Von Hertzen Brothers-New Day Rising (2015)

The story of this Finnish band is certainly intriguing. Formed by the Von Hertzen brothers (Mikko, vocals and guitar; Kie, guitar; and Jonne, bass), each of whom played in different bands, their father Hasse Von Hertzen was also a well-known guitarist in a 1970s band called The Roosters, and to top it all off, their uncle Lasse Von Hertzen was a member of the renowned folk-rock band Cumulus. With such a background, it's no wonder these young men have music in their blood. In 2000, the three brothers founded Von Hertzen Brothers, a band that fused progressive rock, folk, and classic rock. "New Day Rising" is the band's sixth release, an album where they expand their musical palette, adding more accessible and melodic compositions to their established style. Hard rock guitar riffs ("New Day Rising"), melodic cuts ("Trouble" and "Black Rain"), approaches to mainstream rock ("Hold Me Up"), folk ("Dreams") or thrilling rock ("You Don't Know My Name"), are what these Finns offer in this brilliant release.

Blackberry Smoke-Holding All The Roses (2015)

Blackberry Smoke's music is steeped in country rock, southern rock, bluegrass, and classic rock, making them one of the hottest acts in modern American rock. Since their beginnings back in 2001, the Atlanta band has given us some monumental albums like "Bad Luck Ain't No Crime" (2003), "The Whippoorwill" (2012), "Holding All The Roses" (2015), and "Like An Arrow" (2016). Focusing on "Holding All The Roses", the band showcases everything they offered in their previous work, but composed and performed in a more judicious and restrained manner. The energetic rhythms of classic rock are even more prominent, as demonstrated by tracks like "Let Me Help You (Find The Door)" and "Living In The Song". However, they also continue to produce their usual American roots sounds such as the southern "Holding All The Roses", "Wish In One Hand", "Payback's A Bitch" and "Fire In The Hole", or the delightful country "No Way Back to Eden", "Too High" and "Lay It All On Me".

The Rolling Stones-Blue And Lonesome (2016)

"Blue and Lonesome" is the only Rolling Stones album composed entirely of covers by artists other than themselves. This release, the band's twenty-third studio album, features twelve iconic blues tracks by legendary artists such as Memphis Slim, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Johnson, Little Walter, Magic Slim, Willie Dixon, Otis Hicks, Jimmy Reed, and Eddie Taylor. In this compilation, the Stones strive to remain faithful to the original versions, while maintaining their characteristic flair and signature Stones sound. Eric Clapton's contribution is particularly noteworthy; he is sublime on slide guitar in the blues track "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing". With "Blue and Lonesome", the Stones wanted to pay a well-deserved tribute to their blues influences and roots throughout a long career spanning well over sixty years.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer-Black Moon (1992)

In 1992, the quintessential wizards of symphonic rock, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, reunited with their original lineup after a 14-year hiatus, despite having released the excellent self-titled album, "Emerson, Lake & Powell", in 1986 with Cozy Powell on drums. However, much had changed by then. Alternative rock, grunge, the resurgence of classic 70s hard rock, neo-progressive, and progressive metal dominated the tastes of 90s youth. Thus, the trio attempted to adapt to the changing times, crafting a commendable album that, at times, evokes their glory days, but with a modern and updated style. For this occasion, the band became more accessible, and their music more simplified, resulting in what could be considered, in many passages, sophisticated pop or commercial progressive rock. Keith Emerson's frenetic keyboards, as expected, drive many of the album's tracks. The title track, featuring a virtuosic Carl Palmer on drums, exemplifies this. That dizzying rhythm continues in the energetic, almost hard rock, "Paper Blood", while the melodic and acoustic "Affairs of the Heart" and the beautiful ballad "Footprints in the Snow", under Greg Lake's warm and commanding vocals, provide a moment of calm amidst the album's frenetic pace. The refined and vibrant "Rome and Juliet", the haunting "Close to Home", and the grandiose "Changing States" stand out on an album that, while not offering anything groundbreaking, is a worthy effort from one of the greatest bands in the history of progressive rock.

Lita Ford-Living Like A Runaway (2012)

Lita Ford rose to fame in the late seventies as a member of the American hard rock band The Runaways, an all-female group comprised entirely of teenage girls, which also featured guitarist Joan Jett, who would later form the iconic band Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. After The Runaways, Lita Ford embarked on her own solo career, a career with some ups and downs but equally successful, releasing great albums like "Lita", a veritable handbook of American hard rock and heavy metal. In 2012, the guitarist and singer released her eighth studio album, "Living Like A Runaway", offering a repertoire full of exciting songs, energetic guitars, and her masterful vocals. Songs like "The Mask", "A Song Your Wrist By", "Mother", "Branded", and "Devil In My Head", are excellent examples of the power of this brilliant Lita Ford album.