Author Archives: david.wilson

Album review: BLENDED BREW – Shove It Down

Mighty Music [Release date 01.05.20] On the info sheet for this album Blended Brew are likened to AC/DC, Deep Purple and Rival Sons. Well two out of three ain’t bad as Mr Loaf once sang as I didn’t get much … Continue reading

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Album review: CIRITH UNGOL – Forever Black

Metal Blade Records [Release date 24.04.20] Cirith Ungol are a band I have been aware of for many years (with a name like that, they are hard to ignore!) however until now I have been oblivious to their history or … Continue reading

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Album review: WOLFHEART – Wolves Of Karelia

Napalm Records [10.04.20] Finnish metallers Wolfheart master in something called ‘Winter Metal’ which appears to be a cross between fast and furious death metal and the wide soundscapes of Sigur Ros. It is a mix which works amazingly well and … Continue reading

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EP Review: BOMBS OF HADES – Phantom Bell

Black Lodge [Release date 17.04.20] Bombs Of Hades originally formed back in 2002 to party and play Crusty Death Metal (a new genre on me!) and have over the years released several albums and EP’s whilst honing their sound. This … Continue reading

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Album review: DICTATOR SHIP – Your Favourites

The Sign Records [Release date 17.04.20] This is the debut album from Swedish rockers Dictator Ship and over the course of 27 minutes the guys set out to entertain with retro rock from a bygone age. The band have produced … Continue reading

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Album review: BLAZE BAYLEY – Live In Czech

Blaze Bayley Recordings [03.04.20] Blaze Bayley is one of rock and metal’s true survivors. Having been plucked from the excellent Wolfsbane to front Iron Maiden following Bruce Dickinson’s departure in 1994, he was then unceremoniously dumped by the band five … Continue reading

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Album review: BUFFALO SUMMER – Desolation Blue

Silver Lining Records [Release date 27.03.20] This is the third album from Buffalo Summer and rather good it is too. The Welsh wonders have been playing up and down the country and every festival they can get with a decent … Continue reading

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Album review: TESTAMENT – Titans Of Creation

Nuclear Blast [Release date 03.04.20] The world may well have gone crazy at the moment with Coronavirus changing people’s day to day lives to such an extent that nothing feels normal. It is good then to have something to bring you some normality … Continue reading

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Album review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – F8

Better Noise Records [Release date – 28.02.20] This is album number 8 from Five Finger Death Punch and it’s one that marks a number of firsts for the band. It is the first album to feature new drummer Charlie Engen, … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACKWATER CONSPIRACY – Two Tails & The Dirty Truth Of Love & Revolution

  Bulletproof 20/20 Records [Release date 14.02.20] This is the second album from County Tyrone southern tinged rockers Blackwater Conspiracy following on from their 2017 debut ‘Shootin’ The Breeze’ and it is a bit of a cracker. The band master … Continue reading

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Album review: WKW (WATSON, KERCHEVAL, WATSON) – Men Of Steel

WKW Music [Release date - Out Now] WKW is a collaboration between the two Big Country mainstays, Bruce and Jamie Watson, and Thomas Kercheval. Kercheval is an Emmy winning documentary editor, independent musician and longtime Big Country fan. He ran … Continue reading

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Gig review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, 30 January 2020

This was my first visit to the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena and on arrival at the venue prior to the doors opening I was greeted with massive queues waiting to get into the sold out venue. Thankfully local boy and crack photographer Darren Griffiths was a … Continue reading

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Gig review: GREAT BRITISH ROCK AND BLUES FESTIVAL – Butlins, Skegness,17th to 20th January 2020

Skegness in early January is a bit of a strange place. Row upon row of empty caravans lie in wait for warmer weather and better times. When once again the sound of laughter and the smell of stale beer, cigarette … Continue reading

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Gig review: SKERRYVORE/MANRAN – Albert Hall, Stirling, 29 December 2019

The Scottish folk rock scene has been topped for the last 40 odd years by Runrig who had a huge following across the country and beyond. There have been a number of other bands however who have been on a rapid … Continue reading

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Gig review: DAN REED NETWORK/GUN/FM – Waterfront, Norwich,14 December 2019

Three of the common sights of the 21st century concert scene are bands playing a classic album in its entirety; package tours bringing together acts with a complementary fanbase; and bands that we thought would never get back together again … Continue reading

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Album review: RAMMSTEIN – Rammstein

Spinefarm Records  [Release date 17.05.19] 10 years is a long time in anyone’s book but in musical terms it can be a whole career, or in the case of some X Factor winners a career can pass in 10 minutes. The fact … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH FESTIVAL, DAY 3 – Vauxhall Holiday Park, Gt Yarmouth, 9 November 2019

After the high of Saturday there was a more subdued feeling around the smaller arena as the early unplugged sessions got underway with CADENCE NOIR and DEVILFIRE.  A little thin on the ground at this early hour, the previous long … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH FESTIVAL, DAY 2 – Vauxhall Holiday Park, Gt Yarmouth, 8 November 2019

First band on the mainstage were Highway To Hell winners, TWISTER.  The Durham band had been popular winners and the early start saw many seeking out breakfast and a brew to join the band in the main arena. The set-up … Continue reading

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Gig review – HRH FESTIVAL, DAY 1, Vauxhall Holiday Park, Gt Yarmouth, 7 November 2019

Day one proper of the HRH festivities found a change to the set up in the main arena following the awards ceremony. A VIP section had been placed directly in front of the main stage pushing back the main public barrier.  This meant the vibe definitely changed from the previous day from one of frivolity and … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH AWARDS 2019 – Great Yarmouth, 6 November 2019

For 13 years HRH has seen some of the finest bands and singers in the rock world grace its stages. This will be the third time that the HRH Awards have been held prior to the main event with a … Continue reading

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Album review: EMPYRE – Self Aware

Self Release [release date 05.07.19] This is the debut album from Empyre who hail from Northampton. The band formed in 2016 and have had a run of high profile outings including featuring on ‘BBC Introducing’ and recording a session for the … Continue reading

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Album review: SABATON – The Great War

Nuclear Blast [Release date 19.07.19] With the recent commemorations taking place to mark 100 years passing since the First World War it is the perfect time for Sabaton to tackle the war to end all wars. They have touched on the subject … Continue reading

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Gig review – DRAGONFORCE, Liquid Room, Edinburgh, 2 November 2019

Its 15 years since I first caught Dragonforce live at this very venue and although tonight is sold out we are still in a fairly small hall so what, if anything, does this tell us about the band’s career? For me it tells me … Continue reading

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Album review: DRAGONFORCE – Extreme Power Metal

earMUSIC [Release date 27.09.19] Dragonforce are back with album number eight and it does what it says on the tin. ‘Extreme Power Metal’ has been the band’s weapon of choice since their inception and they still continue to use twenty notes where … Continue reading

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Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST – Revelation

Nuclear Blast [Release date 20.09.19] Mr Schenker and his motley crew are back for their second album following on from the ‘Resurrection’ album released in 2018. The premise is the same with all former MSG vocalists joining the guitar maestro for a romp … Continue reading

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