Monthly Archives: February 2016

Album review: LEFT WITH PICTURES – Afterlife

LEFT WITH PICTURES - Afterlife

Organ Grinder Records [Release date 29.04.16] Left With Pictures describe their music as  an orchestral pop ensemble. They have been around since 2005 and consist of Tom Walker, Toby Knowles and Stuart Barter. They have released a series of EP’s … Continue reading

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Album review: KIAMA – Sign Of IV

Kiama - Sign Of IV

Tigermoth Records  [Release date: 02.02.16] Alongside Steven Wilson, Rob Reed must be one of the busiest men in the field of progressive rock at the moment. As well as his day job as leader and creative inspiration of the wonderful … Continue reading

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Gig review: THUNDER, KING KING, TERRORVISION – Wembley Arena, 20 February 2016

THUNDER - Wembley Arena, 20 February 2016

Once seen as the cheeky Londoners reliably entertaining loyal crowds in theatre sized venues or livening up a festival crowd halfway up the bill, since returning for a third time a couple of years ago Thunder have hit a purple patch in their career. ‘Wonder Days’ was a … Continue reading

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Album review: THE WONDER STUFF – 30 Goes Around The Sun

THE WONDER STUFF - 30 Goes Around The Sun

IRL records [Release date 19.03.16] This is the Wonder Stuff’s eighth studio album and the album’s title refers to the bands thirtieth year. Vocalist/guitarist Miles Hunt is the sole original member (and his uncle Bill was a member of both … Continue reading

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Interview: EXUMER

Dillon Grant put some questions to Exumer’s founding member singer/bassist Mem V. Stein. The band has just released a new album, ‘The Raging Tides’, on Metal Blade Records. The new album, “The Raging Tides” is your fourth studio album and potentially … Continue reading

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Album review: BIG BOY BLOATER & THE LIMITS – Luxury Hobo

BIG BOY BLOATER & THE LIMITS – Luxury Hobo

Listen out for Pete Feenstra’s interview/special on Tuesday 8 March at 22:00 GMT on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio More information Provogue [Release date 26.02.16] ‘Luxury Hobo’ finds the former 50′s styled R&B artist and latter-day broadcaster Big Boy Bloater … Continue reading

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Album review: HEAT OF DAMAGE – Open Fire

HEAT OF DAMAGE – Open Fire

Self Release (Release date 01.10.15) Heat Of Damage hail from the Johnny Cash-endorsed Folsom in California, although not from the penitentiary as far as I know. The band have been together for a few years and this is their debut … Continue reading

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Album review: RICKY WARWICK – When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues) / Hearts On Trees

RICKY WARWICK – When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues) / Hearts On Trees

Nuclear Blast (Release date – 26.02.16) There have been a number of candidates over the years competing for the title of the ‘hardest working man in rock’. A few instantly spring to mind, Ginger Wildheart, Devin Townsend and Dave Grohl … Continue reading

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Album review: THE NEW BLACK – A Monster’s Life

THE NEW BLACK – A Monster’s Life

AFM Records [Release date 26.02.16] “A Monster’s Life” is German band’s The New Black fourth release and follows on from the impressive “III : Cut Loose” from 2013. This time around, rather than self-producing again, they have enlisted famed Volbeat … Continue reading

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Album review: MYRATH – Legacy

MYRATH - Legacy

earMUSIC [Release date 29.04.16] As a fan of multi-cultural bands, in particular within the metal world, anything that is even remotely ethnic sounding is going to get a good word from me. So few bands will dare wear their roots … Continue reading

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News: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ Interview Feature and UK Tour (28 February – 25 March 2016)

Johnny Hates Jazz

A special feature is broadcast in the first hour of ‘Assume The Position’, presented by David Randall on Sunday 28 February on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.  The sequence is repeated on Friday 4 March at 22:00 or you can … Continue reading

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EP review: KODY – Letting Go

KODY - Letting Go

www.kodyofficial.com [Release date 05.03.16] Debut release from Kody  who wrote and produced the four songs on here, as well as playing guitar. He is joined by Cosmas Mylon on bass and Francesco Azzariti on drums. Kody has poured a lot … Continue reading

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Gig review: RICHARD HAWLEY – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 February 2016

“It’s OK, we’re from the North”, said Richard Hawley on ascending the stage, as if he needed to get the audience on side. There was really no need. The scope, authenticity and quality of his music were more than enough … Continue reading

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Album review: DEFECTO – Excluded

DEFECTO – Excluded

Elevation [Release date 19.03.16] This is the debut effort from Danish symphonic rockers, Defecto.  It’s a pretty solid, competent outing and follows an EP in 2012.  If there’s nothing here to set the world on fire, there is certainly more … Continue reading

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EP review: SPREADING THE DISEASE – Viral

SPREADING THE DISEASE - Viral

https://www.facebook.com/spreadingthedisease.official Spreading The Disease hail from Kent and the five piece consist of Adam May (vocals), Julien Riquelme (lead guitar), Martin Osborne (vocals/rhytmn guitar), Steve Saunders (bass) and Edd Saunders (drums). This is the band’s debut EP ahead of a … Continue reading

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Album review: AOR – L.A. Darkness

AOR - L.A. Darkness

Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Release date 22.03.16] Frédéric Slama is back with the latest installment of the AOR series, number fifteen to be precise. Joining him are an impressive list of singers including Jeff Scott Soto and Steve Overland, plus Tommy … Continue reading

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Gig review: ENTER SHIKARI – Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, 19 February 2016

The King Blues – Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, 19 February 2016

Enter Shikari, a band renowned for their live performances, be it in the living room of bassist Chris Batten’s parent’s house (see video for ‘Sorry You’re Not a Winner’), the summer festival fields or in this instance, Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange. … Continue reading

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Quick plays: TIM HOCKENBERRY, JOSH HARTY

TIM HOCKENBERRY

TIM HOCKENBERRY Tim Hockenberry [Release date 04.03.16] You know with an ex-America’s Got Talent performer (Hockenberry made the semi-finals in 2012) you’re going to get a decent vocal performance. And his debut release doesn’t disappoint in that respect – his … Continue reading

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DVD Review: ELVIS COSTELLO – Detour Live At Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

ELVIS COSTELLO - Detour Live At Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Eagle Rock [Release date 12.02.16] Elvis Costello brought his Detour (scouse for ‘the tour’) show ‘home’ to the Liverpool Phil in June 2015.  Performing solo with just guitar or piano (apart from when joined by Larkin Po sisters Rebecca and … Continue reading

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Album review: SAXON – Eagles And Dragons (9-vinyl box set)

SAXON - Eagles And Dragons

Demon Records [Release date 18.03.16] Nine albums, nearly twenty years in timespan, and another chance for recycling under the auspices of 180 gram vinyl.  This means you don’t get bonus tracks, just the original albums in original sleeves and inners … Continue reading

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Rising Stars interview: THE REBELLES

The Rebelles is formed of Tracie Hunter, Elizabeth Westwood and Phoebe White, and ahead of their debut album they have released a single of the Mott the Hoople classic ‘All The Young Dudes’. Over the band for more on the … Continue reading

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DVD review: THE ECSTASY OF WILKO JOHNSON

THE ECSTASY OF WILKO JOHNSON

Cadiz Music [Release date 21.12.15] This is a work of bizarre genius. What was presumably conceived by film and music director Julien Temple as an epitaph for Wilko Johnson has turned out to be an uplifting story of life-affirmation. Not … Continue reading

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Album review: GRANDHOUR – Bombs & Bullets

GRANDHOUR

Rock Hawk Records [27.11.15] Australia has produced some interesting bands recently, Shadowqueen and Kitchen Witch immediately come to mind.  Although bands like Palace Of The King and Tracer have followed the perhaps more predictable AC/DC lineage. The latest contenders – … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STONE CHERRY, SHINEDOWN, HALESTORM – SSE Arena, Wembley, London, 4 February 2016

Gig review: CARNIVAL OF MADNESS (BLACK STONE CHERRY, SHINEDOWN, HALESTORM) - SSE Arena, Wembley, London, 4 February 2016

‘The Carnival of Madness’, a well known USA touring concept which brings together three or four like-minded bands from the newer generation, was making a first trip to these shores, but the personnel involved were in very familiar circumstances.  Black … Continue reading

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Quick plays: RAZORBATS, RAGE, SAGA, STAR CRYSTAL

RAZORBATS - Camp Rock

RAZORBATS – Camp Rock www.razorbats.com [Release date 15.09.15] Razorbats hail from Norway and they like their 70′s rock that’s for sure, as you can hear bits of Alice Cooper, Kiss and on ‘Getaway’ you could be listening to a long-lost … Continue reading

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