Lana Del Rey could have retired after the cinematic grandeur of her 2019 high-water mark Norman Fucking Rockwell! That album's imaginative songwriting, finely crafted performances, and exceptional production served as a realization of the magnificence promised by earlier efforts, and the deepest look yet at Del Rey's stormy inner world. Subsequent albums suggested a little bit of a comedown after such heights. Both released in 2021, Chemtrails Over the Country Club felt like an NFR! bonus reel, while Blue Banisters played like a mixtape of solid but random song ideas. Ninth album Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd finds Del Rey returning to the powerful level of song sculpting she reached on NFR!, and feels like a strong step forward as much as it does a worthy follow-up to her best record.

As the title implies, "Songs Of White Lion" sees respected vocalist/guitarist Mike Tramp re-imagining select cuts from his former band White Lion's catalog. "Now, here I am again, the year is 2023 and I have recorded an album of the 'big' White Lion songs as close to the originals as possible, but exploring small new parts that today I feel should be that way. I am not 26 anymore, I don't sing like I am 26, and I wouldn't be doing justice to the songs or myself if I tried to sing like I am 26. Today, I sing the songs that I wrote with Vito Bratta over 40 years ago exactly the way I am today. This is the only way I can embrace them and feel at home and be honest to myself and the songs."

Escape Music is delighted to announce the release date for the much-loved British Melodic Rock band Bite The Bullet, titled ‘Rocky Road'! Limited edition to 1000 CD copies only all will be numbered 1-1000 - Rocky Road is the new album from Bite The Bullet whose previous offerings include ‘Bite The Bullet’ 1989 and 2019 (Jet Records/CBS and Rock Candy Records), ’Black and White’ 2021 (Escape Music) and ’End of the Line’ 2022 (Escape Music). Originally formed in 1986 by Mick Benton, who had previously released a solo EP on Atlantic Records, and Graham Cowling along with Malcolm Jones the band’s first album was widely acclaimed at the time on both sides of the Atlantic and received air play on major radio stations. However, with demise of Jet Records and lack of publicity from CBS, coupled with the loss of worldwide support tour with the supergroup ELO, the band went into a 30-year hiatus.

Sparks new album, 'The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte', is a modern masterpiece. For the uninitiated, Sparks are an art pop duo comprised of brothers Ron and Russell Mael. Their influence on pop music cannot be overstated, having inspired everyone from Queen to Bjork. In Edgar Wright's Sparks documentary, super-producer Jack Antonoff states, "all pop music is re-arranged Sparks." 'The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte' marks Sparks' first release on the venerable Island Records label in close to five decades, following such classics as 1974's landmark Kimono 'My House', highlighted of course by the indelible hit single 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us'. The album includes such instantly intriguing new musical vignettes as 'Mona Lisa's Packing, Leaving Late Tonight' and 'Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is', songs which once again display Sparks' seemingly ceaseless ability to craft complete, intricately detailed stories within perfect three-and-a-half minute pop masterpieces. Both characteristically timeless and unequivocally modern, 'The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte' once again affirms that, after more than a half century making such masterpieces, Sparks remain inimitable, ingenious and, as ever, utterly one of a kind.

Immortal - War Against All will be released on May 26th 2023 via Nuclear Blast Records. From the very depths of the frozen tundra that is the Norwegian Black Metal world, Demonaz has clawed his way back up the ice-capped peaks of Blashyrkh to claim the throne and bring forth Immortal's 10th studio album War Against All; a rather poetic title considering the years of turmoil and lawsuits before assuming the rights to the Immortal name. Completely composed, performed and recorded by Demonaz with the assistance of session artists, War Against All embarks on a journey which proves that Immortal are still very much…immortal. War Against All is a wintery blast of intense ferocity and melodic, mid-tempo beats with a blackened foundation. It's full of ambition, intensity and raw beauty that only the likes of Immortal can achieve. For returning fans of the band's 90s heyday and newcomers alike, this record won't disappoint.

Alcatrazz are determined to make up for lost time, roaring forwards at warp factor 10 to deliver Take No Prisoners, their sixth studio album and the third in three years. Comprising of ten cracking, charismatic tracks, with each containing the unique fusion of classic American rock with the full grain hard-rocking attitude of British metal, Take No Prisoners sees Alcatrazz energetically soaring and exploring melodic progression with road-warrior riffs. Lead single and video "Don't Get Mad… Get Even" sees the band collaborating with the legendary Girlschool in a full-force, head-banging fist-pumper, while "Little Viper" rides a scything guitar into a thunderous, Dio-like assault.

Strap yourselves in for the sonic ride of your life. Rock and classical royalty unite on Drastic Symphonies - a brand-new euphoric album featuring Def Leppard’s greatest produced tracks dramatically reimagined, and sounding more exhilarating than ever before, via the band teaming with London’s iconic The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This album represents a bold new approach to Def Leppard’s most loved songs. Def Leppard have deconstructed and rebuilt not only some of their most well-known tracks, but also some of their hidden gems as well. By and large, they have intertwined the audio from the original tapes and performed them alongside The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, consistently ranked as one of the world's leading orchestras. The album additionally includes new vocals and guitars that culminate in stunningly beautiful symphonic arrangements, which at different points you can hear Joe Elliott duetting with his younger self.

Mirror to the Sky is the twenty-third studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 19 May 2023 by InsideOut Music and Sony Music. It is their first studio album with American drummer Jay Schellen as a full-time member following the death of long-time Yes drummer Alan White in 2022, and to whom the album is dedicated. Yes started work on the album shortly before the release of The Quest, their previous album, in October 2021. Like its predecessor, guitarist Steve Howe resumed his role as producer on Mirror to the Sky and the FAMES Orchestra in North Macedonia provide orchestral arrangements by Paul K. Joyce on some songs. The album was released on CD, LP, Blu-ray, and digital platforms, with some editions containing additional artwork by long-time Yes cover artist Roger Dean.

Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to announce the second release from Finland's Circus Of Rock, "Lost Behind The Mask". Circus Of Rock is a massive musical project masterminded by drummer Mirka Rantanen (King Company) and "Lost Behind The Mask" is the monstrous follow-up to the band's epic debut album. Circus Of Rock's debut album, “Come One, Come All” was released in August 2021 and featured a killer line-up of singers and musicians. Members of bands from the likes of Amaranthe, Tyketto, Hardline, Nightwish, Leverage, Stratovarius, Brother Firetribe, Masterplan, and others were all involved. Certainly a tall order to come up with a suitable sequel, but Mirka has more than capably risen to the occasion by recruiting a stellar casts of guests including members of Lordi, Pink Cream 69, Uriah Heep, Girish And The Chronicles, Sons Of Apollo, Ring Of Fire, and more!

As the title implies, "Songs Of White Lion" sees respected vocalist/guitarist Mike Tramp re-imagining select cuts from his former band White Lion's catalog. "Now, here I am again, the year is 2023 and I have recorded an album of the 'big' White Lion songs as close to the originals as possible, but exploring small new parts that today I feel should be that way. I am not 26 anymore, I don't sing like I am 26, and I wouldn't be doing justice to the songs or myself if I tried to sing like I am 26. Today, I sing the songs that I wrote with Vito Bratta over 40 years ago exactly the way I am today. This is the only way I can embrace them and feel at home and be honest to myself and the songs."

Robb Weir is never a man to take what he has for granted. Having led TYGERS OF PAN TANG since their first album through a number of line-up changes, he recognises that the current Tygers are probably the strongest since they were at the forefront of the NWOBHM. The original band, who made four albums for MCA Records, survived the unexpected departure of Jess Cox to run Neat Records and later John Sykes, who was bound for Thin Lizzy and a multi-million seller with Whitesnake. What they didn’t survive was their greatest commercial success with the album “The Cage”. Now the band are all set for the release of their new album, “Bloodlines”.

Dutch singer and songwriter Caroline Van der Leeuw is back - with a new name, a new sound, a new mission. Emphasising the depth and breadth of her artistic transformation, Nowhere Near The Sky (produced By David Kosten - Bat For Lashes, Everything Everything) is The Jordan’s extraordinary, game-changing debut album, a new chapter that comprehensively rewrites Caroline’s story as former singer of Dutch pop group Caro Emerald. Gone is the jazz, the swing, the Latin rhythms, the rockabilly, the heavily stylised wardrobe. In their place: total candour and unvarnished truth, vocals purer and more powerful than anything she has recorded before, trip-hop and folktronic textures that wrap her voice in magic and mystery, and songwriting that, after years of doubt and repressed feelings, finally pulls back the veil.

Cincinnati guitarist Dudley Taft is a bonified gunslinger having attended Berklee school of music and spent time in Seattle grunge bands, Sweet Water and Second Coming, tours internationally and produced eight of his own albums and lives in a house he bought from Peter Frampton. It makes perfect sense that his new album, Guitar Kingdom, is a celebration of his greatest passion “The Guitar.” The ten new tracks and a bonus cover song are a reflection of his influences from classic blues riffs and driving rock with a hint of metal and country.

Among the most sampled groups of the '60s and '70s by a slew of top rap and hip-hop artists of the '90s and beyond, the legendary New Orleans band and Grammy Lifetime Achievement awardees The Meters created an instantly recognizable sound through almost a decade of recording, initially for the Josie label and then for Reprise and Warner Brothers. Group members guitarist Leo Nocentelli, bassist George Porter Jr., drummer Joseph 'Zigaboo' Modeliste and keyboardist/singer Art Neville formed the core of the band, later augmented by Art's younger brother, percussionist/singer Cyril who joined The Meters in 1975. This wonderful 116-track, 6-CD SoulMusic Records' box set showcases The Meters' entire recorded output for Josie Records (1968-1971), Reprise and Warner Brothers (1972-77). In addition to their eight full albums, this luxurious package (with a 40-page booklet) includes non-album singles, bonus material, single edits and a rare 1977 disco mix of 'Disco Is The Thing Today', available for the first time on CD.

In 2018 under the MelodicRock Records banner, a 6-Disc retrospective of singer/songwriter Brett Walker's career was released. With only 500 units pressed, it quickly sold out. The set featured all unreleased material from Brett's DAT archives, plus for the first time, the much sought after Person To Person demos. There has been some demand for a truncated version of the box set, as well as a stand-alone release of the Person To Person tracks, so it is with great pleasure that MelodicRock Classics has gone to work on two exclusive new releases, Person To Person - 'The Complete Recordings' (2CD Set) and Brett Walker - 'Highlights From The Last Parade' (2CD Set). That's 4 discs of Brett Walker and Person To Person magic. The original purchase of the box set came with some 50+ bonus tracks in MP3 download - songs which we didn't have room for on the original set, so several of those songs have been curated to appear as bonus tracks on each release - exclusively on CD for the first time.