Monthly Archives: September 2021

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

Vincent Abbate - Who Is Blues

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

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

PARADOX – Heresy II, End Of A Legend

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

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

LEAFHOUND- Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 9 September 2021

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

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

savatage sirens

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

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Album review: INGLORIOUS- Heroine

INGLORIOUS - Heroine

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

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

leaves_eyes_the_last_viking_cover_1

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

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

The Storm - 1991

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

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

BonnieTyler_EastWest_4000px

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

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Album review: IRON MAIDEN – Senjutsu

senjutsu

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

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EP review: MUDDIBROOKE – Luncay

MUDDIBROOKE - Lunacy

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

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Album review: GUS G – Quantum Leap

GUS G - Quantum Leap

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

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Album review: EDGE OF PARADISE – The Unknown

EdgeOfParadisetDWnyAO8tCelf

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

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EP review: JESSICA LYNN – Reimagined

JESSICA LYNN - Reimagined

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

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Album review: NEWMAN – Into The Monsters’ Playground

NEWMAN- Into the Monsters' Playground

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

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

PENTAX Image

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

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Album review: PETER H NILSSON – Sign Of Myself

PETER H NILSSON – Sign Of Myself

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

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

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

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Album review: BRIAN SETZER – Gotta Have The Rumble

BRIAN SETZER - Gotta Have The Rumble

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

THE PETAL FALLS - All These Years

[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

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Album review: BRAINSTORM – Wall Of Skulls

brainstorm wall

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

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

Uriah Heep - Stonedead Festival 2021

“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

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Gig review: CONNOR SELBY BAND- Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 26 August 2021

CONNOR SELBY BAND- Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 26 August 2021

Essex-based Connor Selby is a name to watch in the blues world: he was awarded young artist of the year two years running in the UK blues awards, and even came to the attention of the Who’s management and opened … Continue reading

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Album review: GAMMA RAY – 30 Years Live Anniversary

gamma ray 30 years

Ear Music/Edel [Release date 10.09.21] In 2020, it looked like this could become the new normal. A live gig without an audience. Kai Hansen’s Gamma Ray know what it is to play live…they’ve been doing it for 30 years. It becomes … Continue reading

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Album review: THE LIVESAYS – Not What I Bargained For

THE LIVESAYS – Not What I Bargained For

www.thelivesaysmusic.com [Release date 03.09.21] The Livesays – singer/songwriter/guitarist Billy Livesay, drummer Howard Goldberg, bassist Jorge Laplume, Victor “Cuqui” Berrios on Hammond B-3 organ, Tim Murphy on piano – are back with their second album in two years. During the pandemic … Continue reading

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Album review: OVERKILL – The Atlantic Years 1986-1994

OVERKILL - The Atlantic Years 1986-1994

BMG [Release date 29.10.21] New Jersey band Overkill, named after the Motorhead album/song, formed in 1980 and were part of the early US thrash scene. Nineteen studio albums, three live and three EPs later, there’s quite a legacy there. There … Continue reading

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