Author Archives: david.wilson

Album review: DEVIN TOWNSEND – PowerNerd

Posted on October 29, 2024 by david.wilson

InsideOut Music [Release date 25.10.24] PowerNerd is the latest musical instalment from the over-active mind of Devin Townsend. With Devin you are never 100% sure what you are going to get, however, you know it won’t be boring! Over the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 25th Oct 2024, album, Canada, CD, coffee, country, Devin Townsend, Insideout Music, metal, PowerNerd, Rammstein, rock, Ruby Quaker, Strapping Young Lad, Vinyl | Leave a comment

Gig review: ALICE COOPER – Hydro, Glasgow, 14 October 2024

Posted on October 28, 2024 by david.wilson

Come October the mind starts to stray to thoughts of Halloween, of ghosts and ghouls and things that go bump in the night! What better to soundtrack those dark thoughts than a night with the king of scare himself, Alice … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 14th October 2024, Alice Cooper, Billy Gillespie, gig, Glasgow, Glen Sobel, Hydro, indie, live, Nita Strauss, No More Mr Nice Guy, Poison, Primal Scream, rock, Ryan Roxie, Schools Out, Tommy Henriksen, Too Close For Comfort, Vincent Price, Welcome To My Nightmare | Leave a comment

Gig review: APOCALYPTICA – SWG3, Glasgow, 3 October 2024

Posted on October 11, 2024 by david.wilson

Many years ago I attended a guitar masterclass with the legendary singer/songwriter Gordon Giltrap. It was just one man with an acoustic guitar, but the sound and sheer ferocity of riffage he managed to extract from his poor, tortured acoustic … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 3rd Oct 2024, Apocalyptica, cello, Eicca Toppinen, gig, Glasgow, James Hetfield, live, Master Of Puppets, Metallica, One, Perttu Kivilaakso, Plays Metallica Vol 2, Rob Trujillo, Sad But True, SWG 3 | Leave a comment

Interview: BLOOD FEAST (CJ Scioscia)

Posted on September 9, 2024 by david.wilson

When I decided to approach Hells Headbangers in order to arrange an interview with the New Jersey based Thrash Metal legends Blood Feast, little did I know that in guitarist CJ Scioscia I would end up finding a musical kindred … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged Blood Feast, Blue Oyster Cult, Chopping Block Blues, CJ Scioscia, Flotsam and Jetsom, Infinite Evolution, interview, metal, Nothingface, Ross the Boss, The Dictators, Thrash, Voi Vod | Leave a comment

Gig review: STONEDEAD FESTIVAL – Newark Showground – 23,24 August 2024

Posted on September 3, 2024 by david.wilson

Since the first Stonedead (or Stonedeaf as it was back then) the festival has gone from strength to strength driven by word of mouth and a very active Facebook group. Each year has sold out that bit sooner than the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 24th August, Biff Byford, blues, Bonafide, Chris Sumby, Doro, Ecilipse, festival, KK Downing, KK's Priest, Krusher, Lemmy, live, metal, Motorhead, Newark Showground, Paul Di'Anno, rock, Saxon, Scarlet Rebels, Spike, Stonedead, Tailgunner, The Bites, The Hot One Two, The Quireboys, Warlock | Leave a comment

Gig review: CALL OF THE WILD FESTIVAL – Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln – 24th to 26th May 2024

Posted on June 12, 2024 by david.wilson

Messenger_creation_2cc18282-10b8-4b66-8481-521a47ca43e4

Upon arrival at the showground I was taken to get checked in and get my press pass. After a short wait I was greeted by “Tosh” who was one of the friendliest guys I’ve ever met and he introduced me … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Bad Touch, Beth Blade, Call Of The Wild, Danny Vaughn, festival, goth, Haxan, Lincolnshire Showground, live, metal, Quireboys, rock, She Burns Red, South Of Salem, The Hot Damn, Tyketto | Leave a comment

Gig review: STATUS QUO – Kelvingrove Bandstand, Glasgow – 30th May 2024

Posted on June 6, 2024 by david.wilson

The last gig I attended at the Kelvingrove Bandstand must have been 40 years ago when Radio Clyde put on a free mini festival of local rock talent, ably hosted by the ‘Beard Of Doom’, Mr Tom Russell. Around the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 30th May 2024, Andy Bown, blues, Down Down, Francis Rossi, gig, Glasgow, Jimi Hendrix, John 'Rhino' Edwards, Kelvingrove Bandstand, Laurence Jones, Leon Cave, live, Rick Parfitt, Ritchie Malone, rock, Rocking All Over The World, Status Quo, Whatever You Want | Leave a comment

Gig review: YES – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 24 May 2024

Posted on May 26, 2024 by david.wilson

Tonight’s show was another date in the current ‘Classic Tales Of Yes’ tour, a celebration of 50 plus years of Yessong with an emphasis on the band’s ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ opus which turn 50 in 2023. You could argue … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 24th May 2024, Billy Sherwood, Geoff Downes, gig, Glasgow, Jay Schallen, Jon Anderson, Jon Davison, live, progressive, Rick Wakeman, rock, Roundabout, Royal Concert Hall, Steve Howe, Tales of Topological Oceans, Yes | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE BLACKOUT – SWG 3, Glasgow – 20th February 2024

Posted on March 10, 2024 by david.wilson

Almost exactly 9 years ago I dragged myself along to The Garage in Glasgow to say farewell to The Blackout as they became another victim of the corporate music machine. That night was all the more bittersweet as it served … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20th February 2024, Gavin Butler, gig, Glasgow, Higher and Higher, I'm a Riot? You're A Fucking Riot!, Jim Davies, live, metal, punk, Radiohead, rock, Sean Smith, SWG 3, The Best In Town, The Blackout, Thom York | Leave a comment

Album review: MYRATH – Karma

Posted on March 10, 2024 by david.wilson

earMUSIC [Release date 08.03.24] I was a fairly late convert to the Myrath cause, only really becoming aware of the band with the release of their ‘Live At Carthage’ album in 2020. Delving into their back catalogue I found an … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Arabic, EarMusic, Hellfest, Heroes, Karma, Live At Carthage, Malik Ben Arbia, metal, Middle East, Myrath, prog, review, rock, Zolher Zagati | Leave a comment

Gig review: GEDDY LEE – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow – 14th December 2023

Posted on December 17, 2023 by david.wilson

Tonight, we had something a bit different, Geddy Lee in conversation to promote his autobiography, ‘My Effin’ Life’, which has just been released. With Rush in hiatus following the sad passing of Neil Peart, for fans of the band this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 14th December 2023, Alex Lifeson, Closer To The Heart, Dreamline, Geddy Lee, Glasgow, Glasgow Apollo, in conversation, live, My Effin' Life, Natural Science, Neil Peart, Phil Jupitus, Phil Wilding, Royal Concert Hall, Rush | Leave a comment

Album review: D’VIRGILIO, MORSE AND JENNINGS – Sophomore

Posted on November 10, 2023 by david.wilson

InsideOut Music [Release date 10.11.23] ‘Sophomore’ is the aptly named second album release from the trio comprising three of the biggest names in prog rock, Neal Morse, Nick D’Virgilio and Ross Jennings. Their first album ‘Troika’, which was released in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anywhere The Wind Blows, Big Big Train, CD, D'Virgilio Morse and Jennings, Haken, Insideout Music, Neal Morse, Nick D’Virgilio, review, Ross Jennings, Sophomore, Spock's Beard, Tiny Little Fires, Transatlantic, Troika | Leave a comment

Gig review: EUROPE – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 18 October 2023

Posted on October 23, 2023 by david.wilson

I recently interviewed Tommy Johannson of the Swedish band Sabaton. As an aside at the end of the interview I asked him, given the band’s love of all things historic, if he could go back to any point in time … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18 October 2023, 40th anniversary, Europe, gig, Glasgow, hard rock, Ian Haugland, Joey Tempest, John Leven, John Norum, live, melodic rock, Mic Michaeli, review, Royal Concert Hall, Time Capsule | Leave a comment

Album review: TREVOR RABIN – Rio

Posted on October 9, 2023 by david.wilson

InsideOut Music [Release date 06.10.23] Rio is the first vocal led album Trevor Rabin has released since ‘Can’t Look Away’ in 1989. He has been busy in the interim with both solo instrumental releases and he has also become a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 6th Oct 2023, album, Big Mistake, country, Insideout Music, National Treasure, Oklahoma, Owner Of A Lonely Heart, progressive, Push, review, Rio, rock, Trevor Rabin, Yes | Leave a comment

Gig review: KISS – Hydro, Glasgow – 8th July 2023

Posted on July 14, 2023 by david.wilson

I first saw Kiss on the Lick It Up tour in October 1983 in the Edinburgh Playhouse and here we are nearly 40 years on to witness the band’s last ever UK show. I caveat that last statement by pointing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 8th July 2023, Benji Ward, End Of The Road, Eric Singer, Gene Simmons, gig, Glasgow, Hydro, Kiss, live, Paul Stanley, Skindred, The Wild Things, Tommy Thayler | Leave a comment

Gig review: PETER GABRIEL – Hydro, Glasgow – 22nd June 2023

Posted on July 5, 2023 by david.wilson

At the ripe old age of 73 you would forgive Peter Gabriel for taking things easy and retiring from music to live off the royalties of his past glorious. Mr Gabriel, however, has never been one to conform and has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 22nd June 2023, Biko, Genesis, gig Hydro, Glasgow, I/O, live, Manu Katche, Peter Gabriel, Progressive Rock, Red Rain, rock, Solsbury Hill, Tony Levin, world music | Leave a comment

Gig review: BLOODYWOOD – The Mash House, Edinburgh – 12th June 2023

Posted on June 21, 2023 by david.wilson

My phone pinged and the text read ‘Hi pal, do you fancy going to see Bloodywood in Edinburgh’. I must admit my first reaction was ‘who?’, but the answer was ‘yup, let#s rock!’. So, it was a night out in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12th June 2023, Alice Guala, Blake Cornwall, Bloodywood, Download Festival, Edinburgh, gig, India, Jayant Bhadula, Karan Katiyar, Lake Malice, live, metal, New Delhi, Rakshak, Raoul Kerr, rap, rock, The Mash House | Leave a comment

Album review: EXTREME – Six

Posted on June 9, 2023 by david.wilson

earMusic [Release date: 09.06.23] Extreme are back with their first album in 15 years, which is quite the hiatus by anyone’s standards. During that time the band have been working on and off and touring sporadically, but the guys are … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, CD, Ear Music, Extreme, funk, Gary Chirone, III Sides To Every Story, More Than Words, Nuno Bettencourt, Pat Badger, rock, Six | Leave a comment

Gig review: KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 23 April 2023

Posted on May 9, 2023 by david.wilson

It’s hard to believe that Kenny Wayne Shepherd was a mere 18 years old when he wrote and released ‘Trouble Is..’. A mature, complex blues rock album launched into the world as part of an exciting vanguard of fresh-faced US … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 23 April 2023, BB King, blues, Bob Dylan, concert, country, gig, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Krown, Kenny McCormack, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, live, London, Noah Hunt, rock, Shepherd's Bush Empire, Trouble Is.. | Leave a comment

Gig review: SABATON – Hydro, Glasgow – 18th April 2023

Posted on April 26, 2023 by david.wilson

The much delayed ‘Tour To End All Tours’ had finally reached Glasgow and the legion of Scottish Sabaton fans were eager to see what Sweden’s finest had in their war chest. Sabaton have gone from strength to strength over the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18th April 2023, 1916, Baby Metal, concert, Eurovision, gig, Gimme Chocolate, Glasgow, Hydro, Kami band, live, Lordi, metal, Moametal, momometal, Motorhead, Mr Lordi, power metal, Primo Victoria, rock, Sabaton, SU-Metal, Swedish, The Great War, The Other One, The Tour To End All Tours | Leave a comment

Gig review: THOSE DAMN CROWS – Islington Assembly Hall, London – 24th February 2023

Posted on March 3, 2023 by david.wilson

The Assembly Hall had a celebratory atmosphere about the place and a keen sense of anticipation was in the air ahead of Those Damn Crows. Support came from fellow Welsh rockers, James And The Cold Gun who helped to bubble … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 24th February 2023, Blink Of An Eye, Dave Winchurch, gig, Ian Thomas, Islington Assembly Hall, James And The Cold Gun, live, London, metal, rock, Ronnie Huxford, Shane Greenhall, Those Damn Crows, Wales, Who Did It | Leave a comment

Album review: ROBIN MCAULEY – Alive

Posted on February 16, 2023 by david.wilson

Frontiers Records [Release date 17.02.23] Robin’s last album ‘Standing On The Edge’ was my top album of 2021 so this new release has a lot to live up to. However, with Robin you know that quality is assured and with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Alive, Frontier Records, Grand Prix, Michael Schenker, MSG, Raiding the Rock Vault, review, Robin McAuley, Standing On The Edge | Leave a comment

Album review: LOVEBITES – Judgement Day

Posted on February 16, 2023 by david.wilson

JPU Records [Release date 24.02.23] I first became aware of Lovebites a few years back when they opened for Dragonforce. Not knowing the band’s musical leanings, I was very surprised that night at their blend of power and thrash metal … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Asami, Dragonforce, Haruna, Japan, JPU Records, Judgement day, Lovebites, Medori, metal, Myaki, power, review, rock, Steve Harris, symphonic, Thrash | Leave a comment

Album review: MOTORHEAD – Bad Magic: SERIOUSLY BAD MAGIC

Posted on February 12, 2023 by david.wilson

Silver Lining Music [Release date 24.02.23] “If the guys wanted to prove a point with this record then they have achieved that goal and then some. ‘Aftershock’ was a great album but with ‘Bad Magic’ Lemmy, Phil and Mikkey have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Ace Of Spades, album, Bad Magic, CD, David Bowie, Heroes, Lemmy, live, Mikkey Dee, Motorhead, Mt Fuji Festival, Overkill, Phil Campbell, review, Rolling Stones, Seriously Bad Magic, Sympathy For The Devil | Leave a comment

Gig review: SKERRYVORE AND MANRAN – Albert Hall, Stirling – 29th December 2022

Posted on December 31, 2022 by david.wilson

This gig was another that felt a bit like being an extra in an episode of Dr Who, you know it’s 2022 but you are handing over a ticket for a show in 2020! Yup, this show has been hit … Continue reading →