The album that never was and all Melodic Hard Rock / AOR fans were waiting for decades is finally here. British band GARRISON album “The Final Chapter” is being released as Vol. 29 of the much appreciated “LOST UK JEWELS” Series.
Back in the ’80s GARRISON only officially released a single, but professionally recorded many songs from an album that never saw the light of day.
With renewed interest over thirty years later, the band decided to fire up the amps one final time to re-record six of their best songs, with the addition of one new track, plus three live tracks and two carefully remastered ’80s demos (incl. their first 7″).
This is the album that never was, the final chapter in a career that has been littered with fabulous opportunities and incredible music! GARRISON is awesome, melodic but rockin’, even ballsy at places.
GARRISON were formed by Tony Mitchell (vocals) and Kevin Wilson (guitar & vocals) during the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, in the mid 80s. Their first demo earned them a session on the BBC’s highly acclaimed Friday Rock Show, hosted by Tommy Vance, fueling the bands already fierce drive to make it.
To take the band to the next level Michael Bruce (guitar, keyboards & vocals), Alex Burrell (bass & vocals) and Derek Lindsay (drums & vocals) were recruited to deliver the trademark Garrison sound of tight harmonies over killer guitar riffs.
The new line-up’s first recordings received great reviews from the British Rock Press and was singled out by ‘Kerrang’ as “one of the best new demos in years!” GARRISON were soon attracting the attention of several major labels, with Atlantic Records the first to step up.
However, like many of their contemporaries, GARRISON‘s plans were put on ice, as the music industry turned its back on AOR rock and its fans, scrambling to sign the next big thing to emerge from Washington State.
Realising “when it’s over it’s over” the band went their separate ways.
After 30+ years, the band got back together, pushed by fans posting tons of their old demos online, and they have started working again on these ‘80s and ‘90s tunes, recording the Album That Never Was: “The Final Chapter”! Massive keyboards, big vocals, great chorus and tasty axework!
Fans of melodic ’80s rock are in for a treat as this album is packed full of exceptional songs, the kind that British AOR was built on.
If you like bands like Shy, Treat and Europe (Out Of This World-era), you will love GARRISON.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
1 Hold Back The Night
2 Lies
3 Never Let It Go
4 Too Far Gone
5 Stay With Me (Live)
6 Gimme Love
7 Falling
8 Here I Am (Live-Bonus)
9 Strange Kind Of Love (Live)
10 Outta Luck (Live)
11 Are You Ready? (1992)
12 I Need Your Love (7″ – 1986)
Garrison – The Final Chapter 2025 The ”Lost UK Jewels” Collectors Series, MP3+FLAC
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