Tag Archives: review

Album review: THE GRANDMASTER – Skywards

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Frontiers [Release date 15.10.21] Grandmaster is vocalist Nando Fernandez of Brazilian metal band, Sinistra, paired with incomparable metal guitarist Jens (Edguy) Ludwig. It’s a match made in Frontiers’ HQ. The songs have been written by, and the album produced by … Continue reading

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Album review: THE HONEYRUNNERS – Everything Is On Fire

THE HONEYRUNNERS – Everything Is On Fire

Gypsy Soul Records [Release date 22.10.21] This is the debut albums from The Honeyrunners, a four-piece Toronto group (expanding to eleven members for larger shows) consisting of singer/songwriter Dan Dwoskin (keys, lead vocals), audio-engineer/producer, Guillermo Subauste (bass, vocals), Conor Gains … Continue reading

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Book review: Please Please Tell Me Now – The Duran Duran Story by Stephen Davis

Please Please Tell Me Now - The Duran Duran Story by Stephen Davis

Hachette Books [Publication date 15.07.21] Renowned American music biographer Stephen Davis is probably best known for the excellent “Hammer of The Gods” Led Zeppelin biography, but he has also written outstanding books on the likes of Aerosmith, Guns n Roses … Continue reading

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Quick plays: LA LUZ, SAM CARTER, MASS

LA LUZ

LA LUZ S/T Hardly Art/Sub Pop [Release date 22.10.21] La Luz are, according to their bio, a “surf-rock / psych / 60’s pop trio”, fronted by guitarist and songwriter Shana Cleveland, who is joined by bassist Lena Simon, and keyboardist … Continue reading

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Album review: JOE BONAMASSA – Time Clocks

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Provogue [Release date 29.10.21] Joe Bonamassa’s ‘Time Clocks’ is infused with reflective songs – a function of a self proclaimed midlife crisis – but counterweighted by the kind of steely, restless determination that has projected him from being a child … Continue reading

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Album review: WAYWARD SONS – Even Up The Score

WAYWARD SONS - Even Up The Score

Frontiers [Release date 08.10.21] Toby Jepson is a man who never lets the grass grow under his feet. Since bursting onto the scene with Little Angels in 1984 he’s been a constantly creative whirlwind, going from the Scarsborough hard rock … Continue reading

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Album review: LORDS OF BLACK – Alchemy Of Souls II

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Frontiers [Release date 15.10.21] Fifth album from metallers, Lords Of Black, the Ronnie Romero/ Tony Hernando band. They brand themselves as a “Progressive” Power Metal band. You can see strong hints of how this plays out when first viewing the … Continue reading

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Album review: ALCATRAZZ – V

alcatrazz v

Silver Lining Music [Release date: 15.10.21] Now that Doogie White and Joe Stump are onboard, Alcatrazz have abandoned all that wimpy rock stuff, and mainlined themselves into the world of heavy metal, on this, their second album with Silver Lining. … Continue reading

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Book review: BEAST – JOHN BONHAM & THE RISE OF LED ZEPPELIN by CM Kuskins

BEAST – JOHN BONHAM & THE RISE OF LED ZEPPELIN by CM Kuskins

  Hachette [Publication date 30.09.21] John Bonham had drumming in his blood it seems, having first learned to play the drums at the age of five. Despite never taking formal lessons, he began drumming for local bands immediately after leaving … Continue reading

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Album review: MOUNTAIN – Live In The 70s

MOUNTAIN - Live In The 70s

Voiceprint [Release date 12.11.21] Fronted by guitarist and vocalist Leslie West, Mountain formed in New York in 1969, taking their name from the former Vagrants West’s first solo album, and their classic line-up saw West joined by bassist Felix Pappalardi, … Continue reading

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Album review: JOSH TURNER – King Size Manger

josh turner manger

Spinefarm Records [release date 08.10.21] On his latest album, King Size Manger, Josh Turner has put his own self penned/co-written material up against famous 19th century Christmas Carols like ‘Angels We Have Heard On High’, ‘The First Nowell’ and ‘Silent … Continue reading

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Album review: EMERSON LAKE & PALMER – Out Of This World: Live (1970-1997)

EMERSON & LAKE PALMER - Out Of This World Live 1970-1997

BMG [Release date 29.10.21] Prog legends Emerson Lake & Palmer (ELP) were one of the early super groups (formed from the roots of The Nice, King Crimson and Atomic Rooster in 1970) and cemented their legacy in the first half … Continue reading

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Gig review: GENESIS – Hydro, Glasgow, 7th October 2021

GENESIS – Hydro, Glasgow, 7th October 2021

39 years ago, as a fresh faced teen, I accompanied my brother to my first gig which was Genesis at the Ingliston  Royal Highland Exhibition Centre in Edinburgh. That night sparked my love of live music, so I have a lot to thank … Continue reading

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Gig review: PRAYING MANTIS – Arlington Arts Centre, Snelsmore, 7 October 2021

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A mere 581 days since I last attended an indoor concert – Jon Boden in Didcot back in March 2020. Since then live music as we know has been decimated with the fall out from the pandemic, however, you can’t … Continue reading

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Album review: ALCATRAZZ – The Best Of and Live In The USA (2 CD set)

alcatrazz best live usa

Store For Music [Release date: 08.10.21] It’s not the first time this Best Of Alcatrazz collection has been available in CD form, so the additional CD of live material is very welcome. Winnowing down Alcatrazz’s “best songs” from three eighties’ … Continue reading

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Album review: KARMAMOI – Room 101

KARMAMOI

Self-released   –   [Release date: 28.05.21] There are times, aren’t there, when you think artists try just that little bit too hard to express feelings of emotion, be it good or bad (Bono is a cause-célèbre here) resulting in … Continue reading

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Album review: MOONSHINE SOCIETY – Sweet Thing

MOONSHINE SOCIETY – Sweet Thing

Bandcamp [Release date 05.11.21] Moonshine Society formed back 2009 to craft their own brand of soulful blues, roots rock and old-school R&B. The main focus is singer/songwriter Black Betty aka Jenny Langer, who has appeared on stage with the likes … Continue reading

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Album review: THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS – Can We Get A Witness

THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS – Can We Get A Witness

Mascot Records [Release date 15.10.21] The Georgia Thunderbolts hail from Rome, Georgia, and comprise vocalist TJ Lyle, Riley Couzzourt (guitar), Logan Tolbert (guitar), Zach Everett (bass, harmony vocals, keys), and Bristol Perry (drums). They have already put out a well-received … Continue reading

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Album review: SPIRIT – Sunrise And Salvation, The Mercury Era Anthology (Remasters, 8 CD Boxset)

SPIRIT-SUNRISE-COVER

Cherry Red [release date: 08.10.21] Accidentally or on purpose, Spirit managed to avoid true success, giving the firm impression that if their career ever got anywhere near the glittering shop window of fame, they put the pedal to the metal, … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – 100 Club, London, 23 September 2021

It was so good to be back. 18 long, dark months had passed without a ‘real’ gig. The prospect of Troy Redfern and Robert Jon & The Wreck tonight had me giddy with anticipation. The event did not disappoint. Troy … Continue reading

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Album review: PAUL McDONALD – Modern Hearts

paul mcdonald Album-Front-Cover-1-510x510

Vacancy Records [release date 01.10.21] Alabama native and American Idol finalist, Paul McDonald was voted through to the Hollywood “play off” by no less than Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson. It was a mark of the man. Where … Continue reading

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EP review: BILLY IDOL – The Roadside EP

BILLY IDOL - The Roadside EP

Dark Horse Records [Release date 17.09.21] Billy Idol has recently released “The Roadside EP”, his first new material since 2014’s “Kings & Queens of The Underground”, and what a welcome return it is. The EP was produced by Butch Walker … Continue reading

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Album review: KASIM SULTON – 2021

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Deko Entertainment [Release date 17.09.21] If you were Kasim Sulton and had played bass and sung backing vocals on Meat Loaf’s 50 million selling Bat Out Of Hell, and had been an integral part of Todd Rundgren’s Utopia during ten … Continue reading

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EP review: NAKED SUNDAY – Skeleton Keys

NAKED SUNDAY - Skeleton Keys

Facebook  [Release date 03.09.21] Naked Sunday are a hard rock, 4 piece band from Stafford, they are the epitome of what we define as the new wave of classic rock genre in my humble opinion. The vocals, lyrics and heavy … Continue reading

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Album review: HARDWICKE CIRCUS – The Borderland

HARDWICKE CIRCUS - The Borderland

Website [Release date 23.07.21] This band hail from Carlisle, apparently Hardwicke Circus is the first roundabout in Carlisle, as a the band say, they are the “greatest band you’ve never heard of”, somehow I think that is all about to … Continue reading

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