CAROLINE BLUE

Caroline Blue: Not For The Innocent


Classy hard rock on the border to powerful melodic metal (or something like that...) is what you will find on the second release of CAROLINE BLUE "Not Fot The Innocent" (the previous release was an EP called "Slave to the Hourglass"). Two things are common to be found in the three to four minutes long songs: A hooking riff that is strummed more or less, and the tasteful and good vocals of mastermind Wayne W. Johnson which cummulate in straight forward chorusses. These chorusses let you sing along first time around and make you raise your fist and shout. Sometimes I feel reminded of the similar sounding Moore, who also recently released a very convincing album "Bleed".

Songs like the hard rocking twins "Our Love is Wasted" and "Love Me or Leave Me..." or the ballad "Stay" are stereotype "Hard Rockers" (by the way: Please don't do that thing with the distorted vocals on "Out Of My Life (I Want You)..." again, okay?) - But there surely are enough rockers out there that demand songs exactely like that. Somehow CAROLINE BLUE are a car driving band. They make you wanna roll down your windows and show the world what hard rock sounds like in 2008.

Unfortunatly this release is just a printed CD-R, but it comes with a booklet (containing all the lyrics) and a printed back cover.
Get in touch with this band and ask for the price. This is something hard rockers should definately give a try.
http://www.myspace.com/carolineblue
(c) 2008, Michael Kohsiek
- sacredmetal.de (Germany)

CAROLINE BLUE ‘SLAVE TO THE HOURGLASS’ (WWJ PRODUCTIONS)


Classic 80s US Melodic Hardrock reminding a lot of 80s KISS, KEEL and some DANGER DANGER. Especially the PAUL STANLEYish vocals of singer (and guitarist) Wayne W. Johnson are making them sound a lot like 80s KISS. 5 songs are on the CD of this New York based band and the reason why it sounds that 80s orientated is the fact that the songs were written some 15 years ago! Nevertheless, this is cool in your face 80s Melodic Hardrock with strong vocals, especially on uptempo songs like “Slave to the hourglass” and “The queen of pleasure” (hell yeah! Best song with flashy guitarwork and a strong catchy sound a la LOUD AND CLEAR’s debut). A definite must-have for fans of 80s Hair Metal! More info at: http://carolineblue.com and e-mail at: carolineblue13@yahoo.com



(Points: 8.1 out of 10)

- Strutter'Zine (The Netherlands)-12/18/2005

(Heavy Metal) "Not For The Innocent," Caroline Blue, Independant Recording

Wayne W. Johnson and Monster Mike Merrifield cooked up a dozen blazing songs on "Not For the Innocent."

Caroline Blue likes to churn things up heavy-metal style. Johnson's voice snarls the thick and edgy "Deny."

"Won't Be Home Tonight" employs a sweeter vocal sound and echoes with big sonics.

But the coolest song is "Far Away From Home." It starts off as an acoustic ballad about a tired and cold girl on the side of the road. As she thinks back to a better day, the song soars tantalizingly into fast and electric places.

Catch a show: More gigs will be announced later.

On the Internet: The band's website is www.carolineblue.com

- Mark Bialczak-Music Editor

Utica,NY

-The newest incarnation of CAROLINE BLUE has been together since November...Based out of Syracuse,the trio is pushing to become a regional band...Wayne Johnson, CB's lead singer and guitarist, said his band, which he originally stated in 2000, is "melodic hard rock"-in the vein KISS.

-"For me personally, KISS and Motley Crue are my inspirations." Johnson said. "We still do some cover songs at our shows, but most of our stage time is devoted to our originals"....

-The other band mambers are "Metal" J. Morey on drums and Billy Pierce on bass.

-Johnson said the band's name comes from a place where he used to work. There. they had code names, called Carolines that had a different color attached depending on the emergency. He liked CAROLINE BLUE, and thought it wouldn't pidgeon-hole the group into a certain genre of music.

-Johnson used to be a member of Four Large Men, which played at the Rock 'N Roll Preserve in the 1990's. He hopes CB can make it's way into the Utica area.

-"We want to go as far as we can," Johnson said. "We want to go forward until we can't move forward anymore."

-This weekend catch CAROLINE BLUE Friday Jan.14, at Murphy's ,107 West Fayette St. (Syracuse,NY), and Saturday,Jan.15, at Roche's Tavern in South Edmenston (NY). - Jessica Ryen-Weekend Plus Interview-1/13/2005

Syracuse,NY

-When singer Wayne Johnson put together his dream heavy metal band in 2000, he dipped into his working man days at Wal-Mart to choose a great name.

-In Sam-Land, the code "Caroline Blue" meant there was a medical emergency.

-In Syracuse, the name Caroline Blue has meant very hot and hard rock ever since.

-The disc from Johnson and band mates Billy Pierce on bass and Metal J on drums features songs that have plenty of sizzle and more than enough meat on the bone.

-In the opener,"Too Late," Johnson sings "Take it or leave it, that's what you gotta do." And that's an order.

-"Slave to the Hourglass" is a true workingman's heavy metal blues as Johnson laments,"I just might lose my mind" from the 9-to-5 life.

-The band's website is www.carolineblue.com - Mark Bialczak-The Post Standard-2/20/2005

Hamilton,NY

-Central New York musicians are reaching all new audiences allover the area thanks to Underground Video Television, a public access showcase of local band videos and interviews.

-Wayne Johnson, front man for the Syracuse-area rockers CAROLINE BLUE, saw his band's fourth video-a live rendition of their original "Mine,Mine,Mine"...debut this month on the hour long show...While videos were once an extravagance reserved for richer, national acts, UVTV makes it possible for regional bands to get in on the fun, and profitable, creation of their own videos.

-"It's a real cool idea, and we got to reach alot more people because it's shown in places we haven't played. As soon as I heard about UVTV, I jumped on it right away," Wayne said, complimenting UVTV's Rich Stahle as the driving force behind the show. "It's cheaper to go thru UMTV than to have a video production studio do it, and I don't know why more bands don't take advantage of it."

-Videos created by Rich can be either straight forward concert performances, like CAROLINE BLUE's live segments, or concept videos, like the second CAROLINE BLUE version of "Mine,Mine,Mine." Rich can translate a band's ideas into reality, Wayne said, and most of the work is done by Rich himself on his home computer.

-Wayne, one of the most professional promoters in the area, said when he saw CAROLINE BLUE's first video appear on the show he knew he was getting into a whole new and exciting stage of the music business.

-"The first time you see yourself performing in a video is a great experience," he said.

-For more info and downloads of local music videos, check out the UVTV website at http://uvtv.info/. The show is on Thursday nights at 8:30 PM on Channel 98 for Syracuse Time Warner subscribers, Wednesday nights at 11 PM on Ch.99 on Rome Time Warner, and Saturday & Sunday nights at 10 PM on Ch. 3 on Utica Adelphia Cable.

-While you're on the internet, don't forget to check out the CAROLINE BLUE website at http://carolineblue.com/ - Mike Jaquays Interview for the Mid-York Weekly & Pennysaver 1/29/2004

This release is really hot. Caroline Blue released their debut demo CD the first week of December. The title of this CD is "Slave to the Hourglass" and they have included five songs. The band comes from United States and musically they walks in the melodic rock paths with some elements from Glam rock too. Their songs are really good for the American listeners and their rock is good enough for the other side of ocean; i can say that the second track from this demo was my favorite one. As this is their debut release i can say that they had done their best but always it can be better and better. For sure they have the abilities to make something really interesting and remarkable, the thing is to continue their hard work and i hope they will have some results in the near future. I will wait for their next step. Until then.....

SCORE out of 7.0/10 Antonis Maglaras
- Antonis Maglaras (Greece)-1/21/2006

"Slave To The Hourglass"

2005 Private Pressing (25:19)

Everytime I review an album on these sites every reader can be sure that it is a TRUE one. That's justmy favourite music. So it is no wonder that I like this album (okay, more a longer EP) as well. This time it is a classic Hardrock/Metal instead of a Power Metal release. These guys ROCK and you could call their musical style Partymetal (Hairmetal) indeed. This album relaxes your limbs, doesn't bother you and makes you sing together with the boys. All five tracks (the hidden tracks is totally unimportant) are kind of a combination of elder heroes just like Motley Crue, Ratt, a little bit of Priest and a singer who definitely seems to spend his spare time listening to the complete programm of Kiss. Not the highest peak of Metal for sure but nevertheless worth listening. The instrumental transposition is well done as well. Well known guitar sounds of my favourite era give a smooth massage to my eardrums and are kind of a relief for my ageing bones. A visit of the band's homepage is recommended. www.carolineblue.com

RonJacMetal

Translation: Peter Schulien - RonJacMetal,metal-rules.de-Germany-6/09/2006

CAROLINE BLUE - Slave to the Hourglass
Self Financed

Heavy Rock / Metal

5 songs (19:14)
Release year: 2006

Caroline Blue is a three piece band from upstate New York that really knows how to rock. After listening to this EP a few times, I thought to myself that these guys have captured the spirit of Kiss, Mötley Crüe, and even a bit of Motörhead very well. Afterwards, I ventured onto the band's website, and found that they compared themselves to Kiss, Mötley Crüe, and Judas Priest. There have been numerous times in the past where I've disagreed with a band's description of their sound, but the guy of Caroline Blue know exactly what they're doing, and are very good at it.

These five tracks are no frill, heavy rock anthems that melt the attitude of early Mötley Crüe with the party / arena rock catchiness and fun of Kiss. Some of the heavy riffing (such as can be found in The Queen of Pleasure) and blazing solos remind me of Motörhead as well. Musically speaking, Caroline Blue delivers a solid wall that is sure to get your neck moving. The riffs have a raw, in your face edge that add a lot of character to the band's sound. Ensuring that the impact of the music is not lost, the bass guitar has a bold presence that provides a full and complete sound. Sonically speaking, this CD is very polished and professional sounding for a self financed release. Each instrument is mixed at the proper level, and the sound is clear, without losing it's hard edge. Vocalist Wayne Johnson sounds very similar to Paul Stanley, but certainly is not trying to sound like a clone. Obviously, his delivery is a perfect fit for this style of classic heavy rock music. The man does not fail to deliver as he sounds very motivated and into his music, judging from these 5 songs. Of the 5 songs featured on this EP, I found each one to have lasting value and provide me with a nice kick in the rear to get my blood moving. If the band can come up with an entire album of this quality, they mold a nice career for themselves.

Fans of 80's heavy rock with an attitude should stop by Caroline Blue's website (link at the top of the review) and learn more about this band. As the band continues to improve and (hopefully) secures a record contract (and recording budget), I envision one hell of a debut album coming from Caroline Blue.

Killing Songs : Slave to the Hourglass, Hard Life, The Queen of Pleasure

Mike 76 / 100
- Mike Stockdale-METAL REVIEWS