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Album review : JACK BRUCE – Halfway To The Stars – The Recordings 2001-2003 (5 CD Boxset)
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Album review: ELEGANT WEAPONS – Evolution
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Album review: LONG DISTANCE CALLING – The Phantom Void
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Album review : URIAH HEEP – Beautiful Dream, The Recordings 1975-77 (4CDs)
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Album review: XTASY – Phoenix
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Album review: HOKKA – Via Miseria IV
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Author Archives: jason
Album Review: ALISTER ATKIN AND THE GHOST LINE CARNIVAL – To Evangeline
[Release date 03.04.14] The second album from singer/songwriter Alister Atkin is inspired by the coast and maritime life of Nova Scotia. Overall, it’s a pleasant, almost beautiful offering, and plays to the strength of Atkin’s smooth, honeyed voice. Sometimes layered … Continue reading
Album review: PATSY MATHESON – Domino Girls
Tomorrow Music/Proper Music www.pastsymatheson.co.uk [Released 31.03.14] Two years on from the excellent ‘Stories Of Angels & Guitars’ Patsy Matheson is back with a new album and a departure in that she uses a lot more guest musicians, along with a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album review, Domino Girls, folk, Patsy Matheson, singer songwriter, Waking the Witch
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Book review: Led Zeppelin Then As It Was – At Knebworth 1979
(Fully revised & updated version) Tight But Loose Publishing www.tightbutloose.co.uk An updated version of the book chronicling Led Zeppelin’s two Knebworth gigs in August 1979 (the original book was published on the concert’s 30th anniversary in 2009). It was a … Continue reading
Gig review: DEADLY CIRCUS FIRE – Camden Barfly, 27 February 2014
First time I have seen a gig at Camden’s Barfly and it’s a small, but perfectly formed venue and a good sound. I only caught the last two songs by openers Reverted who played energetic thrash metal, although they have … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 27 February 2014, Camden Barfly, DEADLY CIRCUS FIRE, gig, review, rock
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Album review: ADAM SWEET – Small Town Thinking
NEO Music Adam Sweet’s full debut was released at the end of 2013 to favourable reactions. It is easy to see why. This is a sublime, often laid back album of confidence, competence and genuine talent. Only in his mid-twenties, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged ADAM SWEET, album, blues rock, review, rock, Small Town Thinking
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Album review: HOUSE OF LORDS – Precious Metal
Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Released 21.03.14] The ninth album from veteran Melodic/Arena rock band House of Lords finds the band playing with the attitude and energy of a band half their age. With “Precious Metal” the band are mixing their classic sound … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, hard rock, House of Lords, James Christian, melodic, Precious Metal, review
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Quick plays: SONS OF THE SEA, JOSH TAERK, INGER LORRE, ADRIAN NATION, BIRDS OF CHICAGO
SONS OF THE SEA S/t Avow! Records [Released 03.03.14] www.menbran.net Sons of the Sea is a collaboration between producer Brendan O’Brien (Incubus/Pearl Jam/RATM/Springsteen) and Brandon Boyd of Incubus (not a band I have heard anything by although my daughter informs … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged Adrian Nation, Birds Of Chicago, folk, Hate In My Heart, Inger Lorre & The Chiefs of Infinity, Josh, Josh Taerk, Live At The Crossroads, Live From Space, Nigel Clothier, rock, roots, Sharp Practise, singer, Snowflake, songwriter, Sons Of the Seas, Steal With Pride
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News: WINGER announce new album and Download appearance
FIRST NEW ALBUM FOR 5 YEARS RELEASED ON FRONTIERS RECORDS 21.04.14 AND BAND ALSO CONFIRMED TO APPEAR AT DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 15.06.14 One of the most misunderstood Hard Rock bands to emerge from the 1980’s is returning with their highly anticipated … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS
Tagged AOR, Beavis and Butthead, Better Days Comin, Download, Frontiers, Kip Winger, melodic rock, new album, new release, Winger
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Album Review: PSYCLON NINE: [Order of the Shadow: Act I]
Metropolis Records [Released 23.12.13] Picking up all the best reference points from Al Jourgensen’s demonic Ministry creation and shredded together in a moulinex with the sweeping drama of Rammstein, Psyclon Nine have produced an album of surprisingly good industrial metal … Continue reading
Album Review: THE MANIC SHINE – Let Go Or Be Dragged
Animal Farm Records This is a very original and encouraging debut album from Scottish borders-based quartet The Manic Shine. The ten tracks here each have it all going on. The material could broadly be described metal-tickled prog rock, with a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Let Go Or Be Dragged, Orren Karp, Ozzie Rodgers, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock, The Manic Shine
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Album review: INCURA – S/T
Inside Out [Released 24th February 2014] This Canadian band Incura have been around since 2003 having released a series of EP’s and this is their first album given a full release. Two things strike you on first listen, the high … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album review, Dream Theater, Incura, Inside Out, My Chemical Romance, prog metal, Queen, rock
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Book review: ‘Reinventing Metal – The True Story of Pantera’ by Neil Daniels
Backbeat Books Or to give the book it’s full title “Reinventing Metal- The True Story of Pantera and the Tragically Short Life of Dimebag Darrell”. Another in depth and insightful rock biography from the much published Neil Daniels. This time … Continue reading
Gig review: SPIN DOCTORS + DODGY The Garage, London Saturday 22nd February 2014
The last date of the Spin Doctors three date UK visit re-arranged from last autumn. It was a decent turn out at the Garage, although the curse of the 10pm curfew to allow for the nightclub after badly hit openers … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 90's, Chris Barron, DODGY, Good Enough, live, London, Nigel Clark, Saturday 22nd February 2014, Spin Doctors, The Garage, Two Princes
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Album review: BATTLEAXE – Heavy Metal Sanctuary
Steamhammer/SPV [Release date 24.02.14] Originally part of the mid 80s era New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWoBHM), Battleaxe released tracks on several compilations as well as two albums in 1983 and 1984; both have since been reissued on CD, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Battaleaxe, heavy metal, Heavy Metal Sanctuary, NWOBHM, review
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Album review: THE DAMNED – Tiki Nightmare: Live At Shepherd’s Bush Empire July 2002
Salvo/Union Square (2CD/DVD) [Release date 10.02.14] Widely recognised as the first UK punk band, releasing a punk album and single (and I’m near the front of the queue to stick that up the nose of the Sex Pistols), The Damned … Continue reading
Album review: VANDEN PLAS – Chronicles of the Immortals : Netherworld
Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Release date 24.02.14] It has been a while since Vanden Plas released The Seraphic Clockwork back in 2010 but that’s not to say they haven’t been busy…far from it. German best-selling author Wolfgang Hohlbein suggested a collaboration with … Continue reading
Album review: IRON SAVIOR – Rise Of The Hero
AFM Records www.afmrecords.de There is a fair number of German metal bands that have a direct link to Helloween in one form or another. Iron Savior were founded by ex-Helloween man Kai Hansen, then Blind Guardian drummer Thomen Stauch and … Continue reading
Album review: FREEDOM CALL – Beyond
SPV [Release date 24.04.14] Album number eight from Freedom Call and a couple of line-up changes with a new drummer Ramy Ali, along with the return of original bass player Ilker Irsin. I have to admit Freedom Call are one … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Beyond, Freedom Call, Gamma Ray, Helloween, metal, power metal, review
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News: FIRST NAMES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 50th CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL
FESTIVAL HONOURED WITH THE GOOD TRADITION AWARD AT THE BBC RADIO 2 FOLK AWARDS 31 July & 1, 2, 3 August 2014 The legendary Van Morrison will make his debut at Cambridge Folk Festival this year, as headliner for its … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS
Tagged 50th CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL, Afro Celt Soundsystem, August 2014, Cambridge Folk Festival, Cara Dillon, folk, Full English, July 2014, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, line-up, Peggy Seeger, Richard Thompson, Rosanne Cash, Sinead O'Connor, Van Morrison
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News: Final Led Zeppelin UK gigs at Knebworth chronicled as never before in new book…
Led Zeppelin Then As it Was – At Knebworth 1979 (Tight But Loose Publishing) – Written and compiled by Dave Lewis In August 1979, thousands of fans came to pay homage to Led Zeppelin as they performed what would be … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Books, NEWS
Tagged Dave Lewis, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Knebworth, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin Then As it Was – At Knebworth 1979Tight But Loose Publishing, news, Robert Plant, Tight But Loose fanzine
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DVD review: JULIAN LENNON – Through The Picture Window
www.julianlennon.com This is a fascinating DVD, although you can get lost in the novel menu set up based on an art gallery. The DVD features his latest album ‘Through The Picture Window’, which has been turned into a visual album … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged Bono, DVD review, Julian Lennon, Music From Another Room, pop rock, Through The Picture Window, U2
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Single reviews: PRINCE & 3RDEYEGIRL, LISBEE STAINTON, PICTUREHOUSE, JOHN LENNON McCULLAGH
PRINCE & 3RDEYEGIRL – Pretzelbodylogic www.3rdeyegirl.com Prince has been playing a series of last minute gigs in London under the ‘Hit And Run’ moniker, ranging from intimate venues to the larger Shepherd’s Bush Empore. This is his new musical project, … Continue reading
Album review: VAN CANTO – Dawn Of The Brave
Napalm Records A capella metal anyone? Amazingly this is Van Canto’s fifth album and they perform all the music on here bar the drums, so that’s all the bass and guitar solos. They have a good sense of humour as … Continue reading
Album review: ADRIAN GALYSH – Tone Poet
www.adriangalysh.com [Release date 03.12.13] Not a name I have come across before, although Adrian Galysh has been releasing albums since 1998 (this is his fourth solo album) and has toured in Uli Jon Roth’s band. He has won plaudits from fellow … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged ADRIAN GALYSH, album, guitar, guitarist, Malmsteen, Mark Boals, review, Ring of Fire, Styx, Todd Sucherman, Tone Poet
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Album review: VANISHING POINT – Distant Is The Sun
AFM Records www.afmrecords.de Another German metal band you might think…but no…Vanishing Point are Australian, they play progressive metal and this is their fifth studio album and the first since The Fourth Season back in 2007. The band has been lead … Continue reading
