Author Archives: brianmc

Album review : RISEN ATLANTIS feat: FRANK BECK – Power To The Past

Posted on September 24, 2025 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release Date : 26.09.25] Singer, Frank Beck, touring sideman with Kai Hansen’s Gamma Ray for many years, now gets his solo opportunity. Risen Atlantis is the brainchild of Alessandro Del Vecchio, writer, producer, musician, commonly associated with Frontiers … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Alessandro Delvecchio, Brett Jones, Frank Beck, Frontiers, Gamma Ray, Kai Hansen, power metal, Power To The Past, review, Risen Atlantis, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review : MIKE TRAMP – The Songs Of White Lion Vol III

Posted on September 22, 2025 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 19.09.25] Few musical artists get the chance to rerecord their old material. Still fewer improve upon the originals. Mike Tramp continues to claim – clearly very sincerely – that he is surprised to have got … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Claus Langeskov, Frontiers, Marcus Nand, melodic rock, Mike Tramp, Morten Hellborn, review, Vita Bratta, White Lion | Leave a comment

Album review : PRIDE & JOY ANTHOLOGY – 10 Years Of Pride & Joy

Posted on September 21, 2025 by brianmc

Pride&Joy [Release date : 19.09.25] The Pride & Joy label is celebrating ten years active in the world of rock and metal. Founder and CEO Birgitt Schwanke has created a bijou music business that just grows and grows. The 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alien, Kenny Loggins, Midnite City, Mikael Erlandsson, Nationwide, Oliver Hartmann, Osukaru, Pride&Joy, Steve Perry | Leave a comment

Album review : BEBOP DELUXE – The Albums 1976-78 (3 CD set)

Posted on September 20, 2025 by brianmc

Esoteric Music [Release date : 26.09.25] Nowadays, founder, guitarist, writer and driving force behind the band Be Bop Deluxe, Bill Nelson, is not for looking in the rear view mirror, so it’s good that Cherry Red offshoot, Esoteric is doing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Bebop Deluxe, Bill Nelson, Drastic Plastic, Live! In The Air Age, Modern Music, review | Leave a comment

Album review : THE BANGLES : Watching The Sky (4 CD Boxset)

Posted on September 17, 2025 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 26.09.25] The title of this Bangles’ boxset, Watching The Sky, is taken from their third (and at the time, assumed to be their last) album, titled Everything, released in 1988. CD1 : All Over The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Billy Steinberg, boxset, Eternal Flame, Manic Monday, Prince, review, The Bangles, Tom Kelly, Walk Like An Egyptian, Watching The Sky | Leave a comment

Album review : FANNY – Rock’n'Roll Survivors (Remastered and Expanded 2 CD Edition)

Posted on September 15, 2025 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 19.09.25] We reviewed Fanny’s first 4 studio albums (as a boxset) last year. Their fifth and last album, released in 1974, was called Rock’n’Roll Survivors. Aptly named. This new, 2 CD version has been expanded and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 1974, Brie Brandt, Fanny, Holland & Dozier, Ike Turner, Jean Millington. Nicky Barclay, Lennon & McCartney, Live Rock Opera, Patti Quatro, Rock'n'Roll Survivors, Whiskey A-Go-Go | Leave a comment

Album review : CARL BALDASSARRE – Deep Grooves

Posted on September 12, 2025 by brianmc

CB Music [Release date : 12.09.25] You have to admire Carl Baldassarre’s honesty for treating this self produced album as an academic exercise rather than a labour of love, although love of music of whatever stripe is clearly his motivation. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Carl Baldassarre, funk, Jacob Dupre, Kool and the Gang, Nick D’Virgilio, review, Sly Stone, soul, Stevie Wonder | Leave a comment

Album review : THE SWITCH – No Way Out

Posted on September 6, 2025 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 12.08.25] It’s in some way inspiring to hear a band embracing the past wholeheartedly. Pretty well everywhere you scratch the paint on No Way Out, you’ll find the 1980s underneath. The Switch was formed by identical twin … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Bobby John, Cruzh, Denis Butabi Borg, James Martin, melodic rock, Nitrate, review, The Switch, Tom Martin, Vega | Leave a comment

Album review : JOE MEEK – A Curious Mind (3 CD Boxset)

Posted on August 27, 2025 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 29.08.25] Anyone in anyway familiar with the story of legendary British Music producer, Joe Meek, will know that he cut his electronics’ teeth in the 1950s, operating and maintaining the complexities of the RAF’s radar equipment. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Curious Mind, Edgar Varese, Heinz, Joe Meek, John Leyton, Lord Sutch, Mike Berry, review, Space, Telstar, Tornadoes | Leave a comment

Album review : THE LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY – Ocean Drive 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (4 CD boxset)

Posted on August 26, 2025 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 29.08.25] A more than interesting remaster from pop soul duo, the Lighthouse Family. This 4 CD set comprises their debut album, the almost 2 million selling Ocean Drive, plus 3 CDs of remixes. More on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged California, Lifted, Lighthouse Family, Newcastle, Ocean Drive, Paul Tucker, Pop soul, review, Tunde Baiyewu | Leave a comment

Album review : UNEN – Forever Winter

Posted on August 25, 2025 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 29.08.25] Broadly speaking, in English, the Finnish word “Unen” means “We stand united”. No surprise really. Arriving at a definitive line-up has taken time, and you could almost hear a joint sigh of relief from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Evanescence, Finnish, Frontiers Music, melodic metal, review, Stina Girs, symphonic rock, Unen | Leave a comment

Album review : RISING STEEL – Legion Of The Grave

Posted on August 23, 2025 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 29.08.25] Third full studio album on the Frontiers’ label from French metallers, Rising Steel, who remain a solid line up. Steel Zard – drums, Tony Steel – guitar, Steff Leadmaster – lead guitar , Stone … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged French, heavy metal, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Legion Of The Grave, review, Rising Steel, Saxon, thrash metal | Leave a comment

Album review : SWEET FREEDOM – Blind Leading The Blind

Posted on August 18, 2025 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 29.08.25] Swedish band Sweet Freedom is the real deal. Head and shoulders above most others walking the Classic Rock road nowadays (even if occasionally going off tangentially). The band: founder member Jorgen Schelander’s background is in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged album, Blind Leading The Blind, classic rock, Deep Purple, Frontiers, Jorgen Schelander, Matti Alfonzetti, prog, review, Swedish | Leave a comment

Album review – WHEN WILL THEY EVER LEARN : Story Of US Folk Music 1963-69

Posted on August 15, 2025 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 29.08.25] The transition of folk music into chart-aimed rock and pop accelerated through the sixties, especially in the USA. This 4 CD set is cleverly constructed to show that evolution, disc by disc. So, on Disc … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged boxset, Dylan, folk music, folk rock, Joan Baez, Judy Henske, review, Simon and Garfunkel, sixties, The Byrds, USA | Leave a comment

Album review : CROWNE – Wonderland

Posted on August 13, 2025 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 22.08.25] Wonderland is Crowne’s third album. Here’s what we said about the band’s second album, Operation Phoenix (2023): “This is grab you by the lapels, get right in your face melodic rock. Macho, slick, streamlined.” This one … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alexander Strandell, Art Nation, Christial Lundqvist, Crowne, Dynazty, Europe, H.E.A.T., John Leven, Jona Tee, Love Magnusson, melodic hard rock, review, supergroup, The Poodles | Leave a comment

Album review : ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL: The UK Pop Explosion 1967-69

Posted on August 13, 2025 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 22.08.25] All Things Bright And Beautiful comprises of 82 tracks and 3 CDs. Several of the songs in the boxset were used to launch the first hour of the BBC’s pop music flagship, Radio One, in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Price, album, All Things Bright And Beautiful: The UK Pop Explosion 1967-69, Amen Corner, box set, Freddy Mercury, Love Affair, Marmalade, Peter Frampton, review, The Foundations, The Herd, The Hollies, The Move | Leave a comment

Album review : UFO – Misdemeanour Live At The Oxford Apollo 1985 (CD+DVD)

Posted on August 8, 2025 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 22.08.25] The early eighties were a turbulent time for UFO. Judging by the band’s poorly received Making Contact album in 1982, it looked like they were a spent force. Members left, most notably, Pete Way … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, CD and DVD, eighties, hard rock, Misdemeanour Live, Oxford Apollo, Phil Mogg, review, Tommy McLendon | Leave a comment

Album review : HELLOWEEN – Giants And Monsters

Posted on August 6, 2025 by brianmc

Reigning Phoenix Music [Release date 29.08.25] The Magnificent Seven : Daniel Löble (drums), Markus Grosskopf (bass), Sascha Gerstner (guitars), Kai Hansen (guitars, vocals) Michael Weikath (guitars), Michael Kiske (vocals), Andi Deris (vocals). The longer gap between Helloween albums again seems … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Andy Deris, Charlie Bauerfind, Giants and Monsters, HaLLoween, Kai Hansen, Michael Kiske, review | Leave a comment

Album review : YESTERDAY & TODAY – S/T and Struck Down (Remasters)

Posted on July 31, 2025 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [Release date 18.07.25] 1972 : In the days before they abbreviated to Y&T, they called themselves Yesterday & Today, after the Beatles’ latest US album release of the time, allegedly. The band line up got shuffled a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Cream, Dave Meniketti, hard rock, review, Rock Candy Records, Struck Down, UFO, Y&T, Yesterday & Today | Leave a comment

Album review : KIX – Kool Atomic Kix (8 CD Boxset)

Posted on July 23, 2025 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 25.07.25] Something of a pop metal institution, KIX, the band, the brand, retired gracefully from the musicbiz in 2023, more than forty long years after the self titled debut album hit the streets. CD1 : … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Pure Metal/News | Tagged Bob Halligan Jnr, Kerrang!, Kix, Music Week, Nick Gilder, pop metal, review, StereoGum.com, Taylor Rhodes, Tom Allom, Xavier Russell | Leave a comment

Album review : JIMMY WEBB – A Life In Words And Music (7 CD Boxset)

Posted on July 21, 2025 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 25.07.25] By the time Jimmy Webb got to Phoenix he had won every conceivable music award, he’d written hit after hit after hit, most notably for The Fifth Dimension, Richard Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Glen Campbell … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Boudleaux Bryant, boxset, Carly Simon, Glen Campbell, Jimmy Webb, Linda Ronstadt, PF Sloan, review, The Highwaymen, The Wrecking Crew, Words And Music | Leave a comment

Album review : ENUFF Z’NUFF – Extra Cherries

Posted on July 19, 2025 by brianmc

Cleopatra [Release date : 25.07.25] Enuff Z’Nuff have released 6 albums in the last ten years. The latest, Extra Cherries is the 20th since the 1989 debut. The band, plagued by illness, worn down by constant touring, has seen members … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Chip Z'nuff, Daxx Nielsen, Enuff Z'Nuff, Jason Camino, Luis Kalil, Mott the Hoople, review, Rick Nielsen, Steve Brown, Steve Stevens, The Beatles | Leave a comment

Album review : CATS IN SPACE – Chapter 1 (Remastered 4 CD boxset)

Posted on July 16, 2025 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 25.07.25] Now out of print, CIS’s first 4 sold out album releases have been dusted down and polished up by Cherry Red Records’ Tech experts. Chapter 1 is a 4CD clamshell, containing : CD1 : Too … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 10CC, Cats In Space, Daytrip to Narnia, Greg Hart, Mick Wilson, power pop, review, Scarecrow, Too Many Gods | Leave a comment

Album review : HONEYMOON SUITE – Wake Me When The Sun Goes Down

Posted on July 15, 2025 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 25.07.25] Words to live your life by. As one who frequently mainlines on the band’s uncut 2006 Anthology, Feel It Again, a new Honeymoon Suite album is cause for celebration. Previous album, Alive was the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alive, Clifton Hill, Covid, Derry Grehan, Desmond Child, Honeymoon Suite, Johnny Dee, melodic rock, Mike Krompass, Mutt Lange, review | Leave a comment

Album review : SEALS & CROFTS – Gold and Rainbows – The Warner Bros Years 1969-78 (5-CD Boxset)

Posted on July 13, 2025 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 18.07.25] Harmony rock and pop duo Seals and Croft’s biggest hit single came early on in their career. 1972’s ‘Summer Breeze’ (later covered by the Isley Brothers) was the title track from the duo’s fourth … Continue reading →