Tag Archives: classic rock

Quick plays: DIO, HEAVEN RAIN, OLIVA, VANDROYA, EVILYN STRANGE

Nick van der Meulen gives us a run through new releases from Heaven Rain, Giunitini Project, Oliva, Vandroya, Evelyn Strange and another Dio reissue… HEAVEN RAIN – Second Sun Music Buy Mail Another slipped through my fingers: this album was released … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROCK THE PARK – London, Ontario, Canada, 26-27 July 2013

My hometown London has been rocking various parks all summer, from the Stones and Bon Jovi at Hyde Park to Springsteen at the Olympic Park. But to our colonial cousins ‘across the pond’ , London is a mid sized city … Continue reading

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Gig review: MOONDANCE JAM – Walker,Minnesota,USA,18-20 July 2013

Moondance Jam, USA, July 2013

Few festival experiences can match the vibe of Moondance Jam. Set among the beautiful woods and lakes of Northern Minnesota, somehow the tiny town of Walker plays host to one of the Mid West’s premier rock festivals and draws crowds … Continue reading

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Album review: MOCKINGBIRD – Live Cuts! Wizzfest, Belgium 2013

      Self Release (Release date – 20th July 2013) All too often new bands try too hard to conform to the latest trends and jump on whatever bandwagon is doing the rounds at that point. It’s refreshing then … Continue reading

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Album review: ALBANY DOWN – Not Over Yet

Albany Down - Not Over Yet

AD Recordings Ltd [Release date 8.04.13] Albany Down draw on deeply entrenched classic rock influences, contemporary production values and impressive song craft to suggest a bright future. The album title ‘Not Over Yet, could just as easily refer to rock … Continue reading

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Gig review: SAXON, THE QUIREBOYS, Oxford Academy, 5 May 2013

Saxon - Oxford Academy, 5 May 2013

If only everything in life was as reliable as Saxon. You can set your watch by the fact the enduring Yorkshire stalwarts of the NWOBHM will be touring every spring, usually to coincide with St George’s Day. And you can … Continue reading

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Album review – MICHAEL SHEPHERD BAND – II

Self Release (Release date – out now) There aren’t many rock bands from Luxembourg that spring to mind, in fact the Michael Shepherd Band could well be the first I have heard of. The band have been together for a … Continue reading

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Album review: THE BLACK MARBLES – Made In Concrete

The Black Marbles

TBM productions/New Music [Release date: 08.03.13] Described as ‘a mix of swag, groove, energy, heart & soul with their own take on rock ‘n’ roll’,  70’s influenced Swedish rockers The Black Marbles wear their retro influences on their sleeve in a … Continue reading

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Album review: TRACER – El Pistolero

Mascot Records [Release date: 06.05.13] Take one young retro sounding Australian band and send them to Europe to make a splash and build up a following. Sign them to a Dutch label and then record them in LA under the wing … Continue reading

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Gig review: GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS, Bush Hall, London, 13 March 2013

GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS, Bush Hall, London, 13 March 2013

It’s strange how some bands that have a big profile in the United States rarely cross the radar over this side of the pond. Vermont-based Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are one such and I admit to knowing little about … Continue reading

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Gig review: Uriah Heep, Islington Assembly Hall, 27 February 2013

Uriah Heep, 21 February 2013

Nearly 45 years into their career, Uriah Heep are seemingly indestructible, still treading the boards with an enthusiasm that puts younger bands to shame. Sadly bassist Trevor Bolder was absent recovering from a major operation (which oddly went unmentioned from … Continue reading

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Album review: MIND THE GAEP – Get Ready For Tonight

        Leo Skull  [Release date 23.03.13] Mind The Gaep is a powerful hard rock band with metal pretension, but it’s their softer underbelly that more accurately reflects their true calling. Scratch below the stunt guitar parts and … Continue reading

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News: DIO – Deluxe Edition Album – Dream Evil

Universal are pleased to announce the release of a deluxe edition of Dio’s ‘Dream Evil’ album on March 4th 2013. When Ronnie James Dio finally succumbed to stomach cancer in May 2010, the world of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal … Continue reading

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THE SWEET announce a new live download only album

UK Rock Legends SWEET Revisit Hit Album ‘Desolation Boulevard’ With New Live CD London, UK – Hot on the heels of their recent critically acclaimed album release ‘New York Connection’, UK rock legends SWEET have released a new live CD … Continue reading

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Album review: THE UNION – The World Is Yours

The Union - 'The World Is Yours' sleeev artwork

        Payola (Released March 4th) The Union – Thunder’s Luke Morley and Peter Shoulder of Winterville – return with their third album in as many years. Listening to the guitar playing of Luke Morley (you can see … Continue reading

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KRUK – Be 3

Metal Mind Productions www.metalmind.com.pl         New album by the Polish band Kruk who have made a name for themselves in their home country and this album will surely gain them wider notice. They love their classic 70′s … Continue reading

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PAUL RAYMOND PROJECT new album

NEW SOLO ALBUM RELEASE ‘TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY’ January 28 (Hear No Evil/Cherry Red Records) Paul Raymond, songwriter, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist of legendary cult hard rock outfit UFO has inked a deal with Cherry Red Records’ new hard rock imprint label Hear … Continue reading

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Quick Plays: SKANSKA MORED, WO FAT

SKANSKA MORED – Paths To Charon Small Stone Records Second album by this Swedish five-piece who meld 70’s rock with a latter day stoner rock vibe. Vocalist Janne Bengtsson is one of ths stars of the album as he can … Continue reading

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JEFFERSON STARSHIP – Freedom At Point Zero

Rock Candy Records Formed from the ashes of West Coast band Jefferson Airplane in the early 70s, Jefferson Starship (later just Starship) kept that influence in their brand of hard rock and power pop.  This album, originally released, saw a … Continue reading

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RAINBOW re-issues due in November

Rainbow are set to release Deluxe Reissues of On Stage and Long Live Rock N’ Roll this November. Rainbow, lead by the guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, became synonymous with some of the most well regarded and popular charting Rock songs of … Continue reading

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If You Like Led Zeppelin… by Dave Thompson

If You Like Led Zeppelin… by Dave Thompson Backbeat Books www.backbeatbooks.com Another in the series of ‘If You Like…’ which takes a big name band and then suggests other music, books and films you may like based on the artist … Continue reading

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Album review: DON FELDER – Road To Forever

DON FELDER - Road To Forever

Rocket Science (Release date 08.10.22] Former Eagle (he was sacked by the band back in 2001) releases only his second solo album to date (his first was way back in 1983). This album has some top name musicians including Graham … Continue reading

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T.REX – Electric Warrior Deluxe Edition

Universal This work from what many would describe as the pioneer of glam rock was released around the time I was born!  It was Marc Bolan’s most successful release and, over forty years later, it’s easy to see why. The … Continue reading

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FAIR WARNING – Best and More

            SPV 2012 www.spv.de Fair Warning has been on the go for 20 years now and remains one of Germany’s best kept secrets, producing melodic rock of the highest order.  The band has produced six … Continue reading

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Classic Status Quo reunite for March dates

In a brand new interview with Sweden’s Nostalgia Rock’n’Roll Magazine, Francis Rossi revealed that he and Rick Parfitt would be reuniting with bassist Alan Lancaster and drummer John Coghlan for dates next March and a new album. In a bizarre twist … Continue reading

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