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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: PAUL McCARTNEY- 02 Arena, London, 18 December 2024
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Gig review: BLACK EYED SONS- The Lexington, London, 16 December 2024
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – Thames Side Brewery, Staines, 8 December 2024
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Gig review: STRAY – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 December 2024
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Gig review: THE SHEEPDOGS, THE COMMONERS – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 5 December 2024
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Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow, 14 December 2024
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Featured Album Reviews
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Album review: THE GRAND – The Rebel Son
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Album review: THE RADIO SUN – Heaven Or Heartbreak
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Album review: BOSTON – Life, Love & Hope
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Album review: THE APOCALYPSE BLUES REVUE – The Shape Of Blues To Come
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Album review: FRAUDPROPHETS – Poptosis
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Album review : STORACE – Live And Let Live (plus bonus live CD)
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Features
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Author Archives: brianmc
Album review : ANVIL – One And Only
AFM Records [Release date: 28.06.24] There’s Old School Heavy Metal bands, and there’s Anvil. On their 20th album now, the aptly titled One And Only, these Canadian legends have shed any pretence of “modernising” their sound, reaching back to the … Continue reading
Album review : AS I ROVED OUT – THE STORY OF CELTIC ROCK 1968-78 (3CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date: 21.06.24] Celtic music dates back to the 17th century. It’s part of the musical scenery in western Europe… mainly Portugal, Spain and France. And across the Atlantic in Canada … most especially among the island communities … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Al Stewart, Cape Breton, Celtic rock, France, Ireland, Newfoundland, Pentangle, Portugal, review, Runrig, Scotland, Spain, TASTE, Thin Lizzy
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Album review : STATUS QUO – Official Archive Series Vol.3 (2CDs)
Ear Music/Edel [Release date : 12.07.24] If ever a band knew how to mine a rich back catalogue it’s Status Quo. We’ve said that before and no doubt we’ll say it again, and again. This third “Archive” release, Live at … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Archive Vol.2, Eike Freese, Forestry Commission, Kai Hansen, live, review, Rick Parfitt, Status Quo, Westonbirt
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Album review : DANA GILLESPIE – First Love
Fretsore Records [Release date : 31.05.24] Had it been published in the midst of today’s gender wars, the title of Dana Gillespie’s controversial autobiography, “Weren’t Born A Man” would have new resonance. As it is, celebrating 60 years in the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bob Dylan, Dana Gillespie, Green Day, Janis Ian, Laura Nyro, Leonard Cohen, Matt Gest, Python Lee Jackson, review
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Album review : KURT FROHLICH – 1977
Golden Robot Records [Release Date : 07.06.24] Kurt Frohlich, currently vocalist with Riley’s LA Guns, has already fronted Faster Pussycat and Mark Ramone’s band. Limited as that pedigree might be, it lets us know where he’s coming from. 1977 is … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Clash, Faster Pussycat, glam, Green Day, Kurt Frohlich, LA Guns, Mark Ramone, punk, review, Sex Pistols, television, Weezer
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Album review : NIGHTMARE – Encrypted
AFM Records [Release date: 06.06.24] Formed in 1979, French Power Metal band, Nightmare have been worshipping the mighty riff for 11 albums now. Their 12th album, Encrypted, sees ex Songbird songbird, Barbara Mogore (a smart bit of recruitment by Yves … Continue reading
Album review: McCOY – The Sound Of Thunder (3 CD set)
Cherry Red [Release date : 31/05/24] CD1: 1985: McCoy : Hard Thinking (incorporates 1982 EP) CD2: 1998: McCoy : Brainstorm CD3: 1977: McCoy : Live 1977 The real (John) McCoy, bass player extraordinaire, was as much known for his fearsome, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Al Romano, Bernie Torme, boxset, Brainstorm, Fleetwood Mac, Ian Gillan, John McCoy, Mile Sciotto, Paul Samson, review, Think Hard, ZZ Top
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Album review : RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Challenge The Wind
AFM Records [Release date : 31.05.24] Fans of the Symphonic Metal genre will know ROF is a band big on concept. This new album, Challenge The Wind, is the third in their “Nephilim Empire Saga”. The second, Glory For Salvation, … Continue reading
Album review : LINDISFARNE – Brand New Day The Mercury Years 1978-79 (3 CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date : 24.05.24] This is one of Cherry Red’s finer moments. A concise snapshot of Lindisfarne when they were at their best. CD1: Magic In The Air (1978) CD2: Back And Fourth (1978) CD3: The News (1979) … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged Alan Hull, Back And Forth, Fog On The Tyne, Lindisfarne, Magic In The Air, Newcastle, review, The News
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Album review: CHRIS FARLOWE – Stormy Monday – The Blues Years 1985-2008 (3CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date: 24.05.24] Born to sing the blues, Chris Farlowe recorded genre standard, ‘Stormy Monday Blues’ in 1965, to huge critical acclaim. With his band, the Thunderbirds, he became a lightning rod for blues fans, continually burning down … Continue reading
Album review : FRANCIS ROSSI & HANNAH RICKARD – We Talk Too Much (2024 vinyl version with bonus track)
earMUSIC [Release date : 03.05.24] 2014’s Aquostic (Stripped Bare) was Status Quo’s first full blown tilt at “reimagining” older material in an acoustic set up. It was a big success, commercially and critically. It led to this collaboration between Francis … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, bonus track, Cheap Trick, Francis Rossi, Hannah Rickard, Jeff Lyne, review, Vinyl, We Talk Too Much
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Album review: WARHORSE – The Recordings 1970-72
Cherry Red [Release date : 26.04.24] In 1970, on leaving Deep Purple, bassist/songwriter, Nick Simper, joined Marsha Hunt’s backing band, later striking out on its own under the band name, Warhorse. In the seventies, Metal and Hard Rock blossomed in … Continue reading
Album review : WILDSTREET IV
Golden Robot Records [Release date 26.04.24] US band, Wildstreet, took note of music’s direction of travel (ie there’s no money in standing still) some years ago and have toured incessantly ever since… frequent appearances at SXSW & M3 Rock Festival, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Backyard Babies, glam rock, Nikki Sixx, review, Rocklahoma, Sunset Strip, Wildstreet
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Album review : WAYSTED – Won’t Get Out Alive Volume 1 (4 CDs 1983-86)
Cherry Red [Release date: 26.04.24] CD1: Vices CD2: I Won’t Get Out Alive CD3: The Good, The Bad And The Waysted CD4: Save Your Prayers In 2019, the late great Pete Way and his band played an unannounced gig in … Continue reading
Album review : UFO – Covenant + Sharks + Live (3 CD)
Twin reissue package plus a bonus CD, from British rock legends, UFO. Covenant (2000), Sharks (2002) and Live At Blind Melons (1995). The problem with releasing a career high album like Walk On Water (1995), the band’s de facto “comeback” … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 3 CDs, Covenant, Live Blind Melons, Michael Schenker, New York, Phil Mogg, reissue, review, Sharks, UFO
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Single review : WILDSTREET – Heroes
Golden Robot Records [Release Date 12.04.24] US band, Wildstreet, took note of music’s direction of travel (there’s no money in standing still) some years ago and have toured incessantly ever since… frequent appearances at SXSW,and M3 Rock Festival, plus 5 … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged EP, Eric Jayk, glam rock, review, Rocklahoma, USA, Wildstreet, Wildstreet III, Wrath Star
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Album review : THE CRYIN’ SHAMES – Please Stay, Joe Meek’s Tea Chest Tapes
Cherry Red [Release date: 12.04.24] The Cryin’ Shames were late to the Merseybeat party, and departed almost as soon as they arrived. This a 2 CD reissue of every recording made by the band in its various guises. 48 tracks … Continue reading
Single review : KURT FROLICH – Another Heartbreak
Golden Robot Records [05.04.24] Single release from Kurt Frolich, vocalist with Riley’s LA Guns. It has only a passing resemblance to the music of his parent band. Doesn’t make him a bad person, of course. In fact … The first … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Kurt Frolich, LA Guns, power pop, review, single, The Raspberries
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Single review : RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Brave New Hope
AFM Records [out now] Rhapsody Of Fire’s vocalist, Giacomo Voli sounds more like Brother Firetribe’s Pekka Heino every day. Or maybe it’s the other way round. Those expressive vocals, bringing a lyric to life, are hard to match. ‘Brave New … Continue reading
Album review : BLOODBOUND – The Tales Of Nosferatu – Two Decades Of Blood (CD and DVD)
AFM Records [Release date : 19.04.24] It was 20 years ago today that Swedish keyboard player Fredrik Bergh and guitarist Tomas Olsson jumped the genre ship from AOR to Power Metal. They left behind popular melodic rock band, Street Talk, … Continue reading
Album review : VAN DER GRAAF – Vital (2 CD Remaster)
Cherry Red [Release date : 29.03.24] The year after England won the world cup, English musician Chris Judge Smith took a “summer of love” trip to San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury, a pivotal point on the Flower Power map. It is … Continue reading
Album review : FIREWIND – Stand United
AFM Records [Release date : 08.03.24] 10th album from Power Metal band, Firewind. The band, Gus G, Herbie Langans, Petros Cristo and Jo Nunez have established their Power Metal credentials over and over again during the last 25 years, with … Continue reading
Album review: LILLIAN AXE – The Box Vol 2, The Quickening
Cherry Red [Release date : 29.03.24] The Quickening is the second instalment of a two part series documenting the recorded life and times of metal’s most underrated band, Lillian Axe. There are six CDs. CD1: Deep Red Shadows (2010) w/7 … Continue reading
Album review : TROJAN / TALION – The Complete Recordings 1984/90 (5 CD Boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date : 28.03.24] Boxset of remastered material from UK Thrash/Speed Metal band, Trojan, aka Talion. 5 CDs, 49 tracks. CD1: TROJAN : Chasing The Storm studio album, 1985 CD2: TROJAN : Capturing The Storm – Live At … Continue reading
Album review : LEAVES’ EYES – Myths Of Fate
AFM Records [Release date : 22.03.24] Fans of the band, or even just the genre, will know that German Symphonic Metal band, Leaves’ Eyes are totally immersed in Nordic and Celtic mythology. Pipes, fiddles, choirs, growls, all spin up through … Continue reading
