WOW! Here's a melodic band that I'd sign right away, if I had a label! LOCHINVAR is a female fronted band from Dallas/Texas that plays some incredible good AOR/Melodic Hardrock a-la Heart, Tone Norum, Vixen. Vocalist Paula Blade has got a great voice that sounds like the perfect mix between Ann Wilson (Heart) and Tone Norum (without the Swedish accent). This is a collection of previously unreleased material from their three studio demos and I must say that it´s been a long time, since I've heard this many good songs from a Independent band. It's almost too good to be true! Opener "Chatelaine" is a good rocker a-la Heart, but with some great guitar play a-la Dokken from John Walker (guitar/bass/keys). Next track "One More Tear" is a superb mid tempo, melodic rocker with a really catchy chorus that hits ya´ right between the eyes! It's kinda LOCHINVAR answer to Alannah Myles' super hit "Black Velvet", but with a better and pure AOR Chorus. This ROCKS Big Time! "Love´s a Game" really knocks me to the floor! Just think about some of the best songs that Vixen did... this is almost better and just when I managed to get up again the next song "Won´t See Me Cry" starts and BANG! I'm down for the count... Holy Cow... I must have died and gone to heaven :-) Sure, there's also a couple of weaker songs (like: "Driving Force" & "Pain of Love") but "Lonely Child" is one of the better ballads I've ever heard for years and the vocals from Paula are pure magic and let´s not forget "Captive Love" a great rocker that every fan of melodic rock will enjoy.

LOCHINVAR comes out of Dallas, Texas. Their CD ‘It Came From the 80s’ consists of previously unreleased material from the band’s three studio demos. Musically this female fronted melodic rockband is sounding very good and reminds me of WITNESS, 80s HEART, VIXEN. LAOS and those type of classy 80s acts. There are 12 songs on this CD and I liked it very much. Opener “Chatelaine” is a good midtempo 80s melodic rocker that sounds like DOKKEN, yet with female lead vocals. Next track “One More Tear” captures the classic 80s sound of bands like LAOS, VIXEN and WITNESS. This song is a fantastic slower tempo super melodic semi rockballad with a classy 80s AOR oriented chorus. This song belongs to the top of female fronted AOR/Melodic Rock. “Love’s a Game” has a much better sound and is a fantastic pure 80s uptempo melodic rocker that sounds very much like the second VIXEN CD ‘Rev It Up’. “Won’t See Me Cry” follows in the same style, although this song is more AOR based and is superb! This song is one of the best of LOCHINVAR and it is classy female AOR all the way! Track number 6 “Driving Force” was the first weaker song, a faster uptempo melodic rocker. Also in the HEART style is “Lonely Child”, a lovely semi melodic rock ballad. Next track “Captive Love” is again uptempo classy 80s AOR rock and this song also is one of the best tracks on the CD along with “Won’t See Me Cry”. The last 3 songs are not as good as the rest, but still enjoyable melodic hard rock. Notable is the closing track “Free Fall” which is instrumental. This LOCHINVAR is a fantastic band and their release ‘It Came From the 80s’ is a gift to the fans of 80s typed classy female fronted melodic rock in the style of bands such as VIXEN, LAOS, HEART, WITNESS. Buy yourself a copy of this wonderful record.

LOCHINVAR is a good melodic rock band that stands with both feet in the eighties, as the title of this CD already suggests. The CD is available through MP3.com and consists of material from LOCHINVAR’s first three studio demos, which were recorded in the late 80’s and early 90’s. They’re working on new demos at this very moment. And that’s good, ‘cause this material really asks for more. What you’ll get to hear is a mix of DOKKEN, WITNESS, SAHARA and HEART. Melodic rock at its best so to speak. Responsible for this great sound are John Walker on guitar and bass, Steve Rabeler on guitar, Chuck Williams on guitar and bass, Scott Magoon on drums, Gregg Schmidt on drums and Neil Brincks on bass. All these people play together in different forms of course. The female input is from the frontlady of this band, Paula Blade, on vocals. Right now the band consists of Paula and John. And although we called the style of the band melodic rock, you’re also in for some real fireworks. Just listen to a song like “Driving Force”, which sounds like they unleashed a wild animal in the centre of New York. It even contains a short drum piece at the end. Maybe not a real solo, but it’s there anyway. On the other hand you’ll enjoy the more subtle moments, like the soft ballad “Lonely Child” for example. The CD is full of variation, which makes it easy to enjoy. The CD ends with an instrumental song, called “Free Fall”. Don’t let the difference in recording quality scare you off. After all it’s the quality and the exclusivity that counts on this release. And the people who are looking for high quality melodic rock will definately have to check this band out. Twelve songs with a playing time of almost fifty-five minutes are on the CD. Don’t miss it!!