Frontiers Music Srl, the Italian-based label known for embracing new music from legendary Rock artists, returns with another impactful project: Rated X. Set for release in the Europe on November 7th and in North America on November 11th, the album features all new songs built upon a classic Hard Rock foundation, with a distinctly contemporary edge.
Rated X was formed at the suggestion of Frontiers President Serafino Perugino, who mentioned to singer Joe Lynn Turner that a band of highest caliber musicians should be assembled to create an album of classic Hard Rock music. Turner, the former lead vocalist for both Rainbow and Deep Purple and a solo artist in his own right, agreed, and the search for the right players was on. Carmine Appice, who already had a relationship with Frontiers, was on board immediately. A true percussion icon, Appice’s resume is one that Rock legends are made of: Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Ozzy Osbourne, Rod Stewart, Blue Murder, King Kobra and others.
Appice’s former Blue Murder bandmate and bassist, Tony Franklin (best known for his work with The Firm, Jimmy Page, Paul Rodgers, David Gilmour, Kate Bush, and Whitesnake), signed up next. After a lengthy search for the right guitarist, they settled on long-time Turner collaborator Karl Cochran, who has also worked with Ace Frehley, and worked in the past with Joe Lynn Turner on his solo albums.
“I believe we wanted to keep it a bit retro with a modern edge,” says Turner. “The songs are classic rock, but then that’s an understatement. They are what they are; and they transformed as we went along recording. So, all in all, we are very happy to finish the record and finally able to get it out to the public. Everyone in this band is a true individual and stylist. When you put it all together, you have Rated X.”
The debut album, simply titled, Rated X, is remarkable in that it sounds like a band that has worked together as a unit for years. The songs are powerful and the performances are tight and innovative. Frontiers in-house producer, Alessandro del Vecchio, not only handled studio production but added keyboards on several tracks. Pat Regan (Mr Big, Deep Purple, Gotthard, Kiss, Doro) mixed the album.
Says Carmine Appice, “With his help in coming up with the song ideas and working together with the band I believe we came up with the sound from the late 70s -80s. To me, it sounds like Blue Murder with Joe Lynn Turner singing. Having Tony and myself as the rhythm section and with the heavy guitars, it gives the record a Blue Murder-vibe. Then, adding Alessandro on keys gave us a bit of the Deep Purple thing. It all works together and I loved playing each song.”
Watch the EPK below:
Rated X track listing:
Get Back My Crown
This Is Who I Am
Fire And Ice
I Don’t Cry No More
Lhasa
Devil In Disguise
You Are The Music
Peace Of Mind
Maybe Tonight
On The Way To Paradise
Our Love Is Not Over
Stranger In Us All
Preorder Rated X at Amazon.
For more information about Rated X, please visit facebook.com/RatedXRocks.
74 Responses
Great! Now all they need to do is get rid of Turner and Cochran, get John Sykes and rename the band.
Didn’t Karl Cochran have a stroke earlier this year? Looks like he’s doing okay now it seems.
I believe you’re correct…thought he was near death, guess not…
I think it’s great when guys that have been around awhile still get out and do what they love to do.All the old jokes are pretty stale, what do you thinks going to happen when you get old? Are you gonna shrivel up and listen to Elevater music? Not me . They don’t play with their wigs and wardrobes. Carmine can still play, I don’t give a s–t if he’s 90, he’s still got it.
i have always liked turners voice , carmine is still a great drummer , sorry everyone i dont know much about at all about the guitarist, franklin is solid – but using” technology ” to communicate, recording in other cities… technology is great but there has to be a limit – this album is probably pro tooled to death- i hope it’s good i really do , but from the epk the songs already sound like outtakes from a rainbow album- i think if you are a real band you need to be in a room together cutting tracks live , capturing the individual players and their skill interacting with one another making something magic happen , these guys are all obviously great players ,it’s a shame they didn’t do this together – also the personal attacks on age and wigs is pretty childish …these guys got to be great by doing it awhile – and this is the entertainment industry , everyone does this to some extent wether its make up, hair touch ups ,wigs, whatever when you get onstage you have to look like you belong there –
Right on, someone that can see through all the bs. Did they get together for the vid or is that CGI?
Just put Carmine’s kit totally across the stage and call the band Carmine with nobody else, I’d go. The worst LP I’ve heard in my life was a compilation of tracks he did around ’65 with The Pigeons. Pre Fudge. Long Island garage Beatle mush.