Year : 1992 (Japan SHM-CD Remastered Edition 2016)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + scans + Videos
Size : 156 mb
Bio:
Steelheart is a rock band based in Norwalk, Connecticut, formed in 1990.Steelheart started off as a rock band called Red Alert whose members included James Ward (bass), Chris Risola (guitars), Jack Wilkenson (drums) and after auditioning, Miljenko Matijevic on vocals. Frank DiCostanzo joined as a second guitarist and John Fowler replaced Jack Wilkenson on drums, after leaving the band Rage of Angels.Recording a four-track demo tape, Matijevic met artist manager Stan Poses. Poses was not interested but the next day, after hearing the demo tape, called confirming that "Red Alert" had just been given a contract with MCA records.Realizing that the Red Alert name was already taken, the band settled on Steelheart allegedly because of their attitude after trying to get a record deal for so long.Steelheart released their self-titled debut album in 1990. The second single "I'll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)" reached No. 14 on the Billboard charts, and was MTV's 2nd most requested video.The album reached No. 40 on the Billboard charts. "Everybody Loves Eileen" and its accompanying video were also successful.The song "Can't Stop Me Lovin' You" showcased Matijevic's vocal range, but this time, lead guitarist Risola's guitar skills were also noticed[original research?]. A video accompanied it. In the song "Love Ain't Easy", Matijevic hits his highest note of all three albums.Steelheart's second album, "Tangled In Reins", was released on July 10, 1992. Since the grunge invasion was taking force, the album only reached No. 144 on the Billboard charts. However the ballad "Mama Don't You Cry" charted No. 1 in many East Asian Countries,including Hong Kong, prompting their Asian tour in September, 1992. The MTV unplugged version in Hong Kong was a success, attracting an audience of over 10,000.After weeks of touring in Asia, Steelheart was later asked by the heavy metal band, Slaughter, to go on tour with them.Nearing the end of the tour, Slaughter asked Steelheart to perform one last show which would occur in Denver, Colorado. The show took place on Halloween night. While performing "Dancing in the Fire", a hit from the "Tangled in Reins" album, Matijevic decided to climb a lighting truss, which was improperly secured.Matijevic tried to dodge the rig, but without success. The 1000 pound truss hit Matijevic on the back of the head and he fell face first onto the stage, breaking his nose, cheekbone, and jaw, and twisting his spine. Matijevic managed to walk off the stage and he was immediately taken to a hospital.Four years later, Matijevic formed a new version of Steelheart with Kenny Kanowski (guitars), Vincent Mele (bass) and Alex Makarovich (drums) to record and release the album "Wait". The single "Wait" went No. 1 in some Asian countries, however that was the main area of the album's success[original research?], the grunge invasion causing the American European markets to be nearly closed to straight-ahead hard rock. Original member James Ward joined Steelheart on the tour supporting the album. Also on the "Wait" album, "We All Die Young", the first track, was in the motion picture, Rock Star, starring Mark Wahlberg. Matijevic stated that "Wait" was the choice of the title because it took a long time to gain freedom from the record company and his manager, who was taking more than what was his.
Album:
A second batch of purchased SHM-CD arrived from Japan, and one of these is STEELHEART's underrated yet superb second effort "Tangled In Reins" remastered in all its glory.This is part of Universal Music Japan reissue series started last May of classic albums on SHM-CD, remastered and sold at reduced price. We ordered many, so stay tuned.“I ain’t got time to listen!”... Regardless the opening verse of this disc, you have to make time. Anyone with a pulse who listens to this kind of music knows the name Steelheart and has heard the ungodly range Mike Matijevic can reach from their self-titled debut, and his vocal work in the movie Rock Star.However, with the passing of the band from recording work it’s blatantly obvious the general public has not had the pleasure of hearing this Steelheart release.Additionally, "Tangled In Reins" appeared in 1992, at the end of the Melodic Hard Rock era, and never got the promotion it truly deserved.Steelheart released three discs in their short career, the catchy self-titled debut and the third in name only – it basically served as a platform for Matijevic to explore his musical interests as a solo act.This middle release "Tangled In Reins" is definitely the pinnacle of their career, taking the musical momentum their first release created and expounded upon it."Tangled In Reins" offers some of the best written, intelligent arranged Melodic Hard Rock songs ever, in history.“Electric Love Child” has a funky groove, fusing elements of big arena rock with a modern feel. The aggression and energy pours from the track “Steelheart”, sounding every bit of what the dark prelude to Skid Row‘s “18 And Life” could have been.“Late For The Party” and “Sticky Side Up” are straight ahead rockers hinting at good times to come. “All Your Love” and “Mama Don’t You Cry” represent this disc’s softer side yet much more groomed than the ballads of the first album.Steelheart's "Tangled In Reins" is a monster album, and while many prefer the catchiness of the debut, this one ranks between the stronger / most elaborated works from a band born in the Hair Metal era.If Steelheart first album was awesomely produced, "Tangled In Reins" should be amongst the Top 10 best produced Melodic Hard Rock albums of all time. Yeah, the drums, the sharp guitars... all come incredibly pristine and powerful. Without a doubt Tom Werman's (Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister) finest production work ever.The sound from this Japanese remastered SHM-CD is out of this world.Do yourself a favor; buy this for test purposes if you want, some kind of benchmark for how a Rock band should sound. "Tangled In Reins" possess a timeless feeling, a feeling that another 10 or 15 years could go by and this will still be a great sounding disc.
Line Up:
Mike Matijevic – vocals and piano
Chris Risola – guitar
Frank DiCostanzo – guitar
James Ward – bass
John Fowler – drums and percussion
additional musicians:
C.J. Vanston, Brad Buxer – keyboards
Jeff Scott Soto – backing vocals
Tracklist:
01. Loaded Mutha
02. Sticky Side Up
03. Electric Love Child
04. Late for the Party
05. All Your Love
06. Love 'em and I'm Gone
07. Take Me Back Home
08. Steelheart
09. Mama Don't You Cry
10. Dancin' in the Fire
+ Video "Sticky Side Up" (Official Video)
+ Video "Mama Don't You Cry" (Official Video)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
