Yearly Archives: 2023

Album review: THE BANISHMENT – Machine And Bone

the banishment

Frontiers [Release date 10.03.23] From Dokken and Lynch Mob to End Machine, KXM and more, George Lynch has been on quite some rock’n’roll journey. And is still. He and his new world bandmates, Producer/Mixer/Writer, Joe Haze and vocalist, Devix AKA … Continue reading

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Album review : DEMONS DOWN – I Stand

demons down i stand

Frontiers [Release date: 10.03.23] Here’s an interesting band. Demons Down combine the legacy Melodic Rock of House Of Lords (and others) … Jimi Bell, Ken Mary and Chuck Wright, with today’s rising stars in the shape of Chilean vocalist, James … Continue reading

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Album review: RPWL – Crime Scene

RPWL

Gentle Art Of Music  [Release date: 17.03.23] It is now more than twenty years since RPWL’s debut album ‘God Has Failed’ was released to an unknowing world – to a muted response. But, muted response or not, it laid down … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACK BEAR KISS – Black Bear Kiss (and album launch – 3 March 2023)

Black Bear Kiss

[Release date 03.03.23] Black Bear Kiss are a 4 piece upbeat rock band, who formed in 2016 by long term collaborators and good friends Rob Jones (guitar) and Chris Leech (vocals), with drummer Chris Bagnall and bassist Rich Sach coming … Continue reading

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Album review: RUFFYUNZ – Ruffyunz II

RUFFYUNZ - Ruffyunz II

Hyperspace Records [Release date 23.09.22] The second album from a veritable “superband” conglomerate featuring Bobby Rondinelli  (Black Sabbath, Rainbow, drums) and Randy Pratt (Cactus, The Lizards, bass) with Ed Terry on vocals and JZ Barrell (guitars)  They are joined by … Continue reading

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Quick plays: RYAN HAMILTON, RURA, RACHEL BAIMAN

RYAN HAMILTON Haunted By The Holy Ghost

RYAN HAMILTON Haunted By The Holy Ghost Wicked Cool [Release date 10.03.23] Texan singer-songwriter Ryan Hamilton is back with his third album and he has been hailed by Spin magazine as one of the ‘35 Best Lesser Known Artists of The … Continue reading

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Album review: THE COLD STARES – Voices

The Cold Stares – Voices

Mascot Records [Release date 10.03.23] This album comprising of 13 tracks was recorded almost entirely over the course of just two days with producer/engineer/mixer Mark Needham (Taj Mahal, The Killers, Imagine Dragons, Walk the Moon, Fleetwood Mac), the album stands … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STAR RIDERS – Shepherds Bush Empire, 26 February 2023

BLACK STAR RIDERS, Shepherds Bush Empire- 26 February 2023

Prior to the pandemic Black Star Riders were one of the hardest working acts, seemingly constantly on tour or playing festivals. So it was something of a surprise that this was their first tour since Lockdown, though there have been … Continue reading

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Album review: ICARUS FALLS – Hollow

ICARUS FALLS - Hollow

Facebook [Release date 03.03.23] Icarus Falls hail from West Sussex in the UK, consisting of Doug Hay (vocals), Harvey Wigg (guitar, vocals), Lawrence Trousdale-Smith (guitar), Vinnie Denton (bass) and Josh Harris (drums). As well as having the pandemic hit their … Continue reading

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Gig review: MARTIN TURNER – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 24 February 2023

MARTIN TURNER- Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 24 February 2023

For the last few years founder member Martin Turner has delighted his Wishbone Ash fans with a series of tours that have featured one of their classic albums in their entirety. As that particular list has progressed to the lower … Continue reading

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Gig review: THOSE DAMN CROWS – Islington Assembly Hall, London – 24th February 2023

THOSE DAMN CROWS – Islington Assembly Hall, London – 24th February 2023

The Assembly Hall had a celebratory atmosphere about the place and a keen sense of anticipation was in the air ahead of Those Damn Crows. Support came from fellow Welsh rockers, James And The Cold Gun who helped to bubble … Continue reading

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Gig review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Alexanders, Chester, 2 March 2023

ELEANOR McEVOY - Alexanders, Chester, 2 March 2023

Halfway through her UK tour, and a day after our major feature was published, Alexanders in Chester could well be the Grotto to Eleanor McEvoy’s Greatness.  A favourite venue certainly since the early millennium.  Catching up for a chat pre-gig … Continue reading

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Gig review: STONE BROKEN – 100 Club, London, 23 February 2023

STONE BROKEN- 100 Club, London, 23 February 2023

After a fairly conventional tour schedule in 2022 (in which I caught their London show, rearranged for the Scala, and two festival appearances) Stone Broken decided on a new approach for a second leg of dates in support of most … Continue reading

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Album review: KEN HENSLEY – Past And Present (Songs In Time Anthology, 1972-2021, 6 CD set)

KEN HENSLEY - Past And Present

Cherry Red [Release date: 27.02.23] The late Ken Hensley had been steadily accumulating cultural stock since 1970. His ability to write poetic, melodic rock’n’roll is well known in the music industry worldwide. His reputation grew exponentially as he converted that … Continue reading

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Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – ELEANOR McEVOY (March 2023)

The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness

As  Irish and iconic as Guinness and also dark and lively in equal measures… Singer songwriter Eleanor McEvoy first came to wider attention in 1992 when she was part of “A Woman’s Heart” compilation with Mary Black and other female … Continue reading

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News: WHITESNAKE, POWER QUEST, DEMON (March 2023)

Bryan Adams has finished work on his latest album which is due for release later this year or early 2024. The Alarm release their latest album ‘Forwards’ on June 2. The title track and ‘Next’ have been released ahead of … Continue reading

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Album review: D’ERCOLE – Mass Formation

DErcole-150x150

Rock Company Records [Release date 03.03.23] Back again with album number nine from D’Ercole who feature Damian D’Ercole (bass, guitars), Phil Vincent (vocals, guitars, keys) and B.F. D’Ercole (drums). They are a prolific bunch, although that is no surprise as … Continue reading

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Album review : DEICIDE – Bible Bashers (3 CD Retrospective)

DEICIDE - Bible Bashers

Dissonance/Cherry Red [Release date: 24.02.23] The first of the 3 CDs in this Deicide set, InsinerateHymn (fabulous title), was the band’s fifth album, released in 2000. The band, led by bassist/ writer/ singer, Glen Benton, had made their not inconsiderable … Continue reading

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Album review: CREYE – Weightless

CREYE - III Weightless

Frontiers [Release date 17.02.23] After a commercially unsuccessful debut album, it was the addition of August Rauer as vocalist in 2018 that kick started Creye’s career as a melodic rock band. On the downside, Weightless, their third album, is filled … Continue reading

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Album review: WILL POUND & JENN BUTTERWORTH – Volume 1

jebb-butterworth-150x150

Bandcamp [Release date 24.02.23] Two of the finest instrumentalists in traditional music combine to produce an album full of musical wonders. Jenn Butterworth won the  2019 Scots Trad Music Awards Musician of the Year accolade while Will Pound has been … Continue reading

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Album review: TEENAGE GLAMPAGE – 80 Glambusters From The Seventies (4CD boxset)

Teenage Glampage - Box Set

Cherry Red [Release date 17.02.23] Glamrock stamped its imprint on the UK Pop scene in the Seventies, and perhaps overstayed its welcome. But while it reigned supreme, it produced countless unforgettable pop songs. This 4 CD anthology, Teenage Glampage, begins … Continue reading

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News: ELEANOR McEVOY enters The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness in March 2023

The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness

Irish singer songwriter Eleanor McEvoy is the latest inductee to “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness”.  The equivalent of the “Hall of Fame” the Grotto honours selected artists who have been covered consistently at rock website Get Ready to ROCK! over … Continue reading

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Album review : FIRST SIGNAL – Face Your Fears

FIRST SIGNAL - Face Your Fears

Frontiers [Release date 17.02.23] Harry (Harem Scarem) Hess teams up this time with producer/writer, Michele Guiatoli, who has recently impressed us with his guitar and mixing desk skills on the Issa album, Lights Of Japan. The last First Signal album … Continue reading

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Album review: MIKE KENEALLY – The Thing That Knowledge Can’t Eat

MIKE KENEALLY - The Thing That Knowledge Can’t Eat

Exowax Recordings [Release date 24.02.23] Mike Keneally played keyboard and guitar with Zappa.  More recently he’s provided similar support to Satriani.  But on his latest solo album it’s the Zappa irreverence that comes out on the opening track ‘Logos’ which … Continue reading

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Album review – KHYMERA – Hold Your Ground

KHYMERA - Hold Your Ground

Frontiers [Release date 10.02.23] Texas native, bassman and vocalist, Dennis (Pink Cream 69/Unisonic/Place Vendome/Sunstorm) Ward, transformed into a full blown front man with Khymera earlier this millennium. The band membership is inclined to fluidity, but Ward has assembled a fine … Continue reading

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