BAM BAM BOYS (Matti Alfonzetti) - ST [remastered] (2012)

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BAM BAM BOYS were potentially one of Sweden's best Melodic Hard Rock exports around the time that Swedish colleagues such as Europe, Treat and Alien starting making inroads into the scene during the second half of eighties.
How these guys never make it big defies logic. Label troubles and internal affairs resulted in a broke-up, and their self-titled debut remained unreleased until 1999.
Long time out of print, now it's being reissued with a great digital remastering by AORheaven, in a limited edition of 500 copies.

One of the strengths of the band are Matti Alfonzetti's awesome vocals, one of the best singers in the genre with long and varied career fronting Jagged Edge, Talisman, SkinTrade and with a great solo career right now.
"Bam Bam Boys" is a magical '80s recording with a punchy yet pristine production, including superb Melodic (Hard) Rock tunes such as "I Believe In Rock 'N' Roll", "Dancing On Top Of The World" and "Stay Alive" which reminds me Strangeways.
We have more cheerful '80s Euro-AOR rockers in "Prisoner", "Angel" and the Heartland sounding "Heart To Heart".
"Let Me Touch Your Skin" was the only single released back in its day, a killer midtempo AOR with a glossy atmosphere, while closing track "Take My Soul" is a nice semi AOR ballad like in the Talk Of The Town vein.

"Bam Bam Boys" is one of the best slices of pure Melodic Rock / AOR ever emerged from Sweden, with all the magic of the genre.
Easily Recommended.


01 - I Believe In Rock 'N' Roll
02 - Prisoner
03 - Let Me Touch Your Skin
04 - Susanne
05 - Dancing On Top Of The World
06 - Angel
07 - In Motion
08 - Stay Alive
09 - Heart To Heart
10 - White Lies
11 - Someday
12 - Take My Soul


Lead Vocals – Matti Alfonzetti
Guitar – Göran Elmquist
Keyboards – Mats Olausson
Bass – Gunnar Hallin
Drums – Fredrik Von Gerber
Backing Vocals – Vivian Cardinal



BUY IT !
www.aorheaven.com/pages/ooze/ooze_sounds.php?1341

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SKINTRADE (Matti Alfonzetti) - Past And Present (2012)

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Matti Alfonzetti's Swedish band SKINTRADE was in the first half of the '90s one of the big and upcoming acts on the Scandinavian hard rock scene.
Now they're back with a new tour and CD: "Past And Present".

The group’s self-titled debut was released in 1993 and received overwhelmingly positive response from both media and audience, with the singles "Sick As A Dog" and "One by One" played frequently on radio and TV, including MTV's Headbangers Ball.
Skintrade was honored with a Zeppelin award for 'Best Hard Rock Album' and was nominated for a Swedish Grammis (Grammy equivalent).
Between 1993 and 1995, the band embarked on several tours in Europe and played at some of the biggest festivals such as Sweden Rock, Dynamo Open Air (Holland) or Rock Am Ring (Germany).

However, the band dissolved pretty quick, when the members decided to go separate ways and try different things.
The idea for the Skintrade musicians to collaborate again came about as they got more and more requests from fans asking them to make new music.
During the first rehearsal in May 2011, it became obvious that the band’s chemistry was very much intact, so they decided to record new songs and release them with tracks of the previous album in the form of "Past And Present".

Skintrade plays hard rock with some really original twists, blended as well with a large dose of heavy-funk, resulting in a music that both rocks and swings with a personal and pretty unique style.
Musically they were ahead of their time. Don't trust some comments or reviews that syndicate Skintrade as an alternative or grunge-tingled band. OK, maybe some material from their second album had some of those influences, but leaning in a Soundgarden-like approach or Faith No More with the eccentricity replaced by melodies. But this is hard rock, good and original hard rock.

This band rocks, believe me, and in a great way.
Just to hear Matti Alfonzetti awesome rockin' voice is enough to make the disc worth on purchasing. The twin guitar attack sounds like an oiled rhythmic bulldozer over a pneumatic hammer bass. And the drumming...
I love the hard hitting drums on this recording. This is the way the snare and cymbals should sound in a hard rock band, full of reverb and presence. Listen with headphones, in example, the opening track "One By One" and you'll notice what I'm saying.

The songs taken from the 1993 debut are more commercial, as the hot hard rocker "Soul Sister" featuring a killer chorus, the superfunk heavy "Sick As A Dog", the dirty (explicit lyrics) "Parasite", the bluesy and melodic semi-ballad "Angel Eyes" or the aforementioned "One By One", a groovy hard rocker.
The few picks from the 2nd disc are darker, but also offer an interesting variation. "Motorman" is heavy and compact, "Crucify" has a strong riffage, while "Silence" adds some obscure keyboards and a climatic instrumentation in the middle.


On "Past And Present" we also get three new tracks in the single "Falling To Pieces", "Back The Hell Up" and "Little Baby".
These three represent a new dimension in the band, as they have added a little more melodic hard rockin' bluesy-inspired tone to the music. And of course, this works perfectly since Alfonzetti has a voice just made for this, and sings these new tunes amazingly well.
If there is a full-length new album in the future this is a style that I definitely think they should continue working on. It brings the best out of the band and they could get a lot of new fans without losing any of the older ones.
As said, Skintrade rocks. "Past And Present" rocks. In a very, very good and original way.
Only released in Sweden, and as usual, you've seen it first here, at zerodayrock.


01 - One By One
02 - Soul Sister
03 - Sick As A Dog
04 - Parasite
05 - The Last Thought
06 - War
07 - Freight Train
08 - Fear (Prev. Unreleased)
09 - Angel Eyes
10 - Crucify
11 - Silence
12 - Motorman
13 - Falling To Pieces (New Track)
14 - Back The Hell Up (New Track)
15 - Little Baby (New Track)


Matti Alfonzetti – Vocals, Guitar
Stefan Bergström – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Håkan Calmroth – Bass
Håkan Persson – Drums, Backing Vocals
George Bravo – Guitar, Backing Vocals




BUY IT !
www.bengans.se/popup/skintrade_past/int.aspx?language=en

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RED WHITE & BLUES (feat. Matti Alfonzetti) - Shine (2011)

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The new UK/Swedish band that all in the music rock management are talking about for a couple of weeks now is called RED WHITE & BLUES.
"Shine" is the debut album from this duo who you may not have heard of yet… I say yet as you will soon, believe me.

This group features no other than talented Myke Gray and Matti Alfonzetti.
Originally working together in the acclaimed Jagged Edge, which released the stunning album 'Fuel For Your Soul', Matti Alfonzetti went on to record with acts such as Road To Ruin, Skintrade and also issue a series of solo albums, the last released just a month ago ('Here Comes The Night').
Myke Gray went on to form Skin, one the the UK's best loved rock bands, which racked up hit singles such as 'Money' and whose debut album made the UK Top 10.
Now Matti and Myke are back together and Red White & Blues are sure to impress any fan of high quality rock music.

Joining Myke (guitars) and Alfonzetti (vocals & bass) is drummer Che Leon Beresford to complete the line-up.
The trio play classy traditional Hard Rock, which is some of the best I have heard in many years, with a baggage of original classic songs that most bands would die for.
As a mark of how good Red White & Blues are, as well as supporting The Quireboys and Whitesnake recently, they are also playing along with Chickenfoot on their forthcoming UK dates in January.
All concert promoters and managers want Red White & Blues on their major acts gigs, and I can hear why.

Don't be mislead by the band's name. That's refers to the colors, not the genre.
Red White & Blues is an oiled classy Hard Rock machine, based on blues rock, yes, as many pure Hard Rock bands from England. But their sound combines the best of Skin, Jagged Edge and Thunder with a bit of early Whitesnake / Def Leppard.
"Shine" is a so energetic and passionate CD that I can figure out how hot they ought to sound on stage.

The opening song "Stand Up For Rock 'N' Roll" sets out the bands stall greatly. This is a heavy rock anthem of the first degree with fantastic playing from Myke Gray, his guitar work throughout the album is amazing, from blistering solos to slow melodic lines, all are taken in his stride.
Another highlight throughout the disc is the vocal delivery from Alfonzetti. His voice is perfectly suited to this style of rock with a powerful, bluesy delivery not unlike Paul Rodgers in parts which is high praise in my book.
The album highlights are too numerous to mention with all 14 tracks being of the highest quality, but if pushed I would recommend "Set My Sights On You", "Let It Shine" and the excellent ballad "A Little Too Late" as a good starting point.


I can't recommend Red White & Blues' "Shine" enough.
It is a fun, upbeat, hard rocking album in the classic style, including terrific original songs wonderfully executed and produced with a crispy & brilliant sound.
At the moment the album appears to only be available through the band's own website or at gigs. Get a copy while you can; it's limited to 1000 units.
If you like Classic Rock and well written songs with hooks big enough for shark fishing, then this is definitely for you.
The only issue I have with the album is it was too late for my 'Best of 2011' list !
Highly, Highly Recommended.


01 - Stand Up For Rock And Roll
02 - Shame Shame
03 - Rescue Me
04 - Red White & Blues
05 - Let It Shine
06 - A Little Too Late
07 - Good Times
08 - Get It On
09 - Counts For Nothing
10 - Set My Sights On You
11 - Long Way From Home
12 - Girls And Guitars
13 - The Best Is Yet To Come
14 - The Road To Hell


Matti Alfonzetti - Lead & Backing Vocals, Bass
Myke Gray - Guitars, Backing Vocals
Che Leon Beresford - Drums & Percussion




BUY IT !
theredwhiteandblues.com/rwbshop/prod_1684375-Shine.html

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ALFONZETTI - Here Comes The Night (2011)

not the 'cuts' version floating around
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After almost ten years, Swedish vocalist Matti Alfonzetti is releasing his 3rd solo CD "Here Comes The Night".
Not much known in America but with a considerable reputation in mainland Europe, he isn't a newcomer to the Melodic Rock genre.
Matti debuted at the end of the eighties as lead singer of Swedes Bam Bam Boys, recorded with Thin Lizzy's Scott Gorham band Western Front, UK's Jagged Edge, Skintrade, Boxer and even toured as Talisman's frontman.
In 2000 Alfonzetti's first solo album 'Ready' saw the light of day - and two years later the disc 'Machine'. Following this Matti started getting into songwriting and producing for bands such as The Poodles among others.
One new project emerged in 2007, Road To Ruin, including Sampo Axelsson and Lars Chriss of Lion's Share.

Now, Alfonzetti's third solo album is ready, returning to the music and vocal style of his first solo album with up to date production, helped by talented Daniel Flores.
In short: this is pure Euro Melodic Rock, with strong flavours of prime time Bon Jovi and early Europe, with catchy choruses, melodic and sometime bluesy vocals, and rather polished sound.
The album opens really well with the semi-midtempo "Losing You" which includes some modern AOR elements, followed the elegant title track "Here Comes The Night", focused on his vocals but featuring a long and effective guitar solo.
There's more 'harder' oriented tracks as "I'll Wait For You", "Don't Listen To Your Heart" and "Rock 'N Roll Heart", still retaining the MR essence.
More AOR focused songs are the poignant "Heartbreaker" (great vocal job), the bluesy "Why Can't You Love Me", the Americanized "Lay Your Love On Me" and the power ballad "Set Me Free".
For the end Alfonzetti reserved the tougher track of all, the melodic hard rocker "I Will Never Let You Fall", with a punchier vocal and a strong edgy riff.


"Here Comes The Night" is an effective Melodic Rock recording with good songs and melodies.
As a vocalist solo album, the emphasis is on the vocal department, but being Alfonzetti a multi-instrumentalist as well, all the instrumentation has a strong prescence and offers good arrangements and musicianship.
Alfonzetti has one of those warm and easy-listening voices (in the vein of Goran Edman) that perfectly fits into the classic Melodi Rock mould.
"Here Comes The Night" is an album that pushes all the right buttons,
convincing and truly enjoyable.
Recommended.


01 - Losing You
02 - Here Comes The Night
03 - I'll Wait For You
04 - Heartbreaker
05 - Don't Listen To Your Heart
06 - Why Can't You Love Me
07 - Lay Your Love On Me
08 - Rock 'N Roll Heart
09 - Set Me Free
10 - I Will Never Let You Fall


Matt Alfonzetti - Vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards
Daniel Flores - drums, keyboards
Marcus Jidell (Evergrey) - lead guitar
Emil Fredholm (Plankton) - lead guitar




BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Here-Comes-Night-Alfonzetti/dp/B005RY64QS

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