Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

VARIOUS – Harbour of Songs

Stables 2012 News of the building of a seafaring yacht made from donated wooden items caught the imagination of the British public and gets a deft re-boot from The Stables music venue’s commission of folk artists (old hands and new … Continue reading

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RUSH – Clockwork Angels

Rush - Clockwork Angels

Roadrunner [Release date 9 July 2012] The Canadian prog rockers’ 19th studio album, and long awaited too, it’s been a few years in production. In fact two tracks were released as radio / download singles 2 years ago, before last … Continue reading

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CANDICE NIGHT – Reflections

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

UDR/EMI (2012) The name “Candice Night” was first heard back in 1995 when she provided guest vocals on Rainbow’s tenth and final studio album “Stranger In Us All”. Though her impact was only really felt on the amazing ballad “Ariel”, … Continue reading

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Quick Plays: STARGATE, HUMAN TEMPLE, BOOK OF REFLECTIONS, GUN, CORALSPIN,DAVID J CARON

STARGATE – Beyond Space And Time www.stargateband.com What is in the water in Italy? Here we have another prog metal band from there consisting of Flavio Caricasole (vocals), Fabio Varalta (guitars), Federico Sideor (bass), Isacco Dalle Pezzo (keyboards) and Cris … Continue reading

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THE MICHAEL DES BARRES BAND – Carnaby Street

Gonzo Multimedia 2012  Michael Des Barres has had a stop/start musical career having been a member of Silverhead, Detective, Chequered Past and Powerstation (after Robert Palmer had left), although he has had notable success as Murdoc in TV’s ‘MacGyver’. This … Continue reading

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MILLION DOLLAR RELOAD – A Sinner’s Saint

            Frontiers 2012 www.frontiers.it Second album from this young Belfast based band and their first for their new label Frontiers. Listening to this album vocalist Phil Conaline brings to mind the late Bon Scott and … Continue reading

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CAMILLE O’SULLIVAN – Changeling

Little Cat Records (2012) Camille O’Sullivan has a strong following and reputation in her native Ireland, along with many rave reviews based on her live performances. Slightly unusual is the fact that she is a performer, not your usual singer/songwriter. … Continue reading

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FEN – Of Losing Interest

Ripple Music Fen hail from Vancouver in Canada and they master in prog metal. This is the band’s fifth album, following on from 2010’s ‘Trails Out Of Gloom’ which was greeted with positive reviews in many countries. The band combine … Continue reading

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VIOLET GIBSON – American Circus

Atomic Stuff Here’s an interesting fact for you, back in 1926 Violet Gibson tried to assassinate Benito Mussolini, she failed of course, only injuring his nose. For this , Violet spent the rest of her days in an insane asylum. … Continue reading

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Album review: CHRISTOPHER HOLLAND – Corner Green

Cosmic Harmony Records (2012) www.cosmicharmony.co.uk Christopher Holland has been a member of his brother Jools’ Rhythm and Blues Orchestra for many years, plus he’s worked with Squeeze, Green On Red and Chris Difford (who co-wrote one song on the album) … Continue reading

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THE NICE – Diary Of An Empty Day: The Nice Collection

Rep-The Nice-Diary Of An Empty Day

Repertoire 2012 While many are shaped by them, fewer artists actually define their times. Yet this restlessly ambitious British combo nailed the last gasps of the 60’s with pin-sharp precision via a brace of albums for Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew … Continue reading

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ERIK NORLANDER ‘The Galactic Collective: Live in Gettysburg’

(2CD/DVD) Think Tank Media/Gonzo Multimedia Keyboards wizard Erik Norlander presents a lovely live double CD and accompanying DVD. The Galactic Collective allows Erik Norlander together his own personal ‘best of’ from his solo works, the Rocket Scientists and with his … Continue reading

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WIGELIUS – Reinventions

Frontiers Records 2012 Frontiers Records roster tends to focus more on established melodic rock names, albeit often in new combinations, so it is a pleasure to see them put their weight behind a new name. Anders Wigelius is a Swede … Continue reading

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HEKZ – Tabula Rasa

Bedford is not a natural hotbed of rock ‘n’ roll but this could change with HeKz, a young and talented band from said town. This four piece consist of vocalist Matt Young, guitarists Tom Smith and Al Beveridge and drummer … Continue reading

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THIN LIZZY – Classic Album Selection

            Sanctuary 2012 This is the second box set release in what I hope is going to be an on-going series. As with the first which was a Motorhead collection, the premise is to bring … Continue reading

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Quick Plays: PELLEK, PLAYER, POLUTION, WILD FRONTIER

PelleK – Bag of tricks (Liljegren Records/Doolittle Group) PelleK is a Norwegian singer/songwriter who came to the fore by performing on “The X Factor” on Norwegian television in 2009.  He wrote “Bag of tricks” afterwards, presenting some of the material … Continue reading

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MOTORHEAD – Classic Album Selection

Sanctuary 2012 This is a new box set collection which draws together six classic Motorhead albums into one very reasonably priced box set. Whether you are new to Motorhead or just want to update your collection then this is an … Continue reading

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AUGUST & J – 40

When a CD landed in my mailbox recently, I was shocked by the contents of the music on it. I’ve known the guitarist (the J portion of August & J) a few years now via the internet, by being members … Continue reading

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Quick Plays: MR GIL, STEEL THREADS

MR GIL – I Want You To Get Back Home’ Metal Mind Productions 2012 This is the fourth studio album from Mr Gil, a band centred around guitarist Mirak Gil (ex-Believe). He is joined by Karl Wroblewski (vocals), Konrad Wantrych … Continue reading

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RUSH – Clockwork Angels

I remember the first time I heard Rush. I was perusing my Dad’s phenomenal LP collection one day and stumbled upon Caress of Steel. For whatever reason the cover was striking to me- it was mystical, and having just read … Continue reading

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PATHFINDER – Fifth Element

Sonic Attack Records 2012 Reviewing albums can be a hit and miss affair. When a new package arrives you never know what to expect, good, bad or occasionally, downright ugly. On the flip side though is the odd gem that … Continue reading

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DEE SNIDER – Dee Does Broadway

Razor & Tie 2012 Dee Snider is the voice of Twisted Sister and Desperado, as well as a dramatist in horror films.  What one would not expect is for Mr Snider to release an album of show tunes (then again, … Continue reading

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HEADSPACE – “I AM ANONYMOUS”

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

HEADSPACE – “I AM ANONYMOUS” INSIDE OUT (2012) Inside Out is one of those labels that have proven over the years that they have a good instinct when it comes to discovering young and promising bands, however, in the case … Continue reading

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BACHMAN & TURNER – Live at the Roseland Ballroom, NYC

Eagle Records 2012 www.bachmanandturner.com Randy Bachman and Fred Turner reunited back in 2009 (although no Overdrive due to legal reasons) and released a new studio album in 2010 and now release this double live CD. It is a good mix … Continue reading

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Quick Plays: DAMN VANDALS, DAMN DAMN PATRIOTS, DRAGONSCLAW, EMPIRE, ORIZ

Damn Vandals – Done For Desire (Sexy Beast) I have come across the Damn Vandals before in the shape of The Beautiful Mind EP I reviewed earlier in the year which was the taster before the full album release. This … Continue reading

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