Aces High (SWEDEN)

[Horex]

Aces High - Ten 'N Out (Japan Edition) (1994)















Year : 1994 (Japan Edition)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock
Country: Sweden
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 123 mb

Bio:

Aces High are another classy hard rock outfit from Sweden. Similar in style to bands such as Thunder, XYZ and Nevada Beach, they released their debut album in 1994. The band features drummer Anders Johansson of Malmsteen / Holdsworth fame. In common with many similar bands from that neck of the woods, Aces High write excellent rockers and even better ballads, as demonstrated with our featured number. A band certainly worthwhile adding to the collection.Aces High were formed as Eyes in 1989 by guitarist Jake Sandberg, bassist Anders Johansson and keyboardist David Brandt. Later the same year they got in touch with Danish singer Bjørn Andersen and also changed the name of the band to Aces High, since a US band named Eyes had emerged on the music scene.The following year they acquired drummer Matts Björkman (ex-Quadruple) and in 1994 they released their first album,"Ten 'N Out" which proceeded to become very successful in Japan. Fans of melodic hard rock had to wait some years for the follow-up, though. "Pull No Punches" was released in 1998, now with Björkman replaced by Anders Johansson (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, also in Hammerfall) on drums. This prompted the bassist with the same name to start writing his name as Anders J-sson to avoid confusion. And after another long wait, they're back again with "Forgive & Forget".The album is generally very solid melodic metal, there is nothing here that truly blew me away, but then again there is nothing here that is anything below average. Vocalist Bjørn Andersen has a very distinct voice, somewhere between that of Ian Gillan and Biff Byford, the guitars are solid, with strong hooks that focus more on the song than riffing away into oblivion, whilst the hammond organ adds a Deep Purple vibe to many of the tracks.. The mix does let the album down a little, it just sounds a little flat. Yet the albums highlights like the instrumental prelude to the solo in Forgive & Forget do not suffer as a result of this.One thing that became apparent to me is that the band use much cleaner guitar sounds that many of their counterparts, this allows the tones to breathe a little more and gives a punchier edge, which does make it through the aforementioned mix. Also its plainly apparent is the band seem more concerned for the song than highlighting individual performances.Overall a solid enough slice of Scandi Melodic Metal.

Album:

Due to some rather confusing artwork, this disc is often referred to as Ten 'n Out. They are indeed the same CD. Wonderful Hard Rock! A massively underrated debut (comfortably better than the heavier "Pull No Punches") that is just high class Scandi melodic rock. Opener "Jungle of Love" has a great guitar/keys riff, and "Remember" is such an awesome power-ballad, just listen to the last minute of the song where the chorus just goes totally OTT. "Never Again" sounds almost like pop, but has a great catchy chorus.There are 2 amazing ballads "Remember" & "Eternelly" and it's a must have for people who loves ballads in the Bon Jovi vein.(1986,1994) Also the uptempo songs are okay.Nikki Andersen have an awesome voice.Very good album. Highly recommended!

Line Up:

Bjorn "Nikki" Anderson - vocals
Jake Sandberg - guitars
Anders J:Son - bass
David Brandt - keyboards
Mats Bjorklund - drums

Tracklist:

01. Jungle Of Love 4:27
02. Do You Need 4:26
03. Nobodys Fool 4:57
04. Remember 4:40
05. Piece of the Action 4:49
06. Ten 'N Out 4:27
07. Heartache Breakdown 5:54
08. Rock The City 5:48
09. Never Again 4:42
10. Eternelly 5:11
11. Take Me To Your Heart (Japan Bonus Track)




Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/

[Horex]

Aces High - Pull No Punches (1998)















Year : 1998
Style : Melodic Hard Rock
Country: Sweden
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 123 mb

Bio:

Aces High are another classy hard rock outfit from Sweden. Similar in style to bands such as Thunder, XYZ and Nevada Beach, they released their debut album in 1994. The band features drummer Anders Johansson of Malmsteen / Holdsworth fame. In common with many similar bands from that neck of the woods, Aces High write excellent rockers and even better ballads, as demonstrated with our featured number. A band certainly worthwhile adding to the collection.Aces High were formed as Eyes in 1989 by guitarist Jake Sandberg, bassist Anders Johansson and keyboardist David Brandt. Later the same year they got in touch with Danish singer Bjørn Andersen and also changed the name of the band to Aces High, since a US band named Eyes had emerged on the music scene.The following year they acquired drummer Matts Björkman (ex-Quadruple) and in 1994 they released their first album,"Ten 'N Out" which proceeded to become very successful in Japan. Fans of melodic hard rock had to wait some years for the follow-up, though. "Pull No Punches" was released in 1998, now with Björkman replaced by Anders Johansson (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, also in Hammerfall) on drums. This prompted the bassist with the same name to start writing his name as Anders J-sson to avoid confusion. And after another long wait, they're back again with "Forgive & Forget".The album is generally very solid melodic metal, there is nothing here that truly blew me away, but then again there is nothing here that is anything below average. Vocalist Bjørn Andersen has a very distinct voice, somewhere between that of Ian Gillan and Biff Byford, the guitars are solid, with strong hooks that focus more on the song than riffing away into oblivion, whilst the hammond organ adds a Deep Purple vibe to many of the tracks.. The mix does let the album down a little, it just sounds a little flat. Yet the albums highlights like the instrumental prelude to the solo in Forgive & Forget do not suffer as a result of this.One thing that became apparent to me is that the band use much cleaner guitar sounds that many of their counterparts, this allows the tones to breathe a little more and gives a punchier edge, which does make it through the aforementioned mix. Also its plainly apparent is the band seem more concerned for the song than highlighting individual performances.Overall a solid enough slice of Scandi Melodic Metal.

Album:

Vocalist is still the same...for some reason he used Nikki on their first album and on the second he´s actually listed as Bjorn "Nikki" Andersen. The drummer is new however, Anders Johansson is one of my favourite skinbeater. He's played with Silver Mountain, Yngwe malmsten and Jonas Hellborg to name a few. Look out for the third album from Aces High. It's called "Forgive and Forget" and will be released may 6th. A new 10, at least judging from the songs i've heard so far. ACES HIGH on this album didn't change their style much, except maybe to add a slightly heavier edge to their beefy guitars. So what you have here is more powerful, in-your-face melodic hard rock/metal, similar at times to Million (like the above guy mentioned). The guitars really crank on this puppy, which is always good, & the songs, while perhaps not quite as catchy as those on the debut, are still pretty darn good. This one's definitely worth owning.Ok it is not as good as the debut, but is still very solid. If you like good, well played hard rock check these guys out. Pick of this album is again the ballads, but good release overall. I think that "Tanglewood Dreamin´" really is a masterpiece, and the ballad "In a wink of an eye" have a given place on every Powerballad-album in the world. Finally ACES HIGH RULES!!!

Line Up:

Bjorn "Nikki" Anderson - vocals
Jake Sandberg - guitars
Anders Johansson - drums, percussion
David Brandt - keyboards
Anders J:Son - Bass

Tracklist:

01. Mr. Big Talker 4:50
02. I Ain't Sorry 4:23
03. Shaky Sister 4:02
04. In a Wink of an Eye 5:33
05. Pull No Punches 4:20
06. Tanglewood Dreamin' 6:30
07. Freakshow 4:21
08. If I Could 5:04
09. Get to You 4:29
10. Carnival 5:14




Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/

[Horex]

Aces High - Forgive & Forget (2004)













Year : 2014
Style : Melodic Hard Rock
Country: Sweden
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 123 mb

Bio:

Aces High are another classy hard rock outfit from Sweden. Similar in style to bands such as Thunder, XYZ and Nevada Beach, they released their debut album in 1994. The band features drummer Anders Johansson of Malmsteen / Holdsworth fame. In common with many similar bands from that neck of the woods, Aces High write excellent rockers and even better ballads, as demonstrated with our featured number. A band certainly worthwhile adding to the collection.Aces High were formed as Eyes in 1989 by guitarist Jake Sandberg, bassist Anders Johansson and keyboardist David Brandt. Later the same year they got in touch with Danish singer Bjørn Andersen and also changed the name of the band to Aces High, since a US band named Eyes had emerged on the music scene.The following year they acquired drummer Matts Björkman (ex-Quadruple) and in 1994 they released their first album,"Ten 'N Out" which proceeded to become very successful in Japan. Fans of melodic hard rock had to wait some years for the follow-up, though. "Pull No Punches" was released in 1998, now with Björkman replaced by Anders Johansson (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, also in Hammerfall) on drums. This prompted the bassist with the same name to start writing his name as Anders J-sson to avoid confusion. And after another long wait, they're back again with "Forgive & Forget".The album is generally very solid melodic metal, there is nothing here that truly blew me away, but then again there is nothing here that is anything below average. Vocalist Bjørn Andersen has a very distinct voice, somewhere between that of Ian Gillan and Biff Byford, the guitars are solid, with strong hooks that focus more on the song than riffing away into oblivion, whilst the hammond organ adds a Deep Purple vibe to many of the tracks.. The mix does let the album down a little, it just sounds a little flat. Yet the albums highlights like the instrumental prelude to the solo in Forgive & Forget do not suffer as a result of this.One thing that became apparent to me is that the band use much cleaner guitar sounds that many of their counterparts, this allows the tones to breathe a little more and gives a punchier edge, which does make it through the aforementioned mix. Also its plainly apparent is the band seem more concerned for the song than highlighting individual performances.Overall a solid enough slice of Scandi Melodic Metal.

Album:

Finally also 'Forgive & Forget' reaches the audience of passionate listeners of melodic hard rock. The third Aces High album was actually due to come out in 2002 for Z Records but only recently the product arrived on the market thanks to GMR. The Swedish group (in action for about ten years and with already two albums behind them) presents us within ten tracks a remarkable series of sources of inspiration and a professionalism that reveal to us the vast experience of the musicians authors of this 'Forgive & Forget'. It is not possible not to mention Anders Johansson on drums (Rising Force, Hammerfall ...) which gives dynamism and freshness to the rhythmic line, the excellent keyboardist David Brandt (author of several inserts that enrich the songs of elegance and taste ... just listen to the Deep Purple references of 'Blinded') and also the singer Bjorn Andersen, who, although not very personal, knows how to adapt to the various stylistic inclinations of the CD (to underline in particular his performance on the slow set on melodic lines certainly not foreseeable called 'Tell Me'). Considering the 'Forgive & Forget' track list, the wide range of stylistic variations presented is appreciated, starting from the heavy and powerful 'Killing Time' to move on to the melodic title track and then to the American AOR of 'Hyde My Jekill'. Continuing to listen to the CD, blues cues also emerge in songs such as 'Judas Kiss' or inviting pomp keyboard scores in 'What I Came For', a song that flows into a 70's Deep Purple-style hard rock (a feature that is repeated in the not so successful 'The Things We've Done'). The instrumental 'Legacy' that introduces us to the lackluster and conclusive 'Listen To Fools', a somewhat dull hard rock song, is really useless. To conclude, we can say that 'Forgive & Forget' has highly professional and tasteful numbers which lead us to recommend listening to the product and possibly purchasing it, without prejudice to a few subdued episodes that partially weaken the value of the album.

Line Up:

Bjorn "Nikki" Anderson - vocals
Anders Johansson - Drums
Jake Sandberg - Lead Guitar
David Brandt - Keyboards
Anders J:Son - Bass

Produced by: Aces High

Tracklist:

01. Killing Time 4:56
02. Forgive & Forget 5:56
03. Hyde My Jekyll 4:40
04. Tell Me 5:26
05. Blinded 3:50
06. Judas Kiss 4:28
07. What I Came For 5:50
08. The Things We've Done 5:05
09. Legacy 3:11
10. Listen To Fools 5:14




Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/