SHAYNE MALONE – Stop Breaking My Heart (2025)

We already featured some albums from melodic rocker SHAYNE MALONE, the D.I.Y. New Zealand artist who write, perform and produce all his music.

Malone was raised on riffs and rhythm. His father’s band turned their living room into a jam space, and instruments were always within reach. By 12, Shayne had formed his first band and was playing live with seasoned musicians—holding his own, feeding off the energy, and never looking back.
As a teen he bought all the great records from Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Saxon. Then Bon Jovi hit the scene with Slippery When Wet, Def Leppard became huge, and Shane said to himself: “that’s what I want to be like”.
It was hard in New Zealand though as the rock scene is limited and there wasn’t the internet in those days. He needed to support his family, so went to law school and now works as lawyer by trade. It pays the bills and funds his music, Shane’s true passion.
Since the last two decades Malone put out full albums, EP’s and singles, and now is releasing “Stop Breaking My Heart“, including re-worked / remastered old songs and new ones. Mixing the melody of Bon Jovi, the catchiness of Blue Tears, and Def Leppard hooks with a modern edge, Shayne’s songs soar high: big choruses, raw emotion, and the kind of guitar-driven anthems that demand a crowd. He’s not chasing nostalgia—he’s proving stadium rock still slaps.

The title track brings back 1986, ‘Don’t Take My Life Away’ sounds like a lost Johnny Lima track, ‘Broken Land’ is a wonderful mid-80s U.S. melodic rocker, ‘Warm Up My Heart’ feels like a 7800º Fahrenheit outtake, then the pompy AOR ‘Take The Lead’ seems recorded ’84.
‘The Time Has Come’ takes the best of Winger’s first album, ‘Victim Of The Night’ has an atmosphere of second half from the ’80s British melodic rock, while ‘Blood On The Wall’ adds a modern, contemporary feel. To provide variation, ‘Who’s Your Hero’ add some electronics but at the core this is a melodic rocker.
On the ballad side, the acoustic ‘Who’s Your Hero’ inevitably recalls of Jon Bon Jovi 1990’s solo or Wanted Dead Or Alive’.

Alongside the likes of Dallas or Jace Pawlak, Shane Malone proves that if you have the skills – and the passion – to write & arrange an ’80s inspired tune, it’s possible to craft a wonderful album by yourself.
Highly Recommended

 

01 – Stop Breaking My Heart
02 – Don’t Take My Life Away
03 – Broken Land
04 – Ending Of My Story
05 – Cowboy Rides
06 – Warm Up My Heart
07 – Take The Lead
08 – The Time Has Come
09 – Victim Of The Night
10 – Blood On The Wall
11 – Who’s Your Hero
12 – Rain
13 – The Lady

All instruments and vocals by Shayne Malone
Written, recorded, produced, and mastered by Shayne Malone

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