Janne Stark's Top 13 of 2024

 

1. Thin Lizzy – 1976 – What a GRAND re-issue and respectful and interesting re-remixes. A quality packed gem indeed! 
2. The Watchers – Nyctophilia – Daring to take at least half a step outside of the Black Sabbath void was a solid choice. Still as heavy and solid but with a more personal touch!
3. Worshipper – One Way Trip – Here’s a band that manages to sound original in this day and age. Heavy, chunky, groovy, yet melodic heavy rock!
4. Black Country Communion – V – Back with a vengeance! In my opinion their best album!
5. Judas Priest – Invisible Shield – Another bunch of “oldies” that kick a lot of the newer bands’ butts to kingdom come!
6. Jupiter Cyclops – Age Of Ufonaut – If there’s such a thing as stoner heavy metal, this is it! Killer heavy riffage with a stoner touch.
7. KITSA – Dead By Dawn – If Black Sabbath and King’s X decided to get hitched and get a baby, this may have been it! 
8. Black Debbath – Bortkastet hardrock vol 1 – Can’t help but love these Norwegian heavy rock weirdos! They do know how to riff!
9. Deep Purple - =1 – They may be old but man, they still know how to write solid songs and make them sound great on record. Classic hard rock
10. Alunah – Fever Dream – A band I got into quite recently. Killer female fronted heavy rock!
11. Evergrey – Theories Of Emptiness – Heavy, melancholic, melodic, typical Evergrey, but still different. Their best album in a long time. Killer album!
12. F.K.Ü – The Horror And The Metal – I wouldn’t say I’m a huge thrash metal fan, but I do have a soft spot for F.K.Ü. Their explosive power, tightness, killer songs and tongue in cheek approach just makes me smile and bang! Love it!
13. Lydsyn – Højspænt – Power rock in Danish? Yup, it works! 

Honorable mentions:

The Quill – Wheel Of Confusion

Trapeze – Lost Tapes Vol 2

Green Lung – This Heathen Land

Alicate – Heaven Tonight

Dug Pinnick – Thingamajigger

Freak Kitchen – Everyone Gets Bloody

Moggs Hotel – s/t

Top 20 of 2020

 So, after much going back and forth I've come up with a top 20 list of 2020. 

Here it goes:

1. Thin Lizzy – "Rock Legends"

- An outstanding compilation featuring well preserved and nicely restored demos and live recordings packed in a beautiful way. FANTASTIC!!!

2. Mephistofeles – "Satan Sex Ceremonies"

- These Argentinian retro porn rockers came in with fists held high and totally knocked me out!

3. Raven – "Metal City"

- Classic UK band Raven is back with a vengeance (not that they have ever vanished). "Metal City" is prbably my favorite Raven album since the debut!

4. Blue Öyster Cult – "The Symbol Remains"

- I must admit I wasn't expecting this AT ALL!! The last time I saw the Cult live, they were actually a little bit tired. This album is anything but "tired". Awesome!!

5. Kansas – "The Absence of Precense"

- Another band with only a few original members, where my expectations weren't sky high, even though I've thoroughly enjoyed their latest releases. This was better than expected! A killer album!

6. Raging Slab – "Sister Slab And The Boogie Coalition – Vol 1"

- Here's a band I've really missed for so long. The reason for this album may be a sad one (these were the last songs Elyse recorded before she passed away of cancer), but the album is a great one!

7. Lucifer – "III"

- Sweden based retro rockers Lucifer does a "third time lucky". Well, they have actually been "lucky" all three times! 

8. Prins Svart – "Under Jord"

- Being a huge fans of their first two albums, at first I was a bit hesitant about the concept of a band like this using different singers. But after a few spins it fits like a glöve! 

9. Dizzy Mizz Lizzy – "Alter Echo"

- This Danish trio totally knocked me off my feet with their debut, and they still do!

10. Wishbone Ash – "Coat of Arms"

- Another "oldie" that still deliver full on! 

11. Shaggy – "Scarecrow"

- An outstanding Swedish/English band that released their first album in the 70s, disappeared and reappeared with a vengeance!

12. Wolftooth – "Valhalla"

- A new acquaintance for me. Outstanding retro rockers!!

13. Baleful Creed – "The Lowdown"

- And the UK delivers! Another "new" band for me. Ordered all their albums and wasn't disappointed - at all!

14. Perfect Plan – "Time For A Miracle"

- Perfect Plan proves Sweden delivers 100 % when it comes to melodic rock!

15. Clutch – "Weathermaker Vault Series Volume 1"

- Well, not a new album per se, but the songs haven't been properly released, it's Clutch and it's great!

16. Tragik – "Faith Healer"

- Ok, so maybe this shouldn't be in here since I play a guest solo. F**k that, this is a great album by the most prolific singer in hard edged melodic rock, Phil Vincent!

17. Future Elephants? – "Humans Passin’ Through"

- These Swedish proggy rockers continue to deliver! Another killer release!

18. Gudars Skymning – "Olycksfågel"

- Swedish retro rockers Gudars Skymning keep on keeping on! 

19. Vessel Of Light - "Last Ride"

- Another kick-ass stoner album!

20. Bonehawk - "Iron Mountain"

- This outstanding album just squeezed in on last place, because I received it in the last minute. Great album!

FEINTS - Feints (digital release)

Boston rocks! Yepp, Feints proves it! This Bostonian four-piece makes their debut with a digital release, which should be out on CD and even vinyl! The album kicks off with the rockin’ “Los Angeles At Last”. Powerhouse singer Amy Douglas who sounds like a mix between Mother’s Finest’s Baby Jean and Tina Turner on steroids fronts the band. She is definitely the perfect vocal match for the bands straight-in-your-face power rock. “Saturday” continues in a slightly Cheap Trick:ish vein. The band has its feet firmly rooted in the seventies, which is a quality mark in my book. “Invalid” continues in the Tricky vein, but Amy’s voice really takes the band to another place. Man, those vocal cords have got to be leather coated! The songs are really catchy and this should appeal to fans of anything from classic bands like Earthquake, The Faces or Cheap Trick to fans of The Hellacopters and the rocking side of Mother’s Finest or even vintage Pat Benatar. There are also more southern sounding stomping rock songs such as “Hudson Valley Stomp”, which reminded me a bit of The Black Crowes. “Death Rattle” takes it in a totally different direction, with its almost metal-punkish vibe. Cool track indeed, with Amy turning her lungs inside out! The band, featuring guitarist David Baron, bass player Rob Phillips and drummer Tim Marten are tight as a rat’s ass, and these boys really keep this train moving! Right after the death rattle the band lays down a beautiful ballad called “Little America” with Amy also showing her piano skills and David is throwing in some countryish guitar licks. Really nice.!The release also offers a free bonus track, which happens to be an outstanding cover of Thin Lizzy’s Fighting My Way Back. This is a highly enjoyable, unsitstillable, rockin’ tildawnable picke of digital media. Highly recommended!

Janne Stark

Year: 2015

Country: USA

Label: self-released

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ8zkUo6tYE
Bancamp: https://feints1.bandcamp.com/album/feints

TONGUE – Look! It’s Rock ‘N Roll (CD)

Tongue is a new project formed by the masterminds of Ola Karlsson and Börje Reinholdsson, formerly of Balthazar’s Machine and X-Union. This is the guys' tribute to good old hard rock and their love for the seventies. “Find My Way Back Home” starts out with a great crunchy riff that promises really great stuff. The song itself however wanders off more to Cheap Trick’s power poppy hard rock, which is ok, but maybe not what I expected. “Hair Of The Dog” starts out with an equally interesting cool riff and a promising intro solo, and also becomes more of straight rock ‘n’ roller. In the song “The 70’s” the band sings praise to bands like Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy. But a chorus with “nananananana” in a pop vein... This is unfortunately, to me, more pop with some distorted guitars. Sorry boys, but you lost me there. “Sun” is a cool rocker with a touch of “Kashmir” and it’s definitely my favorite on the album together with the crunchy rocker “Back To Reality”. Unfortunately the chorus is also what brings it down for me, which is a pity. “The Music Takes Control” has a touch of Lenny Kravitz funky rock, while “Speak Louder” owes a bit to AC/DC. I’m afraid the title and the cool artwork promised a bit more than what the music delivered. There were some highlights, but too few and far between to save it for me.

Janne Stark

Country: Sweden

Year: 2014
label: Wobbling Wart

HOUSE OF SHAKIRA - Pay To Play (CD)

This is a band I’ve followed since their early days under the name Station, we were even on the same labels twice. No, I’m not biased at all. This is a band that has been very consistent, always delivering high-class AOR/melodic rock albums through the years. Pay To Play very well continues that tradition. However, this time they have taken a slight turn towards a more classic hard rock at times, inviting us to share some good solid riffing as well, which is a nice touch. Up-tempo rocker “When The Cat’s Away” is a prime example, as well as “Dopamine Junkie”, which actually reminded me a bit of classic Thin Lizzy. “Tried And True” starts off with a very Schenker-sounding intro riff, but changes into a blues ballad, which was quite the surprise. “Dog Eat Dog” is another heavy rocker with a typical, cool House Of Shakira chorus. I also love the Queen-flirt in "Same Old Story". The band have always been about a cool, stripped down, almost analogue, production without any bells and whistles they can’t pull off live, which is also quite rare today. A sound I’ve always loved, and which they still maintain. All in all this actually turns out to be one of the strongest HoS albums to date, in my opinion. A perfect mix of melody and riffing, a great crispy mix, performed with excellence. I also must say Andreas Novac’s voice fits the band perfectly. The title and title track also says it all about how bands of their level have to deal with today's music business. If you think we are rock stars and make tons of money. Forget about it. It's mostly "pay to play" that is applied. Sad but true.

Janne Stark

Label: Melodic Rock Records

Year: 2013

Country: Sweden

Link: www.melodicrockrecords.com

BELLFAST - Insula Sacra (CD)

Now, here’s an interesting combination. A Japanese band playing Celtic influenced hard rock! Intriguing indeed! Another interesting detail is that the album was mixed by none other than Andy LaRoque! Looking at the band photo, these guys and girls mean business! Musically, yes, they do mean business in that department as well. This is actually really really good! Think heavy Jethro Tull meets Thin Lizzy meets Horslips, but with an aggressive and modern metal touch. They also blend in flute and violin in a very well-balanced manner. However, don’t be fooled by this, Bellfast are heavy and more metal than folk when it comes to the sound. The mix also enhances the heavy edge. Great guitar-playing with tons of nice harmony-work, thunderous drums and heavy plodding bass that at times gives it a touch of Steve Harris, but a bit more subtle. The vocals fit in well with the music and the whole package works really great. The songs are very well arranged and you definitely hear this bunch have been at it for a long time. Yes, the band was formed already in 1993, even though this is their debut album. Well worth checking out indeed!

Janne Stark

Label: King Records

Country: Japan

Year: 2010

THE GLORIA STORY - Shades Of White (CD)

OK, I’m not sure if it’s a bit charming or if I get pretty annoyed. But, come on, the opener “Valentino” is such a Thin Lizzy rip-off it makes my skin crawl. Opening phrase “Valentino’s got a friend or two” may as well have been “Valentino’s got a booky shop”, both melody and phrasing, “waiting for me honey” may well have been “waiting for an alibi” – plagiarism or tribute, it’s a bloody fine line. Well, the band does step out of the ”tribute” corner and prooves to be more original than that. However, the album shows quite a lot of influences, such as the guitar harmonies and the way they are recorded, the Phil Lynott influences in the vocals. But, they do find their own ways in the songs. Tracks like When Hearts Cease To Bloom and Highway sounds like if you’s thrown Lizzy, The Hellacopters and Swedish glam-poppers The Ark into a blender. The Gloria Story has a strong pop oriented side, which becomes a bit too much for me. What they do, they do good, though. A decent enough album that should attract fans of the aforementioned bands as well as fans of vintage Kiss, T Rex and even Bowie in his more rocking 70s outfit.
Janne Stark
Label: Rambo Music
Year: 2011
Country: Sweden
Link: http://www.thegloriastory.com/

BRIAN ROBERTSON - Diamonds And Dirt (CD)

Some things you don’t believe until you see them. Former Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson, or “Robbo”, have had a rumour about himself working on a solo album for the last ten years, but nothing has really come out of it. So, it seems hell has finally frozen over and pigs started to fly (or if it was vice versa…). It’s finally here! I guess all kudos should go to Sören Lindberg, the manager that finally made it happen. In all honesty, Robbo did put out some type of solo release in 1995 under the moniker The Clan. There was however a bit more to be desired concerning this one however. So, to my great joy I find he has revived, re-recorded and revitalised some of the songs off this rare release. The revitalisation is foremost courtesy of a way better mix and of course the new people surrounding Brian, singer Leif Sundin (Great King Rat, John Norum, MSG etc), bass player Nalle Påhlsson (Treat, Therion etc), drummer Ian Haugland (Europe) and guest singer Liny Wood (aka Linnea Helge), his new clan. The same treatment has also been given to Thin Lizzy’s old Running Back from Jailbreak, which actually has been recorded in two different versions on the album. His new rendition of It’s Only Money ain’t half bad either (one of my favourite Lizzy tunes). Robbo was actually supposed to guest on John Norum’s cover of that song, which, coincidently is also sung by Sundin, where I’m afraid Norum’s version wins by the tip of a nose. Where this album however really shines is in Robbo’s own songs, such as the album title opener, the driving Texas Wind and the cool Devil In My Soul, with it’s really nice guitar arrangements. It features both acoustic and electrice slide guitar, smooth country style licks mixed with really heavy riffing. Robbo used to collaborate with Irish rocker Frankie Miller and he has here paid homage to him by interpreting three of his songs, one of them being the groovy Do It Until We Drop (Drop It!!). Another one is closing track Ain’t Got No Money, sung by one of my all-time favourite singers Rob Lamothe. Among the new recordings of the tracks from The Clan period you’ll find the Robertson/Lynott composition Blues Boy and the almost folkish bluesy That’s All…. One track that definitely sticks out is the cover of Jim White’s 10 Miles To Go On A 9 Mile Road, where Robbo himself handles the vocal bits, which brought Lou Reed in his most narrative mode to mind. A very different, but pretty cool track. Robbo has previously done some guest spots on albums by bands like Lotus, Five Fifteen etc, but in all honesty I haven’t heard Robbo play this good since the Lizzy days. Balnced, cool bluesy, contained, great tone and great feel. It feels like, yes, I can say it without exaggerating – Robbo is back! He’s definitely found his right musical context and the perfect band to work with. A high quality, easy listening cool record that is hard to pop out of the CD player. Mostly diamonds, but also some well placed dirt. Janne Stark

Label: SPV

Year: 2011

Country: UK/Sweden

John Norum - Play Yard Blues (CD)

Talk about a CD with postponed release date, almost competing with Guns ’N Roses ”Chinese Democracy”! The big difference is however that this one was really worth waiting for! When I did a gear-interview with John, at the time the new Europe album was released, he revealed his new solo album would be of the ”bluesier kind”. His last solo album ”Optimus” was more in the same vein as Europe’s reunion-platter with detuned riffs and a more modern approach, an album that didn’t fully hit home with me.

Ok, John, all is now forgiven; ”Play Yard Blues” is the album we (at least I) have been longing for. Here he shows his love for the seventies, both in his own songs and in his interpretations of Frank Marino’s ”Ditch Queen”, Mountain’s ”Travellin’ In The Dark” and Thin Lizzy’s outstanding ”It’s Only Money”. If we start with the cover songs, he hasn’t strayed away too much from the original versions. For example in ”Ditch Queen” he sounds very much like Frank both in his vocals approach and in his lead guitar playing. The influences really shine through. The opening track of the album, “Let It Shine”, also could have been penned by said Marino with its heavy and slightly funky verse riff. If John had to hold back on his solos on the Europe album, he’s really compensated it here. I’m not saying he’s over-playing, but where there’s place for a nice lick, he sure doesn’t rob us of the moment. In “Red Light Green High” he also shows a slightly cooler side, which made me think of bassist Tomas Torberg’s ordinary band Plankton. Norum also sings really laid back and nice on this one, something he also does in “Over And Done”, which stylewise made me think of some of Glenn Hughe’s better solo albums.

A singer John has used on some of his earlier recordings is Leif Sundin, a sadly rarely heard killer vocalist these days. Here he puts his vocal flair on the classic hard rocker “Got My Eyes On You” and the CD’s heaviest and most modern sounding track “Born Again”, the only track with detuned guitars. It however doesn’t stick out in a negative way, but more completes a great collection of tracks. The album ends with the title track that, as the title may suggest, is a play yard for guitarist, an instrumental improvisation number in the sign of blues with Europe colleague Mic Michaeli adding some nice Hammond organ to the brew. I’d also like to give some praise to John’s tasty rhythm boys, the outstandingly groovy Tomas Broman on drums and the aforementioned Plankton bassist Torberg, not forgetting percussionist Peer Stappe. These guys really put the swagger in On-mode in this killer retro-journey. Hats off to a first-rate craft and an album that has found its way nicely into my car stereo and will surely stay there for a long time ahead.

Janne Stark

Genre: Seventies hard rock

Year: 2010

Label: Mascot Reacords