In the mid-eighties in LA, there was band called NEWHAVEN that seemed very promising. They played pure American Hair Metal and had quite the following. Unfortunately, it never evolved into anything major, and it fizzed out, to be forgotten by many. Not by all, though, as FnA Records got in contact with drummer Todd Lane to put together an album with all kinds of songs the band had recorded and required throughout the years. This "NewHaven" album is the direct result of it all.

Let me start by warning you that you will endure all kinds of productional and sound qualities, from the absolute divine to bootleg quality and everything in between. The album starts of with "Rocking Chair" and "Part Of Me". This is pure AOR of the highest quality, and should have rivalled the likes of JOURNEY and FOREIGNER, and been in par with AXE and BALANCE. Two beautiful songs that have emotion, drive and passion. Beautiful.

"Draw The Line" is also quite good, but has a crap production. This Melodic Heavy Rocker could and would have befitted immensely from a good sound, as it is very much a diamond in the rough. "Long Night Out" is a pure Party Rocker, with the same pure sound as its predecessor. A very simple but effective and very pleasant song. From now on the real NEWHAVEN will arise, and show their appreciation to their peers VAN HALEN. "Who You Are" is a pure VAN HAGAR song, with the guitar sounds and the vocal lines like they would use. It makes it into a very nice tune, which, again, could have profited from a better production.

On "Love On The Rox" the sound quality is just about non-existent, but just distinguishable enough to be able to hear the VAN HALEN references come by on a regular basis. The following four songs, have a rather good sound, and you will be able to tell that NEWHAVEN did have a lot of promise and good music to offer, which makes it double a pity that this is the best they have to offer us. The last three songs are live recordings of debatable quality, but it does make you find out that the NEWHAVEN music also stays standing in a live setting. If redone properly all of the music on "NewHaven" could and would produce one hell of a record. It's a real pity they weren't able to do this.