ISSA - Crossfire

Band:Issa

 

Album:Crossfire

 

Date Released:Feb 20 2015

 

Tracks:

Crossfire
New Horizon
Raintown
Long Time Coming
Fight Fire With Rain
Heartbeat
Electric Lights
Ghost Inside My Heart
Red Lights
We Rise
Only You

 

Band Members:

Issa - vocals and bv's
James Martin – Keyboards
Tom Martin - bass and Guitars
Michael Cruise – Drums

Steve Overland – Duet on Raintown 

 

Label:Frontiers Music Srl

 

Quality & Originality:Issa and her velvet sweet voice is back with her new album entitled Crossfire. The Norwegian beauty has taken her brilliant style of almost pop rock mixed with AOR and prog to a grand new level of a beautiful arrangements and melodies. The album was produced by John Greatwood & James Martin. Sessions started in early 2013 with a bunch of songs ISSA had co-written or demoed in the Martin Brothers songwriting sessions. Guest musicians include Daniel Palmqvist (XORIGIN), Alessandro Del Vecchio (HARDLINE), Steve Newman (NEWMAN), Robert Sall (WORK OF ART), Daniel Johansson (DEGREED), Stephen Chesney. As well as powerhouse choir including Pete Newdeck (IN FAITH/TAINTED NATION), Matt Black (FAHRAN) and Michael Kew (VEGA).

 

My Opinion:Issa has always been a hard artist to nail down for me cause she could have easily went for the full on pop road cause of her amazing voice but she stays just on this side of the rock road to blend into almost any style or genre she damn well pleases. ''Crossfire'' is easily my favorite album of this gifted singer cause she seems to have matured a bit in her singing and song writing giving just enough to melt any metal heads heart and soul. The duet Issa does with Steve Overland on the song ''Raintown'' is beautifully executed and performed almost taking a different approach then the rest of the songs on the album. If you are into pop to metal or prog to symphonic this is a great album that will satisfy your appetite for something pretty special.

 

Overall & Favorites:Raintown, Crossfire, Fight Fire With Rain. I give this beautifully talented singer a brilliant 8/10 for making another spectacular album!!!!

 

Contact:www.facebook.com/issa.oversveen

 

TEN - Albion

Band:TEN

 

Album:Albion

 

Date Released:Nov 24 2014

Tracks:

Alone In The Dark Tonight
Battlefield
It's Alive
Albion Born
Sometimes Love Takes The Long Way
A Smuggler's Tale
It Ends This Day
Die For Me
Gioco D'Amoure
Wild Horses

 

Band Members:

Gary Hughes
Dann Rosingana
Steve Grocott
John Halliwell
Steve Mckenna
Darrel Treece-Birch
Max Yates

 

Genre:Melodic Hard Rock

 

Label:Rocktopia/Cargo Records

 

Promotion:Rock N Growl

 

Quality & Originality:Albion is the next step for the amazing band Ten with a powerful prog hard rock epic album. Gary Hughes produced, wrote and arranged this beautifully written album. Albion was Mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward. I love how the songs were written and the meaning behind them. I think Gary did such a amazing job really getting his point across that Ten is and always will be at the front of the prog rock genre.

 

My Opinion:Albion is a great follow up to the bands Heresy And Creed from 2012. They have always pushed themselves to not just be another prog band but to be at the front setting the standards for all other bands to follow. This album is no different with great playing from all parties involved. So many of the songs off this album are almost instant prog rock anthems that have such a positive and bold presence to them that so many people can easily connect with!!

 

Overall & Favorites:Alone In The Dark Tonight, Albion Born, Die For Me. I give this album a solid 8.5/10 cause Ten really brings back how prog rock should be done with Albion brilliance!!!!!

 

Contact:www.tenofficial.com 

www.facebook.com/TenOfficial