Author Archives: brianmc

Album review : HARMONY IN MY HEAD – The Music That Inspired The Genius Of Brian Wilson

Posted on November 4, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 13.11.26] It’s tempting to say that this is a departure for the Cherry Red label. But that would not be true. This is a label who takes his music from a diversity of sources and styles. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Brian Wilson, George Gershwin, JS BACH, Leonard Bernstein, Miles Davis, Paul Williams, review, The Beach Boys, The Four Freshmen | Leave a comment

Album review : ASIA – Indigo

Posted on November 3, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date: 6.12.26] Nowadays, Asia is Geoff Downes, Virgil Donati, John Mitchell and Harry Whitley. We reviewed the band’s most recent release, Live In England, back in March this year. This new studio album is quite special. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Arcadia, Asia, Frontiers, Geoff Downes, Harry Whitley, Indigo, John Mitchell, John Wetton, review, Valencia, Virgil Donati | Leave a comment

Album review : HOLY TERROR – Total Terror (4 CD + DVD Clamshell Box Edtn)

Posted on October 29, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 30.10.26] CD1 : Terror And Submission (1987) CD2 : Mind Wars (1988) CD3 : El Revengo, Rare Demo Material (1988) CD4 : Live In Dendermonde, Belgium (1988) DVD: Live In Milwaukee, Chicago and Anaheim (1988) To … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged boxset, demos, DVD, Holy Terror, Keith Deen, live CD, Mike Alvord, Mind Wars, review, speed metal, thrash metal, Total Terror | Leave a comment

Album review : INFERNAL MAJESTY – None Shall Defy

Posted on October 26, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 23.10.26] The use of occult and satanic themes (and symbols) by the Thrash Metal fraternity eventually became commonplace. They were largely meaningless of course, purely a hook and an image on which to hang powerful … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts) | Tagged Canada, Chris Bailey, Death Metal, Infernal Majesty, None Shall Defy, NWOBHM, Occult, punk, review, Satanic, thrash metal | Leave a comment

Album review : CEREMONIAL OATH – Carpet

Posted on October 25, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 23.10.26] Nearly men among nearly men, what now defunct Swedish thrash/ death metal band, Ceremonial Oath lost in fame and recognition they gained in other ways. Primarily as the proving ground for many talented musicians, providing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts) | Tagged At The Gates, Ceremonial Oath, Death Metal, HammerFall, heavy metal, In Flames, review, Sweden, thrash metal, Tiamat | Leave a comment

Album review : THE STRAWBS – 50 Years On, Grave New World

Posted on October 20, 2026 by brianmc

Witchwood [Release date : 23.10.26] Grave New World Live comes a year after the release of an acclaimed remaster of The Bridge, an album recorded by the late David Cousins, and Brian Willoughby, recorded in 1993 with a little … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Blue Weaver, Brian Willoughby, Dave Cousins, Grave New World Live, John Ford, Larry Fast, review, The Bridge, The Strawbs | Leave a comment

Album review : JOHN DIVA and the ROCKETS OF LOVE – Your Favorite Drug

Posted on October 20, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 16.10.26] Predominantly uptempo, John Diva and The Rockets fourth album, Favorite Drug, trades on the past, while displaying the self possessed optimism that fired up contemporary AOR variations like Reckless Love and Crazy Lixx. For … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Crazy Lixx, Eclipse, HEAT, John Diva, melodic rock, Reckless Love, review, Rockets Of Love!, Your Favorite Drug | Leave a comment

Album review : JACK BRUCE and FRIENDS – I’ve Always Wanted To Do This (5 CD boxset, remastered)

Posted on October 10, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 16.09.26] To begin with, never mind the classy songwriting and high calibre musicianship, I’ve Always Wanted To Do This was a smart piece of logistics and organisation… not very rock’n’roll, but important just the same. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Box sets | Leave a comment

Album review: BEFORE THE GOLD RUSH : An American Country Rock Anthology 1966-73 (3CD Boxset)

Posted on October 7, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 16.10.26] Another standout Cherry Red Anthology. One to add to an enjoyable series based on the storied history of American Rock. Not so long ago, we reviewed I See You Live On Love Street (Music … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Box sets | Leave a comment

Album review : SATAN – Out Of The Fire 1981-85 (4 CD Boxset)

Posted on October 4, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 9.10.26] Leaders rather than followers, Newcastle metal band, Satan grew up alongside Venom, Raven, and The Tygers Of Pan Tang. But while these bands made a few waves, Satan didn’t get the attention they deserved. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Blind Fury, Cherry Red, eighties, Newcastle, NWOBHM, power metal, review, Satan, Speed Thrash Metal | Leave a comment

Single review : HARDCORE SUPERSTAR – Halo

Posted on September 26, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date: 25.09.26] Once you realise that what they present is an act and not a lifestyle, you readily accept that Hardcore Superstar is a shit hot little band. Like so many Glam/ Sleaze/ Street Metal bands, it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Backyard Babies, Frontiers Music, Hanoi Rocks, Hardcore Superstar, Motley Crue, single, Sweden | Leave a comment

Album review : FRANCIS ROSSI -The Way We Were, Volume 2

Posted on September 23, 2026 by brianmc

earMusic [Release date : 25.09.26] The half life of many Francis Rossi / Bob Young songs seems to extend way beyond the music of other artists. The Way We Were Volumes 1 and 2 are the living proof. Most of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged demos, Francis Rossi, Hannah Rickard, Heavy Traffic, review, Status Quo, The Way We Were Volume 2 | Leave a comment

Album review : PAUL LAINE : The Long Road Back

Posted on September 18, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 25.09.26] There’s a lot of traffic right now on The Long Road Back from the Eighties. The AOR genre just refuses to die. GRTR’s AOR Guru, Andy Nathan, who travels the world in a search … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Bruno Ravel, Danger Danger, Dark Horse, Frontiers Music, melodic rock, Paul Laine, review | Leave a comment

Album review : BIG COUNTRY REDUX – Eastworld

Posted on September 18, 2026 by brianmc

Eastworld Records [Release date : 18.09.26] Twenty-five years after Stuart Adamson’s passing, the band has re-emerged as Big Country Redux, delivering Eastworld, a 10-track collection that bridges decades of unfulfilled musical history. At the heart of this project is Bruce … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Big Country, Bruce Watson, Eastworld, review, Stuart Adamson, Tommy Paxton, Tony Butler | Leave a comment

Album review : BUDGIE – Running From My Soul The MCA Years 1973-75 (3 CDs)

Posted on September 14, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 25.09.26] The seventies have always been considered to be the hard rock and heavy metal years. Welsh band Budgie was at the epicentre. Their songs were covered by Soundgarden, Metallica, Van Halen and Iron Maiden. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Budgie, Burke Shelley, Cherry Red, Heavy Metal/Rock, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Ray Philips, review, Soundgarden, Steve Williams, Tony Bourge, Van Halen | Leave a comment

Album review : VELVETEEN QUEEN – The Greater Good

Posted on September 11, 2026 by brianmc

Silver Lining Music [Release date 18.09.26] Who said Glamrock is dead? Not me. And certainly not Velveteen Queen. This band from Gothenberg is Glamrock’s second generation European progeny, whose rock’n’roll music has a solid sonic core and always has something interesting … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Glamrock, Guardian, Guns'n'Roses, Hanoi Rocks, hard rock, Motley Crue, review, Silver Lining Music, The New York Dolls | Leave a comment

Album review : TODD RUNDGREN – Live At The Ritz NYC 1989 (2CDs)

Posted on September 10, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 25.09.26] Todd Rundgren’s first promotional gig of his 12th studio album and first for 4 years, Nearly Human (1989), took place at the New York City Ritz on its release date. Rundgren being Rundgren had taken … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Daryl Hall, Live At The Ritz, Marvin Gaye, Motown, Nearly Human, NYC, Stephen Tayler, The Tubes, Todd Rundgren | Leave a comment

Album review : VARIOUS ARTISTS – No Static At All : A Journey Into AOR (3CDs)

Posted on September 6, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 18.09.26] No Static At All is a 3 CD, 60 tracks journey through the halcyon days of AOR. It’s a tip of the hat to Steely Dan’s movie (FM) music hit of the same title. And … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Cherry Red, Chicago, eighties, FM, Foreigner, Journey, No Static At All, review, Steely Dan, Survivor | Leave a comment

Album review: GARY JOHN BARDEN – Empowered Emotions

Posted on September 5, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 18.09.27] There’s an abundance of richly melodic twists, ear-catching hooks and smoky Coverdale vocalisms running through the veins of Empowered Emotions, a new album from Gary John Barden. Barden’s CV is well documented online. He’s fronted many … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Empowered Emotions, Enkai, Frontiers Music, Gary John Barden, melodic hard rock, Michael Schenker, Michael Voss | Leave a comment

Album review : SEVEN SPIRES – A Fortress Called Home (Master Key Edition / 3CDs)

Posted on August 31, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 04.09.26] “Seven Spires”, says Sascha Paeth, “are one of the few new real personalities in metal”. And you would need an abundance of personality and indeed, confidence to assemble such a suite of music as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Fortress Called Home, Frontiers Music, instrumental, orchestral, Seven Spires, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review : SHAKRA – Just Live Loud

Posted on August 30, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 04.09.26] Since 1995, Swiss band, Shakra have shared stages worldwide with everybody worth knowing, from Guns’N’Roses to Great White, from Stratovarius to Iron Maiden. And in between times they’ve released 14 albums. Their secret, apart from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Frontiers Music, Live Life Loud, Mark Fox, melodic rock, review, Shakra, Thom Blunier, Thomas Muster | Leave a comment

Album review : BLACK OAK ARKANSAS – When Electricity Came To Arkansas Vol 1 (5 CDs)

Posted on August 27, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 28.08.26] CD1 : Black Oak Arkansas (1971) + 2 bonus CD2 : Keep The Faith (1972) CD3 : If An Angel Came To See You, Would You Make Her Feel At Home? (1972) CD4 : … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Black Oak Arkansas, Cherry Red, gospel, Jim Dandy, Raunch'n'Roll Live, review, southern rock | Leave a comment

Album review : ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK – Faithfully

Posted on August 25, 2026 by brianmc

Cleopatra Records [Release date : 28.08.26] The whole idea of taking on a striking stage name has been with us since the beginnings of show business. From the of early days of popular music to the modern era, singers like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Engelbert Humperdinck, Extreme, Faithfully, Gerry Dorsey, Journey, Release Me, the Cars, Warrant | Leave a comment

Album review : NIGHT RANGER Best Of

Posted on August 23, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 28.08.26] Quintessential white middle class rock band from the past, Night Ranger continues to make great melodic rock music in the present. Meantime, this remastered, retrospective collection might satisfy the band’s fans and more. It … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged best of, Brad Gillis, Frontiers, Jack Blades, Jose Feliciano, Kelly Keaggy, Night Ranger, Record Stores Day, review | Leave a comment

Album review : NIGHTWING – Long Hard Road 1980-85 (5 CD Boxset)

Posted on August 21, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 28.08.26] CD1 : Something In The Air (1980) CD2 : Black Summer (1982) CD3 : Stand Up And Be Counted (1983) CD4 : My Kingdom Come (1894) CD5 : Night Of Mystery – Alive! Alive! … Continue reading →