Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: ALVIN LEE & TEN YEARS LATER – Live At Rockpalast

Repertoire [Release date 10.06.13] Alvin Lee & Ten Years Later actually came 5 years after the dissolution of Ten Years After. It was essentially a virtuoso power trio who relentlessly toured The US and Europe and on this live DVD … Continue reading

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Album review: EWAN DOBSON – Acoustic Metal

Candy Rat Records [Release date 06.02.13] ‘Once you see the line between metal virtuosity and classical music the challenge begins.’ So says Canadian guitarist Ewan Dobson whose 2 CD ‘Acoustic Metal’ is a challenging, innovative and hugely enjoyable CD. If … Continue reading

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Album review: FERGIE FREDERIKSEN – Any Given Moment

FERGIE FREDERIKSEN – Any Given Moment

Frontiers www.frontiers.it Fergie sang on Le Roux’s wonderful So Fired Up and then joined Toto for one of my absolute favourite Toto albums, namely Isolation…it was just a shame that his time in the band was so short. Back in … Continue reading

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Album review: MAGGIE REILLY – Heaven Sent

Maggie Reilly - Heaven Sent

Red Berry Records [Release date 11.11.13] www.maggiereilly.co.uk Maggie Reilly frequently features in our singer-songwriter sequence on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio and , since 2009 when we interviewed her, she has become a firm favourite. Her solo albums are always worth … Continue reading

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Album review: ROBERT PALMER – Reissues (1974-1985)

Robert Palmer - reissues

Edsel Records [Release date 26.08.13] 2-CD reissues Robert Palmer came to the music buying public’s attention with Vinegar Joe in 1971 and for a time he formed a formidable singing partnership with Elkie Brooks. Palmer’s transformation to a suave, smart–suited, soul … Continue reading

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Album review: RAINBOW BRIDGE REVISITED

Gonzo [Release date 15.04.13] OK first things first. While the significance of Jimi Hendrix’s Rainbow Bridge concert was that it was his penultimate American show, there’s nothing of interest here for the Hendrix fans, outside of a few vague anecdotes … Continue reading

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Album review: TYR – Valkyrja

      Metal Blade Records (Release date – 17th Sept 2013) This is TYR’s seventh album and once again it plunges the listener into the dark world of Norse mythology and ancient gods. ‘Valkyrja’ is a concept album loosely … Continue reading

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Album Review: MINISTRY – From Beer To Eternity

AFM Records The enigma that is Al Jourgensen. A man who does not do things by halves. In a career with more diversions than the M1 junction 13 roadworks, Jourgensen returns here with a Ministry album that seemed unlikely to … Continue reading

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Album review: SAGA – Spin It Again Live In Munich

SAGA – Spin It Again Live In Munich

Ear Music/Edel  [Release date 30.09.13] 2-CD Also available on DVD and Blu-Ray this was recorded on the band’s 2012 tour which marked the return of original vocalist Michael Sadler and the live debut of new drummer Mike Thorne. Saga have … Continue reading

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Album review: SAMANTHA FISH – Black Wind Howlin’

Ruf [Release date 23.09.13] Samantha Fish makes much of her growing maturity on her second solo album ‘Black Wind Howlin’. Given the wide variety of relationship songs and a mix of reflective and self confident narratives, it appears she’s taken … Continue reading

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Album review: UNTIL RAIN – Anthem To Creation

Escape Music www.escape-music.com   Until Rain hail from Greece and were formed back in 2004, since then they have released one full album and an EP. Now they have signed with Escape Music to release this rather good slab of … Continue reading

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Album review: CYRIL NEVILLE – Magic Honey

Ruf [Release date 10.09.13]  And finally it’s Cyril Neville’s turn!  ‘Magic Honey’ may have been released in the slipstream of his Royal Southern Brotherhood partners, but if feels more like the final part of an interlinked triumvirate rather than a … Continue reading

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Album review: BLUES ‘N’ TROUBLE – Try Anything Twice

Self Release [Release date 17.06.13] Sometime between the mid 80’s and mid 90’s Scotland’s Blues ‘N’ Trouble were real contenders on the European blues scene and even made it over to the States. Essentially a great live band B‘N’T’s unofficial … Continue reading

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Album review: BLUE OCTOBER – Sway

Up/Down Records www.blueoctober.com [Release date 26.08.13] Blue October are one of those bands that mean a big deal in their native US yet have yet to make a big splash over here in the UK and Europe. If you give … Continue reading

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Quick plays: DIO, HEAVEN RAIN, OLIVA, VANDROYA, EVILYN STRANGE

Nick van der Meulen gives us a run through new releases from Heaven Rain, Giunitini Project, Oliva, Vandroya, Evelyn Strange and another Dio reissue… HEAVEN RAIN – Second Sun Music Buy Mail Another slipped through my fingers: this album was released … Continue reading

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Album review: SINNER – Touch of Sin 2

AFM Records www.afmrecords.de This is another case of a young band signing their rights away and now years later trying to reclaim some of their legacy back. Sinner are amongst a growing number of bands that are now re-recording some … Continue reading

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Album review: ONSLAUGHT – VI

AFM Records [Release date 20.09.13]   When the Bristol-based Thrash Metalers Onslaught decided to give this music business thing another try back in 2005, quite a few people, myself included, were slightly sceptical as to how long this second phase … Continue reading

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Album review: DEADLOCK – The Arsonist

Napalm Records – Out Now. The combination of brutal male and angelic female vocals, better known as the “beauty and the beast” phenomenon in Metal music,  first appeared in the mid 90s and was popularised by leading bands of the … Continue reading

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Album review: DENNERS TRICKBAG – Denners Trickbag

      Target Records ( Release date – 9th Sept 2013) Michael Denner has produced some fine performances over the years both as a member of Mercyful Fate and in King Diamond’s band, his guitar work on the ‘Abigail’ … Continue reading

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Album review: MORELAND & ARBUCKLE – 7 Cities

Telarc [Release date 26.08.13] Moreland & Arbuckle are a power trio with a difference. They hail from Wichita Kansas and their blend of riff driven, southern influenced roots rock is shot through with essential blues influences, but not in the … Continue reading

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Album review: CHURCH OF MISERY – Thy Kingdom Scum

Rise Above – Out Now. Church Of Misery is a Japanese Doom/Stoner Metal quartet that I barely knew up until a couple of years ago. It was a highly energetic and fairly inspirational show at the London Underworld that first … Continue reading

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Album Review: CAROUSEL VERTIGO – Mighty

      Self-Release (Release date – 21st Oct 2013) Carousel Vertigo is the brainchild of two individuals brought together by a love of guitars and classic rock. Jansen Press and Vincent Martinez, both endorsed by Gibson Guitars, found themselves … Continue reading

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Album review: LITTLE RIVER BAND – Cuts Like A Diamond

Frontiers www.frontiers.it Led by vocalist/bassist Wayne Nelson, who has been with the band since the early 80’s, the band may lack original members or the 80’s AOR sound of the John Farnham fronted days, but they still sound like the … Continue reading

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Album review: GORDON GILTRAP – Reissues

Gordon Giltrap - Perilous Journey

Esoteric [Release date 29.07.13] Gordon Giltrap should be certified A National Treasure.  He’s laboured tirelessly since the late-1960′s honing and preening his guitar style, dipping into various genres including prog, and generally maintaining the highest quality standards. These new reissues … Continue reading

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Album Review: STATUS QUO – The Frantic Four Reunion – Live At The O2 Academy, Glasgow

Status Quo - The Frantic Four Reunion

Fourth Chord Records [Release date 30.09.13] Anyone with even a passing interest in Quo will know the special relationship the group have with the city of Glasgow and, in particular, the late, lamented Glasgow Apollo. Many ageing rockers in the … Continue reading

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