Author Archives: jason

Single & EP reviews: I AM I, IAN TOOMEY, KILL FOR EDEN

Posted on November 11, 2013 by jason
KILL FOR EDEN – Living On Mars

KILL FOR EDEN – Living On Mars (EP) Kill For Eden pushed out one of the most accomplished and promising metal debuts of the year this Spring. The band’s hallmarks are all about giant hooks, dynamic vocals and craftily insistent … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE FIERCE & THE DEAD – Spooky Action

Posted on November 11, 2013 by jason

Bad Elephant Music www.fierceanddead.com An all instrumental album can often be a hard sell but when the music is as varied and enjoyable as this it’s not an issue. The Fierce and the Dead comprise of Matt Stevens (guitars), Kevin … Continue reading →

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Album review: TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA – Tales Of Winter Selections From The TSO Rock Operas

Posted on November 9, 2013 by jason

Decca [Release date 02.12.13] A timely ‘best of’ from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, who embark on a European tour in January after their traditional US pre-Christmas tour (the band are so popular they run two versions of the band in the … Continue reading →

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Interview: ZP Theart of I Am I

Posted on November 8, 2013 by jason

Vocalist ZP Theart first came to prominence fronting power metal band Dragonforce for ten years before leaving in 2010. Since then he has formed I Am I who released their debut album, ‘Event Horizon’ last year and now release a … Continue reading →

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Album review: BLACK LABEL SOCIETY – Unblackened

Posted on November 5, 2013 by jason
Black Label Society - Unblackened

Armoury Records [Release date 23.09.13] Recorded at the Club Nokia in Los Angeles this highlights Zakk Wylde and the Black Label Society in acoustic mode, well as acoustic as Zakk Wylde can get! Derek Sherinian (Black Country Communion/Dream Theater) is … Continue reading →

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Album review: LISA CUTHBERT – Paramour

Posted on November 4, 2013 by jason

www.lisacuthbert.com This is Lisa Cuthbert’s second album and she is joined by various guests including Sisters Of Mercy’s Dave Creffield (she’s appeared live with them) and she has supported Marillion. The album is a moving concept piece based on the … Continue reading →

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DVD review: MORRISSEY – 25Live

Posted on November 3, 2013 by jason

Eagle Rock www.eagle-rock.com This live DVD was shot at the intimate Hollywood High School in Los Angeles to mark Morrissey’s twenty five years as a solo artist. It’s a fans set list including some Smiths classics like ‘Meat Is Murder’ … Continue reading →

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Interview: JUSTIN FURSTENFELD of BLUE OCTOBER

Posted on November 1, 2013 by jason

Blue October has recently released their latest album ‘Sway’ which is one of my albums of the year and from band I had not heard of previously. As the band prepare for their upcoming European tour (including November 17th Birmingham … Continue reading →

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Quick Plays: DAVID GATES, MISTRESS, CRASHDIET, REINXEED, SAVATAGE

Posted on October 27, 2013 by jason

MISTRESS  Loveteaser www.reverbnation.com/mistressrockband New Zealand band Mistress wants to bring back that 80’s hair metal sound…on a £2.53 budget judging by the sound. Mind you legendary producer Beau Hill does remix one song on here, ‘She’s A Sinner’. Siggy Signal … Continue reading →

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Book review: The Beach Boys In Concert by Ian Rusten and Jon Stebbins

Posted on October 26, 2013 by jason

Backbeat Books www.backbeatbooks.com You could sum this review up simply as this book is perfect for the avid Beach Boys fan. It lists nearly all of their concerts from their early days up until their 2012 reunion, although the later … Continue reading →

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Album review: STRYPER – No More Hell To Pay

Posted on October 25, 2013 by jason
Stryper - No More Hell To Pay

Frontiers [Release date 04.11.13] Stryper were never one of my favourite Christian rock bands back in the days when I would seek out the new releases by Petra, Bloodgood, White Heart, X-Sinner and White Cross. The glammed up “guys” (from … Continue reading →

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Album review: JONO – Requiem

Posted on October 23, 2013 by jason

www.jontheband.se Another great musical discovery from Sweden. Jono are centred around vocalist Johan Norrby who is joined by Within Temptation guitarist Stefan Hellebald and drummer Nicka Hellenberg, who appeared on the last Within Temptation album. Completing the line-up are Johan … Continue reading →

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Album review: IRON MASK – Fifth Son Of Winterdom

Posted on October 21, 2013 by jason

AFM Records www.afmrecords.de Iron Mask are another new band on me though Fifth Son of Winterdoom is their fifth studio release following on from Revenge Is My Name (2002), Hordes of the Brave (2005), Shadow of the Red Baron (2010) … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: BLACK RAINBOWS, NEVER TRUST, TIM GRIMM, JADED HEART

Posted on October 20, 2013 by jason
Never Trust - Morning Light

BLACK RAINBOWS – Holy Moon (EP) Heavy Psych Sounds Something in the Italian water as they not only produce a series of fine melodic rock/AOR bands but now have some rather good stoner/psych rock bands including this band Black Rainbows. … Continue reading →

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Gig review: ALTER BRIDGE, SHINEDOWN, HALESTORM – Wembley Arena, 18 October 2013

Posted on October 19, 2013 by jason
Alter Bridge, Glasgow, 21 October 2013

Alter Bridge were back headlining Wembley Arena for the second time in as many years with Shinedown and Halestorm in support. The arena looked close to a sell out and with the seating removed in the arena area there were … Continue reading →

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Album review: TEARS FOR FEARS – The Hurting (30th anniversary edition)

Posted on October 19, 2013 by jason

Universal (3CD/DVD set) A real treat for Tears For Fears fans as this four disc set contains a DVD of the band’s 1984 show at the Hammersmith Odean; the original album; a disc of BBC sessions and a disc of … Continue reading →

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Album review: DEL BROMHAM – Nine Yards

Posted on October 15, 2013 by jason
Del Bromham - Nine Yards

Angel Air [Release date: 02.09.13] Del Bromham is best known for his output with Stray. Hook-laden bluesy hard rock, Stray had their heyday in the mid-70’s. Despite some decent selling albums, mainstream success seemed to evade them. Bromham has kept … Continue reading →

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Gig Review: QUEENSRYCHE – Islington Academy, 12 October 2013

Posted on October 14, 2013 by jason

Queensryche are the benchmark against which any progressive metal band must measure themselves. But they’ve had troubled times. Recent albums have sold poorly and last year, front man Geoff Tate was unceremoniously dumped after a back stage bust up. Tate … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE LUCID DREAM – Songs of Lies and Deceit

Posted on October 13, 2013 by jason
THE LUCID DREAM – Songs of Lies and Deceit

Holy Are You Recordings [Release date 01.10.13] A joyous little collection of reverb mayhem. ‘Songs of Lies and Deceit’ is rooted securely in the quality pop jangle of The Stone Roses and the Jesus and Mary Chain. The Lucid Dream … Continue reading →

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Album review: IN THE SILENCE – A Dream Gone Mad

Posted on October 13, 2013 by jason

Sensory [Release date 27.01.14] An interesting new band. In The Silence, hailing from Sacremento, California, have released their first full-length album of dark, doom, prog crossover material. ‘A Dream Gone Mad’ is an album of two halves in many ways. … Continue reading →

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Gig review: STATE OF EDEN – The Jubilee, Sunbury, 12 October 2013

Posted on October 13, 2013 by jason

State Of Eden played their second gig and their first in a public venue, the cosy Jubilee pub. Only downside is the pub’s layout meant you can only see half of the band in certain areas due a wall blocking … Continue reading →

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Album review: ALTER BRIDGE – Fortress

Posted on October 13, 2013 by jason
Alter Bridge - Fortress

Roadrunner [Release date 25.09.13] After their well received ‘III’ album and Myles Kennedy gaining yet more exposure as part of Slash’s band, Alter Bridge are back and the expectations are high for this new album. Fear not as they have … Continue reading →

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Album review: COLDSPELL – Frozen Paradise

Posted on October 13, 2013 by jason
Coldspell

Escape Music www.escape-music.com Album number three from ColdSpell and Tommy Hansen (Helloween/Pretty Maids) is again at the mixing desk. Good to see the keyboards and Hammond playing of Matti Eklund higher in the mix and like the Pretty Maids the … Continue reading →

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Interview: 10Q’s with THE ANSWER

Posted on October 9, 2013 by jason

 Singer Cormac Neeson gives the latest on the new Answer album ‘New Horizon’ ahead of their upcoming European tour dates… 1. What are you currently up to? (recording, gigs, plans etc.) – I’m just back from a promo trip to … Continue reading →

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Album review: JOE COCKER – Live At Montreux 1987

Posted on October 9, 2013 by jason
Joe Cocker - Live In Montreux 1987

Eagle Rock (CD/DVD) [Release date 07.10.13] Joe Cocker’s career started in 1961, although he didn’t release a solo album until 1969. Remarkably the songs he is best known for singing were written by other people, yet he has the ability to … Continue reading →

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