Author Archives: jason

Book review: FAIRPORT CONVENTION On Track – Every Song, Every Album by Kevan Furbank

Posted on April 13, 2020 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 26.03.20] The ‘On Track’ series by publishers Sonic Bond provides an album by album, track by track overview of a number of artists. The latest in the series to get this treatment are British folk-rock legends … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Dave Pegg, Every Album, Fairport Convention, folk, folk rock, Kevan Furbank, On Track Every Song, review, Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol, Sonicbound Publishing | 1 Comment

Quick plays: KIRSTY MERRYN, TOM KITCHING, GRACES COLLIDE

Posted on April 12, 2020 by jason

KIRSTY MERRYN Our Bright Night [Release date 24.04.20] Kirsty Merryn has only been on the folk scene for a few years, yet already she has been making a name for herself with glowing reviews for her debut album and supporting … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, fiddle, folk, Graces Collide, instrumental, Kirsty Merryn, modern rock, Our Bright Night, review, Sam Kelly, Seasons Of Change, singer songwriter, Tom Kitching | 1 Comment

Album review: CAPTAIN BLACKBEARD – Sonic Forces

Posted on April 12, 2020 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 24.04.20] Swedish band Captain Blackbeard released their fourth album, ‘Struck By Lightning’ in 2018 with then new singer Liv Hansson on MelodicRock Records. It was produced Jona Tee (keyboardist in H.e.a.t.) and it was a pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR Heaven, Brother Firetribe, Captain Blackbird, H.E.A.T., hard rock, melodic rock, review, Sonic Forces | Leave a comment

Album review: PAVEY ARK – Close Your Eyes and Think of Nothing

Posted on April 11, 2020 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 20.03.20] Some music transcends its place and time and becomes truly a work of art for the ages. Pavey Ark’s ‘Close Your Eyes and Think of Nothing’ has joined that elite club and is truly one of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Close Your Eyes and Think of Nothing, folk, melodic, Pavey Ark, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: PURE REASON REVOLUTION – Eupnea

Posted on April 11, 2020 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 03.04.20] Reunions can be a tricky thing, sometimes a welcome return that reinvigorates a band, letting them dip into their back catalogue and bringing new gems but, more often than not, a last chance cash grab. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, electronica, Eupnea, Inside Out, melodic, progressive, Pure Reason Revolution, review, rock | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to DEMON

Posted on April 9, 2020 by jason

Jason Ritchie highlights the recording history of NWOBHM band Demon Formed in Stoke back in the NWOBHM the band initially lived up to their name with singer Dave Hill rising up from coffins on stage, along with lots of devil references … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged classic rock, Dave Hill, DEMON, feature, hard rock, heavy metal, introduction, melodic rock, NWOBHM, prog rock, review | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – DISTANCE – Under The One Sky

Posted on April 9, 2020 by jason

Reprise Records [1989] The Distance were a natural successor to the Power Station who featured legendary producer Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson, both of who were members of Chic. Taking the place on vocals of Robert Palmer was Robert Hart, … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged Bernard Edwards, Chic, Distance Under The One Sky, funk, melodic rock, Power Station, review, Robert Hart, rock, Tony Thompson | Leave a comment

EP review: BOOTYARD BANDITS – The Very Best Of

Posted on April 8, 2020 by jason

Facebook [Release date 17.04.20] The Bootyard Bands may play country rock/Wild West music and give the impression they hail from the US, when in fact they are from Worcester UK. Touring wise they have supported the likes of Massive Wagons … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, Black Stone Cherry, Bootyard Bandits, country rock, EP, Massive Wagons, review, rock, very best of | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – LENNY KRAVITZ – 5

Posted on April 8, 2020 by jason

Virgin [Release date 12.05.98] Lenny Kravitz has always been hard to define; it’s entirely possible to imagine Kravitz in the crowd at Woodstock or strutting down a Parisian catwalk. Despite being effortlessly cool and the very embodiment of old school … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged 5, album, Austin Powers, funk, Guess Who, Lenny Kravitz, review, rock, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: BONFIRE – Fistful Of Fire

Posted on April 7, 2020 by jason

AFM Records (Released 03/04/20) Worried that we’ve grown weary of the ten rock songs and a ballad format, Bonfire throw in a few (3 in fact) short instrumentals to punctuate the band’s well established sonic signature, on this, their 17th … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, Bonfire, Fistful Of Fire, hard rock, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: COMPASS – Our Time On Earth

Posted on April 6, 2020 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 24.04.20] The Compass story began back in December 2017 when singer songwriter Steve Newman decided to write a few songs that musically would step outside the barriers imposed by many years writing for his own band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Compass, Escape Music, melodic rock, Our Time On Earth, prog rock, review, Steve Newman | Leave a comment

Album review: ZON – Astral Projector/ORPHAN – Salute

Posted on April 5, 2020 by jason

Rock Candy [Release date 20.03.20] ZON – Astral Projector + 4 The band members’ post Zon experiences are arguably more colourful than their brief, 2 album grab at fame and fortune. And yet, the 1978 debut, “Astral Projector” promised so … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, AOR, Astral Projector, melodic rock, Orphan, pomp rock, re-issue, review, Rock Candy, Salute, Zon | Leave a comment

Album review: KHYMERA – Master Of Illusions

Posted on April 3, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 06.03.20] Album number five from Khymera, who started out as an alliance between Italian producer & musician Daniele Liverani and then Kansas singer Steve Walsh. Khymera has since developed into a regular musical project when bassist and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dennis Ward, Eric Ragno, Frontiers, hard rock, Journey, Khymera, Magnum, Master Of Illusion, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Single reviews: BAD TOUCH, DEEP PURPLE, VEGA

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jason

BAD TOUCH – Strut Norfolk’s favourite retro rockers are back with this delicious little slab of bluesy classic rock. Perfectly titled, the track rolls along, boasting some really great little classic 70’s and 80’s touches and is the most mature … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alternative, Bad Touch, classic rock, Deep Purple, melodic rock, reviews, rock, singles, Vega | Leave a comment

Album review: LEGION – Redemption

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jason

Rock Company [Release date 18.03.20] Amazingly this is Legion’s eleventh studio album since forming back in 2010. The band’s line-up has also stayed pretty consistent with vocalist Phil Vincent and guitarist Vince O’Regan joined by bassist Gavin Cooper, drummer Any … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, Legion, melodic metal, metal, Phil Vincent, Redemption, review, Vince O'Regan | Leave a comment

News: QUEEN, MARILLION, HELLOWEEN, DEVIN TOWNSEND (April 2020)

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jason

Quireboys - Giants of Rock, Butlins, Minehead, 26 January 2020

Hawklords release a new live album ‘Hawklords Alive’ on May 29. Marillion have started work on a new album during the current lockdown and are posting regular updates on their social media. Pattern-Seeking Animals (who feature current and former members … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, Re-issues/special editions | Tagged AOR, classic rock, Devin Townsend, folk, Marillion, metal, new albums, news, prog, Queen, rock, tours | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to BLUE OYSTER CULT

Posted on March 31, 2020 by jason

Jason Ritchie picks out some of the key albums from the heavy metal masters Formed from the late 60’s band Soft White Underbelly, Blue Oyster Cult (BOC) are often dubbed ‘the thinking man’s heavy metal band’. But for me they … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Albert Bouchard, An Introduction, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, Call Collect, Classic Albums, classic rock, Eric Bloom, feature, hard rock, heavy metal, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Album review: STEPHEN DALE PETIT – 2020 Visions

Posted on March 30, 2020 by jason

333 Records [Release date 27.03.20] Let me straight away pay tribute here to the cover artwork by Klaus Voorman, which is fantastic. Voorman, of course, was tight with The Beatles from Hamburg days – and he won a Grammy for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 2020 Visions, album, blues, guitarist, Klaus Voorman, review, Stephen Dale Petit, The Beatles | Leave a comment

Album review: SIOBHAN MILLER – All Is Not Forgotten

Posted on March 30, 2020 by jason

Songprint Records [Release date 03.04.20] ‘All Is Not Forgotten’ is the fourth solo album from Scottish folk singer Siobhan Miller, three times winner of MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards and a 2018 BBC Folk Awards recipient. Miller is backed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, All Is Not Forgotten, folk, review, singer songwriter, Siobhan Miller, traditional | 1 Comment

Album review: DYNAZTY – The Dark Delight

Posted on March 29, 2020 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 03.04.20] Dynazty’s first three albums culminated in the stirring melodic rock of “Sultans Of Sin” in 2012. By 2014, they had radically recalibrated their sound, trudging through the bland power metal of “Renatus” (2014) and “Titanic … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Dynazty, melodic metal, metal, review, symphonic metal, The Dark Delight | Leave a comment

Album review: LIAR – Sunset Plaza Drive

Posted on March 29, 2020 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 20.03.20] Liar originally formed in 1975 and recorded two albums prior to this one, with extensive UK and European tours. Now after 42 years, the long-lost Liar album from 1978 finally gets its debut appearance on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 70's rock, album, classic rock, Liar, melodic rock, review, Steve Mann, Sunset Plaza Drive, Triumph, UFO | Leave a comment

Album review: NOBLE JACKS – Stay Awake

Posted on March 28, 2020 by jason

Noble Ground Records [Release date 27.03.20] Brighton-based duo Noble Jacks (Will Page on fiddle, piano and Matty Deveson on guitar/bass) originally released their second album ‘Stay Awake’ in March 2019, gaining a Top 10 spot in the UK Americana album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt country, Americana, Dead South, folk, Levellers, Liar, Noble Jacks, review, Stay Awake | Leave a comment

EP review: YAKIMA – Go Virtually

Posted on March 27, 2020 by jason

[Release date 03.04.20] Yakima are a four piece consisting of John Houston (guitar & vocals), Neil McArthur (bass & vocals), Paul Bradley (guitar) and Kay McLaren (drums & percussion). The words lo-fi and dreamy pop get mentioned in articles about … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Big Star, dreamy pop, EP, indie pop, lo-fi, melodic, review, The Byrds, Yakima | Leave a comment

Album review: TESLA – Five Man London Jam

Posted on March 27, 2020 by jason

Universal [Release date 27.03.20] Tesla are a band who write songs so good that they can be played in any style and still sound great. The world of rock music discovered this way back in 1990 when the band released … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Abbey Road, album, classic rock, Five Man London Jam, live, review, rock, Signs, Tesla, The Beatles | Leave a comment

DVD review: ZZ TOP – That Little Ol’ Band From Texas

Posted on March 27, 2020 by jason

Eagle Vision [Release date 29.02.20] Brilliant. Buy/Stream right now. Nikk Gunns. 5 out of 5. Now that would be the quickest review I have ever written, and yet how true that simple statement is. Newly released ZZ Top documentary “That … Continue reading →