Tag Archives: review

Album review: UFO – At The BBC 1974-1985

UFO - At The BBC 1974-1985

EMI [Release date 25.03.13] UFO have been well served by EMI in recent years with the Official Bootleg Box  giving fans the chance to sample the band’s live delights in various forms and quality – but at least officially – … Continue reading

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DVD Review: AEROSMITH – Rock For The Rising Sun

Eagle Rock [Release date 22.06.13] Much like the Stones who are 10 years their senior, Aerosmith pop up on this DVD like cartoon characters come to life. They rock and roll and charm their way round the post-tsunami Japan on … Continue reading

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Album Review: POOR GENETIC MATERIAL – One Day In June

Poor Genetic Material

QuiXote Music  [Release date 31.05.13] In the last couple of years or so the number of progressive rock concept albums released has been going through the roof. Always known as a genre that spawned over-indulgence on an epic scale – … Continue reading

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EP review : FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS – We’re Not Losing, We’re Just Not Winning

      Self Release ( Release date – 26th August 2013) These pop punksters from Lincoln have only been together since the beginning of 2013, so they could be forgiven for producing substandard, badly written tracks. No such concessions … Continue reading

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EP Review: CIRCADIAN PULSE – In The Blink Of An Eye

      Self Release ( Release date – out now) This 5 track affair is the debut release from Melbourne prog metallers Circadian Pulse. Citing Dream Theater and Symphony X as influences gives you some idea of where the … Continue reading

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Album review: NIGHTGLOW – We Rise

      Logic(il)logic records (Release date – Out now) Nightglow formed back in 2003 in Italy and have been rocking hard ever since. The band are unashamedly metal to the core and at one point were the official Manowar … Continue reading

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Album review: STONE ORANGE – The Dreamcatcher

      Street Symphonies Records (Release date – out now) Stone Orange are the first band I have encountered from Slovenia and if this is the standard of rock in Ljubljana it may be worth further exploration. The four … Continue reading

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Quick plays: VALENTIINE, NEVERSTAR, WHITE CLOUDS & GUNFIRE

NEVERSTAR I

VALENTIINE Valentiine Valentiine – Vanessa (guitars / vocals), Erica (bass/vocals) and Shelly (drums/vocals) – are a 3-piece all girl garage rock outfit from Melbourne, Australia.  And they come with attitude in abundance. Their laid back, almost nonchalant approach leans on … Continue reading

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Album review: LUNA ROSSA – Sleeping Pills & Lullabies

LUNA ROSSA - Sleeping Pills & Lullabies

Firefly Music [Release date 10.06.13] www.lunarossa.co.uk Panic Room have been one of my favourite bands to emerge over recent years, and Anne-Marie Helder one of the finest vocalists on the circuit.  So I was looking forward to this ‘side project’ … Continue reading

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EP review: JULIA KOSTEROVA – Springs Of Time EP

JULIA KOSTEROVA - Springs Of Time EP

[Release date 22.04.13] www.juliakosterova.com Heavyweight assistance in the form of Derek Sherinian and Brian Tichy doesn’t always translate to ‘stellar’ product. The only novelty here is that Russian-born guitarist Julia Kosterova looks very nice and there aren’t that many female … Continue reading

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Album review: GROUNDHOGS – United Artists Years 1972-1976

GROUNDHOGS - United Artists Years 1972-1976

EMI [Release date 20.05.13] ‘Split’ with its black and white glossy gatefold sleeve was a staple in the knowing rock fan’s early-1970s collection.  The Groundhogs, led by one-time John Lee Hooker sideman Tony ‘TS’ McPhee, were also a staple on … Continue reading

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Album review: MARILLION – The Singles Vol.2, 89-95

MARILLION - The Singles Vol.2, 89-95

EMI [Release date 22.04.13] This collection is a reissue of the now deleted 12-CD box set (2002) when all the singles had a nice repro card sleeve. The album charts the band’s more commercial Hogarth era from 1989 (and ‘Season’s … Continue reading

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Gig Review: MARCUS BONFANTI – Borderline, London, 21 June 2013

Marcus Bonfanti seems to have come of age with his powerful third album ‘Shake The Walls’. Clearly I was not the only one to notice. There was a really good crowd in at the Borderline. And when Bonfanti peered out … Continue reading

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Album review: TICKET TO THE MOON – Dilemma On Earth

      Brennus Music – Released November 2012 The tidal wave of superlative progressive rock emanating from continental Europe shows no sign of dissipating anytime soon and, for all aficionados of the genre, surfboards should be waxed-up and this … 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: OLIVA – Raise the Curtain

AFM Records Oliva is of course Jon Oliva of Jon Oliva’s Pain, Savatage and Trans Siberian-Orchestra (TSO) fame and this is his solo album. It differs from his JO Pain albums in that he handles most of the instruments himself, … Continue reading

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Gig review: STEVE WINWOOD, The Lowry, Salford, 24 June 2013

STEVE WINWOOD, The Lowry, Salford, 24 June 2013

If Steve Winwood’s only banter tonight included playful reference to both the ‘vintage’ crowd and the vintage music,  we didn’t need to worry.  The sheer historical potency – and nostalgia – was what the vintage crowd expected and what Winwood … Continue reading

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Gig Review : STATUS QUO – Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk, 23 June 2013

This gig was part of a weekend billed as ‘Rockin’ The Stadium’ which saw the home ground of the mighty Falkirk FC being taken over for a musical extravaganza. Days one and two were of little interest and didn’t exactly … Continue reading

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Album review: EMILY MAGUIRE – Bird Inside A Cage

Emily Maguire - Bird Inside A Cage

GRTR! only ‘discovered’ British born singer songwriter Emily Maguire with the release of her third album – ‘Believer’ – in 2009.  As a calling card it was a sufficiently strong hand to make me browse her back catalogue and the … Continue reading

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Gig review: TRACER, The Plug, Sheffield, 8 June 2013

Tracer - Sheffield, The Plug, 8 June 2013

As normal with gigs at The Plug they are preceded with an afternoon session at Nelsons Rock bar which also usually hosts any aftershow meet and greets that are happening. This works very well as the bar is just round … Continue reading

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Album Review: MILLENIUM – Ego

Millenium - Ego

Lynx Music  [Release date 25 May 2013] Despite the wave of fabulous progressive rock emanating from Eastern Europe at the moment, don’t get the idea that Millenium are just another new Polish band riding on the coat-tails of the likes … Continue reading

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Gig Review: DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL – DAY 3 – Donington Park, 16 June 2013

When the alarm went off on Sunday morning it was a struggle to drag myself out of bed. After two days of rocking I was suffering from a bad case of metal fatigue (sorry!) but soon rallied at the thought … Continue reading

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Album review: X CONTRACT – Territory:Hours

X CONTRACT - Territory:Hours

Phillipa Records [Release date 19.08.13] Given the Brits love affair with all things Danish after the great success of ‘The Killing’ TV crime series, X Contract should clean up.  We really liked their debut in 2012  – ‘Dearest Dream’ – … Continue reading

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Gig Review : DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL – DAY 2 – Donington Park,15 June 2013

Saturday dawned bright, sunny and cold!  It was an early start to ensure we were in prime position for the opening band of the day, rock legends UFO.  My fellow scribe, Andy Nathan, was another early riser, keen to see … Continue reading

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Album review: TARJA – Colours In The Dark

Ear Music [Release date 02.09.13] Tarja Turunen is back with her eagerly anticipated new solo album, her first album of new material since 2010’s ‘What Lies Beneath’. The musicians featured on the album include some notable names – Doug Wimbish … Continue reading

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