Author Archives: brianmc

Album review: METALITE – A Virtual World

Posted on March 23, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date 26.03.21] Coming soon to a Melodic Metal dancefloor near you, Metalite and their third album, A Virtual World. Afficionados will already know the band incorporate elements of trance and electronica into their streamlined melodic metal variant. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged A Virtual World, AFM Records, Amaranthe, dance, Jacob Hansen, Metalite, power metal, symphonic rock, Within Temptation | Leave a comment

Album review: SECRET SPHERE – Lifeblood

Posted on March 21, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [Release date 12.03.21] If Italy’s Secret Sphere aren’t the EU’s Power Metal poster boys, then they should be. They are a relatively unsung band who’ve battled through multiple line up changes, and come up smelling of roses every … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album review, Aldo Lenobile, Frontiers Records, Lifeblood, power metal, progressive metal, Roberto Messina, Secret Sphere, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: SPIRIT – Son Of America (3CD reissue/remaster)

Posted on March 19, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red Records [Release date 26.03.21] Californian band, Spirit, blossomed in the fertile fields of psychedelic rock. A year after forming in 1967, the year of “The Summer Of Love”, they released their self titled debut, on Ode Records (now … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 3 CD Boxset, album review, Byrds, Cherry Red Records, Flying Burrito Brothers, Jay Ferguson, Randy California, remastered, Son Of America, Spirit, Summer of Love | Leave a comment

Album review: RONNIE ATKINS – One Shot

Posted on March 14, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [release date 12.03.21] Ronnie Atkins, founding member of Denmark’s Pretty Maids, bows out with his one and only solo album, One Shot. Ronnie has recently been diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer. So the album title is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, AOR, Denmark, Frontiers Records, melodic rock, One Shot, Pretty Maids, Ronnie Atkins, scandinavian rock, solo album | Leave a comment

Album review: TURBULENCE – Frontal

Posted on March 13, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [Release date 12.03.21] Lebanese Progressive Rock/Metal band, Turbulence, are crossing a few boundaries with their provocatively titled Frontiers debut, Frontal. It is a defiantly bold attempt to incorporate the music of the wider world into their work. Something … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Dream Theater, Frontal, Frontiers Records, Lebanon, progressive metal, progrock, Turbulence | Leave a comment

Album review: HEART HEALER – The Metal Opera by Magnus Karlsson

Posted on March 12, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [release date 12.03.21] Magnus Karlsson needs no introduction. Neither do the (all female) vocalists who grace Heart Healer. Apparently a “Metal Opera” has been something of an ambition of Karlsson’s for some time. The idea is not new … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged A Metal Opera, Adrienne Cowan, Ailyn, Anette Olzon, Frontiers Records, Magnus Karlsson, Margarita Monet, Netta Laurenne, Noora Louhimo, Youmna Jreisatti | Leave a comment

Album review: ORDEN OGAN – Final Days

Posted on March 7, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 12.03.21] Orden Ogan might not be the band on everyone’s lips when Progressive or Power Metal is the subject of conversation. But they should be. And if their last album, Gunmen, didn’t put them there, Final … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album review, concept, Final Days, Orden Ogan, power metal, progressive metal | Leave a comment

Album review: WILDLIFE – Burning (reissue/remaster)

Posted on March 5, 2021 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [Release date 12.02.21] FM and Steve Overland have bona fide legendary status in the annals of UK Rock’n’Roll. It began with Wildlife in the late seventies. Overland and the Jupp brothers, Chris and Pete, were the core … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged AOR, Burning, ELO, Eric Troyer, FM, Rock Candy Records, Rupert Hine, Steve Overland, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Album review: LION – Dangerous Attraction (reissue/remaster)

Posted on March 5, 2021 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [Release date 12.02.21] Lion’s 1987 album, Dangerous Attraction, featured ex Tytan, Kal Swan on vocals, and talented guitarist, Doug Aldrich, who was just beginning his career. Between them, they wrote all the material. This remastered version has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Dangerous Attraction, Dead daisies, Doug Aldrich, Kal Swan, Lion, melodic rock, Rock Candy Records, Tytan | Leave a comment

Album review: SLAMMIN GLADYS – Two

Posted on March 4, 2021 by brianmc

JIB Machine Records [release date 12.02.21] In a reversal of conventional wisdom, Slammin Gladys have gone for the “2 years to write our first album”, and “20 years to write the second” approach. Proteges of Jani (Warrant) Lane, they recorded … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, BANG TANGO, blues, Chic, Electric Boys, funk rock, Jani Lane, JIB Machine records, melodic rock, Prince, Slammin Gladys, soul, Two, Warrant | Leave a comment

Album review: KEN HENSLEY – My Book Of Answers

Posted on March 2, 2021 by brianmc

HNE Recordings [Release date 05.02.21] Proving that the language of rock’n’roll is universal, the late Ken Hensley’s final album is a collaboration with Russian poet and lyricist, Vladimir Emelin. My Book Of Answers grew out of a chance meeting between … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Cinderella, classic rock, Ken Hensley, metal, My Book Of Answers, Uriah Heep, Vladimir Emelin, WASP | Leave a comment

Album review: ADAM DOUGLAS – Better Angels

Posted on March 1, 2021 by brianmc

Sonnet Music [release date 05.02.21] I first heard Adam Douglas about five or so years ago singing ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ a la Sam Cooke / Otis Redding on a TV game show. Now that’s some song to tackle, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adam Douglas, album review, Americana, Better Angels, blues, country, Michael Bolton, Norway, Ray LaMontagne, rock, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: 3.2 – Third Impression

Posted on February 27, 2021 by brianmc

Pete Feenstra chatted to Robert Berry for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in May 2021. Frontiers Records [Release date 12.02.21] This is the end. Second and final album from 3.2. The success of the first collaboration between Robert Berry, Keith … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 3.2, album review, Alliance, ELP, Frontiers Records, interview, Keith Emerson, Progressive Rock, radio, Robert Berry, The Nice, Third Impression | Leave a comment

Album review: WAYSTED – Vices

Posted on February 26, 2021 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [Release date 12.02.21] In 1983, after an enduring love affair with UFO, a brief flirtation with Ozzy, and a frustrated liaison with Fastway, bass player extraordinaire Pete Way founded Waysted. Around him, he assembled a shit hot … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album review, Fastway, Ozzy, Pete Way, remaster, Rock Candy Records, sleaze rock, UFO, Vices, Waysted | Leave a comment

Album review: LYNYRD SKYNYRD – Nothing Comes Easy

Posted on February 24, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red Records (5CD Boxset) [Release date 26.02.21] Arguably, it’s only when your roots run as deep and as wide as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s that you achieve the kind of longevity that sees you still running hard today, 48 years, 15 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged .38 Special, album, Allman Brothers, Bob Marlette, boxset, Cherry Red Records, Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie Van Zant, southern rock, Tom Dowd | Leave a comment

Album review: BONFIRE – Roots

Posted on February 22, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 26.02.21] Bonfire‘s continued popularity and success confounds critics, of the genre at least, if not the band. And you could hardly describe each new album as a reinvention. They have constantly returned to their home territory … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, Alexx Stahl, Bonfire, Double album, Hans Ziller, melodic hard rock, review, roots, unplugged | Leave a comment

Album review: EVERGREY – Escape Of The Phoenix

Posted on February 19, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 26.02.21] Evergrey, led by the formidably talented writer/producer/guitarist/vocalist, Tom Englund, are now on their 12th album. Escape Of The Phoenix once again revisits the band’s idea of adult contemporary metal. It’s a dark, sinewy sound, braced … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Evergrey, James LaBrie, Ocean Trilogy, power metal, Progressive Rock, Tom Englund | Leave a comment

Album review: VARIOUS – Oh! You Pretty Things Glam Queens And Street Urchins

Posted on February 18, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 26.02.21] Oh! You Pretty Things is a 3 disc, 66 track Glam (and more) boxfest, which disappointingly, despite its title, doesn’t feature the late David Bowie song. And ironically, nothing from Hermans Hermits, who turned it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged boxset, Cherry Red Records, ELO, Glam Queens And Street Urchins, Glamrock, Ian Hunter, Mott the Hoople, Oh! You Pretty Things, Roxy Music, Slade, SPARKS, Sweet, Thin Lizzy | Leave a comment

Album review: SCARDUST – Strangers

Posted on February 16, 2021 by brianmc

M-Theory Audio [Release date 30.11.20] Progressive Rock’s most famous unknown band, Scardust, released their second album, Strangers, to widespread critical acclaim in November last year. It was an unauspicious time to be releasing new product. Consequently, the label has “re-released” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, concept, Jens Bogren, M-Audio, Progressive Rock, progrock, review, Scardust, symphonic, Yonaton Kossof | Leave a comment

Album review : KREEK – Kreek

Posted on February 16, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 12.02.21] Debut album from Kreek, a new band built around ex Bigfoot vocalist, Antony Ellis. It’s produced by Night By Night & Passion vocalist/guitarist, Dan Rosall. It’s surprising that this one got past Frontiers generally on-the-ball quality … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Antony Ellis, Bigfoot, Dan Rosall, Danny Vaughn, Frontiers, Kreek, melodic hard rock, night by night, Passion, review, Steve Augeri | Leave a comment

Album review : GEORGE LYNCH & JEFF PILSON – Heavy Hitters

Posted on February 12, 2021 by brianmc

Cleopatra Records [Release date 15.01.21] Two of Dokken’s original members who left and developed into marquee names themselves are guitarist, George Lynch and bass player/vocalist, Jeff Pilson. The prediction that all rock bands will eventually do a covers’ album might … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Brian Tichy, Cleopatra Records, Covers, Dokken, George Lynch, Jeff Pilson, Lynch Mob, melodic hard rock, review, USA | Leave a comment

Album review : DURBIN – The Beast Awakens

Posted on February 10, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 12.02.21] By spinning a fourth place finish on American Idol into 4 solo albums and a stint fronting Quiet Riot, singer/guitarist James Durbin clearly had more than TV celebrity on his side.The Beast Awakens is the next … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, American Idol, Frontiers, James Durbin, Malmsteen, metal, Quiet Riot, review, rock, Schenker, The Beast Awakens, Y&T | Leave a comment

Album Review: EXPLORERS CLUB – Rarities Vol 1

Posted on February 4, 2021 by brianmc

Gold Star Recordings [Release date 05.02.21] Explorers Club dropped two acclaimed new albums last year (To Sing And Be Born Again/Explorers Club). We reviewed both. In their own way they proved that Sixties Pop is timeless. Jason Brewer, the band’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Explorers Club, Gold Star Recordings, Jason Brewer, melodic, pop, power pop, Rarities Vol 1, Retro Pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review : WALTER EGAN – Fascination

Posted on January 29, 2021 by brianmc

Red Steel Music [Release date 05.02.21] Westcoast/Americana/AOR wizard, Walter Egan is back, with a smoothed out rock’n’roll love story, Fascination, just 2 years after his Burritos’ album, Sound As Ever, created a few fresh waves. Imbued with bygone vibes, it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Lindsay Buckingham, review, Stevie Nicks, Walter Egan, Westcoast Rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION – Halcyon Hymns

Posted on January 28, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 05.02.21] Fourth album from DBA, the fruitful poprock collaboration between Geoff (Asia/Yes) Downes and uber songwriter/producer, Chris (Guetta/Aguilera) Braide. Halcyon Hymns is their living-in-the-lockdown album, and as the title more than subtly suggests, it’s a recording … Continue reading →