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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: PAUL McCARTNEY- 02 Arena, London, 18 December 2024
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Gig review: BLACK EYED SONS- The Lexington, London, 16 December 2024
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – Thames Side Brewery, Staines, 8 December 2024
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Gig review: STRAY – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 December 2024
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Gig review: THE SHEEPDOGS, THE COMMONERS – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 5 December 2024
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Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow, 14 December 2024
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Featured Album Reviews
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Book review: Phil Collins in the 1980s by Andrew Wild
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Album review: VOODOO SIX – Make Way For The King
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Album review: FOGHAT – Slow Ride – Live In Concert
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Album review: DON AIREY – One Of A Kind
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Album review: THE PROG COLLECTIVE – Epilogue
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Album review: ROBERT RANDOLPH & THE FAMILY BAND – Brighter Days
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Features
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Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
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Tag Archives: review
Album review: KISSIN’ DYNAMITE – Back With A Bang
Napalm Records [Release date: 05.07.24] German rockers Kissin’ Dynamite have been pounding away since 2006 but their current mission statement is simple: Bring Back Stadium Rock. ‘Back With A Bang’ supports their strategy with a series of hard rock anthems … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Back With A Bang, hard rock, Kissin’ Dynamite, melodic hard rock, review
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Album review : PAUL DI’ANNO’S WARHORSE
BraveWords Records [Release date : 19.07.24] The music here serves as a fully realised reminder of the gifts that vocalist Paul Di’Anno has displayed numerous times, originally with Iron Maiden, and then anything he’s been involved with since. Despite (or … Continue reading
Album review: NEKTAR – Mission To Mars
Deko [Release date 30.06.24] And so Nektar are back with another new line-up, but without keyboard player Klaus Henttatch, the last mainstay of the band since the passing of Roye Albighton. Sadly drummer and founder member Ron Howden also passed … Continue reading
Album review : NIKOLO KOTZEV – Nostradamus, The Rock Opera – studio album version and Live In Sofia version
Frontiers [Release date : 19.07.24] Writing and producing Nostradamus, the Rock Opera, was a hugely ambitious undertaking and took its architect, Nikolo (Brazen Abbot) Kotzev, 3 years to complete. Released in 2001, it sold 50,000 worldwide. A significant achievement for … Continue reading
Album review : CAN’T SEEM TO COME DOWN – The American Sounds of 1968
Cherry Red [Release date : 19.07.24] In 1968, the comedown from 1967’s “Summer Of Love” quickly dissipated, leading directly into a year of inventive, eclectic rock music, often groundbreaking, frequently influential. That’s reflected in the 3 CDs of Cherry Red/Grapefruit’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 3 CDs, American Sounds 1968, Blue Cheer, boxset, Buffalo Springfield, Dylan, Hendrix, Nixon, review, Spirit, Summer of Love, The Byrds, The Seeds, Zappa
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Album review : PALACE – Reckless Heart
Frontiers [Release date : 12.07.24] Michael Palace has long since proved that his classy debut, Master Of The Universe, was too good to be a fluke. On Reckless Heart, his fifth album, he continues to display his considerable gifts as … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alessi, Aztec Camera, Christopher Cross, Frontiers, Kenny Loggins, Michael Palace, review, Richard Marx, soft rock, Steely Dan
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Album review : MR. BIG – Ten
Frontiers [Release date: 12.07.24] Holding the world in their hands, Mr Big say goodbye to the late Pat Torpey, the band’s drummer, who lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2018. And after 35 years of flying highs and way … Continue reading
EP review: RANCID EP
Rancid – EP by Rancid | Spotify Emerging from the blue-collar swamps of Berkeley, California, Rancid has now been a living, breathing punk rock band for over a quarter century. Back in 1991, after the demise of their much beloved … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged 2012, digital, EP, punk, punk rock, Rancid, review
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Single review : DUST RADIO – Tupelo
Bandcamp [Release date 18.06.24] ‘Tupelo’ is a down-home tale of drifters and grifters in the Deep South. It’s a digital equivalent of an old school 45 rpm single, in which the musical feel and narrative creep up on you like … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged blues, Cohen Brothers, Dust Radio, Elvis Presely, guitar, harp, Paddy Wells, review, Rob Kenny, roots, single, Stu Baggaley, Tom Jackson
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Album review: ORDEN OGAN – The Order of Fear
Reigning Pheonix Music [Release date 05.07.24] Album number eight by the power metal veterans Orden Ogan (well, they have been around since 1997 under the Orden Ogan name!) and their first for their new record label, Reigning Phoenix Music. Mainman Sebastian “Seeb” … Continue reading
Album review : KRYPTOS – Decimator
AFM Records [Release date : 05.07.24] On their magnificent seventh album now, Indian heavy metal band, Kryptos still have their eyes on the prize. It’s always tantalisingly out of reach for most bands. Few ever get their hands on it. … Continue reading
Album review : THE BYRON BAND – On The Rocks… Again, 3CD Box Set
Cherry Red [Release date : 28.06.24] CD1: On The Rocks (1981) CD2: Demos recorded for unreleased second album (1982) CD3: Rehearsal Recording (1981), plus Live In Liverpool (1980) The title of the Byron Band’s debut album, On The Rocks, is … Continue reading
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Tagged Byron Band, David Byron, On The Rocks, review, Robin George, rock, Uriah Heep
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Album review: CIRCULINE – C.O.R.E.
Inner Nova Music [Release date 20.09.24] There’s nothing quite like a bit of old school schmoozing. Circuline have, let’s say, a certain maturity of years (their bassist Shelby excluded) and – therefore – a maturity of outlook. Old timers like … Continue reading
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Tagged album, C.O.R.E., Circuline, Dave Bainbridge, prog, Progressive Rock, review
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Album review : CHATEAUX – Spirit Of The Chateau (3 CD Reissue)
Cherry Red [Release date : 21.06.24] CD1: Chained And Desperate (1983) CD2: Firepower (1984) CD3: Highly Strung (1985) Led by guitarist, Tim Broughton, English metal band Chateau signed to Ebony Records, a NWOBHM startup label, in 1981. The band (previously … Continue reading
Album review: ATLANTIC – Another World
Escape Music [Release date 21.06.24] Atlantic is the brainchild of guitarist and songwriter Simon Harrison, who released their debut album ‘Power’ back in 1994 (re-issued by Escape in 2008). It was originally planned to be a one-off – until now … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Another World, AOR, Atlantic, Dare, Escape Music, FM, Grim Reaper, Journey, Lionsheart, Mark Grimmett, melodic rock, review, Simon Harrison, Steve Grimmett
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Album review : PALLAS – Eyes In The Night (The Recordings 1981-86, 7CD boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date : 28.06.24] You have to credit Cherry Red with their even handed approach to reissues/remasters. No offence to fans of neo-Prog band, Pallas, but the band is not front page news, and never have been, but … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged boxset, DVD, Eddy Offord, ELP, Genesis, King Crimson, London, Marillion, neo prog, Pallas, review, Scottish, Yes
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Album review : MAGGIE E. ROGERS – Chasing Sunsets
‘Chasing Sunsets’ is a lyrically strong and musical versatile album rooted in the folk, singer songwriter and storytelling tradition. Significantly subtitled; ‘ Songs of love, life…and the sun’, the 11 tracks gather a momentum through M.D. Mike King’s inventive arrangements … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Americana, blues, Chasing Sunsets, Damien Nolan, funk, jazz, Maggie E Rogers, Mike King, Mirco Altenbach, Noel Harrison, review, rock, Roger Inniss, singer, songwriter, Tom Waits
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Album review: FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION – Whisky A-Go-Go 1968
UMC [Release date 21.06.24] Singer, instrumentalist and composer Frank Zappa is widely considered one of the foremost, innovative, prolific and off-the-wall musicians to ever record, and he often took an anti-establishment view too. With his band The Mothers Of Invention, … Continue reading
Album review: VICIOUS RUMORS – Welcome To The Ball (Remaster)
Rock Candy [Release date : 24.05.24] Rock Candy Records are perhaps, unfairly, more associated with AOR and Melodic Rock than they are Metal, but among reissue labels they have no peers when it comes to value judgement. The always underrated … Continue reading
Album review : AXE – The Offering (Remaster)
Rock Candy Records [Release date 24.05.24] Third time lucky for Axe. The Offering, released in 1982, got enough sales and radio airplay to put them firmly on the USA’s Melodic Rock map, leading directly to tours with Kiss, The Scorpions … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, Axe, Bobby Barth, Edgar Riley, Kiss, melodic rock, Mike Osborne, remaster, review, Rock Candy Records, Scorpions, ZZ Top
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Album review : THE LADDER – S/T (Remaster)
Rock Candy Records [Release date : 24.05.24] Another “obscure” 1980’s American AOR album, rescued by Rock Candy Records. It was “big in Japan” though. Aren’t they all. The Ladder – writers Joe and Lou Parente, with vocalist Frank Mancano – … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, ATCO, Chicago, David Foster, Frank Mancano, Joe Parente, Lou Parente, Philadelphia, review, Rock Candy, The Ladder
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Album review : STRIDER – Exposed and Misunderstood (Remasters)
Rock Candy Records [Release date: 24.05.24] In 1970, Strider formed in London. Wrong place, right time? Right place, wrong time? Who knows. Certainly wasn’t for lack of talent or quality songs. Hugely popular with a core UK fanbase, Strider could … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Babys, blues, Eddie Money, Exposed, Gary Grainger, Misunderstood, review, rock, Rock Candy, Rod Stewart, Strider, Terry Brock
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Album review: ATLANTIS DRIVE – Atlantis Drive
Pride & Joy Music [Release date 14.06.24] Composer and guitarist Markus Pfeffer (Barnabas Sky, Lazarus Dream) is the mastermind behind Atlantis Drive. As Markus explains – “I had a very clear goal with this album: To take up the sound … Continue reading
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Tagged album, AOR, Atlantis Drive, hard rock, Lazarus Dream, Mark Boals, Markus Pfeffer, melodic, melodic rock, Pride & Joy Music, review
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Album review: JOE BONAMASSA – Live at The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra
J&R Adventures [Release date 21.06.24] Joe Bonamassas’s ‘Live at The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra’ is a triumph of ambition and execution, as a well chosen catalogue of songs are inbued with fresh energy and a bigger musical sweep. You’d be … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Barbra Streisand, blues, Bob Ezrin, Bobby Bland, British Blues Invasion, Calvin Turner, Chris Whitley, guitar, Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, Led Zeppelin, Lemar Carter, Live at The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra, Michael Kamen, orchestra, Pink Floyd, Rashawn Ross, Reese Wynans, review, rock, Warren Haynes
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Single review: HATS OFF GENTLEMEN IT’S ADEQUATE – Copenhagen
Bandcamp [Release date 11.06.24] ‘Copenhagen’ is the second single from forthcoming album ‘The Uncertainty Principle’ by Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate. It is currently available on Bandcamp, and will be on other platforms from July. ‘Copenhagen’ is about a disputed conversation … Continue reading
