Monthly Archives: November 2024

Album review: CROSSBONE SKULLY – Evil World Machine

CROSSBONE SKULLY - Evil World Machine

Better Noise Music [Release date 22.11.24] Crossbone Skully is the band formed by Alice Cooper and Hollywood Vampires guitarist Tommy Henriksen. He’s joined by guitarists Anna Cara and Sam Koltun, bassist Chris Wyse and drummer Alex Boch. That’s not all … Continue reading

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Gig review: CARDINAL BLACK – Sub 89, Reading, 15 November 2024

P1160812 - Copy

Of all the new bands on the scene, Cardinal Black seem to be among those on the verge of a big commercial breakthrough. On this autumn tour, the London venue was at the Shepherds Bush Empire, though I couldn’t make … Continue reading

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Album review : FAITH NYC – Love Is A Wish Away

FAITH NYC 150  COVER

Good Deeds Music [Release date 22.11.24] A Motown sound that isn’t a Motown sound. Faith NYC is Felice Rosser’s band, which comprises percussionist, Fin Hunt, and guitar man, Justin Adams. Rosser sings and plays bass. Born and brought up in … Continue reading

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Album review : LUMINARE CHRISTMAS – Mistletoe Magic

LUMINARE 150 Christmas image

Frontiers [Release date : 22.12.24] Founded by Chip Davis, leader of the 28 million selling, neoclassical ensemble Mannheim Steamroller, Luminare Christmas is a relatively new venture. Mannheim have two albums in the Top Ten Best Selling Christmas albums of all … Continue reading

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Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 13 November 2024

SUZI QUATRO- London Palladium, 13 November 2024

After too long sharing a bill on revival shows or out of the touring spotlight altogether, the last couple of years have seen the welcome return of Suzi Quatro as a headline live act, cementing her legacy as a trailblazing … Continue reading

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Album review : SUNSTORM – Restless Fight

SUNSTORM 150 Restless iamge

Frontiers [Release date: 22.11.24] Restless Fight is Sunstorm’s third with Ronnie Romero up front, this time with a few more “progressive” musicians alongside. Influential Italian guitarist/ songwriter Aldo Lonobile – and currently Frontiers’ head of A&R for Europe – has … Continue reading

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Book reviews: On track…SPARKS, ROXY MUSIC, DAVID BOWIE

Sparks 1969-1979 by Chris Sutton

On Track…Sparks 1969-1979 by Chris Sutton (Sonicbond Publishing) Chris Sutton has penned a few titles previously for SonicBond including a couple on Alice Cooper and an AC/DC one. Unlike some titles in the series this Sparks one features interviews specifically … Continue reading

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Album review: DEWOLFF- Muscle Shoals

DEWOLFF- Muscle Shoals

Mascot Records [Release date 06.12.24] “The singing river ? Damned if there ain’t soul in the silt itself. Musician folks been heading down this way for years and I’ll wager I’ve seen ‘em all – yes sir, Muscle Shoals, Alabama. … Continue reading

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DVD review: MAN – God Walking Past (A review of the band’s career and recorded works 1968-1976)

Man - God Walking Past 1968 -76

Effigy [Release date: 18.11.24] ‘God Walking Past’ takes its title from Man member Deke Leonard’s description of the band’s music. He calls it “Impressive”, and the description could equally be applied to this thoroughly researched ‘not for prophet’ labour of … Continue reading

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Album review : MARY COUGHLAN – Repeat Rewind

Mary Coughlan - Repeat Rewind

Strange Brew [Release date : 25.10.24] Mary Coughlan’s ‘Repeat Rewind’ is released hand in hand with the 40th anniversary of her career and provides the perfect showcase for her full range of talents, from heartfelt, humorous and ironic observations to … Continue reading

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Album review : STORACE – Crossfire

STORACE 150 Crossfire image

Frontiers [Release date 22.11.24] Crossfire is only the second Storace “solo” release from an artist whose gravel gargling vocals have fronted many million selling albums. Any fan of the hard rock genre will recognise the talent Marc Storace has surrounded … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH XVII, Great Yarmouth, 7-9 November 2024

hrh2

Hard Rock Hell (HRH) was back for its 17th instalment “Valhalla”. Rockers from up and down the country were already here in their masses. The atmosphere was already building and I couldn’t wait to get stuck into this weekend. Thursday … Continue reading

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Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES – Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024

WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES- Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024

This show, one of the occasional live spinoffs from the Blues Power shows on one of GRTR!’s fellow radio stations, ticked a lot of boxes for me. I’ve steadily been getting more into When Rivers Meet but my ambition to … Continue reading

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Album review : VAN ZANT – Always Look Up

VAN ZANT 150 Always image

Frontiers [Release date : 22.11.24] Here are the Van Zant brothers, Donnie and Johnny, vocalists respectively with 38 Special and Lynyrd Skynyrd (50 million album sales between them), looking forward, going back. In 2017, University Of Northumbria’s Professor of American … Continue reading

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Feature: CASEY MAUNDER’s Bakers Dozen

CASEY MAUNDER - Get Out and Push

The first Bakers Dozen, in which various musicians choose 13 songs – a baker’s dozen – to make a playlist. The following rules apply – Maximum of three songs from any artist Maximum of two songs from any album Maximum … Continue reading

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Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024

Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024

They may not have the same veteran status as the headliners of this show, but Reef are celebrating 30 years in the business this year. No mean feat, with founding members Gary Stringer on vocals and Jack Bessant on bass. … Continue reading

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Album review: MASSIVE WAGONS – Earth To Grace

MASSIVE WAGONS - Earth To Grace

Earache Records [Release date 08.11.24] Amazingly this is album number seven from Massive Wagons, and their fourth on Earache Records, with their last two albums both making the UK top 10 album chart. No pressure then lads! The pre-released songs/singles … Continue reading

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Gig review: ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024

ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024

One of the new generations of artists that has somehow managed largely to pass me by to date is Elles Bailey. I’d seen her name on tours and festival bills and social media, but never yet managed to see her … Continue reading

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Album review : STARCHASER – Into The Great Unknown

starchaser 150 into image

Frontiers [Release date 15.11.24] Second album from Swedish Melodic Metal band, Starchaser. The title track, ‘Into The Great Unknown’, a successful marriage of image and drama and music, gets us underway with a flourish. (Actually the “image” comes from the … Continue reading

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Album review: EVE GOODMAN – Summer Sun, Winter Trees

EVE GOODMAN – Summer Sun, Winter Trees

Bandcamp [Release date 15.11.24] ‘Summer Sun, Winter Trees’ is Eve Goodman’s debut album, having released the EP ‘Wave Upon Wave’ previously. As Eve explains, “These songs are a capture of my moods, my headspace, and the symbols and imagery that … Continue reading

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Album review: MARK WIRTZ – Dream Dream Dream The Anthology (5 CD Boxset)

mark 150 wirtz dream

Cherry Red [Release date : 15.11.24] Long in the making, this Mark Wirtz Anthology misses out nothing in the fascinating life and times of this musical virtuoso – composer, producer, performer, conductor, author, (and ultimately, stand up comedian). Too much … Continue reading

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Album review: LIBRARIANS WITH HICKEYS – How To Make Friends By Telephone

LIBRARIANS WITH HICKEYS - How To Make Friends By Telephone

Big Stir Records/Bandcamp [Release date 08.11.24] Librarians With Hickeys are an indie pop rock duo consisting of Ray Carmen (vocals, guitars, drums) and Mike Crooker (vocals, bass, organ, piano, keys). They released their debut album in 2020 and this is … Continue reading

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Album review : VOODOO CIRCLE – Hail To The King

VOODOO 150 CIRCLE Hail image

AFM Records [Release date 15.11.24] Love Whitesnake? Love Rainbow? Love Led Zeppelin? Here’s Voodoo Circle, just for you. 12 magnificent tracks. 60 magic minutes. Their finest hour. Sturdily melodic, hardbodied rock songs come at you relentlessly. You wait for the … Continue reading

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Album review : LIONVILLE – Supernatural

LIONVILLE 150 Supernatural image

Frontiers [Release date 15.11.24] Art for Art’s sake. Lionville’s Italian founder, writer, guitarist and all round mainman, Stefano Leonetti has brought in Swedish vocalist Alexander (Art Nation) Strandell to replace the departed Lars (Work Of Art) Safsund. Strandell has achieved … Continue reading

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EP review: PARADISE SINS – Desires

PARADISE SINS - Desires

www.facebook.com/paradisesinsband [Release date 06.12.24] Paradise Sins are a recent formation (2022) and look back to 1980s melodic hard rock for their inspiration. This five track EP is their second main calling card to date (following the previous EP ‘Untamed’) but … Continue reading

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