Monthly Archives: May 2022

EP review: ANDY PARTRIDGE – My Failed Songwriting Career Vol. 2

ANDY PARTRIDGE – My Failed Songwriting Career Vol. 2

Ape House [Release date 8.4.22] Following on from 2021’s excellent first volume, here are four more gems from Andy Partridge’s post-XTC period as a songwriter for hire. This is a great addition to what is building into a fascinating series. … Continue reading

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Album review : SKILLS – Different Worlds

skills_cover-1

Frontiers Music [Release date: 13.05.22] Skills … “Supergroups” often deflate our expectations pretty quickly. Good to to be able to say that this bunch of seasoned professionals – Brad (Night Ranger) Gillis, David (Giant) Huff, Billy (Mr Big) Sheehan plus … Continue reading

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Album review: KENTUCKY RUCKUS – Space Is A Place

KENTUCKY RUCKUS – Space Is A Place

Website [Release date 29.04.22] Kentucky Ruckus, as their name suggests, hail from Kentucky featuring the Reed brothers – guitarist Kelly and drummer – vocalist Matt Red Moore and bassist Mack Keiffer. The album was recorded and engineered by Tom Tapley … Continue reading

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Interview: Mark Kelly (Marillion) – In Conversation with my Uncle

MARILLION - Manchester Academy, 8 November 2017

You all know him as the keyboardist of Marillion, his solo project Mark Kelly’s Marathon, and as of this year, published author of his autobiography Marillion, Misadventures and Marathons: The Life and Times of Mad Jack. I knew him, before … Continue reading

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Album review: LETTUCE – Unify

LETTUCE - Unify

Round Hill Records [Release date 03.06.22] I have to again confess a weakness for jazz funk and fusion.  And when I sometimes wrestle with the possible ignominy of such a statement on a rock-oriented website I recognise that it probably … Continue reading

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Gig review: CRAZY LIXX – Islington Academy, London, 6 May 2022

P1240219 - Copy

For some 15 years now, Swedes Crazy Lixx have been flying the flag for the American style glam rock they were too young to remember in its late eighties heyday. This is no knowing irony, and you can sense the … Continue reading

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Album review: GRAHAM BONNET BAND – Day Out In Nowhere

graham bonnet band day out

Frontiers Music [Release date 13.05.22] Bonnet’s back catalogue gets frequent outings via the world’s ever popular reissue/ remaster labels. So it’s good to hear some new material from him and this “elegant, late career outfit”, The Graham Bonnet Band. He’s … Continue reading

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Album review: JEFF SCOTT SOTO – Complicated

JEFF SCOTT SOTO - Complicated

Frontiers [Release date 06.05.22] Like his last solo album, 2020′s ‘Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)’, Jeff Scott Soto has teamed up with Frontiers ‘go to’ songwriter/musician Alessandro Del Vecchio. Del Vecchio also adds keys, bass and backing vocals, being joined … Continue reading

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Gig review: JOE BONAMASSA – Royal Albert Hall, London, 6 May 2022

JOE BONAMASSA – Royal Albert Hall, London, 6 May 2022

There’s a palpable sense of anticipation amongst the faithful in a full Royal Albert Hall. The stuttering recovery of the live scene after Covid feels like it might hit a more purposeful stride tonight. Joe Bonamassa loves a grand stage … Continue reading

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Album review: THE BIG DEAL – First Bite

the big deal

Frontiers Music [Release date: 06.05.22] The Big Deal is a Serbian Melodic Rock band, an offshoot of highly successful Progrockers, Alogia. Husband and wife team, Srdjan and Nevena Brankovic are the band’s centrepoint, handling guitar, production, songwriting and vocals. Nevena … Continue reading

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Album review: STARCHASER – Starchaser

starchaser

Frontiers Music [Release date: 06.05.22] If you have an insatiable appetite for the genre, this meat and 2 veg power metal album from new band, Starchaser might provide reasonable, short term sustenance. It began life as a Kenneth (Tad Morose) … Continue reading

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Album review: JANI LIIMATEINAN – My Father’s Son

jani liimateinan

Frontiers [Release date: 06.05.22] “Solo” album from Sonata Arctica/ Insomnium/ Dark Element guitar man/ composer, Jani Liimateinen. Considering that he’s put this album together with a host of guest vocalists, the finished article is a strongly cohesive whole, with barely … Continue reading

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Album review: LOVERBOY – Wildside (Remaster)

loverboy wildside

Rock Candy Records [release date: 25.03.22] Loverboy’s fifth studio album, again produced by the maestro, Bruce Fairbairn (RIP), has been remastered and reissued recently by Rock Candy Records. When Fairbairn, Bob Rock and Mike Fraser are handling production, engineering and … Continue reading

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Album review: TERRA NOVA – Ring That Bell

TERRA NOVA – Ring That Bell

Lion Music [Release date 27.05.22] Terra Nova have been around since 1992, so it is fitting that thirty years after forming they are back with their first new album since 2018’s ‘Raise Your Voice’. Their 1997 offering ‘Livin’ It Up’ … Continue reading

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Album review: FOZZY – Boombox

FOZZY - Boombox

Mascot Records [Release date 06.05.22] Fozzy have been present on the rock scene for over two decades and their pedigree is clearly demonstrated on this latest album – it’s a master class in pure Rock ‘n’ Roll! Fozzy have had … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE TREATMENT, Piston – Robin 2, Bilston, 2 May 2022

THE TREATMENT - Robin 2, Bilston, 2 May 2022

It’s a Bank Holiday Monday in Bilston and it’s the final night of this 18 date tour, that’s 18 consecutive gigs, no breaks for all 3 bands, are they flagging or have they cracked it? I am super excited for … Continue reading

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Album review: FORTUNE- Level Ground

FORTUNE- Level Ground

Frontiers Records (Release Date 08.04.22) After it took 24 years to follow up their self-titled debut album and cult AOR classic, Fortune’s third album follows after a relatively brief three year interval. However while 2019’s ‘Fortune II’ included a number … Continue reading

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News: JOE BOUCHARD, SLASH, SEX PISTOLS, (May 2022)

Orianthi - Manchester Arena, 24 October 2016

Alter Bridge release their latest album ‘Pawns & Kings’ on October 14 via Napalm Records. The Answer make a live return at Planet Rockstock on December 3 and plan to release a new album  in 2023 on Golden Robot Records. … Continue reading

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Album review: LILLIAN AXE – Psalms For Eternity (3 CD set)

Lillian-Axe-Cover

Global Rock [Release date 6.04.22] This month, Lillian Axe release a 3 CD retrospective on Global Rock, SFM’s brand spanking new Rock and Metal label, grandly called Psalms For Eternity. It’s been curated by mainman, guitarist and songwriter, Steve Blaze, … Continue reading

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Album review: MICK WHITE – Something’s Got To Give

MICK WHITE - Something's Got To Give

Enghardt Media/The Metal Society [29.04.22] Now here’s a blast from the past. I first encountered vocalist Mick White in the late 80s when he was working with Paul Samson, and later when he fronted First Strike (that Just Another Night album … Continue reading

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Gig review: STONE BROKEN, Mason Hill, The Fallen State – The Marble Factory, Bristol, 25 April 2022

STONE BROKEN - The Marble Factory, Bristol, 25 April 2022

Opening  their set with the rather epic ‘For My Sorrow’ the atmosphere is rocking, and there are clearly some fans in the audience and it’s a reflection that actually this tour celebrates three bands that are all on their ascendancy, … Continue reading

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Album review: ICON – Icon (Remaster)

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Rock Candy Records [release date: 18.03.22] Icon’s debut album from 1984 has recently been remastered by leading UK Reissue label, Rock Candy Records. The fact that the band’s set list in those early days included material by Deep Purple and … Continue reading

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