-
Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
-
Album review : MASTERPLAN – Metalmorphosis
-
Album review: DANNI NICHOLLS – Making Moves
-
Album review : NAZARETH – Born Under The Wrong Sign (5 CD Boxset, 1976-79)
-
Album review: CARL CARLTON & MELANIE WIEGMANN – Miles Of Time
-
Album review: Ritchie Blackmore’s RAINBOW – Live In Dusseldorf (3-LP vinyl)
-
Album review: SAMANTHA FISH – Paper Doll Live
-
Latest Gig Reviews
GRTR! Greats
Featured Album Reviews
Features
Interviews
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS
Album Review: DAUGHTRY – Baptized (Deluxe Edition)
19/RCA Records [Release Date 17.02.14] It may surprise those of us on this side of the pond, but the USA’s X Factor equivalent American Idol does occasionally spawn credible rock acts among the manufactured pop dross. One alumnus from the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, American Idol, Baptized, Chris Daughtry, DAUGHTRY, deluxe edition, pop, pop rock, review, rock
Comments Off
Album Review: TOWERS – II
Aeolian Empire – Out Now. Two years after they were first formed, Portland-based Sludge/Stoner/Doom metal merchants Towers had to face a massive problem, the departure of their then guitarist. How did they decide to deal with this? In a way … Continue reading
Album Review: SHIN TO SHIN – Shin To Shin
A389 Recordings – Out Now. I did not make much of a link to the debut release by a band called Shin To Shin when I first spotted it in my Inbox, since the name was totally unfamiliar to me … Continue reading
Album Review: OVERLAND – Epic
Escape Music [Release Date 24.02.14] Few can keep up with the prolific form of Steve Overland. The man with the golden tonsils has kept up a steady stream of releases whether with the reformed FM, Shadowman, The Ladder or under … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, epic, FM, Mike Slamer.melodic rock, Overland, review, Steve Overland
Comments Off
Album review: ALICE COOPER – Billion Dollar Babies
Audio Fidelity [Release date 01.03.14] There’s been something of a glut of Alice Cooper re-issues of late – Trash and Hey Stoopid, The Eyes Of Alice Cooper and Dirty Diamonds, and Brutally Live – to name but a few. This … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Alice Cooper, Audio Fidelity, Billion Dollar Babies, reissue, review, rock, SACD
Leave a comment
Album review: JOE BONAMASSA & BETH HART – Live In Amsterdam
Provogue (CD and DVD) [Release date 24.03.14] I have to say I’m not a huge Bonamassa or Beth Hart fan – individually or collectively. To my mind Bonamassa is overhyped, and if my painful Liverpool Echo Arena experience is anything … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, beth Hart, blues rock, CD, DVD, guitar, guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, Live In Amsterdam, review
1 Comment
Album review: ASIA – Gravitas
Frontiers [Release date 24.03.14] Crop rotation is something those of us of a certain age will recall from O level geography – leaving land fallow and rotating crops leading to bigger and better harvests. Certainly over the years there’s been … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Asia, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, Gravitas, John Wetton, melodic, review, rock
Leave a comment
Album review: 10cc – Live In Concert (Clever Clogs)
Wienerworld [Release date 10.03.14] For the past few years Graham Gouldman has been touring “with friends” and keeping alive his 10cc legacy, bolstered with his own early history as tunesmith to The Yardbirds and The Hollies amongst others. This 2007 … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 10CC, album, Clever Clogs, Graham Gouldman, Live In Concert, March 2007, pop, review, rock, Shepherd's Bush Empire
1 Comment
Album review: BEHEMOTH – The Satanist
Nuclear Blast – Out Now. Some artists are so unbelievably driven that even what seem to be insurmountable problems cannot stop them from achieving their goals. Nergal, founding member and leader of the Polish extreme Metal quartet Behemoth, is the … Continue reading
Album review: JOE LOUIS WALKER – Hornet’s Nest
Alligator Records [Release date 25.02.14] Joe Louis Walker rips into the incendiary title track of ‘Hornet’s Nest’ with a riff heavy piece that suggests it’s a kick ass rocking album. Truth is, it’s a more adventurous album than that, but … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Bruce Springsteen, Chris Kid Andersen, Curtis Young, Hornet's Nest, Jesse Stone, Joe Louis Walker, Keith Richard, Michael Black, Mick Jagger, Muscle Shoals Horns, Ray Walker, Richard Fleming, Tom Hambridge, Willie Dixon
Leave a comment
Album review: W.E.T. – Live In Stockholm
Frontiers Records [Release date 21.02.14] The nearest to a supergroup in the current melodic rock world, W.E.T. have within a short space of time become one of the darlings of the genre. So hot on the heels of last year’s excellent … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Eclipse, Erik Martensson, Jeff Scott Soto, Live In Stockholm, review, Robert Sall, Talisman, W.E.T., Work Of Art
Comments Off
Album review: THYRIEN – Hymns Of The Mortals – Songs From The North
Massacre Records – Out Now. The idea of working with a record label is still quite appealing to most young Metal bands out there, with the most eager ready to enter the best possible recording studios even before the ink … Continue reading
Album Review: STRAY – Live in Japan 2013
Angel Air www.angelair.co.uk [Release date 10.03.14] Stray hail from the golden age of classic rock in the 1970’s, but somehow missed out on the mainstream recognition and rewards hoovered up by the likes of Humble Pie, Quo and Thin Lizzy. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues rock, DEL BROMHAM, Live in Japan 2013, review, rock, Stray
Leave a comment
Album Review: ALISTER ATKIN AND THE GHOST LINE CARNIVAL – To Evangeline
[Release date 03.04.14] The second album from singer/songwriter Alister Atkin is inspired by the coast and maritime life of Nova Scotia. Overall, it’s a pleasant, almost beautiful offering, and plays to the strength of Atkin’s smooth, honeyed voice. Sometimes layered … Continue reading
Album review: PATSY MATHESON – Domino Girls
Tomorrow Music/Proper Music www.pastsymatheson.co.uk [Released 31.03.14] Two years on from the excellent ‘Stories Of Angels & Guitars’ Patsy Matheson is back with a new album and a departure in that she uses a lot more guest musicians, along with a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album review, Domino Girls, folk, Patsy Matheson, singer songwriter, Waking the Witch
1 Comment
Album review: WISHBONE ASH – Blue Horizon
Solid Rockhouse Records [Release date 04.03.14] If you can set aside the bitter dispute over the trading name, there is no doubt that Andy Powell has worked tirelessly to produce albums that are completely befitting the Wishbone Ash heritage. He’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Andy Powell, Blue Horizon, Bob Skeat, Joe Crabtree, Muddy Manninen, Pat McManus, review, rock, Wishbone Ash
Leave a comment
Album review: ADAM SWEET – Small Town Thinking
NEO Music Adam Sweet’s full debut was released at the end of 2013 to favourable reactions. It is easy to see why. This is a sublime, often laid back album of confidence, competence and genuine talent. Only in his mid-twenties, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged ADAM SWEET, album, blues rock, review, rock, Small Town Thinking
Comments Off
Album review: HOUSE OF LORDS – Precious Metal
Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Released 21.03.14] The ninth album from veteran Melodic/Arena rock band House of Lords finds the band playing with the attitude and energy of a band half their age. With “Precious Metal” the band are mixing their classic sound … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, hard rock, House of Lords, James Christian, melodic, Precious Metal, review
Comments Off
Album review: CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX – White Light Generator
Cool Green Recordings ( Release date 17.03.14) Crippled Black Phoenix are a difficult band to review. This is mainly because they refuse to conform and are, therefore, hard to pigeon hole. Perhaps this is something that should be celebrated in … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, CD, Crippled Black Phoenix, indie, Live In Poznan, prog, review, rock, White Light Generator
Leave a comment
Album review: ROCK CANDY FUNK PARTY – Takes New York, Live At The Iridium
Provogue [Release date 24.02.14] A few years ago a few stellar musicians got together to explore some funky vibes. This stellar cast included, latterly, none other than Joe Bonamassa and this side-project was to some extent overlooked as Joe wore … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, CD, DVD, funk, jazz fusion, Joe Bonamassa, review, rock, Rock Candy Funk Party, Takes New York Live At The Iridium
Leave a comment
Album Review: ROBERT CRAY – In My Soul
Provogue [Release date 31.03.14] He may be a 5 times Grammy Award Winner and the youngest living artist to be inducted into the ‘Blues Hall Of Fame’, but Robert Cray is always looking for a fresh and meaningful context for … Continue reading
Quick plays: SONS OF THE SEA, JOSH TAERK, INGER LORRE, ADRIAN NATION, BIRDS OF CHICAGO
SONS OF THE SEA S/t Avow! Records [Released 03.03.14] www.menbran.net Sons of the Sea is a collaboration between producer Brendan O’Brien (Incubus/Pearl Jam/RATM/Springsteen) and Brandon Boyd of Incubus (not a band I have heard anything by although my daughter informs … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged Adrian Nation, Birds Of Chicago, folk, Hate In My Heart, Inger Lorre & The Chiefs of Infinity, Josh, Josh Taerk, Live At The Crossroads, Live From Space, Nigel Clothier, rock, roots, Sharp Practise, singer, Snowflake, songwriter, Sons Of the Seas, Steal With Pride
Leave a comment
Album review: ELYSION – Someplace Better
Massacre Records – Out Now. In the twelve or so years since I moved from my native Greece, a revolution of sorts has taken place in the local Metal scene. Whereas in the early to mid 90s it would be … Continue reading
Album Review: PSYCLON NINE: [Order of the Shadow: Act I]
Metropolis Records [Released 23.12.13] Picking up all the best reference points from Al Jourgensen’s demonic Ministry creation and shredded together in a moulinex with the sweeping drama of Rammstein, Psyclon Nine have produced an album of surprisingly good industrial metal … Continue reading
Album Review: THE MANIC SHINE – Let Go Or Be Dragged
Animal Farm Records This is a very original and encouraging debut album from Scottish borders-based quartet The Manic Shine. The ten tracks here each have it all going on. The material could broadly be described metal-tickled prog rock, with a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Let Go Or Be Dragged, Orren Karp, Ozzie Rodgers, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock, The Manic Shine
Leave a comment
