Yearly Archives: 2024

Album review: COLLATERAL- Should’ve Known Better

COLLATERAL- Should've Known Better

Cargo Records (Release Date 24.05.24) After bursting on the scene five or six years ago,  Kent melodic rockers Collateral’s rise to the top has been a bumpy one – which has included the pandemic striking at the very moment they … Continue reading

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Album review : STATUS QUO – Official Archive Series Vol.3 (2CDs)

STATUS QUO Live Archive vol 3 150

Ear Music/Edel [Release date : 12.07.24] If ever a band knew how to mine a rich back catalogue it’s Status Quo. We’ve said that before and no doubt we’ll say it again, and again. This third “Archive” release, Live at … Continue reading

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Album review: GRAND SLAM – Wheel of Fortune

Grand Slam - Wheel of Fortune

Silver Lining Music [Release date 07.06.24] Grand Slam co-founding member Laurence Archer, and front man Mike Dyer, make it extraordinarily clear that theirs has been a true journey of destiny, one where early unions ended up leaving unfinished business on … Continue reading

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Gig review: STATUS QUO – Kelvingrove Bandstand, Glasgow – 30th May 2024

mini_SAM_0391

The last gig I attended at the Kelvingrove Bandstand must have been 40 years ago when Radio Clyde put on a free mini festival of local rock talent, ably hosted by the ‘Beard Of Doom’, Mr Tom Russell. Around the … Continue reading

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Album review : DANA GILLESPIE – First Love

Dana Gillespie First Love album Sleeve 150

Fretsore Records [Release date : 31.05.24] Had it been published in the midst of today’s gender wars, the title of Dana Gillespie’s controversial autobiography, “Weren’t Born A Man” would have new resonance. As it is, celebrating 60 years in the … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROBIN TROWER – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 28 May 2024

ROBIN TROWER- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 28 May 2024

Very few of the greats of the classic era of British rock guitarists are still active- a fact  brought home by the loss of Jeff Beck and Bernie Marsden in the last couple of years while still at the peak … Continue reading

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Gig review: COLLATERAL – Camden Underworld, London, 26 May 2024

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The release of ‘Should’ve Known Better’, their excellent second album (third if you count the album of mainly remixed  songs with added special guests ‘Rewired’) is a pivotal moment in Collateral’s chequered career. So it was only fitting that, after … Continue reading

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Album review: YES – Talk

YES

Spirit Of Unicorn/Cherry Red Records [Release date: 24.05.24] Originally released in 1994 and remastered here for its 30th anniversary, ‘Talk’ is very much the lost album of the Yes canon (not helped by the Victor record company going bust not … Continue reading

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Album review : KURT FROHLICH – 1977

Kurt Frohlich image 150

Golden Robot Records [Release Date : 07.06.24] Kurt Frohlich, currently vocalist with Riley’s LA Guns, has already fronted Faster Pussycat and Mark Ramone’s band. Limited as that pedigree might be, it lets us know where he’s coming from. 1977 is … Continue reading

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EP review: MOON CITY MASTERS

Moon City Masters

Website  [Release date 31.05.24] More new music from the Moon City Masters – namely twin brothers, Jordan (vocals, bass) and Talor Steinberg (vocals, guitars). Digital only at the moment, although you can buy and download it via iTunes and Amazon. … Continue reading

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Album review: NESTOR – Teenage Rebel

NESTOR - Teenage Rebel

Napalm Records [Release date 31.05.24] Album number two from Nestor sees the band signed to a big label, namely Napalm Records, home to fellow lovers of a good 80′s melodic rock riff, the Night Flight Orchestra. According the band’s bio … Continue reading

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EP review: RED VOODOO – Red Voodoo

Red Voodoo

Website [Release date 07.06.24] Red Voodoo is a four piece from California, formed in 2019 the band has a sound that brings to mind all the great parts from 70’s and 80’s rock music that is missing today. The band are … Continue reading

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Album review: RICK ESTRIN AND THE NIGHTCATS – The Hits Keep Coming

Rick Estrin And The Nightcats

Alligator Records [Release date 08.03.24] It’s five years since Rick Estrin & the Nightcats cut an album signifantly called ‘Contemporary’.  And as if too illustate his almost unique standing as a conduit between old school blues and his current groundbreaking … Continue reading

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Gig review: BRYAN ADAMS – Royal Albert Hall, London, 14 May 2024

BRYAN ADAMS- Royal Albert Hall, London, 14 May 2024

Two years ago, I was present all three nights as Bryan Adams played a memorable residency at the Albert Hall, playing a classic album each night (subsequently released in less than satisfactory fashion on DVD). I thought that was a … Continue reading

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Album review: FOCUS – Focus 12

FOCUS - Focus 12

David Randall chatted to Thijs van Leer for his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio playing tracks from the new album.  First broadcast 9 June 2024 and featured in the second hour. Spirit Of Unicorn Music [Release date … Continue reading

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Album review: PSYCH! British Prog, Rock, Folk & Blues 1966-1973 (3-CD)

PSYCH! British Prog, Rock, Folk & Blues 1966-1973 (3-CD)

Decca/Universal [Release date 21.06.24] This 64-song 3-CD/2LP collection highlights a halcyon period for British psych rock and folk stretching from the mid sixties to the early 1970s. During that time Deram was the leading purveyor of the genre and this … Continue reading

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News: AL ATKINS, NEONFLY, HEART (June 2024)

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS- Wembley Arena, London, 5 April 2024

The Angels have announced their first album in a decade. Entitled ‘Ninety Nine’ it will be released via Bloodlines on June 28. Former Judas Priest vocalist Al Atkins has revealed a 50th anniversary edition of Judas Priest’s ‘Rocka Rolla’, as well … Continue reading

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Album review : NIGHTMARE – Encrypted

NIGHTMARE Encrypted 150

AFM Records [Release date: 06.06.24] Formed in 1979, French Power Metal band, Nightmare have been worshipping the mighty riff for 11 albums now. Their 12th album, Encrypted, sees ex Songbird songbird, Barbara Mogore (a smart bit of recruitment by Yves … Continue reading

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Album review: McCOY – The Sound Of Thunder (3 CD set)

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Cherry Red [Release date : 31/05/24] CD1: 1985: McCoy : Hard Thinking (incorporates 1982 EP) CD2: 1998: McCoy : Brainstorm CD3: 1977: McCoy : Live 1977 The real (John) McCoy, bass player extraordinaire, was as much known for his fearsome, … Continue reading

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Gig review: YES – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 24 May 2024

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Tonight’s show was another date in the current ‘Classic Tales Of Yes’ tour, a celebration of 50 plus years of Yessong with an emphasis on the band’s ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ opus which turn 50 in 2023.  You could argue … Continue reading

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Album review : RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Challenge The Wind

RHAPSODY Brave image 150

AFM Records [Release date : 31.05.24] Fans of the Symphonic Metal genre will know ROF is a band big on concept. This new album, Challenge The Wind, is the third in their “Nephilim Empire Saga”. The second, Glory For Salvation, … Continue reading

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Album review: CASEY MAUNDER – Get Out and Push

CASEY MAUNDER - Get Out and Push

Facebook [Release date 13.05.24] Casey Maunder is back with the follow-up to his enjoyable debut album ‘Until Your Heart Stops Beating’. That album was jammed packed with riff led hard rockers and pleasingly ‘Get Out and Push’ follows on nicely. Opener … Continue reading

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Album review: FM – Old Habits Die Hard

FM- Old Habits Die Hard

Frontiers Records (Release Date 03.05.24) FM appear to be constantly on tour, and yet between that activity they somehow find time to consistently write and release a new album every two or three years. ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ actually marks … Continue reading

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Album review: REMEDY – Pleasure Beats Pain

Remedy - Pleasure Beats Pain

Escape Music [Release date 24.05.24] Remedy released their debut album at the tail end of 2022 and it earned rave reviews (including from this reviewer!), although being independently released it didn’t get the full coverage it deserved. Enter Escape Music … Continue reading

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Album review: THE MIGHTY BOSSCATS – Are You The Person You’ve Always Wanted To Be / Photoshoot

The Mighty Bosscats - Photoshoot

Self release [Release date 29.09.23] Richard Townend is an indefatigable singer-songwriter, guitarist and band leader of The Mighty Bosscats, who never let rust sleep. His consistent output has the feel of a diarist who needs to get the minutiae of … Continue reading

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