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Gig review: BAND OF FRIENDS- 229 Club, London, 4 January 2026
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Gig review: PUNCHDRUNK SAINTS – Fairycroft House, Saffron Walden, December 27 2025
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Gig review: STEVE OVERLAND AND JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Weir, Brentford, Middlesex, 9 December 2025
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Gig review: JOHN OTWAY – Face Bar, Reading, Thursday 11 December 2025
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Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile)
RINGO STARR & HIS ALL STARR BAND – The Anthology…So Far 1989-2000
(3CD) Eagle Rock 2012 This is a re-issue of the original 2001 release that featured songs from ‘Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band’ (1990), ‘Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Volume 2: Live From Montreux’ (1993) and ‘Ringo Starr … Continue reading
DORO – Under My Skin: A Fine Collection Of Doro Classics
(2CD) AFM Records www.afm-records.de Doro Pesch is a true metal legend who has given her all for her fans and music (a telling interview I read with her said how she gave up any idea of raising a family as … Continue reading
FLYING COLORS – S/T
Ear Music/Edel A supergroup consisting of drummer Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater), guitarist Steve Morse (Deep Purple/Dixie Dreggs), bassist Dave LaRue (Steve Morse/Dixie Dreggs), Neal Morse (Transatlantic/ex-Spock’s Beard) on keyboards/vocals and lead vocalist/guitarist Casey McPherson. The album was produced by the … Continue reading
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Tagged ELO, Flying Colors, Mike Portnoy, Muse, Neal Morse, Queen, Steve Morse
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THE SWEET – New York Connection
www.thesweet.com The Sweet – the version fronted by original guitarist Andy Scott – return with an album of covers. The current line-up consists of the aforementioned Scott joined by Pete Lincoln (vocals/bass), Tony O’Hora (guitar/keys/vocals) and Bruce Bisland (drums/vocals). Yes … Continue reading
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Tagged Andy Scott, Dead Or Alive, New York Connection, Russ Ballard, The Sweet
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TARJA – Act I
Ear Music/Edel 2012 (Double CD) www.tarja-act1.com Former Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen releases her first solo live album (there is also a companion DVD and BluRay releases). I will admit I am not the biggest fan of her voice but freed … Continue reading
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Tagged Act I, Nightwish, Tarja
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Rock Candy Roundup: Johnny Van Zant, Lionheart, Fastway, Paris
Johnny VAN ZANT Round Two ***1/2 The Last Of The Wild Ones **** Youngest of the Van Zant family, Johnny follows an enormous legacy in Ronnie (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Donnie (38 Special). These solo albums (sometimes credited to The Johnny … Continue reading
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Tagged Fastway, Johnny Van Zant, Lionheart, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Motorhead, Paris, Rock Candy, UFO
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FM re-issues
Indiscreet **** Tough It Out **** Rock Candy Records Two classic AOR albums, where the band’s name sums up the sound perfectly. Formed by the former Samson rhythm section of drummer Pete Jupp and bassist Merv Goldsworthy, a few line-up … Continue reading
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Tagged FM, Rock Candy, Steve Overland
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VISION DIVINE – Destination Set To Nowhere
Ear Music/Edel 2012 Formed in Italy in 1998, this progressive power metal band release their seventh studio album with plenty of power and melody, Rhapsody’s Fabio Lione providing vocals with power, range and an operatic touch. From the outset the … Continue reading
RED JASPER – A Midsummer Night’s Dream/The Winter’s Tale
Angel Air 2012 www.angelair.co.uk The words ‘British’ and ‘quintessentially’ spring to mind listening to this eccentric brace of early 90’s releases from a former agitprop punk folk act that contrarily transmogrified itself into a progressive rock band. Seemingly in awe … Continue reading
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Tagged prog rock, Red Jasper
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L.A GUNS – Hollywood Forever
Deadline Music 2012 L.A Guns release their first original album in 7 years and not only will ‘Hollywood Forever’ go down as one of their best but the album also reminds me of why I liked the band in the … Continue reading
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Tagged LA Guns, Phil Lewis
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THE KENNEDYS – Closer Than You Think
www.kennedysmusic.com Husband and wide duo Pete and Maura have released a string of albums to date, as well as being part of Nanci Griffith’s backing band. This is their first album to get a proper PR push here in the … Continue reading
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Tagged Closer Than You Think, THE KENNEDYS
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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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