodies and hooks galore. Johnny is singing for his life and the production is also a step up again. It’s a tight record with guitars and vocals fully in control. Keyboards line the tracks throughout, but not as dominantly as previous albums.
 
The opening trio is tunes run hot, with ‘It Owns You’ definitely giving off classic Hardline vibes.
 
The monster ballad ‘When You Came Into My Life’ is a cover of the Scorpions track, but Johnny makes it his own with an earth shattering vocal.
 
‘Mother Love’ and ‘Welcome To The Thunder’ (check out the intro!) again hold the true style of the original Hardline debut, which will surely impress long-time fans, but elsewhere there’s no letup in quality – just smash and grab melodic hard rock with chorus hooks and those killer vocals.
 
The closing piano ballad is another piece of brilliance.
 
Probably the band’s best album since the debut – itself a genre classic that will never ever be topped (how could they, it’s a completely different line-up and time). Don’t let any preconceptions keep you from enjoying this kick ass album.
Tags: 
Hardline
Alessandro Del Vecchio
Johnny Gioeli
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Thu
09
Apr

The Locustz - Buzzkill (Album Review)

information persons: 
content: 
90%
Produced By: 
The Locustz
Release Date: 
April 18, 2026
Released: 
USA
Musical Style: 
Power Pop
Label: 
Label 51 Recordings
Artist: 
The Locustz
Score: 
90
Categories: 
Reviews
Year: 
2026
The Locustz (or The Red Locusts as you will recall from the debut album), are back for another round of retro-classic power pop in the vein of their musical heroes The Beatles. Featuring the same line-up of Rick Springfield and the Bissonette brothers Matt & Gregg, the guys deliver 11 supremely crafted pop songs with that familiar 60s/70s vibe that the acclaimed debut featured.
 
I think this album takes it all to a new level – even catchier songs, more elaborate guitar parts, superb vocals and a slick production.
 
It’s obviously not your typical melodic rock type album you’d expect from these guys, but it is a classy left turn that gets better and better each listen.
 
Released on limited green vinyl for Record Store Day April 18, there is supposed to be a CD release coming, but I haven’t had a firm date for that yet. Not every track features Rick on lead vocals. Matt takes lead or co-lead on a few, giving the record another authentic nod to The Beatles.
 
Highlights are plenty – the strong opening of ‘Welcome To The Revolution’, featuring a classic sounding RS riff; the ultra catchy 60s power pop ‘Battersea Park’ and the intricate ‘Head Full Of Rain’.
 
The vocal from ‘St. Teresa’ sounds like it could have come directly from Rick’s last album ‘Automatic’, even in this revised musical format. The very Rembrandts sounding uptempo retro-anthem ‘Valentino’s Bed’ is great and the soft psychedelic 90-second ballad ‘Friends’ (sung by Matt) is a light hearted way to close a pretty busy album.
 
It’s another Rick Springfield left turn, but there’s a new solo album right up ahead, so dig into this joyful collection of well-written and recorded retro power pop songs.
Tags: 
The Locustz
The Red Locusts
Rick Springfield
Matt Bissonette
Gregg Bissonette
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Wed
01
Apr

Degreed - Curtain Calls (Album Review)

information persons: 
content: 
94%
Produced By: 
Mats Eriksson
Release Date: 
2026
Musical Style: 
Melodic Rock
Label: 
Frontiers
Artist: 
Degreed
Score: 
94
Categories: 
Reviews
Year: 
2026
My love for Swedish melodic rockers Degreed should be well established by now. Such is their consistency across 7 previous studio albums, there was never any doubt they would deliver again on ‘Curtain Calls’, their 8th all-new full album.
 
This album is packed with another 10 cracking tracks in their usual modern meets classic meets Swedish melodic hard rock sound.
 
Opening with a flurry with ‘One Helluva Ride’ and ‘Holding On To Yesterday’, the band then slide into one of their very best pure melodic bliss anthems ‘Believe’. It really should be on radio everywhere.
For the rest of the album it is the band’s usual mix of swirling keyboards meshed with big guitars and a pulsating rhythms driving some classic melodic rock and slightly heavier moments.
 
After all these years the lads aren’t beyond throwing in a couple of curve balls. The haunting and largely acoustic driven ‘The Rambler’ is just brilliant. As is the lush AOR of ‘Matter Of The Heart’.
 
Degreed are one of melodic rock’s finest portrayers of Swedish melody and while I might rate a few of the earlier albums slightly above this; there really isn’t much in it.  Just another great Degreed album.
Tags: 
Degreed
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