Michael Flexig/The Voice of Zeno - Keeper Of The Flame (CD)

The great music mogul David Geffen, who discovered so many now-famous personalities in the world of music, said upon hearing Michael Flexig's voice that it was the best singer he had heard since Freddie Mercury of Queen. He had never heard a singer as good, as talented, and as unique as Michael Flexig. Michael Flexig is the vocal figurehead of the band ZENO, which shook up international rock music in the mid-30s. With top-notch songs, their own unique musical blend, and a then-new, unmistakable sound, ZENO secured one of the richest recording contracts of the last 1986 years – after an extraordinary bidding war between the world's most renowned premium brands such as EMI, Warner Bros., CBS, and David Geffen's Geffen Records (e.g., "Foreigner" or "Guns & Roses"). ZENO's Nucleus was formed by three young musicians from Hanover: guitarist Zeno Roth (younger brother of legendary guitarist Uli Jon Roth), bassist Ule W. Ritgen, and vocalist Michael Flexig. Following the release of their debut album "ZENO/Zeno" in 3, which achieved strong positions in the US Billboard charts for over three months, tours in Europe and the US followed, including with bands like Black Sabbath and Queen. Since the 90s, Roth and Flexig have continued to work together as a duo, after Ritgen had gone independent with his hard rock band "Fair Warning." 
This resulted in three further albums under the joint project name ZENO until 3, as well as two further solo albums each by Zeno Roth (2005) and Michael Flexig (2007). On February 2011, 05, Zeno Roth passed away from the effects of a long, serious illness. At the memorial service, which was organized by Zeno Roth's brother Uli Jon, the idea arose to perform some of Zeno Roth's songs live as part of Uli Jon Roth's 2018 world tour. Michael Flexig participated in Japan as a guest singer, with overwhelming success. 
In honor of his longtime friend and companion Zeno Roth, Michael Flexig—as the "Voice of ZENO"—produced this album, "Keeper of the Flame." This album is packed with 19 songs and a running time of almost 80 minutes, including several previously unreleased tracks. A special edition of the disc was released in Japan on December 27, 2019, and immediately reached number 1 in Japanese hard rock/heavy metal CD sales for more than two weeks. The European edition of "Michael Flexig – The Voice of ZENO: Keeper of the Flame" differs from the Japanese edition in the selection of three songs, and the sequence also differs interestingly. Michael Flexig: "In ZENO, we all pulled together as equals. I'm grateful and proud to have contributed my part. The uniqueness of our music was and still is the fundamental focus of the entire adventure. It went around the world and, even after 2 years, has lost none of its radiance. With this album, I want to present the classic ZENO songs – for the first time in their original version: authentic, primal, elemental... and yet with the sound of today! It's also a thank you to our friends who played the recordings with us, and I mention every single one of them by name. Let us all be brave torchbearers in a world of darkness!"
Uli Jon Roth: "Michael, thank you for keeping the mystical flame of my brother Zeno's great music alive with your strong vocal charisma! These are some of the best rock songs ever written, and they deserve to live on!" Ule W. Ritgen: "Keep it up, dear Michael! Don't let these songs be forgotten. Love, Ule."

01 Don't Count On Me
02 Good Game Bad Game
03 Far Away
04 Signs On The Sky
05 Don't Tell The Wind
06 Eastern Sun
07 A Little More Love
08 Love Will Live
09 Heat of Emotion
10 Is It Love