Monthly Archives: November 2022

Album review: LANDFALL – Elevate

landfall elevate

Frontiers [Release date 9.12.22] Much more assured second album from Landfall, the Brazilian band led by Eric Martin soundalike, Gui Oliver. And boy does it sound good, graced with melodic, tightly constructed songs, great playing, a lean, taut production, no … Continue reading

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News: METALLICA, POWER WOLF, KHYMERA (December 2022)

Ace Frehley is finishing off his new album for a planned release in early 2023. The Balladmongrels is a new band featuring Dogs D’amour frontman Tyla J. Pallas and  singer songwriter Matty James Cassidy. Their debut album, ‘Trouble’, is set … Continue reading

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Feature: GRTR!@20 Anniversary – Progressive Rock – Primer

GRTR!@20

There has been a resurgence of interest in prog in the millennium.  Alan Jones chronicles some of the artists and bands who continue to fly the flag for the genre.  Warning: Steven Wilson looms large … Back in the day, … Continue reading

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Gig Review – STATUS QUO – SEC Armadillo, Glasgow – 26th November 2022

mini_SAM_8300

One sure sign of life getting back to normal post Covid is Status Quo rocking into the Christmas period with their festive concerts. Long a staple of the Winter touring schedule, Quo’s annual jaunt is much anticipated and as predicted … Continue reading

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Gig review: SQUEEZE- Hammersmith Apollo, London, 19 November 2022

SQUEEZE- Hammersmith Apollo, London, 19 November 2022

Squeeze’s hit making days may be long behind them but the band have a remarkable longevity: as Chris Difford mentioned from the stage, he and Glenn Tilbrook have now been writing together for 50 years. However rather than being reduced … Continue reading

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Quick plays: STAR CIRCUS, THE ROADS

Star Circus Separate Sides

STAR CIRCUS Seperate Sides  Diamond Formation Music [Release date 02.12.22] Star Circus is the brainchild of Dave Winkler (Bordello Rose, Renegade Playboys, Trophies of Man). After a detour playing guitar and touring as a hired gun for acts such as … Continue reading

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Album review: TRIALS OF CATO – Gog Magog

TRIALS OF CATO - Gog Magog

Website [Release date 25.11.22] Trials Of Cato have been building a healthy following alongside rave reviews from the likes of Mark Radcliffe and John Davis of Metropolois Studios, who has dubbed them ‘”the Sex Pistols of folk”. Will Addison left … Continue reading

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Album review: LEE AARON – Elevate

LEE AARON - Elevate

Metalville [Release date 25.11.22] We’ve been impressed with the last few offerings from Canadian songstress (and one-time Metal Queen) Lee Aaron.  Over the past few years she’s been reasserting her role in female fronted hard rock. after going through a … Continue reading

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Album review : AUTOGRAPH – Beyond

autograph beyond

Frontiers Records [Release date 18.11.22] We all want to love this album because it’s Autograph. Even though they’re one-hit-wonders, and even though bassman Randy Rand is/was the only remaining original member. (Rand took part in the recording sessions, but died … Continue reading

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Album review: ROADHOUSE – 2000 Miles

Roadhouse 2000 Miles pic

Dark Road Rekords [Release date 25.11.22] ‘2000 miles’ is a typical Roadhouse album featuring Gary Boner’s narrative driven songs straddling rock, blues, Americana and Southern Rock with subtle dynamics, over arching themes supported by Martin Cook’s redolent art work, and … Continue reading

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EP review : RONNIE ATKINS – Symphomaniac

ronnie atkins sympho

Frontiers Records [release date 18.11.22] There is yet to be an “orchestral” album of rock songs that outdoes Wang Chung’s Orchesography, but this EP from Ronnie Atkins gets close. In fairness, this is Symphonic Rock in all its bombastic splendour. … Continue reading

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Album review: THE CITY KIDS – Filth

THE CITY KIDS - Filth

Website [Release date 25.11.22] The City Kids, according to their bio are “forged from Northern grit and Danish flair, a bunch of ragtag, rock n’ roll reprobates, part punk, part sleazy gutter-trash dirt.” They have released a rather good Motorhead covers … Continue reading

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Album review: WALTER TROUT – Ride

Walter-Trout-Ride-150x150

Provogue [Release date 19.08.22] ‘Ride’ is Walter Trout’s 30th album, and it’s testament to his impressive and honest song-writing skills that he avoids the trap of repeating what he’s done before. This well crafted album barely wastes a word or … Continue reading

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Feature: Box sets for life, not just for Christmas – LOVE, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, MARILLION (2022)

Love - Expressions Tell Everything (Box set)

We had it first with CDs in the 1980s and 90s, more recently with resurgent vinyl.  The big record labels want us to rebuy our past!  And in many cases there are re-releases of re-releases.  Why, oh why, can’t they … Continue reading

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Book review: (Sonicbond Summary) – TOOL, CAPTAIN BEEFHEART, PINK FLOYD, VAN MORRISON, DONOVAN, BRIAN ENO (November 2022)

On track ... Pink Floyd (book)

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication dates: July-November 2022] Here’s our now traditional end of year round up for Sonicbond titles which again in 2022 have come thick and fast.  The usual caveats apply: very rarely based on primary sources but mostly reverential … Continue reading

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Album review: WIND OF CHANGE – Progressive Sounds Of 1973 (4 CD Boxset)

WIND-OF-CHANGE-COVER-LRG-min

Cherry Red [Release date: 25.11.22] The logistics: Wind of Change comprises 4 CDs, 5 hours of music and 49 tracks. No doubt many will look at compilations like this one and think you just cannot maintain the quality level over … Continue reading

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Album review: JAMES OLIVER – Live In The USA

James Oliver - Live In The USA

Pete Feenstra chatted to James Oliver for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in November 2022. Bandcamp [Release date 05.10.22] From the the exuberant count-in of ‘T Bone Shuffle’ to the rip roaring finish of ‘It Wasn’t Me’, James Oliver’s ‘Live … Continue reading

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Album review: THE BONESHAKERS – One Foot In The Groove

The Boneshakers - One Foot Into the Groove

Take It To The Bridge [Release date 30.09.22] The Boneshakers ‘One Foot In The Groove’ is an intuitive old school album forged by Detroit funk and Memphis soul that taps right into the current soul renaissance that has permeated the … Continue reading

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Feature: GRTR!@20 Anniversary – Metal – Primer

GRTR!@20 Anniversary – Metal – Primer

During the period 2003-2023 metal had morphed into various guises.  Brian McGowan tries to keep up with it and surveys the period… Heavy Metal is a musical phenomenon that continues to gain in strength and popularity, worldwide. It has the … Continue reading

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Album review: KIDS ON THE STREET, UK POWER POP AND NEW WAVE 1977-81 (3 CD Boxset)

KIDS-ON-THE-STREET-PACKSHOT-min

Cherry Red [release date: 25.11.22] Kids On The Street is a great title for this 3 CD, 77 track compilation, emphasising the uncomplicated vitality of that era’s popular music. The better informed will know it’s from The Stiffs’ song of … Continue reading

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Album review: THRESHOLD – Dividing Lines

THRESHOLD - Dividing Lines

Nuclear Blast [Release date 18.11.22] Album number twelve from Threshold and their first in five years since the excellent ‘The Legend of the Shires’, which also marked the return of vocalist Glynn Morgan. A darker style and sound overall than … Continue reading

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Album review: SARO COSENTINO – The Road To Now

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Cat Sounds Music [Release date 18.11.22] If only we knew just how much musical talent flies below the mainstream radar. You look at the line up on this, Saro Cosentino’s third “solo” album, and you find, amongst others, Gavin Harrison, … Continue reading

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Album review: JOHN NORUM – Gone To Stay

JOHN NORUM - Gone To Stay

GAIN [Release date 28.10.22] In the absence of a Europe album (last sighted 2017) we have at least a new album from the band’s guitarist. Norum’s last solo outing in 2010 was called ‘Play Yard Blues’.  But as I said … Continue reading

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Gig review: TEIGER – Strongroom Bar, London, Thursday 10 November 2022

teiger

It’s a mark of just what a buzz there is around Teiger that, despite transport strikes hitting the Capitol, people had seemingly made their way by planes, trains and automobiles to Central London’s Strongroom Bar and packed the place out. … Continue reading

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Gig review: TYGERS OF PAN TANG – Black Heart, Camden, 12 November 2022

Tygers of Pan Tang 2022

I sometimes struggle with this venue. Low ceilings and a low stage means poor visibility if there’s anything like a good crowd in; and often the sound is sludgy and bass heavy. So for Tygers of Pan Tang to overcome … Continue reading

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