Frontiers Records [Release date 10.07.20]
For afficionados, these are instantly recognisable protagonists. Shining Black matches up Mark Boals, a gun for hire vocalist, with the perhaps lesser known Olaf Thorsen, guitarist with Labyrinth and Vision Divine.
It plays out along conventional melodic metal lines… every song has the air of familiarity that genre fans expect, with Boals and Thorsen executing their chosen roles with precision and grace.
In fairness, Boals is a much better vocalist than his “I sang with Yngwie”, and “Raiding The Rock Vaults” in Vegas credentials suggest. He has a remarkable, 3 octave range, which on its own suggests he could find a place in the vanguard of any rock genre. He is a ringer for Joseph (Toto) Williams on ‘Boogeyman’s higher registers… avoiding the harshness of tone we hear from so many others in the genre.
But throughout the album, he is never less than impressive. He approaches the fever pitch of confrontational intensity that “Where Are Your Gods’ needs in much the same artistic/ professional manner as he does on ‘The Day We Said Goodbye’s relatively sotto voce moments.
‘My Life’ stands out, not just because it’s a cracking song, but because it cuts against the album’s stylistic grain, putting the emphasis on “melodic”, rather than “metal”.
And ‘The Carousel’ and ‘House Of Fallen Souls’ search vividly and enthusiastically (and very tunefully) for the spark that will set the music alight, without ever quite making it.
That said, ‘We Fall’, a fast unfolding melodic metal epic, wrings maximum drama from an “end of the world as we know it” lyric, and closes the album in fitting style, reminding us that we need to act, and act fast. ***1/2
Review by Brian McGowan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,
Check out radio stream repeat on Tuesday 8th (16:00 GMT) and Thursday 10th April (21:00 GMT)
Next Session: Sunday 4 May
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 6 April 2025.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 8 April 2025
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 21 April 2025
THE DEVIL WEARS NADA Late Night Talking (Eonian Records)
DROWNING POOL Madness (SBG Records)
PARKER BARROW Make It (indie)
REDIKIN Nailed It (Wormholedeath)
PENNY FOUNTAIN Euphoria (indie)
CRY FOR MERCY Saving Grace (indie)
VIGILANTES Life In The Fast Brain (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 21 April 2025
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.
If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:
If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device
(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
