The new album not only presents a methodical and premeditated next step in the band’s already imposing career, but moreover, it mirrors the personal adversities they’ve faced due to the worldwide events over the last year…
Dakota is a US based melodic rock group active during the late 1970s and early 1980s, not to be confused with the British pop-rock band of the same name active from 2007–2010. Dakota first achieved moderate success with their 1979 self-titled album Dakota, but the band's popularity increased rapidly while performing as the opening act for Queen on their 1980–1981 The Game Tour. The band released their second and best-selling AOR album, titled Runaway, in 1984. The band experienced several line-up changes during the 1980s and eventually stopped performing in 1987. During the 1990s and 2000s original member Jerry Hludzik continued to record a number of records under the Dakota name, featuring guest musicians, friends and also his son Eli Hludzik. In 2014, original members Jerry Hludzik and Bill Kelly reunited and teamed up with Jon Lorance and Eli Hludzik to record a new Dakota album titled Long Road Home.
Faye Wong (王菲) is a Chinese singer, songwriter, lyricist, actress, and model. Often referred to as a "diva" in Chinese-language media. Early in her career she briefly used the stage name Shirley Wong.
Although this instrumental fusion band has been around since 1992, they only released their first album eight years later and, my oh my, was it ever worth the wait! Imagine King Crimson, UK, The Mahavisnhu Orchestra and early Jean-Luc Ponty all rolled into one plus some discrete traditional Japanese references. Powered by the violin, KBB's music is dynamic, playful, intense and complex, yet melodic and surprisingly accessible. The band includes an exceptional violinist named Akihisa Tsuboy who also plays cellolin and guitar in addition to composing most of the material. The other members are keyboard player Toshimitsu Takahashi, bassist-guitarist Dani and drummer Shirou Sugano. All four musicians are extremely proficient.
Nightmare (ナイトメア Naitomea) is a Japanese visual kei rock band from Sendai. Formed on January 1, 2000, it has consisted of Yomi (lead vocals), Sakito (lead guitar & backing vocals), Hitsugi (rhythm guitar), Ni~ya (bass & backing vocals) and Ruka (drums & percussion) for the majority of their career. They enjoyed mainstream success with the inclusion of their songs "The World" and "Alumina" in the Death Note anime and are considered a major act in the visual kei scene.
Every Little Thing (also known as ELT) is a pop/soft rock duo from Japan who debuted in August 1996 with the release of their first single called "Feel My Heart". Their name is usually written in English, and only rarely in katakana.
Slade may have never truly caught on with American audiences (often narrow-mindedly deemed "too British-sounding"), but the group became a sensation in their homeland with their anthemic brand of glam rock in the early '70s, as they scored a staggering 11 Top Five hits in a four-year span from 1971 to 1974 (five of which topped the charts)…
Spock's Beard began in 1992 when brothers Neal (lead vocals) and Al Morse (guitar) teamed up with drummer Nick D'Virgilio. After self-financing their first album, bassist Dave Meros joined, and The Light was recorded in 1994. Consisting of four lengthy songs, this debut album was well received by progressive rock fans, but received little public acclaim…
Saris founded back in 1981. From 1981 until 1983 they toured extensively in their native Germany, as well as recording the single “Out of Your Night”. For various reasons, there was disagreement about the new musical direction and an upcoming album. So Saris went on the back burner for a few years. In 1992, a new line-up was in place though, as Martin Gellhaus (vocals), Udo Raitzig (bass), Stefan Kremer (keyboards) and Helge Bungert (drums, vocals) joined Akkermann for the recording of an album, released as “Dead End Street” in 1993. A subsequent tour followed and at the end of this, Raitzig and Bungert left the band.