Plastiscines - Barcelona VIDEO

Plastiscines - Barcelona VIDEO, its never wrong with a girl rock injection.
Thanks Philippe for the tip.
The song reminds of a mix between Sahara Hotnights and Sparks.

Standing on the shoulder of giants - With anticipation (2009)

I discovered this band at Purevolume, and what a great band it is. Standing on the shoulder of giants is a very cool band name and I must say that their debut album "With anticipation" is impressive too. Well crafted music and right on spot choruses that is so easy to love, their sound lies somewhere between Armor For Sleep and Fall Out Boy.
I have listened to it a lot this week and I won´t stop either, "The ballad" and "Empty vessel" are 2 of my favorite tracks but I guess that will change next week.
The guitar work on "Weeping woman" bring thoughts to Paul McCartney´s Wings.

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www.myspace.com/standingontheshoulderofgiants

Ike - Tie the knot with all that you got (2010)

Powerpop band Ike does not disappoint with their 4th album "Tie the knot with all that you got", they are still heavily influenced by Butch Walker which is a good thing.
This brand new album contains some very positive and uplifting songs where the highlights are "Latitude", "Forgiven", "1-way to Avalon" and "Tie the knot with all that you got".
Perfect for a long ride in the car, just play it over and over again.

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www.myspace.com/ike

Bobaflex - Home VIDEO

Bobaflex - Home, taken from their 2007 album "Tales from dirt town". Reminds me of Staind.....

Atom Smash - Kill me VIDEO

Atom Smash - Kill me (2010), what a great modern rock song!

Laconic - Visions (2009)

I listened to this album twice and really tried to get into it but without any luck, Laconic just cannot write good songs. This numetal band do their best in composing heavy riffs and deliver growls from hell but without any good songs, I can only find one decent song in the calm "The spirit"....the rest just bores me to death.
"Visions" is an album that will only do good if it was the last record on earth and you haven´t heard music for 25 years.
What a total piece of crap!

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www.myspace.com/laconic

Descended - Beautiful desperation (2009)

Descended released their debut "Harmonic dissonance" in 2004 and 5 years later, their follow up "Beautiful desperation" arrives.
This band takes a piece of several genres such as hardcore, numetal, alternative metal and progressive rock. The main focus however, is on numetal (the late 90´s style) where the singer screams more than sings.
Best track is "Atonement" and I wish there would´ve been more songs of this calibre because it is great but the album feels non-melodic and monotone I´m afraid.
They´ve got a superb drumsound so it sounds real heavy in my speaker system, too bad they didn´t write enough good songs.

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www.myspace.com/descended

Brinck - In the end I started VIDEO

The theme song for Anna Pihl, "In the end I started" with Niels Brinck and Maria Marcus. A pretty good song.
Thanks for the tip Philippe.

Psoma - Homeland insecurity (2009)

I reviewed Psoma´s "Burn this" EP in 2005 and gave it 3 stars, their new album "Homeland insecurity" is better and close to 4 stars.
I like their raw and non compromising rock, just simple and straight ahead hard rock that is perfect for a small club.
This album also comes in a different package which is cool, what about getting the CD in a magazine?! Well, that is exactly what you get if you purchase it instead of downloading the mp3 files.
For fans of The Feds and Social Code

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www.myspace.com/psomaonline

Concrete Society - Diesel and bones (2009)

The Swedish punkband Concrete Society was nominated as Best breakthrough act at the Bandit Rock Awards, their debut album "Diesel and bones" has traces of Bad Religion, NOFX and Green Day.
If you like the other new Swedish punkrock band Neverstore, there´s a big chance you will dig CS too.
I just don´t think they have enough great material for a whole album, I can pick out songs for an EP instead.

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www.myspace.com/concretesociety

Wes Carr - The way the world looks (2009)

Wes Carr won Australian Idol in 2008 and released his debut "The way the world looks" last year, it is a nice pop/rock album that bring thoughts to Bryan Adams and Jack Johnson.
Half of the album is a bit too soft pop sounding while 5-6 tracks are more rocking and my cup of tea, the limited edition contains a bonus CD of 4 tracks including covers of "Get back" by The Beatles and "Desire" by U2.
Highlights: Feels like woah, Any other way, When we were kings, Love is an animal, Stay awake

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www.myspace.com/wesleycarr

Westfall - EP (2010)

Michigan based modern rock band Westfall released their debut "Changes" in 2006 and follow up with a brand new 3 track EP this year, this band is influenced by bands like Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin, Theory of a deadman and Crossfade.
You can ofcourse hear this in their modern sound, it´s guitar driven and radio ready rock.
Well performed but also a bit average, however I do like this band where the track "Complicated" stand out a bit more than the other two tracks.

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www.myspace.com/westfallmusic

Cellout - Superstar prototype (2010)

Well its about time Cellout´s debut album "Superstar Prototype" came out!!! I have been waiting for this band to release a full length ever since I heard their first EP in 2004.
9 songs are taken from 3 of their previous 4 EP´s but have been remixed by Ulrich Wild and they sound stellar, we also get 2 new songs in "Set things straight" and "Fake" which both are very good!
This is one of Sweden´s best numetal bands, if not the best from my country.

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www.myspace.com/cellout

Royal Republic - We are the Royal (2010)

The Swedish rock/punk band Royal Republic will climb the charts this year with their great debut album "We are the Royal".
We´re talking upbeat friday night rocknroll with punk tendencies, like a mix between Span and Inward Eye. But they also remind a bit of another Swedish band called Straight Frank.
Check out the video of "All because of you" at youtube or head on over to myspace and rock to "Tommy gun", cool album!

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www.myspace.com/royalrepublicsweden

Heroes and Zeros - Simian Vices Modern Devices (2009)

I was quite happy to see that the Norwegian band Heroes & Zeros has released a new album with "Simian vices modern devices" but not as happy to hear that the new album ain´t as good as their previous album "Strange constellations" from 2007.
The new album feels more complex and doesn´t contain equally good songs I´m afraid, the album opens nice but falls on the second half.

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www.myspace.com/heroeszeros

Core - Sentimental disco (2009)

It took Austrian band Core 4 years to follow up the debut "Away" (2003) with "Perfect summer" in 2007 but this alternative modern rock band was faster with their 3rd release "Sentimental disco" (2009).
Their sound bring thoughts to Swedish bands like Prime Sth and Renegade Five but also Foo Fighters, I think the production is really great and I´m glad the album isn´t 1 hour long like the previous record but more of a normal album length of 40 minutes.
A solid album but an awful cover!
Best tracks: Alicia keys, Sentimental disco

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www.myspace.com/corecosmos

Day Eleven - Matador (2010)

The first two albums from Finnish band Day Eleven were more The Rasmus-like modern rock with goth vibes but their brand new "Matador" goes in the 90´s alternative rock style somewhere between Saigon Kick and Dizzy Mizz Lizzy.
This is definitely more upbeat than their previous work, fast songs like "Collision" and "Into the black again" would´ve been impossible on their first two albums.
I have listened to it twice now and it grows, I´m not so sure they will get any hits from "Matador" but it´s a solid album no doubt.

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www.myspace.com/

Alkaline Trio - This addiction (2010)

A new label again for Alkaline Trio and their new album "This addiction", their stop at the major label Epic was short with the only released album "Agony and irony" in 2008.
And before that, they released the great "Crimson" album in 2005 on Vagrant records, but now they´re signed to Epitaph for the straight ahead punk album "This addiction".
There are some moments where the music tend to get more powerpop-ish like "Eating me alive" and "Piss and vinegar" but mostly, the songs are basic 3 minute punkrock songs.
Strangely enough, the single "This addiction" is not one of the best tracks, I think "Draculina" is the highlight here along with "Dorothy".

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www.myspace.com/alkalinetrio

Madside - Love and hate (2009)

It´s been a long wait for modern hardrock band Madside to release a new album, their full length debut came out in 2004 and they followed up with a 3 track EP in 2006.
I have heard the new song "Within me" earlier and I´m glad it´s included on their new album "Love and hate", if you´re a sucker for hard hitting modern rock in the same vein as Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace - then Madside will save your day.

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www.myspace.com/madside

Sound We Sleep - Keeping secrets (2009)

Sound We Sleep is a modern rock/pop band with traces of emo, they sound like a mix between Cute is what we aim for and Cartel. I like the guitar sound and the choruses are great too, the best part is that the band is giving away their debut album "Keeping secrets" for free at purevolume.
You should check them out, good indeed.

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www.purevolume.com/soundwesleep

Trial Kennedy - New manic art (2008)

Trial Kennedy is a solid Aussie rock band from Melbourne, their latest album "New manic art" opens strong but falls at the second half of the cd.
I really love the track "Sun eyes", you can call this timeless rock that could´ve been released back in the 70´s and just as well in the 90´s.
"The great escape" might sound a bit modern like a postrock/emo-ish type of song but the rest of the album takes the listener through a soundscape of energetic rock.

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www.myspace.com/trialkennedy

Rock and roll heroes - CHEAP TRICK

I doubt that there is a better band of combining pop with rock than Cheap Trick, they wrote the fucking book! They are the authors of powerpop.
Almost every band in this genre today has CT has their biggest influence and to me, Robin Zander is one of the greatest singers ever.
Just take a look at these album covers and say no more.....

If you go to a CT concert today, you will probably not hear any songs performed from these 3 albums but oh my, these are fantastic too. I can pick out a bunch of tracks that would fit on any Best of album with this band.

A few minor weak spots in their career but hardly bad stuff, there are some fillers on these records but also a few really good songs so.......they are worth checkin out as midprice.

I never expected CT to make any bad albums and I liked these two when they came out but with a little distance to it, no - they aren´t any good at all. They sound CT but without the good songs.

Rock and roll heroes - KANSAS

Progressive rock has always had a special place in my heart where I grew up listening to Genesis, Yes, Rush and Kansas.
The more songbased progrock is so much more enjoyable to listen to than the technical stuff many modern bands tend to play.
The early era of Kansas is exactly the most perfect progrock sound I could wish for, impressive!

Some albums with the band are rather forgotten and underrated but almost as good as the famous ones, the Elefante era plus the awesome "Freaks of nature" that they never play any songs from live are brilliant.

These albums doesnt match the legendary years but they are still very good and better than most ordinary progrock releases out there today.

A Kansas fan shouldn´t be without "Audio visions" or "In the spirit of things" so to speak.

I dont know what they were thinking when they recorded this live album, Steve Walsh had lost his voice and the magic just wasnt there. A sad piece of work.

Rock and roll heroes - JOURNEY

Journey is my no.1 favorite band, I have loved them ever since I heard "Next" when I was 11 years old, and when Steve Perry joined the band. This band went to a completely different level.
Their classic albums are probably the best stuff ever recorded, just enjoy the artwork!


These two albums dont often come in mind while talking classic Journey but they are just as amazing as the 6 albums above, Perry did some of his best vocal performances on "Evolution" and "Trial by fire" contains some serious AOR that feels like a wetdream for any fan.

4 other albums that are quite good and works anytime of the week, even though I hated Augeri´s tapegate - the Arrival album do feature some great songs like "Higher place" for example.

Now what is this? Not the Journey I grew up to love, who came up with the idea of experimenting on "Generations" and the production is crappy. Their latest album "Revelation" sold lots of copies but I just hate the Perry-copy Pineda. And when they re-recorded hits on the 2nd CD, I went insane and sold the CD the next day.

One Fine Day - One Fine Day (2009)

The German band One Fine Day recently released their 3rd self titled album, they have been around since 2004 but I havent heard this band before.
Their sound lies somewhere between Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance, I think you can call it smart emo pop and there are also traces of The Police in there.
I really like this album, it sounds positive and the songs are well crafted with great song arrangements.
I definitely want to listen to this more.

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www.myspace.com/onefinedayband

Dreaming in Stereo - Dreaming in Stereo (2009)

What a great band this is! Dreaming in Stereo makes that kind of progressive pop that gets my knees all weak, they remind me sometimes of Genesis and Supertramp but also The Feeling.
I love the harmonies and the sound is so smooth, their self titled debut should be selling millions if there was any justice in this world.
A new favorite band!

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www.myspace.com/dreaminginstereo

Human Cometh album trailer

New album trailer to check out from Human Cometh

The album mix

Human Cometh´s debut album will be mixed by Ulf Wahlberg (former keyboardist of 80´s band Secret Service), we can´t wait to hear the result.

Like A Storm - The end of the beginning (2009)

Could 2010 be the year for New Zealand born modern rock band Like A Storm? Well, their single "Chemical infatuation" is getting airplay on the other side of the Atlantic and they certainly got the right sound.

They have relocated to Canada which might be the right step to take, their sound bring thoughts to Sick Puppies and Three Days Grace. Heavy riffs and melodic choruses stands on the menue and I must say that I like this a lot.

Thumbs up for the nuance rich songs on their debut album "The end of the beginning".

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www.myspace.com/likeastorm

Alkaline Trio - This addiction and more news

Punkrock band Alkaline Trio will release their new album "This addiction" on Feb 23, download the new single "This addiction" here:
www.yousendit.com/download/VGlja0ZZYXltNEpMWEE9PQ


The new supergroup Black Country is currently recording their debut album, the band features Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, Joe Bonamassa and Derek Sherinian.

Demon Hunter´s new album "The world is a thorn" will be released on March 9th.

The British AOR band Vega has signed with Frontiers Records for a release in spring, the advance cd sound promising.

I have completed a collection of Saliva B-sides, rock hard!
SALIVA B-SIDES
1.Message of love (Not another teen movie Soundtrack 2001)
2.Spyhunter (Spyhunter Video Game 2001)
3.King of my world (WWE Anthology Vol 3 2002)
4.Turn the tables (WWF Forceable entry 2002)
5.Bleed for me (Daredevil Soundtrack 2003)
6.Time (Lara Croft Tomb Raider Soundtrack 2003)
7.I walk alone (WWE Wreckless intent 2006)
8.Is it you (Blood stained love story 2007)
9.Write your name (Blood stained love story 2007)
10.Dont question my heart (WWE The Music Vol 8 2008)

Download here:
www.mediafire.com/?oyyyyxzymyg

Andy Bull - Young man VIDEO

Andy Bull - Young Man (Official Music Video)

Andy Bull - New Album Streaming Now | MySpace Music Videos
Cool piano pop with Andy Bull and his new single "Young man", be happy!

Like A Storm - Chemical infatuation VIDEO

New Zealand metal band Like A Storm is awesome, play their first single "Chemical infatuation" loud!

Rock and roll heroes - KINGS X

I am going through my favorite bands and their album catalogue, this time out I want to talk about the Texas trio Kings X that has influenced many bands, I saw them back in 1999 in a small club in Gothenburg and its one of my favorite shows to this date.
Their first 5 albums plus Ogre tones are nothing but classics, excellent harmony vocals!


I don´t think they play much songs from the forgotten and underrated Ear candy which is a really good album if you just take some time to listen to the songs, I wasn´t too fond of it when it came out but I have learned to love it now.

These three albums are solid albums, rather nice to have along the other KX albums and I don´t mind listening to them from time to time. Good ones so to speak.

And then there are the "what a waste of time in the studio" albums, I think there´s only one good song each on these mediocre releases. I almost thought it was the end for this band.

Rock and roll heroes - THIN LIZZY

I have seen Thin Lizzy in concert 4 times, all with Lynott and I must say he´s one of the best frontmen I have seen on stage.
This band has a unique sound of blues driven hardrock and Irish influenced folkmusic, Lynott´s voice cannot be imitated and these albums are super all through, true classics!


The albums with Snowy White on guitar wasn´t as successful as the 70´s era but these almost forgotten albums are just as good, I can still listen to them and get goosebumps.

There are a few albums that you need to have in your collection, I don´t think they can match the classic stuff but there are some lovely songs on these ones too.

So why did they release this live recording without Brian Downey and the late Phil Lynott? This ain´t Thin Lizzy. Sorry but I am not interested!

Rock and roll heroes - VAN HALEN

I continue with my new feature of Rock and roll heroes and second out is Van Halen and their impressive catalogue of classics, I like both the Roth-era and the Hagar-era but perhaps the Roth albums are more classics compared to the Hagar stuff. STELLAR!

The band do not play that many songs off these underrated albums, but I think these two truly belong to some of the best stuff VH has done.

Another two good albums that featured some hits and as albums, they work very well. Just more proof of that this band has a high low level.

So why did they record this album with Gary Cherone replacing Sammy Hagar when Gary sounded exactly like Hagar?

This one is without doubt their weakest album and I cannot find one song that could end up on a Best of album, avoid!

Brian Howe - Circus bar (2010)

You can´t blame singer Brian Howe for a mediocre career, this awesome singer has been a member of Bad Company and Ted Nugent and released his first solo album "Touch" in 2003.
In late February this year, his new solo CD "Circus bar" will be out and it´s a great melodic rock album in the vein of Foreigner.
Brian´s vocal performance is what stands out here, he even lifts up the more average songs to a solid level.
Very satisfying!

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www.myspace.com/brianhowe01

Rock and roll heroes - KISS

Here´s a new feature on my blog, I will from time to time go through my rock and roll heroes and their entire catalogue. Starting with KISS and the albums that are considered their classics!
(pic above)

These 3 albums are most often the forgotten albums and the underrated ones in their career but very good albums if you listen to them real carefully.

And then we have the 6 albums that helped build their reputation as a great rock band that always feels good to party to. Also known as the Paul Stanley era!

However, these two albums are not what I wanted to hear from the hottest band in the world, one that sounds like a heavy grunge metal band...yeuch! and another one with a few good songs but a real terrible production, my god!