_{This is one of those occasions when I realise that I’m not at all familiar with the work of a rock band that has been around for many years and released numerous studio albums in the process. On this occasion its Italian band Secret Sphere and they’ve released seven studio albums in almost 20 years. They certainly aren’t alone in that category – there are many bands, including some high profile ones, that I’ve just never taken the time to check out! The release of the live album “One Night In Tokyo” has provided the opportunity to listen to Secret Sphere and I liked what I heard! The album was released via Frontiers Music on 14^th October. A studio recording of “Lie To Me” featuring Anette Olzon on vocals; which is a bonus track on the album, featured on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 28th October.}

_{Power metal band Secret Sphere started off in Italy in 1997. Only 2 of the original members remain in the band – guitarist Aldo Lonobile and bass player Andy Buratto. Vocalist Michele Luppi took over from original singer Roberto “Ramon” Messina in 2012 for the release of the album “Portrait Of A Dying Heart”. The other members of the band are Marco Pastorino on guitar, Gabriele Ciaccia on keyboards and Marco Lazzarini on drums. Michele Luppi may be known to many as the keyboard player in Whitesnake.}

_{There are 15 live tracks on the album, recorded in Tokyo during a tour to support the release of a special anniversary edition of the album “A Time Never Come”. The bonus track that I played on the Show is a new recording of the track “Lie To Me” that was originally on the album “Portrait Of A Dying Heart” and features former Nightwish singer Anette Olzon.}

_{Check out the band’s website - http://www.secretsphere.org/site/}

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_{About “NI Rocks Recommends”}

_{The simple idea behind “NI Rocks Recommends” is to acknowledge and promote some of the great music being submitted to Rock Radio NI. I'll not be giving marks or ratings or analyzing the tracks in great detail; just telling you something about the artist and the album. It’s a personal recommendation to go check something out, not a traditional “review”!}

_{My musical tastes cover most things rock; from the not too melodic to the not too heavy. The albums that I’ll be recommending are those that you’ll hear me playing tracks from on my shows on Rock Radio NI.}

_{Check out NI Rocks on Facebook – www.facebook.com/NIRocks or Twitter - www.twitter.com/NIrelandRocks}

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