Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Quick plays: SONS OF THE SEA, JOSH TAERK, INGER LORRE, ADRIAN NATION, BIRDS OF CHICAGO

Posted on February 26, 2014 by jason

SONS OF THE SEA S/t Avow! Records [Released 03.03.14] www.menbran.net Sons of the Sea is a collaboration between producer Brendan O’Brien (Incubus/Pearl Jam/RATM/Springsteen) and Brandon Boyd of Incubus (not a band I have heard anything by although my daughter informs … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Adrian Nation, Birds Of Chicago, folk, Hate In My Heart, Inger Lorre & The Chiefs of Infinity, Josh, Josh Taerk, Live At The Crossroads, Live From Space, Nigel Clothier, rock, roots, Sharp Practise, singer, Snowflake, songwriter, Sons Of the Seas, Steal With Pride | Leave a comment

Album review: ELYSION – Someplace Better

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Yiannis

Massacre Records – Out Now. In the twelve or so years since I moved from my native Greece, a revolution of sorts has taken place in the local Metal scene. Whereas in the early to mid 90s it would be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

Album Review: PSYCLON NINE: [Order of the Shadow: Act I]

Posted on February 26, 2014 by jason

Metropolis Records [Released 23.12.13] Picking up all the best reference points from Al Jourgensen’s demonic Ministry creation and shredded together in a moulinex with the sweeping drama of Rammstein, Psyclon Nine have produced an album of surprisingly good industrial metal … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, industrial metal, Ministry, PSYCLON NINE, Rammstein, review, [Order of the Shadow: Act I] | Leave a comment

Album Review: THE MANIC SHINE – Let Go Or Be Dragged

Posted on February 26, 2014 by jason

Animal Farm Records This is a very original and encouraging debut album from Scottish borders-based quartet The Manic Shine. The ten tracks here each have it all going on. The material could broadly be described metal-tickled prog rock, with a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Let Go Or Be Dragged, Orren Karp, Ozzie Rodgers, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock, The Manic Shine | Leave a comment

Album review: INCURA – S/T

Posted on February 25, 2014 by jason

Inside Out [Released 24th February 2014] This Canadian band Incura have been around since 2003 having released a series of EP’s and this is their first album given a full release. Two things strike you on first listen, the high … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Dream Theater, Incura, Inside Out, My Chemical Romance, prog metal, Queen, rock | Leave a comment

Album Review: EDISON’S CHILDREN – The Final Breath Before November

Posted on February 24, 2014 by alanjones

Random Disturbance Records [Release Date: 01.01.14] I had the pleasure of reviewing Edison’s Children’s first album ‘In The Last Waking Moments’ back in 2012 which, with the odd caveat, was fully worthy of the five stars garnered. At the time … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Edison's Children, Eric Blackwood, Marillion, Pete Trewavas, Progressive Rock, review, Sunblister, The Final Breath Before November, Transatlantic | Leave a comment

Album review: WITHIN TEMPTATION – Hydra

Posted on February 24, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Dramatico [Release date 03.02.14] With their last studio album The Unforgiving (2011), Dutch symphonic rockers Within Temptation looked as if they were about to step into the American mainstream and take it by storm with a set that included radio … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dave Pirner, Howard Jones, Hydra, Killswitch Engage, Nightwish, review, rock, Soul Asylum, symphonic metal, Tarja Turunen, Within Temptation | Leave a comment

Album review: STORMWARRIOR – Thunder & Steele

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Yiannis

Massacre Records – Out Now. German Heavy/Power Metal quartet Stormwarrior are a well known entity to fans of late 80s Metal. During the last fifteen years they have recorded a decent number of high velocity tunes, some with the assistance … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

Album review: ICED EARTH – Plagues Of Babylon

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Yiannis

Century Media – Out Now. Three years ago a rebirth of sorts took place in the camp of Iced Earth, one helped by the bringing into the fold of a very charismatic front man named Stu Block – a young … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

Album review: TRANSATLANTIC – Kaleidoscope

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Yiannis

Inside Out – Out Now. ‘Super groups’ are complicated affairs. What some treat with deep suspicion as nothing more than vanity projects, others see as a way for musicians to indulge in ideas unsuited to their day jobs. There is, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

Album review: GRAND MAGUS – Triumph And Power

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Yiannis

Nuclear Blast – Out Now. Having fronted Swedish Stoner Metal legends Spiritual Beggars for eight whole years (2002-10), guitarist/vocalist Janne “JB” Christoffersson decided to change course and move into more ‘classic’ musical territory by forming his very own heavy power-trio … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

Album review: ANETTE OLZON – Shine

Posted on February 23, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Interview edit: Anette Olzon, 26 February 2014 The full interview is featured in ‘Assume The Position’ Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sunday 9 March, 22:00 GMT More information earMUSIC [Release date 31.03.14] For those who don’t pick their fruit from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alyson Avenue, Anette Olzon, Nightwish, pop, progressive, review, rock, Shine, Sweden, Swedish, symphonic metal | 1 Comment

Album review: BATTLEAXE – Heavy Metal Sanctuary

Posted on February 23, 2014 by jason

Steamhammer/SPV [Release date 24.02.14] Originally part of the mid 80s era New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWoBHM), Battleaxe released tracks on several compilations as well as two albums in 1983 and 1984; both have since been reissued on CD, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Battaleaxe, heavy metal, Heavy Metal Sanctuary, NWOBHM, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE DAMNED – Tiki Nightmare: Live At Shepherd’s Bush Empire July 2002

Posted on February 23, 2014 by jason

Salvo/Union Square (2CD/DVD) [Release date 10.02.14] Widely recognised as the first UK punk band, releasing a punk album and single (and I’m near the front of the queue to stick that up the nose of the Sex Pistols), The Damned … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Captain Sensible, CD, Dave Vanian, DVD, punk, punk pop, The Damned, Tiki Nightmare: Live At Shepherd’s Bush Empire July 2002 | Leave a comment

Album review: VANDEN PLAS – Chronicles of the Immortals : Netherworld

Posted on February 23, 2014 by jason

Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Release date 24.02.14] It has been a while since Vanden Plas released The Seraphic Clockwork back in 2010 but that’s not to say they haven’t been busy…far from it. German best-selling author Wolfgang Hohlbein suggested a collaboration with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, album review, Chronicles of the Immortals : Netherworld, prog metal, review, VANDEN PLAS | Leave a comment

Album review: TOMMY CASTRO AND THE PAIN KILLERS – The Devil You Know

Posted on February 22, 2014 by petefeenstra

Alligator records [Release date 20.01.14] While this album is a slimmed down version of Tommy Castro And The Pain Killers, there’s actually some 14 guest musicians helping him out in the absence of his previous horn section. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Bonnie Hayes, Byron Cage, Chris Youlden, J.B. Lenoir, James Pace, Jimmy Pugh, Joe Bonamassa, Kim Simmonds, Magic Dick, Marcia Ball, Narada Michael Walden, Randy McDonald, review, Samantha Fish, Santana, Savoy Brown, Tab Benoit, Tasha Taylor, The J. Geils Band, The Pain Killers, The Yardbirds, Tommy Castro | Leave a comment

Quick Plays: HEAVY METAL NINJAS, TIDE, KATIE COLE

Posted on February 21, 2014 by david.wilson

HEAVY METAL NINJAS – Interstellar Abduction Warner Music [Release date – out now] Heavy Metal Ninjas hail not from Japan as you might expect but from New Zealand. Lead by virtuoso guitarist Richie Allan, this instrumental six piece are here … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, CD, country, country pop, Heavy Metal Ninjas, Interstellar Abduction, Katie Cole, metal, New Zealand, No 4, prog, review, Richie Allan, rock, Sheryl Crow, Slovakia, Steve Vai, Tide | Leave a comment

Album review : DOG DAYS REVOLUTION – Overloaded

Posted on February 21, 2014 by david.wilson

Turenki Records (Release date – out now) Rock ‘n’ Roll and Finland have long gone hand in hand for some reason, maybe it’s the long dark nights? The latest addition to Finland’s rock heritage are Dog … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AC/DC, album, CD, Dog Days Revolution, Finland, Overloaded, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: PERC3PTION – Reason And Faith

Posted on February 21, 2014 by david.wilson

MS Metal Records (Release date – out now) Perc3ption are a Brazilian outfit who have been together since 2007. This debut album was released back in their native country last year and is only now reaching … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Brazil, CD, Luiz Fernando Poleto, metal, Perc3ption, prog, Reason And Faith, review, rock, Wellington Consoli | Leave a comment

Album review: CHRISTINA SKJOLBERG – Come And Get It

Posted on February 21, 2014 by petefeenstra

Ruf Records [Release date 28.01.14] Christina Skjolberg’s ‘Come And Get It’ is the tale of a blonde Norwegian leather clad blues-rock guitarist recording in English under the watchful eye of a Finish producer/guitarist, on a German … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged blues, Brynjulf Blix, Christina Skjolberg, Come And Get It, Davide Floreno, Erja Lyytinen, guitar, Harri Taittonen, Luther Allison, Michael Landau, Miri Miettinen, Norwegian, review, rock, Steiner Varnes | Leave a comment

Album review: LAURENCE JONES – Temptation

Posted on February 21, 2014 by petefeenstra

Ruf Records [Release date 10.03.14] It may be a PR cliché, but the phrase ‘hotly anticipated album’ was never more apt than when applied to Laurence Jones’s ‘Temptation’. Having made a big splash on the UK … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AYNSLEY LISTER, blues rock, Charlie Wooton, guitar, Johnny Sansone, Laurence Jones, Mike Zito, review, Ruf Recprds, Temptation, Walter Trout, Yonrico Scott | Leave a comment

Album review: MATT SCHOFIELD – Far As I Can See

Posted on February 21, 2014 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 17.02.14] ‘Far As I Can See’ could be the breakthrough album for Matt Schofield, a major Brit blues talent who has teetered on the brink of success for some time. This is an … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Aaron Neville, Albert Collins, blues, Doug Ingle, funk, guitar, Iron Butterfly, jazz, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Gooch, Jonny Henderson, Matt Schofield, review, Ten Year After, Warren Haynes | Leave a comment

Album review: HELL – Curse & Chapter

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Yiannis

Nuclear Blast – Out Now. Theatrics and Rock music have been enjoying a symbiotic relationship for many years and it is this interesting partnership that is often responsible for the atmospheric and lyrical themes of our beloved music. With legends … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

Album review: IRON SAVIOR – Rise Of The Hero

Posted on February 20, 2014 by jason

AFM Records www.afmrecords.de There is a fair number of German metal bands that have a direct link to Helloween in one form or another. Iron Savior were founded by ex-Helloween man Kai Hansen, then Blind Guardian drummer Thomen Stauch and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album review, Blind Guardian, Helloween, IRON SAVIOR, Mando Diao, metal, power metal, Rise Of The Hero | Leave a comment

Album review: FREEDOM CALL – Beyond

Posted on February 18, 2014 by jason

SPV [Release date 24.04.14] Album number eight from Freedom Call and a couple of line-up changes with a new drummer Ramy Ali, along with the return of original bass player Ilker Irsin. I have to admit Freedom Call are one … Continue reading →