Get Ready to Rock Best of 2004

[Symphony]

Courtesy of www.getreadytorock.com

TNT 'My Religion' (MTM)

Superb comeback album and how melodic rock should be - lots of guitar;
harmonies and catchy songs.

JEFF SCOTT SOTO 'Lost In Translation' (Frontiers)

His best solo album so far and a must for any rock fan. Contains some of the
heaviest tracks he's done and more hooks than a fishing shop!

AYREON 'The Huma Equation' (Inside Out)

If you've never tried an Ayreon album get this one as it features his
strongest work to date and an impressive guest list including the mighty
Devon Townsend, Ken Hensley and Mostly Autumn's Heather Findlay. Stunning
concpt album and the musicianship is first class.

IQ 'Dark Matter' (GEP)

Classic prog fans will love this as it has keyboard solos, stunning guitar
passages and most importantly strong songs and lyrics. Sheer aural bliss...

THRESHOLD 'Sunsurface' (Inside Out)

This band get better every release and the riffing on this album is
wonderful! If you've yet to try a progressive metal album then start here -
satisfaction guaranteed. Don't quite know how they will better this release
though...

POWER QUEST 'Neverworld' (Now & Then/Frontiers)

Second album by the international power metallers and if you love banks of
keyboards, pummelling drums and super fast guitar solos then you can't best
this album. The secret for this band is that they appeal not only to
speed/power metal fans but their songs are highly melodic so fans of say
Magnum or Mariilion can enjoy the album as well. For me the best power metal
band out there today bar none.

and David can I add top 5 debut albums of 2004 as you know I love seeking
out new bands
(All one liners only)

BLACK #5 'Last Few Hours' (Headroom Records)

Modern rock how it should be done - killer riffs, quality songwriting and
tunes that stick in your head for weeks.

INTENSE 'Second Sight' (Underground Synphony)

Classic metal meets modern power metal - for fans of Iron Maiden and
Metallica.

TOYZ 'House of Cards' (Escape Music)

One of the better melodic rock/AOR albums released this year and for fans of
good, rocking anthems.

PANIK 'A Page Torn...' (Escape Music)

Modern rockers who pen a mighty fine tune and even do justice to a cover of
the Judas Priest classic 'You've Got Another Thing Coming'.

SACRED HEART www.sacredheartband.com

Top qulaity UK based melodic rock a la FM, Lost Weekend, Shy etc.

 

[Volcane]

Nice one PQ & INTENSE chaps

 

[Symphony]

http://www.getreadytorock.com/best_of_2004.htm

Full feature here!

 

[Symphony]

Here's Jason Ritchies Top 20 of 2004

Best of 2004 –

Best new albums –
1 JEFF SCOTT SOTO – Lost In Translation (Frontiers)
2 TNT – My Religion (MTM)
3 POWER QUEST – Neverworld (Frontiers/Now & Then)
4 AYREON – The Human Equation (Inside Out)
5 IQ – Dark Matter (GEP)
6 THRESHOLD – Subsurface (Inside Out)
7 BLACK #5 – Last Few Hours (Headroom Records)
8 ASIA – Silent Nation (Inside Out)
9 HOUSE OF SHAKIRA – First Class (Lion Music)
10 INTENSE – Second Sight (Underground Symphony)
11 MAGNUM – Brand New Morning (SPV)
12 VALENSIA – The Blue Album (Escape Music)
13 OVER THE EDGE – S/T (Frontiers)
14 THE ALARM – In the Poppyfields (Snapper Music)
15 DANI DANZI – Danziland (MTM)
16 MEGADETH – The System Has Failed (Sanctuary)
17 THE SIGN – Second Coming (Frontiers)
18 THE SCORPIONS – Unbreakable (BMG)
19 STATETROOPER – The Calling (CIC Records)
20 EVERGREY – The Inner Circle (Inside Out)

And top gigs

Top gigs –
1 JEFF SCOTT SOTO – Stripes Bar, Brentford
2 THRESHOLD/POWER QUEST – Camden Underworld
3 INTENSE/SEASON'S END - Stripes Bar, Brentford
4 MITCH MALLOY/SCARED HEART - Stripes Bar, Brentford
5 BLUE OYSTER CULT – Mean Fiddler, London
6 THE ALARM – The Scala, King's Cross
7 BLACK #5 - Stripes Bar, Brentford
8 CHEAP TRICK – Shepherd's Bush Empire
9 THE SWEET/FREEWHEELER – Camden Underworld
10 MARILLION – The Forum, London
11 JOHN OTWAY - Stripes Bar, Brentford
12 MSG/HURRICANE PARTY – Electric Ballroom, Camden
13 QUEEN ROCKS - Stripes Bar, Brentford

 

[sean-intense]

Gah... fix *mutter mutter*

 

[Symphony]

A few questions put by Jason Ritchie at Get Ready to Rock

STEVE WILLIAMS (POWER QUEST)
1) What are you doing musically at the moment? (gigs, writing, recording etc)

At the moment we are getting ready for the show with Dream Evil and Labyrinth on November 13th, which I expect will be the last PQ show of 2004, and then we are heading into the studio on November 22nd to demo 3 new tracks from the next PQ album. The new album is written and ready to go!

2) What were your main achievement(s) in 2004?

Probably finally seeing the European release of Neverworld. We are all very happy with the feedback we have received from press and fans alike. Really inspiring stuff....thanks to GRTR! as well. You guys have been awesome!

Playing a couple of shows with Threshold in September was also one of the highlights of the year for us, along with the Summer of Metal tour in June.

3) Any disappointments?

The way things didn't work out with Now and Then productions! Say no more on that I think!

4) What were your own favourite albums, films and/or books of 2004 and why?

Favourite albums of the year include Threshold "Subsurface", Sonata Arctica "Reckoning Night", Nightwish "Once". These three are classic examples of the best of their respective genres. It was particularly cool to see the Subsurface material performed live.

I've been a bit slack on the reading front this year for some reason and my memory for films is atrocious! I've seen a few but can't remember any of them off hand! haha!

5) What are you planning musically in 2005?

Well. we'll be returning to Thin Ice studios on January 24th to begin recording the 3rd Power Quest album, tentatively titled "Magic Never Dies", and we should complete that by the end of February. The Japanese label anticipate an early Summer release. We are still talking to various labels in Europe so nothing is decided as yet on that front. Hopefully then we can get out on the road and play some shows in Europe and beyond during the course of 2005, perhaps even some festivals.

Thanks to all the fans who have bought our albums, come to the shows etc and generally made 2004 another cool year for the band! Cheerz