Author Archives: jason

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 →

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, folk, Martyn Joseph, review, singer songwriter, This Is What I Want To Say | Leave a comment

News: KREATOR, ARCH ENEMY, DAN PATLANSKY (January 2024)

Posted on December 31, 2023 by jason

Art Of Anarchy release their third studio album, ‘Let There Be Anarchy’, on February 16 via Pavement Music. Jon Votta (guitar),Vince Votta (drums) and guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal are joined by vocalist Jeff Scott Soto and bassist Tony Dickinson. The Black Keys new album ‘Ohio Players’ is due … Continue reading →

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

Album review: TALK – Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees

Posted on December 31, 2023 by jason

Capitol Records [Release date 20.10.23] Nicholas Durocher, known professionally as Talk, is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician from Ottawa, who recently released his debut album, ‘Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees’, which charted at number 33 in his native … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, Imagine Dragons, Lord of the Flies & Birds & Bees, melodic, pop rock, review, rock, talk, theatrical rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THE SURVIVAL CODE – Whispers of Woes

Posted on December 31, 2023 by jason

Website [Release date 26.01.24] The Survival Code are an independent London based rock duo with a passion for RIFFS, SOARING MELODIES, BANGIN’ DRUMS and some of the most energetic live shows you’ll ever see. Best known for their song “So … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Biffy Clyro, Foo Fighters, modern rock, review, rock, the Survival Code, Whispers of Woe | Leave a comment

Gig review: OCEAN COLOUR SCENE – Eventim Apollo, 16 December 2023

Posted on December 20, 2023 by jason

There’s always been a sense that, despite their success, Ocean Colour Scene have been one of the most under rated bands to emerge during those heady, somewhat hedonistic days of the Britpop era. Certainly, whilst the constant inclusion of one … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Eventim Apollo, gig, Hammersmith Apollo, Ocean Colour Scene, Paul Weller, pop, pop rock, PP Arnold, review, rock, Saturday 16 December 2023, Simon Fowler, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: AUTUMN’S CHILD – Tellus Timeline

Posted on December 17, 2023 by jason

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 19.01.23] Album number five from Autumn’s Dream, and like the band they morphed from, Last Autumn’s Dream, they are regular as clockwork releasing a new album at the start of each year. Mikael Erlandsson … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Autumn’s Child, glam rock, hard rock, Jim Jidhed, melodic rock, Mikael Erlandsson, review, rock, Tellus Timeline | Leave a comment

Quick plays: OUR MAN IN THE FIELD, TRAGIK, THE LAST HURRAH(!!)

Posted on December 13, 2023 by jason

OUR MAN IN THE FIELD Gold On The Horizon In The Field Recordings [Release date 03.11.23] Our Man In the Field is not a band per se as it’s the pseudonym of British singer/songwriter Alex Ellis. He released his debut … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums. Our Man In The Field, Beatles, hard rock, indie, melodic, melodic hard rock, Phil Vincent, Quick Play, reviews, singer songwriter, The Last Hurrah (!!), Tragik | Leave a comment

Album review: BAD TOUCH – Bittersweet Satisfaction

Posted on December 10, 2023 by jason

Marshall Records [Release date 08.12.23] Album number six from Bad Touch. An important one for them as they are just hovering on that cusp of jumping up a level like say Those Damn Crows and Mason Hill, as they have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bad Touch, Bittersweet Satisfaction, hard rock, melodic, review, rock | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…THE BEAT, DEPECHE MODE

Posted on December 10, 2023 by jason

On Track…The Beat, General Public & Fine Young Cannibals by Steve Parry Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 30.06.23] A fascinating read into how the Beat led to the creation of General Public (who many may ask and they once supported Queen!) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 80's pop, alternative, books, Depeche Mode, electronica, Fine Young Cannibals, General Public, On Track, pop, review, rock, synth pop, The Beat | Leave a comment

Album review: STEELEYE SPAN – The Green Man Collection

Posted on December 2, 2023 by jason

Park Records [Release date 01.12.23] Steeleye Span went into the studio in September of this year to record four new tracks for inclusion on this collection, which also includes two newly recorded studio tracks from 2019, six songs selected from … Continue reading →