ROUND-UP: MELODIC ROCK
Joel Hoekstra’s 13 Running Games FRONTIERS
In 2014, seeking a replacement for guitarist Doug Aldrich, Coverdale plucked
Joel Hoekstra from Night Ranger to play on The Purple Album, and he’s been a ’Snake ever since.
Six years ago Hoekstra released Dying To Live, an album fronted jointly by Jeff Scott Soto, Symphony X’s Russell Allen, Toby Hitchcock from Pride Of Lions and Trans Siberian Orchestra’s Chloe Lowery. Running Games retains many of the same instrumental protagonists, including a rhythm section of Tony Franklin and Vinny Appice, plus keyboards from Derek Sherinian. This time there’s a lone singer, Russell Allen. It’s a more focused follow-up, that manages to avoid sounding like the handiwork of a glorified sideman. Driven by the fluent, punchy performance of its star attraction, the likes of I’m Gonna Lose It and Hard To Say Goodbye and the insistent Reach The Sky are simply mouth-watering. Allen also sounds fantastic throughout, while Soto’s understated presence at times brings to mind his former band Talisman. ■■■■■■■■■■
The End Machine Phase 2 FRONTIERS
The End Machine (aka Dokken fronted by Robert Mason of Warrant and Lynch Mob) return with a second album, this time with drummer ‘Wild’ Mick Brown succeed by his brother Steve. There’s much to enjoy here, and George Lynch shreds magnificently during Blood And Money, but if you crave the classic Dokken sound, well… this is something different. ■■■■■■■■■■
Radar Lost In The Atlantic ESCAPE MUSIC
Radar guitarist Gary Stevenson produced some of Go West’s biggest hits, sadly to the detriment of his own career. Recorded for and shelved by Atlantic Records (hence its title), this album has echoes of the then techfriendly synth-pop of Go West, and that band’s Peter Cox adds backing vocals to Olympic Runner. It’s classy stuff. ■■■■■■■■■■
Chez Kane Chez Kane FRONTIERS
Along with her two sisters, Chez Kane is a vocalist with Welsh band Kane’d. She was spotted by
Crazy Lixx frontman Danny Rexon, who wrote the songs for and produced this solo debut. Its 10 songs present an unpretentious, vivacious and fun-loving vibe, defiantly turning back the clock to the 1980s. Fans of Vixen will adore Rocket On The Radio. ■■■■■■■■■■
Art Of Illusion X Marks The Spot AOR HEAVEN
Experience has taught us that any band featuring Lars Säfsund is worthy of investigation. In this brand new project, the Work Of Art and Lionville frontman teams up with Anders Rydholm, leader of the fellow Swedes Grand Illusion, wrapping his silken tones around an utterly delightful collection of tunes coloured dreamily by Queen-isms and pomp-rock extravagance. ■■■■■■■■■■