Artist: GARY JOHN BARDEN
Album: "LOVE AND WAR (CD)"

Year: 2007
Media type: CD

GARY BARDEN belongs to THE voice of British hard rock. The first time BARDEN appeared in the scene was as part of the newly formed MSG (Michael Schenker Group) founded by the former SCORPIONS guitarist of the same name. Their first collaboration resulted in the highly acclaimed album 'The Michael Schenker Group' which was released in 1980. Besides the great songs and the great guitar output BARDEN’s voice was one of the reasons why this album became a huge success and allowed the band to hit the road in Europe, Japan and the USA.

Their second album 'MSG' saw the light of day in 1981 and followed an even more melodic direction than its predecessor. After the following world tour BARDEN was informed that he was no longer part of the band and replacement was found soon in ex-RAINBOW singer Graham Bonnet. Chrysalis, however, released a live disc recorded in Japan by the original MSG entitled 'One Night At Budokan'.

Searching for a new band, BARDEN started to write some songs with THIN LIZZY axeman GARY MOORE which later on ended up on MOORE’s 'Corridor of Power' release. Their working period was short and so was the collaboration between Bonnet and Schenker. Bonnet sang on the 1982 record 'Assault Attack' but BARDEN was back with MSG for some live appearances including Reading Festival in the same year and the 1983 record “Built to Destroy”. The label’s pressure to steer more into a commercial direction made the band quit business in 1984.

BARDEN moved on and found a new home in the business together with ex-THIN LIZZY six-string Brian Robertson and the band STATETROOPER, who put out their highly acclaimed self-titled debut album in 1987 and played a couple of live shows in the following months.

After a long break BARDEN returned to the scene with PRAYING MANTIS 'The Power of Ten' and the live album 'Captured Alive in Tokyo City' (1996). In 2000, BARDEN hit the road again for a couple of live shows with COMPANY OF SNAKES and founded the band SILVER together with Michael Voss (CASANOVA) and Bernie Tormй (IAN GILLAN). STATETROOPER finally re-united in 2004 and put out the classy new record “The Calling”.

The album 'Past & Present' (ESM106) marked the first solo album by GARY BARDEN and offered a very personal collection of new, exciting interpretations of some all-time MSG classics, a selection of songs that both suited GARY BARDEN and MSG fans! With his long time pal ґMichael Vossґ(Casanova, Bonfire) and a couple of friends he went back to the roots to perform his bluesy smoky songs that will touch your soul and are exemplified on the release 'Agony and the Xtasy' (ESM128).

So here we are in 2007 and Gary has made an album that surpasses them all, this album really ROCKS, check out the opener 'Creatures of the Night' for a driving riff backed up with Gary’s unmistakeable lead vocals. This is more like the quality we should expect from Gary, not forgetting the input from Michael Voss, who has a pedigree that needs no introduction at all. All these songs are absolute killers, take the cleverness of “The Last Samurai” and the oriental slant to “Dragon’s Fire” and you will just be amazed at the sheer power of this release. This is truly a great British rock album and is not hard to see why Gary has been involved with so many of the the UK’s major talent.

A very powerful rock album.

TRACKLIST:

Track 1 - Creatures Of The Night
Track 2 - Unchain Me
Track 3 - When The Lovin' Dies
Track 4 - The Last Samurai
Track 5 - You
Track 6 - Dragon's Fire
Track 7 - Voices In The Rain
Track 8 - Love Lost
Track 9 - Burn On The Flame
Track 10 - dйjа vu
Track 11 - In Love And War