V/A - Rock Hard Presents: Voices Rock Compilation (1995?)

Glam Rock / Hard Rock / Heavy Metal / Melodic Hard Rock / Melodic Metal / Progressive Metal

Presented by German fanzine Rock Hard.

ANDY SUSEMIHL - Nevermind

Longplay-CD: "Life Among The Roaches" 126218

(M+T: Andy Susemihl)

The inspired guitar hero ANDY SUSEMIHL (ex-SINNER, -U.D.O., toured with GUNS 'N' ROSES, OZZY OSBOURNE etc.; solo recordings for the legendary Guitar Ballads, a. o, with STEVE VAI, JOE SATRIANI, STEVE STEVENS, MICHAEL SCHENKER and GARY MOORE) produced a solo album in LA demonstrating the wide range of his skills in terms of composing, producing, playing and singing. This is no remake of old days but a production which once crosses the Blues, which is influenced by Grunge and which is "once slightly funky, once groovy, once lascivious, but always played to the point with a great hookline". A Rock album of rare brilliance!

THE UNGRATEFUL - Rain City

Longplay-CD: "Beauty Of Disgrace" UF 001

(M+ T: Ungrateful, Four Leaf Clover Records)
licensed by Four Leaf Clover Records
Copyright: Edition No. 2

A Rock album couldn't be more dazzling. THE UNGRATEFUL combine all branches from the wide repertoire of Rock. They experiment with, elements of Speed metal, Grunge or Industrial, integrate blues or help themselves with the theatrical gestures of bombastic rock. These variations are always ingeniously embedded in the respective song, be it a sensitive ballad, a gloomy midtempo song or a crafty and speedy track. However, the band never loses sight of the good old times of Hardrock à la Motörhead, so that the attributes timeless' and 'modern' are both valid.

NASTY IDOLS - Ain't Got Nothing

Longplay-CD: "Vicious" HSM 010

(M/T: Pierce, Espinoza, Qwarfort, Stanley/Pierce, HSM Rec. Corp.)
licensed by HSM Records
Copyright: HSM Records

NASTY IDOLS play very original Hardrock, in this song impressingly melting with an arrangement full of tension and a dark touch.

TURNING POINT - Streets Of Roses

Longplay-CD: "River Dance" SMC 10141

(M/T: T. Persson, H. Jonsson/T. Persson, H. Jonsson, SMC RECORDS Inc.)
licensed by SMC Records Inc.
Copyright: SMC Records Inc.

If there is a prototype of subtle and melodic guitar ballads in the guild of Hardrockers, then it is the song 'Streets Of Roses' by TURNING POINT. The Swedes appreciated this by recently making it a radio smash hit.

COSMIC JUNK - Scars

Longplay-CD: "Cosmic Junk" LMH 0229

(M/T: Cosmic Junk/C. Paulstrup, SPM MUSIC)
licensed by XTC Productions AB
Copyright: SPM Music

Sweden's newcomer 1994! Their innovative 'Grunge-Hardrock' made them win the 'best Hardrock band of the year' award (by Aftonbladet, the biggest Swedish daily paper).

ZAN CLAN - Shine

Longplay-CD: "Citizen Of Wasteland" SMC 10131

(M/T: S. L. Swanson, Z. J. Zan/Z. J. Zan, SMC RECORDS Inc.)
licensed by SMC Records Inc.
Copyright: SMC Records

ZINNY J. ZAN, who yet won laurels with EASY ACTION (together with Kee Marcello from EUROPE) and with SHOTGUN MESSIAH, overwhelms with sublime, partly dark Rock of highest intensity. This uncommon band is influenced by Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith or Van Halen, but also by bands of the early Punk era.

ESPINOZA - Dog Eat Dog

Longplay-CD: "Soul Decay" SMC 20171

(M/T: Espinoza/R. Vargqvist, SMC RECORDS Inc.)
licensed by SMC Records Inc.
Copyright: SMC Records Inc.

Beautifully dirty Thrashmetal! Brutal sounds, mercilessly hard drums, cracking guitar riffs and aggressive singing make ESPINOZA find entry in the guard of cult bands such as Pantera or Clawfinger.

NATION - Angel

Longplay-CD: "Chased By Time" SMC 10121

(M/T: J. Öhlin/F. Isaakson, SMC RECORDS AB)
licensed by SMC Records AB
Copyright: SMC Records AB

Classic, extravagantly arranged Hardrock, the recognition of which lies in the impressing singing and the brilliant guitar work.

SNAKEPIT REBELS

"Life On Mars "

Longplay-CD: "Dustsucker" FLC 122

(M+T: David Bowie, Four Leaf Clover Records)
licensed by Four Leaf Clover Records
Copyright: Four Leaf Clover Records

"You Left Me "

Longplay-CD: "Snakepit Rebels" FLC 114

(M+ T: Ubbe Rydeslätt, Four Leaf Clover Records)
licensed by Four Leaf Clover Records
Copyright: Four Leaf Clover Records

This band, here presenting two songs, is certainly and in the best sense of the word very American. The SNAKEPIT REBELS masterly understand to fulfil the never-ending longing for good old Rock 'n' Roll. Their affection for Blues and solid Mainstream can never be a mistake, but their skills go further. E. g. their cover version of Bowie's "Life On Mars" is a real highlight and an indicator for one of their most striking talents which is the hymnal ballad. Who once listened to "You Left Me" will never doubt that.

CRYSTAL BLUE - Anything For You

Longplay-CD: "Caught In The Game" SMC 20161

(M/T: Ove Lundqvist, Thomas Lassar Morgan Johansson, David Persson, SMC RECORDS Inc.)
licensed by SMC RECORDS Inc.
Copyright: SMC RECORDS Inc.

CRYSTAL BLUE are the perfect representatives of top-calibre sensitve and harmonic Hardrock. The 17 years old singer's voice strikingly reminds of Tony Martin's (Black Sabbath).

MEGAFORCE - Loosen Up

Longplay-CD: "Once In A Lifetime" 60072

(M/T: Maurer/Portmann, Dancefloor Productions)
licensed by Dancefloor Productions
Copyright: Dancefloor Productions

MEGAFORCE stand for straight-forward, melodic and powerful Rock. Their albums are produced by the KROKUS-musician Many Maurer and mastered by Jürg Naegeli (KROKUS-producer). They got a lot of live experience all over Europe alongside such stars as KROKUS, ALLISON, BONNIE TYLER and TOAD and caused a sensation wherever they played.

THE DOWNTOWN CLOWNS - Crack

Longplay-CD: "The Downtown Clowns" DTC 223

(M+T: The Downtown Clowns, DTC Music)
licensed by DTC Music
Copyright: S.P.M. Music Publishing

Heavyrock of the good old type. Not only due to the solid productions THE DOWNTOWN CLOWNS signed to companies all over Europe.


Longplay-CD: "Funk'd Rapt'n Trash ́d" MASS 502

(M+ T: Dick Bewarp, SPM Music Publishing)
licensed by XTC Productions
Copyright: SPM Music Publishing/Massive Music

Funky Metal by the experienced professionals centred around the LA-trained guitarist DICK BEWARP who co-operated not only with OZZY OSBOURNE and LITA FORD. Singer PETE SANDBERG toured with and produced the Virgin-act ALIEN.