Monthly Archives: December 2012

THE JAM – Classic Album Selection

Universal This is a gem of a package: The Jam’s six classic albums presented as individual vinyl-replica CDs, released to mark the 30th anniversary of the band’s split in 1982. I can’t believe it’s 30 years! Emerging from the punk … Continue reading

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Mercury Underground, Waking Theo, City Of Ashes, When We Were Wolves

MERCURY UNDERGROUND – Mercury Underground EP Anchorage Records (Release Date – Out Now) Mercury Underground are a three piece from Glasgow. The guys play a blues infused hard rock which has a lot to commend it. There are three tracks … Continue reading

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TESTAMENT (Alex Skolnick) Interview

There are not many guitarists in Thrash Metal who can compete with Testament’s maestro Alex Skolnick in terms of sound, feel and execution and his performances in “Dark Roots Of The Earth” have been an integral ingredient in the album’s … Continue reading

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GRAVEYARD Gig review

Support Acts: Spiders London O2 Islington Academy, Thursday the 6st of December 2012 Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis December has always been a very busy month gigs wise, with many bands choosing the United Kingdom as the place to celebrate … Continue reading

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Best 0f 2012 CHANTEL McGREGOR

Rising blues rock vocalist/guitarist Chantel McGregor has had a busy year and next year looks set to be just as busy… How has the past year been for you music wise? Absolutely magic, whilst its not been a year of … Continue reading

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SHAWN JONES – Struggle Makes You Stronger

High Drive Records www.shawnjonesmusic.com (Release date 11th Feb) Shawn Jones has already released four studio and one live album prior to this new album. He has also been out on tour with BB King, Buddy Guy and Robert Cray amongst … Continue reading

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Best of 2012 LEWIS CLAY

Lewis Clay has been busy this year music (and football!) wise and despite some setbacks still does it all for the love of music… How has the recent charity single been doing and how did it feel to see the single stocked in … Continue reading

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Best of 2012 IAN RANKIN

Author Ian Rankin is a big music lover and his latest novel ‘Standing In Another Man’s Grave’, featuring the return of Rebus, is out now. Albums of the year: Patti Smith – Banga Snowgoose – Harmony Springs (very good Scottish … Continue reading

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SNAKECHARMER – Snakecharmer

Snakecharmer

(Frontiers Records) Release date 21.01.13 It’s unusual when a ‘superband’ is greater than its constituent parts.  But, if anything, Micky Moody and Neil Murray have created a wonderful vehicle – at last – for Chris Ousey (Heartland, Virginia Wolf ).  His … Continue reading

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FM – Only Foolin’ – EP

FM - Only Foolin

(Riff City Records) www.fmofficial.com FM were the nearly-men of AOR in the mid- to late-1980s.  The past few years has witnessed their comeback, attempting to make up for lost ground and the intervening years which have never been particularly kind … Continue reading

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GIG REVIEW – Status Quo/ Knock Out Kaine, Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, 6 December 2012

There are several things that herald the arrival of December, the first Christmas tree, your Visa card in meltdown and the annual Quofest rolling into a town near you. Quofest is an event that the faithful look forward to year … Continue reading

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ROB COTTINGHAM – Captain Blue

www.robcottingham.co.uk (Released 4th February)       The second solo outing from Rob Cottingham, a founder member of Touchstone, whose guitarist Adam Hodgson also appears on the album. Other guests include Heather Findlay (ex-Mostly Autumn), Steve Hackett and the narration … Continue reading

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CODE OF SILENCE new band announce debut album

British melodic metallers Code Of Silence, fronted by Brazilian vocalist Gus Monsanto (Timo Tolkki’s Revolution Renaissance / Adagio / Symbolica / Lord Of Mushrooms), have signed with Mausoleum Records and Rubicon Music. Produced by Paul Logue (Eden’s Curse) and mixed … Continue reading

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10Q’swith JOHN WHEELER (HAYSEED DIXIE)

 John Wheeler, a member of rockgrass band Hayseed Dixie, releases his solo album ‘Un-Ameican Gothic’ on February 4th. Here we hear about the new album, Hayseed Dixie and even British Prime Minister David Cameron… 1. What are you currently up … Continue reading

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A LIFE ONCE LOST – Ecstatic Trance

Season Of Mist – Out Now Metalcore has always been my least preferred genre and chances are that this will continue to be the case as most bands of this style tend to be fairly generic and predictable in their … Continue reading

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KRUK – Be 3

Metal Mind Productions www.metalmind.com.pl         New album by the Polish band Kruk who have made a name for themselves in their home country and this album will surely gain them wider notice. They love their classic 70′s … Continue reading

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TESTAMENT gig review

Support Acts: Malefice & Xerath. London Koko, Friday the 30th of November 2012 Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Photos by Fabiola Santini There are many items that can be found in my storage room, things which I have kept as … Continue reading

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Best of 2012 FM

FM – Merv Goldsworthy, Pete Jupp, Steve Overland, Jem Davis & Jim Kirkpatrick – give their best of 2012. They are currently touring with Thin Lizzy and they have a new album ‘Rockville’ out next March… http://www.fmofficial.com/ What have you got planned … Continue reading

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METAL EVOLUTION

 (3DVD) Eagle Vision Across 3 discs and over 8 hours of running time, this 11 chapter documentary follows the rock/metal family tree (think Headbangers Ball, VH1 et al) and tries to document the much debated history of rock and metal. … Continue reading

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BB KING – The Life Of Riley

(DV /Blu Ray, also 2CD) Universal Riley B King, aka BB, is one of the greatest, influential and innovative blues guitarists ever. Now 87, he has had a VERY long career too. This documentary, the DVD release of the film, … Continue reading

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DVD Review: SAXON – Heavy Metal Thunder – The Movie

SAXON - Heavy Metal Thunder – The Movie

(2DVD) UDR/EMI [Release date 07.12.12] NWoBHM stalwarts Saxon have been rocking for over 35 years and currently enjoying some of their biggest success ever. Certainly in terms of new album, live reviews, Saxon are pretty much top of their game, … Continue reading

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AVATAR – Black Waltz

    Gain/Sony Music ( Release date – out now) This is the 4th album from Swedish industrial metallers Avatar and a release that they hope will propel them to new heights. The band blend industrial metal with full on, … Continue reading

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GRAVEYARD – Lights Out

Nuclear Blast – Out Now I have always been a strong believer that the creation of new music is a process where old ideas are recycled and presented from a fresh and modern perspective. Nowadays there are plenty of such … Continue reading

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DREAMER Release Their Debut Album Turn It Up

DREAMER Release Their Debut Album Turn It Up Album Available on iTunes and Bandcamp.com www.dreamertheband.com New York, NY- (December 2 , 2012) Rhode Island-based rockers DREAMER are thrilled to announce the release of their debut album,Turn It Up. Turn It … Continue reading

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GIG REVIEW – QUIREBOYS, Glasgow 29/11/12

The Garage, Glasgow. 29/11/12 Newcastle and Glasgow are two cities with a lot in common, an industrial heritage based on ship building, football, hard drinking and a reputation for hard living. Another thing the two places share is a love … Continue reading

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