TALISMAN - Genesis [Deluxe Edition 2012] (2012)

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Swedish / American melodic hard rockers TALISMAN still remains as one of my favorites in the genre. All the Talisman catalog has just been reissued by a Swedish label with new artwork, newly remastered audio and previously unreleased material.
Their second album "Genesis" is, in my opinion, the band's best and Jeff Scott Soto finest recording ever.

Talisman incorporated the best elements of '80s AOR and early '90s commercial Hard Rock and did so at a time when mainstream musical tastes no longer cared much for this kind of music.
Hearing "Genesis" you have to wonder why this band wasn't huge. Even in the grunge-drenched years a band this good should have broke through to the masses.
"Genesis" is just a fantastic example of hard-hitting but very accessible, catchy Melodic Rock. It's extremely well written and avoids the common clichés. Guitarist Guitarist Fredrik Akesson really shines paired with Marcel Jacob's funky bass style. And of course Soto gives an incredible performance full of his trademark power and soul.
The main album was newly remastered in 2012 from the original masters, includes a different version of "Time After Time" and the track list was slightly changed.

The previously unreleased bonus tracks are real gems; original pre-production demos from 1990 where Marcel's amazing bass playing and Jeff Scott Soto's vocals are left from the original tapes, while the drums and guitars were recorded this summer in 2012.
The new recordings, sound and mix are awesome.
"Genesis [Deluxe Edition 2012]" is the very definition of a must-have Melodic Hard Rock album.
Essential.


01 - Comin' Home
02 - Time After Time [different version]
03 - Mysterious - This Time It's Serious -
04 - If You Would Only Be My Friend
05 - All Or Nothing
06 - All I Want
07 - U Done Me Wrong
08 - I'll Set Your House On Fire
09 - Give Me A Sign
10 - Lovechild
11 - Long Way To Go
12 - Run With The Pack [original Japanese bonus]

Bonus Tracks: Demo versions re-recorded & mixed 2012
Previously Unreleased
13 - Give Me A Sign [Demo version revisited 2012]
14 - Comin' Home [Demo version revisited 2012]
15 - U Done Me Wrong [Demo version revisited 2012]
16 - Time After Time [Demo version revisited 2012]

Jeff Scott Soto: Lead & Backing Vocals
Fredrik Akesson: Guitars
Marcel Jacob: Bass, Drums, Guitar
Julie Greaux: Piano on 6
Jake Samuels: Drums


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store.sunhillproduction.com/01-musik/talisman-2
www.amazon.com/Genesis-Deluxe-Edition/dp/B00AJZFEDY
itunes.apple.com/gb/album/genesis-deluxe-edition/id584875524

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HUMAN CLAY (Jeff Scott Soto) - Closing The Book... (2012)

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While in Talisman, one of the best Swedish Melodic Hard Rock of the nineties, the mighty Jeff Scott Soto and fellow bandmate Marcel Jacob - both prolific songwriters - started a side project to develop their co-penned material outside Talisman.
Called HUMAN CLAY, the duo Soto/Jacob released two albums via a small Swedish label; the selftitled 'Human Clay' and 'U4iA' (read Euphoria).
Despite being re-issued as double CD in '04, due its limited distribution these albums remains pretty unknown for Soto, Jacob, Talisman and general Melodic Hard Rock fans worldwide.
Now the Swedish label and production company A Sun Hill Production AB is re-releasing both albums with some bonus tracks, remastered and re-packaged with new artwork, entitled "Closing The Book...".

Human Clay was the vehicle for Soto and the late Marcel Jacob to develop their Euro Melodic Hard Rock very similar to Talisman in places, but there's also elements that not suited their main band and both wanted to play as well.
Aside from the catchy melodic hard rockers, we have some Scandi AOR numbers as "Vows In Stone", metalized songs as "Survive" or the awesome neo-classical hard rock of "Jealousy" where Yngwie Malmsteen lays a guitar solo (indeed it's a track in the vein of his Eclipse album).
There's also some bonuses not present in the original albums; "In The Line Of Fire", written by Soto/Jacob when they were in the Yngwie band during the '80s, "Boy On A Golden Hill" a well recorded demo by the duo at the begining of the nineties, and "Eternal Flame" co-written with John Norum where he plays guitar uncredited.

So, Human Clay offers more varied material than Talisman from the always awesome Jeff Scott Soto and great multi-instrumentalist Marcel Jacob, which handles most of the instruments here. Many well known Swedish musicians contribute as well, all uncredited due to contractual restrictions.
This remaster improves noticeably the quality over the original releases, and there's more to come, as A Sun Hill Production AB will be releasing the entire remastered Talisman catalog next year.
"Closing The Book..." is the definitive collection of Human Clay, the Melodic Hard Rock vehicle of the talented Jeff Scott Soto and Marcel Jacob as duo.
Easily Recommended.


01 - In The Line Of Fire
02 - Salvation
03 - The Thin Line
04 - Pain & Deception
05 - 2 Your Heart
06 - Vows In Stone
07 - Stand 4 The Fall
08 - U4iA
09 - Golden Years
10 - Boy On A Golden Hill
11 - Outside Lookin' In
12 - Pretender
13 - Survive
14 - Lessons Of Love
15 - Without U
16 - Jealousy
17 - Holdin' On
18 - King Of The Nation
19 - Speed Demon
20 - Heaven On Earth
21 - Now It's Time
22 - Don't Look Back
23 - I Wanna Go Home
24 - Eternal Flame
25 - I'd Rather Have The Blues (Than 2 Spend My Life With U)


Jeff Scott Soto - lead & backing vocals, guitar, keys
Marcel Jacob - bass, guitar, keys, drums
Brian Young: guest lead guitars
Yngwie Malmsteen: guest guitar solo
John Norum: : guest guitar solo
and many more uncredited musicians



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www.amazon.com/Closing-The-Book/dp/B00A3OSE7O

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HUMANIMAL (J.S. Soto) - Humanimal +1 [remaster] (2012)

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HUMANIMAL was formed at begininnig of the new millenium by Sweden's six-string virtuoso Pontus Norgren (Great King Rat, Talisman, The Poodles) together with his ex- bandmate in Talisman Marcel Jacob and drummer Thomas Broman (John Norum, Brazen Abbot, Glenn Hughes Band).
For the vocalist position they called no other than Jeff Scott Soto, who agreed to once again join Pontus and Marcel, who as a trio made up three quarters of the much appreciated Talisman.

Coincidences do not end there, as the band's name was taken from one of Talisman's albums, even more, they decided to name their 2002's debut "Humanimal" as well.
"R U 4 Real" is the opening track and the best way to introduce Humanimal's style: fast guitars, soaring vocals and great rhythm.
"Again 2 B Found" follows with a killer chorus, screaming riffs and an amazingly strong bass playing that makes your heart beat the same way. One of the best tracks on an album plenty of them.
The Hard Rock hurricane continues with "License 2 Kill" with vocals moving on various harmony trails, great energy and a juicy guitar solo filled with such emotion that Mr. Malmsteen would have really been jealous of.

"Find My Way Home" moves in slower paths (just slower, not slow) than the previous songs, where the rhythm section specially shine. With "Feel The Burn" the band rocks hard once again.
In "Road 2 4giveness" Jeff Scott Soto shows all his greatness, followed by the melodic "I" which delivers rich guitar passages.
With "Turn Away" the band explores some heavy funk rhythms, a territory already visited by Talisman in the past. "Who Do U Think U R" sports a catchy chorus, clever lyrics and a sensual beat. The album ends with "Way 2 Deep" in a pure Scandi Melodic Hard Rock fashion.


Out of print for many years, "Humanimal" is now being reissued; remastered, repackaged and with the excellent bonus track "Love's The Dominion" added.
This album is terrific from start to finish, no fillers, just killers. Trust me.
100% Swedish Melodic Hard Rock of the first degree.
Get it pronto: Limited Edition.


01. R U 4 Real
02. Again 2B Found
03. Licence 2 Kill
04. Find My Way Home
05. Feel The Burn
06. Road 2 4giveness
07. I
08. Turn Away
09. Who Do U Think U R
10. Way 2 Deep
11. Loves Dominion (Bonus Track)


Jeff Scott Soto - Lead & Backing Vocals
Pontus Norgren - Guitars
Marcel Jacob - Bass, Backing Vocals
Tomas Broman - Drums & Percussion



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www.musicbuymail.eu/index.php?i=36772

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TALISMAN - Time After Time [Deluxe Edition 2012] (2012)

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As informed previously on these pages, Swedish label 'Production Ab Sweden' is planning to re-release the catalog of legendary Melodic Rock / AOR band TALISMAN plus bonus material.
First up was the maxi-single 'I'll Be Waiting [Deluxe Edition 2012]' (already presented here, follow tags below).

Now we have "Time After Time [Deluxe Edition 2012]", featuring the main single +3, including the awesome "Mysterious (This Time It's Serious)".
There's a noticeable improvement in this remaster, full of dynamics and ambiance.
Jeff Scott Soto never sounded better.


01 - Time After Time
02 - Mysterious (This Time It's Serious)
03 - Give Me A Sign
04 - Long Way To Go


Jeff Scott Soto - vocals
Marcel Jacob - bass, rhythm guitar, drums & keyboards
Fredrik Akesson - guitars



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www.amazon.com/Time-After-Deluxe-Edition-2012/dp/B008CZ6MQ6

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TALISMAN - I'll Be Waiting [Deluxe Edition 2012] (2012)

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TALISMAN was one of the most representative Melodic Hard Rock acts from Sweden.
Brainchild of talented Marcel Jacob (RIP), it was as well the vehicle for powerhouse vocalist Jeff Scott Soto to be definitively accepted all over Europe.

Talisman's self-titled debut was a collection of wonderful melodic tunes, a hit after hit, but the final production / sound was not the expected by Jacob.
His family and Talisman's former members in conjunction with A Sun Hill Production Ab Sweden are planning to re-issue the band's entire catalog, remastered and with a slight remix job.
"I'll Be Waiting [Deluxe Edition 2012]" seems to be the first maxi-single of the bunch, and indeed it sounds fantastic.
There's a noticeable improvement in the sound, full of dynamics and ambiance.

Melodic rockers; this is a must from a band that, in my opinion, still ranks among the best the genre has given birth.
Superb stuff.


01 - I'll Be Waiting
02 - Standin' On Fire
03 - Dangerous
04 - I'll Be Waiting (Live at Sweden Rock Festival)


Jeff Scott Soto - vocals
Marcel Jacob - bass, rhythm guitar, drums & keyboards
Christopher Stahl - guitars
Fredrik Akesson - guitars
Jamie Borger - drums



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itunes.apple.com/se/album/ill-be-waiting-deluxe-edition/id532189976

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