Yearly Archives: 2026

Album review: CLAIRE HAMILL BAND – A House Among The Trees

Posted on May 20, 2026 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 25.04.26] Claire Hamill, the grand dame of British folk, rock and prog, who you may well have never heard of releases her 12th solo album since 1971. There are not many female survivors from this period and certainly … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A House Among The Trees, acoustic, album, Claire Hamill, Claire Hamill Band, folk, folk rock, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, prog, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: CASSIDY PARIS – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 14 May 2026

Posted on May 19, 2026 by andynathan

A lot has happened to young Australian rocker Cassidy Paris in the 21 months since she was last at this venue. Last spring, days after I saw her supporting Harem Scarem, a UK tour suddenly collapsed amid distressing personal circumstances. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Adam Payne, Cassidy Paris, gig, melodic rock, Pete Newdeck, Powell Payne, Steve Janevski, The Cavern | Leave a comment

Album review : FAITH NYC – Love Is A Wish Away

Posted on May 19, 2026 by brianmc

Bandcamp [Release date : 15.05.26] Faith NYC is immensely talented singer/ writer/ bass player, Felice Rosser. “Felice Rosser brought her Detroit ears to punk, having been teethed on Motown. Reggae became a powerful influence too” (Rolling Stone/ New York Times … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Bandcamp, blues, Detroit, Faith NYC, Felice Rosser, Justin Adams, Love Is A Wish Away, New York, punk, rock'n'roll | Leave a comment

Album review : THE 5th DIMENSION – Let The Sunshine In – The Soul City and Bell Albums (6CD Boxset)

Posted on May 17, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 29.05.26] The 5th Dimension, five vocalists, three male, two female, burst onto the US music scene in 1966. Nobody comes from nowhere of course, no matter what the media headlines might say. Each one, Jimmy Davis, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Aquarius, Billy Davis, Fifth Dimension, Jimmy Webb. Laura Nyro, Let The Sunshine In, Marilyn McCoo, pop, review, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: VIRGINMARYS – Beyond The House of Fires

Posted on May 17, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 22.05.26] The Virginmarys new album is both new and old, in that is their reinterpretation of their most recent album, 2024’s ‘Beyond the House of Fires’. This time around the Virginmarys – Ally Dickaty and Danny Dolan … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, alternative, Beyond the House of Fires, indie, melodic, review, rock, Virginmarys | Leave a comment

Gig review: LUKE JAMES WILLIAMS – Wax and Beans, Bury, 15 May 2026

Posted on May 17, 2026 by jason

This is the second time I’ve been to this venue, and I would highly recommend it for anybody in the Bury/Rochdale/Heywood area. Get to see an artist in an intimate setting whilst drinking coffee or alcohol. The first time was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 15 May 2026, Bury, Col Anderson, gig, indie, Limes Hotel, Luke James Williams, melodic, poet, review, singer songwriter, Wax and Beans | Leave a comment

Single review: THE ROLLING STONES – In the Stars/Rough and Twisted

Posted on May 17, 2026 by jason

I went to a gig in a record shop and as I was waiting for the artist to come on, I spied the new Stones single In The Stars, so it was my duty to buy it wasn’t it. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged blues, blues rock, classic rock, In the Stars, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, review, rock, Rough and Twisted, single, The Rolling Stones | Leave a comment

Gig review: COLIN BLUNSTONE – The Sub Rooms, Stroud, 14 May 2026

Posted on May 15, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Colin Blunstone represents that rare and sadly dying breed of consummate performer, with six decades of trial and tribulation in the music industry. A real trooper. As Colin recounted tonight his period of chart activity with The Zombies was short … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 14 May 2026, classic rock, Colin Blunstone, gig, review, singer songwriter, Stroud, The Sub Rooms, The Zombies | Leave a comment

Album review: BEGGARS BLISS – S/t

Posted on May 14, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 22.05.26] Derby based Beggars Bliss formed in 2024, with a mantra of – “if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing.” Their line-up is Henry John (vocals, guitar), Milly Ayesha (keyboards, vocals), Dan Griffiths (bass, vocals) and Chris … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Beggars Bliss, blues rock, classic rock, debut, hard rock, review, self-titled | Leave a comment

Gig review: WILL WILDE – Thames Side Brewery, Staines-upon-Thames, 3 May 2026

Posted on May 12, 2026 by andynathan

Blues rock is a genre that rewards individual virtuosity, but 95 per cent of the time the star is a guitar hero. So Will Wilde stands out from the crowd with his chosen instrument being the harmonica. I’d been very … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Ben Maxwell, blues, blues rock, gig, harmonica, Mat Day, Russell Carr, Steve Rushton, Thames Side Brewery, Will Wilde | Leave a comment

Album review : ROBIN BECK – Living Proof

Posted on May 12, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 15.05.26] Despite releasing 11 albums, many of them just bristling with songs written by proven hit makers, Robin Beck has survived an absence of best selling music, beyond her debut single ‘The First Time’, in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Chris Lord Alge, Denis Ward, Frontiers Music, James Christian, Living Proof, melodic rock, modern, Robin Beck, Tommy Denander | Leave a comment

Album review: W.A.S.P. – s/t

Posted on May 10, 2026 by jason

Madfish [Release date 21.05.26] Record label Madfish have been working some of the early W.A.S.P. catalogue, including The Savage 7 CD boxset. Here is the band’s 1984 debut and in line with all the other Madfish releases I’ve encountered, it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Blackie Lawless, Chris Holmes, hard rock, metal, re-issue, review, self-titled, sleaze, W.A.S.P | Leave a comment

Album review : FRONTLINE – Rebirth

Posted on May 10, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 15.05.26] Calling your new album Rebirth, 20 years after your last release, seems quite an understatement. But still, Frontline wade back out confidently into melodic rock’s fast flowing waters. Many have attempted the same kind of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Christian Muhlroth, Frontiers, Frontline, melodic rock, Rebirth, review, Robert Bobel, Stephan Kammerer | Leave a comment

Gig review: CATS IN SPACE- Half Moon, Putney, London, 26 April 2026

Posted on May 9, 2026 by andynathan

In January 2016, having just released an album in ‘Too Many Gods’ and begun to attract attention for its seventies inspired, yet original, songwriting, Cats In Space made their live debut at the Half Moon at Putney, which I was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged acoustic, Andy Stewart, Cats In Space, Damien Edwards, gig, Greg Hart, melodic rock, Steevi Bacon | Leave a comment

Gig review: LIGHTNING THREADS – The Half Moon, Putney, 3 May 2026

Posted on May 8, 2026 by jason

The recently refurbished Half Moon welcomed a Sheffield based double header over the bank holiday weekend with headliners, Lightning Threads, backed up by The Fargo Railroad Co. Fargo are something else! Their light hearted but infectious take on Southern Country … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 3 May 2026, Albert King, blues, blues rock, gig, Half Moon, Lightning Threads, Putney, review, rock, The Fargo Railroad Co. | Leave a comment

Gig review: WINGS OF AOR FESTIVAL – Arbis, Norrkoping, Sweden, 24-25 April 2026

Posted on May 6, 2026 by andynathan

The status of Scandinavia as the spiritual home of melodic rock is reflected not just in the volume of bands there, but an increasing number of festivals dedicated to, or featuring a goodly number of, melodic acts. When a new … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Brian Spence, Brother Firetribe, Daytona, Easy Action, Emotional Fire, festival, Gathering of Kings, gig, Joe Lynn Turner, melodic rock, One Desire, Perfect Plan, Russ Ballard, Wings of AOR | Leave a comment

Album review : VON GROOVE – Born To Rock

Posted on May 6, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 15.05.26] There can be few more explosive opening tracks than Von Groove’s ‘Once Is Not Enough’ from their self titled debut, 1992. 30 years later : they’ve got the band back together – Michael Shotton, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Def Leppard, Frontiers, hard rock, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, M'laden, Matthew Gerrard, metal, Michael Shotton, Once is Not Enough, review, Von Groove | Leave a comment

Single review: PARKER BARROW – Blinded

Posted on May 4, 2026 by jason

Blinded is taken from Parker Barrow’s forthcoming album Hold The Mash, and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were listening to a new Stones single with the opening riff, as guitarist Alex Bender says the riff was given life as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Blinded, blues, blues rock, hard rock, Hold the Mash, Parker Barrow, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, single | Leave a comment

Album review : JOHN CORABI – New Day

Posted on May 2, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 24.04.26] John Corabi is the ex man…ex Motley Crue, ex Ratt, ex Brides Of Destruction but not yet ex-frontman of The Dead Daisies, a band with a greater membership turnover than Deep Purple. There’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dead daisies, Frontiers Music, Joe Walsh, John Corabi, Marti Frederiksen, Motley Crue, New Day, Paul Taylor, Ratt, review, Richard Fortus, The Eagles | Leave a comment

Album review: LADY MAISERY AND JIMMY ALDRIDGE & SID GOLDSMITH – Wakefire

Posted on April 28, 2026 by jason

Lady Maisery and Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith - Wakefire: A Summer Album

Bandcamp [Release date 01.05.26] After several years delighting audiences with their wintertime project Awake Arise, the folk supergroup of Lady Maisery (Hannah James, Rowan Rheingans & Hazel Askew) and Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith, have joined forces again to celebrate … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, folk, Hazel Askew, Jimmy Aldridge, Lady Maisery. Hannah James, May Day, review, Rowan Rheingans, Sid Goldsmith, Summer, traditional music, Wakefire | Leave a comment

News: SKINDRED, THE ROLLING STONES, BURNING ROPE (May 2026)

Posted on April 28, 2026 by jason

Accept celebrate 50 years with a new release, ‘Teutonic Titans 1976–2026‘ due on September 4 via Napalm Records. Guests on the album include Kirk Hammett, Rob Halford, Tobias Forge, KK Downing, Chris Jericho and more. The Alarm’s final album, ‘Transformation’, originally scheduled … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Burning Rope, folk, gigs, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, Skindred, special editions, The Rolling Stones, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review : DEGREED – Curtain Calls

Posted on April 28, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 24.04.26] Eighth full length album from respected Swedish Hard Rock band, Degreed…Robin Eriksson, Mats Eriksson, Mikael Blanc and Daniel Johansson. Their sound is impossible to categorise. Is it toughened up AOR, melodic hard rock, metallised hard rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Curtain Calls, Degreed, Frontiers Music, hard rock, Mats Eriksson, review, Robin Eriksson, Swedish | Leave a comment

Album review: HARDLINE – Shout

Posted on April 27, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 17.04.26] It’s some 34 years since Hardline’s classic album ‘Double Eclipse’ with a line-up that boasted Neal Schon in its ranks. Whilst it might have seemed like a last gasp for hair metal in 1992, Hardline’s frontman … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Hardline, Johnny Gioeli, melodic hard rock, melodic rock, review, shout | Leave a comment

Album review: LUKE JAMES WILLIAMS – Limes Hotel

Posted on April 27, 2026 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 17.04.26] Some people want to be Kiss, some people Queen, some, Kyle Minogue Marvin Gaye or Britney Spears, the list is endless, fame, fortune and formula with capitol F’s .But some people have no other choice than … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Billy Bragg, James Taylor, Limes Hotel, Luke James Williams, melodic, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review : GENERATION RADIO – Take 2

Posted on April 22, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date: 24.04.26] “In the beginning of 2020, Generation Radio came together with the intent to form a band with a purpose — to bring classic 1980s rock back to life.” So says the band’s website. Formed by … Continue reading →