Yearly Archives: 2021

Album Review: BLACK SABBATH – Technical Ecstasy (Super Deluxe 5LP Vinyl Box Set)

Posted on September 21, 2021 by alanjones

BMG / Sanctuary Records [Release date: 1 October 2021] Following the superb ‘Super-Deluxe’ releases of ‘Paranoid’, ‘Volume 4’ and ‘Sabotage’ in the last couple of years, it is now the turn of ‘Technical Ecstasy’ to receive the sumptuous multi-disc … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged 5LP Box Set, Bill Ward, Black Sabbath, Geezer Butler, heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne, review, Steven Wilson, Technical Ecstasy, Tony Iommi | Leave a comment

Album review: MY GLASS WORLD – Still Life With Machine Gun

Posted on September 21, 2021 by brianmc

My-Glass-World-Still-Life-With-Machine-Gun-scaled-e1625192232698

Luxury Noise [release date: 24.09.21] Everything Absent Or Distorted was a (now defunct) “sprawling, American, Indie Rock Ensemble”. They recorded their song ‘Still Life With Machine Gun’ in 2006. 15 years later, My Glass World have recorded their own song … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Elvis Costello, Jamie Telford, lockdown, NICK LOWE, Ocean Vuong, review, Sean Reed, The Jam | Leave a comment

Album review: TOMMY CASTRO Presents A Bluesman Came To Town: A Blues Odyssey

Posted on September 21, 2021 by petefeenstra

Alligator Records [release date: 17.09.21] Every since breaking nationally on NBC’s Comedy Showcase, San Francisco’s Tommy Castro has enjoyed a well founded reputation in the new blues vanguard for his willingness to explore new avenues in the blues genre. Down … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Deanna Bogart, funk, guitar, Jimmy Hall, Keith Crossan, Kevin McKendree, review, rock, soul, Terrie Odabi, Tom Hambridge, Tommy Castro, Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came To Town: A Blues Odyssey, Tommy MacDonald | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE CINELLI BROTHERS- Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 16 September 2021

Posted on September 20, 2021 by andynathan

One of the advantages of being an active gig goer is picking up recommendations from like minded ‘gig buddies’ of new acts to discover. One such that were being raved about prior to the pandemic were blues band The Cinelli … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Alessandro Cinelli, blues, blues rock, Cabbage Patch, Cinelli Brothers, Eel Pie Club, gig, Marco Cinelli, Tom Julian-Jones | Leave a comment

Book review: WHO IS BLUES Vol.2 – The Interviews. Blues Encounters 2000 – 2020 by Vincent Abbate

Posted on September 20, 2021 by petefeenstra

Self Published [Publication date 01.09.21] ‘Who Is The Blues Vol.2: The Interviews. Blues Encounters 2000-2020′ is an interesting cross section of 20 years of interviews of contemporary blues artists by the German based, New York blues scribe Vincent Abbate. Abbate … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, Books | Tagged author, BB King, blues, Bobby Rush, book, Buddy Guy, Dave Gonzales, interviews, John Mooney, Josh Smith, Paul Delay, Quinn Sullivan, review, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Samantha Fish, Sue Foley, Terry Evans, The Holmes Brothers, Tommy Castro, Vincent Abbate, Walter Trout, Watermelon Slim, Who is Blues Vol.2 | Leave a comment

Album review: PARADOX – Heresy II, End Of A Legend

Posted on September 17, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date: 24.09.21] German giants of Thrash, Paradox are well known within the genre. They have a sizeable coterie of discerning fans who’ve followed them since the band’s inception in 1986. Had their chosen genre been say, power … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Cathars, Charlie Steinhauer, Europe, Helloween, Iron Saviour, Paradox, review, thrash metal | Leave a comment

Gig review: LEAFHOUND- Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 9 September 2021

Posted on September 16, 2021 by andynathan

The long and intriguing history of Leafhound is now entering a new chapter. Their sole 1971 album, released after the band had already split, has subsequently become a cult classic especially among the stoner rock community, with original vinyl copies … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged classic rock, Dominic French, gig, Leafhound, Peter French, Peter Herbert, Tom Smith | Leave a comment

Album review: SAVATAGE – Sirens and Dungeons Are Calling (remasters)

Posted on September 16, 2021 by brianmc

ear-MUSIC [release date 3.09.21] We’re cranking the machine way back to 1982, and Savatage’s twin debuts, Sirens and Dungeons Are Calling, both independently released. The band, Jon and Criss Oliva, Keith Collins and Steve Wacholz recorded and mixed all the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Criss Oliva, Ear Music, EP. remasters, heavy metal, Jon Oliva, LP, review, Savatage | Leave a comment

Album review: INGLORIOUS- Heroine

Posted on September 14, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 10.09.21) In the seventies it was not uncommon for bands to release two albums a year but it is virtually unheard of these days. So I was surprised when I learned that a little over six … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Covers, Inglorious, melodic rock, Nathan James | Leave a comment

Album review: LEAVES EYES – The Last Viking, Midsummer Version

Posted on September 14, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date: 17.09.21] Leaves Eyes’ latest release, The Last Viking, Midsummer Version, is a multi media concept album, a high impact audiovisual story. The “Last Viking” was Harald III of Norway, known as Harald Hardrada (Harald the Hard … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 1066, AFM Records, album, Audiovisual, Celtic, DVD, England, folk metal, Harold Hardrada, Norway, review, symphonic rock, YouTube | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot…THE STORM (Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, Steve Smith)

Posted on September 13, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Interscope/Atlantic 1991 The Storm is very much a case of “what we did in our down time”. With Journey on hiatus in the late eighties Neal Schon formed Bad English then Hardline (debut album Double Eclipse in 1992) whilst Journey … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged album, AOR, feature, Gregg Rolie, Josh Ramos, Journey, Kevin Chalfant, melodic rock, review, Ross Valory, Steve Smith, the Storm | Leave a comment

Album review: BONNIE TYLER – The East West Years 1995-98 (3 CDs)

Posted on September 13, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red [release date: 17.09.21] Bonnie Tyler’s two most famous songs, ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ (1983) and ‘It’s A Heartache’ (1977) are among the best selling singles of all time, with combined sales of over 12 million. She’s enjoyed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Parsons, album, Andy Hill, Bonnie Tyler, Chris Thompson, David Foster, Eric Troey, Frankie Miller, Franz Gruber, Glen Burtnik, Harold Faltermyer, Jim Steinman. Humberto Gattica, Jimmy Smyth, Kasim Sulton, pop, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: IRON MAIDEN – Senjutsu

Posted on September 12, 2021 by david.wilson

Parlophone [Release date 03.09.21] It’s been almost 6 years since Iron Maiden released Book Of Souls to an eagerly waiting world. For me it was one of the most disappointing releases of the band’s career, over long, plodding and ultimately boring, not a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adrian Smith, album, Book Of Souls, Bruce Dickinson, CD, Dave Murray, heavy metal, Iron Maiden, Janick Gers, Kevin Shirley, Nicko McBrain, Parlophone, review, rock, Senjutsu, Steve Harris, Writing On The Wall | Leave a comment

EP review: MUDDIBROOKE – Luncay

Posted on September 12, 2021 by jason

Self-release [Release date 22.10.21] ‘Lunacy’ is the debut EP from Derby based alt rockers MuddiBrooke who formed in January 2020. They have previously released two singles and music videos which have seen them receive airplay on Kerrang! Radio and earn … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alt rock, EP, grunge, Lunacy, MuddiBrooke, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: GUS G – Quantum Leap

Posted on September 12, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

AFM Records [Release date 08.10.21] When I interviewed Gus G back stage in Manchester in 2012 all the talk was how he had fared with Ozzy. He contributed to the album ‘Scream’ (2010) and there were high hopes of a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Firewind, guitar, guitarist, Gus G, instrumental, metal, Quantum Leap, review | Leave a comment

Album review: EDGE OF PARADISE – The Unknown

Posted on September 12, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [release date 17.09.21] Edge Of Paradise is a duo made up of Armenian/ Russian/ American singer, “the female Robin McAuley”, Margarita Monet, and American guitarist and songwriter, Dave Bates. The Unknown is their fourth album, and second on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dave Bates, Edge Of Paradise, Frontiers, Howard Benson, Margarita Monet, Mike Plotnikoff, review, Symphonic Rock Metal, Unknown | Leave a comment

EP review: JESSICA LYNN – Reimagined

Posted on September 12, 2021 by jason

www.jessicalynnmusic.org/music [Release date 17.09.21] This new four song EP from Jessica Lynn is influenced by her weekly livestreams during the pandemic. “Since the pandemic started,” Jessica reflects, “I have been performing piano livestreams every week, where my fans have challenged … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged acoustic, country, EP, Jessica Lynn, melodic, pop, Reimagined, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: NEWMAN – Into The Monsters’ Playground

Posted on September 11, 2021 by andynathan

AOR Heaven (Release date 10.09.21) For a remarkable near quarter of a century Steve Newman has turned out a series of finely crafted albums. He never remotely hinted at the big time, but as compensation his name enjoys almost universal … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, melodic rock, NEWMAN, Steve Newman | Leave a comment

Album review: IAN PARRY’s ROCK EMPORIUM – Brute Force

Posted on September 11, 2021 by brianmc

Metal Mind [release date 14.07.21] Singer/songwriter, Ian Parry has always been master of his own destiny, moving from project to project and label to label over the course of his 30 year career. He counts Hammerhead, Elegy, Ayreon and Vengeance … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Allan Sorensen, Ayreon, Elegy, Hammerhead, Ian Parry, Kris Gildenlow, Lucas Sillito, Metal Mind, Neo Classical, Patrick Johansen, Patrick Rondat, review, Rock Emporium, symphonic metal, Vengeance | Leave a comment

Album review: PETER H NILSSON – Sign Of Myself

Posted on September 11, 2021 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 10.09.21] Peter H Nilsson’s debut ‘Little American Dream’ was a very enjoyable AOR/ West Coast listen and still played regularly by this reviewer. The good news is that this follow-up album sees Nilsson still teamed up … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Chris Biano, melodic rock, Peter H Nilsson, review, Sign Of Myself, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Book review: BOBBY RUSH with Herb Powell – I Ain’t Studdin Ya: My American Blues Story

Posted on September 10, 2021 by petefeenstra

Bobby Rush with Herb Powell - I Ain't Studdin' Ya - My American Story

Hachette Books [Publication date 15.07.21] Grammy award winner Emmett Ellis Jnr aka Bobby Rush’s ‘I Ain’t Studdin’ Ya: My American Blues Story’ is easily one of the best musical biographies of the year. It’s the life and time of a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 'I Ain't Studdin ya: My American Blues Story, Alan Freed, BB King, Big Joe Turner, biography, Bobby Rush, book, Chess Records, Chitlin Cicuit, Chuck Berry, comedy, drums, fats Domino, guitar, harp, Herb Powell, Little Richard, Little Walter, Luther Allison, Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, review, Rufus Thomas, Sonny Boy Williamson | Leave a comment

Album review: BRIAN SETZER – Gotta Have The Rumble

Posted on September 10, 2021 by jason

Surfdog Records [Release date 27.08.21] The 70’s and 80’s were a glorious time for music. Whilst that may smack of rose-tinted spectacles and the purposeful forgetting of several horrific ‘novelty’ records that came out in those decades, few can argue … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE PETAL FALLS – All These Years

Posted on September 10, 2021 by jason

[Release date 03.09.21] Just about a year ago I reviewed this band’s debut album, ‘Workin All Night, Workin All Day’ and I was literally blown away. I knew then that this band had reach and would appeal to a broader … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, All These Years, AOR, Keith Leahy, melodic rock. rock, review, the Petal Falls | Leave a comment

Album review: BRAINSTORM – Wall Of Skulls

Posted on September 10, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date 17.09.21] Judging by this new release, Brainstorm turned the pandemic related lockdown to good advantage, in writing and recording Wall Of Skulls. It’s no more than an incremental step up from last album, Midnight Ghost, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Brainstorm, Maiden, power metal, Priest, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: STONEDEAD FESTIVAL – Showground, Newark – 28th August 2021

Posted on September 9, 2021 by david.wilson

“It was quite simply great for everyone – bands and fans alike - to be back in the groove doing what they love, and the set up was as a good festival should be…” Stonedead Festival was set up by genuine music fans who wanted to recapture some of the spirit of … Continue reading →