Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: H.E.A.T. – Live at Sweden Rock Festival

H.E.A.T.- Live at Sweden Rock Festival

Release Date 26.07.19 It’s not that long since H.E.A.T. released a live album recorded at London’s own Highbury Garage, but this release serves two purposes. One is to showcase the standard bearers of the younger breed of melodic rockers on … Continue reading

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Album review: DAVE BICKLER – Darklight

DAVE BICKLER - Darklight

Deko Music [Release date 19.04.19] Amazingly this is the debut solo album from former Survivor vocalist Dave Bickler, most famous for the voice on that band’s classic anthem ‘Eye Of The Tiger’. A solo album has long been rumoured and … Continue reading

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Album review: GRAHAM BONNET BAND – Live In Tokyo 2017

GRAHAM BONNET BAND - Live In Tokyo 2017

Frontiers [Release date 12.07.19] Vocalist Graham Bonnet has been busy of late, both solo and with his early 80s band the resurrected Alcatrazz. Studio, live and archive, and each one essential listening. With bands like The Marbles, Rainbow, MSG, Alcatrazz … Continue reading

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Album review: SAXON – The Eagle Has Landed 40

SAXON - The Eagle Has Landed 40

Silver Lining (3CD, 5LP) [Release date 02.08.19] With a massive parp of the trumpets, and deservedly so, Saxon are celebrating their 40th Anniversary. Along with the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement, whose first LP was Saxon’s eponymous debut, … Continue reading

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Album review: FIRST SIGNAL- Line of Fire

FIRST SIGNAL- Line of Fire

Release Date 17.05.19 First Signal was conceived some years back as a vehicle to reunite Harem Scarem singer Harry Hess with the pure melodic rock style that arguably began and ended with the Canadians’ debut album, before they diversified into … Continue reading

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Album review: MARK BAKER – The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be

MARK BAKER - The Future Ain

MelodicRock Records [Release date 26.07.19] The name Mark Baker may not be immediately recognizable to many, but he is the man behind the classic Signal ‘Loud & Clear’ album as well as many other songs for the likes of .38 … Continue reading

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Album review: CROBOT – Motherbrain

CROBOT - Motherbrain

Mascot [Release date 23.08.19] Not to be confused with legendary metallers Crowbar, Crobot release their fourth studio album since their 2012 debut. Their 2016 offering ‘Welcome To Fat City’ was particularly well received. If pile-driving heavy riffage is your bag, … Continue reading

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Album review: JORN – Live On Death Road

JORN - Live On Death Road

Frontiers [Release date 14.06.19] Jorn Lande continues his fiftieth birthday celebrations, started off last December with a lavish box set, with a live double CD and DVD. Joining Jorn in his live band are guitarist Tore Moren, keyboards player Alessandro … Continue reading

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Album review: OSO OSO – Basking In The Glow

OSO OSO – Basking In The Glow

Triple Crown Records [Released date 16.08.19] The third full album from emo power pop band Oso Oso which is basically Jade Lilitri. Normally his music delves into the pessimistic part of his creative side, however on ‘Basking In The Glow’ … Continue reading

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Album review: FLIGHT BRIGADE – Chased By Wolves

FLIGHT BRIGADE - Chased By Wolves

Rebel Cinema Records [Release date 13.09.19] Labels are useful but can also be disingenuous, as is the case of the new album from “indie rock band” Flight Brigade. ‘Chased by Wolves’, the latest offering from the Hampshire-based seven-piece, creates a … Continue reading

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Quick plays: JAILBIRDS, TIMO TOLKKI’S AVALON, CHAOS MAGIC

JAILBIRDS - The Great Escape

JAILBIRDS The Great Escape Golden Robot Records [Released date 05.07.19] Jailbirds are an Australian/Irish hard rock band based in Dublin, Ireland and ‘The Great Escape’ is their debut album. The band is composed of Axel McDonald (vocals, lead guitar), Jay … Continue reading

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Album review: MIDNIGHT SUN – Dark Tide Rising

MIDNIGHT SUN - Dark Tide Rising

Sonicbond [Release date 28.06.19] New Stroud-based prog rock/metal band Midnight Sun claim to be ‘an original rock band’. Well, for a kick off, the name’s not original, having been ‘pre-owned’ by Danish prog rockers between 1971 and 1974 (whose main … Continue reading

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Album review: NEAL MORSE – Jesus Christ The Exorcist

NEAL MORSE - Jesus Christ The Exorcist

Frontiers [Release date 14.06.19] I like a musical.  In fact, it was only recently I suggested that a prog rock version of Hamilton by Izz could be a big hit.  Jesus Christ Superstar is another personal favourite although, in hindsight, … Continue reading

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Album review: SAMANTHA FISH – Kill Or Be Kind

Samantha Fish - Kill Or Be Kind

Rounder [Release date 20.09.19] There’s no denying the natural vivacity, or the cigar box guitar driven grooves and songcraft of Samantha Fish. Since bursting on the rock-blues scene a decade ago, she’s cut 6 solo albums of which the last … Continue reading

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Album review: INA FORSMAN – Been Meaning To Tell You

Ina Forsman - Been Meaning To Tell You

Ruf [Release date 25.01.19] ‘Been Meaning To Tell You’ is a challenging cross genre album that suggests Ina Forsman will be a musical force to be reckoned with. The low key vocal and piano intro to the opening ‘Be My … Continue reading

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Album review: JOOST DE LANGE BAND – Lonesome Wolf

Joost De Lange Band - Lonesome Wolf

Pete Feenstra chatted to Joost de Lange for his Feature show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, playing tracks from ‘Lonesome Wolf’.  First broadcast 7 July 2019. Self release [Release date 01.03.19] Joost de Lange Band’s ‘Lonesome Wolf’ is a … Continue reading

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Album review: ALLY VENABLE – Texas Honey

Ally Venable - Texas Honey

Ruf Records [Release date 22.03.19] Ruf Records has long established its niche in the contemporary blues market with a roster of up and coming talent that reflects the best of the global blues scene. From Aynsley Lister, Ian Parker, Erja … Continue reading

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Album review: GENERATION AXE – The Guitars That Destroyed The World (Live In China)

GENERATION AXE - The Guitars That Destroyed The World (Live In China)

earMUSIC [Release date 28.06.19] Generation Axe, coordinated by Guitar God Steve Vai, brought together a summit of shredders from 2016 when the circus toured North America.  Subsequent sorties saw them in Asia, when this outing was recorded in April 2017.  … Continue reading

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Album review: BARBE-Q-BARBIES – Borrowed Time

BARBE-Q-BARBIES - Borrowed Time

Dissonance Productions [Release date 17.05.19] As fellow scribe Andy Nathan observed in his recent review of the Sweden AOR Convention, a fresh generation of Scandi bands now lead the pack in genres they were too young to have lived through … Continue reading

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Album review: WARMRAIN – Back Above The Clouds

WARMRAIN - Back Above The Clouds

Rain Recordings [Release date 07.06.19] Promoted as a ‘must have’ for fans of Pink Floyd, Steven Wilson and Anathema, a double ‘concept’ album is one hell of a gamble for a full length debut. But such is the conviction of … Continue reading

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Album review: HEATHER FINDLAY – Wild White Horses

HEATHER FINDLAY - Wild White Horses

Black Sand Records [Release date 05.07.19] Heather Findlay’s first full solo album is long overdue.  And really, you might have expected it to follow relatively hot on the heels of her excellent The Phoenix Suite EP way back in 2011. … Continue reading

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Album review: PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS – Pattern-Seeking Animals

PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS - Pattern-Seeking Animals

Inside Out [Release date 05.07.19] Pattern-Seeking Animals maybe a new band, however its members have a long and shared history as it features John Boegehold, who started the idea of this band and writes and works with Spock’s Beard. Joining … Continue reading

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Album review: JIMMY’S COUSIN – Wax Wings

JIMMY’S COUSIN – Wax Wings

Desertion Records [Release date 08.03.19] There is something endearingly conversational about the music of Jimmy’s Cousin. The new album from the Irish originating jazz man, ‘Waxwings’, is an exercise in raconteur style. Singer-songwriter Ian Dosdson aka Jimmy’s Cousin opens the … Continue reading

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Album review: JONES – Carver’s Law

JONES - Carver

Bandcamp [Release date 12.07.19] Jones is Trevor Jones, principle songwriter with the critically acclaimed duo Miracle Mile, the other half of this duo being arranger and musical partner Marcus Cliffe. Jones has released four solo albums to date, with ‘Carver’s … Continue reading

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Quick plays: BEN HEMMING

BEN HEMMING The Devil Beside Me

BEN HEMMING The Devil Beside Me [Release date 31.05.19] ‘Nu-blues’ man Ben Hemming opens his latest release with the impressively broody/ doomy Dead Man Blues which reminds me (strangely) of PJ Harvey circa Bring Your Love To Me.  It’s a … Continue reading

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