Tag Archives: review

Gig review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, 22 February 2019

BLUE OYSTER CULT - Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, 22 February 2019

After a lull of a decade or so, Blue Oyster Cult have resumed their love affair with the UK in a big way in the past four years. Show stealing supporting appearances at Ramblin’ Man and Stone Free were sandwiched … Continue reading

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Album review: KINETIC ELEMENT – The Face Of Life

KINETIC ELEMENT - The Face Of Life

Melodic Revolution Records Great, just what we need – another bunch of old buffers, sorry, I mean proggers, flogging early Genesis/Yes inspired symphonic prog.  The latter, in particular. To be fair, the Richmond, Virginia based band – formed by veteran … Continue reading

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Quick plays: KRISTINA STYKOS, DANNI NICHOLLS

KRISTINA STYKOS River Of Light

KRISTINA STYKOS River Of Light Thunder Ridge Records [Release date 05.04.19] With many of the songs delivered in an enforced semi-spoken style (in 2017, she was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a disorder that makes speaking and singing difficult or even … Continue reading

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Quick plays: MICHAEL McDERMOTT, DANNY SCHMIDT

MICHAEL McDERMOTT Orphans

MICHAEL McDERMOTT Orphans Pauper Sky Records [Release date 12.04.19] In Orphans, a set of songs that while not making earlier records refused to be left to collect dust, Michael McDermott has come up with perhaps his best album yet – … Continue reading

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Album review: RUTH NOTMAN & SAM KELLY – Changeable Heart

RUTH NOTMAN & SAM KELLY – Changeable Heart

Pure Records [Release date 15.03.19] In young folk terms this is a bit of a star studded collaboration, with former BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award finalist Ruth Notman making a return to making music (she took time out to … Continue reading

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Album review: JEREMY & THE HARLEQUINS – Remember This

JEREMY & THE HARLEQUINS – Remember This

Yep Roc Records [Release date 01.03.19] Jeremy Fury is the singer and main songwriter in the band, which is completed by guitarists Craig Bon and Patrick Meyer, bassist Bobby Ever and Jeremy’s brother Stevie Fury on drums. They have released … Continue reading

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Album review: JETBOY – Born To Fly

JETBOY - Born To Fly

Frontiers [Release date 25.01.19] With their first full album of new material since 1990, “Born To Fly” is a welcome return for Jetboy. The band includes original members Micky Finn on vocals alongside guitarists, and founder members, Fernie Rod and … Continue reading

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Gig review: STEELY DAN/Steve Winwood – Manchester Arena, 21 February 2019

STEELY DAN - Manchester Arena, 21 February 2019

Could it be that for the past six years, Steve Winwood has been resting on laurels?  When we last reviewed him – in June 2013 – he was playing pretty much the same set.  With no new album since 2008, … Continue reading

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Album review: QUIET RIOT – One Night In Milan

QUIET RIOT - One Night In Milan

Frontiers [Release date 25.01.19] Veteran rock band Quiet Riot are the latest live offering from the Frontiers “One Night In Milan” series. Recorded at the 2018 edition of the annual festival in Milan, hence the title, highlighting the labels roster … Continue reading

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Single review: GOYA – Prophecie

  Facebook [Release date 08.03.19] Instrumental progressive rock, eh ? It’s not for everyone and typically not for the Mad Dog. However, having set aside my traditional aversion to both “prog” and “instrumentals” and opened my mind wide enough to … Continue reading

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Album review: PETER H. NILSSON – Little American Dream

PETER H. NILSSON – Little American Dream

AOR Heaven [Release date 29.03.19] Swedish guitar player Peter H. Nilsson has been in the music business for many years in different bands in and extensive touring in his native Sweden. He hooked-up with singer Chris Biano (a Nashville based … Continue reading

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Album review: AVANTASIA – Moonglow

Nuclear Blast [Release date 15.02.19] ‘Moonglow’ is the eighth full-length album by Tobias Sammet’s metal opera project Avantasia. As with previous Avantasia’s albums he calls upon an impressive list of guest vocalists including returns for Magnum’s Bob Catley, former Queensryche and … Continue reading

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Gig review: KING KING/Sari Schorr – Manchester Academy, 15 February 2019

KING KING - Manchester Academy, 15 February 2019

Is it really 10 years?  King King’s progress over the last decade has been fully chronicled by Get Ready to ROCK! from their tentative blues rock debut album in 2011 to the more mainstream rocking ‘Exile & Grace’.  And, in … Continue reading

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Album review: TIM BOWNESS – Flowers At The Scene

Inside Out [Release date 01.03.19] ‘Flowers At The Scene’ is Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson’s first joint production in over a decade – they have been working as a duo under the no-man name since 1987 – although it is … Continue reading

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Album review: TRAGEDY: ALL METAL TRIBUTE TO THE BEE GEES & BEYOND – Goes To The Movies

[Release date 11.02.19] Do you remember the Disco/Metal Peace accord of 1977? No me neither, however from this momentous event came the seeds for the founding of Tragedy: All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees & Beyond. Looking like the … Continue reading

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EP review: ALEX JAMES BRIERLEY – Home Sweet Home

Facebook [Release date 22.02.19] Alex James Brierley released his debut EP ‘Listen’ last year to positive reviews, including a four star review from this reviewer. Fast forward a year and we have a new EP, four songs recorded over the … Continue reading

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Album review: SIMON TODD – Half Empty/Half Full

Simon Todd - Half Empty/Half Full

Ginger Tom Music [Release date 21.09.18] Produced by the esteemed songwriter Boo Hewerdine, Northumberland singer/songwriter Simon Todd’s ‘Half Empty/Half Full’ is an aptly titled album that keeps the listener guessing until very end.  The title might be interpreted as a … Continue reading

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EP review: MIKE DEKLEVA – Psychedelia

MIKE DEKLEVA - Psychedelia

www. mikedeklevamusic.com [Release date 09.11.18] There are many guitar hero wannabees out there but frequently they fall down due to lack of production values, guitar tone, or craftsmanship.  Mike Dekleva has all these qualities in spades.  Mike who?  Well to … Continue reading

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Album review: DESIGN – Children Of The Mist – The Best Of

DESIGN - Children Of The Mist - The Best Of

Market Square Music [Release date 05.04.19] You may well ask: was there a Design flaw?  This six-piece pop harmony group had great exposure in the early-1970s via several major TV shows but they never had a hit single.  Their ultimate … Continue reading

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Album review: MUSCLE SHOALS – Small Town Big Sound

MUSCLE SHOALS – Small Town Big Sound

BMG Soundstage [Release date 28.09.18] ‘Small Town Big Sound’ is an ambitious attempt to update the famous Southern Muscle Shoals sound for the new generation. A well received documentary led to this all star affair, on a musical meeting of … Continue reading

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Quick plays: VINDICATA, REVOLUTION HIGHWAY, ROCKICKS

VINDICATA Beneath The Surface

VINDICATA Beneath The Surface Grooveyard Records [Release date 23.11.18] The “secret weapon” on this debut album might be construed as early Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland (who handles most of the solos) but in actual fact it’s vocalist Mary Magill who … Continue reading

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Gig review: KING KING – Koko, London, 7 February 2019

KING KING - Koko, London, 7 February 2019

King King’s steady rise to prominence over the past decade has now taken on a new chapter with the band signed to a stateside management agency. However there are always casualties in the process of change and in this case, … Continue reading

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Album review: RPWL – Tales From Outer Space

RPWL - Tales From Outer Space

Gentle Art Of Music  [Release date: 22.03.19] You know what it’s like. You go to a gig and there’s a couple of support bands and you’re thinking to yourself “these are quite good” – then the main band comes on … Continue reading

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Album review: CLIMAX BLUES BAND – Hands Of Time

CLIMAX BLUES BAND – Hands Of Time

Self release [Release date 05.01.19] The Climax Blues Band moniker has existed since 1972 when after 5 years as a blues-rock band they quietly dropped the Chicago part of their name to reflect a broadening of their musical palette. The … Continue reading

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Album review: STEVE EGGS – We Humans

STEVE EGGS – We Humans

Self release [Release date 08.02.19] The Steve Eggs Band is a Brit-Americana into country rock outfit with strong songs, sparkling harmonies and a significant Tom Petty influence. ‘We Humans’ showcases ten original Eggs songs and one co-write with bassist Peter … Continue reading

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