tts42572

Liking this a lot...Definitely hear a lot of Steve Brown's influence as both these songs basically sound like Trixter songs with just a different vocalist to me.

Yeah...It's probably a bit disposable and a bit "syrupy" but don't really care. I've also seen people complaining about the mix being off over at MR.com and don't really care about that either. For me, I never judge mixes from online samples as these things always sound better once I get the CD and I rarely let mixes influence my judgement all that much anyhow unless it's really badly done.

I had some reservations on this as Poley's latest solo album was very hit and miss for me....Liked a few songs but really didn't care for most of it. I'm liking these two songs though.

Looking like a purchase to me.

 

I have Quid Pro Quo, and I don't re\call it being all that great.

I'll have to listen to it again and see if it's one of those albums where I ended up liking a few songs.

I REALLY like Whiskey Lover though. Great hard rock song. My type of music.

Based on that alone I'll try this new one out

Quid Pro Quo is excellent imo. Esp the second half.

 

Bought Quid Pro Quo recently after buying Big Red about a month ago....Really liking this album. It might not be quite as good as Big Red but still very solid.

Got It Bad is just awesome....Quite like Paint By Numbers, Electric and Took The Night also. Really though, I find the whole thing pretty enjoyable and easy to listen to.

I just like these guys sound a lot...2 great releases that seem to have really flown under the radar on many of the sites I follow.

These guys have moved onto my automatic purchase list in the future

These guys are fantastic....Probably my favorite new "American" band.

Have also heard a good number of songs that are likely to be included on the next album as they've been playing various new songs live. I can't wait to hear studio versions of these songs!

And while it doesn't matter for the quality of the music....Have to say that these guys come off as being just fantastic guys. I spent some time with Pat and Chris chatting after one of their shows this summer and they just came off as being super humble and appreciative guys which just makes them easy to support and root for.

Looking forward to the next release and it will be an automatic day one pre-order/purchase for me.

Well...Eclipse>Wet>Work of art for me.

I've just not gotten into Work of Art at all...Don't even really think they belong in the same discussion with Eclipse as they're almost different genres to my ears.

Blind purchase

Agree!

so no sample yet ?

Nope.

I haven't even seen physical copies of the CD available anywhere to pre-order yet either...It's a little bit odd as it seems like usually Frontiers has all that set once they start sharing songs with pre-order links usually shared at the same time.

I asked Frontiers and they did say Physical links would be coming soon...I probably would've ordered already if they had them available.

Now though I'll probably wait until I hear another song to see if I like it before ordering.

Yeah, Thailand is odd. Hopefully they're doing a guest spot on the new Silly Fools album while they're there? But . I assume those guys are long, long gone.

 

Anyway, HEAT instil an excitement in me that only very few current bands do. I am really, really excited to hear what they can come up with next. Can't wait.

Agree on both counts....

Thailand is weird but maybe they just really want to get away and eliminate distractions or something....I don't know.

And agree on the excitement also. These guys have become one of my favorite bands with their past two releases and this will easily be my most anticipated release of 2017.

Press release put out that they've booked studio time in March 2017 to record a new album. I'm glad to see they're working with Tobias Lindell again...

http://ymlp.com/zWdGMb

Thought this album deserved a track by track review and a little bump....Really seems to not have gotten much attention on the sites I visit and I really like this album. Since getting Big Red I've also went back and gotten their debut album and really like that one as well. I don't think the first one is quite as good as this one but still like it quite a bit...Anyways...

1) All For One - 8 - Decent opener...Would've liked another verse or return to the chorus after the long instrument only part that closes the song

2) Free - 10 - Cool tune, like the backing vocals, kinda reminds me a little of Paint By Numbers from the debut

3) The One - 10 - Favorite song on the album...melodic gem

4) Madamoiselle - 9 - Song title worried me a little but solid song

5) Forever - 10 - Another song I like a lot

6) In the Night - 9.5 - Cool vibe, good melodies

7) Whiskey Lover - 9 - Another song I wasn't sure about the title but cool story type song

8) Renegade - 8.5 - Decent rocker, sounds good but doesn't really stand out for me like some of the other songs

9) Beyond The Gates - 8 - Another decent rocker that again sorta just doesn't strike me much but still sounds okay

10) Asylum - 9.5 - Pace gets picked back up with this one

11) Fly Away - 8.5 - First ballad on the album...Doesn't blow me away but it's done pretty well.

90%

Overall, just have found myself really digging this album and I can't seem to keep it out of my CD player since getting it a little over a month ago. It's just solid late 80's/early 90's type melodic rock and for me it's really right there among my favorites of 2016. I think part of what I like about it too is that it's just a bit different than all the "polished" Frontiers releases I've bought this year. Basically, this album is the perfect example why I visit sites like this because I would've never found it otherwise

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEP-cnjJpXU#t=118

 

Doesn't sound too bad to me after one quick listen...pretty melodic...I still would like to hear another song or two but probably won't be able to resist buying this one.

Finally, a sample Won't be able to listen to it for another hour or so but will as soon as I get off work

 

How is it compared to Defiants and Ted's last album? In terms of sound, heaviness?

 

Very "Defiants-Like" IMO. I suppose some will say it's more "paint by numbers' Frontier's melodic rock but it's all good with me.

Really though...I think this sounds like a cross between Danger Danger and Trixter which is I guess the way you'd expect it to sound.

I'm just a sucker for this type of melodic rock with a big, slick sound, backing vocals, good guitar work, etc.

I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEP-cnjJpXU#t=118

Doesn't sound too bad to me after one quick listen...pretty melodic...I still would like to hear another song or two but probably won't be able to resist buying this one.

Found this when looking for new stuff to listen to. Should upset a few people :-)

 

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/huskerchief21/best_melodic_rock_metal_aor_albums_of_2016/1/

Not a bad list....a lot of those I haven't heard. I mean, I sample what I can and usually only buy an album if I've heard multiple songs from it I've liked or have some history of liking the band. I like lists like this as I'll often go back to them when I'm searching for something new to listen to.

My personal favorites for 2016 would be:

Defiants - S/T

Pretty Maids - Kingmaker

Nordic Union - S/T

Tyketto - Reach

Maverick - Big Red

Treat - Ghost Of Graceland

Cruzh - S/T

Tango Down - Bullet Proof

The top 3 are all pretty interchangeable and could easily change depending on my mood. I'd say there is a pretty big gap between Nordic Union and Tyketto though. I know many here weren't really fond of Tyketto but I liked it.

The "sleeper" for me is really that Maverick album. I only bought it a couple weeks ago but really dig it and I really might move it ahead of Tyketto once I spend more time with it. I hadn't heard of these guys before and had to put their first album on my Christmas list after sampling most of it on You Tube and liking a lot of what I heard.

Overall, I was pretty happy with 2016....good to see melodic rock/hard rock still being put out there even if it does take a little work to find it sometimes

I like the song and was different getting them all involved on vocals....

But these CGI videos they've done for the singles on this album have been pretty terrible IMO.

Thanks! How the hell did you find that and why didn't it come up for me? Love that tune...

I had it in my history....Did have a hard time getting it to come up when I searched for it to post it here....

I would agree that this would probably be my favorite song that I've heard on the album.

Holy shit, just tried to get a link for the song 'We salute you' from youtube and had no luck at all... basically nothing at all for Bulletrain at all other than the 'Fear' clip. It's unavailability on youtube seems to mirror it's popularity here. I'm not understanding. Do people not like it, or have they just not hear it yet? It's a proper good album with some absolute gems on it.

 

I wanted to post a video for 'We salute you' as kind of an "anthem" of 2016. Killer tune. But I can't...

Here's a link to that tune. Think the same user has posted most of the album.

Have sampled most of these songs and for some reason most just didn't grab me. This seems like something I should like and have came back to some of these songs a few times but just hasn't sunk in. I'm not sure why...I think maybe it's the vocals that just aren't doing it for me for some reason.

From Frontier FB page....This sounds interesting....Not sure about the band name though...

BREAKING NEWS: You don’t need to be a die-hard '80s metal fan to know that the fruits of an artistic alliance between Danger Danger singer Ted Poleyand guitarist/producer Steve Brown of TRIXTER is going to make melodic rock fans rejoice! The two musicians from New Jersey have recently created TOKYO MOTOR FIST and the new band is ready to unleash on the world their self-titled debut album on February 24, 2017 via Frontiers Music Srl. Pre-order here: http://radi.al/TokyoMotorFist
- http://radi.al/TokyoMotorFistiTunes
- http://radi.al/TokyoMotorFistAmazon
- http://radi.al/TokyoMotorFistGoogleP

Indeed, Tokyo Motor Fist is exactly what you would expect: catchy and uplifting hard rock, the way is should be! You want big – we mean, BIG - hooks? You got ‘em. What about major guitar riffs? Of course there’s plenty of those. Killer rhythm section? Well, with Greg Smith (Ted Nugent, Rainbow, Alice Cooper) and Chuck Burgi (Rainbow, Blue Oyster Cult, Joe Lynn Turner) you simply can’t go wrong!

Ted and Steve have been friends for a long time. They were playing the same club circuit with their respective bands, Danger Danger and Trixter, when both bands were starting their careers. Over the years, they've had a great personal relationship and the idea of doing a record together has been in the cards for many years. Now, thanks to Frontiers this concept has become a reality.

“To say that I’m excited for the world to hear TOKYO MOTOR FIST would be an understatement,” says Steve Brown. “Working on this project with my Rock and Roll Brothers Ted Poley, Greg Smith & Chuck Burgi was a total blast….We had fun and it shows in the performances and in the music! As a songwriter I couldn’t be happier with the way the songs came together. Fans of TRIXTER, DANGER DANGER, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Cheap Trick will get the best of all those worlds.”

Ted Poley adds: “Working with guys of this caliber was amazing. I was excited to collaborate with my long time friend Steve Brown, who is not only a really great songwriter and guitarist but also an insanely cool producer! The band sounds great and very high energy. The vocals of Steve and I along with his SHREDDING guitar, combined with the World Class rhythm Powerhouse section of Greg Smith and Chuck Burgi is amazing, what a cool band - the sound is HUGE. But it’s the songs that drew me into making this album in the beginning and the record is full of catchy songs with massive choruses and great melodies and sounds BIG BIG BIG! I am beyond THRILLED with the final result and I hope you will be too.”

Beefy and energetic, “Tokyo Motor Fist” is sure to please not only Ted Poley, Danger Danger, and Trixter's fans, but all fans of melodic hard rock. Don't miss this superb release!

TOKYO MOTOR FIST tracklisting:
1. Pickin' Up The Pieces
2. Love Me Insane
3. Shameless
4. Love
5. Black And Blue
6. You're My Revolution
7. Don't Let Me Go
8. Put Me To Shame
9. Done To Me
10. Get You Off My Mind
11. Fallin' Apart

TOKYO MOTOR FIST
Ted Poley – Vocals
Steve Brown – Guitars, Vocals
Greg Smith – Bass guitar
Chuck Burgi – drums

 

A couple that come to mind...

 

Wish Firehouse would hook up with Frontiers and put out one more album. I think these guys could potentially do a fantastic album if they sorta followed the formula the Defiants used with their release.

 

By follow the formula you mean write some good songs

 

LOL...Exactly!

Heat, Eclipse, Degreed and Station are topping my "looking forward to 2017" list at the moment.

I think Eclipse and Degreed should be in the first half of the year with Heat and Station probably in the second half. I saw a post on Facebook that mixing/mastering of Eclipse was starting this week so that could be out fairly early in 2017.

2017 should be a good year

A couple that come to mind...

Wish Firehouse would hook up with Frontiers and put out one more album. I think these guys could potentially do a fantastic album if they sorta followed the formula the Defiants used with their release.

One other band I'd like another album from is Bad City....The chances of that seem almost zero though since they've disbanded and their singer is in the clink.

 

I can't stop playing this silky aor anthem!!! I'm already drifting in my subaru impreza wrx waiting for the summer...

 

 

I listened to all 3 songs, and musically they are great.

Unfortunately they are waaaay to AOR for me and that kills them.

I'm not saying they should be different, obviously many here really like them, and if you described a band as a cross between Roxus and Harem Scarem I'd be sure that I'd be into them, but I thinki it's just been too many years since Roxus and for me that sound (keyboards and harmonies) just won't cut it any more.

I'd love to hear the songs with a heavier production and edge.

Anyway, like I said, everyone here is a fan, so enjoy.

 

I'm with you on this one....I've just never been able to get into these guys. I think with a tad little heavier production these guys could fall more into my tastes.

I agree too though that they do sound good and the album is put together well. I think this is the perfect example of an album that I would rate highly if I were reviewing it even though I personally don't care for it....if that makes any sense.

A few that jumped into my head if I were making such a playlist...

H.e.a.t - Emergency

H.e.a.t - It's All About Tonight

Eclipse - The Storm

Eclipse - SOS

Treat - Inferno

Nordic Union - Falling

Nordic Union - Hypocrisy

Pretty Maids - Face The World

Defiants - Take Me Back

Defiants - When The Lights Go Down

Cruzh - Hard To Get

Cruzh - Aim For The Head

Maverick - The One

Station - Are You Sleeping Alone

Station - With Me Tonight

Degreed - Better Safe Than Sorry

Have been through this enough times now that I feel good about doing this...

Really good album. I think overall it's probably a better, more complete album than the already impressive debut. I think of all current bands at the moment, these guys have the purest late 80's / early 90's style. That 'Madamoiselle' track sounds like it could have been lifted off Sven Gali's debut.

 

But they've done really well. I looked at a few song titles and wondered if they might be questionable, but I think the song titles I was most concerned about all turned out to be some of the best tracks, like 'Madamoiselle,' 'Whiskey Lover' and 'Asylum.' That closing ballad is a good one too. There truly isn't a weak song on here, though. Really good stuff.

Got this album a couple days ago and have to agree with Geoff....Pretty solid album and definitely a late 80's/90's throwback type sound.

The album is a bit raw sounding and pretty obvious the label isn't really high budget....But I guess who cares if the music is good and it's allowing something to get out there that otherwise might not be able to. I just think they're good enough to be with a bigger label that could promote them a little more. I'd think somebody like Frontiers or AOR Heaven would be onto these guys.

Don't get me wrong though....Really like the CD and kinda like the "rawness" of it for something different. I really dig The One....perfect melodic rock tune. I also quite like Free, Forever and Asylum. Heck, the whole CD is really easy to listen to though.

Really a pleasant surprise....Will be keeping my eye on these guys.

Just saw this poll...

Defiants for me...I've went back and forth between the Defiants and Nordic Union as my favorite of 2016...really a coin flip as I love both albums.

I like Treat as well but the album tails off for me a bit in the second half.

Very close to how I'd rate it too. There might be a couple songs I'd go a tiny bit higher on but agree on the last 3 tracks....the album just loses steam.

My last couple listens I click back to the beginning after Heavens Little Devil.

It's good...but the last few tracks just aren't doing much for me. They sound good and all...I think it's more just the themes and lyrics.

When God Took A Day Off 8/10

Kingmaker 8.5/10

Face The World 8.25/10

Humanize Me 8.75/10

Last Beauty On Earth 8/10

Bull's Eye 9/10

King Of The Right Here... 7/10

Heavens Little Devil 8/10

Civilized Monsters 6/10

Sickening 6/10

Was That What You Wanted 7/10

 

 

77%