Author Archives: jason

Album review: BIFF BYFORD – School Of Hard Knocks

Posted on February 9, 2020 by jason

Silver Lining Music [Release date 21.02.20] One of British heavy metal’s finest icons, vocalist (and occasional bassist) Biff Byford has fronted Saxon since the mid 70s, when they were called Son Of A Bitch. And after talk of a solo … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged album, Biff Byford, classic rock, interview, metal, NWOBHM, OPETH, review, rock, Saxon, School Of Hard Knocks | Leave a comment

Album review: ROBERT HART – Pure

Posted on February 6, 2020 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 20.02.20] Vocalist Robert Hart sang on one of my all-time favourite albums, ‘Under The One Sky’ by The Distance, added to his solo album ‘Cries & Whispers’ is still revered in AOR circles. He has also … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bad Company, classic rock, FM, funk, Power Station, Pure, review, Robert Hart, rock, synth pop, Tommy Denander | Leave a comment

Album review: THE RECORD COMPANY – Early Songs And Rarities

Posted on February 6, 2020 by jason

Snakefarm/Universal [Release date 14.02.20] (vinyl only) Such is the demand for new product from Billboard top five debuting band, The Record Company, that their old product – their “recorded in the front room” tracks, following them from the past like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Early Songs And Rarities, review, rock, roots rock, the Record Company, Vinyl | Leave a comment

EP review: STONE THIEVES – Church Of The Medicine Man

Posted on February 5, 2020 by jason

3MS Music [Release date 14.02.20] Stone Thieves are a London band who have been building a solid reputation with their Americana repertoire. One might argue that the music is American rock or even Southern Rock, rather than pure Americana, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Americana, blues rock, Church Of The Medicine Man, classic rock, EP, review, rock, southern rock, Stone Thieves, The Faces, The Rolling Stones | Leave a comment

Album review: DUSTBOWL REVIVAL – Is It You, Is It Me

Posted on February 4, 2020 by jason

Medium Expectations/Thirty Tigers [Release date 31.01.20] Dustbowl Revival present their fifth album and one that sees them shift away from their original Dixieland jazz, swing and Depression-era folk songs. The band revolves around the singing talents of Z Lupetin and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Dixieland jazz, Dustbowl Revival, folk, melodic, Paul Simon, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: BILLY LOCKETT – O2 Academy 2, Oxford, 2 February 2020

Posted on February 3, 2020 by jason

We have ventured into the Academy a few times but have never been to the more compact upstairs Academy 2, which was the venue for Billy Lockett’s show. He’s certainly taking a big step and gamble by going out on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 February 2020, acoustic, Billy Lockett, gig, live music, Mabes, melodic, Oxford, piano, pop, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: SETH LAKEMAN – A Pilgrim’s Tale

Posted on February 3, 2020 by jason

BMG [Release date 07.02.20] The latest album from folk singer Seth Lakeman marks the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower setting sale from Plymouth for north America. While A Pilgrim’s Tale showcases his distinctive vocal style and delivery precisely as his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Pilgrim's Tale, album, Benji Kirkpatrick, Cara Dillon, Dr Who, folk, Mayflower, Paul McGann, Plymouth, review, Seth Lakeman, songwriter | 1 Comment

Album review: REVOLUTION SAINTS – Rise

Posted on February 2, 2020 by jason

Frontiers (Release date 24.01.20) Frontiers Records’ AOR superhero assembly is working like a dream. The Revolution Saints – Deen (Journey) Castronovo, Jack (Night Ranger) Blades and Doug (Whitesnake) Aldrich – are on their third album now, so that confirms it. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Delvecchio, Deen Castrova, Doug Aldrich, Frontiers, Jack Blades, Journey, melodic rock, Night Ranger, review, Revolution Saints, Rise, rock, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

News: MARILLION, NICK MASON, STYX, BLUE OYSTER CULT (February 2020)

Posted on February 1, 2020 by jason

MARILLION - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 4 November 2019

Marillion release an expanded version of ‘Script For A Jester’s Tear’ on April 3 as a 4CD/Blu-ray package and on 4LP. Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets will release ‘Live At The Roundhouse’ (2LP, 2CD/DVD and Blu-ray) on April 17 through … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions | Tagged Blue Oyster Cult, February 2020, Marillion, melodic rock, metal, news, Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets, rock, Styx, Thunder | Leave a comment

Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Hard Rock Live In Cleveland 2014

Posted on February 1, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] “Hard Rock Live In Cleveland 2014” is Blue Oyster Cult’s sixth live album. Not many in a 50 year career. Maybe that’s why it’s a sumptious, 2 CD + DVD affair, housed in a sturdy gatefold … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, classic rock, DVD, Eric Bloom, Frontiers, hard rock, Hard Rock Live In Cleveland 2014, live, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DECARLO – Lightning Strikes Twice

Posted on January 30, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] DeCarlo are Tommy DeCarlo (who has been a member of Boston since 2008) and co-founder (and son) Tommy DeCarlo Jr., along with drummer Dan Hitz. The songs have been written over a number of years, the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 70's rock, album, Boston, classic rock, debut, DeCarlo, Frontiers, hard rock, Lightning Strikes Twice, melodic rock, review, Tommy Decarlo | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND – High Times, Live In Italy

Posted on January 30, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] Michael Thompson’s reputation as the rock world’s original “go to guitarist” is unassailable. Though none is needed, he provides ample proof of his skill and virtuosity here. And understandably cashing in his cultural stock in the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, AOR, Boston, DVD, Foreigner, Frontiers, guitarist, High Times Live In Italy, Larry King, live, melodic rock, Michael Thompson Band, review, Soleil Moon, Unruly Child | Leave a comment

Album review: SONS OF APOLLO – MMXX

Posted on January 29, 2020 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 17.01.20] Second studio outing from the prog metal supergroup Sons Of Apollo who consist of vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, bassist Billy Sheenan, guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, drummer Mike Portnoy and on keyboards Derek Sherinian. Sons Of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Billy Sheenan, Bumblefoot, Derek Sherinian, Dream Theater, Guns 'N' Roses, Jeff Scott Soto, Journey, melodic metal, metal, Mike Portnoy, MMXX, prog metal, progressive, review, Sons Of Apollo | Leave a comment

Single reviews: SOLD, FALSE HEARTS, HELLZ

Posted on January 29, 2020 by jason

SOLD ‘Empty Words’ Seemingly making quantum leaps with each new release, Estonia band Sold have really hit things out of the ballpark with ‘Empty Words’. A snarling wildcat of a song, its mix of growling male and clean female vocals … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged False Hearts, Halestorm, Hellz, melodic metal, metal, new bands, review, singles, Sold | Leave a comment

Album review: ALUNAH – Violet Hour

Posted on January 29, 2020 by jason

Heavy Pysch Sounds [Release date 29.10.19] Midlands four-piece Alunah show that, without doubt, you can take something primal and brutal but turn it into a thing of beauty. Their 60’s tinged doom metal follows in the footsteps of pioneers Black … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alunah, Black Sabbath, Doom Metal, Heavy Psych Sounds Records, metal, psychadelic, review, Violet Hour | Leave a comment

Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Cult Classics

Posted on January 27, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] Surprising and exciting news was announced in the autumn of last year in that Frontiers have signed Blue Oyster Cult for a series re-issues (including their hard to find 1998 album ‘Heaven Forbid’ which is re-issued … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, classic rock, Cult Classics, Eric Bloom, hard rock, melodic, reissue, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: JORN – Heavy Rock Radio II

Posted on January 27, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] Jorn Lande is back with his second volume of songs he grew up with or influenced him – making this his fourth covers album to date. These songs get the Jorn heavy rock treatment or as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Black Sabbath, classic rock, Covers, Deep Purple, Dio, Eagles, Foreigner, Jorn, Jorn Lande, pop, review, rock, Russ Ballard, Trond Holter | Leave a comment

Album review: GLENN HUGHES – Justified Man

Posted on January 26, 2020 by jason

Cherry Red Records [Release date 31.01.20] Part One: Feel (CD1), Addicted (CD2), The Way It Is (CD3) : This clydebuilt boxset plugs into Glenn Hughes’ solo career in 1995, kicking off with his fourth solo album “Feel” (CD1). It’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Addiciton, album, box set, Building The Machine, Cherry Red Records, classic rock, Deep Purple, Feel, funk, Glenn Hughes, JJ Marsh, Justified Man, Pat Thrall, Return Of The Crystal Karma, review, rock, Songs In The Key Of Rock, soul, The Way It Is | Leave a comment

Album review: GIRL – Wasted Youth

Posted on January 24, 2020 by jason

Cherry Red Records [31.01.20] Arguably, Girl was simply the launching pad for Phil Lewis – later to join The LA Guns; Phil Collen – later to join Def Leppard, and Gerry Laffy – later to carve out a significant career … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, box set, classic rock, Def Leppard, Gerry Laffy, Girl, LA Guns, Phil Collen, Phil Lewis, reissue, review, rock, Russ Ballard, Wasted Youth | Leave a comment

Album review: SERPENTYNE & OPEROSE

Posted on January 24, 2020 by jason

Hell Fury Records [Release date 21.11.19] There is always so much to explore in music, as you explore every sub-genre of a sub-genre. Modern Symphonic Metal is a good case in point and, what was once just purely the domain … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, Angels of the Night, Jennifer Coleman, Lion Music, Maggiebeth Sand, melodic, metal, Oceans Of Starlight, Operose, review, Serpentyne, symphonic metel | Leave a comment

Quick plays: KIWI JR, OF MONTREAL

Posted on January 22, 2020 by jason

KIWI JR. – Football Money Persona Non Grata [Release date 17.01.20] Kiwi Jr. hail from Canada and feature Alvvays’ guitarist Brian Murphy amongst their ranks, with the group’s main songwriter being Jeremy Gaudet. They pack it in with ten songs … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Alvvays, Football Money, indie pop, Kevin Barnes, Kiwi Jr, of Montreal, pop, quirky, review, synth pop, ur fun | Leave a comment

Album review: LORDI – Killection

Posted on January 18, 2020 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 31.01.20] Finnish monsters Lordi have been rampaging through the planet since the first emerged from the deepest darkness in 1992. Over the years their own brand of twisted melodic and theatrical hard rock has won them … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, Alice Cooper, glam, hard rock, Killection, Kiss, Lordi, melodic, pop rock, review, rock, shock rock | Leave a comment

Album review: ANCHOR LANE – Casino

Posted on January 16, 2020 by jason

R7 Records [Release date 31.01.20] Young, gifted and Scottish, What more could you want? Anchor Lane – Connor Gaffney, Scott Hanson, Lawrence O’Brien and Matthew Quigley – are a Glasgow band who came to the attention of the rock’n’roll world … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anchor Lane, Casino, debut, hard rock, review, Ricky Warwick, rock, rock 'n' roll, Toby Jepson | Leave a comment

Album review: FOGHAT – Fool For The City & Foghat Live (2019 Remasters)

Posted on January 15, 2020 by jason

Rock Candy Records [Release date 06.12.19] Britband Foghat clocked up a considerable number of tour miles after relocating to the USA in 1970, road testing their material, looking to kickstart their career. It worked a treat. . . it’s on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged albums, blues rock, boogie, classic rock, Dave Peverett, Foghat, Foghat Live, Fool For The City, re-issue, review, rock, Rock Candy, Roger Earl | Leave a comment

Single reviews: SHADES OF GRAY, KOBURG, THUNDERSTICK

Posted on January 15, 2020 by jason

SHADES OF GRAY – I Get Up In a dark world, there are few things that unite us and raise our spirits more than music. Not many people understand this as fully as Myke Gray and the guitar guru/songwriter/producer offers … Continue reading →