product: Da Vinci - Ambition Rocks
release date: 25.08.2017
label: AOR Heaven
territory: world (without JP, Nor)
PR: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!
With the release of “Ambition Rocks", their first album in 25 years, and with a new lineup, AOR & Classic Rock band Da Vinci returns with brand new songs.
The group was formed in Norway back in 1986, and after a short round with demos, the band got a record deal with Polygram Norway and released their debut album the following year.
Looking back on the Norwegian melodic rock of the 80’s, one of the bands to leave a major impression were undoubtedly Oslo’s Da Vinci. Enjoying as much radio play and charting nationally in the same league as Return, Stage Dolls and TNT, Da Vinci released two albums, ”Da Vinci” and ”Back in the Business” and a single in 91 “Ain't No Goodbyes/ Blame it on the radio”.
Their greatest hits were “Forever in My Heart” and “Tarquinia” from the first album; and “Call Me a Liar” and “9&10” from “Back in Business”. DaVinci was touring constantly from late 86 to 92 and did over 600 performances in Norway. They also played as support for Status Quo on their Christmas Remedy tour in 1989 in Great Britain together with Ole Evenrude. The last concerts were two gigs at Wembley Arena. They split up in 93, but Selboskar, Westlie and Aass continued to write songs together for a few years. Some of these demo songs were illegally released in Europe.
Jarle Måløy moved to the north of Norway. Bjørn Boge started Street Legal together with Bjørn Olav Lauvdal and Selboskar was in the band on keys several years. Gunnar Westlie formed his own band called Tjugods and Lars Aass started working as a songwriter at Waterfall Productions. In 2004 Selboskar and Westlie started to write AOR songs together again and formed Eidsivating with the drummer from Son of Angels, Geir Digernes, and after some years with a lot of songs and different members, this project ended up in today’s Da Vinci.
“Ambition Rocks” was produced by Sverre E Henriksen and DaVinci; drums recorded in Oslo at Klang Studios with Johnny Skalleberg. The album was mixed by Sverre E Henriksen in hangar 7 and mastered by Nick Terry. Artwork & videos by Dag Selboskar.
product: Badge - If It Hurts It Must Be Good
release date: July 28th, 2017
label: Pride & Joy Music
territory: world
PR: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!
BADGE was put together by guitarist/singer Matti Norlin and drummer Fredrik Haake in 2002. Matti´s love for Pre War Blues and both their ambition to create new and exciting music is the drive.
Since then BADGE has released two albums "Kill Another Fuzz" in 2010 and "If I Could Love I'd Love This" in 2013. Their new album" If It Hurts It Must Be Good" will be available via Pride & Joy Music from July 28th, 2017.
With focus on energy, new paths and groove, but always to serve the song, BADGE has been breaking new ground ever since. Even though they started out with the old Blues in mind, they never thought about themselves as a Blues band. Rather a band that makes it’s own mark with many influences.
In 2013 BADGE was picked to represent Sweden in the European Blues Challenge. In 2014 Matti Norlin and Fredrik Haake got a composer-scholarship from SKAP (Swedish Society of song-writers) for the music of BADGE, and the video for the track “If I Could Love This” reached over 135.000 views on YouTube.
With the new album "If It Hurts It Must Be Good", they have really come a long way as far as songwriting and getting a unique sound on print! The first advance single from the album, "Reap What You Sow", was picked by Swedish national radio as one of the top 30 songs of Rock in 2015!
*Matti Norlin has released four solo albums: Pre War Blues (1995), Kitchen Sink Blues (1998), Sliding Out (2002) and LIVE - Blues Three Floors Up (2010). Matti has established himself as a great blues artist and is one of the most perceptive interpreters of early Scandinavian "Pre War Blues". He has also appeared on records with Sam Mitchell (ex-Rod Stewart's band), Nicolai Dunger and Tony & The Bitters (interpretations of the Swedish death metal band Dismember).
*Fredrik Haake has previously played with New York band God is my co-pilot as he made several tours with, both in Europe and the U.S. Fredrik was involved in two of the band's CDs. He also starred in his New York period in Jim Sclavunos (from Nick Cave's Bad Seeds) new band The Vanity Set and recorded an album with Roger Manning. Fredrik has also been featured in Sideburn, Moa and Swedish-American heavy metal band Meldrum who toured with: Motorhead, Zakk Wylde Black Label Society, Sepultura, Danzig, and Nashville Pussy.
*Lennart "Z" Zethzon is featured in Swedish Classic rock band "Lugnet" who released their debut last year. He also appears on two albums with Clifftones. In -98 Lennart put down the bass for Leda Battisti's self title release, featuring Grammy Award winner Ottmar Liebert.
product: Soul Secret - Babel
release date: July 28th, 2017
label: Pride & Joy Music
territory: world
PR contact: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!
Soul Secret are an Italian progressive metal band based in Naples.
After a long time playing together, they hit the market in 2008 with their debut album "Flowing Portraits", published by ProgRock Records and with Mark Basile (DGM) as guest singer on the whole album. This album was highly praised by the critics and let them play on stage together with bands like Pendragon, Vanden Plas and Subsignal. After three years the band published "Closer To Daylight" under Galileo Records, a heavier album featuring Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie Band) on "River's Edge" and Arno Menses on the acclaimed 16+ minutes suite "Aftermath". After playing together again with Subsignal and Vanden Plas, the band decided to change the singer and to start working on a new album. While writing it, they played together with Haken and Neal Morse Band. Their third release, called "4", was their first concept album and released on April 10th 2015 (October 4th in USA) by GoldenCore Records and distributed by Zyx Music.
Their new album, titled "BABEL", will be released by Pride & Joy Music on July 28th 2017 and will be previewed at Night Of The Prog, opening Mike Portnoy's show. BABEL is a concept album, covering topics like religion and love and ranging from classic progressive rock to more modern progressive metal, with influences from djent, electronic and latin music. The artwork was completely designed by Thomas Ewerhard and the mix handled by Alex Argento (Virgil Donati, Marco Sfogli).
Sam and Adriel are sent in space to find God, helped by logOS, an on-board computer providing cutting-edge technology to the mission. When they finally find the City Of Gods, they find it empty...
product: Warner Drive - Till The Wheels Fall OFF
release date: July 28th, 2017
label: Dead End Exit Records
PR: world-wide
contact: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!
WARNER DRIVE is an original rock based group from Hollywood, CA that features catchy riffs, a rock/punk edge, and an incredibly energetic performance. The group has built a reputations as relentless internationally touring act. Warner Drive has shared the stage with bands such as Jet, CKY, Saving Abel, Camp Freddy, Danko Jones, Imagine Dragons, The Plain White T's, Yellowcard, Ratt, Steel Panther, Clutch, Graveyard, Mustache, Papa Roach, The Killers, Dead Sara, Royal Republic, and many more. Warner Drive has been hailed as a highlight of the Sunset Strip Music Festival where they tore up the Roxy stage for a sold out house.
At South By Southwest in Austin TX, Warner Drive took the festival by storm with six different showcases and packed venues every time that teamed with energy when they hit the stage. The group has also been a part of The Uproar Festival in the United States.
In addition, they have been touring Europe where they have played many festivals and their fan base has been rapidly growing. In fact, 2016 will mark their fifth year in a row of extensive European touring and the group was voted by their fans to play Sweden Rock Festival 2016, where they shared the stage with Queen, Twister Sister, Foreigner, Megadeth and Anthrax among many more. This was followed by a Swedish tour in August 2016 and many more United States dates to be added this year as well.
Prior to signing with Swedish record label Roasting House/Dead End Exit in 2016, Warner Drive had released three full length albums to date, selling over 15,000 copies in DIY fashion. Their first album, "Fully Loaded", was produced By Mike Clink (Guns n Roses, Motley Crue, Megadeth), and James Michael (Alanis Morissette, The Deftones, SIXX:AM). Their second album, "K-Go!", which was self-produced was followed by their third release, "City of Angels". Produced by El Hefe (guitarist of NOFX and co-owner of Cyber Tracks), and mixed by Ryan Greene (Megadeth, Bad Religion), City of Angels was released in September 2014. Their fourth album will be released under Roasting House/Dead End Exit Records in July 2017.
Warner Drive will continue hitting everywhere from Los Angeles to Helsinki in 2017. Their momentum is taking them on a fast and furious ride down a road that is destined for international recognition and success.
product: Chris Brockbank's Phantom MKV- Phantom
release date: 07.06.2017
label: Bad Reputation
PR: Germany & Austria
If you like original, heavy Aussie rock along the lines of Deep Purple, Dio, Whitesnake, Rainbow you don’t want to miss Phantom MkV. Their last couple of gigs received rave reviews in Sydney's live music media.Guitarist/composer Chris Brockbank has been in the music industry for many years and has been compared to guitarist Richie Blackmore. His latest project Phantom MkV features Chris’ long-time keyboardist Jeff Morris, vocalist Steve Mulry (Tribute to Ted Mulry Gang & ex-Black Label), drummer Mick O’Shea (Swanee, Judge Mercy) and bassist Damian McDonald (Daddy Frisco).
Music composition, performance and recording has always been where Brockbank’s passions are though. Phantom has constantly been a band name always associated with Chris Brockbank. Inspired by both the sound engineering term phantom power, and the phantoms, or wraiths in Tolkien’s world, Phantom’s music has always been technically adept, and ethereal at the same time. This current project is the fifth cycle of Chris Brockbank’s Phantom, and Brockbank has chosen the ideal performers to make this an extraordinary band.
PHANTOM MKV has just brought out a monstrous album where the spectres of Ronnie James Dio and John Lord come to dance in the burning flames of the inflammatory guitars of the Australian Blackmore
Cover artwork by Matt Dixon
product: Jack L. Stroem - s/t
release date: May 26th, 2017
label: self-released
PR: in Europe
Contact: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!
Jack L. Stroem is the newest up and coming artist in Gothenburg's Rock scene, taking influences from old bands such as Rainbow, Judas Priest and Genesis mixing it with a modern heavy alt-rock sound. He has always been a musician at heart, smashing his mother's mandolin while watching Deep Purple - California Jam at age 4, picking up the guitar some years later and singing shortly thereafter. Slowly building up a name for himself Jack went to Tommy Reinxeed (Sabaton, Reinxeed) and Christian Liljegren (Narnia). He guested a solo on the title track from Reinxeed’s album "Welcome To The Theatre" in 2012.
In late 2016 with two tours behind him, the artist went in the studio abroad in Salem OR, USA to record his self-titled debut with producer Charles Normal and with a hand of session musicians. The line-up consists of:
Jack L. Stroem - vocals, guitar, synth
Bass: Kammo Olayvar, Henrik Ulvsgärd, Charles Normal , Jarred Venti
Drums: Jason Carter, Max Ulvsgärd, Dennis Nybratt
Hammond Organ: Svenne Jansson
Backing Vocals: August Svärdström, Vide Bjerde
Produced by Jack L. Stroem and Charles Normal
Music and words by Jack L. Stroem
Aiming for a human performance the album has no autotune or melodyne effect’s on any vocals.
With a release party booked at Hard Rock Café, frontpage news and high reviews the hype for the record can’t get much higher.
product: Angelwings - The Edge Of Innocence
release date: 23.06.2017
label: Pride & Joy Music
PR: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!
Territory: world
ANGELWINGS were born in April 2013 out of a group of experienced musicians that had been in the Gibraltar local music scene for some time and who had played in different bands a wide variety of musical genres.
Initially, to get together as a band it was decided to perform a number of covers from Finnish symphonic metal sensation Nightwish. Soon it became clear to all that original music would have a very considerable element of orchestration. Thus, ANGELWINGS became the first symphonic metal band from Gibraltar.
It is in October 2014 when the band starts to write their original material.
The first (demo) track titled "Wonderland" was posted on YouTube in January 2015 and attracted attention from local media and internationally on social media. Two more demos have followed since, "Memories" and "Forbidden Love". These have enjoyed wide acceptance and support, and have increased the band's exposure. These tracks have had air time on radio stations in Argentina, Spain and the UK. "The Fallen" and "Lilith" also premiered in Argentina.
In June 2015 ANGELWINGS supported Heavy metal legends Saxon at the "Hard n Heavy" festival in Gibraltar. In September 2015 they performed at the Gibraltar Music Festival where Kings of Leon and Duran Duran were headliners.
These ANGELWINGS have been on air by genre specialized radio stations throughout Europe, North and South America and elsewhere.
After numerous offers from record labels from around the world, the group signed with Pride & Joy Music from Germany. The debut album titled "The Edge of Innocence" was recorded at Angelwings Studios in Gibraltar and produced by ANGELWINGS. Album cover concept idea Darren Fa; graphic designer Thomas Ewerhard; band logo design Paul P Cano.
ANGELWINGS will release its debut album "The Edge Of Innocence" on June 23rd 2017.
