Author Archives: brianmc

Album review : ALTERIUM – Of War And Flames

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AFM Records [Release date : 08.03.24] Alterium is a new Italian Symphonic Metal quintet led by Nicoletta Rosellini (ex. Kalidia), a talented artist who juggles several media related careers. She also fronts Goth Metal band, Walk In The Darkness. Of … Continue reading

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Album review : TURBULENCE – Binary Dream

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Frontiers [Release date: 08.03.24] Third album from cutting edge Lebanese Progressive Metal band, Turbulence. Turbulence by name… this truly is a Prog Metal album for genre afficionados. We said that the band’s 2023 Frontiers debut, Frontal was “a defiantly bold … Continue reading

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Album review : THE END MACHINE – The Quantum Phase

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Frontiers [Release date: 08.03.24] Third album from George Lynch’s “new” band. (Interesting to note that Lynch has “retired” the Lynch Mob band name, admitting that the play on his surname was always “problematic,” but is now “inexcusable” because of its … Continue reading

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Album review : ALBERT HAMMOND – Body Of Work

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earMusic [Release Date : 01.03.24] There just can’t be any Classic Rock artist who can outdo prolific hit writer, Albert Hammond’s “been there, done that, got the Oscar/Grammy/Platinum Disc…” track record. And when you include the fact he wrote the … Continue reading

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Album review : AMIGO THE DEVIL – Yours Until The War Is Over

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Liars Club/Regime Music [Release date : 23.02.24] Interviewed by Rolling Stone magazine just prior to the release of his 2021 album, Born Against (a relevant and revealing play on words), Danny Kiranos explained his love of the music of Leonard Cohen … Continue reading

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Album review : CLIMIE FISHER – Coming In For The Kill (4CD Boxset)

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Cherry Red [Release date 23.02.24] Climie Fisher’s 1988 hit single ‘Love Changes Everything”, taken from their debut album, truly was a pop classic. Still is. None of the songs on Coming In For The Kill replicated its considerable chart success. … Continue reading

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Album review : SMOKING SNAKES – Danger Zone

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Frontiers [Release date : 16.02.24] Swedish band, Smoking Snakes, release their debut album, Danger Zone this month. The banal band name and cliched album title will surely raise a wry smile on the face of even the most ardent genre … Continue reading

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Album review : HONEYMOON SUITE – Alive

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Frontiers [Release Date : 16.02.24] They are indeed, performing here in the instantly recognisable melodic style that defined their key albums. There’s none of the artificial complexity that some bands seem to think is necessary as they move into the … Continue reading

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Album review : NEW GUITARS IN TOWN Power Pop 1978-82 (3 CD Set)

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Cherry Red [Release date: 16.02.24] By the late seventies, a genre that had blossomed in the Sixties was rediscovered by a new generation of teenagers. And so the legacy of the Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Who and others skipped … Continue reading

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Album review : PROCOL HARUM – Shine On Brightly (Vinyl Remaster)

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Cherry Red [Release date : 23.02.23] Procol Harum’s second album, originally released in 1968. This cutting edge remaster, transferred to 12″ vinyl, takes us into the studio, listening to the recording sessions, hearing each note, each sound, near or far, … Continue reading

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Album review : SONS OF LIBERTY – The Detail Is In The Devil

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Pete Feenstra chatted to Fred Hale, founder member and guitarist with Sons Of Liberty, for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.  First broadcast 1 September 2024. Independent [Release date : 23.02.24] This is the Sons of Liberty’s third album in six … Continue reading

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Album review : KMFDM – Let Go

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Metropolis Records [Release date : 02.02.24] KMFDM’s 23rd album is a mixed bag of sights and sounds, each one contributing to a predominant image of a patchwork musical quilt. Each track is an auditory outcry, all cleverly stitched together in … Continue reading

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Album review: PATTERNS ON THE WINDOW – The British Progressive Pop Sounds Of 1974 (3 CD Boxset)

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Grapefruit (Cherry Red) [Release date : 16.02.24] 1974. The UK seemed to be locked into an endless cycle of political and economic crises. The 3 day week. Fuel shortages, and an unheralded post war recession in full swing. Hardly a … Continue reading

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Album review : ALCATRAZZ – Rock Justice : The Complete Recordings 1983-1986

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Cherry Red [Release date : 26.01.24] The Yngwie Malmsteen, Graham Bonnet, Jimmy Waldo writing team on debut album No Parole From Rock’n’Roll (1983) was much more than the sum of the parts. Hard rock melodramas, ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Hiroshima Mon … Continue reading

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Single review : KMFDM – Let Go

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Metropolis Records [Release date : 12.01.24] For some musicians, a band name that describes their political aspirations takes precedent over commerciality. And so in 1984 Sascha Konietsko’s “performance art project” became Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid, quickly abbreviated to KMFDM. … Continue reading

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Album review : MAMA’S BOYS – Runaway Dreams 1980-92 (5 CD boxset)

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Cherry Red [Release date : 26.01.24] CD1: Official Bootleg (1980) CD2: Plug It In (1982) CD3: Turn It Up (1984) CD4: Relativity (1992) CD5: Singles, B Sides and Rarities Three boys from Co. Fermanagh conquer the world. Well no, it … Continue reading

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Album review: DYMYTRY – Five Angry Men

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AFM Records [Release date : 26.01.24] Second English language album from Czech Power Metal band, Dymytry, (their sixth overall). The arrival of vocalist, Alen Lubic has made all the difference in creating an international appeal. Musically, this new album is … Continue reading

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Singles review: NIGHTMARE, ALTERIUM

AFM Records [Release date : 12.01.24] Formed in 1979, Power Metal French band, Nightmare have been worshipping the mighty riff for 11 albums now. Ex Songbird frontwoman, Barbara Mogore, is the band’s new vocalist, subsequently showing off her vocal versatility on a … Continue reading

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Album review: GOTUS – Gotus

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Frontiers [Release date: 19.01.24] Debut album from Gotus, an international rock/metal collective. That said, it doesn’t seem quite right calling an album recorded by ex Krokus and ex Gotthard musicians, fronted by an increasingly famous vocalist, a “debut”. (and personally … Continue reading

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Album review: JIM CAPALDI – The Outside Years (4 CD Boxset)

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Cherry Red [Release date : 26.01.24] CD1: Living On The Outside (2001) CD2: Poor Boy Blue (2004) CD3: 35 bonus tracks over 2 CDs, most of them unreleased until now. CD4: ditto The late Jim Capaldi, most famously a member … Continue reading

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Album review : GRAND – Second To None

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Frontiers [Release date: 19.01.24] With the DNA of eighties AOR coursing through its veins, Swedish band, Grand compete with outfits like Wigelius, Eclipse, HEAT and WET in recreating the genre’s past glories in a post Melodic Rock world. On their … Continue reading

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Album review: METALITE – Expedition One

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AFM Records [Release date 19.01.24] Is this 15 track, high concept sci-fi metal album meant to be fun? Because it most certainly is. Not funny, but fun. It’s high energy, as well as high concept. It’s got a slick, sophisticated, … Continue reading

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Album review: THE LONG RYDERS – Native Sons Expanded 3 CD Edition

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Cherry Red [Release Date: 19.01.24] Since its 1984 debut, The Long Ryders’ album, Native Sons has been regularly lauded by the music press. The album’s fusion of Garage, Folk and Country Rock has commonly drawn praise from high profile publications … Continue reading

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Album review: THE GRANDMASTER – Black Sun

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Frontiers Music [Release date: 12.01.24] For The Grandmaster’s second album, mainman, guitarist and Edguy co-founder, Jens Ludwig has recruited ex Fate vocalist, Peer Johansson. Surprisingly, given the accessibility of the material they created in previous employment, much of Black Sun … Continue reading

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Album review : NIGHT RANGER – Dawn Patrol and Midnight Madness (Reissues/Remasters)

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Rock Candy Records [Release date : 27.10.23] Two more Night Ranger reissues from the house of remasters. The band’s secret weapons are evident from the off on Dawn Patrol (1982), the debut album. In Kelly Keaggy and Jack Blades they … Continue reading

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