Album review: CASEY MAUNDER – Smash Down Jericho

March 7th, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 20.03.26]

Album number three from Casey Maunder and pleased to report that he carries on with his high standards of penning catchy, melodic hard rock.

Of the ten songs on here, only ‘Paint’ has been released ahead of the album. Released last summer, it is a good pointer as any to Casey’s musical style – big on melody, plenty of guitar and catchy as heck choruses.

‘Now That the Titans Have Gone’ is a poignant one, especially with the passing of Ozzy last year and the number of bands and artists retiring increasing by the day. It is an uplifting song and lyric though, nothing maudlin as Casey often tries to give his lyrics a positive vibe. Take the catchy hard rocker ‘You Keep Raining (We’ll Keep Being the Parade)’, with its spirited lyric and neat little guitar solo.

‘Ellie’ shows a more serious side. It is a tale of a child caught in a never-ending spiral of despair with a drug fuelled mum and her dodgy boyfriends. Sadly a way of life for all too many children nowadays.

Ballads? Check out ‘The Way You Make My World Go Round’, a beautifully crafted ballad, where the lyric can be applied to many people’s life experiences.

How Casey Maunder remains unsigned is a mystery, but then again this may work in his favour, in that he has no outside influences and can focus on making the best music he can for his ever-growing fanbase.

Melodic hard rock bliss awaits you dear listener… ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

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March 8
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Josh Taerk - Sunday Session - 8 March 2026

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Power Plays w/c 2 March 2026

DODGY – It’s Not The End (Flip Flop Records)
THE SKBs – Hour Glass (indie)
LAKE – Boy On A Mission (indie)
KING FALCON Holding Out (indie)
HOKKA Heart Said No (Nuclear Blast Records)
STARBENDERS The Beast Goes On (Sumerian Records)
EDDIE AND THE WOLVES See Me Fall (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 2 March 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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