Monthly Archives: March 2018

Album review: MARILLION – All One Tonight – Live at the Royal Albert Hall (CD/DVD/Bluray)

Album review: MARILLION - All One Tonight - Live at the Royal Albert Hall

Racket Records [Release date: 06.04.18] The 64th release (count ‘em) on Marillion’s own Racket Records label is a live recording of their Royal Albert Hall gig last October. Despite the prolific rate at which they produce concert material, the band … Continue reading

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Album review: EVERTHRONE

In 2015 the band Everthrone released easily one of the best albums that year (The Dawning, which in fact topped my Top 5 of the year without much competition). They decided to crowd fund the follow-up and without much fanfare … Continue reading

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Album review: KNIGHTMARE – Walk Through Fire

Bandcamp [Release date 16.03.18] Knightmare, out of the Raleigh, NC area have been around for a bit, and are a phenomenal live band to witness. A hybrid mix of USPM and NWOBHM, these young guys show the utmost respect, and … Continue reading

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EP review: RANDOM CONFLICT – Ruined Nation

[Release date 30.03.18] Muscle Shoals Alabama punk stalwarts Random Conflict have followed up 2016’s brilliant Black List EP with a brand new EP entitled Ruin Nation. These guys have been a consistent favorite of mine since coming onto my radar … Continue reading

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Quick plays: SCOTT MATTHEWS, SHIRAZ LANE, MIKE LEPOND’S SILENT ASSASSINS

SCOTT MATTHEWS The Great Untold Sheido [27.04.18] Album number six from the Wolverhampton singer songwriter Scott Matthews, who has gone for a sparse sound and production on this album. His guitar playing is simply superb, which coupled with his haunting … Continue reading

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Album review: JESUS JONES – Passages

JESUS JONES - Passages

Absolute Label Services [Release date 20.04.18] Jesus Jones made a big splash in the music world between 1989 and 1991 with a series of hit singles, including ‘Right Here, Right Now’ and ‘International Bright Young Thing’, plus a number one album … Continue reading

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Album review: CATTAIL BREW – It’s A Bit Difficult Really

CATTAIL BREW – It’s A Bit Difficult Really

Capital City Music Factory/Cargo Records [Release date: 30.03.18] Welcome back Fin, all is forgiven. Those excruciating Rod Stewart tribute videos on You Tube can now safely be forgotten. Waysted’s gravel-throated front man returns with half of redneck metallers American Dog … Continue reading

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Album review: DEAN WEEN GROUP – Rock2

DEAN WEEN GROUP - Rock2

Schnitzel Records [Release date 16.03.18] Dean Ween, aka Mickey Melchiondo, is one half of the duo behind US band Ween, who split in 2012 and then returned in 2015 with live shows and a live album. This is the second … Continue reading

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Album review: AYREON UNIVERSE – The Best of Ayreon Live

AYREON UNIVERSE – The Best of Ayreon Live

Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group [30.03.18] Ayreon are masterminded by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, who prefers to create music in the studio rather than appear live and the announcement that Ayreon would play two shows in September 2017  (their first official … Continue reading

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Album review: ANGRA – Ømni

ANGRA - Ømni

earMUSIC [Release date: 16.02.18] Despite releasing eight albums since 1991, Brazilian band Angra’s symphonic/prog metal is a new sonic experience for me. Ninth album ‘Ømni’ is for the most part a pretty impressive outing within the genre. The album holds … Continue reading

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Album review: GREYBEARDS – For The Wilder Minds

GREYBEARDS - For The Wilder Minds

Attitude Recordings [Release date 04.05.18] Sweden seems to export rock bands these days like China exports plastic shit – at least for now until Trump’s trade war kicks in – but is every one a Volvo? On the evidence of these … Continue reading

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Album review: BULLET – Dust To Gold

BULLET - Dust To Gold

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 20.04.18] This is the sixth album from Swedish rockers Bullet and it really depends on your bag….if you’re into Accept-cloned, dandruff-shifting riff and roll, then “Dust To Gold” (and probably the other five) are for you. Not a … Continue reading

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Album review: ROSS THE BOSS – By Blood Sworn

ROSS THE BOSS - By Blood Sworn

AFM Records [Release date 20.04.18] Ross the Boss has already laid out a pretty legendary career. From his time with The Dictators to Manowar to Dick Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom to his most recent group DeathDealer, Ross has recorded some pretty significant … Continue reading

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Gig review: MALONE SIBUN BAND/Lethbridge Owen Band – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 23 March 2018

MALONE SIBUN BAND – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 23 March 2018

The Malone Sibun Band might not win any medals for the originality of their name, but musically they surpass all expectations with a perfect blend of kick-ass, but soulful rocking blues. They perfectly balance the explosive guitarist Innes Sibun with … Continue reading

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Album review: UNIVERSE INFINITY – Rock Is Alive

UNIVERSE INFINITY - Rock Is Alive

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 13.04.18] Universe Infinity started out as Universe and released one album back in the 80′s before splitting-up. Fast forward to today, they added Infinity to their name and recruited former House Of Shakira vocalist … Continue reading

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Album review: AMERICAN TEARS – Hard Core

AMERICAN TEARS - Hard Core

Escape Music [Release date 23.04.18] American Tears first surfaced in 1974 and were a power trio focussed around the keyboards of Mark Mangold,who is the sole remaining original member on this album, and indeed the only musician playing all the … Continue reading

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Interview: PETE TREWAVAS (KINO/MARILLION)

Kino - Radio Voltaire

Kino release their new album, ‘Radio Voltaire’ – their first in over fifteen years – via Inside Out on 23 March. Kino consists of John Mitchell (Frost*, Lonely Robot, Arena), Pete Trewavas (Marillion,Transatlantic) and Craig Blundell (Steven Wilson, Lonely Robot). Pete tells … Continue reading

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Album review: ATOMIC ROOSTER – Sleeping For Years (The Studio Recordings 1970-1974)

ATOMIC ROOSTER - Sleeping For Years (The Studio Recordings 1970-1974)

Esoteric [Release date: 01.12.17] Now that pretty much every noteworthy heritage release has been reissued individually on CD, labels have turned to a secondary repackaging concept: the box set (or clamshell), that conventionally takes in a selection of albums from … Continue reading

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Album review: SAXON – 10 Years Of Denim And Leather Live 1990/The CD Hoard (reissues)

SAXON - 10 Years Of Denim And Leather Live 1990

Edsel [Release date 27.10.17*, 16.03.18**] Saxon seem to be enjoying a resurgence even more impressive than their 2007-2010 revival.  With a remarkably relevant new album ‘Thunderbolt’ and a raft of reissues and box sets, we can at least luxuriate in … Continue reading

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Album review: RICK SPRINGFIELD- The Snake King

Release Date 26.01.18 You have to admire Rick Springfield’s determination to keep pushing himself explore new musical avenues. A year away from 70, and over 35 years since his commercial heyday, he has followed the country influenced ‘Rocket Science’, with … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Saturday 10 March 2018 (Day 3)

Skid Row - HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Saturday 10 March 2018

With Night Ranger polishing off Friday with such aplomb the omens were good for the Saturday, which on paper had a stronger line up. When arriving on site on Thursday I found out that The Quireboys were to stand in … Continue reading

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Album review: RITCHIE BLACKMORE’S RAINBOW – Memories In Rock II

RITCHIE BLACKMORE

Minstrel Hall [Release date 06.04.18] 2-CD/DVD In 2017 Ritchie Blackmore returned with his harder rock hat on to a series of arena shows in the UK. Evidently buoyed up by the successful summer sojourn a year before and no doubt … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROCKIN’ THE BLUES 2018 – The Garage, London, 17 March 2018

Eric Gales - ROCKIN

In this hour special first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in April 2018, Pete Feenstra chats to Eric Gales, Gary Hoey, Lance Lopez and Quinn Sullivan, with tracks from their respective current albums. The inaugural Rockin’ The Blues … Continue reading

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Quick plays: ESP 2.0, ROAMER, UNRULY CHILD

ESP 2.0 - 22 Layers Of Sunlight

ESP 2.0 22 Layers Of Sunlight [Release date 20.04.18] www.suncreative.com ESP released a very enjoyable prog rock album in 2016′s ‘Invisible Din’ and now they are back with a revamped line-up. Composer/producer/guitarist Tony Lowe and Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Friday 9 March 2018 (Day 2)

Night Ranger - HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Friday 9 March 2018

Having given up the opportunity of the Thursday after-show party, a leisurely start to Friday was rewarded with Scottish rockers The King Lot.  They kicked off the main stage activity and, after a  successful Pledge campaign for their second album, … Continue reading

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