Yearly Archives: 2024

Gig review: THE VAN MORRISON ALUMNI BAND – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 25 November 2024

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Few artists have gained the stature of Van Morrison, the Belfast born troubadour a true legend whose blend of soul, jazz, blues and rock is oft imitated but seldom bettered. Whilst his recorded output has never been less than industrious … Continue reading

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Album review: MOGGS MOTEL – Moggs Motel

Album review: MOGGS MOTEL – Moggs Motel

Steamhammer/SPV [Release date: 06.09.24] When frontman Phil Mogg called a halt to UFO’s Last Orders European tour in 2022 on Doctor Doctor’s orders, I thought that was the end of the road. I was disappointed, not only because I was … Continue reading

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Album review : LAZY DAYS – The British Progressive Sounds of 1975 (3-CD set)

LAZY 150 DAYS Prog image

Cherry Red [Release date : 06.12.24] 1975: all around the UK, a huge variety of rock and pop genres, sub genres, splinter groups and so forth were fighting it out for recognition, and ultimately, sales. The summer of love was … Continue reading

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Single review : AUDIO 54 – Good To Me

Audio 54 - Good To Me

Bandcamp [Release date : 19.10.24] ‘Good To Me’ is the latest stand alone groundbreaking single release from the Audio 54 stable. Leicester born singer, songwriter and musician Craig Marshall has quietly, but confidently emerged as an innovative producer who fashions … Continue reading

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Gig review: MASSIVE WAGONS – SWG3, Glasgow, 27 November 2024

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Wednesday nights are not renowned as party nights, but with Massive Wagons back in town a healthy crowd gathered in SWG3 to rock along with the band that always get the party started. With a full on night of thrash … Continue reading

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Album review: BRAZEN ABBOT : Eye Of The Storm and Bad Religion

BRAZEN 150 ABBOT Eye and Bad image

Frontiers [Release date : 13.12.24] Prior to his Rock Opera project, Nostradamus (2001), classically trained Bulgarian multi-instrumentalist, Nikolo Kotzev had founded Brazen Abbot. The band’s second and third releases, Eye Of The Storm (1996) and Bad Religion (1997), have now … Continue reading

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Album review: CORY MARKS – Sorry For Nothing

Cory Marka

Century Media [Release date 06.12.24] Album number three from Cory Marks, with his last album, 2020’s ‘Who I  Am’, making the UK and Australian country charts, plus number 16 in the album charts in his native Canada. The single of … Continue reading

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News: AVANTASIA, GOTTHARD, MICKEY JUPP (December 2024)

GLENN HUGHES- Electric Ballroom, London, 25 October 2023

Airforce (who feature former Iron Maiden guitarist Doug Sampson) release their new album ‘Acts of Madness’ on February 21 through ROAR Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks release a CD/DVD package ‘Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks Live- Perpetual Change’ … Continue reading

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Album review: ELECTRIC TEMPLE – High Voltage Salvation

ELECTRIC TEMPLE - High Voltage Salvation

Eonian Records [Release date 06.12.24 ] An interesting trend in recent years has been for vocalist/frontmen to spread their largesse, perhaps due to economic as much as creative reasons. So, for example, we have that arch moonlighter Ronnie Romero in … Continue reading

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Feature: Box Sets are for life, not just for Christmas…(December 2024)

BLACK SABBATH - Anno Domini 1989-1995

The reissues and recycling still come thick and fast, not least in the unashamed “reissue” of vinyl – another income stream for the record labels designed to extract more wedge from our hard-pressed wallets. Here is our round-up of recommended … Continue reading

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Album review : TAK MATSUMOTO GROUP – TMG II

TAK TMGII 150

Frontiers [Release date : 06.12.24] Through one of those close encounters you read about, Tak Matsumoto, guitarist and founder of leading Japanese rock band, B’z met up with Jack (Night Ranger) Blades and Eric (Mr Big) Martin in LA, in … Continue reading

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Album review : POWELL PAYNE – Voila

POWELL150  PAYNE Image

Frontiers [Release date 6.12.24] There really should have been some kind of fanfare, a blaze of publicity, to accompany the release of Voila, debut album from Adam Payne, ex Airrace, and Mark Powell, ex Psycho Kiss. In this post-AOR age, … Continue reading

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Single review: SPLEEN – Making Plans For Nigel

spleen

YouTube Spleen have been around since 2019 and now comprises Samuele Riccucci on guitar and vocals, Matteo Innocenti on drums and backing vocals, Olmo Fantini on guitar and backing vocals, and Alberto Sanna on bass. A brave move to cover … Continue reading

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Gig review: ANTHRAX – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 November 2024

Gig review: ANTHRAX – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 November 2024

It’s been a while. 35 years in fact, since I last saw Anthrax. March 1989 at this very venue. I had to look it up, but I needn’t have bothered. During a mid-set chat, Scott Ian listed all the times … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STONE CHERRY – Wembley Arena, London, 23 November 2024

BLACK STONE CHERRY- Wembley Arena, London, 23 November 2024

As they mentioned from the stage, Black Stone Cherry have been on tour for the best part of two years, touring their latest album ‘Screaming At The Sky’. Seemingly their favourite territory, the UK has seen them no less than … Continue reading

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Gig review: SQUEEZE – Roundhouse, London, 22 November 2024

SQUEEZE- Roundhouse, London, 22 November 2024

It’s a tribute to the virtue of good songwriting and refusing to follow fashion that Squeeze have joined the select group of bands to be celebrating their 50th birthday (albeit with a few breaks apart). And yet, as Glenn Tilbrook … Continue reading

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Album review : RUTHLESS BLUES – Nice Work

RUTHLESS BLUES - Nice Work

Bandcamp  [Release date 01.11.24] ‘Nice Work’ is an aptly titled album for a band who always managed to convey their natural exuberance in a straight forward mix of old school rock and blues. This is Ruthless Blues first studio album … Continue reading

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Feature: PHIL VINCENT’s Baker’s Dozen

PHIL VINCENT – Master of Deception

A Baker’s 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 of two … Continue reading

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Album review: PHIL VINCENT – Master of Deception

PHIL VINCENT – Master of Deception

Bandcamp [Release date 22.11.24] This is Phil Vincent’s 26th solo album! That is excluding the various bands he appears with like D’Ercole and Tragik. Mastered again by Jacob Hansen (who certainly seems to have added some punch to last few … Continue reading

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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

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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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