Here's a review of the NFTI CD by Joe Milliken from the Spring 2009 Edition of Limelight Magazine-based in Massachusetts (USA).

CAROLINE BLUE POISED TO TAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD BY JOE MILLIKEN

CAROLINE BLUE, a melodic-metal band hailing from Syracuse, NY, is well, not so much a traditional metal band during the recording of their disc Not For The Innocent, as it is mostly the musical brainchild of one singer/ songwriter/ guitarist (and now) bassist Wayne W. Johnson.

Reminiscent musically perhaps of a current L.A. Guns or Dokken, while vocally most certainly that of KISS' Paul Stanley, Johnson wrote and recorded the 12 original tracks on Not For The Innocent almost entirely on his own, due to mostly scheduling conflicts with band mates Joe Boyle (drums) and Johnny Sniper (bass). Not an easy task, when you consider the project took over a year to complete.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Scott Patnode at Strangeland Audio Studios in Phoenix, NY, Johnson handles not only the guitar and vocals, but also takes over bass duties as well. "Monster" Mike Merrifield also pitches in on drums.

Not For The Innocent certainly runs the gamut of metal textures, from fist pumping anthems like "Our Love is Wasted" and "Love Me orLeave Me", to the slowed down and heavier "Pain" and "Deny" to the acoustic power ballad "Stay." The track "Far Away From Home" seems to even have a classic 70's, acoustic UFO feel to it, although the vocal aspect fall a little short. However the effort to change things up is there.

Overall Not For The Innocent is certainly a step up in style for CAROLINE BLUE, who in the past have been pinned as a "KISS clone." Yet Johnson gets kudos here for creating different textures and tempos, showing that he is not only willing, but capable of expanding his repertoire.

Vocally it needs to somehow get stronger in order to match the power of the songs, but this band is on the right track. Oh, and the man can also cut one hell of a guitar solo! CAROLINE BLUE seems poised to take another step forward, so let's get the whole band in there and perhaps a guest vocalist  for some stronger vocal harmonies and let's see where Johnson & company can go next.

Joe Milliken is a freelance writer & music journalist based in Vermont. Check out his website at www.jemwriting.com 

Here's a review from Fred Mika for Stryke Virtual metal magazine & Promotion-based in Brazil. We used Google Translator to go from Portuguese to English-and kept the translation as is. Enjoy!


This band is from the U.S. city of Syracuse, NY The sound of Caroline Blue is very similar and the Kiss (in which the timbre of lead singer Wayne W. Johnson is also so much like that of Stanley). Wayne is also the lead guitarist.

Besides the obvious influence of Kiss in their sound, note also elements or influences of other groups of Californian hard rock eighties-like Dokken and LA Guns, and even something heavy / thrash like Megadeth in the sound of Caroline Blue.

Well, this band has released two albums, Slave To The Hourglass in 2004 and this latest, in 2007 and sold separately through the Internet. And in the latter contains ten compositions (and still having the main influence Kiss) which vary as well between them, some heavier and faster as the opening track on the album, "Our Love Is Wasted", "" Love Me or Leave Me " , "Pain", "I've Seen The Light
Tonight, "" Inside "and" Nothing Will Satisfy You. " These tracks are then overflowing energy embedded in hard rock with sharp guitars and well in the face distorted. Focus on the compositions as a whole and the good  voice and creativity of the singer.

There are also tracks with a heavy but progress has more rhythmic, more drawn as in "Deny," "Out Of My Life (I Want You)," "Will not Be Home Tonight" and "Dead Or Alive." They are tracks that have a job but fits perfectly straight and steady bass and drums, respectively Andy "Doc" Gore and Joe Boyle.
Moreover, as could not be any hard rock band so if prey, the Caroline Blue has a few ballads on tracks like "Stay" and "Far Away From Home". While the former is more animated, almost a ballad pop-rock if not for the dramatic interpretation of the singer, the second is more melancholy ballad, with a slower tempo and strumming guitars.

The band also received positive reviews in various reviews around the world and probably tried to close with a good manager and a producer responsible, Caroline Blue could already be climbing many steps up the musical world today.
Take for example the booklet of the album Not For Innocent, which could be better produced. Everything is very simple to make like a pirate sleeve, though within the same include the essential and indispensable today (lyrics, credits and contact information) contributed to the recorded music market worldwide. That the band had the conscience to put the booklet in any case should be better prepared and better prepared and appearance.

What about the music, as I said earlier, they are very varied and never left the hearing with that feeling of boredom and also have a good audio production, all well mixed and well mastered.

It is a band that does not add anything new to the style, but do your homework and does well not dropping the ball at any time. Who is a fan of Kiss should probably also enjoy the Caroline Blue.

(Fred Mika)


Essa banda é proveniente da cidade americana de Syracuse, N.Y. O som do Caroline Blue se assemelha e muito ao do Kiss (sendo que o timbre do vocalista Wayne W. Johson é também parecidíssimo com o de Paul Stanley). Wayne também é o guitarrista do grupo.
Alem da notória influência do Kiss no som deles, nota se também elementos ou influências de outros grupos de hard rock californiano oitentista como Dokken e L.A. Guns e até de algo do heavy/thrash como o Megadeth no som do Caroline Blue.
Pois bem, essa banda já lançou dois álbuns, Slave To The Hourglass em 2004 e esse mais recente, em 2007 e os vendem de forma independente através da internet. E nesse último contém dez composições (e ainda tendo o Kiss como principal influência) que variam bem entre elas, algumas mais pesadas e rápidas como a faixa de abertura do álbum, �Our Love Is Wasted�, ��Love Me Or Leave Me�, �Pain�, �I�ve Seen The Light
Tonight�, �Inside� e �Nothing Will Satisfy You�. Estas daí são faixas que transbordam energia embutida num hard rock cortante com guitarras na cara e bem distorcidas. Destaque para as composições como um todo e pela boa empostação de voz e criatividade do cantor.
Há também faixas pesadas porém com um andamento já mais cadenciado, mais arrastado como em �Deny�, �Out Of My Life (I Want You)�, �Won�t Be Home Tonight� e �Dead Or Alive�. São faixas que possuem um trabalho reto mas bem encaixado, bem constante de baixo e batera, respectivamente Andy �Doc� Gore e Joe Boyle.
Alem disso, como não podia deixar de ser a toda banda de hard rock assim que se preza, o Caroline Blue apresenta algumas baladas como nas faixas �Stay� e �Far Away From Home�. Enquanto a primeira é mais animada, quase que uma balada de pop-rock se não fosse a interpretação dramática do vocalista, a segunda balada é mais melancólica, com um andamento mais lento e com violões dedilhando.
A banda ainda recebeu várias críticas positivas em varias resenhas pelo mundo todo e, provavelmente, se tentasse fechar com um bom empresário e com um produtor competente, o Caroline Blue poderia já estar galgando vários degraus acima atualmente no mundo musical.
Vejamos por exemplo o encarte do álbum Not For Innocent, que poderia ser melhor produzido. Tudo é muito simples que faz até parecer um encarte pirata, apesar de que no interior do mesmo constar os requisitos essenciais e atualmente indispensáveis (letras das músicas, ficha técnica e informações para contatos) para o concorrido mercado fonográfico mundial. Isso a banda teve a consciência de colocar no encarte que de qualquer forma deveria ser melhor produzido e melhor elaborado quanto a aparência.
E em relação às musicas, como disse anteriormente, elas são bem variadas não deixando o ouvindo com aquela sensação de tédio e também contam com uma boa produção áudio, tudo bem mixado e bem masterizado.
É uma banda que não acrescenta nada de novo ao estilo, porém faz o dever de casa e o faz bem feito não deixando a peteca cair em momento algum. Para quem é fã do Kiss provavelmente deverá gostar também do Caroline Blue.          

(Fred Mika)

Click here to see the actual review on the Stryke website!

Get your own Poll!

-It's been awhile since we've posted up some new CD reviews on CAROLINE BLUE's music-mainly cause the band has been busy on the live front and we've been reporting on that. But the band has been receiving some new reviews as of late and now it's time to share them with you!

-1st up is a great review from the Metal to Infinity Website based in Belgium. The link is http://mtibelgium.00freehost.com/CarolineblueCDreviewNotfortheinnocent.html and here's the review-word for word..

Time for some real American music, more specifically described as a mixture between Hard Rock and Heavy Metal played in a vintage, groovy way. By using 'the net', I stay in contact with Caroline Blue's mastermind Wayne W. Johnson during a few years now - each time a new work is ready to unleash he send a copy to review on Metal To Infinity webzine - thx a ton bro!

O, CB is not a stranger for our webzine... through an interview I had quite a while ago, Wayne told me about the early days of existence and plenty more... feel free to check it out right HERE. His favourite musician is Paul Stanley from Kiss fame and that is something he can't hide while doing his job as singer. On previous Caroline Blue releases, it was obvious all over who were the inspirations came from.

On the new album ''Not For The Innocent'', there is a progress noticeable - also, a big step in straight to originality is remarkable. Especially his vocal use on the new album is better than ever before to me... individuals never heard Wayne's before, well let me give it a try to describe as a blend of Paul Stanley (Kiss), Mat Barlow (Iced Earth) and a bit of Joey Belladonna from Anthrax. Take this for what it's worth ... always better to find out and make up your own mind you know! Big step forward concerning the vocal use, Wayne also takes control over all guitar and bass duties on ''NFTI'' which is actually an independent release. Pity for a great band like CB but that's the way it goes in the world of Rock and Metal nowadays. You know my vision about that case: sometimes unreal / bad sounding bands walk away with a record deal while real good formations left behind without a contract. It's not fair to me but what to do about it eh...

Twelve new songs on ''Not For The Innocent'', the production is real good and the most important fact above all is that the music will Rock your brains out for sure. Driven by hard ripping, groovy guitars - this output really hits the deck pretty hard and mean as hell. It all took some time to complete everything to unleash finally but it was worth to wait definitely. Heavy, groovy and melodic with lots of 'classic' vibes, these present songs are 'not for the innocent' but for 'real hard rock 'n' rolling maniacs only who likes it rough, loud and heavy... going crazy is the only way out!  

Make a fist, stand your ground and krank it up with songs like 'Our Love Is Wasted', 'Love Me Or Leave Me', 'Pain', 'I've Seen The Light Tonight',.... To me, 'Not For The Innocent' is Caroline Blue's best album up to date - especially fanatics of Classic Hard Rock and Metal music will be impressed with this product. Watch for Caroline Blue at: http://carolineblue.com/  or  via Myspace by clicking HERE. MY POINTS: 85 / 100

-Next up is a short review from the Website Struuterzine based in The Netherlands.The link is at http://strutter77.angelfire.com/HOTNEWREVIEWS137.htm


CAROLINE BLUE ‘NOT FOR THE INNOCENT’ (WWJ PRODUCTIONS)

Out of New York comes CAROLINE BLUE, a band formed around vocalist/guitarist/bassist WAYNE W. JOHNSON. He is responsible for almost everything on the new CD of CAROLINE BLUE, a band we reviewed a few years ago (2005: ‘Slave to the hourglass’). Musically it is filled with typical 80s Hardrock, not far away from a band like KEEL or HELIX. 12 songs are included and although the lyrics are very cliché tingled and the music is also not that original (also a bit 80s KISS), fans of this kind of Rock and Roll will certainly enjoy songs like “Love me or leave me”, “Stay”, “Out of my life”, “I’ve seen the light tonight” and “Won’t be home tonight” that all are pure 80s Hardrocksongs, more info at: http://carolineblue.com

(Points: 8.0 out of 10)

Next up is a review from the Oblivion Website in Germany. The link is at http://www.obliveon.de/pn-om/modules.php?op=modload&name=tplcdimport&file=index&req=showcontent&id=12681&cfletter=C

Here's the German version

Die New Yorker Caroline Blue um Sänger, Gitarrist und Bassist Wayne W. Johnson legen anno 2009 mit „Not For The Innocent“ ein zweites Album vor, das wie schon der Vorgänger gutklassigen Hardrock am Rande zum Metal bietet. Zwar hört man an vereinzelten Stellen noch immer Vorbilder wie Kiss oder auch Mötley Crüe durch, aber das Songwriting von Mr. Johnson scheint doch gereift und wirkt eigenständiger als noch auf „Slave To The Hourglass“. Zwar bieten die - zeitlich und musikalisch – auf Airplay getrimmten Songs oftmals Klischeetexte, aber die insgesamt zwölf Songs weisen doch das eine oder andere nette Riff auf. In „Deny“ gibt es glatt mal ein walzenartiges Riff, während „Stay“ eher die typische Ballade ist. Insgesamt ist Wayne mit „Not For The Innocent“ ein passables Hardrock-Album gelungen, das durchaus seine Fans finden sollte, wenngleich der letzte Schliff an den Gesangsmelodien noch fehlt. Anspieltipps: „I..ve Seen The Light Tonight“ und „Far Away From Home“. Ordern könnt ihr die CD übrigens bei CDbaby oder http://www.carolineblue.com bzw. http://www.myspace.com/carolinebluenotfortheinnocent
6,5/10 - SBr

In English...

The New Yorker Caroline Blue by singer, guitarist and bassist Wayne W. Johnson put anno 2009 with "Not For The Innocent" a second album, which like its predecessor gutklassigen hard rock at the edge to the metal offers. Although one hears at isolated places are still role models such as Kiss or Mötley Crüe, but the songwriting of Mr. Johnson seems mature and acts as an independent or to "Slave To The Hourglass." Although the offer - time and musically - on airplay songs often trimmed texts cliché, but the twelve songs are but one or the other nice riff on. In "Deny", there are times a smooth roller-like riff, while "Stay" is more typical ballad is. Overall, Wayne with "Not For The Innocent" a passable rock album succeeded by his fans, the place, although the final touch to the vocal melodies still missing. Anspieltipps: "I've Seen The Light Tonight" and "Far Away From Home." You can order the CD at CDbaby or incidentally http://www.carolineblue.com or http://www.myspace.com/carolinebluenotfortheinnocent
6.5 / 10 - SBR

-Next is from the OnThe Road Website which is based in Japan but written for the South American market. Here's the link http://ontheroadmagazine.blogspot.com/search/label/Caroline%20Blue

And the review....(both in Portugese & English)

A banda americana Caroline Blue nos presenteiam com um hard rock nos moldes mais clássicos, mas também conta com alguns momentos mais puxados para o heavy metal.
Antes deste álbum, a banda tinha apenas um EP chamado "Slave to the Hourglass" de 2005, e agora a banda volta a cena com o seu novo álbum intitulado "Not for the Innocent".
A primeira coisa que neste álbum salta aos ouvidos, são os bons riffs, solos e linhas vocais pegajosas, o vocalista/guitarrista Wayne W. Johnson soube encaixar os seus vocais com a guitarra que ele toca com muito bom gosto, tudo isso somado a uma boa produção para um cd independente. A banda é completada por Andy "Doc" Gore(Bass/ Backing Vocals) e Joe Boyle (Drums/ Backing Vocals).
As 2 primeiras faixas já mostram o estilo do álbum, as faixas "Our Love is Wasted" e "Love Me or Leave Me" vão na linha hard rock, com um certo peso, e na segunda faixa mencionada os riffs são destaque, além de linhas vocais interessantes e refrão para cantar junto.
O interessante é que a banda não chega a lembrar muito outras bandas do estilo, talvez soando mais como Caroline Blue mesmo, e isso é um ponto positivo e faz uma grande diferença.
Claro, temos também um certo peso, isso pode ser encontrado na faixa "Pain", além de um instrumental empolgante, os vocais nesta mostram-se uma certa diferença, com um vocal mais grave com backing vocals interessantes, mais ou menos como o Iced Earth faz nas baladas.
Este cd foi lançado apenas em cd-r, infelizmente algumas vezes as bandas são obrigadas a lançar o seu trabalho desta forma, mas de qualquer forma se você se interessou pela banda, entre em contato com eles, pois vale a pena.

Rating: 7.5/10

Contato/Contact:
http://carolineblue.com
www.myspace.com/carolineblue

The American band Blue Caroline in the present with a hard rock in the way more traditional, but also has a few more moments pulled the heavy metal.
Before this album, the band had only one EP called "Slave to the hourglass", 2005, and now the band returns to the scene with his new album entitled "Not for the Innocent."
The first thing that jumps to listen album, are good riffs, solos and vocal lines sticky, the vocalist / guitarist Wayne W. Johnson knew fit their voice with the guitar he plays with very good taste, all together a good production for a CD independently. The band is completed by Andy "Doc" Gore (Bass / Backing Vocals) and Joe Boyle (Drums / Backing Vocals).
The first 2 bands already show the style of the album, the songs "Our Love is Wasted" and "Love Me or Leave Me" are on the line hard rock, with a certain weight, and the second song mentioned the riffs are prominent, and interesting vocal lines and chorus to sing along.
What is interesting is that the band is not enough to remember much other bands of the style, maybe sounding even more like Caroline Blue, and this is a good thing and makes a big difference.
Of course, we also have a certain weight, this can be found on the band "Pain", and an exciting instrumental, the vocals in this show is some difference, with a more serious voice with backing vocals interesting, more or less like the Iced Earth is in the ballads.
This cd was released only on cd-r, unfortunately sometimes the bands are forced to start its work this way, but in any event if you are interested by the band, contact them, it is worth.

Rating: 7.5/10

Contact / Contact:
http://carolineblue.com
www.myspace.com / carolineblue

Hi There,

-As some of you may know, My Space now allows the players on Music pages to hold up to 10 songs-up 4 from the previous 6. So we're going to add 4 more songs from our "Not For The Innocent" CD-but which ones? That's where we need your help and input. Go to the CAROLINE BLUE Reverbnation Page and listen to the following songs (you can check out the rest of them too!)....

-Our Love is Wasted

-I've Seen The Light Tonight

-Far Away From Home

-Won't Be Home Tonight

-Inside

-Dead or Avive


-Then come back here and rank them from most liked to least liked. At the end of May we'll tally up the votes and add the 4 top voted songs onto our player. Thank you all so very much & best wishes to you all.

Check it out by clicking HERE and don't forget to listen to the rest of the promo after the song!

Hiya!

-We just received word that CAROLINE BLUE's CD "Not For The Innocent" has just been reviewed on the Sacred Metal (Germany) website

-This is based in Germany and the review itself is in German. However thanks to Neferblue, we got a word for word translation from Horatio C. Luvcraft Thanks to you both for your help-it's much appreciated! And now, here's the review!

 

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

 

Caroline Blue: Not For The Innocent

Gutklassigen Hard Rock an der Grenze zum powervollen Melodic Metal (oder so...) bieten Caroline Blue auf ihrem Zweitling "Not For The Innocent" (zuvor veröffentlichte man eine EP namens "Slave To The Hourglass"). Bei den grundsätzlich zwischen drei und vier Minuten ins Ziel laufenden Songs stehen zwei Dinge im Vordergrund: Ein mal mehr, mal weniger durchschlagendes Riff, welches sich durch den Song zieht sowie die vom guten Gesang des Masterminds Wayne W. Johnson getragenen Melodien, die oft in einen eingängigen Refrains münden, den man bereits beim ersten Mal mit hoch gereckter Faust mitbrüllen könnte. Ab und an erinnert man an die stilistisch ähnlich gelagerten Moore, die auf ihrem letzten Werk "Bleed" ebenfalls meist überzeugen konnten.

Songs wie der hardrockende Doppelschlag "Our Love Is Wasted" und "Love Me Or Leave Me" oder die Ballade "Stay" sind selbstverständlich klischeegetränkte Hard Rocker (das mit den verzerrten Vocals in "Out Of My Life" macht ihr aber bitte nicht nochmal, okay?) - aber es gibt ja immer noch genügend Rocker dort draußen, die es genauso haben wollen. Caroline Blue sind irgendwie eine Autofahrband - man möchte sein Fenster herunterkurbeln und der Welt dort draußen zeigen, wie Hard Rock 2008 klingen kann

Leider handelt es sich bei dieser VÖ "nur" um eine bedruckte CDR, die jedoch mit Booklet (inkl. allen Texten) und (gedrucktem) Backcover ausgestattet ist. Meldet euch bei der Band und fragt nach dem Preis - Hard Rocker dürfen hier gerne mal reinhören!

http://www myspace.com/carolineblue

(c) 2008, Michael Kohsiek

CAROLINE BLUE's new CD "Not For The Innocent" was reviewed by  Mark Bialczak for The Post Standard/Stars Newspaper today. Below is what was written......

(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

CAROLINE BLUE's CD "Not For The Innocent" can now be purchased thru CD BABY and ROCK STAKK RECORDS (Japan)

Here's a review of CAROLINE BLUE's new CD "Not For The Innocent" found on West Side Dave's website. WSD's website is a vast array of reviews, interviews & more including Joe Lynn Turner, Rich Williams (Kansas), Bob Daisley, Stefan Leibing (Primal Fear) & many more (including a few with CB's WWJ!)! Click HERE to check out the page of the review and from there you can explore the rest of his site! Below is WSD's review...

Caroline Blue-"Not For The Innocent"-2007

"Not For The Innocent" is the latest release for Syracuse Hard Rockers Caroline Blue, and it`s certainly their best yet! This album finds the band at the crossroads of their career; while the Kiss elements of past releases still abound [particularly in the vocals], "NFTI" shows CB finding their own identity. It`s also their most focused release to date. Lyrically, the band have kept things more street level, though the subject matter seems to derive a bit more from personal experience, which usually makes for some good material. This time out, guitarist/vocalist Wayne W. Johnson also assumes bass duties, and is joined on the album by drummer "Monster" Mike Merrifield. The disc took quite a while to complete, and was recorded, mixed and mastered by Scott Patnode at Strangeland Audio studios in Phoenix, NY, which is only 10 minutes from yours truly! Track One is "Our Love Is Wasted", a fist-pumping anthem that kicks of the proceedings nicely; it`s the type of song that CB does well, and holds the listener`s attention throughout. Next up is "Love Me Or Leave Me" and sees the band adding a more "Modern" touch to their trademark style, though in subtle shades. "Deny" sounds at times downright funky, further proof of the bands` willingness to expand musically but still remain within their established structure. Other highlights include the ballad "Stay" and "Pain", which is one of the best cuts on the album. Also worth mentioning are "Out Of My Life [I Want You]" and the flashy "I`ve Seen The light Tonight", which features yet another memorable riff from Mr. Johnson. All told, another solid effort from a band that obviously has no intention of confining themselves TOO much to established patterns. "Not For The Innocent" shows that Caroline Blue are able to stretch out [but not sell out!] in order to ensure both their own musical growth, as well as keeping their fans happy. A tightrope walk to be sure, but it`s not work if you truly love what you do, something clearly on display here. Highly recommended!!!!!

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