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Year : 1992 (Japan Edition 1994)
Style : Melodic Hard Rock , AOR
Country : Netherlands
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 115 mb
Bio:
For the history of this Dutch AOR band, we have to go back to the year 1987. Keyboard player Robert Kempe (later known as Robby Valentine) had just left the band Line and decided to start an AOR project. Looking for a suitable vocalist, he sent a tape with some of his new songs to Peter Struijk (aka Peter Strykes), who gained the necessary experience in bands like Horizon, Vandenberg and Avalon. Having had a difficult time behind him, Struijk wasn’t that keen to join Kempe at first, but the quality of the material won him over. From then on, things went pretty quick for 1st Avenue, with guitarist Gil Lopez, bass player Arko Bommer and drummer Nop Ton rounding off the line-up. There was a great chemistry between Kempe and Struijk and in a period of only three months, over twenty songs were written.A second try-out (in January 1988) was of overriding importance for the new band. Producer Okkie Huysdens was among those present and suggested to record three songs for Rob & Ferdi Bolland. Being highly successful musicians themselves, the Bolland brothers were also known as producers and music publishers. With their help, 1st Avenue was able to sign a deal for two albums with the Indisc label shortly after.But … things went probably a bit too quick for the two leading men. According to Peter Struijk (who I interviewed in September 1992), Robert Kempe wanted to rule the roost too much, which ultimately led to his dismissal in the mid of 1988. A little later he was replaced by Joby Bosboom (k).Once that line-up problem was solved, a long period of writing, recording and selecting material for the debut platter started. After four years of doctoring, the debut album “Tears And Triumph” was finally ready for release in April 1992. Featuring the singles “Heaven In Your Arms” and “Once In A Million Years” (two excellent ballads), the album oozed quality with great vocals and huge keyboards.A second album, “Daily Battle”, followed in 1994 and although it was another great album, it would become 1st Avenue’s swan song.
Album:
Regarded by many as the best AOR / Melodic Rock band ever coming out from the Netherlands, 1st AVENUE music include all the elements which made this genre so lovable: loads of keyboards, melodious guitars and catchy choruses. “Tears And Triumph” is their awesome debut album, and this Japanese edition is the best sounding ever appeared. A young Robby Valentine contributed with the songwriting / arrangements, and while not credited, also play some keyboards.1st Avenue was formed during the ’80s European Melodic Rock / AOR explosion – read Europe, FM, Shy, TNT – and particularly pushed in the Netherlands by Vandenberg’s success. In fact, 1st Avenue’s vocalist Peter Strykes sang for them yet never officially recorded.In 1st Avenue origins into the line-up there was a young kid named Robert Kempe – later known as Robby Valentine – who later joined Zinatra, and then started a successful solo career. Robby wrote most the songs on this “Tears And Triumph”, arranged, and also play some keyboards.“Tears And Triumph” is a wonderful slice of classy Euro Melodic Rock / AOR, plenty of varied, uptempo and energetic melodic songs. Keyboard-driven superb songs such as ‘Out Of Reach / Out Of Touch’ (love that intro), ‘When The Night Is Gone’ or the terrific opener ‘Going For The Gold’.If you like more edgy tunes, title track ‘Tears And Triumph’, ‘Help Me Out’, and one of my favorites, ‘Never Too Late To Live’ (this is what Melodic Hard Rock is all about folks) will keep your foot tapping.Mid-tempo AOR? Check ‘Heaven In Your Arms’ and ‘Once In A Million Years’, pure gold.A true gem for the genre, “Tears And Triumph” never has been remastered. However the pristine production and top mastering made this album sonics ready to test the time. This Japanese edition is the best of all available (now out of print), pressed in a time when Asian CD manufacturing was far superior.
Line Up:
Peter Strykes - vocals
Gil Lopez - guitars
Arko Bommer - bass
Nop Ton - drums
Joby Bosboom - keyboards
Features songs written and arranged by Robby Valentine.
Tracklist:
01. Intro 01:50 / Going For The Gold 03:42
02. Heaven In Your Arms 04:46
03. When The Night Is Gone 04:08
04. Out Of Reach 02:54 / Out Of Touch 04:30
05. Once In A Million Years 04:09
06. Never Too Late To Live 04:28
07. Hurt Before 06:20
08. You Forsake Me 05:18
09. Help Me Out 03:54
10. Tears And Triumph 04:10
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Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
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