Author Archives: jason

Quick plays: RAINBOWS ARE FREE, ROBIN GEORGE, LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III, SALIVA, AMANDA RHEAUME

Posted on June 17, 2014 by jason
Rainbows Are Free - Waves Across The Ocean

RAINBOWS ARE FREE – Waves Ahead Of The Ocean www.rainbowsarefree.com [Released 04.08.14] This is the second album by Oklahoma based rockers Rainbows Are Free and if you like Stoner rock and big Sabbath riffs you will love this album. Even … Continue reading →

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Interview: PAUL LOGUE of EDEN’S CURSE

Posted on June 14, 2014 by jason
Paul Logue of Eden

Paul Logue has been a busy man as his band Eden’s Curse have just finished their first full UK tour which was a great success and the band plan a summer break before more UK dates planned for November. He … Continue reading →

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Interview: 10Q’s with author ROBERT SHORE

Posted on June 12, 2014 by jason

Robert Shore  is the author of the rather good book on the Midlands ‘Bang In The Middle’ published by the Friday Project/Harper Collins. What’s more he is a big fan of metal and the NWOBHM and if you read his … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BLACK STAR RIDERS – Amos Southend, Charlotte, NC, 5 June 2014

Posted on June 10, 2014 by jason
Black Star Riders - Liverpool, 3 December 2013

Thin Lizzy, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is one of the greatest rock bands that have ever walked the Earth. So many people are quick to praise the songwriting abilities of folks like Springsteen, Dylan, and even James Hetfield, … Continue reading →

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Gig review: JAKE E LEE’S RED DRAGON CARTEL – Islington Academy, 6 June 2014

Posted on June 10, 2014 by jason

Red Dragon Cartel performed a stunning set in London on Friday night to mark a remarkable return to form for guitar hero Jake E. Lee. The legendary riff-master, best known for providing Ozzy Osbourne with some of his finest 80’s … Continue reading →

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Gig review: POLYPHONIC SPREE Clapham Grand, Friday 6th June 2014

Posted on June 7, 2014 by jason

First time at the Clapham Grand, a regal Victorian theatre that was refurbished back in 2010 (although the carpets have that student union feel underfoot) and has seen legends like Charlie Chaplin grace its stage. Impressive venue and a good … Continue reading →

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Singles reviews: VOLBEAT, RECKLESS LOVE, THE TREATMENT

Posted on June 6, 2014 by jason

VOLBEAT – Doc Holiday/Lonesome Rider (10” gold vinyl with innersleeve) Spinefarm /Universal It’s so good to see some decent modern metal given a quality vinyl release. Danish band Volbeat mix metal with modern alternative and also rockabilly/psychobilly. Both tracks are … Continue reading →

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Album review: ELECTRIC BOYS – Starflight United

Posted on June 5, 2014 by jason

Universal [Out now] The good news is that “Starflight United” is the newly released 5th album form Sweden’s funk rock friendly Electric Boys. The bad news is that it is currently only being released in Sweden and Finland (fear not … Continue reading →

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Album review: PICTUREHOUSE – Evolution

Posted on June 4, 2014 by jason
PictureHouse - Evolution

Cherry Red Records [Release date 04.08.14] Irish band PictureHouse enjoyed success in their homeland during the 1990’s and early 2000’s, reuniting recently after a ten year break. This album was released in Ireland last year and now gets a UK … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: ASTRA, DEAD END HEROES, ROXIE 77, THE GHOST WOLVES

Posted on June 3, 2014 by jason

ASTRA – Broken Balance Scarlet Records [Released 15.04.14] Progressive metallers Astra  return on the scene with their third album with their last album being 2009′s ‘From Within’ (Lion Music). The  band are centered around keyboard wizard Emanuele Casali (DGM) although … Continue reading →

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DVD review: ELP – Special Edition (Pictures At An Exhibition, Isle Of Wight Festival 1970, Live At Montreux 1997)

Posted on June 3, 2014 by jason
ELP - Special Edition

Eagle Vision [Release date 14.10.13] If you like Emerson, Lake & Palmer  (ELP) then you are gonna love this new three DVD box set, comprising of “Pictures At An Exhibition”, “The Birth Of A Band- Isle of Wight Festival 1970” … Continue reading →

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Gig review: FOREIGNER, Styx and Don Felder – PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, USA, 31 May 2014

Posted on June 2, 2014 by jason

Apologies in advance, but I’m afraid this write up will be a little heavy on KISS rants, despite it not being a KISS show. Originally I was going to see Adrenaline Mob at Tremont, and then I heard that Styx … Continue reading →

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Album review: BROTHER FIRETRIBE – Diamond In The Firepit

Posted on June 2, 2014 by jason

Spinefarm Records [Released 03.06.14] Album number three from the excellent Brother Firetribe and they have kept us waiting as their last album was released back in 2008. Vocalist Pekka Ansio Heino certainly has an amazing set of pipes on him … Continue reading →

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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2016)

Posted on June 1, 2014 by jason

Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Compiled by Jason Ritchie Updated 02/11/2016 FESTIVALS Hard Rock Hell 2016 (Thursday 10th-Sunday 13th November) Haven, Pwllheli, Gwynedd Ugly Kid Joe + Ratt + Bonfire + the Treatmeant + Glenn … Continue reading →

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Quick Plays: HUMBUCKER, DIESEL, MORNING DWELL, AZORIA

Posted on June 1, 2014 by jason

DIESEL – Into The Fire Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Out now] Diesel is a new, British rock outfit touted to play solid traditional rock in the manner of Bad Company, with firm roots in the classic vein of British hard Rock … Continue reading →

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Album review: TESLA – Simplicity

Posted on May 30, 2014 by jason

Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Released 9.6.14] It’s hard to think that Tesla’s first album, “Mechanical Resonance”, came out in 1986- and now here we are nearly 30 years later and their seventhstudio album “Simplicity” is about to be released (although, if you … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE ROCKET DOLLS – Eyes

Posted on May 27, 2014 by jason
The Rocket Dolls - Eyes

www.facebook.com/therocketdolls [Released 28.07.14] The Rocket Dolls hail from Brighton and consist of vocalist and guitarist Nikki Smash, Benji Knopfler (son of a fairly famous guitarist!) on drums and bassist Tommy K. I reviewed their EP way back in 2009 and … Continue reading →

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Rising Stars interview: AMY SIMPSON

Posted on May 27, 2014 by jason
Amy Simpson

Amy Simpson is only seventeen yet she has just released the excellent EP ‘Fairytales, Stories & Myths’ and The Huffington Post tipped her as one of their’Ten Artists to Watch’… 1.     What have you got planned for the next few … Continue reading →

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Single review: PAUL MENEL & THE ESSENTIALS – Spirit Of ’66

Posted on May 25, 2014 by jason

www.facebook.com/paulmenel Former IQ singer Paul Menel returns with a timely release, a song for England supporters ahead of this year’s World Cup in Brazil. Starting with a Queen approved drum beat the song has a good sing-a-long chorus that you … Continue reading →

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Album review: DIESEL – Into The Fire

Posted on May 20, 2014 by jason
Diesel - Into The Fire

Escape Music [Release date 23.05.14] www.escape-music.com This is an interesting one, as it sees the return of Robert Hart, formerly of Bad Company, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band and the excellent Distance album working with FM’s guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick. Drummer Jimmy … Continue reading →

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Album review: WAMI – Kill The King

Posted on May 20, 2014 by jason

Metal Mind Records [Released 13.05.14] Who is WAMI? Well they are a new band built around young Polish guitarist Iggy Gwadera from Anti Tank Nun (what a legendary band name!), after Marco Mendoza was impressed seeing him perform as a … Continue reading →

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Album review: JEFF GREEN PROJECT – Elder Creek

Posted on May 17, 2014 by jason
JEFF GREEN PROJECT – Elder Creek

F2 Records This is a really fine album. Full of poise, creativity and craft. It is Jeff Green’s second album and has been some while in the making since the debut ‘Jessica’ appeared in 2009. Not that Green has been … Continue reading →

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Gig review: THE YOUNG FOLK – Surya, King’s Cross, London,15 May 2014

Posted on May 16, 2014 by jason

It’s amazing the gig venues you keep discovering in London as I had never heard of the Surya before and it has a whole host of gigs put on by the promoters Glasswerks. A dinky little venue with a bar … Continue reading →

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Album review: DAWN OF DESTINY – Forgotten, Enslaved, Admired, Released

Posted on May 13, 2014 by jason

www.phonotraxx.de [Released March 2014] If like me you’ve become a little fed up of the seemingly endless stream of power/prog metal bands releasing so-so albums then rejoice as Dawn Of Destiny have created a mighty album here. It’s a concept … Continue reading →

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Interview: 10Q’s with JEFF GREEN

Posted on May 13, 2014 by jason

Jeff Green has just released his latest album ‘Elder Creek’ is out now on the Festival Music label and you catch him this summer at the Cambridge Rock Festival in August… Album review 1. What have you got planned for the … Continue reading →

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