Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

JEFF SCOTT SOTO – Damage Control (Frontiers 2012)

Jeff Scott Soto is back with a straight ahead melodic hard rock album after his last solo album, ‘Beautiful Mess’ with its more funky/soul vibe, alienated much of his fan base (a  damn shame in my book as it is … Continue reading →

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NOLOVELOST- NOLOVE LOST (Independent 2011)

Every so often , from the multitude of self- produced and promoted releases, comes a gem and the debut album from this North Carolina melodic rock band is one such. The  members are all veterans of previous regional bands, and … Continue reading →

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NANCI GRIFFITH – Intersection

Now I confess I am not much of a lover of country music in its more traditional form but I have long been a fan of Nanci Griffith’s work, mainly due to her voice and the excellent songs she produces, … Continue reading →

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GARY JOHN BARDEN – Eleventh Hour

Escape Music This English vocalist has been around for a long time.  Currently doing voices for MSG, Barden has also contributed in writing songs with Gary Moore which ended up on “Corridors of Power” (which is probably why we hear … Continue reading →

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THUNDERSTICK – Echoes from the Analogue Asylum

Thunderstick is claimed to have paved the way for NWOBHM in the late 70’s and early 80’s.  The masked drummer, who slammed skins for Iron Maiden in the early days, formed his own outfit utilising female vocalists.  While the journey … Continue reading →

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Golden Resurrection – Man with a missio (Lilegren Records)

                              Christian Liljegren is still hard at work in the studio, this time with the sophomore release of his Golden Ressurrection project, entitled “Man with a … Continue reading →

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Theocracy – As the World Bleeds

This is the U.S. outfit’s third album, following “Mirror of souls” in 2008. While this is power metal, there is often an element of Bay Area thrash, which messes with the flow of the songs and detracts from melodies from … Continue reading →

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Enochian Theory – Life…And All It Entails

Formed in 2004 this is the band’s second album and for a three piece they make a wide soundscape. The band’s line-up is Benedict Harris-Hayes (throat/guitars/piano), Sam Street (drums/percussion) and Shaun Rayment (bass) plus the Lost Orchestra who add synths/sound … Continue reading →

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The Magnificent

 Released late 2011, the debut album from Sweden’s The Magnificent is aptly titled. The feel of the album sits somewhere between late ‘80’s Whitesnake and late ‘80’s/early ‘90’s Europe – big, polished and appearing to have used the latter’s “Prisoners … Continue reading →

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Mr Big “Live From The Living Room” (Frontiers)

Recorded in January 2011, whilst the band were playing promotional dates in Japan in support of their recent “What If…” album,  Mr Big are about to release new album “Live From The Living Room”.  Recorded in front of an intimate … Continue reading →

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Various – Hooked On Number Ones 100 Non-Stop Hits

The 80’s saw a raft of pop medley albums from Star Sound’s ‘Stars On 45’ through to the popular Hooked On…series, where the classical ones conducted by Louis Clark (of ELO fame) proved very popular. Then there is this one … Continue reading →

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Tony MacAlpine – S/T

Tony MacAlpine is back with an all new album that covers the many styles he can handle. He is much more than one of these see-how-many-notes-I-can-play fast guitar shredders and also can think outside of the box musically, something which … Continue reading →

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Styx ‘The Grand Illusion/Pieces Of Eight – Live’ (DVD)

 The DVD (also available on BluRay) version of the double live CD of Styx performing tow of their entire classic 70’s albums. The show was recorded at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis and includes a guest appearance by original bass … Continue reading →

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This Uneven Sky

A band from Manchester featuring Noel Fraser (vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin), Andy Chemney (drums. backing vocals), Steve Ferguson (guitar, backing vocals) and Mark Murray (bass). They cover a multitude of musical styles from rock to folk and blues and they … Continue reading →

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Various – Songs Of Anarchy: Music from Sons of Anarchy

A fifteen song compilation from the TV series 'Sons Of Anarchy' that like any compilation is a mixed bag. The Forest Rangers back-up most of the vocalists on here and the pick of the album are Paul Brady's version of … Continue reading →

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Michael Thompson Band – Future Past

There’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time – somewhere in the depth of my vinyl collection lies “How Long” the 1989 album issued by the original incarnation of the Michael Thompson Band. Frontiers re-issued this album a … Continue reading →

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Fiona “Unbroken”

“Unbroken” is the fifth album from Fiona, and comes 19 years after her last release. Big, polished and harking back to the ‘80’s in places, the album was produced by House of Lords main man James Christian- whose wife, Robin … Continue reading →

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WARP DRIVE – Something To Believe In

Warp Drive caused a stir with their debut album 'Gimme Gimme' back in the late 80's but then along came grunge and knocked them for six. This is their second album which they started to record back in 1990 but … Continue reading →

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Envy The Fallen – Hoist The Colours

Another emerging new British hardcore metal act, this time from Newquay. Envy The Fallen are exponents of fairly extreme metal core of the shouty vocal persuasion. It is fast and furious stuff from the off and over the six tracks … Continue reading →

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Stemm – Crossroads

Stemm have been about in various forms for a number of years and have developed into a very tight and very heavy hardcore metal band. Their music was adopted early in the band’s career as the soundtrack to the Ultimate … Continue reading →

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Captain Black Beard – S/T

With a name like Captain Black Beard I was fully expecting some full-on, swashbuckling Pirate metal from this crew. This album though is less “Aaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr” and more AOR. The Captain and crew have been playing around the clubs of Stockholm … Continue reading →

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Human Temple ‘Halfway To Heartache’

This is the band’s third album since starting out in 2004 and if you like melodic hard rock in the style of Treat, Pretty Maids, Edge Of Forever et al you need a copy of this CD. The opening salvo … Continue reading →

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Scorpions – Comeblack

This is an unusual release for the Scorps, re-recording a number of fan favourite tracks after they announced their retirement… Seven of the thirteen tracks are from their own catalogue, while the remaining six songs are covers!  Being a fan … Continue reading →

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HUGH LAURIE – Let them talk

Hugh Laurie is best known for his superb acting in “House”, but there’s a lot more to this Englishman than meets the eye: along with his love for motorcycles and motorcycle racing, he has a passion for the old blues.  … Continue reading →

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Saracen – Marilyn

This is the band’s first release since the highly acclaimed “Vox in Excelso” and this, like its predecessor, is a concept album – this time about the life of Marilyn Monroe. The songs are good, but not outstanding and this … Continue reading →

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