Classic Rock Presents AOR 11 - AOR Diamonds
CD, 2014, Heftbeilage, Cardsleeve

A Glittering Collection Of Flawless Melodic Rock Gems

Spielzeiten laut Software (iTunes)

Classic Rock Magazine / Classic Rock presents AOR 11 March 2014
TEAM ROCK

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Bild 1: Cover
Bild 2: Backcover
Bild 3: CD
Bild 4: Hefthülle aus Pappe - Cover
Bild 5: Hefthülle aus Pappe - Backcover
Bild 6: Heftcover

The 15 tracks contained within are no fool's gold, and they're certainly no blood diamonds either - no innocents were harmed in the production of these tunes (save maybe for the occasional recording studio teaboy). These performances are priceless - quite literally, as we're giving them to you for compressed carbon: hard enough to cut through steel but, when correctly polished, possessed of a unique complexity and beauty. Our AOR diamonds run the gamut, from legends like Foreigner and Heart proving that their best days are still in front of them, to newcomers like Ajenda, Vanity Riots and Nasty Crüe, all of whom - despite their tender age and tiny discographies - have already proven themselves 24-carat entertainers. AOR is, after all, the jewel in rock'n'roll crown - and like diamonds, it too will last forever.

01 FOREIGNER – As Long As I Live
Extracted from their recently released compilation of smoochy highlights I Want To Know What Love Is - The Ballads, this lesser-known gem from 2009's Can't Slow Down - their first with their current vocalist Kelly Hansen - proved that even without original singer Lou Gramm, some of Foreigner's greatest moments lay in their future. This mammoth tune is undoubtedly one of them.
Taken from: I Want To Know What Love Is - The Ballads on Earmusic

02 VANDENBERG'S MOONKINGS – Lust And Lies
And onwards, from the sublime heartbreak of the Foreigner ballad, to this celebration of the other side of Valentine's Day. Lust and lies, it seems, are the way this delicious new group - led by former Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg - roll, and on the evidence of this coruscation ode to gutter feelings and guilty pleasures, it's a pretty excellent way to live. Their self-titled debut album offers more of the sleazy same.
Taken from: Moonkings on Mascot

03 VANITY RIOTS – Bloodsucker
This Aussie quintet follow up the smash'n'grab thrills of their 2012 self-titled EP with another five tracks of hook-drenched and entirely uplifting rock in the gloriously trashy tradition of Velvet Revolver, sent skyward by the vocals of larger-than-life frontman Monica Strut. Bloodsucker is the heaviest of the bunch, a bold bruiser that begs you to mosh along with your devil horns raised - there's no way you'll be able to resist.
Taken from: Ambulance on Vanity Riots

04 STAN BUSH – Stand In The Fire
To an entire generation, Stan Bush is the voice that helped them get over the death of Optimus Prime with his contributions to the soundtrack of 1986's Transformers: The Movie. But this singer/songwriter's skills go far beyond singing at the funerals of robots-in-disguise, and Stand In The Fire is one of several impressively cinematic anthems contained on The Ultimate, Stan's 12th solo album. Strike the match and stand well back.
Taken from: The Ultimate on Melodic Rock

05 NASHVILLE PUSSY – Til The Meat Falls Off The Bone
Atlanta, Georgia's Nashville Pussy have been pounding the boards for almost two decades now, famed as much for their wild stage show - which has included fire-breathing - as for their rightly notorius, sex-soaked rock'n'roll. Til The Meat Falls Off The Bone is a gleeful single-entendre riff-out monstrous enough to even out that balance, delivering the thrill of a Nashville Pussy live show in the comfort of your front room.
Taken from: Up The Dosage on Steamhammer

06 GIULIO GARGHENTINI – The Words That I Haven't Said
By day, Italian vocalist Giulio Garghentini earns his daily crust teaching singing lessons and fronting a Bon Jovi covers band. By night, Giulio works on his own music, which, it will come as no surprise, is likely to please the Bon Jovi fans in the audience (of which there should be plenty). Featuring the cream of the Italian rock scene, The Words That I Haven't Said is a perfect example of the sophisticated rock that is Giulio's trademark.
Taken from: Believe on Tanzan Music

07 W.A.N.T.E.D. – Mr Wise Guy
The cover of the second album from Greek rockers W.A.N.T.E.D. features a murderous, cleaver-wielding clown, suggesting sounds of a gory, metal flavour. Thankfully, you shouldn't judge this book by its cover - these former Whitesnake and Dokken tourmates offer up a wholly more melodic form of entertainment, and a real wise guy would make sure they were in the front row if W.A.N.T.E.D. played anywhere near them.
Taken from: Meat N Greed on Sound Pollution

08 AJENDA – Hatred And Greed
Ajenda clearly can't spell. Just as clearly, though, this Belfast quartet rock, with anthemic melodies rising from a cat's cradle of acoustic strum, lyrical electric lead guitar, a sinewy and agile rhythm section and the leonine vocals of frontwoman Jen. Hatred And Greed is a choice slow-burner selected from the group's debut album, which they promise delivers "vitriol in a velvet glove". Consider that one mission accomplished.
Taken from: Unrecognizable on Ajenda Music

09 SEVEN SHOTS FROM SOBER – South On Sierra
Many of you will see this Calgary trio's name and nod, sorrowfully, "Been there, my friend." But dash your memories of the morning after and remember the glories of the night before! That's certainly the game Seven Shots From Sober play, Their metallic heaviosity informed by both the groove-metal of the deep south and the swagger of Aerosmith at their most toxic. And Canadians are supposed to be so polite...
Taken from forthcoming self-titled EP

10 DROUGHT – Stand
Following on from their debut album Untapped, the latest full-length from this Texan quartet finds their bruised melodies and muscular sensitivity reaching full maturation, pairing the serrated edge of the (dare we say it) grunge era with the unabashed, radio-ready ambition and classic rock songcraft of the 80s. Their secret? "We don't tread on each other's strengths," says bassist/singer Shannon Mikulas.
Taken from: Tapped on Sound Pollution

11 NASTY CRÜE – Rock'N'Roll Nation
An opus that required "many hours of work with drumz, guitarz, gallonz of whiskey and many, many women", the debut album from these sleazy, easy, lemon-squeezy Polish rockers invites you to seek citizenship within the Rock'N'Roll Nation, with (taken) liberties and fraternisation for all. And this title track, presumably, is their national anthem, a riff-rimmed masterpiece suggesting both Europe and Starship. Enrol within!
Taken from: Rock'N'Roll Nation on Nasty Crüe

12 PERFECT CRIME – Intro/The Trap
This epic track from Russian rockers Perfect Crime opens with an eerie warbly music box tune that's swiftly and comprehensively pulverised by the tungsten-weight riffage that follows, a dangerous and heavy dragstrip soundtrack suggesting Guns N'Roses when they were welcoming you to the jungle. The album delivers more in the way of depth, but in terms of surface power, this trap is worth falling into.
Taken from: The Perfect Crime on Life Music

13 WHISKEY SIX – Double Barrel Man
The lead single from Arizonians Whiskey Six's debut album American Grit packs enough punch to pick a fight in any bar in the land and come out smiling, with cowboy-hatted frontman Chris Stickler bellowing the swaggering hook - "You don't know you're fucking with the double-barrel man!" - with all the machismo of Enter Sandman-era Hetfield. So buy this album, and don't upset them when you see them down in the pub.
Taken from: American Grit on Whiskey Six

14 SILVERTUNG – Coming Alive
Similarly butch of vocal and bold of riff, Maryland's Silvertung have managed to snag sponsorship from the makers of legendary libation Jägermeister, and this rousing cruncher celebrates one particularly lubricated night out, with singer/guitarist Speed boasting that he's "Never been bitch-slapped" and suggesting that all assembled pour themselves some "Jäger shots". Well he would, wouldn't he?.
Taken from: Devil's In The Details on Tung Nation

15 HEART – Barracuda [Live]
American politician Sarah Palin tried to steal this song from Seattle-ite legends Heart, but with this performance - recorded live at Las Vegas' legendary Caesars Colosseum - the sisters Wilson decidedly steal it back, its spitfire riff the fuel for Ann Wilson's remarkable vocal performance. You shouldn't have messed with the Wilsons, Palin - they're taking no prisoners!
Taken from: Fanatic Live From Caesars Colosseum on Frontiers