Yearly Archives: 2012

BURY TOMORROW – “THE UNION OF CROWNS”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

BURY TOMORROW – “THE UNION OF CROWNS” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Portsmouth and Southampton have spawned numerous Metalcore outfits over the years, one of which, the melodic quintet Bury Tomorrow, is clearly doing enough to attract the attention of a major … Continue reading

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10 Q’s with PHIL VINCENT

Phil Vincent is busy man with a digital only release ‘Solar Flare’ out now, plus a new album form D’Ercole and a new Legion due in the autumn. Keep up to date and listen to some of his music here … Continue reading

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PLACE CALLED RAGE – S/T

            Escape Music www.escape-music.com Despite the name not a metal band but a band who formed back in the mid-90′s with the aim of capturing the Long Island sound. The album, recorded back in 1995, … Continue reading

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B.B. KING BOX SET DUE 24TH SEP

B.B. KING Ladies and Gentlemen…. MR B.B. KING OUT 24TH SEPTEMBER 2012 ON UNIVERSAL In celebration of B.B. King’s 50th Anniversary signing to ABC-Paramount Records in 1962, comes this multi-format career retrospective, leading the way with a slick 10-CD, 194 … Continue reading

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Ben Poole UK tour dates

Sunday 9 September -  FARNHAM The Farnham Maltings Bridge Square Farnham Surrey GU9 7QR ‘BOOGALOO BLUES, ROCK ‘N’ ROLL & REAL ALE FESTIVAL’ Tel 01252 745444  12noon-11pm Admission: £30.  www.farnhammaltings.com  Friday 21 September – BARNSLEY The Polish Club, Summer Lane, … Continue reading

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MAGNUM – On The 13th Day

Magnum - On the 13th Day

SPV (Release date: 24.09.12] Magnum celebrate their 40th anniversary this year and return with a new album, their sixth since reforming back in 2002. Quick mention to the limited edition digi pack as this adds bonus live songs and alternate … Continue reading

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PAUL SIMON releases ‘Live in New York City’ on Sep 18th

2-CD/1-DVD Special Package Captures Paul Simon Performing Classic Songs and Music From His Critically Acclaimed Album So Beautiful or So What During the first leg of Paul Simon’s triumphant, 2011 U.S. tour, he thrilled hometown fans with a special club … Continue reading

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KAIPA – “VITTJAR”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

KAIPA – “VITTJAR” INSIDE OUT (2012) It feels very strange to be reviewing a band which released its debut effort around the same year you were born but this is indeed the link between me and the Swedish Prog Rockers … Continue reading

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X-Y – Flying

Sliptrick Records This is the latest album from French alt rockers X-Y who have been treading the boards since 2006. The guys are heavily influenced by Linkin Park, blending melodic hard rock with samples and bits of electronica thrown in … Continue reading

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BLACK SPACE RIDERS – Light Is The New Black

BRS/ Brainstorm/ Roughtrade Stoner/ Space rock all the way from Germany is what we have on offer here. This is the band’s second album following their self-titled debut released back in 2010. Veering from Queens Of The Stone Age to … Continue reading

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CRUSHER JONES – Bold Little Stranger

Two Sides Moon This is a quirky little album which runs through indie rock, country, prog and all points in between. On my first listen through the album I was particularly struck by the guitar work which reminded me  of … Continue reading

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NIK KERSHAW – Ei8ght

Nik Kershaw returns with his new album, as the title suggests his eighth, ahead of a UK tour in September. Many will remember him for his haircuts and hits in the 80′s including ‘Wouldn’t It Be Good’. Like Kate Bush, … Continue reading

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ALVIN LEE Still On The Road To Freedom

Alvin Lee

Repertoire (Release date: 27.08.12) For most people, Alvin Lee conjures up an image of a battered Gibson ES-335 with a peace sticker and lightning fast licks as he wowed the Woodstock crowd in 1969. That gig, and subsequently immortalised in … Continue reading

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MY DYNAMITE – Explosive

My Dynamite are about to explode from down under (ooh-err !). The Australian 5 piece are a heady mix of The Stones, The Faces, Humble Pie and The Black Crowes. The most telling influence is that of The Black Crowes … Continue reading

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Quick Plays: SHADOWS CHASING GHOSTS, CHASING DRAGONS, OCTOBER SKY, THE DUEL, FRAZE GANG

Fraze Gang – Fraze Gang 2 (Bongo beat ) Unsurprisingly, this is Fraze Gang’s second album, the first was released back in 2008. This Canadian rock collective were formed around the nucleus of vocalist/ guitarist Greg Fraser and bassist Stevie … Continue reading

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EUROPE – Bag Of Bones

The Scandi rockers of days of yore release “Bag of bones”, following the critically acclaimed “Last look at Eden” in 2009. This is more a blues rock affair than the AOR rock of the 80’s and 90’s, with Tempest and … Continue reading

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SUNSTORM – Emotional Fire

Frontiers www.frontiers.it Well, well, well.  Joe Lynn Turner makes a welcome return on an album that doesn’t sound like a Deep Purple mock up!  I have to say the releases I had hear JLT perform on over the last ten … Continue reading

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DEPARTURE – Hitch A Ride

Escape Music www.escape-music.com Departure is the brainchild of American Mike Walsh, who has produced three fine melodic rock albums under this moniker.  “Hitch a ride” is his fourth effort and it incorporates the vocal efforts of Andi Kravljaca (Silent Call). … Continue reading

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Charlie Shred – S/T

Liljegren Records/Doolittle Group Tommy ReinXeed is a busy man.  Having been involved in his own band, ReinXeed, he has also been feverishly working on Golden Resurrection and other projects.  Now, he takes more of a back seat as he plays … Continue reading

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NILE – “AT THE GATE OF SETHU”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

NILE – “AT THE GATE OF SETHU” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) As a young man growing up in 70s/80s Athens, there were two things in life that I felt really passionate about: Egyptology and Heavy Metal. Happily, I have fulfilled my … Continue reading

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BEFORE THE DAWN – “RISE OF THE PHOENIX”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

BEFORE THE DAWN – “RISE OF THE PHOENIX” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Before The Dawn is a thirteen year old band which has always ended up falling beneath my radar somehow, even though a close friend of mine has prompted me … Continue reading

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MNEMIC – “MNEMESIS”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

MNEMIC – “MNEMESIS” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) It was back in 2003 that I was first introduced to the Danish Industrial/Progressive/Extreme metallers Mnemic but I still remember how impressed I was by the band’s debut release “Mechanical Spin Phenomena”. Following the … Continue reading

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KREATOR – “PHANTOM ANTICHRIST”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

KREATOR – “PHANTOM ANTICHRIST” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) It was twenty seven years ago that the Essen-based Thrash Metal legends Kreator released their ground-breaking debut “Endless Pain”. Since then, they have managed to etsablish themselves in the consciousness of every extreme … Continue reading

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PAUL CARRACK – Good Feeling

Paul Carrack - Good Feeling

www.paulcarrack.net Paul Carrack is in that comfortable twilight zone at the moment.  He tours regularly and releases albums on his own label.  In short it’s all on his own terms and his adoring fans love him for it. Carrack has … Continue reading

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Album review: JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR – Almost Always Never

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR - Almost Always Never

Ruf Records RUF 1181 [Release date 17.09.12] Joanne Shaw Taylor has made much progress in the past few years, ultimately gaining a growing reputation on the other side of the pond where fans have evidently warmed to her US-influenced blues … Continue reading

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