Zitat:Legendary Bass Master Bill Sheehan is releasing his much anticipated third solo album entitled “Holy Cow!” on Mascot Records U.S.A. April 14th, 2009. The albums tracks showcase Sheehan”™s immense talents as both a singer/songwriter and instrumentalist.

Sheehan pulled in top-notch arsenal with guest performances by Billy Gibbons on “A Lit”™l Bit”™l Do It To Ya Ev”™ry Time”, Paul Gilbert (who played with Sheehan in Mr Big) on “Dynamic Exhilarator”, Dug Pinnick (Kings-X) on the song “Turning Point” as well as Ray Luzier on drums and shred master Tony MacAlpine.

Sheehan has played over 4,000 gigs with a career that includes stints with Talas, David Lee Roth, Mr Big, and Steve Vai. Voted the “Best Rock Bass Player” 5 times in Guitar Player magazines Readers Poll, an honor which placed Sheehan in their “Gallery of Greats” (alongside Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee and Eddie Van Halen to name but a few). With cumulative sales of over 4 million records in his career, Billy Sheehan has made the album his fans have been waiting for, over the top playing with strong songs.

Sheehan continues to stretch the boundaries of the bass guitar while showcasing his immense talent as a guitarist (Baritone 12 string and 6 string billsheehanholycow2009guitars) and singer. Look for a Billy Sheehan solo tour to promote this album in the very near future.

Schöner eingängiger Melodic Hardrock, Richtung Journey, House of Lords, Bonfire. Nicht so ein Knaller wie beispielsweise die neue Place Vendome aber dennoch gute Kost für Genrefreunde.

Persönliche Bewertung: 7,5 bis 8 Punkte nach dem ersten Durchlauf

Zitat:When I first heard the band name COVERED CALL I thought it was a strange moniker but I then learned what it meant. It is a financial investors term referring to having a long position in an asset combined with a short position in a call option on the same underlying asset. Well that certainly makes it less confusing!?!?! Well anyway, the name becomes nothing more than an afterthought, as the music is what matters most. And I have to say I”™m pleasantly surprised with the sounds that came off of the debut disc “Money Never Sleeps”.

COVERED CALL is a Swedish act that features ace vocalist Thomas Vikstrom (ex-TALK OF THE TOWN, BRAZEN ABBOT, CANDLEMASS, etc.). Vikstrom has always been a voice that I've liked and so that was the initial draw I had to this band. But when you add the talents of fellow Swedes Ronny Svanstromer (drums), Joel Carlsson (guitar), Thomas Thulin (bass) and Morgan Rosenquist (guitar) it truly gives a powerhouse sound that harkens back to classic Euro hard rock but with modern sensibilities. If I had to pigeonhole the bands sound it would be hard but I”™d say they definitely draw influences from “Have A Nice Day”-era BON JOVI mixed with bits and pieces of THIN LIZZY, JOURNEY and BONFIRE to name just a few. They certainly draw their sound from many influences but it ultimately adds up to unique sound for the band. Quite honestly, as I listened to each track I got the increasing feeling this one might end up on my “Best Of” list come years end!

The opening three tracks of the record draw on the very influences mentioned above as “All Because Of Me”, with its modern day JOVI feel, “Til”™ The End”, with its LIZZY-esque vibe and “Shine”, sounding of JOURNEY meets the melodic side BONFIRE all combine for an impressive start to the record.

Further tracks like “Never Again” (BONFIRE sounding with a subtle VAN HALEN nuance) and “Anything You Want” (reminding a bit of the great STRYPER ballads at times!) continue to propel this album to the top of the heap.

I could go on and on with comparisons to other great bands but that ultimately wouldn”™t be fair to COVERED CALL as the music they produce truly does stand on its own. They”™ve managed to create a familiar sound but one that is still all their own.

Bottom line is COVERED CALL has virtually come out of nowhere and created a quality and classy hard rock affair; one that deserves a listen if you”™re a fan of any of the bands I mentioned above. I really don”™t think you”™ll be disappointed at all. 4,5 von 5 Punkten (Rockeyez Magazine)

Ohne Scheiss, diese Band ist die pure Geilerei. Für mich derzeit neben Airbourne die beste Newcomerband überhaupt. Ihr Debüt "Rise" hat vor knapp 3 Jahren gerockt wie die Hölle und "Everyday Demons" knüpft da nahtlos dran an.

Zitat:Die Iren schlugen schon mit ihrem 2006er Debüt Album “Rise” wie eine Bombe ein, nicht nur, dass die britische Musikpresse den Jünglingen zu Füßen lag, nein es gab auch Auftritte mit DEEP PURPLE und die Band wurde zum besten britischen Newcomer gekürt. Jetzt zweieinhalb Jahre später kommt der neueste Streich aus dem Hause THE ANSWER namens „Everyday Demons“. Der Presserummel war gigantisch, jetzt nicht nur ob des neuesten Outputs, sondern hauptsächlich weil sich THE ANSWER den wohl meist umkämpften Support Slot des Jahres 2009 sichern konnten – die Vier Iren werden AC/DC auf ihrer „Black Ice“ Tour begleiten und nicht nur in den US und auf der Hallentour durch Good Ol”™Europe (die ja bekanntlich am 18. Februar 2009 schon gestartet ist), sondern auch auf der Stadion Tour, welche im Früh Sommer 09 durch Europa ziehen wird.

Was macht aber jetzt den Reiz dieser Rockbande aus? Nun, einfach gesagt könnte man meinen LED ZEPPELIN hätte sich nun doch reformiert und ein neues Album eingeholzt. Gerade Sänger Cormac Neeson klingt wie der verloren gegangene Sohn von Robert Plant, aber auch die Instrumentalfraktion hat sich auf 70ies Rock spezialisiert, schafft es dabei aber Umschreibungen wie „retro“, „muffig“ oder gar „altbacken“ komplett außen vor zu lassen. Neben den Zep”™s könnte man auch noch FREE, die BAD COMPANY oder ansatzweise die BLACK CROWES als stilistischen Vergleich heranziehen, natürlich weht auch eine Spur AC/DC in die Kompositionen ein, analog wie es die Aussies von AIRBOURNE ja schon bei „Runnin”™ Wild“ vorexerziert haben.

Selten genug, dass eine junge Band den Spirit der 70er Jahre Rockschiene derart authentisch, locker, ungezwungen und überzeugend rüberzubringen im Stande ist, nicht nur deswegen gelten von nun an THE ANSWER als heißester Anwärter auf THE ultimate Rockin”™ Band des Jahres 2009. Zeitloser kann man zeitlose Rockmusik mit leichter Blues Affinität nicht zelebrieren! (Quelle: Stormbringer.at)

Zitat:Odin Dragonfly is formed by Mostly Autumn”™s Heather Findlay and Angela Gordon. Together they have made an acoustic debut album, playing all instruments and taking care of most of the compositions themselves.
Most songs are intimate with a strong folky accent reminding of the early years of Mostly Autumn. Heathers”™ and Angela”™s voices blend perfectly and closing one”™s eyes, one can imaging being part of the audience in a small private living-room concert near the fireplace.
One of the pearls on this album is Yellow Time, which reminds a bit of the very early Led Zeppelin. The intimacy of This Game is stunning: Heather Findlay has a way of touching someone with her voice as if it were a gentle hand. Waiting for the snow is a beautiful, minimalist composition in which the loneliness can be felt. The lyrics are beautiful and show the sensitiveness of these two women.
Instrumentally things could have been better. Angela can play the flute wonderfully, but the instrument may be used a bit too often on this album. Heather is not a gifted guitar player; therefore the guitar remains very basic and misses the gentle touch of someone who masters the instrument completely. It”™s a pity therefore that they didn”™t ask Bryan Josh, to mention a name, to play the guitar parts. Caught in a Fold misses the power of the original Mostly Autumn song. I can imagine it being very nice on stage, but I”™d never have put it on this album. Jethro Tull cover Witches Promise is very convincing. Forsaken Love is the second cover on the album, originally by Stevie Nicks.
Overall a nice album and a promising debut.