Category Archives: ALL POSTS

CIRCUS MAXIMUS – Nine

 Frontiers 2012 www.frontiers.it These Norwegians formed way back in 2000 as a covers band interpreting Symphony X, Dream Theater and the like. Debut album “The 1st Chapter” was released in 2005 with follow up “Isolate” seeing the light of day … Continue reading

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GARBO DASTROG – Black Sheep Syndrome

2012 www.garbodastorg.com French producer and musician Garbo Dastorg has been making music since the ’80’s and new album “Black Sheep Syndrome” would have fitted the late end of the decade’s glam rock nicely. However, the album is also indie rock … Continue reading

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BEGGARS OPERA – Lose A Life

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Repertoire 2012 Subtitled ‘a nano opera based on a true story’, this concept piece from the veteran Scottish progressive act tackles the theme of living with the condition of ‘electrical sensitivity’ – or put another way an inability to live … Continue reading

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THE BREW – The 3rd Floor

Big in Europe, this is The Brew’s 4th studio album. A band with a massive reputation for great live music have produced a monster of a studio album. This release on Jazzhaus records was produced by the British trio with … Continue reading

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The Raconteurs – Live At Montreux 2008

Eagle Vision 2012 The new live DVD, their first, from The Raconteurs quite literally finds the band “Live At Montreux”. Filmed in 2008 when the band were touring in support of second album “Consolers of The Lonely”, the set consisting … Continue reading

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DANKO JONES – Bring On The Mountain

DVD Bad Taste Records 2012 With their brand of honest, couldn’t give a f@ck rock n roll Canada’s Danko Jones are a band that should be a lot bigger than they already are.  With blues, punk and sleaze elements in … Continue reading

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ASIA – XXX

Frontiers 2012 www.frontiers.it The original Asia releases their third album since they reconvened back in 2006. Unlike the last two albums ‘Phoenix’ and ‘Omega’, both of which were enjoyable but had a couple of mid paced fillers, this album is … Continue reading

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Luca Turilli’s RHAPSODY – Ascending To Infinity

Nuclear Blast 2012 The tail end of 2011 saw my heart break in two – as that’s exactly what happened to one of my favourite bands.  Song writers and founder members of Rhapsody (Of Fire) keyboard player Alex Staropoli and … Continue reading

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MOTORHEAD – Classic Album Selection (6CD Box)

Universal/Sanctuary 2012 Another year, another Motorhead set, but the packaging on these albums makes for a wonderful item. This set includes Motorhead’s six Bronze albums (not including compilations), from Overkill, Bomber, Ace Of Spades, No Sleep ‘Till Hammersmith, Iron Fist … Continue reading

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PAUL CASEY ‘Big World’

Paul Casey Music 2012 www.paulcaseymusic.com This is Paul Casey’s debut release here in the UK although he has already drummed up an impressive following in his native Northern Ireland and Ireland. What is even more impressive after hearing the album … Continue reading

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Quick Plays: BITING ELBOWS, BEZOAR, HERMAN FRANK, SANGUINE

Robin George and Vix “You” (Angel Air) Originally recorded and released in 1990, established guitarist Robin George is joined by Vix, who at the time had just disbanded the relatively successful Fuzzbox . “You” is very much a pop rock … Continue reading

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OXYGEN – Final Warning

Escape Music 2012 This is the band’s debut album, although vocalist Tony Niva has previous musical history with Niva and Lion’s Share amongst others. They play unashamed 80′s flavoured Scandi melodic rock/AOR and it is one to be played loud. … Continue reading

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ODDLAND – “THE TREACHERY OF SENSES”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

ODDLAND – “THE TREACHERY OF SENSES” CENTURY MEDIA (2012) Music contests are functions that I absolutely love to hate! I am not sure whether that is a result of me living in the United Kingdom for the last decade, where … Continue reading

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THE FLOWER KINGS – “BANKS OF EDEN”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

THE FLOWER KINGS – “BANKS OF EDEN” INSIDE OUT (2012) The expression “put on ice” is one that is much dreaded by any music fan. However, these were the words used by Roine Stolt when the Swedish melodic Progsters The … Continue reading

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SANGUINE HUM – Diving Bell

Sanguine Hum

Antenna 2012 Sanguine Hum: cute name, rightly suggestive of prog, and a vast improvement on previous moniker, The Joff Winks Band. The Oxford, UK-quartet’s first effort did the rounds before in a low key way last year but Cherry Red’s … Continue reading

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Album review: GRAHAM GOULDMAN – Love And Work

GRAHAM GOULDMAN - Love And Work

Rosala Records [2012] Graham Gouldman certainly knows his way around writing a hit tune, not only for the bands he has been in 10CC and Wax, but he has written hits for numerous other artists from the Yardbirds to Ricky Martin. This … Continue reading

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HAWKWIND – Onward

Eastworld 2012 www.hawkwind.com Hawkwind return with their new album, less than two years since their last one ‘Blood Of The Earth’. Dave Brock still steers the good(space)ship Hawkwind along with Tim Blake, Richard Chadwick, Mr Dibs and Niall Hone. This … Continue reading

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RICHARD MARX – Inside My Head

FRONTIERS RECORDS     2012 Something of a forgotten man since his hit making days dried up in the mid nineties, singer-songwriter  Richard Marx has been making up for lost time over the last year or two. His shows at Shepherds Bush … Continue reading

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LULEY – Tomorrow’s Today

AOR HEAVEN     2012 Former Tokyo and Craaft singer Klaus Luley has made a welcome return after many years in the wilderness.  The German also plays all guitar and keyboards and the album has a typically clear production from  his fellow … Continue reading

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If You Like Metallica… by Mike McPadden

Backbeat Books www.backbeatbooks.com A book that does what it says on the tin in that it recommends music, along with books and films, you may enjoy as a fan of Metallica. A book like this you’d think would be fairly … Continue reading

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EVERWOOD – Without Saving

Prog Rock Records 2012 www.progrockrecords.com The third album by this Hungarian band led by keyboards player Attila Tanczer. It is a loose concept album based on the finding out what life is all about and spirituality in general and for … Continue reading

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PETER MATUCHNIAK – Uncover Me

The Record Label 2012 www.therecordlabel.net Peter Matuchniak is an accomplished musician who has worked with various progressive rock bands down the years. This album sees him joined by amongst others new(ish) Spock’s Beard drummer Jimmy Keegan. This is a diverse … Continue reading

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Backstage Hero – Scott Hamilton (Small Stone Records)

Scott Hamilton gives us the lowdown on US based label Small Stone Records… How did the Small Stone Records label start off? Growing up,  I was always infatuated with music (like most kids who came of age in the 70′s … Continue reading

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SAXON – Heavy Metal Thunder – Live: Eagle Over Wacken (DVD+2CD)

UDR/EMI 2012 NWoBHM Stalwarts have proven an increasingly popular draw of late, and remain one of the most consistent and reliable British metal bands around. On the back of some of their most successful albums in 30 years, we get … Continue reading

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Iron Maiden: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of the Beat by Neil Daniels

Jawbone Press www.jawbonepress.com £24.95 224pp ISBN 9781908279231 Neil Daniels fresh from his book on Metallica’s early years now turns his attention to one of the metal bands of all time, Iron Maiden. This is a lovely illustrated tome with live … Continue reading

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