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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Joel Hoekstra's 13 - Dying To Live + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
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│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Dec-18-2015 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Hard Rock Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2015 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........11 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.joelhoekstra.com ║ │
│║ ║ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Joel Hoekstra's 13 Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Dying To Live Label : Frontiers ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Guitarist, songwriter and all-round good guy ║ │
│║ Joel Hoekstra is a man on the rise. From Rock Of ║ │
│║ Ages, to Night Ranger, the occasional Foreigner ║ │
│║ fill-in role and now in Whitesnake, Joel ║ │
│║ Hoekstra is become a name guitarist in an era ║ │
│║ where few new guitar heroes have emerged. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ His debut solo album is where heÆs allowed to ║ │
│║ shine û from the impeccable guitar soloing and ║ │
│║ master class in memorable riff writing û to the ║ │
│║ challenging job of taking control of production ║ │
│║ û Joel nails it. ║ │
│║ And in a nice added bonus, Joel has written ║ │
│║ every track on this album. Himself! (thereÆs one ║ │
│║ co-write with Russell Allen). ║ │
│║ ItÆs nice to hear such an accomplished album ║ │
│║ from the pen of the star rather than hired gun ║ │
│║ writers. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ This is a diverse album that ranges from melodic ║ │
│║ metal to commercial melodic rock, without losing ║ │
│║ the common thread and consistency an album ║ │
│║ needs. ║ │
│║ Interestingly, with the two vocalists involved ║ │
│║ it is often a reversal of the expected, with ║ │
│║ metal man Russell Allen delivering a couple of ║ │
│║ fine melodic numbers and the voice of melodic ║ │
│║ rock Jeff Scott Soto handing in a couple of ║ │
│║ aggressive in your face numbers. ║ │
│║ Of course both singers do what they do best on ║ │
│║ the other tracks, giving the album a clear ║ │
│║ balance of styles, despite the sometimes ║ │
│║ distracting tactic of alternating vocalists. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Say Goodbye to the Sun is a fierce tour de force ║ │
│║ with Russell bellowing at full volume. A Dio- ║ │
│║ esque metal intensity with this fine song. ║ │
│║ Anymore sees Russell delivering a really catchy ║ │
│║ hard rock track with a fast beat and a free ║ │
│║ flowing high energy chorus. ║ │
│║ Until I Left You is nothing short of a classic ║ │
│║ JSS sung melodic rock anthem. Great tune for ║ │
│║ fans of Night Ranger and Jeff as Joel turns ║ │
│║ ultra-commercial here. ║ │
│║ Long For the Days is an epic sounding classic ║ │
│║ rock ballad. ThereÆs some 70s and 80s influences ║ │
│║ there and more Dio, but ultra-melodic. Classy ║ │
│║ slow guitar solo too. ║ │
│║ Scream is JeffÆs turn to go metal, with a tough ║ │
│║ but melodic sounding stadium metal track. ║ │
│║ Never Say Never is Russell getting to sing at ║ │
│║ his most commercial. This is an instantly ║ │
│║ memorable melodic rocker with a stand out ║ │
│║ chorus. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Changes is Russell again, signing a moody hard ║ │
│║ rock track with a good heart. ║ │
│║ The Only Way to Go is a uptempo hard rock song ║ │
│║ with a swagger and JSS in his darker heavier ║ │
│║ tone and Joel slashing his way through the song. ║ │
│║ Dying to Live is a fast and fabulous melodic ║ │
│║ metal track which suits Russell to a tee. ║ │
│║ Start Again is another JSS delivered monster ║ │
│║ melodic rock anthem. Huge chorus. ║ │
│║ What We Believe is a bit of an epic mid-tempo ║ │
│║ album closer û the perfect tempo and tone to end ║ │
│║ one epic album. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Two thumbs up for Joel. Another very strong ║ │
│║ album û even more so give that itÆs his debut ║ │
│║ solo album. A must for anyone thatÆs enjoyed his ║ │
│║ output in Night Ranger, Whitesnake and ║ │
│║ elsewhere. ║ │
│║ And a cracking good set of songs for fans of JSS ║ │
│║ and Russell Allen to enjoy. The two singers ║ │
│║ really deliver here. ║ │
│║ Melodic hard rock at its best! ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ------------------------------------------------ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Few things in this world are as predictable as ║ │
│║ line-up changes within Whitesnake. Last yearÆs ║ │
│║ brought the news of Doug Aldrich leaving the ║ │
│║ group only to be replaced by Joel Hoekstra ║ │
│║ (formerly of Night Ranger and Trans-Siberian ║ │
│║ Orchestra û and more). A player versatile and ║ │
│║ nifty enough to rise to the challenge, Hoekstra ║ │
│║ embraced the new gig. He also continued to work ║ │
│║ on what was going to morph into his fourth solo ║ │
│║ effort. The release turned out to be one of the ║ │
│║ most anticipated in 2015, excitement fueled by ║ │
│║ the big names featured on the album û from ║ │
│║ singers Russell Allen (Symphony X, Allen-Lande, ║ │
│║ Adrenaline Mob etc.) and Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie ║ │
│║ Malmsteen, Talisman, Takara, Eyes, Axel Rudi ║ │
│║ Pell etc.) sharing the microphone to top ║ │
│║ instrumental players Tony Franklin (The Firm, ║ │
│║ Blue Murder etc.) Vinny Appice (Dio, Black ║ │
│║ Sabbath etc.) and Derek Sherinian (Dream ║ │
│║ Theater). The final result is Dying To Live û ║ │
│║ HoekstraÆs bold take on Melodic Hard Rock genre, ║ │
│║ set to be released in mid-October 2015 via ║ │
│║ Frontiers Music SRL. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ôSay Goodbye To The Sunö is a strong opener to ║ │
│║ Dying To Live. The trackÆs firmly embedded in ║ │
│║ Melodic Hard Rock aesthetics as far as the ║ │
│║ genreÆs concerned, but gravitating towards the ║ │
│║ heavier side of things with its aggressive riff, ║ │
│║ blistering guitar solo and powerhouse chorus. ║ │
│║ Clearly modern vibe to it doesnÆt preclude ║ │
│║ subtle Dio-esque undertones, making it a fine ║ │
│║ blend of the classic and the contemporary. ║ │
│║ ôAnymoreö is driven with Russell AllenÆs ║ │
│║ expressive vocals similarly to its predecessor ║ │
│║ and also not drastically different from it ║ │
│║ music-wise, albeit more catchy. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In ôUntil I Left Youö the microphoneÆs turned ║ │
│║ over to another vocal giant on board û Jeff ║ │
│║ Scott Soto. Because of this fact and the trackÆs ║ │
│║ neat AOR-ish flavor, the track itself doesnÆt ║ │
│║ fall far from SotoÆs earlier recordings done ║ │
│║ with Talisman, Takara or Eyes. It also shows a ║ │
│║ different dimension to HoekstraÆs guitar ║ │
│║ playing, capturing his well-developed sense of ║ │
│║ melody. ôLong For The Daysö follows with its ║ │
│║ charming vocal harmonies only to precede ║ │
│║ ôScreamö which is gritty and powerful. The ║ │
│║ keyboard parts have certain classic vibe to ║ │
│║ them, almost Purple-ish, countervailed by heavy, ║ │
│║ modern guitar sound û panache of æ70s Rock ║ │
│║ transformed into the musical realms of the 21st ║ │
│║ century. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ôNever Say Neverö is next, opened with a ten- ║ │
│║ second acoustic short that could have possibly ║ │
│║ been a throwback to Joel HoekstraÆs previous ║ │
│║ solo album 13 Acoustic Songs. The track itself, ║ │
│║ however, is nothing ballad-ish or mellow; a ║ │
│║ solid guitar-and-keyboard driven piece built ║ │
│║ around a well-crafted, catchy chorus. ôChangesö ║ │
│║ is pure AOR much in vein of classic æ80s and ║ │
│║ early æ90s bands û from Foreigner to Bad English ║ │
│║ û complemented with a melodic solo. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ A bit more funky than its predecessors, ôThe ║ │
│║ Only Way To Goö blends its heavy groove with a ║ │
│║ certain dose of catchiness, whereas the title ║ │
│║ track juxtaposes heavy, lumbering and Sabbath- ║ │
│║ esque guitar tones with a handful of Modern Rock ║ │
│║ borrowings. ôStart Againö is a different musical ║ │
│║ tale again, told in a light-hearted vein but ║ │
│║ also embroidered with neat acoustic parts and ║ │
│║ some real keyboard wizardry. ôWhat We Believeö ║ │
│║ closes the album on a contemplative note, a ║ │
│║ soaring ballad-ish duo between Soto and an ║ │
│║ impressive singer Chloe Lowery (Trans-Siberian ║ │
│║ Orchestra). ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In spite of Joel HoekstraÆs 13 being built ║ │
│║ around a musician whoÆs primarily identified as ║ │
│║ a guitar player, Dying To Live is certainly not ║ │
│║ a guitar-oriented album. Differently from Joel ║ │
│║ HoekstraÆs previous solo efforts, it shows many ║ │
│║ dimensions to his artistry, putting an emphasis ║ │
│║ on his adeptness in the craft of songwriting and ║ │
│║ song arrangements rather than just shredding. ║ │
│║ And although embroidered with a certain amount ║ │
│║ of tasteful guitar licks, the recordÆs not laden ║ │
│║ with them. With such a balanced attitude and ║ │
│║ rich experience under his belt û and a line-up ║ │
│║ one couldnÆt have gone wrong with û Joel ║ │
│║ Hoekstra went as far as to demystify the dreaded ║ │
│║ number chosen as his band moniker. ItÆs because ║ │
│║ from now on, 13 û as in Joel HoekstraÆs 13 û is ║ │
│║ Melodic Rock at its finest rather than bad luck ║ │
│║ coming oneÆs way. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Edition notes: The Japanese version of the album ║ │
│║ includes the bonus track ôNever Wantö featuring ║ │
│║ Jeff Scott Soto, whereas the digital version ║ │
│║ includes also ôKill Or Be Killedö featuring ║ │
│║ Russell Allen. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Band: ║ │
│║ Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake) û guitars, backing ║ │
│║ vocals ║ │
│║ Jeff Scott Soto (Journey/Yngwie Malmsteen) û ║ │
│║ lead vocals (track 3, 5, 8, 10, 11), backing ║ │
│║ vocals ║ │
│║ Russell Allen (Adrenaline Mob/Symphony X) û lead ║ │
│║ vocals (track 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9), backing vocals ║ │
│║ Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath/Dio) û drums ║ │
│║ Tony Franklin (The Firm/Blue Murder) û bass ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Guest Musicians: ║ │
│║ Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater/Black Country ║ │
│║ Communion) û keyboards ║ │
│║ Chloe Lowery (Trans Siberian Orchestra) û vocals ║ │
│║ Toby Hitchcock (Pride of Lions) û additional ║ │
│║ backing vocals ║ │
│║ Charlie Zeleny (Joe Lynn Turner) û percussion ║ │
│║ Dave Eggar (Amy Lee/Coldplay) û cello ║ │
│║ ║ │
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│║ ║ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - Say Goodbye To The Sun [03:24] │
│ 02 - Anymore [04:47] │
│ 03 - Until I Left You [04:27] │
│ 04 - Long For The Days [05:38] │
│ 05 - Scream [04:24] │
│ 06 - Never Say Never [03:59] │
│ 07 - Changes [04:26] │
│ 08 - The Only Way To Go [04:48] │
│ 09 - Dying To Live [04:13] │
│ 10 - Start Again [03:48] │
│ 11 - What We Believe [05:53] │
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│ Total Length : [49:47 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│■ ■│
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘