Yearly Archives: 2020

Album review: SEVEN SPIRES – Emerald Seas

SEVEN SPIRES - Emerald Seas

Frontiers [Release date 28.02.20] If only all concept albums were like this one…bittersweet melodic metal anthems liberally laced with apocalyptic metal tragedy. It’s such an accomplished piece of music that it belies the fact it is only the US band … Continue reading

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Album review: GRAHAM GOULDMAN – Modesty Forbids

GRAHAM GOULDMAN - Modesty Forbids

David Randall chatted to Graham Gouldman in the first hour of his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.  First broadcast 5 April 2020. Lojinx [Release date 20.03.20] Graham Gouldman is a real trooper.  In recent years he has … Continue reading

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News: KANSAS, FISH, HEATHEN, OZZY, BRIAN WILSON (March 2020)

HEART - O2 Apollo, Manchester, 30 June 2016

Ozzy Osbourne’s latest album ‘Ordinary Man’ debuted at number 3 in both the US Billboard and UK album charts. Fish is now hoping to release his long-awaited final studio album ‘Weltschmerz’ in July. Carcass have named their new album ‘Torn … Continue reading

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Album review: SNAKE OIL & HARMONY – Hurricane Riders

SNAKE OIL & HARMONY - Hurricane Riders

Zero One Entertainment [Release date 28.02.20] Five years ago, Danny Vaughn (Tyketto) and Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network) decided to combine their talents in to form a live acoustic touring act called Snake Oil & Harmony. Since then they have … Continue reading

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Album review: WAITING FOR MONDAY – S/T

WAITING FOR MONDAY

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] Few bands are less famous than their producer. Walter Ino, 6 years with Survivor, touring keyboard player with The Babys, and currently holding down lead guitarist spot with The Eagles of Death Metal, produced this self … Continue reading

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Album review: ARCHON ANGEL – Fallen

ARCHON ANGEL - Fallen

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] Archon Angel is a new project born from a meeting between producer/guitarist Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere) and former Savatage and Circle II Circle vocalist Zak Stevens during the making of Timo Tolkki’s Avalon’s Return To Eden … Continue reading

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Album review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – F8

Better Noise Records [Release date – 28.02.20] This is album number 8 from Five Finger Death Punch and it’s one that marks a number of firsts for the band. It is the first album to feature new drummer Charlie Engen, … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACKWATER CONSPIRACY – Two Tails & The Dirty Truth Of Love & Revolution

  Bulletproof 20/20 Records [Release date 14.02.20] This is the second album from County Tyrone southern tinged rockers Blackwater Conspiracy following on from their 2017 debut ‘Shootin’ The Breeze’ and it is a bit of a cracker. The band master … Continue reading

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Album review: WKW (WATSON, KERCHEVAL, WATSON) – Men Of Steel

WKW Music [Release date - Out Now] WKW is a collaboration between the two Big Country mainstays, Bruce and Jamie Watson, and Thomas Kercheval. Kercheval is an Emmy winning documentary editor, independent musician and longtime Big Country fan. He ran … Continue reading

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Album review: STATUS QUO – Rock Till You Drop & Thirsty Work

STATUS QUO - Rock

UMC [Release date 06.03.20] “Rock Till You Drop” was something of a love/hate album for the band. Rossi loved it, Parfitt hated it. It was a look back in the band’s rear view mirror. It was never uncomfortably reverential, but … Continue reading

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Album review: RICHARD THOMPSON – Live At Rock City, Nottingham 86

RICHARD THOMPSON - Live At Rock City, Nottingham 86

Angel Air/Store For Music [Release date 13.03.20] An archive live performance from Richard Thompson from 1986 where he has backed by a veritable array of top notch folk musicians including Clive Gregson & Christine Collister (who were forging a successful … Continue reading

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Gig review: MYKE GRAY featuring Kim Jennett – Camden Underworld, London, 23 February 2020

MYKE GRAY featuring Kim Jennett- Camden Underworld, London, 23 February 2020

I’ve been an admirer over the years of Myke Gray’s  very fluent, technically accomplished guitar playing style, particularly so as he has always been complemented by powerful, bluesy vocalists, be it in Jagged Edge, Skin or Red White and Blues. … Continue reading

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Album review: STATUS QUO – Perfect Remedy

STATUS QUO - Perfect Remedy

UMC [Release date 06.03.20] Albums nineteen, twenty and twenty one. How many bands can say that? Each one now reissued, and expanded to within an inch of its life. With added liner notes and pics. “Perfect Remedy” (1989), “Rock Till … Continue reading

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Album review: DATURA4 – West Coast Highway Cosmic

DATURA4 – West Coast Highway Cosmic

Naturalsounds Records [Release date 17.04.20] Feels like only five minutes since Datura4 anointed us with their blessed brand of down-under boogie and yet here they are already with their fourth album release, “West Coast Highway Cosmic”. As consistent as white … Continue reading

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Book review: STEVE ROTHERY – Postcards From The Road

STEVE ROTHERY - Postcards From The Road

Astral Horizon Press [Publication date 21.05.20] Steve Rothery’s photo book was first published in 2016 when it was sold via a pre-order campaign and then at gigs and the band website.  Now it gets a full release. Rothery was a … Continue reading

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Gig review: JARED JAMES NICHOLS/COLLATERAL – Gibson Brands Studio, London, 24 February 2020

JARED JAMES NICHOLS/COLLATERAL- Gibson Brands Studio, London, 24 February 2020

One of the most common gripes on social media when bands announce tours is ‘why aren’t they playing anywhere near me?’. With Jared James Nichols and Collateral going on a nine date nationwide spring tour excuses will be thinner than … Continue reading

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Album review: ABSOLVA – Side By Side

ABSOLVA - Side By Side

Rocksector Records [Release date 18.10.19] Absolva formed from the ashes of Fury (UK) in 2012, featuring Chris Appleton (vocals, guitar), Luke Appleton (guitar, vocals), Martin McNee (drums) and bassist Karl Schramm, who joined the band in 2014. The band also … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACK SWAN – Shake The World

BLACK SWAN - Shake The World

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] You have to say (again) that Frontiers knows how to put a band together, in this case Black Swan. Here are four musicians – Robin McAuley, Jeff Pilson, Reb Beach and Matt Starr – whose well … Continue reading

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Album review: PHIL SAATCHI – Sun Come Up

PHIL SAATCHI - Sun Come Up

Jobbing Brighton musician , singer, and writer Phil Saatchi’s main claim to fame seem to be collaborations with Sam Brown on her 1990 debut Stop!, and with Phil Manzanera on And The Beat Goes On in 1991. Oh, and a … Continue reading

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Quick plays: JEFFREY FOUCAULT, AMBERLY CHALBERG, DANIEL STEER

JEFFREY FOUCAULT  Blood Brothers

JEFFREY FOUCAULT  Blood Brothers Blueblade Records [Release date 27,03.20] No question, Americana is the new rock n roll. And the opening number – ‘Dishes’ – on Jeffrey Foucault’s follow up to his critically acclaimed 2015 album Salt As Wolves – … Continue reading

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Album review: STEVE HARLEY – Uncovered

STEVE HARLEY - Uncovered

Absolute [Release date 21.02.20] While Cockney Rebel never really made the A grade, The Psychomodo – an album that languished amongst my 1970s LP collection – has always been one that I’ve always felt a strange affinity for, even if … Continue reading

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Quick plays: LARS BOUTRUP, AL DI MEOLA

LARS BOUTRUP

LARS BOUTRUP’S MUSIC FOR KEYBOARDS The Great Beyond Ex’cess Records (Release date 02.03.20) Danish keyboard wiz Lars Boutrup evokes organ grinders of a bygone age.  In doing so he also fashions his own version of classic keyboard-led rock.  ‘The Great … Continue reading

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Album review: THE BURRITO BROTHERS – The Notorious Burrito Brothers

THE BURRITO BROTHERS -- The Notorious Burrito Brothers

Store For Music [Release date 06.03.20] This is one of those situations where a little knowledge is a bad thing. Without any “previous” one would pick up this disc and be introduced to very pleasant, competent country rock. Non-threatening, if … Continue reading

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Album review: RAGE – Wings Of Rage

RAGE - Wings Of Rage

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 10.01.20] Every family has a black sheep. That one relative who never gets invited to Christmas lunch. Rage are that family member, the unhinged uncle who is usually locked in an attic or roaming around the woods. … Continue reading

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Album review: METAL CHURCH – The Elektra Years 1984-1989

METAL CHURCH - The Elektra Years 1984-1989

Cherry Red Records [Release date 28.02.20] Before Kurdt Vanderhoof went off to invent a new genre with his band, Hall Aflame, in 1991, he released 3 albums with his startup venture, Metal Church. Cherry Red Records have bundled these into … Continue reading

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