Second album and debut on Lion Music from Spanish melodic hard rockers Airless.

2nd Round is a supremely confident slice of melodic hard rock with great guitar work from Robert Rodrigo.  The band stamp the same sort of territory as early Harem Scarem but are better equipped in the guitar department and deliver hooks as good as anything the Canadian rockers have delivered past or present.

The infectious rock solid melodies of Prayers Are Not Enough, Handful Of Lies and The Storm sum up the quality displayed throughout and its one album that's easy to get into, easy to enjoy and perfect for a number of applications - cranking this one in the car is a treat.  The production is big with a dominant guitar sound which is just what the music demands.

With 2nd Round Airless have pumped new life into the melodic hard rock genre and is the perfect album for those that have a liking for bands ala Dokken and Burning Rain.  Excellent stuff.

Rating - 90%

Elias Viljanen (or E.vil) is another fine guitarist to have come from Scandinavia. The Leadstar is the follow up to the much acclaimed debut release 'Taking The Lead' and is if anything a stronger and more accessible release with melodies being to the fore with guitar flash secondary to the music.

The 12 tracks on offer show of an accomplished performer and well rounded musician that has utilised the other musicians around him to great effect to deliver a wide ranging spectrum of music.  The main focus is on rock guitar but the many highly lyrical lead lines that scream everything from anger to passion work makes this stand out from the many number of instrumental artists around.

The Leadstar is a quality second release that will not let down anyone that invests their money in it.

Rating - 82%

The Mystery Hall are a new metal band from Spain led by the stunning guitar work of Tony Baena (one of Spain’s most respected guitar heroes) and vocals of Rafael Morata.  Anyone expecting some sort of space music ala Hawkwind by the bands name and album title think again as this is a strong slice of metal with a progressive meets AOR edge to it.

Where as many bands fall down due to be complicated for the sake of it, The Mystery Hall know how to craft a song first and then add any required intricate musical embellishment second.  This is clearly evident on Sudden Recall and Pushed By The Waves where Baene really lets rip with some wonderful lead work.  The sound reminds me a little of a more simplistic Dream Theater (in the guitar tones) and fans that find DT a little over-indulgent will get a lot from The Voyager Through The Void.

Sonically the album is competent enough, being the debut release the budget was probably nothing like the likes of Symphony X or Dream Theater get to play with and the mix is a little cluttered in places, luckily this does not detract too much from the excellent music on offer and hopefully album number 2 will have more punch.

Lion Music have unearthed another excellent band in The Mystery Hall - give them a try.

Rating - 85%

A collection of Mike's finest work from his Magna Carta sessions.

Over the years, Magna Carta has provided Portnoy with a number of diverse playing environments. Some of them, such as Liquid Tension Experiment, have been wildly popular, so much so that cross-pollination has occurred between mother group and spawn. Others have been, at very least, provocative and musical. In all of them, the drummer's essence shines, as is evident in the current collection of choice Portnoy-fed tracks. For those who don't know - this is Dream Theater's drummer.

 

Prime Cuts is the ideal starting place for anyone that wishes to venture into the more intricate music Portnoy has had a hand in outside of the normal gig (DT), as it stands there are moments that are accessible such as the Rush tributes from Working Man, my favourite moments are those from Liquid Tension Experiment but even these will challenge the most hardcore of instrumental fans.

 

Overall Prime Cuts is another good compilation from Magna Carta's current series of 'Prime Cut' releases. 

 

Rating – 75%

In the tradition of classic blues rock power trios such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, the Stoney Curtis band are centred around their lead singer/lead guitarist Stoney Curtis who is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive blues strat players on the circuit today.

It is no wonder why rows and rows of Harley's line up in Vegas to see this aggressive trio whip the crowd into a frenzy with their own brand of psychedelic blues rock, fuelled by Stoney's non-stop guitar pyrotechnics. The stacks of amps are BIG, the sound is BIG but the talent is even BIGGER.

This is a hugely enjoyable slice of guitar heavy blues that combined with a few bottles of Budweiser make for an excellent evening in.  Tracks like the driving Evil Woman, Crashin Down Like Thunder and Free sum up the pulsating vibe of Acid Blues Experience and if Mascot stump up some tour support money this guy WILL become a big hit on the European touring circuit.

One to watch!

Rating – 85%