Author Archives: jason

Album review: RIOT ACT – Closer To The Flame

Riot Act - Closer to the Flame

Global Rock Records [Release date 01.04.22] This is the debut album from Riot Act, the band initially formed by former ‘classic era’ Riot members Rick Ventura and Lou Kouvaris and it is a must listen to for any classic hard … Continue reading

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News: JOURNEY, MIKE BATT, TIM BOWNESS (April 2022)

Journey - Manchester MEN, 23 May 2013 - Photo by Steve Goudie

Altaria release their new album ‘Wisdom’ on July 8 via Atomic Fire Records. Alter Bridge plan to release their new album in September. Atomic Kings – vocalist Ken Ronk, bassist Greg Chaisson (Badlands, ex-Red Dragon Cartel), guitarist Ryan McKay and drummer Jim Taft … Continue reading

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EP review: THE BLOODY NERVE – Act II Reckoning

THE BLOODY NERVE - Act II Reckoning

Website [Release date 25.03.22] Act II/episode 2 of the Bloody Nerve’s new album ‘All Blood, No Treasure’. Unlike most artists who release a new album whole, the Bloody Nerve are releasing their new album in instalments. The Bloody Nerve revolve … Continue reading

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Album review: JOHN ELEFANTE – The Amazing Grace

JOHN-ELEFANTE -The-Amazing-Grace

Escape Music [Release date 22.04.22] John Elefante is probably best known amongst rock fans for his time in Kansas in the early 80’s when he replaced Steve Walsh. After leaving Kansas he worked as a producer for Christian artists including … Continue reading

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Album review: THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Toward The Fray

THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Toward The Fray

Americana Vibes/regime Music Group [Release date 25.03.22] GRAMMY Award-winning bluegrass, folk and Americana outfit, the Infamous Stringdusters, have been making music since 2006 and ‘Toward the Fray’ is the band’s first original album since 2019’s ‘Rise Sun’. The Infamous Stringdusters … Continue reading

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Album review: PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS – Only Passing Through

PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS – Only Passing Through

InsideOut Music [Release date 01.04.22] Pattern-Seeking Animals consists of current and former Spock’s Beard members Ted Leonard, Jimmy Keegan and Dave Meros in addition to long-time contributing songwriter-producer John Boegehold. ‘Only Passing Through’ is the band’s third album and again … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE PORTRAITS & DOM PRAG, Harwell Village Hall, Friday 18 March 2022

THE PORTRAITS - For Our Times

Another lovely little venue literally on my doorstep, where Big Ginger Tom Music have been putting on monthly folk themed gigs for a few years now. Of course the pandemic brought a halt to these, but credit to the husband … Continue reading

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Album review: CIRCLE OF FRIENDS – The Garden

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS - The Garden

Escape Records [Release date 25.03.22] ‘The Garden’ is the album put together by Bruce Mee (of Fireworks magazine) as a tribute to his mother, who died of cancer in 2020. The studio project is called Circle of Friends because the … Continue reading

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Album review: PHARMACOSE – Prescription Fiction

Pharmacose - Prescription Fiction

Indie [Release date 22.02.22] Rock is a genre that holds the key to so many subgenres. The umbrella term for so many artists, it may seem too broad a word. But sometimes we really do just need the reliability of … Continue reading

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Album review: THE VIBRATORS – The Albums 1985-1990

THE VIBRATORS – The Albums 1985-1990

Captain Oi!/Cherry Red One of the finest bands of the original punk era, the early years of The Vibrators have already been comprehensively collected by Cherry Red in two previous box sets. Their commercially successful years were well behind them … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACK VALLEY MOON – Songs From The Black Valley

BLACK VALLEY MOON - Songs From The Black Valley

Otitis Media Records [Release date 25.02.22] Black Valley Moon was formed in 2019 by guitarist Sam Williams (Down By Law) and started as an instrumental surf band, however, during the recent global pandemic they added vocalist Ray Vega. The band … Continue reading

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Album review: ANDY IRVINE & PAUL BRADY

Andy Irvine & Paul Brady

Compass Records [Release date 04.03.22] Andy Irvine/Paul Brady is an album recorded by Andy Irvine and Paul Brady when they formed a duo, after Planxty broke up for the first time in 1975. For this recording they were joined by … Continue reading

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Quick plays: PAUL TASKER, BLACK LAKES, D’ERCOLE

PAUL TASKER Tierra Quemada

PAUL TASKER Tierra Quemada Yellowroom Records [Release date 01.04.22] Paul Tasker is now releasing his second instrumental album, best known for being co-songwriter with Doghouse Roses and a previous member of the Willard Grant Conspiracy. The album’s title translates to … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE HAWKMEN – The Face Bar, Reading, Thursday 3 March 2022

THE HAWKMEN FACEBAR 1

New venue to this reviewer, the Face Bar is a nice little venue tucked away from the main nightlife area of Reading. One thing Reading certainly has is a lively and varied nightlife! A decent sized crowd for a Thursday … Continue reading

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Single review: MORS PRINCIPIUM EST – The Lust Called Knowledge

MORS PRINCIPIUM EST - The Lust Called Knowledge

AFM Records You have to confess that the emphasis is on the “Melodic” when Mors Prncipium Est are described as Melodic Death Metal. New album, ‘Liberate The Unborn Humanity’, which is an interesting proposition, is due out on 8 April … Continue reading

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News: SKID ROW, STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL, BOWLING FOR SOUP (March 2022)

Belle and Sebastian’s new album ‘A Bit Of Previous’ will arrive on May 6 via Matador. Graham Bonnet Band will release a new album, ‘Day Out In Nowhere’, on May 13 via Frontiers. Don Airey guests on one song. Bowling For Soup … Continue reading

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EP review: THE CRUX – Time and Space

THE CRUX – Time and Space

Facebook [Release date 22.04.22] The Crux were founded in 2009 by heavy metal loving brothers James Boyd & Neil Ward. Having released a self-titled EP in 2009 under the name Warcrux, they played multiple shows in Northern Ireland & Ireland … Continue reading

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Album review: BIRD IN THE BELLY – After The City

BIRD IN THE BELLY – After The City

GF*M Records [Release date 25.02.22] Bird in the Belly return with their third record ‘After the City’. A concept record based around the novel ‘After London; or Wild England’ by Richard Jefferies, is an early example of post-apocalyptic fiction first … Continue reading

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Album review: THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE – Fascination

The Birthday Massacre – Fascination

Metropolis Records [Release date 18.02.22] Have you ever craved the thick tones of electric guitars over synths in a dark, electronic cocktail of gothic delightfulness? The Birthday Massacre might just be the thing you are missing. Unless of course, like … Continue reading

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Album review: SEAN TAYLOR – The Beat Goes On

sean taylor the beat goes on

www.seantaylorsongs.com [Release date 14.01.22] Sean Taylor said he has made a deliberate attempt to accentuate a positive message of enjoying life through arts, love, music, things that bring people together. He sings “lose yourself in music, feel every note that … Continue reading

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Interview: RONNI LE TEKRO

thumbnail_Ronni Le Tekrø 2 - photo credits Carl Eek

Ronni Le Tekrø is considered one of the world’s most influential metal guitarists, first and foremost with his band TNT, but also as a solo artist and studio musician. Tekrø has sold over 4 Million albums with TNT and was … Continue reading

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Gig review: CHANTEL McGREGOR & AYNSLEY LISTER – The Stables, Milton Keynes, 6 February 2022

Chantel McGregor - RAMBLIN' MAN FESTIVAL - Day 3 - Mote Park, Maidstone - 21 July 2019

Original co-headliner, Finnish guitarist Erja Lyytinen, was unable to travel due to Covid restrictions. Fortunately, Chantel McGregor could call upon an old friend, Aynsley Lister, to join her for three nights of her tour, the last of which was at … Continue reading

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Album review: TRICK OR TREAT – Creepy Symphonies

TRICK OR TREAT – Creepy Symphonies

Scarlet Records [Release date 01.04.22] ‘Creepy Symphonies’ is the seventh studio album from Trick Or Treat, who always entertain with their music. Like Freedom Call, Trick Or Treat like to think of their music as happy metal. Vocalist Alle Conti … Continue reading

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EP review: LORDS OF RUIN – Ruin Within

LORDS OF RUIN - Ruin Within

Website [Release 24.01.22; streaming services from 14.02.22] Metal band, Lords of Ruin have released their long-awaited debut EP, following the inevitable Covid delays to production and release, which have affected so many up-and-coming bands. It literally stalled them in their … Continue reading

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Single review: SKINNY KNOWLEDGE – I Wonder

SKINNY KNOWLEDGE - I Wonder

Facebook [Release date 25.02.22] Bournemouth based rockers, Skinny Knowledge follow up on their awesome debut album, ‘Don’t Turn Out the Lights’ with a new single, ‘I Wonder’. The single continues the band’s own brand of high energy, alternative rock that … Continue reading

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