Author Archives: jason

EP review: SILVEROLLER – At Dawn

Posted on March 25, 2024 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 01.03.24] Silveroller announced their presence last year with a line-up of respected blues guitarist Aaron Keylock joined by drummer Joe Major, bassist Tadhg Bean Bradley, organist Ross Munro and a real vocal find in Jonnie Hodson. Boy, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Aaron Keylock, At Dawn, blues, blues rock, classic rock, debut, EP, hard rock, Jonnie Hodson, review, Silveroller | Leave a comment

Interview: JOHN McCOY & DAVE QUINCY

Posted on March 22, 2024 by jason

ZZEBRA - Hungry Horse (Live In Germany 1975)

Fusion/prog rock band Zzebra recorded two studio albums in the mid 70s (and a 3rd in 1975 that remained unreleased for 35 years), and some wonderful music that should have been much more in the public eye. Joe Geesin recently interviewed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged bassist, Bernie Torme, David Quincy, fusion, Gillan, Hungry Horse, interview, Jazz rock, John McCoy, live album, prog rock, saxophonist/flutist, Zzebra | Leave a comment

Rising Stars: WYNONA BLEACH (interview)

Posted on March 19, 2024 by jason

Mixing alternative rock, shoegaze and power pop, Wynona Bleach are a 5-piece from Belfast, NI. 2021 saw them sign to legendary indie label Fierce Panda (Coldplay, Placebo, Death Cab For Cutie); in early 2022 the band’s debut album Moonsoake was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged alt pop, Fierce Panda, indie pop, interview, new music, Rising Stars, Swim In The Bay, Wynona Bleach | Leave a comment

Gig review: NINEBARROW – Harwell Village Hall, 15 March 2024

Posted on March 16, 2024 by jason

A pleasing sign to read on the doors tonight – sold out. Live music maybe in intensive care in some cases but signs of recovery are thankfully showing. Opening tonight were Oxfordshire female duo Wednesday’s Wolves, who I had first seen … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged folk, Friday 15 March 2024, gig, Harwell Village Hall, Ninebarrow, review, traditional music, Wednesday's Wolves | Leave a comment

Album review: AMELIA COBURN – Between The Moon And The Milkman

Posted on March 10, 2024 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 08.03.24] Amelia Coburn maybe releasing her debut album, however, she has been building up her musical reputation having reached the finals of the BBC2 Radio Folk Awards, participated in the English Folk Expo Artist Mentoring Scheme and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Amelia Coburn, Between the Moon and the Milkman, folk, indie, review, singer songwriter | 1 Comment

Quick plays: RICHARD TRETHEWEY, THE SCHMOOZENBERGS

Posted on March 6, 2024 by jason

Richard Trethewey – Two Halves [Release date 15.03.24] Second album from Cornish musician Richard Trethewey is one that was first imagined for vinyl, as side one is songs inspired from Cornwall’s river estuaries, whilst side two would feature songs based … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Americana, folk, instrumental, Ma Polaine's Great Decline, Molecules, mouse, pop, Richard Trethewey, singer songwriter, the Schmoozenbergs, traditional, Two Halves | Leave a comment

EP review: EDIT THE TIDE – Reflections In Sound

Posted on March 4, 2024 by jason

Facebook [Release date 26.04.24] Bridgend’s Edit The Tide emerged in April 2023 and are now poised to make a big splash with their inaugural EP, ‘Reflections in Sound’ this April 2024. Comprising accomplished musicians who’ve shared stages with rock giants, their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Edit the Tide, EP, indie, metal, modern rock, Reflections In Sound, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: CARL PALMER – Fanfare For The Common Man

Posted on March 3, 2024 by jason

BMG [Release date 05.04.24] Drummer Carl Palmer has had a long and distinguished career, most notably as a founder of prog rock super group Emerson Lake & Palmer. Prior to that he’d toured with Arthur Brown and co-founded Atomic Rooster, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Asia, box set, Carl Palmer, classic rock, drummer, ELP, Fanfare for the Common Man, Greg Lake, Keith Emerson, prog rock, review | Leave a comment

News: EPICA, KATE BUSH, LOVERBOY (March 2024)

Posted on March 2, 2024 by jason

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

Jon Anderson’s 1988 album ‘In The City Of Angels’, is to be reissued on May 3 through the Floating World/Voiceprint. Babylon A.D. release their new studio album ‘Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day’ in May. Sebastian Bach releases his latest solo album, ‘Child Within … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Epica, folk, gigs, Kate Bush, Loverboy, melodic rock, metal, news, prog rock, reissues, RIP, rock, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review: ZZEBRA – Hungry Horse (Live In Germany 1975)

Posted on February 19, 2024 by jason

MIG Music [Release date 13.12.23] Fusion/prog rock band Zzebra recorded two studio albums in the mid 70s (and a 3rd in 1975 that remained unreleased for 35 years), and some wonderful music that should have been much more in the public … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, fusion, Gillan, Hungry Horse (Live In Germany 1975), John McCoy, prog rock, review, rock, Zzebra | Leave a comment

Gig review: FAIRPORT CONVENTION – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, Tuesday 13 February 2024

Posted on February 16, 2024 by jason

Fairport Convention, Cropredy - 9 August 2014

“We became big fish in a very small pond” Simon Nicol says with usual modesty about Fairport Convention’s leap from the nascent folk band to suddenly becoming the poster children of the flourishing folk rock movement, brought about by a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Bury St Edmunds, Chris Leslie, Dave Mattacks, Dave Pegg, Fairport Convention, folk, folk rock, gig, review, Ric Sanders, Simon Nichol, The Apex, Tuesday 13 February 2024 | Leave a comment

Album review: REVOLUTION SAINTS – Against The Winds

Posted on February 14, 2024 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 09.02.24] Album number five from Revolution Saints, the band led by Journey vocalist/drummer Deen Castronovo who first debuted in 2015. Revolution Saints had a major line-up change back in 2022 with Deen Castronovo joined by Foreigner bassist Jeff … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Against The Winds, album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Deen Castronova, Foreigner, Frontiers, hard rock, Jeff Pilson, Joel Hoekstra, Journey, melodic hard rock, melodic rock, review, Revolution Saints, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: SLADE – Till Deaf Do Us Part, Live At The New Victoria

Posted on February 11, 2024 by jason

BMG [Release date 23.02.24] BMG’s Slade reissue campaign continues with two more albums (both on CD and coloured vinyl). Formed by Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Dave Hill and Don Powell in the late 60s, the band found enormous success with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, BMG, classic rock, glam rock, hard rock, Jim Lea, live album, Live At The New Victoria, Noddy Holder, reissue, review, Slade, Till Deaf Do Us Part | Leave a comment

Interview: BRING BACK PERSEPHONE

Posted on February 9, 2024 by jason

I have been involved in the music industry long enough to know that bands with passion and clear musical vision are not lacking in this world. One such band, Metalcore enthusiasts Bring Back Persephone, just so happens to hail from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged Bring Back Persephone, Dead Man’s Hand, Dennis (guitars), interview, Kostas (vocals), Lars Ulrich, metal, metalcore, Rising Stars, Spotify | Leave a comment

Single review: COLLATERAL – Glass Sky

Posted on February 9, 2024 by jason

YouTube [Release date 09.02.24] Kent rockers Collateral return with this stadium sized groove monster and it’s here to set the world alight. Kings of the giant hook and blistering melodic rock riffs, this is another barnstorming number that grows and grows … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Collateral, Glass Sky, hard rock, melodic hard rock, review, rock, single | Leave a comment

Gig review: FLORENCE BLACK – Manchester Academy 3, 3 February 2024

Posted on February 6, 2024 by jason

As I entered the venue for the sold out show saw a diverse crowd with a nice mix of ages. The atmosphere was already rocking and they hadn’t even hit the stage yet. I managed to catch the last few … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 3 February 2024, classic rock, Florence Black, gig, hard rock, James And The Cold Gun, Manchester Academy 3, punk, review, rock, Trucker Diablo | Leave a comment

Album review: JACK J HUTCHINSON – Battles

Posted on February 4, 2024 by jason

Website [Release date 09.02.24] Jack J Hutchinson is back with another jam packed album full of riffs, hard rocking blues and catchy choruses. ‘Battles’ is produced & co-written with Josiah J Manning (Kris Barras Band, Inglorious), with fellow Kris Barras … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Battles, blues rock, guitarist, hard rock, Jack J. Hutchinson, melodic, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: ROBERT HART – Circus Life

Posted on January 30, 2024 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 26.01.24] A new solo album by former Bad Company and Distance singer Robert Hart is always a ‘must listen’ for any melodic hard rock fan. On this album he is joined by Heartland’s Steve Morris and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bad Company, blues rock, Circus Life, FM, hard rock, Harry James, Heartland, Lonerider, melodic rock, review, Robert Hart, Solo, Steve Morris, Steve Overland, Thunder | Leave a comment

News: ELLES BAILEY, HEART, BON JOVI (February 2024)

Posted on January 30, 2024 by jason

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR - O2 Ritz, Manchester, 17 March 2019

Lee Aaron will be releasing a covers album ‘Tattoo Me’ via Metalville Records on April 26. Ayreon release ’01011001 – Live Beneath The Waves’ through Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group on May 17. Elles Bailey releases a new EP ‘The Night Owl & the Lark’ on February … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Bon Jovi, Elles Bailey, folk, gigs, Heart, melodic rock, metal, news, prog rock, reissues, RIP, rock, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review: LITTLE LORE – Seven Stories (Parts one and two)

Posted on January 21, 2024 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 23.02.24] Tricia Duffy, aka Little Lore, release the second part of her album in two parts/EPs. This version collates all seven songs together and is also available on CD, as well as download and streaming. Producer and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Americana, folk, Little Lore, pop, review, Seven Stories (Parts one and two), singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: RICHARD THOMPSON BAND – Live In Nottingham 1986

Posted on January 13, 2024 by jason

Store For Music [Release date 26.01.24] An archive live performance released on CD for the first time (and with the blessing of Richard Thompson, which is not always the case with these live CDs), recorded on his 1986 tour. Angel … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Christine Collister, Clive Gregson, Fairport Convention, Gerry Conway, guitarist, Jethro Tull, live album, Live In Nottingham 1986, review, Richard Thompson, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: EXIT EDEN – Femme Fatales

Posted on January 12, 2024 by jason

Napalm Records [Release date 12.01.24] Exit Eden are down to the trio of Clémentine Delauney (Visions Of Atlantis), Anna Brunner (League Of Distortion) and Marina La Torraca (Phantom Elite), for this, their second album, after Amanda Somerville left the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Amanda Somerville, Anna Brunner, Clémentine Delauney, Exit Eden, Femme Fatales, Heart, League Of Distortion, Marillion, Marina La Torraca, melodic metal, Napalm Records, Nightwish, Pet Shop Boys, Phantom Elite, symphonic metal, Visions Of Atlantis | Leave a comment

EP review: VALHALLA AWAITS – Perdition

Posted on January 12, 2024 by jason

Facebook [Release date 08.03.24] Having seen Phil Campbell and TBS perform at Hard Rock Hell festival a couple of times I was excited to hear Andrew Hunt featured on this EP by Valhalla Awaits, so was expecting nothing less than … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged EP, hard rock, heavy rock, modern rock, Perdition, Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons, review, rock, Valhalla Awaits | Leave a comment

Album review: TIMSON AOR – Forever’s Not Enough

Posted on January 12, 2024 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 12.01.24] As the Bandcamp blurb states, Timson AOR are “A band landing 40 years late!! Reviving the classic 1980s Hard Rock, Power Ballad era we all love and miss.” To be fair, many artists have tried to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR. Forever's Not Enough, melodic rock, review, Timson | Leave a comment

Album review: MARTYN JOSEPH – This Is What I Want To Say

Posted on January 1, 2024 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 12.01.24] ‘This Is What I Want To Say’ sees Martyn Joseph in stripped back acoustic mode, aided by a few guest musicians, most notably the mournful cello playing of Liz Hanks. ‘Albert’s Place’ is a beautiful song, … Continue reading →