Formed in Sweden, 1989, ALYSON AVENUE originally was a male fronted band when backing singer Anette Olzon took over the mike duties for the band’s 2000 debut album with the aim to take the resurgent Melodic Rock world by storm.
Highly praised by fans and the press that album was followed four years later with the equally impressive ‘Omega’ CD. The time that followed saw the band take a hiatus, as the various band members embarked on different projects and more significantly in 2007, when Olzon was named as the new singer for Nightwish.
These news were some kind of double edged sword – in one way the band had lost a great vocalist, but in another it also got the name of Alyson Avenue exposed to an even wider audience, which resulted in added interest in the bands first two albums, so much so that the band re-released their debut.
Then their second album ‘Omega’ was re-titled “Omega II“, after the band decided to redo the many of the instrumental parts, remix some and remastering, while keeping Olzon’s original vocals. Remastered by Tony Ubler for YesterRock, the release also features 5 previously unreleased tracks that are so good it makes you wonder why they were abandoned on the original release.
Songs like “Can I Be Wrong”, “When Dreams Fall Apart”, “Do You Ever Miss My Passion?” or “Tonight Is All You Get” shows Alyson Avenue’s harder Melodic Rock side with strong sharp guitars, while “Whenever You Need Someone” and “I Still Believe” are extremely melodic and catchy.
“Echoes of My Heart” is beautiful, classy power ballad worthy of being on a collection with Heart’s “Alone” or any Vixen slow tunes.
The bonuses are equally great, including the hauntingly hooky “I Am (Your Pleasuremaker)” and the AOR bliss of “Hard To Feel Alive”.
Released through YesterRock records, Alyson Avenue’s “Omega II” is female fronted Scandi Melodic Hard Rock at its best.
Killer melodic songs, a great vocalist and this time with a very good production / mix, this is a criminally underrated CD among fans of the genre. You need this one in your collection.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
1 When Dreams Fall Apart 4:57
2 Tonight Is All You Get 3:48
3 Perfect Love 4:08
4 One Life One Show 4:27
5 Do You Ever Miss My Passion 4:24
6 Echoes Of My Heart 5:25
7 I Still Believe 4:32
8 I Have Been Waiting 4:53
9 Can I Be Wrong 3:40
10 Whenever You Need Someone 4:50
11 I Am Your Pleasuremaker
12 Hard To Feel Alive
13 Fight With Your Heart
14 Everyday Is A Trial
15 Another Night
Alyson Avenue – Omega II 2004 [Yesterrock Remastered] 2009
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