Monthly Archives: June 2014

Album Review: ANATHEMA – Distant Satellites

Anathema - Distant Satellites

Kscope  [Release Date: 09.06.14] Following on from the brilliantly anthemic ‘Weather Systems’ from 2012 and the dreamily divine live album ‘Universal’ from 2013, Anathema have unleashed ‘Distant Satellites’ on their passionately devout following – a devout following that I fear … Continue reading

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Album review: SEVEN – 7

Seven - 7

Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Out now] Back in the late 80’s and into the early 90’s the AOR/melodic rock scene was thriving and record labels were signing up UK based acts like FM, Airrace, Little Angels, Dare and this band Seven … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACKTOP DELUXE – Turn Up Be Nice Play Hard

BLACKTOP DELUXE – Turn Up Be Nice Play Hard

Blacktop Deluxe [Release date 13.05.14] Blacktop Deluxe are a Cornish based power trio featuring Keith Howe on guitar and vocals, Tim Chapple on bass and Alan Ibbotson on drums and vocals, with producer Gareth Young doubling on keyboards.  ‘Turn Up … Continue reading

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Album Review: TORTORUM – Katabasis

W.T.C Productions – Out Now. Born three years ago and bred in Bergen, the unofficial capital of Scandinavian Black Metal, this Norwegian trio has a very important heritage to live up to. This a task that the lads in Tortorum … Continue reading

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Album Review: MAYHEM – Esoteric Warfare

Seasons Of Mist – Out Now. Suicide, Murder, church burnings…when one considers that such extreme events have influenced the productive process of the Norwegian Black Metal outfit Mayhem  since pretty much day one, seven years without releasing any new material … Continue reading

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Album Review: CARNIFEX – Die Without Hope

Nuclear Blast – Out Now. Carnifex is a new name to me, but the Californian Deathcore quintet has been playing loud and thought – provoking music for quite some time now. It was back in 2005 that this outfit was … Continue reading

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Album Review: DODSON AND FOGG – After The Fall

Self-released – [Release date: 22 April 2014] Remember, way back in the good old days of the late sixties and early seventies, how bands would bang an album out every six months or so? And such was the calibre of … Continue reading

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Interview: PAUL MENEL

Paul Menel is a former singer with prog rockers IQ and released a very enjoyable solo album ‘Into Insignificance I Will Pale’, and he has an unofficial England World Cup song out now with the Essentials… Hi Jason Firstly, thanks … Continue reading

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Album Review: CARNIFEX – Die Without Hope

Carnifex - Die Without Hope

Nuclear Blast [Release date 03.03.14] Carnifex is a new name to me, but the Californian Deathcore quintet has been playing loud and thought – provoking music for quite some time now. It was back in 2005 that this outfit was … Continue reading

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Album review: CADO BELLE – Cado Belle (reissue)

Cado Belle

Big Break Records [Release date 23.06.14] At last, Cado Belle’s one and only album – originally released in 1976 – gets a proper reissue.  Earlier versions have suffered from a lack of bonus tracks, decent audio and packaging, with one … Continue reading

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Album review: JULES CARTER TRIO – Done Misbehaving

Jules Carter Trio - Done Misbehaving

Jules Carter Trio [Release date 16.06.14] The Jules Carter Trio’s ‘Done Misbehaving’ is a frustrating album. The funky grooves, intricate guitar playing and tight band interplay from guitarist Jules, bassist Fingerz Carty and drummer Paul White is hampered by some … Continue reading

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Album review: MARILLION – A Sunday Night Above The Rain

Marillion - A Sunday Night Above The Rain

earMUSIC [Release date 30.06.14] Available in 2-CD, 2 DVD and Bluray formats, A Sunday Night Above The Rain finds our intrepid heroes at a love fest.  That is, at one of the band’s bi-annual Marillion Weekends.  On this occasion, during … Continue reading

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Gig review – RICHIE SAMBORA – Islington Academy, London, 13 June 2014

RICHIE SAMBORA – Islington Academy, London, 13 June 2014

‘He walked in to the party like he was walking on to a yacht’, so the song goes. Richie Sambora strutted on to the stage dressed in a smart white jacket and ripped jeans to be greeted by enthusiastic screams … Continue reading

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Album Review: MEKONG DELTA – In A Mirror Darkly

Mekong Delta - In A Mirror Darkly

Steamhammer/SPV – Out Now. A good thirty years since their inception, and German Prog Thrashers Mekong Delta continue to be an unknown entity for quite a few Metalheads out there – a state of affairs that surprises and annoys me … Continue reading

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Quick plays: RAINBOWS ARE FREE, ROBIN GEORGE, LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III, SALIVA, AMANDA RHEAUME

Rainbows Are Free - Waves Across The Ocean

RAINBOWS ARE FREE – Waves Ahead Of The Ocean www.rainbowsarefree.com [Released 04.08.14] This is the second album by Oklahoma based rockers Rainbows Are Free and if you like Stoner rock and big Sabbath riffs you will love this album. Even … Continue reading

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Album review: STEVE HACKETT – Genesis Revisited: Live At The Albert Hall

STEVE HACKETT - Genesis Revisited: Live At The Albert Hall

Inside Out [Release date 30.06.14] Steve Hackett seems a genuine sort of guy, so let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and shelve the cynicism at the release of a second CD/DVD box set inside of 12 months capturing … Continue reading

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Album review: DOUG GILLARD – Parade On

Doug Gillard - Parade On

Nine Mile [Release date 14.07.14] Cleveland underground rock veteran Doug Gillard (Death of Samantha, Cobra Verde, Gem, Guided Voices, Nada Surf) knows exactly what he wants. ‘Parade On’ is an album packed with layered harmonies and jangly guitar-led power pop … Continue reading

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Album Review: JOHN MAYALL – A Special Life

John Mayall - A Special Life

Forty Below [Released date 19.05.14] John Mayall probably makes light of the fact that he’s 80, reasoning that as long as he can continue to match his passion for the blues with the ability to play it, he will be … Continue reading

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Interview: PAUL LOGUE of EDEN’S CURSE

Paul Logue of Eden

Paul Logue has been a busy man as his band Eden’s Curse have just finished their first full UK tour which was a great success and the band plan a summer break before more UK dates planned for November. He … Continue reading

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Album review: KXM – KXM (featuring George Lynch,Dug Pinnick,Ray Luzier)

KXM

earMUSIC [Release date 02.06.14] The latest George Lynch project has been germinating for a couple of years.  When I interviewed the legendary guitarist in November 2012 he mentioned that it was in the pipeline as he promoted the T & … Continue reading

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Album review: KROKUS – Long Stick Goes Boom (Live from Da House of Rust)

Sony [Release date 26.05.14] Krokus are a Swiss rock band that I never paid any attention to back in the day and didn’t even realise they were still going. Naming your band after a flower, albeit with the German spelling … Continue reading

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Album review: BILLY WALTON BAND – Wish For What You Want

BILLY WALTON BAND – Wish For What You Want

self release [Release date August 2014] Things may come and things may go but there’s always a better than average chance that the New Jersey shore line will periodically produce a band worth spending your leisure time on. The Billy … Continue reading

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Gig review: PANIC ROOM – The Zanzibar, Liverpool, 12 June 2014

Panic Room - The Zanzibar, Liverpool, 12 June 2014

Remarkably, it’s been more than four years since I last caught up with Panic Room – at the Limelight in Crewe promoting their then newly released debut Visionary Position – at Christmas 2008, to be precise. Plenty of water has … Continue reading

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Album review: KICKHUNTER – Southern Kicks

Kickhunter - Southern Kicks

Phoenix[Release date 2014] Kickhunter are the kind of band that makes you realize globalization is right here on your door step. Hailing from Hamburg, they are essentially a southern rock band with classic rock influences and have have toured with … Continue reading

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Interview: 10Q’s with author ROBERT SHORE

Robert Shore  is the author of the rather good book on the Midlands ‘Bang In The Middle’ published by the Friday Project/Harper Collins. What’s more he is a big fan of metal and the NWOBHM and if you read his … Continue reading

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