Yearly Archives: 2016

Album review: THE DUNWELLS – Light Up The Sky

THE DUNWELLS - Light Up The Sky

Concord Records [Release date 26.02.16] The Dunwells debut album ‘Blind Sighted Faith’ is a firm favourite in my collection and there has been high anticipation for this follow-up. It has been a few years in the making, with the band … Continue reading

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Album review: VAN CANTO – Voices Of Fire

VAN CANTO - Voices Of Fire

earMusic [Release date 11.03.16] Van Canto are back and this time they have come up with a vocal metal opera. They have teamed up with German author Christoph Hardebusch, who has come up with the story line based on his … Continue reading

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Quick plays: THE STRUTS, CORINNE WEST, PETE LASHLEY

THE STRUTS Everybody Wants

THE STRUTS Everybody Wants I’ve always had a weakness for camp, bubblegum rock.  It’s a long line that stretches back to the Sweet, through Queen, and perhaps most recently evident in The Darkness. Derby four-piece, The Struts are the latest … Continue reading

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Album review: TOSELAND – Cradle The Rage

TOSELAND - Cradle The Rage

52 Music [Release date 11.03.16] Second album from the band Toseland, the band fronted by James Toseland, who switched bikes for the stage and music. The band’s debut album, Renegade’ gained favourable reviews including our own David Wilson who gave … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD – Paradio, Amsterdam, 3 March 2016

Call it ear-gasmic sonic science, like being wrapped in whisky-soaked cotton wool blanket of classic Americana – the superlatives escape me but you would be very remiss not to catch the Chris Robinson Brotherhood (CRB) as soon as you can … Continue reading

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Album review: SINBREED – Master Creator

SINBREED – Master Creator

German power metal band Sinbreed return with their new opus “Master Creator” which follows on from 2014’s “Shadows”. The band line-up has remained unchanged with vocalist Herbie Langhans (recently to be heard singing the part of “Eclipse” on the latest … Continue reading

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Gig review: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ – Darwen Library Theatre, Lancs, 4 March 2016

JOHNNY HATES JAZZ - Darwen Library Theatre, 4 March 2016

In this hour long special, first broadcast as part of his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in February 2016, David Randall chatted to Clark Datchler with tracks from Johnny Hates Jazz past and present, plus a special … Continue reading

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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) April-June 2016

DAN REED NETWORK - Fight Another Day

Compiled by Jason Ritchie April 2016 1st BABYMETAL ‘Fox Day’ earMusic BLACK STONE CHERRY ‘Kentucky’ Mascot Records CHEAP TRICK ‘Bang Zoom Crazy Hello’ HUMAN ZOO ‘My Own God’ THUNDERSTONE ‘Apocalypse Again’ AFM Records 8th LA PAZ ‘Shut Up And Rawk!’ … Continue reading

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Album review: BRUCE SOORD – Bruce Soord

Bruce Soord

K-Scope   [Release date: 27 November 2015] The cries of “oh no, he’s doing a Steven Wilson on us” may have been the first reaction of progressive rock luminaries The Pineapple Thief’s legion of fans when hearing that said band’s … Continue reading

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Album review: LEFT WITH PICTURES – Afterlife

LEFT WITH PICTURES - Afterlife

Organ Grinder Records [Release date 29.04.16] Left With Pictures describe their music as  an orchestral pop ensemble. They have been around since 2005 and consist of Tom Walker, Toby Knowles and Stuart Barter. They have released a series of EP’s … Continue reading

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Album review: KIAMA – Sign Of IV

Kiama - Sign Of IV

Tigermoth Records  [Release date: 02.02.16] Alongside Steven Wilson, Rob Reed must be one of the busiest men in the field of progressive rock at the moment. As well as his day job as leader and creative inspiration of the wonderful … Continue reading

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Gig review: THUNDER, KING KING, TERRORVISION – Wembley Arena, 20 February 2016

THUNDER - Wembley Arena, 20 February 2016

Once seen as the cheeky Londoners reliably entertaining loyal crowds in theatre sized venues or livening up a festival crowd halfway up the bill, since returning for a third time a couple of years ago Thunder have hit a purple patch in their career. ‘Wonder Days’ was a … Continue reading

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Album review: THE WONDER STUFF – 30 Goes Around The Sun

THE WONDER STUFF - 30 Goes Around The Sun

IRL records [Release date 19.03.16] This is the Wonder Stuff’s eighth studio album and the album’s title refers to the bands thirtieth year. Vocalist/guitarist Miles Hunt is the sole original member (and his uncle Bill was a member of both … Continue reading

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Interview: EXUMER

Dillon Grant put some questions to Exumer’s founding member singer/bassist Mem V. Stein. The band has just released a new album, ‘The Raging Tides’, on Metal Blade Records. The new album, “The Raging Tides” is your fourth studio album and potentially … Continue reading

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Album review: BIG BOY BLOATER & THE LIMITS – Luxury Hobo

BIG BOY BLOATER & THE LIMITS – Luxury Hobo

Listen out for Pete Feenstra’s interview/special on Tuesday 8 March at 22:00 GMT on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio More information Provogue [Release date 26.02.16] ‘Luxury Hobo’ finds the former 50′s styled R&B artist and latter-day broadcaster Big Boy Bloater … Continue reading

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Album review: HEAT OF DAMAGE – Open Fire

HEAT OF DAMAGE – Open Fire

Self Release (Release date 01.10.15) Heat Of Damage hail from the Johnny Cash-endorsed Folsom in California, although not from the penitentiary as far as I know. The band have been together for a few years and this is their debut … Continue reading

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Album review: RICKY WARWICK – When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues) / Hearts On Trees

RICKY WARWICK – When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues) / Hearts On Trees

Nuclear Blast (Release date – 26.02.16) There have been a number of candidates over the years competing for the title of the ‘hardest working man in rock’. A few instantly spring to mind, Ginger Wildheart, Devin Townsend and Dave Grohl … Continue reading

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Album review: THE NEW BLACK – A Monster’s Life

THE NEW BLACK – A Monster’s Life

AFM Records [Release date 26.02.16] “A Monster’s Life” is German band’s The New Black fourth release and follows on from the impressive “III : Cut Loose” from 2013. This time around, rather than self-producing again, they have enlisted famed Volbeat … Continue reading

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Album review: MYRATH – Legacy

MYRATH - Legacy

earMUSIC [Release date 29.04.16] As a fan of multi-cultural bands, in particular within the metal world, anything that is even remotely ethnic sounding is going to get a good word from me. So few bands will dare wear their roots … Continue reading

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News: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ Interview Feature and UK Tour (28 February – 25 March 2016)

Johnny Hates Jazz

A special feature is broadcast in the first hour of ‘Assume The Position’, presented by David Randall on Sunday 28 February on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.  The sequence is repeated on Friday 4 March at 22:00 or you can … Continue reading

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EP review: KODY – Letting Go

KODY - Letting Go

www.kodyofficial.com [Release date 05.03.16] Debut release from Kody  who wrote and produced the four songs on here, as well as playing guitar. He is joined by Cosmas Mylon on bass and Francesco Azzariti on drums. Kody has poured a lot … Continue reading

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Gig review: RICHARD HAWLEY – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 February 2016

“It’s OK, we’re from the North”, said Richard Hawley on ascending the stage, as if he needed to get the audience on side. There was really no need. The scope, authenticity and quality of his music were more than enough … Continue reading

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Album review: DEFECTO – Excluded

DEFECTO – Excluded

Elevation [Release date 19.03.16] This is the debut effort from Danish symphonic rockers, Defecto.  It’s a pretty solid, competent outing and follows an EP in 2012.  If there’s nothing here to set the world on fire, there is certainly more … Continue reading

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EP review: SPREADING THE DISEASE – Viral

SPREADING THE DISEASE - Viral

https://www.facebook.com/spreadingthedisease.official Spreading The Disease hail from Kent and the five piece consist of Adam May (vocals), Julien Riquelme (lead guitar), Martin Osborne (vocals/rhytmn guitar), Steve Saunders (bass) and Edd Saunders (drums). This is the band’s debut EP ahead of a … Continue reading

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Album review: AOR – L.A. Darkness

AOR - L.A. Darkness

Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Release date 22.03.16] Frédéric Slama is back with the latest installment of the AOR series, number fifteen to be precise. Joining him are an impressive list of singers including Jeff Scott Soto and Steve Overland, plus Tommy … Continue reading

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