STATE OF SALAZAR – All The Way

state of salazarAt a time when so many AOR albums seem to be constructed from predictable European inflected bombast – often well played but full of forgettable material, or else just poorly executed all round – it’s an absolute pleasure when a disc comes along that impresses.  This full length release from State of Salazar does just that.  Bringing together the talents of various Swedish musicians and fronted by vocalist Marcus Nygren (previously of metal band 8-Point Rose), ‘All The Way’ offers something near melodic perfection.  With similar sounds to their closest contemporaries Work of Art, celebrating the sounds of Toto and Survivor, the result is the best AOR record since State Cows dropped their debut in 2011.

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MOONLAND – Moonland feat. Lenna Kuurmaa

moonlandThe record company office, sometime early 2014.  Approximately 2:47pm, European time.  A couple of hours of brainstorming for new ideas has reached a typical impasse.   A man in his mid fifties with thinning hair paces up and down anxiously.  Without anything fresh to put forth, he calls for assistance.  Taking a phone from the pocket of his thirty year old stonewashed jeans, he pokes at the keypad.

“Is that Del Vecchio?” he asks, somewhat expectantly, “we need your help… Do you have any new songs?  Bueno.  Do you have connections to any European female vocalists we’ve not yet recorded?  You do?  Stupendo!”…

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