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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: PAUL McCARTNEY- 02 Arena, London, 18 December 2024
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Gig review: BLACK EYED SONS- The Lexington, London, 16 December 2024
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – Thames Side Brewery, Staines, 8 December 2024
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Gig review: STRAY – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 December 2024
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Gig review: THE SHEEPDOGS, THE COMMONERS – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 5 December 2024
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Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow, 14 December 2024
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Featured Album Reviews
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Album review: SHAMAN’S HARVEST – Smokin’ Hearts & Broken Guns
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Album review: JUDITH OWEN – Somebody’s Child
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Album review: VERN DAYSEL – Shootin’ The Breeze/Blood Of A Wolf
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Album review: STEAMHAMMER – Wailing Again
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Album review: HONEY AND THE BEAR – Journey Through The Roke
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Album review: PICTUREHOUSE – How Do I Explain How This Came To Be?
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Features
Interviews
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
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Author Archives: brianmc
Album review: SHINING BLACK – BOALS and THORSEN – Postcards From The End Of The World
Frontiers [Release date: 18.03.22] Shining Black’s 2020 self titled album collaboration was tuned into Hard Rock as much as it was to Melodic Metal. Guitarist, Olaf (Labyrinth, Vision Divine) Thorsen and singer, Mark (Malmsteen, Royal Hunt) Boals’ first musical marriage … Continue reading
Album review: RONNIE ATKINS – Make It Count
Frontiers [release date: 18.03.22] When Denmark’s Paul Christensen founded the Pretty Maids with Ken Hammer, he changed his name to Ronnie Atkins. And this despite assurances that his birth name sounded pretty cool. None of this matters now, he lives … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Chris Laney, Covid, eighties, Ken Hammer, melodic rock, pop, Pretty Maids, review, Ronnie Atkins
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Album review: SHEWOLF – SheWolf
Frontiers [Release date: 18.03.22] Aiming to climb the Power Metal mountain, SheWolf release their self titled debut album this month. Led by stunning Greek vocalist, Angel Wolf-Black, the band, The Hunter (guitars), The Predator (bass) and Alpha (drummer) might sound … Continue reading
Album review: CHIP Z’NUFF – Perfectly Imperfect
Frontiers [Release date: 18.03.22] New solo album from Grammy nominated musician, Chip Z’Nuff. As much of today’s pop and rock degenerate into pro-tooled, prefabricated, flatpack blandness, Z’Nuff makes the case for home made, rough around the edges rock. He’s still … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Beatles, Cheap Trick, Chip Z'nuff, Enuff Z'Nuff, Joel Hoekstra, Mott, pop rock, Powerpop, review
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Album review: NEW HORIZON – Gate Of The Gods
Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] New Horizon is a H.E.A.T. splinter group, or splinter duo, to be precise. Being almost famous gives you room to try other things, and so Jonah Tee and Erik Gronwall have been given the opportunity to … Continue reading
Album review: RUST N’ RAGE – One For The Road
Frontiers [Release date: 11.03.22] The label debut from young Finnish band, Rust N’ Rage. The label claims that Rust N’ Rage’s influences are Dokken, ‘Crue and ‘Priest, but in fact they’ve taken their lead from second or third generation European … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Brother Firetribe, Dokken, Eclipse, Frontiers, Jimmy Westerlund, Judas Priest, melodic rock, One Desire, review, Rust N' Rage
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Album review: FIND ME – Lightning In A Bottle
Frontiers [Release date: 11.03.22] Find Me is Robbie LaBlanc, a rock vocalist who enjoys iconic status, and Daniel Flores (and his band) who’s on the same path, if not the same trajectory. The duo have been breathing new life into … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Daniel Flores, eighties, Frank Stallone, Frontiers, Mark Free, melodic rock, pomp rock, review, Robbie Blanc, Signal, Staying Alive movie, Vince DiCola
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Album review: EDGE OF FOREVER – Days Of Future Past (Remasters, 3 CD set)
Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] Frontiers’ golden boy, Alessandro Del Vecchio, formed Edge Of Forever in 2004. The label has now released the band’s back catalogue in a 3 CD, remastered set, titled Days Of Future Past, with a bonus track … Continue reading
Album review: HOUSE OF SHAKIRA – Lint XXV
Frontiers [release date: 11.02.22] Well, this is interesting… two richly textured remasters of House Of Shakira’s 1997 album, Lint. It is a most unusual approach. To celebrate the album’s 25th Anniversary, the first disc is a remastered version of the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Andreas Eklund, Damn Yankees, Lint, melodic rock, Mikael Eriksson, review, Styx, Tommy Shaw, XXV
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Album review: BANGALORE CHOIR – All Or Nothing, The Complete Studio Albums (3 CD Set)
Global Rock [Release date: 11.03.22] This 3 disc set from Bangalore Choir is outstandingly well compiled. It’s the first release from Store For Music’s new imprint, Global Rock. As well as the band’s career albums, On Target (1992), Cadence (2010) … Continue reading
Album review: JACOB BRYANT – Bar Stool Preacher
Snakefarm Records [Release date o4.03.22] Bar Stool Preacher is a well known phrase in country music, but still a clever one, and it’s apt – it sums up the songs on this pretty fine album. Jacob Bryant is a road … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Country Music, Grand Old Opry, Jacob Bryant, Luke Combs, review
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Album review: SERIOUS BLACK – Vengeance Is Mine
AFM Records [Release date: 25.02.22] Sixth album from Power Metal band, Serious Black. Their reputation for international membership has continued throughout a 7 years and counting career. German founding member, Roland (Helloween) Grapow bailed early on. US vocalist Urban (Tad … Continue reading
Album review: JOHN ILLSLEY – VIII
100% Records [Release date 04.03.22] VIII is ex Dire Straits founding member John Ilsley’s eighth solo album. The singing bass player’s voice is rough hewn. His grainy, been-round-the-block-a-few times, half spoken, half sung vocal style is a perfect fit for … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Dire Straits, John Illsley, review, rural England, Tex Mex, Zydeco
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Album review: THE RODS – Metal Will Never Die (The Official Bootleg Boxset)
Cherry Red/HNE [Release date: 25.02.22] Metal Will Never Die is an understandable assertion from The Rods, a band who’ve survived multiple assaults on their place in the genre’s popularity over the last 40 years. The band, a trio, consisted of … Continue reading
Album review: SPIRITS OF FIRE – Embrace The Unknown
Frontiers [Release date: 18.02.22] Classic Metal band, Spirits Of Fire release their second album, Embrace The Unknown. The band was formed from scratch in 2017 by Chris (Savatage) Caffery, Steve (Testament) DeGiorgio, and Mark (Fates Warning) Zonder with the estimable … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts)
Tagged album, Aldo Lonobile, ANGRA, Chris Caffrey, Classic Heavy Metal, Fabio Lione, Fates Warning, review, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, Roy Z, Savatage, Secret Sphere, Spirits Of Fire, Testament, Tim Ripper Owns
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Album review: ZADRA – Guiding Star
Frontiers [Release date : 18.02.22] Guitarist/songwriter/vocalist, August Zadra’s main claim to fame is his lengthy tenure as Dennis DeYoung’s sideman, touring and recording with him since 2010. Guiding Star is his first “solo” album. A considerable weight of talent and … Continue reading
Album review : MECCA – 20 Years (3 CD reissue w/bonus tracks)
Frontiers [release date: 18.02.22] Mecca’s 20 Years bundles the band’s 3 albums, released over the last two decades, into an attractive package of original recordings, now remastered, with 5 bonus tracks spread across the 3 CDs. The self titled debut … Continue reading
Album review: MANIC SINNERS – King Of The Badlands
Frontiers [Release date: 18.02.22] Manic Sinners are Frontiers’ first signing from Romania. They are a talented, hard rocking trio of multi-instrumentalists who’ve borrowed heavily from the past, (who hasn’t?). If you’re going to borrow, borrow from the best. They’ve picked … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Blue Murder, David Coverdale, Dio, Dokken, Frontiers, hard rock, Lynch Mob, Manic Sinners, melodic rock, review, Romania, Von Groove
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Album review: ALAN PARSONS – One Note Symphony (Live In Tel Aviv)
Frontiers [release date: 11.02.22] This was Alan Parsons and his travelling band’s fourth time gigging in Israel, enjoying the huge honour of appearing with the highly regarded Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. Frontiers signed Parsons 4 years ago, releasing his “solo” album, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Alan Parsons, album, David Minasian, Frontiers, IM3 Global, Israel, Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, Jason Mraz, Jeff Kollman, live, Lou Gramm, Paul Dukas, PJ Olsen, review, Schuman, Tel Aviv, Tom Brooks, Trinity Houston
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Album review: GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES – Hail To The Heroes
Frontiers [release date: 11.02.22] Highly derivative hard rock/metal from Bengaluru, India band, Girish And The Chronicles. They are now on their third album, and first on Frontiers. The album’s title, ‘Hail To The Heroes’ suggests a bunch of declamatory stadium … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, BlacknBlue, Coverdale, Frontiers, Girish, Hard Rock and Metal, India, Quiet Riot, review, Rough Cutt
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Album review: CITY OF LIGHTS – Before The Sun Sets
Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] Debut album from City Of Lights – Brit guitarist/writer Neil Austin and Greek vocalist Manos Fatsis (Hideaway). They are joined in the studio by members of Creye, Degreed and Art Nation. It’s clear that a passionate … Continue reading
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Tagged album, AOR, Art Nation, Before The Sun Sets, City Of Lights, Creye, Degreed, Fatsis, Frontiers, melodic rock, Neil Austin, review
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Album review : DEGREED – Are You Ready
Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] Are You Ready is Degreed’s sixth album, and their first on Frontiers. Robin Erikkson, Mats Erikkson, Mikael Blanc and Daniel Johansson have come a long long way in six albums. Their focus is clearly on the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Brother Firetribe, Degreed, eighties, Frontiers, Harem Scarem, Leverage, melodic rock, Queen, review, Robin Erikssen, Wigelius
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Album review: JACK FRANCIS – Jack Francis
Good Deeds Music [Release date: 04.02.22] In introducing his remarkably lean and confident debut album, Jack Francis manages to namecheck Bruce Springsteen, and without realising it, Paul McCartney. There are echoes of ‘Yesterday’ in his story that the song, ‘Helena’, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, BBC radio, blues, Bruce Springsteen, country rock, Good Deeds Music, Jack Francis, Paul McCartney, review
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Album review : BRIX SMITH and MARTY WILLSON-PIPER – Lost Angeles
Cadiz Music [Release date: 17.o1.22] This one has an interesting story behind it. Brix Smith was originally named after The Clash standard, Guns of Brixton, which is pretty cool. In the 90’s she went to a gig in her native … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Brix Smith, John Peel, Manic Street Preachers, Mark E. Smith, Marty Willson-Piper, Oasis, Pulp, review, The Clash, The Fall, The Ramones
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Album review: PRAYING MANTIS – Katharsis
Frontiers [Release date: 28.02.22] Only occasionally since their debut have Praying Mantis registered a decent sized blip on the radar of rock music in the UK. It was in Japan – where NWOBHM labelling was less meaningful – that the … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Frontiers, Japan, Journey, melodic hard rock, metal, Pony Canyon, Praying Mantis, review, Survivor, Troy Brothers
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