Yearly Archives: 2016

News: The Rebelles announce a cover of All The Young Dudes

THE REBELLES release their take on ‘All The Young Dudes’, featuring Ian Hunter, on 18th March, via Turtle Recordings. The Rebelles is the sound of three stunning vocal talents paying tribute to the songs that inspire them.  Formed of Tracie … Continue reading

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DVD review: BLACK VEIL BRIDES – Alive and Burning

BLACK VEIL BRIDES - Alive and Burning

Eagle Vision [Release date 25.09.15] There is no doubt about it, Black Veil Brides are a great live band, heavy as you like yet melodic throughout. Formed in 2006, and having released 4 acclaimed albums, the band are part Motley, … Continue reading

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DVD review: TWISTED SISTER – We Are Twisted F***ing Sister

TWISTED SISTER - We Are Twisted F***ing Sister

Monduo Films [Release date 11.03.16] Twisted Sister – part cartoon, part waxwork, 100% rock n’ roll. This DVD release of Andrew Horn’s 2014 film charts the history of the band from their earliest incarnation back in 1972 up to the … Continue reading

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Gig review: NECK DEEP – O2 Academy, Glasgow, 2 February 2016

LIGHT YEARS - O2 Academy, Glasgow, 2 February 2016

The cold Glasgow night was filled with an air of pop-punk and pizza. Yes, Wrexham formed Neck Deep were in town, bringing the teenage angst in full. The band from North Wales stopped by on the UK leg of their … Continue reading

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Album review: RHINE – An Outsider

[Released 05.02.16] To mix Thrash with Death Metal is asking for elitists to come crawling from the walls. However different the two genres may be, it is hard to pick the differences out in Rhine’s music. This is a good … Continue reading

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Album review: CASUALTIES OF COOL

Casualties Of Cool

Inside Out www.insideout.de [Release date 16.01.16] Casualties of Cool is the latest release by, well, Casualties of Cool! The ambient country rock album is the first album from Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad, Devin Townsend Project etc…) and Che Aimee … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE WINERY DOGS/ Inglorious – Bristol O2 Academy, 2 February 2016

THE WINERY DOGS - Bristol O2 Academy, 2 February 2016

Mike Portnoy announces to the crowd that The Winery Dogs don’t often play outside of the main cities of London/Manchester, so the Bristol fans wasted no opportunity to sign up for something special and – although not a sell out … Continue reading

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Album review: JENNIFER WARNES – The Well

JENNIFER WARNES - The Well

BMG [Release date 04.03.16] It comes to something when it takes a fifteen year old album – getting its first UK release – to highlight just how sterile and bland the singer songwriter scene has become. Warnes’ eighth studio album, … Continue reading

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News: MAGNUM and DEVON ALLMAN interview specials on Sunday 7 February 2016

Magnum - Liverpool Arts Club, 6 February 2016

In 2011, during rehearsals for their winter UK tour, David Randall asked Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin about the rise of Magnum, discussing the early days, their reformation in the Millennium and upward trajectory during the past decade. On Sunday … Continue reading

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Quick plays: DAVID LOCKE, DERIAN CROSS, TESS OF THE CIRCLE

DAVID LOCKE Transitions

DAVID LOCKE Transitions [Release date 05.15] www.davidlocke.co.uk David Locke is another guitar journeymen but the difference between his production values and the Derian Cross album (see below) are palpable. A lot of time and effort has evidently gone into making … Continue reading

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Quick plays: BEN ABRAHAM, DEATH BY UNGA BUNGA, TALISCO

BEN ABRAHAM – Sirens Secretly Canadian [Release date 04.03.16] Despite the record label name, Ben Abraham hails from Australia where this, his debut album, was released last year. It is now getting a full UK release and I can see … Continue reading

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Album review: DREAM THEATER – The Astonishing

DREAM THEATER - The Astonishing

Roadrunner Records [Release date 29.01.16] Epic. Sprawling. Career defining? Perhaps. Dream Theater have unleashed upon its adoring fans an album of such substantial girth that it makes the job of reviewing it reasonably tough. DT are known for super long … Continue reading

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Album review: ESCAPE THE FATE – Hate Me

ESCAPE THE FATE - Hate Me

[Release date 30.10.15] “Hate Me” is the 5th studio album from the Las Vegas formed band. Escape the Fate (ETF) are most notable for being the first band of outspoken Falling in Reverse frontman, Ronnie Radke. They also have worked … Continue reading

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Gig review: THRESHOLD – O2 Islington Academy, London, 24 January 2016

THRESHOLD - O2 Islington Academy, London, 24 January 2016

This was a progressive/symphonic metal triple-header, but sadly I only caught the dying embers of the Damnation Angels as I ascended the stairs. Pretty good it sounded too, but the Northern Line had effectively robbed me of the set. French … Continue reading

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News: RENAISSANCE & CURVED AIR – Pioneers of Symphonic/Art Prog tour together in April 2016

Renaissance

ANNIE HASLAM of RENAISSANCE (59:15) David Randall chats to Annie about prog rockers Renaissance Also available in several parts here Symphonic rock icons Renaissance featuring legendary singer Annie Haslam will be performing in the US & UK in support of … Continue reading

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Album review: LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM – Paintings

AOR Heaven [Released 26.02.16] Album number twelve from Last Autumn’s Dream who, with a couple of exceptions, release a new album at the start of each year. The line-up is the same as 2015′s ‘Level Eleven’, making this the second … Continue reading

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Album review: BROTHERS OF MARS – Welcome To My Breakdown

BROTHERS OF MARS - Welcome To My Breakdown

[Release date 22.09.15] www.brothersofmars.com A quick glance at the track listing on this solo project from Mauro Zarattini – ‘Mental Breakdown’, ‘Welcome To Hell’, ‘Tarot Reader’, and ‘Acid Rain’ – suggests that the listener is in for some, to use … Continue reading

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Gig review: GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL – Skegness, 22-24 January 2016

Arthur Brown - GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL - Skegness 22-24 January 2016

Reporting by Simon Dunkerley and Pete Feenstra Pete Feenstra writes:  Perhaps only The Great British Rock & Blues Festival can give you the unlikely opportunity of slipping from the dancing delights of Courtney Pine’s venue filling world music and jazz … Continue reading

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Album review: SHAKRA – High Noon

SHAKRA – High Noon

AFM Records [Release date 29.01.16] Swiss hard rock band Shakra return with their tenth studio album “High Noon” and, after the departure of vocalist John Prakesh in late 2013, surprisingly also return with previous vocalist Mark Fox who quit the … Continue reading

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Album Review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Into The Legend

RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Into The Legend

AFM Records [Release date 15.01.16] Rhapsody of Fire return with their 11th studio album “Into The Legend”…this is of course classing Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody as a totally separate band which I suppose it is anyway… The press release points out … Continue reading

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News: RODNEY MATTHEWS exhibition runs until 24 February – Wells, Somerset

Rodney Matthews

GRTR! photographer Simon Dunkerley recently attended the private viewing of ‘IONAWR’, the new exhibition featuring the work of fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. Before the times of digital download and live music streaming the thrill of a new album release meant … Continue reading

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Album review: MAGNUM – Sacred Blood “Divine” Lies

MAGNUM - Sacred Blood, Divine Lies

SPV [Release date 26.02.16] Tony Clarkin must surely receive a public award for services to consistent songwriting.  Since the mid-1970s he has been the main architect of Magnum’s wider and enduring success.  And on this – the band’s 19th studio … Continue reading

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Album review: THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT – White Bear

THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT - White Bear

Earache Records [Release date 15.01.16] The Temperance Movement’s debut album released back in 2013 proved a big hit, making the upper echelons of the UK album charts. Since then they have opened for the Rolling Stones and toured extensively, including … Continue reading

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Album review: LAST IN LINE – Heavy Crown

LAST IN LINE - Heavy Crown

Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Release date 19.02.16] How poignant that, as I write this review, it is just hours since the news broke that bass player Jimmy Bain has died. A member of Rainbow, Thin Lizzy and a pivotal part of Dio, … Continue reading

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Gig review: MICHAEL SCHENKER’S TEMPLE OF ROCK – Queens Hall, Edinburgh, 22 January 2016

The Best of 2016

Photo: Pako Meria Almost exactly a year ago I got a copy through of the latest Temple Of Rock album, ‘Spirit On A Mission’. One play through was all it took for me to decide that the band had created … Continue reading

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