Yearly Archives: 2019

Quick plays: ROYAL REPUBLIC, ROB MORATTI, FINE SOFT DAY, TRAGIK

ROYAL REPUBLIC - Club Majesty

ROYAL REPUBLIC Club Majesty Nuclear Blast [Release date 31.05.19] Royal Republic are on the up and up with their mix of rock, dance, disco, funk, rock n roll – heck they will put in any style of music into their … Continue reading

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News: Albums of the Month (January 2019 – March 2019)

Steve Hackett - At The Edge Of Light

April-June 2019 July-September 2019 October-December 2019 STEVE HACKETT At The Edge Of Light (Inside Out) [Release date 25.01.19] In his long and distinguished career at the forefront of everything that’s good about progressive rock, Steve Hackett has consistently delivered albums … Continue reading

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Gig review: MAGNUM – Aberdare Coliseum, 5 June 2019

MAGNUM - Aberdare Coliseum, 5 June 2019

With more venues in South Wales falling by the wayside, it is refreshing to see someone taking  a gamble, especially in the valleys and in the middle of the week, but the old adage of book them and they will … Continue reading

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Album review: PRINCE – Originals

PRINCE - Originals

Warner Brothers Records [Release date 07.06.19 exclusively on Tidal, 21.06.2019 CD, vinyl, streaming] In this multi-platform, content driven age it would be hard to imagine an artist ever producing too much material but such were his prolific studio habits, that … Continue reading

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Album review: NAZARETH – coloured vinyl reissues (July 2019)

NAZARETH - coloured vinyl reissues July 2019

BMG [Release date 05.07.19] Celebrating their 50th Anniversary, Nazareth are still going, albeit with just founder member and bassist Pete Agnew at helm. Last year BMG issued the amazing Loud And Proud box (33CDs, 3 7” 45s, LP, picture disc … Continue reading

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Gig review: SWEDISH AOR CONVENTION – Malmo, Sweden, 30 May-2 June 2019

State of Salazar

Melodic rock and AOR is an unlikely addition to the list of things-  ergonomic design, environmental awareness, and dark crime dramas- where Scandinavia leads the world.  The scene is particularly strong in Sweden, home of many of my favourite bands … Continue reading

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Single review: TIGER & THE LIGHT SIDE – Somewhere Else

TIGER & THE HOMERTONS - Somewhere Else

Website [Release date 24.06.19] A sparse ethereal atmosphere pervades the opening of ‘Somewhere Else’, a new single from barely a year old outfit, Tiger and The Light Side. Hailing from France, Tiger Finkel has assembled a distinctly international band coming … Continue reading

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Album review: MYRATH – Shehili

MYRATH - Shehili

earMUSIC [Release date 03.05.19] Tunisian metallers Myrath have been around since 2001, gaining more rave reviews and fans after 2016’s ‘Legacy’ album, one which saw them embrace their Arabic sounds more and ditch some of the Eurometal clichés. On ‘Shehili’ … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW – Regent Theatre, Stoke, 7 June 2019

When it comes to cult theatre, the grand daddy of them all refuses to go away. Fully some 46 years after it made its debut at a small upstairs space at the Royal Court Theatre in London, Richard O’Brien’s homage … Continue reading

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Gig review: VINCENT FLATTS FINAL DRIVE – Kings Head Theatre, London, 7 June 2019

VIncent Flatts Fina Drive by Cath

There ‘s something indefinable about the true spirit of rock and rock. And whatever it is, Vincent Flatts Final Drive front man Steve “Bertie” Burton has it in buckets. It’s not just the spontaneous humour, the belligerent phrasing, the way … Continue reading

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Quick plays: THE BRINK, RESTLESS SPIRITS, ZEPHYRA

THE BRINK - Nowhere To Run

THE BRINK Nowhere To Run Frontiers [Release date 17.05.19] The Brink – Tom Quick (vocals), Lexi (lead guitar), Izzy Trixx (rhythm guitar), Gary Connor (bass guitar) and Davide Drake Bocci (drums) – are another up and coming band, part of … Continue reading

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Gig review: ERIC GALES – Nell’s Jazz & Blues, London, 5 June 2019

Eric Gales at Nells by Ryan Swanich

An evening with Eric Gales is like a rock-blues therapy session. Every song is analysed, the crowd’s response is measured, the autobiographical stories are analytical in nature and the short burst of incendiary guitar are the proof of his God … Continue reading

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Album review: CRAZY LIXX – Forever Wild

CRAZY LIXX - Forever Wild

Frontiers [Release date 17.05.19] “Forever Wild” is the sixth studio album from Swedish band Crazy Lixx, and could very well be their best to date. This is good, solid melodic rock n’ roll that is full of those ‘80’s style … Continue reading

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Album review: THIS WINTER MACHINE – A Tower of Clocks

THIS WINTER MACHINE - A Tower Of Clocks

F2 Music [Release date 24.06.19] Second album by the Yorkshire based progressive rockers This Winter Machine, who are relative newcomers having formed in 2016. They consist of Al Winter (vocals), Mark Numan (keyboards, vocals), Graham Garbett (guitars, vocals), Scott Owens … Continue reading

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Album review: WARRIOR SOUL – Rock N Roll Disease

WARRIOR SOUL - Rock n Roll Disease

Cargo/Livewire [Release date 07.06.19] This is big ballsy rock n roll, just the way it should be, and Warrior Soul’s new album “Rock n Roll Disease” pretty much picks up where 2017’s “Back On The Lash” left off. With nods … Continue reading

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Album review: DE WOLFF – Live & Outta Sight II

De Wolff -  Live & Outta Sight 11

        Mascot Records [Release date 14.06.19] Dutch rock band De Wolff is a contemporary cross-genre band who tap into the moment to produce a varied, but coherent live album with plenty of innovation and spark. Variously described … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROCKIN THE BLUES 2019 – JONNY LANG/WALTER TROUT/KRIS BARRAS – 02 Forum, London, 4 June 2019

Johnny Lange, Walter Trout & Kris barras by rockrpix

Whatever Provogue records original vision was for their annual European Rockin’ The Blues’ tour, it could surely not have been much better than this. Put simply, in terms of passion, energy and balance, tonight’s triple bill delivers different shades of … Continue reading

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Album review: JACK BRUCE – Live At Rockpalast 1980, 1983 and 1990 (CD/DVD)

JACK BRUCE - Live At Rockpalast 1980, 1983 and 1990

MIG Music [Release date 26.04.19] 2 DVD/5 CD This multi-disc box set is a fine summary of Jack Bruce playing live from 1980 through to 1990.  Culled from the legendary German TV show “Rockpalast” this 5-CD set also contains 2 … Continue reading

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Gig review: BEARDED THEORY’S SPRING GATHERING – Catton Park, Derbyshire, 23 – 26 May 2019

Life, Love and Unity. The Dreadzone motto of “Life, love and unity” has never been more perfectly exemplified  than at Bearded Theory’s Spring Gathering.  It’s a philosophy that seems to be embraced by the Beardy tribe.  Fields full of friendly folk, a fantastic line up, … Continue reading

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Gig review: MARTIN BARRE BAND (50 Years of Jethro Tull) – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, Wirral, 2 June 2019

MARTIN BARRE BAND (50 Years of Jethro Tull) – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, Wirral, 2 June 2019

The International Guitar Festival Of Great Britain, held annually for many years, has been a showcase for some of the world’s finest players. Sadly, it has lost its focus a little in recent years with acts appearing that have no … Continue reading

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Album review: THE DIVINE COMEDY – Office Politics

THE DIVINE COMEDY - Office Politics

DC Records [Release date 07.06.19] Never one to do things by halves, Neil Hannon and the Divine Comedy return with a double album, three years after their last album ‘Foreverland’. As the album’s title suggests it has a loose theme … Continue reading

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Album review: TIM STAFFELL – aMIGO

TIM STAFFELL - aMIGO

Moscodisc  [Release date 12.07.19] Tim Staffell’s 2006 solo album ‘aMIGO’ gets a timely re-issue, given the ongoing success of the ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ film, plus Tim Staffell released his latest solo album ‘Two Late’ last year (the title a nod to … Continue reading

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Album review: STING – My Songs

STING - My Songs

A&M Island [Release date 24.05.19] Longevity can be both a blessing and a curse. Music industry economics are such that a tour is more successful with an album behind it and if that album isn’t of new material, a compilation … Continue reading

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Album review: D-A-D – A Prayer For The Loud

D-A-D - A Prayer For The Loud

AFM Records [Release date 31.05.19] D-A-D are a band whose sound is instantly recognisable and are consistent in the quality of their albums, and I have always been surprised that they have not received the success and recognition that they … Continue reading

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News: WIN! EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER Anthology vinyl box set! (June 2019)

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Anthology

Throughout June we will be offering a 4-LP vinyl box set celebrating Emerson, Lake & Palmer in a new competition. The box set features 4 discs pressed on ‘galaxy effect’ coloured vinyl and includes tracks from all the key original … Continue reading

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