Product Description Produced by Alyson Avenue Mixed and co-produced by Chris Laney @ Laneyland Mastered by Classe Persson @ CRP Recordings Alyson Avenue are: Arabella Vitanc : Vocals, background vocals Thomas Löyskä : Bass, guitar Fredrik Eriksson : Drums Tony Rohtla : Guitars Niclas Olsson : Keyboards, background vocals Additional musicians : Michael Bormann : Vocals and background vocals on "Will I Make Love" Anette Olzon : Background vocals on "Liar", "Into The Fire", "Always Keep On Loving You", "Fallen" Rob Marcello : Guitar solo on "Changes" Fredrik Bergh : Keyboards on "Don´t Know If Love Is Alive" Chris Laney : Background vocals on "Amazing Days" Mike Andersson : Background vocals on "Liar", "Somewhere", "Changes", "Don´t Know If Love Is Alive", "Into The Fire", "Fallen", "I´ll Cry For You", "Always Keep On Loving You" Tommy Stråhle : Background vocals on "I´ll Cry For You" Gregor Klee : Executive Producer Artist bio: 'Changes' is the highly anticipated comeback of the female fronted Swedish Melodic Rockers Alyson Avenue. It's their third album and it marks the recording debut of powerhouse vocalist Arabella Vitanc, who joined the band in 2009, following the departure of their former lead singer Anette Olzon in 2007 to front Nightwish. The boys on Arabella's side are main song writer and keyboard player Niclas Olsson, guitar player Tony Rohtla, bassist / guitarist Thomas Löyskä and Fredrik Eriksson on drums. The band co-produced all songs of the album together with one of Sweden's best Rock producers, Chris Laney (Crazy Lixx, H.E.A.T., Brian Robertson), who also mixed the record and sang background vocals. With Chris in the producer's chair, "Changes" turns out to be Alyson Avenue's most powerful album to date with a crunchier Melodic Rock sound, that gives more space to the guitars. Half a dozen guests followed the band's invitation to be part of "Changes" and add their special touch. The band welcomed Nightwish's Anette Olzon in the studio to sing background vocals. Anette did always keep in close personal contact with Niclas, who had helped her to record the demos that paved her the way to the Nightwish auditions. Another longtime friend of the band, Michael Bormann (Ex-Jaded Heart, Charade, BISS) sings the duet "Will I Make Love" with Arabella. Michael returns the favour for the guest appearances of Niclas on Michael's "Conspiracy" (2006) and "Capture The Moment" (2008) CDs and Anette's duet vocals on "Two Of A Kind" from "Conspiracy". The title track "Changes", the only outside song writing contribution courtesy of Mats Edström (Shiva), is high lighted by a fiery guitar solo of Swedish guitar wizard Rob Marcello (Danger Danger, Marcello - Vestry) and Fredrik Bergh (Street Talk, Bloodbound) plays keyboards on the track "Don't Know If Love Is Alive", which he also co-wrote with Niclas. The line-up of background vocalists for the catchy harmonies throughout the album is completed by Tommy Stråhle and Mike Andersson (Cloudscape, Planet Alliance). The history of Alyson Avenue started in 1989, back then the band was one of many male fronted followers of Swedish Melodic Rock greats like Treat and Europe. During the following years Anette joined the guys as a background singer and later took over the position as the band's lead vocalist. They recorded a couple of demos, but it wasn't until late 2000 when their self-produced debut album "Presence Of Mind" was officially released. The CD became a big success for the band with the fans and the media alike, including a 93/ 100 rating in prestigious Japanese Burrn! Magazine. Four years later their sophomore effort "Omega" followed, another favourite among Melodic Rock and AOR fans. In the years to come Alyson Avenue was put on hold and the band members participated in different projects. Following Anette's successful audition as the new female voice of Nightwish in 2007, the interest in the works of Alyson Avenue started to grow again and the band decided to re-release the two already sought after CDs. Finally in 2009 "Presence Of Mind" was re-issued in it's original version, while "Omega" became "Omega II", with re-recorded instrumental parts to achieve an album sound closer to the band's vision, while keeping all of Anette's original vocal performances. Also in 2009 the band started to audition female vocalists to write a new chapter in the history of Alyson Avenue. They looked for a charismatic lady with a Rock edge and after careful consideration and interest from female singers from around the world, Arabella Vitanc, a previously undiscovered Swedish talent, was chosen to be the voice of Alyson Avenue. A long time in the making "Changes" became a more mature affair than it's two predecessors, the songs grow with each listen and the hooks have the strength to become a long lasting guest in your head. (Words: Gregor Klee)
A**R
another great sound
This is the second album I purchased by Alyson Avenue. I love the music and the vocals are great. It is good to find that great rock is still out there.
B**N
Brandon Bain
My album came in the condition in which it was advertised and came in the speed in which specified. Impressed with the service and overall am pleased. They didn't lie to me either so that's a plus.
N**S
One of the greatest female fronted AOR bands re-emerges in 2011 with a hit
An underground legend of the AOR/melodic hard rock scene, "Alyson Avenue" was the Swedish group to introduce singer Annette Olzon ("Nightwish") to the international music scene. With Annette at the front "Alyson Avenue" put out two landmark melodic hard rock albums "Presence of Mind"(2000) and "Omega" (2004) after which the singer left to join Finnish symphonic metal stars "Nightwish". The remaining members joined by a male vocalist formed "Second Heat" subsequently releasing a new album and shortly after disbanding.Over six years past their break-up "Alyson Avenue' re-emerge with a brand new album and a new lead singer in Aranbella Vitanic. "Changes" seems to pick up exactly where "Omega" left off, you can expect some of the thickest rhythm guitars, infectious keyboard melodies, well crafted guitar solos, memorable melodic instrumentations and extra-catchy choruses. The more one plays the album the more one is overwhelmed by the similarities between the new "Alyson Avenue" and the original line up. It seems that the band have wisely chosen to recreate the original sound of the band as close as possible, and they succeed at that. Just about every song on "Changes" is classic "Alyson Avenue" in terms of sound and quality.The line up features founding members Niclas Olsson on keyboards and Thomas Loyska on bass, drummer Fredrik Erikson and new entry guitarist Tony Rohta. It seems that "Alyson Avenue" have been changing guitarist on every album, yet once again have found a very accomplished melodic shredder therefore you can expect loads of guitar parts in John-Sykes-style as on the previous albums. Overall one could not have hoped for a better comeback for "Alyson Avenue" than "Changes", fans of melodic hard rock and female fronted AOR should really add this album to their collection.
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