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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2027
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Upcoming: Festivals UK & Europe (2026)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2027)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS
LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY – “ASCENDING TO INFINITY”
LUCA TURILLI’S RHAPSODY – “ASCENDING TO INFINITY” NUCLEAR BLAST (2012) Can somebody please explain to me what on earth is going on with the guys in Rhapsody? Having made quite an impression with their unique blend of Symphonic and Euro-Power … Continue reading
RHYS WILLIAMS – Great Falls
Right Track Records www.rhyswilliamsmusic.com This is his debut album having previously worked with Morrissey amongst others (he played flute on Morrissey’s ‘I’m Not Sorry’). He has a couple of name guests in pedal steel player BJ Cole and strings arranger … Continue reading
ERIK NORLANDER – The Galactic Collective
The Definitive Edition (2CD/DVD) A real ‘must have’ for fans that’s sure as Erik Norlander re-issues the Galactic Collective CD with a bonus CD featuring four reworkings of existing tunes including a marvellous extended musical workout on ‘Garden Of The … Continue reading
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Tagged Asia, Erik Norlander, Galactic Collective, John Payne
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BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – “A KNIGHT IN YORK” DVD
BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – “A KNIGHT IN YORK” DVD UDR/EMI (2012) Back in 1997, when guitar legend Ritchie Blackmore decided to abandon the world of classic Rock and instead indulge in his medieval folk musical fantasies with the help of his … Continue reading
AIRS – A Rock Opera
www.airs-rockopera.com Airs is a collaboration between lyricist/writer George Andrade and composer and multi-instrumentalist Steve Brockmann. They met on a Spock’s beard forum and keeping the Spock’s beard theme going Dave Meros and Alan Morse of the band guest on ‘Flight … Continue reading
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Tagged Airs, AOR, prog metal, prog rock, rock opera
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ETERNAL ‘Chapter 1’
www.eternalsweden.com Another top hard rock band from Sweden shock! Yes Eternal are another in that long line of excellent Swedish melodic hard rock/metal bands and this is their debut album after releasing an EP back in 2008. Keyboard player Pontus … Continue reading
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Tagged Eternal, hard rock, melodic rock, Sweden
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THE KINKS – The Kinks at the BBC
Universal 2012 The Kinks have a sumptuous back catalogue and rightly deserve their place in the pantheon of British pop and rock greats. As befits this status, the band have been the subject of some weighty compilations. But none quite … Continue reading
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Tagged The Kinks, The Kinks at the BBC
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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
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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Tagged Clockwork Angels, Rush
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CANDICE NIGHT – Reflections
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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Tagged AOR, Blackmore's Night, Candice Night
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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
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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Tagged Carnaby Street, THE MICHAEL DES BARRES BAND
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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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Tagged A Sinner’s Saint, AC/DC, Frontiers, Million Dollar Reloaded, Skin
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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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Tagged Camille O'Sullivan, Nick Cave, Radiohead, Snow Patrol
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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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Tagged Fen, Of Losing Interest, prog meta
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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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Tagged American Circus, Violet Gibson
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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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Tagged album, Chris Difford, Christopher Holland, Corner Green, pop, review
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THE NICE – Diary Of An Empty Day: The Nice Collection
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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Tagged Keith Emerson, The Nice
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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
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged Erik Norlander, instrumental, Lana Lane, prog rock
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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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Tagged Frontiers, Wigelius
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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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Tagged Damian Wilson, Dream Theater, HeKz, John Mitchell, Kerrang!, Queensryche, You Me At Six
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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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Tagged box set, Classic Album Selection, Thin Lizzy
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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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Tagged PELLEK, PLAYER, POLUTION, WILD FRONTIER
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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
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
