Yearly Archives: 2014

Album review: PERC3PTION – Reason And Faith

        MS Metal Records (Release date – out now) Perc3ption are a Brazilian outfit who have been together since 2007. This debut album was released back in their native country last year and is only now reaching … Continue reading

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Album review: CHRISTINA SKJOLBERG – Come And Get It

        Ruf Records [Release date 28.01.14] Christina Skjolberg’s ‘Come And Get It’ is the tale of a blonde Norwegian leather clad blues-rock guitarist recording in English under the watchful eye of a Finish producer/guitarist, on a German … Continue reading

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Album review: LAURENCE JONES – Temptation

        Ruf Records [Release date 10.03.14] It may be a PR cliché, but the phrase ‘hotly anticipated album’ was never more apt than when applied to Laurence Jones’s ‘Temptation’.  Having made a big splash on the UK … Continue reading

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Album review: MATT SCHOFIELD – Far As I Can See

        Provogue [Release date 17.02.14] ‘Far As I Can See’ could be the breakthrough album for Matt Schofield, a major Brit blues talent who has teetered on the brink of success for some time. This is an … Continue reading

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Album review: HELL – Curse & Chapter

Nuclear Blast – Out Now. Theatrics and Rock music have been enjoying a symbiotic relationship for many years and it is this interesting partnership that is often responsible for the atmospheric and lyrical themes of our beloved music. With legends … Continue reading

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Interview with JOE McGUIAN (Gama Bomb) – 1 February 2014

While most young musicians first pick up their instrument in hope of fame and fortune Joe McGuian, bassist of the Irish Thrash Metal combo Gama Bomb chose, a long time ago, to do so for what he described as ‘all … Continue reading

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Album review: IRON SAVIOR – Rise Of The Hero

AFM Records www.afmrecords.de There is a fair number of German metal bands that have a direct link to Helloween in one form or another. Iron Savior were founded by ex-Helloween man Kai Hansen, then Blind Guardian drummer Thomen Stauch and … Continue reading

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Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK, Butlins, Minehead, 7- 9 February 2014

Giants Of Rock - 7-9 February 2014

Floods, rain, rock music, more rain, howling wind, storms, seagulls, climactic guitar solos, wigs, trannies, vestal virgins, tarts, vicars, hot dogs, oceans of beer and more rain. It could only be Butlins Giants of Rock! Although the Giants of Rock didn’t … Continue reading

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Album review: FREEDOM CALL – Beyond

Freedom Call - Beyond

SPV [Release date 24.04.14] Album number eight from Freedom Call and a couple of line-up changes with a new drummer Ramy Ali, along with the return of original bass player Ilker Irsin. I have to admit Freedom Call are one … Continue reading

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Gig Review: QUIREBOYS – The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh,16 February 2014

The Quireboys - photo by Simon Dunkerley

The Quireboys have to be one of the hardest working and most enduring bands on the UK rock scene. This year sees the band celebrate their 30th anniversary with the promise of a new album, some special birthday shows, and … Continue reading

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News: FIRST NAMES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 50th CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL

FESTIVAL HONOURED WITH THE GOOD TRADITION AWARD AT THE BBC RADIO 2 FOLK AWARDS 31 July & 1, 2, 3 August 2014 The legendary Van Morrison will make his debut at Cambridge Folk Festival this year, as headliner for its … Continue reading

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News: Final Led Zeppelin UK gigs at Knebworth chronicled as never before in new book…

Led Zeppelin Then As it Was – At Knebworth 1979 (Tight But Loose Publishing) – Written and compiled by Dave Lewis In August 1979, thousands of fans came to pay homage to Led Zeppelin as they performed what would be … Continue reading

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DVD review: JULIAN LENNON – Through The Picture Window

www.julianlennon.com This is a fascinating DVD, although you can get lost in the novel menu set up based on an art gallery. The DVD features his latest album ‘Through The Picture Window’, which has been turned into a visual album … Continue reading

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Single reviews: PRINCE & 3RDEYEGIRL, LISBEE STAINTON, PICTUREHOUSE, JOHN LENNON McCULLAGH

PRINCE & 3RDEYEGIRL – Pretzelbodylogic www.3rdeyegirl.com Prince has been playing a series of last minute gigs in London under the ‘Hit And Run’ moniker, ranging from intimate venues to the larger Shepherd’s Bush Empore. This is his new musical project, … Continue reading

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Interview with ANDREAS KISSER (Sepultura) – 6 February 2014

If you had told my 18 year old self that one day I would be sitting face to face with Andreas Kisser, having a conversation about a new album, I would almost certainly have laughed in your face. Well, this … Continue reading

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Album review: MAGNUM – Escape From The Shadow Garden

Magnum - Escape From The Shadow Garden

Interview with Tony Clarkin of Magnum, first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 2 March 2014 (12:31) SPV [Release date 24.03.14] It is fair to say that with Magnum you will probably never get a naff album.  Tony Clarkin’s … Continue reading

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Gig review: DREAM THEATER – Manchester O2 Apollo, 13 February 2014

Dream Theater - Manchester O2 Apollo, 13 February 2014

With the ‘Along For The Ride’ tour announced as a three-hour event, I couldn’t help wondering if the merch stall would be pushing Majesty symbol-branded thermos flasks, travel rugs and even smelling salts.  Having witnessed Dream Theater on previous tours, … Continue reading

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Album review: VAN CANTO – Dawn Of The Brave

Napalm Records A capella metal anyone? Amazingly this is Van Canto’s fifth album and they perform all the music on here bar the drums, so that’s all the bass and guitar solos. They have a good sense of humour as … Continue reading

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Album review: VANDENBERG’S MOONKINGS – Vandenberg’s Moonkings

Vandenberg

Mascot Records [Release Date: 24.02.14] Adrian Vandenberg is back! The man responsible for the sensational guitar solo in Whitesnake’s all time classic “Here I Go Again” and whose collaboration with David Coverdale built the foundations for the amazing “Slip Of … Continue reading

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Rock stars: Interview with Adrian Vandenberg (Vandenberg’s Moonkings) – 22 January 2014

Adrian Vandenberg

Interviews are promotional tools that not all musicians are that keen on, so I often find it a challenge to engage the interviewee and extract some decent answers to those all-important questions we all have. Well, on the early evening … Continue reading

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Gig review: SAXON – Tivoli, Buckley, 11 February 2014

Saxon - Tivoli, Buckley, 11 February 2014

35 years on since their album debut and the mighty Saxon return to their roots.  The “Tiv” was a regular watering hole for bands in the eighties and it seems that life has come full circle.  A series of club … Continue reading

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Gig Review: DEL AMITRI, Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London, 7 February 2014

Del Amitri - 7 February 2014

12 years after splitting up, Del Amitri made a welcome return, reuniting for an extensive tour culminating in this sold out date before an appreciative Hammersmith crowd, albeit one with very few people who will see 40 again. Initially I … Continue reading

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Gig Review: MOLLY HATCHET, O2 Islington Academy, 5 February 2014

Molly Hatchet - 4 February 2014

For those of us too young to remember the pre-plane crash Skynyrd, Jacksonville’s Molly Hatchet were among the standard bearers for southern rock during our formative musical years, with a turbocharged, triple guitar boogie that made our own homegrown bands … Continue reading

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Gig review: SEPULTURA – O2 Islington Academy, London, 6 February 2014‏

SEPULTURA – O2 Islington Academy, London, 6 February 2014‏

Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis There are many bands out there, claiming to play high velocity Thrash Metal, but only a handful can do so with the energy and conviction which characterise the legendary Brazilian quartet Sepultura. When Andreas Kisser … Continue reading

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Single & EP reviews: WAKING UGLY, CHRIS ADAMS, VANITY RIOTS

Waking Ugly - Say Something Sweet

WAKING UGLY Say Something Sweet EP www.wakingugly.com If Kylie was going to make a ‘heavy metal’ album it would probably sound like this.  Girlie vocals, some decent rock guitar, but ultimately fairly shiny ‘pop’.  And that’s just what Waking Ugly, … Continue reading

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