Yearly Archives: 2026

Album review : ODDLAND – Unilluminate To Illuminate

Posted on August 14, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 21.08.26] At last, after 3 albums at the fringes, Oddland is now pushing the boundaries of structure and tone to the outer edges of Prog Metal. It’s a scary place to be if you can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Oddland, Pain of Salvation, prog metal, review, Soan, Unilluminate To Illuminate | Leave a comment

Album review: THE DEVIL WEARS NADA – In Lust We Thrust

Posted on August 14, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Eonian Records [Release date 10.07.26] This album is a throwback to the classic sounds of 1980s melodic rock and even the opening piece is a bit of retro radio, not dissimilar to something you might hear in Grand Theft Auto. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, In Lust We Thrust, melodic rock, review, The Devil Wears Nada | Leave a comment

Album review: JACK BROWNING – Painted Skies

Posted on August 13, 2026 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 16.09.26] Is this is only the second album from Jack Browning, I feel like I’ve been following this dude for years on Facebook, and the maturity in the songwriting is way beyond a second album. He has been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, blues, guitarist, Jack Browning, Painted Skies, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review : TOKYO BLADE – Hoist The Colours High

Posted on August 13, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 21.08.26] The unquenchable flame that is Tokyo Blade is about to release its 14th studio album in a career lasting the best part of 50 years. Hows that for durability? Hoist The Colours High is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Marsh, Andy Boulton, Hoist The Colours High, NWOBHM, review, Time Is The Fire, Tokyo Blade | Leave a comment

Gig review: MALMO MELODIC- Plan B, Malmo, Sweden, 24-26 July 2026

Posted on August 12, 2026 by andynathan

Now in its third year, Malmo Melodic continues to grow in scale and stake a claim to be the world capital of the melodic rock community for one weekend. There were 30 countries represented, once again with the United Kingdom … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Alicate, Alien, AOR, Art Nation, Boulevard, Brother Firetribe, Caught in Action, Constancia, Creye, Eclipse, Emotional Fire, festival, Fighter V, gig, Hardline, Malmo Melodic, melodic rock, Michael Bormann’s Jaded Hard, Midnite City, Mother Mersy, Proud, Saffire, Sarayasign, Tyketto, White Widdow, Wig Wam | Leave a comment

Album review: NICOLE ATKINS – Drama

Posted on August 9, 2026 by jason

Sun Records/ Wicked Games Records [Release date 18.09.26] Nicole Atkins returns with her first all-new album in over six years. The album came together at the behest of her close friend and touring partner Chris Isaak, who signed her to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chris Issak, country, Drama, Nicole Atkins, pop, review, singer songwriter, Wilco | Leave a comment

Album review: TEN YEARS AFTER – Cricklewood Green (Deluxe Edition)

Posted on August 9, 2026 by jason

Chrysalis [Release date 28.08.26] Ten Years After are a British blues rock group who really don’t get enough love. After several breaks, reunions and line-up changes, they’re still going strong, after their formation in the mid 60s. With their roots … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Alvin Lee, classic album, classic rock, Cricklewood Green, deluxe edition, reissue, review, rock, Ten Years After | Leave a comment

Album review: ALBERT BOUCHARD – Imaginos IV: Rhyme of the Star Clock

Posted on August 6, 2026 by jason

Deko Entertainment [Release date 25.09.26] The story so far… In 1981, Albert Bouchard was fired, mid-tour, from Blue Öyster Cult, the band he helped to form back in the 1960s. His immediate response was to hook up with the band’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Albert Bouchard, album, Blue Coupe, Blue Oyster Cult, BOC, classic rock, Imaginos, Imaginos IV: Rhyme of the Star Clock, Joe Bouchard, review, rock, Sandy Pearlman, SF | Leave a comment

Gig review: ERIC JOHNSON – Lytham Lowther Pavilion, 4 August 2026

Posted on August 6, 2026 by jason

Joined by Nashville’s Daniel Kimbro on bass and ex-Joe Bonamassa and Chaka Khan, Tal Bergman on drums, Eric Johnson was playing the last date of a five week tour, taking in Europe and the UK. The great thing about catching … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 4 August 2026, blues, Eric Johnson, gig, guitarist, Lytham Lowther Pavilion, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: EVA UNDER FIRE – Villainous

Posted on August 3, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Better Noise Music [Release date 10.07.26] The female-fronted pop metal genre is a fairly crowded space these days. We have – for example – Ad Infinitum (Switzerland), Elysion (Greece) and not forgetting the trailblazers who are sounding as good as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Eva Under Fire, metal, pop metal, review, Villainous | Leave a comment

Gig review: MAID OF STONE FESTIVAL- Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent, 17-19 July 2026

Posted on August 3, 2026 by andynathan

Now in its fourth year, Maid of Stone has in a short space of time established itself as one of the very best festivals, ranking alongside the longer running Steelhouse and Stonedead for mid-sized events catering for a classic rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged A Thousand Horses, Aethoria, Anchor Lane, Anthony Gomes, Battle Born, Cassidy Paris, Chez Kane, classic rock, Crow Black Chicken, Danko Jones, Devere, Doro, festival, FM, gig, GIRLSCHOOL, Hannah Wicklund, Haxan, Heavy Pettin', Kit Trigg, LN, Maid of Stone, Morganway, Phil Campbell's Bastard Sons, Queen Horizon, Rattlesnakes, Regional One, Sam Morrow, Saxon, Silverroller, Square Wild, The Almighty, the New Roses, The Temperance Movement, The Virginmarys, the Wildhearts, Tuk Smith and The Restless Hearts, Untamed Silence, Uriah Heep, Velvet Rush, Xander and the Peace Pirates | Leave a comment

Album review: EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – Works Live

Posted on August 2, 2026 by jason

BMG [Release date 24.07.26] Recorded in Montreal, Canada in 1977, this live album was originally released in 1979 as the single LP ‘In Concert’ it was originally intended to be a double album, but that idea was kiboshed by the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Carl Palmer, classic rock, ELP. Emerson Lake & Palmer, Greg Lake, Keith Emerson, prog, prog rock, review, Works Live | Leave a comment

Album review: LALU : A Mythmaker’s Demise

Posted on August 2, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 31.07.26] Looks like Progrock supremo, Vivien Lalu’s got the band back together for his fifth album.In fact today’s Lalu is a lot like yesterday’s Lalu, both in compliment and style, with Mekong Delta’s Martin LeMar … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Frontiers Music, Joop Wolters, Martin LeMar, progrock, review, Simon Philips, Vivien Lalu | Leave a comment

Album review: PAULIE BOY BLUES – Back from the Dead Live in Brooklyn New York

Posted on July 30, 2026 by jason

Facebook Paulie Boy is on a mission to spread the blues, but is this album of six songs recorded rough, ready and live, the blues, or is it psychedelic rock? It’s certainly channelling Hendrix, and it’s certainly covering classic blues … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Back from the Dead Live in Brooklyn New York, blues, blues rock, guitarist, Jimi Hendrix, Paulie Boy Blues, review | Leave a comment

Album review: OSIRIS – Within A Dream

Posted on July 29, 2026 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 14.08.26] Osiris is an all-Bahraini prog rock band founded in 1980 by brothers Mohamed Alsadeqi (guitars, vocals) and Nabil Alsadeqi (drums, percussion). They have been active ever since, bar a hiatus between 1993 and 2000. Osiris … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bahrain, Camel, Clive Nolan, Escape Music, melodic, OSIRIS, prog, prog rock, progressive, review, Within A Dream | Leave a comment

Album review : ICONIC – II

Posted on July 29, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 31.07.26] Long haired, MTV look rock bands are well and truly back in fashion, in an under the mainstream radar kind of way. Cue Iconic. Recruited from headline bands Stryper, Whitesnake, Blue Murder, and the … Continue reading →

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Album review: BYWATER CALL – Broken Souvenirs

Posted on July 28, 2026 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 29.07.26] Diversity is definitely this Bywater Call’s strength. From Al Green type soul to stark americana acoustic Davey Graham style guitar picking with a vocal, to almost goth style moods, and the glue sticking this all together … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Al Green, album, Americana, blues, Broken Souvenirs, Bywater Call, Meghan Parnell, review, rock, soul | Leave a comment

Album review : LEMMING PROJECT : Hate and Extinction, 2 CD Edition

Posted on July 28, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 31.07.26] If you consider the Death Metal genre to be defined by heavily distorted, low-tuned guitars, guttural vocals, and fast blast-beats, then Lemming Project is the archetype. This is a band – Thomas Jasjke, Torsten … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Pure Metal/Album reviews, Reissues | Leave a comment

Single review: THE COMMONERS – Runnin’ Blind

Posted on July 28, 2026 by jason

Website Orange is the new black, forty is the new thirty, The Commoners are the new Black Crowes, with ear worm chorus’s. It grabs you with a descending guitar riff whilst another clashes with power chords till the organ swirls … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged blues rock, review, rock, Runnin' Blind, single, The Black Crowes, the Commoners, Tour | Leave a comment

News: PALLAS, MINISTRY, QUEEN (August 2026)

Posted on July 27, 2026 by jason

Angelus Apatrida have signed with Napalm Records and release an EP ‘The Reckoning’ on November 19. Bangalore Choir release ‘Payload’ via El Puerto Records on November 6. The Beatles release a box set (4CD/5LP) of their ‘Rubber Soul’ album on … 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, RIP | Tagged AOR, blues, folk, gigs, melodic rock, metal, Ministry, news, Pallas, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates | Leave a comment

Gig review: PARKER BARROW – Greystones, Sheffield, 22 July 2026

Posted on July 26, 2026 by jason

It couldn’t be any less than five stars, it really couldn’t. Supported by Georgia Nevada from Cambridge, who came over as a coquettish Dolly Parton type figure. She wasn’t rough enough round the edges for my liking, but a large … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 22 July 2026, blues, blues rock, Georgia Nevada, gig, Greystones, Parker Barrow, review, rock, Sheffield, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: WINTER IN EDEN – Never Untold

Posted on July 24, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Explore Rights Management/Cherry Red [Release date 03.07.26] We’ve commented previously that this band is not exactly prolific and, sadly, we’re not aware of any live shows either. This probably says more about the state of music and opportunities to gain … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Never Untold, Progressive Rock, review, symphonic metal, Winter In Eden | Leave a comment

Album review : MANIA – Changing Times (CD Edition)

Posted on July 23, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 24.07.26] German Speed / Power Metal Band, Mania released one EP, Wizard Of The Lost Kingdom (which is in no way as corny as the title suggests), and one full length album, the cult classic, Changing … Continue reading →

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Single review: WOOD BURNT RED – Fire Me Up

Posted on July 21, 2026 by jason

Facebook Now we’re talking – a UK southern rock band with country and Americana influences. ‘Fire Me Up’ is a song about resilience, fighting in the face of adversity, flipping the bird to your doubters. It hits you with a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Americana, country rock, Fire Me Up, review, rock, single, southern rock, Wood Burnt Red | Leave a comment

Album review: BILLY MORRISON – Hollow

Posted on July 21, 2026 by jason

TLG/ZOID/Virgin Music Group [Release date 07.08.26] Billy Idol’s rhythm guitarist Billy Morrison has been carving out a successful solo career, including hit singles on the US mainstream rock charts with Ozzy Osbourne on ‘Crack Cocaine’, and again with Ozzy and … Continue reading →