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Yearly Archives: 2018
Album review: JIM McCARTY – Walking In The Wild Land
Angel Air [Release date 09.03.18] Jim McCarty, of course, is known to rock fans as the long-standing drummer of the Yardbirds. Indeed, he is the only original Yardbird left in the latter-day version of the band and the only member … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alex Lifeson, Angel Air, drummer, Jim McCarty, review, rock, Rush, Solo, Walking In The Wild Land, Yardbirds
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) April 2018 – June 2018
Compiled by Jason Ritchie April 2nd MARILLION ‘All One Tonight’ (DVD) 6th THE AMORETTES ‘Born To Break’ Steamhammer/SPV BLACK RAINBOWS ‘Pandaemonium’ BLACKBERRY SMOKE ‘Find A Light’ Earache Records CALIBAN ‘Ich Blute Für Dich’ Century Media CHICAGO ‘VI Decades Live’ (4CD/DVD) … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
Tagged 2018, album, AOR, April, Bluray, CD, DVD, heavy rock, June, May, melodic rock, metal, New releases, progressive, rock
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Album review: THE GARDENING CLUB – The Riddle
Advance copy [Release date: tbc] www.martinspringett.com The Gardening Club’s debut album dating back to 1983 is something of a minor prog classic. Canadian illustrator and musician Martin Springett, English expat and absorber of distinctly English prog stylings, has now unleashed … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Martin Springett, neo prog, prog, Progressive Rock, review, The Gardening Club, The Riddle
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Album review: ANIMAL DRIVE – Bite!
Frontiers Music [Release date 23.02.18] Bite! Is the debut album from Croatian hard rock band Animal Drive. Four guys in their mid to late twenties, front-man Dino Jelusic has toured as a vocalist with the Trans Siberian Orchestra. He’s joined … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Animal Drive, Bite!, Croatia, debut, Dino Jelusic, Jeff Scott Soto, melodic, modern rock, New Breed, review, rock, Trans Siberian Orchestra
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Album review: THE KUT – Valley Of Thorns
Cargo Records [Release date 13.04.18] Formed in 2005 by frontwoman and self-taught multi-instrumentalist Princess Maha (she sings and plays guitar, bass, drums and piano), this London based all-female 3 piece have been frequently mentioned in the same breath as Courtney … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, hard rock, metal, punk, review, The Kut, Valley Of Thorns
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Quick plays: MICHAEL MCDERMOTT, COLD TONE HARVEST, LUCKY BONES
MICHAEL McDERMOTT Out From Under Pauper Sky Records [Release date 18.05.18] On the cover of his last album (Willow Springs (2016)) Illinois-based singer songwriter Michael McDermott looked like a shaven headed ex-con. Two years on, he looks like Jimmy Carr’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged After You, album, Americana, Annie Keating, Cold Tone Harvest, country, Ghost Of The Untraveled Road, Lucky Bones, Matchstick Men, Michael McDermott, Out From Under, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter
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Album review: MARILLION – All One Tonight – Live at the Royal Albert Hall (CD/DVD/Bluray)
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
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged All One Tonight, CD, DVD, FEAR, gig, live, Marillion, prog rock, review, Royal Albert Hall, Steve Hogarth, Steve Rothery
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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
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
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
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged EP, Hardcore, punk, Random Conflict, review, rock, Ruined Nation, Slayer
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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
Album review: 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
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 90's music, album, dance rock, Fat Harry White, indie, Jesus Jones, Mark and Lard, Mike Edwards, Passages, pop, review, rock
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Album review: 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
Album review: 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
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, alternative, Dean Ween Group, funk, lounge, metal, Mickey Melchiondo, review, rock, Rock 2, soul, soundtrack, Ween
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Album review: 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
Album review: 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
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, ANGRA, Brazilian metal, power metal, prog metal, review, symphonic metal, Ømni
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Album review: 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
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Attitude Records, Bonafide, For The Wilder Minds, Greybeards, hard rock, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Sweden, The Cult
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Album review: 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
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bullet, Dust To Gold, hard rock, review, rock
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Album review: 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
Gig review: MALONE SIBUN BAND/Lethbridge Owen 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
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Chris Nugent, David Coverdale, Eric Johnson, gig, Innes Sibun, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Owen, Jimmy Smith, Kelly Lethbridge, Lethbridge Owen Band, Malone Sibun Band, Marcus Malone, Paul Rogers, review, Robert Cray, Roger Inniss, Sherman Robertson, Spencer Davis, Stevie Nicks, Stevie Watts, Stevie Winwood
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Album review: 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
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Andreas Eklund, House Of Shakira, melodic rock, review, rock, Rock Is Alive, Universe Infinity
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Album review: 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
Interview: PETE TREWAVAS (KINO/MARILLION)
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
Album review: 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
Album review: SAXON – 10 Years Of Denim And Leather Live 1990/The CD Hoard (reissues)
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
