ROUND-UP: MELODIC ROCK
Eclipse: new album is the work of a master craftsman.
Eclipse Paradigm FroNtIers
’Paradigm’ is defined as a ‘clear and typical example of something’. eclipse’s erik mårtensson couldn’t have come up with a better title for this, their seventh album.
also a member of the melodic hard rock ‘supergroup’ W.e.T., mårtensson is a tunesmith whose cV spans pop, heavy metal, power-pop and country rock, though the swede once told classic rock that eclipse’s vision is to channel the energy of 1987-era Whitesnake, “presenting it on our own way”.
lineage to coverdale isn’t immediately obvious, although eclipse’s hard rocking roots are as apparent as a worship of aBBa-inspired hooks. Delivered with fistin-the-air gusto and empowered with choruses of pure gold, mary leigh, United and never gonna Be like You are irresistible, ingots of pop-metal magnificence, while the self-loathing darkness of shelter me sees mårtensson adding a personal thumbprint to what was once known as the power ballad.
Paradigm is the work of a master craftsman. once its songs get into your head you’ll never want them to leave. ■■■■■■■■■■
Robert Tepper Better Than The Rest aor HeaVeN
Best known for having had no easy Way out on rocky iV, new Jersey-ite Tepper has been Better Than The rest – well, better than most – for many, many years. He almost proves it again here, a collaboration with guitarist Pablo Padilla, although frustrating production twists such as the irksome vocoder on an otherwise excellent title track mar the final result. ■■■■■■■■■■
Axe
Final Offering
escaPe MusIc
still led by Bobby Barth, the guitarist associated with Blackfoot, the misleadingly named axe were considered defunct since 2012, but have now released a swansong. Far from the numbskull metal you might have expected, songs such as Born To lose and land of our Fathers add cool southern swagger to their light yet rugged hooks. What a dignified way to sign off. ■■■■■■■■■■
Age Of Reflection A New Dawn
aor HeaVeN
mixed by the man with the golden touch, erik mårtensson, a new Dawn is the second album from this swedish sextet, who aim to mix 1980s Uk aor with Us hard rock and the tougher hooks of the nu-breed from their homeland. marginal inconsistency aside, these slick, hummable anthems suggest they’re worthy of examination on a British tour that takes place in november. ■■■■■■■■■■
Outlasted Waiting For Daybreak MelodIc rock
a slice of pristine, unpretentious, pure aor. outlasted stick closely to the rule book on this, their second album. and while there are no prizes for guessing exactly what a song titled Time mends a Broken Heart or learning To live again might sound like, the commitment and ability of this norwegian band shine through. ■■■■■■■■■■