Monthly Archives: July 2024

Album review : BLUES PILLS – Birthday

Blues Pills - Birthday

Pete Feenstra chatted to guitarist Zach Anderson and drummer André Kvarnström for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 28 July 2024. Throwdown Entertainment / BMG Rights Mascot [Release date : 09.08.24] Swedish rock band Blues Pills have … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

News: STEEL PANTHER, FLEETWOOD MAC, VON HERTZEN BROTHERS (August 2024)

BRYAN ADAMS- Royal Albert Hall, London, 9-11 May 2022

Photo: Steve Goudie Bryan Adams (pictured) has launched his own label Bad Records with the release of two songs – ‘War Machine’ and ‘Rock And Roll Hell’ – both of which were written by Adams alongside Jim Vallance, and Gene Simmons for the KISS album … Continue reading

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review : ROBIN BIBI BIG BAND – Blowing A Storm!

Robin Bibi Big Band - Blowing A Storm!

Self release[Release date 02.07.24] Robin Bibi Big Band’s ‘Blowing Up A Storm!’ is a celebratory, high energy horn infused album. It extends Robin Bibi’s big band vision, last glimpsed on his 2016 ‘No More A Secret’ album. The album effortlessly … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review : BLUE OYSTER CULT – 50th Anniversary Live : Second Night (2CDs+DVD)

BOC 50th 150

Frontiers [Release date : 09.08.24] BOC’s 1972 album, Tyranny And Mutation (their second), continues to get 4 and 5 star reviews in the mainstream music media in its many reissued forms… special vinyl editions, special Japanese releases, 1990 and 2001 … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review : MISTER MISERY – III

MISTER MISERY image 150

AFM Records [Release date : 02.08.24] Looking like a reimagined Kiss in a Gothic horror movie, Mister Misery’s dress and music sense could not be more theatrical. Nor could it fit the music any better, and vice versa. On III, … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EP review: FORLORN HOPE – Valour Part I

Forlorn-Hope-Valour-Part-1

Website [Release date 30.08.24] Historical metal band Forlorn Hope are back with an ambitious new album ‘Valour’. This EP is the first part of ‘Valour’, which tells the stories of fifteen Victoria Cross winning actions from Crimea to the Second World … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Single and EP reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review : PRODUCERS – self titled (5 CD Boxset)

PRODUCERS image 150

Cherry Red [Release date : 26.07.24] To call them a Supergroup would be a cliché. This collection of musicians transcends tired headlines. Chris Braide, Trevor Horn, Steve Lipson, Lol Creme and Ash Soan need no introduction to tuned in music … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rising Stars interview: TBH BIBI

BIBI press photo 1

New artist TBH BIBI is an eighteen-year-old British non-binary musician who draws inspiration from early 2000s pop-punk and alternative music genres. They bring these influences to life through their fresh and raw new songs.  TBH BIBI’s debut single ‘I Don’t … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE COMMONERS – Arlington Arts Centre, 25 July 2024

c1

Back at the lovely Arlington Arts Centre for a night of blues based rock. A decent sized crowd, which had me pondering that the artists on stage are looking younger each time, yet the audience is definitely getting older… Shout … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review : TORME – The Bernie Torme Archives 1985-93 (5 CDs)

TORME Vol 2 150

Cherry Red [Release date : 26.07.24] A second volume of remastered material taken from Bernie Torme’s extraordinary career. He was a guitarist and a songwriter whose personality and positivity affected everyone he worked with. A musician with “lightning in his … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: FALCON TRAILS – Coming Home

Falcon Trails - Coming Home

Metalville Records [Release date 19.07.24] Having a lifelong love of all things VW Campervan, the cover alone was enough to pique this reviewer’s interest! Falcon Trails features vocalist Lee Small (Sweet, Lionheart, Phenomena), composer/lyricist and mutli-instrumentalist Mika Grönholm (who released a couple of … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: AC/DC – Wembley Stadium, London, 3 July 2024

AC/DC- Wembley Stadium, London, 3 July 2024

Over recent years, AC/DC seem to have transcended our own world of rock’n’ roll to have a wider cultural resonance. Fans range from Prince William who allegedly works out to Thunderstruck’ to Ally McCoist whose wide-eyed ‘is that AC/DC?’ enthusiasm … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review : THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS – Rise Above It All

The Georgia Thunderbolts - Rise Above It All

Mascot [Release date : 23.08.24] The Georgia Thunderbolts are an unapologetic retro band with a Southern rock meets early 70’s British blues-rock feel, which will hold wide appeal for heritage rock fans. ‘Rise Above It All’ is a suitably titled … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review : THE CHRIS SLADE TIMELINE – Timescape (2 CDs)

CHRIS SLADE TIMELINE image 150

Brave Words [Release date : 19.07.24] There’s drummers and there’s Chris Slade. Rock royalty. A musician who knows no boundaries. One who fits seamlessly into most any genre. His CV includes 6 years with Asia, 5 years with AC/DC and … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVIE JONES & THE WILDFIRES – Getting There

STEVIE JONES & THE WILDFIRES - Getting There

Website [Release date 16.08.24] Stevie Jones (vocals, acoustic guitar) is joined by the three piece Wildfires – Alfie Dabrowski (guitar), Bob Dabrowski (bass) & Dave Carter (drums) – for album number three under this name. They are joined by special guests … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review : UNCLE SLAM – Will Work For Food and When God Dies (2 CD Reissue)

UNCLE SLAM Cover 150

Cherry Red [Release date : 26.07.24] Uncle Slam’s roots grew and blossomed in the fertile ground of Punk and Thrash, California style, in the late 80s, taking shape initially in the form of Suicidal Tendencies. Then splintering off into various … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: TUK SMITH & THE RESTLESS HEARTS – Rogue To Redemption

tuk smith and the restless hearts rogue to redemption

Gypsy Rose Records [Release date 30.08.24] Second album by Tuk Smith & the Restless Hearts, who are fronted by ex-Biters frontman Tuk Smith. Produced by Tuk and mixed by Chris Dugan (Green Day, Iggy Pop, U2), the album was written over the last three years … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: ELLES BAILEY– Beneath The Neon Glow

Elles Bailey-Enjoy The Ride

Cooking Vinyl [Release date 09.08.24] Elles Bailey represents different things to different people. She schooled in roots, rock, blues and Americana. And it’s the latter genre along with her openness to song writing collaborations which gives ‘Beneath The Neon Glow’ … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: TOWER OF FIRE FESTIVAL – Rebellion, Manchester, 29 June 2024

TOWER OF FIRE FESTIVAL- Rebellion, Manchester, 29 June 2024

Although the UK live scene is thriving, thanks largely to the efforts of the New Wave of Classic Rock movement, those of us with a specific interest in the melodic rock and AOR scene, weaned on the glory years of … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review : JOHN MILES – The Albums 1983 – 1993 (3 CDs)

JOHN MILES Boxset image 150

Cherry Red [Release date : 19.07.24] Behind the John Miles’ name and his launchpad hit single ‘Music (Was My First Love)’ in 1976, there lay a musician whose full-on career in music can barely be crammed into a Wikipedia page. … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: KISSIN’ DYNAMITE – Back With A Bang

KISSIN' DYNAMITE - Back With A Bang

Napalm Records [Release date: 05.07.24] German rockers Kissin’ Dynamite have been pounding away since 2006 but their current mission statement is simple: Bring Back Stadium Rock. ‘Back With A Bang’ supports their strategy with a series of hard rock anthems … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review : PAUL DI’ANNO’S WARHORSE

PAUL DIANNO cover 150

BraveWords Records [Release date : 19.07.24] The music here serves as a fully realised reminder of the gifts that vocalist Paul Di’Anno has displayed numerous times, originally with Iron Maiden, and then anything he’s been involved with since. Despite (or … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: NEKTAR – Mission To Mars

Nektar - Mission To Mars jpeg

Deko [Release date 30.06.24] And so Nektar are back with another new line-up, but without keyboard player Klaus Henttatch, the last mainstay of the band since the passing of Roye Albighton. Sadly drummer and founder member Ron Howden also passed … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: SHANIA TWAIN- British Summer Time, Hyde Park, 7 July 2024

SHANIA TWAIN- British Summer Time, Hyde Park, 7 July 2024

Shania Twain being reviewed by a website devoted to rock music? Hear me out for a moment. Her multimillion selling ‘Come On Over’ album changed the relationship between the previously insular world of country and the wider rock and pop … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review : NIKOLO KOTZEV – Nostradamus, The Rock Opera – studio album version and Live In Sofia version

NIKOLO KOTZEV Rock Opera image 150

Frontiers [Release date : 19.07.24] Writing and producing Nostradamus, the Rock Opera, was a hugely ambitious undertaking and took its architect, Nikolo (Brazen Abbot) Kotzev, 3 years to complete. Released in 2001, it sold 50,000 worldwide. A significant achievement for … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment