WHITE LION – Return Of The Pride

White LionBack in the late 80s/early 90s, White Lion released a couple of great albums in ‘Pride’ and ‘Mane Attraction’. By more modern standards, the production on ‘Pride’ is a tiny bit trebly (okay, maybe a lot trebly), but it had the songs to back up any technical shortcomings.  A couple of ‘Mane Attraction’s songs were noticeably weaker – and they even padded out the disc with a re-recording of ‘Broken Heart’ (the original can be found on their 1987 release ‘Fight To Survive), but in many ways, it was a perfect swansong. Vocalist Mike Tramp’s follow up project Freak Of Nature attracted a solid fan base, but the more alternative leanings in the band’s sound turned off some more “traditional” rock fans, leading to decline in record sales. His later solo album ‘Capricorn’ was more than decent, but by this point Tramp’s sales figures were practically non-existent compared to former glories.  In that respect, it’s almost understandable as to why by 2008 Frontiers Records would want Tramp to release another White Lion album.

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Breed 77: Upcoming tour dates

Recently, the Gibraltarian hard rock band Breed77 had a major change in their ranks when long-serving vocalist Paul Isola stepped down from his duties as frontman. His replacement, Portuguese singer Rui Lopez has already appeared at a couple of dates, but now fans in the UK will be given the opportunity to see him again when the band take to the road for a full tour to end the year.

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UGLY KID JOE – Stairway To Hell

UKJAt the beginning of the 90s, it seemed almost impossible to watch MTV’s ‘Headbanger’s Ball’ or listen to the BBC Friday Rock Show with Tommy Vance (RIP) without encountering Ugly Kid Joe.  Their best-known singles ‘Everything About You’, ‘Neighbour’ and ‘Cats In The Cradle’ were huge.  Despite such success, the band’s time in the sun was relatively short-lived.  By the time of their fourth studio release, 1996’s ‘Motel California’, the media were indifferent at best and even though some fans praised that disc, the band’s glory days seemed so distant.  How fickle the finger of fame.

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Ugly Kid Joe: UK autumn tour dates

After being available as an import for a year, Ugly Kid Joe’s 2012 comeback release ‘Stairway To Hell’ is finally getting a UK release in October 2013. The new version of the release will also include a full-length DVD featuring a making of segment, two previously unavailable video clips and footage from the band’s appearance at the 2012 Download Festival.

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FRANK PALANGI – I Am Ready EP

Frank Palangi EPAt the beginning of this second EP by New Yorker Frank Palangi, the music ambles a little, while his voice – subject to some slight filtering – fills the space.  If you’d never heard Palangi before, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stumbled upon yet another US rock/pop singer-songwriter, especially with the choice of sleeve art…

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