Italian label Frontiers Records have made a habit out of collecting together some of the Worlds finest AOR and hard rock bands. They periodically issue samplers highlighting current releases, this being crammed full with16 of their latest goodies.

There are so many highlights here, it’s difficult to know where to start, and in fact I could probably recommend every single album!

Opening up from their forthcoming New Religion (21st Sept) is Primal Fear - Everytime It Rains featuring Simone Simons of Epica, female fronted Goth tinged hard rock at it’s best. The cream of the crop for me is Los Angeles - I Must Be Blind, absolutely the voice of AOR at the moment, Michele Luppi. This is from their S/T album where the classy vocalist pays homage to his mentors.

Other notables are Joe Lynn Turner - Your Love is Life (from Second Hand Life), mid paced pop/rock from one of the voices of rock.

Pride Of Lions - Language Of The Heart (The Roaring Of Dreams) probably not a representative track to choose from this excellent album co-penned by the prolific Jim Peterik.

Great White - Back To The Rhythm, the title track from their new album, co-written with Jack Blades a welcome return from the American masters of bluesy hard rock.

Robin Beck - Livin’ On A Dream, Mrs James Christian can do no wrong with her old man producing and most of House of Lords performing on her album of the same name.

Marco Mendoza - Let The Sun Shine (Live For Tomorrow) fantastic slice of soft rock from the ex Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake bass man.

I always enjoy these samplers, though a lot of the time your at the mercy of the person who chooses the track listing, whether you buy an album by any of the artists included based on what you’ve heard. This collection does exactly what’s required whetting your appetite and should be the thin end of the wedge for Frontiers to dominate your CD collection

***½

Review by Dave Hunter