Author Archives: brianmc

Album review : EDGE OF PARADISE – Hologram

Posted on July 15, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 14.07.23] Fresh off a ten date US tour with Lacuna Coil, Edge Of Paradise release Hologram, their fifth album, their third on Frontiers. The band is a duo comprising of Armenian/ Russian/ American singer, Margarita Monet, and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Dave Bates, Howard Benson, Kate Bush, Lacuna Coil, Margarita Monet, power metal, review, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review : HATEBREED – The Rise Of Brutality / Supremacy (2CD Deluxe Ed)

Posted on July 14, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [release date: 14.07.23] “Heavy Music is this cleansing, therapeutic and cathartic experience for so many”. So says Jamie Jasta, frontman of US Grammy nominated, Metal/ Hardcore band, Hatebreed. No surprise then to learn that his band are longtime … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Black Label Society, Grammy, Hardcore, Jamie Jasta, metal, reissue, Slayer, SLIPKNOT | Leave a comment

Album review : ALL FOR METAL – Legends

Posted on July 12, 2023 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date : 07.07.23] We distinctly remember reviewing All For Metal’s trailer single, ‘We were Born In Valhalla’, back in December last year, and referring this dubious claim to a Fact Check website. Well, they never got back … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Antonio Calanna, Hardy Krech, heavy metal, Jasmin Pabst, Lordi, Manowar, Tim "Tetzel" Schmidt, Ursula Zanichelli, Valhalla, Viking metal | Leave a comment

Album review: BLOODBOUND – Tales From The North

Posted on July 11, 2023 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date 7.07.23] Since the early nineties, Northern European Metal bands have progressively sought to explore and celebrate the history and impact of Viking Culture. “Viking Metal” has grown considerably since then. One of today’s key exponents is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, AOR, Fredrik Bergh, power metal, review, Street Talk, Tomas Olsson, Viking metal | Leave a comment

Album review : BANGALORE CHOIR – Center Mass

Posted on July 9, 2023 by brianmc

Global Rock Records [Release date: 07.07.23] David Reece claims that David Coverdale had Bangalore Choir removed from the support spot on Whitesnake’s European tour in 1989, because he didn’t want to compete with Reece’s voice. The story may well be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Autograph, Bangalore Choir, Center Mass, Cherry Red, David Coverdale, David Reece, Giovanni Salvinelli, Gypsy Rose, House of Lords, Jimi Bell, Last Autumn’s Dream, Mario Percudani, Martin Kronlund, melodic hard rock, Mikael Erlandsson, Mitch Malloy, Nicolo Savinelli, Phenomena, review, Ricardo DeMarossi, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review : ROBLEDO – Broken Soul

Posted on July 8, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 14.07.23] Second “solo” album from Sinners Blood frontman, James Robledo. Broken Soul is a tough as teak mix of metal and hard rock, driven by the skilful, tuneful axework of his Sinners Blood bandmate, the man with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Delvecchio, Broken Soul, Frontiers, hard rock, Jacopo Martignoni, metal, Nasson. Alex Jansen, review, Robledo, Sinners Blood | Leave a comment

Album review : PYRAMAZE – Bloodlines

Posted on July 7, 2023 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 23.06.23] Bloodlines is the seventh album in eighteen years from Danish metallers, Pyramaze. This is a band who rebuilt their line up in 2015, after significant loss of key members in 2011. It took the new … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Bloodlines, Classics, Epitaph, Jacob Hansen, melodic metal, prog metal, Pyramaze, review | Leave a comment

Album review : STEEL BARS – A Rock Tribute To Michael Bolton – V/A

Posted on July 4, 2023 by brianmc

Steel Bars - A Tribute to Michael Bolton

Frontiers [Release date: 07.07.23] Any adult remotely interested in popular music will have heard of Michael Bolton. His songs have been compiled to within an inch of their lives and have become the language of lurrve on late nite radio, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Rock Tribute To Michael Bolton, album, Anna Nikolic, Barry White, Big Time, Chicago, Desmond Child, Drive She Said, Frontiers, James Robledo, Jim Peterik, Jonathan Cain, Mark Mangold, Michael Bolton, Neven Brankovic, Percy Sledge, Randy Goodrum, review, Santiago Ramonda, Steel Bars, Steve Overland, Steve Perry, Steven Nvyqvuist, Toto, Touch | Leave a comment

Album review : WINTERSTORM – Everfrost

Posted on July 3, 2023 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 14.07.23] It’s always the case with music like Winterstorm’s – a refreshing mix of Nordic Viking metal, folk, and fast-paced orchestral power metal – that you have to get with the programme to really appreciate it. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Alexander Schirmer, Elina Siirala, Everfrost, folk metal, Leaves' Eyes, Nordic Metal, power metal, review, Winterstorm | Leave a comment

Album review : WITHERING SCORN – Prophets of Demise

Posted on July 2, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 07.07.23] Withering Scorn is a band made up of experienced, successful heavy metal musicians, assembled by brothers, Glen and Shawn Drover, both ex Megadeth and Eidolon. They are joined by ex Fates Warning bass man, Joe DiBiase … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Eidolon, Fates Warning, Glen Drover, heavy metal, Henning Basse, Iron Maiden, Joe DeBiase, Megadeth, Metallium, review, Shawn Drover | Leave a comment

Album review: GAMMA – What’s Gone Is Gone (The Complete Elektra Recordings))

Posted on June 28, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 30.06.23] CD1: GAMMA 1 (1979) CD2: GAMMA 2 (1980) CD3: GAMMA 3 (1982) The first 3 CDs from Ronnie Montrose’s band, Gamma, come nicely packaged this month, with each one including a couple of bonus tracks, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Alan Fitzgerald, albums, boxset, Davey Pattison, Denny Carmassi, Hagar, hard rock, Heart, Night Ranger, review, Ronnie Montrose, Van Halen | Leave a comment

Album review : FRIJID PINK – The Deram Recordings 1970-1971 (2 CDs)

Posted on June 27, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 30.06.23] A two CD package, comprising Detroit band, Frijid Pink’s first two albums. Sometimes the movies crossover into popular music. One quote that rings true and often crops up is William Goldman’s “nobody knows anything”. Frequently, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Blues/Rock, Cream, Detroit, hard rock, Led Zeppelin, psychedelic, review, The Animals, William Goldman | Leave a comment

Album review : BIG COUNTRY – Driving To Damascus (Deluxe 4CD boxset)

Posted on June 24, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 30.6.23] The late great Stuart Adamson and his band, Big Country, made an indelible musical mark on UK popular culture before the man’s untimely demise. The history is well documented. The nineties was a hugely fertile … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Big Country, boxset, Driving To Damascus, Nashville, Ray Davies, review, Stuart Adamson, the nineties, USA | Leave a comment

Album review : ROBIN GEORGE – Ace In My Hand (2CD)

Posted on June 21, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 23.06.23] What can you say about Robin George that hasn’t already been said? He seems to have been circling under rock’n’roll’s radar forever, ready to land, but never making that last critical step. Considering that the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 2 CDs, Ace In My Hand, album, Dave Holland, Def Leppard, melodic rock, Pete Goalby, Pete Wright, review, Robin George, seventies, Terry Rowley, Thin Lizzy, Trapeze, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: V/A – We’re An American Band – US Hard Rock Scene 1967-73 (3 CD Boxset)

Posted on June 16, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red Records [release date: 23.06.23] This 4 hour, 3 CD, 62 track package ends with Grand Funk’s ‘We’re An American Band’ (1973). A game changing challenge to the music establishment of the time. A band of the people, a … Continue reading →

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Album review: PRIDE OF LIONS – Dream Higher

Posted on June 14, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 16.06.23] Seventh studio album from Pride Of Lions. The “Survivor” name has been purged from all official publicity associated with Peterik for legal reasons, but anyone who is at all interested in the genre well knows Peterik’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged .38 Special, Jim Peterik, Lynyrd Skynyrd, melodic rock, review, Rocky, Survivor, Toby Hitchcock | Leave a comment

Album review : STARDUST – Kingdom Of Illusion

Posted on June 12, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 16.06.23] Hungarian band, Stardust kick off their album with ‘War’ as the opening track. Given current events, there was always someone who’d climb on the bandwagon. Lets move on. There’s a welcome familiarity to Stardust’s melodic rock, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Cinderella, Eclipse, HEAT, Hungary, Kingdom Of Illusion, melodic rock, review, Stardust, WET | Leave a comment

Album review: GARDNER JAMES – No Strings

Posted on June 11, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 09.06.23] Gardner James is Justin James, who has worked with Staind and Tyketto. And Janet Gardner, who was of course vocalist with Vixen. Their history is well documented online. A pithy rock band riff can be just … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues rock, Janet Gardner, Justin James, LA, melodic rock, review, Staind, Tyketto, Vixen, Von Groove | Leave a comment

Album review : FALSE MEMORIES – Hybrid Ego System

Posted on June 10, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 09.06.23] Guitarist, Francesco Savino founded False Memories in 2015, but it was only when he recruited vocalist, Rossella Moscatelli in 2018 that the band’s career gained some momentum. We reviewed the debut, The Last Night Of Fall … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Dark, Francesco Savino, power metal, prog metal, review, Rossella Moscatelli, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: VIXEN Rev It Up (remaster)

Posted on June 6, 2023 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [release date 18.05.23] Minnesota band Vixen made their major label breakthrough in 1987, after moving to Los Angeles. Two albums were recorded by the original Vixen lineup, Jan Keuhnemund, Janet Gardner, Share Ross and Roxy Petrucci. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Bangalore Choir, Bobby Kimball, Bon Jovi, Diane Warren, Fiona, Harry Paress, Jack Conrad, Los Angeles, melodic rock, Minnesota, Quiet Riot, review, Rock Candy Records, Steve Plunkett | Leave a comment

Album review: NEW ENGLAND – s/t (remaster)

Posted on June 5, 2023 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [release date : 12.05.23] New England relied not on fate or fashion, but on good old fashioned songwriting and hard work, treading the boards, making their name. Led by the talented John Fannon, and owing a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Beatles, Cheap Trick, ELO, Foreigner, Jimmy Waldo, John Fannon, Journey, Mike Stone, Queen, Raspberries, remaster, review, Sweet, Wizzard | Leave a comment

Album review : V/A Let’s Stomp (Merseybeat 1962-1969) 3 CD set

Posted on May 14, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 26.05.23] Heavily influenced by US Blues and Rock, Merseybeat was a sixties pop music phenomenon, originating in Liverpool, that swept all before it. First the UK, then Europe, ultimately invading the USA and the ROTW. Across … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, Beatles, Billy J Kramer, Cilla Black, Doc Pomus, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Jackie DeShannon, Joe Meek, Lennon & McCartney, Let's Stomp (Merseybeat 1962-1969), Liverpool, Merseybeat, Mojos, Mort Shuman, pop, review, rock, Shel Talmy, Swinging Blue Jeans, The Fourmost, The Merseybeats, The Searchers, The Sixties, US Blues | Leave a comment

Album review: THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT – The Turn Of A Friendly Card (Blu-Ray Edition)

Posted on May 11, 2023 by brianmc

Esoteric Recordings/Cherry Red [Release date; 26.05.23] The Turn Of A Friendly Card (1980) was Alan Parsons’ fifth long player, and if you will, a concept album. Parsons and Eric Woolfson, one a producer/songwriter and the other a songwriter/studio engineer, enjoyed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Billboard, Blu-ray, Dark Side Of The Moon, Eric Woolfson, Esoteric Recordings, Lenny Zakatek, Let It Be, Pink Floyd, reissue, review, The Alan Parsons Project, The Beatles, The Turn Of A Friendly Card | Leave a comment

Album review : HANOI ROCKS – The Days We Spent Underground (1981-84)

Posted on May 10, 2023 by brianmc

Esoteric Records/Cherry Red [Release date: 26.05.23] CD1 Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks (1981) CD2 Oriental Beat (1982) CD3 Destruction Blues (1982) CD4 Back To Mystery City (1983) CD5 All Those Wasted Years (1984) In the 4 short years from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Andy McCoy, Bowie, boxset, Buzzcocks, Dale Griffin, glam rock, Gyp Casina, Hanoi Rocks, Kerrang!, LA Rock, Michael Monroe, Mott, Nasty Suicide, Overend Watts, punk, Sam Yaffa, Sounds, The Days We Spent Underground (1981-84), Undertones | Leave a comment

Album review : HOUSE OF SHAKIRA – XIT

Posted on May 6, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 19.05.23] Those melodic rock fans who mainline the uncut version of the brand might not have time for artists who add their own distinctive musical seasoning. But they might just find that this shiny new album from … Continue reading →