Sarayasign Throne Of Gold (2022)

TRAVEL THROUGH TIME

Like our stories from the land of SARAYA, that take place in different times but are still connected.

Our own story (the band) began over 25 years ago…

For three decades we have been a hidden gem, a diamond in the rough waiting patiently in the shadows, planning, preparing and like Pandoras Box, almost lost and forgotten, waiting in silence to be revealed.

Transcending time and space, fate brought us back together and here we are, over three decades later, ready to take on the world, and let you inside our.

Like a lost treasure in the Swedish melodic hard rock scene, with some of the most outstanding musical visionaries and craftsmen the scene has to offer comes a beautifully crafted trajectory that reaches beyond traditional melodic hardrock. Introducing cinematic soundscapes and with the mesmerizing stories that take place in the land of SARAYA, SARAYASIGN brings something new and fresh to the table.

With stellar guitar riffs and haunting melodies and arrangements from our childhood dreams merged with our own twist of cinematic hardrock, we offer something old and something new.

Listeners will be in for a treat.

BIOGRAPHY

In a cinematic experience, music can propel narrative swiftly forward or slow it down. It often lifts mere dialogue into the realm of pure poetry. It’s the communicating link between the screen and the audience, reaching out and enveloping all into one single experience. That’s what we try to do through our storytelling concept and our music.

Like the exampled album “Operation: Mindcrime”, our songs are stories, and they are all drawn from the fictional world of SARAYA.

Through the eyes and words of the storyteller comes a compelling story that started out as a fantasy for creator Jesper Lindbergh almost 25 years and later due to various reasons stored away as his personal notes in hope someday a chance for them to be realized would emerge.

Now, over two decades later, they are all dusted off and reforged into a series of tales, ready to take listener on a unique journey as SARYASIGN was formed and these stories could finally be unfolded.

The initial story will be told over the course of four albums and Throne Of Gold is the beginning.

SARAYASIGN is a cinematic melodic hard rock band, and we took all that we learned to love about movies and poured it all into the mix of this concept. With guitar driven roots from the late 70’s, and the cinematic experience of the 21:st century, layered with strings and storytelling driven, melody-focused songs with an edge, the listener will be in for a treat.

LINE-UP

Stefan Nykvist: Lead and backing vocals

Daniel Lykkeklev: Bass

Daniel Blohm: Lead guitar

Andreas Axelsson-Hofgren: Keyboards

Jesper Lindbergh: Drums, Rhythm guitar, Loops & Soundscapes

SARAYASIGN is a melodic hard rock oriented band from Sweden, headquartered in Örebro, with members from Örebro, Stockholm and Sölvesborg.

Link Telegram

Michael Schenker Group - Universal (2022)

 In just over a week Michael Schenker’s new album will be upon us. Schenker of course is a legend, and whether you saw him back in the 80’s or rather more recently, then you’ll know that his relationship with the guitar is unsurpassed. There are few who have influenced as many, few with the kind of songs behind him he has, and few that thirty years after what some might call his peak is still producing the kind of material he is. Indeed after some great outings in recent years with Michael Schenker Fest albums Resurrection (2018) and Revelation (2019), the new official Michael Schenker Group album ‘Universal’ (the follow up to 2021’s ‘Immortal’) is all rather wonderful, keeping up the quality of recent years.

Interestingly although Ronnie Romero features on vocals here and is scheduled for the US dates later in the year it’s notable that Robin McAuley stepped in to cover most of the European dates on the 50th Anniversary Universal Tour earlier in the year. If I’m honest whist Ronnie is a real talent (and his work with Rainbow and Vandenberg is wonderful) and of course a young face looks great on tour he’s only part of a wonderful line up that includes Michael Kiske (Helloween) and Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), drummers Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who), Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Foreigner), Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow) and Bodo Schopf (Eloy), as well as legendary bassists Bob Daisley (Black Sabbath), Barry Sparks (Malmsteen, Dokken) and Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian, Zakk Wylde), with Tom Carey as a very special guest. Part of me of course wants to hear what McAuley sounds like singing these new songs after his wonderful recent solo vocals and with ‘Black Swan’.

Working again with producer Michael Voss seems to be at last part of the magic here “Michael Voss is happy to wait until I have worked out an idea and takes the time to really get to know the song, simultaneously developing ideas for the vocals,” Schenker describes the fruitful collaboration which has one cog intermesh with the other. “Then we work out the drums, bass and some keyboard parts together. He always has plenty of great ideas up his sleeve.”

If you’ve enjoyed Schenker’s recent output as I have then you’ll love this. In fact if you like the albums I’ve name-checked so far then like me you light even find this edges the others. Opening with the brooding ‘Emergency’ and the more melodic build of ‘Under Attack’ there’s a defined retro sound that pitches you nicely into the mid-eighties. And after that intro we find ourselves face to face with what some are even citing as one of Schenker’s most important tracks in recent years…

“The rock anthem ‘A King Has Gone’ and its intro ‘Calling Baal’ both have a special significance: The track, sung by Helloween frontman Michael Kiske, is a tribute to the immortal Ronnie James Dio, in particular to his performance on the 1976 hard rock classic Rainbow Rising. For this reason, Schenker has brought together an original Rainbow rhythm section consisting of Bobby Rondinelli and Bob Daisley, additionally enlisting keyboardist Tony Carey, who also played on Rainbow Rising, for a terrific Moog synth intro – a direct reference to the iconic intro of the 1976 album opener ‘Tarot Woman’. The impressive result ‘Calling Baal’/‘A King Has Gone’ is already considered to be one of the most important and successful songs in Schenker’s career to date, both musically and lyrically.”

Indeed it’s hard not to be impressed even just at the sentiment let alone the reassembling of the musicians who made such a wonderful album, but the song itself and its preceding intro have a wonderful passion and the sort of keyboard and guitar interplay that made albums like ‘Rising’ timeless. It’s a wonderful tribute.

‘The Universe’ has the hard act of following that and rather go full pelt we instead land in a soft ballad that sees Gary Barden and Ronnie Romero share a duet ‘Long Long Road’ has an initial feel of Thunderstruck with the smooth vocal driving it forward majestically. And if your love the vocals of Ralph Scheepers then you’re in for a real treat with ‘Wrecking Ball’ a real highlight here and the most driven offering so far – this one will sizzle live!

The final four might even edge it – first ‘Yesterday is Dead’ comes as a nice gritty headbanger before ‘London Calling (No not the Clash song – imagine that!) pays homage to the 80’s UK rock bands that put Hard Rock in the mainstream, it’s a great song and very reminiscent of Scorpions. ‘Sad is the Song’ that follows is more statuesque and definitely gives off a Rainbow vibe especially in the verses which are vaguely Eastern and the guitar work. The final word goes to the red hot fretwork of ‘Au Revoir’ the paciest fretwork offering here and another of the best. As they say, it’s a nice way to say see you later…

The album features two bonus tracks: ‘Turn Off the World’ which with that opening guitar is actually one of my favourites on the album a stomping mid-tempo rocker that comes with a message and is hard to see how it only made it as a bonus cut. The second bonus ‘Fighter’ is a mid-tempo rocker that would be worth inclusion just for the solo! There’s no slowing Michael down these days and here’s yet another treat for fans.

Link Telegram

Def Leppard - Diamond Star Halos (2022)

 Diamond Star Halos is the brand new album from Def Leppard, their first since their chart topping self-titled Def Leppard record in 2015. Written by the band over the past two years it features 15 tracks including the anthemic, stadium-ready singles “Kick” and “Fire It Up”, with guest vocals from Alison Krauss on “This Guitar” and “Lifeless”. The album title references T. Rex’s “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” with nods to T.Rex, David Bowie and Mott The Hoople across the album, which mixes the sound of their classic spirit with modern fire. The 1CD features a black & white cover with colour logo, packaged in a jewel case.

Link Telegram

Wax & Boogie - Make Up Your Mind (Feat. Drew Davies) (2022)

 Over the years, Wax & Boogie have been gaining recognition and have become one of the best bands of the blues, rhythm and blues and boogie-woogie scene.

Ster Wax and David Giorcelli have been able to capture the true spirit of African-American traditional music in an exceptional way and turned it into their own means of expression. They master the language of black music in a rich and varied way. Ster and David surf easily and confidently on the different waves of the genre.

Besides what has been mentioned, Kansas City, Texas blues and 50s R&B are present in all the work of the couple, with the constant influence of Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, Otis Spann, Esther Phillips, Big Maybelle, Big Joe Turner, Johnny Otis, Amos Milburn and Wynona Carr, among many other great names of the forties and fifties.

Link Telegram

Blues Company - Songs with No Words (2022)

 Het laatste album van Blues Company dat in Bluesmagazine is besproken was het live-album Take The Stage in november 2020. Nu verschijnt Songs With No Words als dubbelelpee en cd als de vierendertigste release van deze band. De titel zegt het al: Songs With No Words, is dus een instrumentaal album geworden. Het leek bandleider Todor ‘Toscho’ Todorovic een mooi idee een instrumentaal verzamelalbum te maken met nummers die de laatste decennia zijn opgenomen en blijven liggen en die de ontwikkeling van de band evenals de muzikaliteit en de opnametechniek laten zien.

Op het album staan vijftien songs waarvan drie covers namelijk Comin’Home Baby (Ben Tucker, Bob Douroug, Hide Away/Peter Gunn Theme (Freddie King, Hank Mancini) en het overbekende Albatross (Peter Alan Green). De rest is geschreven door Todor Todorovic en Mara’s Dream samen met Zdzislaw Marcinkiewicz. De speeltijd is ruim 74 minuten.

De cd opent met het de heerlijke swingende jazz-blues shuffle Damn! Let’s Jam met tenor en bariton saxofoon en ingetogen swingend gitaar. Lekkere diepe contrabas en ritmische drums. Prachtig begin. Comin’ Home Baby met verrassend fluitspel en weer een zalige swing en met orgel en prachtige gitaarsolo. Live-opgenomen en wat een geweldige geluidskwaliteit, de hele cd trouwens. De band staat hier ook om bekend. Taxi met diepe bariton saxsound volgt, lekker uptempo nummer. De slowblues Luka’s Lullaby is weer live opgenomen en is meer Peter Green stijl. Ook live de fijne shuffle J.J.’s Jump, weer jazzy met de blazers. Rustig laidback met prachtig helder ingetogen gitaarspel wordt het in Waiting For Springtime. Vrolijk swingend is Mr.TNT de ritmesectie legt een prima basis neer, vooral door de vloeiende lopende bas, lekkere saxsolo ook. Met helder, iets galmend gitaar opent Mara’s Dream, orgel valt in en het hele nummer door met alleen gitaar en orgel . Verrassend. Hele diepe bas, zware drums en helder gitaar openen het rustige Dinner At Woolfie’s. Hoofdrol voor de basis van drums en bas. Live gaat het verder met het bekende uptempo Hide Away/Peter Gunn Theme. Blues For Mick is zoals de titel aangeeft een rustige mooi gespeelde blues. Met de live gespeelde boogie T’s Boogie boogiet het verder, met swing en bassolo met passende drums. Stilzitten is er niet bij. Dromerige avondsfeer in Balsha’s Dream, ondergaande zon, wijntje, lief naast je…De beat van de drums in No Idea verstoort de rust….ritmisch nummer met ruimte voor een korte bassolo. Het overbekende Albatross is de afsluiter van dit prachtige album.

Line-up:

Omdat het een verzameling nummers uit meerdere decennia is doen er twintig muzikanten op mee. In de mooie, stevige klaphoes staan ze vermeld bij elk nummer.

Conclusie:

Songs With No Words is een heerlijk instrumentaal album geworden met diversiteit in de nummers. Prima luister-cd in top geluidskwaliteit en fantastisch gespeeld. Het beluisteren absoluut waard.

Link Telegram

Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames – Nightwalk (2022)

 Chicago blues is Dave Weld’s lifeblood. From his beginnings mentored by JB Hutto to his decades with Lil Ed Williams and his Blues Imperials, he has taken the blues around the world. Weld and his Imperial Flames have a brand new album titled “Nightwalk,” their third for Chicago’s Delmark Records, out May 27th.

“Nightwalk” deepens the forward-thinking sound and energy of their contemporary blues albums past, weaving an original tapestry of old and new traditions. Highlights include “Mary Who”, an authentic musical tour de force and vivid portrait of urban life and his tribute to Hutto, “Don’t Ever Change Your Ways”. Weld told Blues Blast Magazine that, “It’s about how he schooled me, and prepared me, for the good parts of this industry as well as the bitterness. His advice was don’t let anybody tell you you can’t make it, not your job, your girlfriend, your mother or father, your friends, nobody! That has stuck with me. The song is about him leaving Georgia and coming to Chicago to be a bluesman, and meeting him when I was a young man. That is when he told me to never change my ways.”

The Imperial Flames are a big, horn-driven band and Weld shares vocal duties with his partner Monica Myhre and drummer Jeff Taylor. Longtime friend Billy Branch contributes harp on the Hutto original, “Now She’s Gone” as well. Weld brought Tom Hambridge in to produce. Hambridge is Buddy Guy’s longtime drummer and has won two Grammy Awards along with multiple nominations for his work with Guy, Susan Tedeschi, James Cotton and Kenny Neal.

A native of Lake Forest, Weld studied history and journalism at New Mexico State University before returning home for the blues life. He initially earned his keep playing with ex-Hound Dog Taylor sidemen Brewer Phillips and Ted Harvey at Sweet Peas, then joining up with several former bandmates of Howlin’ Wolf in the house band at the 1815 Club. Weld’s affinity for the blues was apparent to those wary, seasoned veterans. An early supporter was Hutto, a highly regarded slide guitarist.


Weld’s comfort with urban blues was further illustrated when he took on rhythm guitar duties in the fast company of his slide guitar-playing friend Lil Ed Williams in the raw-and-rowdy band they called the Blues Imperials. The acclaimed 1986 album ROUGHHOUSIN’ captured their incandescent spirit. Weld was with the Blues Imperials for about ten years before branching off in the late-1980s to lead his own outfit. To date, the Imperial Flames have performed in 26 states, 11 countries, and at about three dozen festivals, among them the Montreal Jazz Festival and, naturally, the Chicago Blues Festival.

Link Telegram

Simon McBride – The Fighter (2022)

 McBride komt uit Belfast in Noord-Ierland, een plek die resoneert met de muzikanten zoals Gary Moore, Rory Gallagher en bands als Thin Lizzy, Stiff Little Fingers en uiteraard U2. Hij speelde op tournee met de band van Ian Gillan, de Don Airey-band en ex-leden van Whitesnake als onderdeel van Snakecharmer. Simon is door niemand minder dan Ian Gillan van Deep Purple geprezen als “one of the best guitar players in the world.”

Momenteel vervangt Simon Steve Morse in Deep Purple, die vanwege een familieaangelegenheid tijdelijk een pauze heeft genomen van zijn positie bij de band. Joe Satriani die in 1993 en 1994 met de band speelde, zei in een interview met eonmusic het volgende; “Simon is a great call for that, so that’s really great”, he said; “I mean, the band is close to Simon, and Simon’s a great guitarist”.

Dit album is de perfecte kans voor Simon om naam te maken en te schitteren in de rockwereld! Classic Rock Music UK en Powerplay Magazine hebben beide Simon’s album al met top ratings beoordeeld. “As talented as Simon is, you feel he should be better known” – Powerplay (9/10). Opgenomen in de legendarische Chameleon Studios in Hamburg, heeft dit album alles wat een goed rockalbum nodig heeft… ‘The Fighter’ voelt als het ontbrekende stuk die hem naar de top zou kunnen brengen, vlak naast de legendarische gitaarhelden, waar hij thuishoort.

Link Telegram