Yearly Archives: 2019

Album review: FICTION SYXX – The Alternate Me

FICTION SYXX - The Alternate Me

MelodicRock Records [Release date 28.06.19] Fiction Syxx follow up last year’s debut ‘Tall Dark Secret’ with ‘The Alternate Me’. Fiction Syxx is the brain child of songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Mark Allen Lanoue and he is joined again by guitarist JK Northrup (King … Continue reading

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Rising Stars: BADMINTON

Badminton are a trio from Leeds – singer, guitarist Robbie Tooth, guitarist Dominic Marshall and drummer Tom McAndrew - who have been writing together since 2015, releasing their first couple of tracks in 2016 under the name of Friends of Friends. These tracks … Continue reading

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Quick plays: BUFORD POPE, WORLD OF MICK, LENY’S GIRL

BUFORD POPE The Waiting Game

BUFORD POPE The Waiting Game [Release date 08.04.19] Swedish singer songwriter Buford Pope (aka Mikael Liljeborg) – with raspy vocals reminiscent of a young (albeit tight trousered) Rod Stewart – literally plays the waiting game with his eighth release, in … Continue reading

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Album review: IZZ – Don’t Panic

IZZ- Don

Doone Records [Release date 21.05.19] Don’t Panic – the ninth studio album by New York based proggers Izz, may feature – as one of the band’s four vocalists – Laura Meade who’s debut solo album Remedium topped my 2018 best … Continue reading

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Album review: BIG BIG TRAIN – Grand Tour

BIG BIG TRAIN - Grand Tour

English Electric [Release date 17.05.19] Big Big Train return with ‘Grand Tour’ – the first since the band’s inception without founder Andy Poole – and they are joined by five brass players and 18 string players. Vocalist David Langdon helps … Continue reading

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Gig review: BUCK & EVANS – 100 Club, London, 27 May 2019

BUCK & EVANS- 100 Club, London, 27 May 2019

Buck and Evans define the term ‘critically acclaimed’ in that anyone who has come into contact with their music has universally praised them.  However, a good four years since I last saw them (at Highbury Garage) progress has been slow. … Continue reading

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Album review: BEXATRON – Hey You!

BEXATRON – Hey You!

Zube Records [Release date 07.12.18] Bexatron are Bexx (vocals), Belle Star (drums), Adam Adorjan (bass) and Greg Radcliffe (guitar), having formed in 2015. They have been building up a decent following with support slots including a recent one with the … Continue reading

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Album review: MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND – Love & Beyond

Michael Thompson Band- Love-and-Beyond

Frontiers [Release Date 26.04.19] Michael Thompson is one of the most respected session guitarists in rock – alongside Steve Lukather and Bruce Gaitsch he is probably the go-to man, particularly for the so-called West Coast sound where soft rock and … Continue reading

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Album review: FORTUNE – II

FORTUNE - II

Frontiers [Release Date 26.04.19] Fortune’s 1985 self-titled albums is one that always featured highly in the list of obscure but brilliant melodic/AOR classics. While singer Larry (LA) Greene and keyboard player Roger Scott Craig went on to another cult AOR … Continue reading

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Album review: DARWIN – Origin of Species

DARWIN - Origin Of Spieces

www.darwin.is [Release date 07.12.18] ‘Origin Of Species’ is an extravagant concept album spread over two discs, with DarWin not only the songwriter of the album and guitarist, he also stars in the album’s story. Ah yes, the story is a … Continue reading

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Album review: STEELEYE SPAN – EST’D 1969

STEELEYE SPAN – EST’D 1969

Park Records [Release date 21.06.19] Unlike many long established bands who only add a few songs off any new album into their set lists, Steelye Span have added nearly all of ‘EST’D 1969’ into their current set list. Take a … Continue reading

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Album review: DIAMOND HEAD – The Coffin Train

Diamond Head - The Coffin Train

Silver Lining Music [release date: 24.05.19] Ah, the enigma that is Diamond Head. The band who are rightly regarded as pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal; and who inspired the first wave of thrash in the shape … Continue reading

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Album review: ALAN PARSONS – The Secret

ALAN PARSONS – The Secret

Frontiers [Release date 26.04.19] ‘The Secret’ is the fifth solo album by Alan Parsons, some fifteen years after his last solo album ‘A Valid Path’. Magic provides a theme throughout the album with the Alan Parsons Live Project band members … Continue reading

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Quick plays: NITRATE, HOWARD JONES

NITRATE - Open Wide

NITRATE Open Wide AOR Heaven [Release date 21.06.19] Hot on the heels of last year’s enjoyable debut album ‘Real World’, Nitrate are back with album number two. The core duo of Nick Hogg (bass, guitars, keyboards) and Midnite City’s Rob … Continue reading

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Gig review: DAXX AND ROXANE/ COLLATERAL – Borderline, London, 18 May 2019

COLLATERAL- Borderline, London, 18 May 2019

In the run up to this Borderline show came the sad news that this long-established venue is closing, leaving Central London with almost no rock venues. This reflects a wider trend of losing places that host  live music,  which is … Continue reading

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Album review: HEADLINE MANIAC – The Chronicles of Dr. Leddfoot

HEADLINE MANIAC - The Chronicles of Dr. Leddfoot

3MS Music [Release date 12.07.19] “The Chronicles of Dr. Leddfoot” is the second album from Headline Maniac, the band whose members include Ian “Dipster” Dean, Simon Howley and Chris Taylor of Eddie & The Hot Rods fame. The album tells … Continue reading

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Album review: FORLORN HOPE – Over The Hills

FORLORN HOPE - Over The Hills

[Release date 26.07.19] Inspired and informed by the Peninsular War of 1807-1814 when “master of Europe” Napoleon faced six years of hostility from Britain, Spain and Portugal. ‘Over The Hills’ doesn’t compromise. While some albums work on two levels and … Continue reading

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Album review: GLITTER MACHINE – Hanging Out For Fame

GLITTER MACHINE - Hanging Out For Fame

Pete Feenstra chatted to Glitter Machine’s John McKeown on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio with tracks from the new album (Sunday 19 May, 20:00 GMT) Two Nine Records [Release date 15.03.19] Glitter Machine is an art rock band that embraces … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACK PAISLEY – Perennials

BLACK PAISLEY - Perennials

[Release date 27.09.18] If you are a fan of the likes of Vandenberg’s MoonKings or MTV era Whitesnake then you are going to love “Perennials”, the new album from Sweden’s Black Paisley. Following on from 2017’s “Late Bloomer” debut, this … Continue reading

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Album review: BURNING RAIN – Face the Music

BURNING RAIN- Face the Music

Release Date 22.03.19 Burning Rain have had a rather stop start career, this being their fourth release but only the second since 2001. In that time guitarist Doug Aldrich has raised his profile with stints with Dio, Whitesnake and latterly … Continue reading

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Album review: WHITESNAKE – Flesh & Blood

WHITESNAKE - Flesh & Blood

Frontiers [Release date 10.05.19] You have to hand it to Mr. Coverdale.  He could be forgiven, at the age of 67, for retiring to his Nevada estate contemplating his career and his royalty cheques.  But, no, even though this is … Continue reading

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Album review: SOTO – Origami

SOTO - Origami

Inside Out [Release date 24.05.19] Jeff Scott Soto is a busy man with his solo albums, Sons Of Apollo, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, W.E.T. and of course the band SOTO (I am thinking the use of capitals is to differentiate from the … Continue reading

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Album review: FRAUDPROPHETS – Poptosis

FRAUDPROPHETS - Poptosis

www.fraudprophets.com [Release date 03.06.19] Looking at the cover, you could be forgiven thinking that Fraudprophets are the latest post-punk wannabes.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  This is an album of mostly cool jazz fusion grooves. If we’re looking … Continue reading

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Album review: EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – The Anthology 1970-1998 (4-LP Box set)

Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Anthology 1970-1998 (4-LP Box set)

We’re giving away a copy of the boxed set in June – check out our Competitions section! David Randall chatted to Carl Palmer for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in June 2018.  This hour special features a selection of ELP … Continue reading

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Album review: HOLLOWSTAR

HOLLOWSTAR

www.hollowstar.co.uk [Release date: 03.05.19] This is a full debut album from four-piece hard rockers Hollowstar, who have previously put out only a couple of EPs up until this point. The album has been worth the wait. It serves up a … Continue reading

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