Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: SHEWOLF – SheWolf

Posted on March 17, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 18.03.22] Aiming to climb the Power Metal mountain, SheWolf release their self titled debut album this month. Led by stunning Greek vocalist, Angel Wolf-Black, the band, The Hunter (guitars), The Predator (bass) and Alpha (drummer) might sound … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Angel Wolf-Black, folk, Greek mythology, lockdown, Nightwish, pandemic, power metal, prog, review, Selene, Within Temptation, Wolf | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (January 2022 – March 2022)

Posted on March 17, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

LIFESIGNS Altitude (Lifesigns Music) Fans of the likes of Marillion, Genesis and Camel will find much to enjoy here – fans of the more challenging end of the prog spectrum should probably look elsewhere. ***** Review by Alan Jones SAXON … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, blues rock, classic rock, Eric Gales, February 2022, Find Me, Ghost, heavy rock, January 2022, Lifesigns, March 2022, Marillion, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, Saxon | Leave a comment

Album review: CIRCLE OF FRIENDS – The Garden

Posted on March 17, 2022 by jason

Escape Records [Release date 25.03.22] ‘The Garden’ is the album put together by Bruce Mee (of Fireworks magazine) as a tribute to his mother, who died of cancer in 2020. The studio project is called Circle of Friends because the … Continue reading →

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Album review: PHARMACOSE – Prescription Fiction

Posted on March 15, 2022 by jason

Indie [Release date 22.02.22] Rock is a genre that holds the key to so many subgenres. The umbrella term for so many artists, it may seem too broad a word. But sometimes we really do just need the reliability of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, indie, Pharmacose, Prescription Fiction, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THE VIBRATORS – The Albums 1985-1990

Posted on March 15, 2022 by jason

Captain Oi!/Cherry Red One of the finest bands of the original punk era, the early years of The Vibrators have already been comprehensively collected by Cherry Red in two previous box sets. Their commercially successful years were well behind them … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged box set, Cherry Red Records, Oi!, punk, punk rock, reissue, review, The Albums 1985-1990, The Vibrators | Leave a comment

Album review: CHIP Z’NUFF – Perfectly Imperfect

Posted on March 14, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 18.03.22] New solo album from Grammy nominated musician, Chip Z’Nuff. As much of today’s pop and rock degenerate into pro-tooled, prefabricated, flatpack blandness, Z’Nuff makes the case for home made, rough around the edges rock. He’s still … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Beatles, Cheap Trick, Chip Z'nuff, Enuff Z'Nuff, Joel Hoekstra, Mott, pop rock, Powerpop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: NEW HORIZON – Gate Of The Gods

Posted on March 13, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] New Horizon is a H.E.A.T. splinter group, or splinter duo, to be precise. Being almost famous gives you room to try other things, and so Jonah Tee and Erik Gronwall have been given the opportunity to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Erik Gronwall, H.E.A.T., Jonah Tee, New Horizon, power metal, review, rock, Stratovarius, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: TEN- Here Be Monsters

Posted on March 13, 2022 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release date 18.02.22) It’s been over three years since Ten released the rather underwhelming ‘Illuminati’, though mainman Gary Hughes had a busy 2021 with a solo album and compilation and writing the critically acclaimed ‘Tao’ project.’ ‘Here Be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Gary Hughes, melodic rock.AOR, TEN | Leave a comment

Album review: THE MARTIN BARRE BAND – Live At The Wildey

Posted on March 12, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

The Store For Music [Release date 14.01.22] 2-CD set This 2-CD live package is a great reminder of the 50th anniversary tour dates played out by guitarist Martin Barre in 2019. It’s pretty much the same running order as the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 50th anniversary, album, classic rock. rock, Clive Bunker, Dee Palmer, Jethro Tull, live, Live At The Wildey, prog, progressive, review, The Martin Barre Band | Leave a comment

Album review: LIONVILLE – So Close to Heaven

Posted on March 12, 2022 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release date 11.02.22) The brainchild of Italian multi-instrumentalist Stefano Lionetti, Lionville have produced a series of quality AOR albums at regular intervals over the past decade. So Close to Heaven is their fifth and there are few changes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Lars Safsund, Lionville, melodic rock, Robbie La Blanc, Stefano Lionetti | Leave a comment

Album review: RUST N’ RAGE – One For The Road

Posted on March 11, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 11.03.22] The label debut from young Finnish band, Rust N’ Rage. The label claims that Rust N’ Rage’s influences are Dokken, ‘Crue and ‘Priest, but in fact they’ve taken their lead from second or third generation European … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Brother Firetribe, Dokken, Eclipse, Frontiers, Jimmy Westerlund, Judas Priest, melodic rock, One Desire, review, Rust N' Rage | Leave a comment

Album review: FIND ME – Lightning In A Bottle

Posted on March 10, 2022 by brianmc

FIND-ME-lightning-in-a-bottle-COVER_600x600

Frontiers [Release date: 11.03.22] Find Me is Robbie LaBlanc, a rock vocalist who enjoys iconic status, and Daniel Flores (and his band) who’s on the same path, if not the same trajectory. The duo have been breathing new life into … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Daniel Flores, eighties, Frank Stallone, Frontiers, Mark Free, melodic rock, pomp rock, review, Robbie Blanc, Signal, Staying Alive movie, Vince DiCola | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK VALLEY MOON – Songs From The Black Valley

Posted on March 9, 2022 by jason

Otitis Media Records [Release date 25.02.22] Black Valley Moon was formed in 2019 by guitarist Sam Williams (Down By Law) and started as an instrumental surf band, however, during the recent global pandemic they added vocalist Ray Vega. The band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Black Valley Moon, Down By Law, goth, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, Songs From The Black Valley | Leave a comment

Album review: EDGE OF FOREVER – Days Of Future Past (Remasters, 3 CD set)

Posted on March 9, 2022 by brianmc

EDGE-OF-FOREVER-the-days-of-future-past-COVER

Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] Frontiers’ golden boy, Alessandro Del Vecchio, formed Edge Of Forever in 2004. The label has now released the band’s back catalogue in a 3 CD, remastered set, titled Days Of Future Past, with a bonus track … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 3 CD set, album, Alessandro Delvecchio, Another Paradise, AOR, Bob Harris, Bobby Barth, Edge Of Forever, Feeding the Flame, Let The Demon Rock'n'Roll, melodic metal, melodic rock, remasters, review | Leave a comment

Album review: GHOST – Impera

Posted on March 8, 2022 by david.wilson

Loma Vista Recordings [Release date 11.03.22] Papa and the Nameless Ghouls are back with album number 5. The last album, Prequelle, took us back to the time of the Plague, but here we join Ghost in more modern times. The concept … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, The Best of 2022 | Tagged album, Bon Jovi, Call Me Little Sunshine, Ghost, heavy metal, Hunters Moon, IMPERA, Loma Vista Recordings, Meloria, nameless ghouls, Papa, review, rock, Runaway, Tobias Forge | Leave a comment

Album review: ANDY IRVINE & PAUL BRADY

Posted on March 8, 2022 by jason

Compass Records [Release date 04.03.22] Andy Irvine/Paul Brady is an album recorded by Andy Irvine and Paul Brady when they formed a duo, after Planxty broke up for the first time in 1975. For this recording they were joined by … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Andy Irvine, classic album, Donal Lunny, folk, Paul Brady, Planxty, re-issue, review, the Bothy Band | Leave a comment

Quick plays: PAUL TASKER, BLACK LAKES, D’ERCOLE

Posted on March 6, 2022 by jason

PAUL TASKER Tierra Quemada Yellowroom Records [Release date 01.04.22] Paul Tasker is now releasing his second instrumental album, best known for being co-songwriter with Doghouse Roses and a previous member of the Willard Grant Conspiracy. The album’s title translates to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alt metal, alt rock, Black Lakes, D'Ercole, folk, For All We’ve Left Behind, guitarist, instrumental, melodic hard rock, metal, Paul Tasker, Phil Vincent, Quick Plays, review, rock, Tierra Quemada | Leave a comment

Album review: HOUSE OF SHAKIRA – Lint XXV

Posted on March 6, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date: 11.02.22] Well, this is interesting… two richly textured remasters of House Of Shakira’s 1997 album, Lint. It is a most unusual approach. To celebrate the album’s 25th Anniversary, the first disc is a remastered version of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andreas Eklund, Damn Yankees, Lint, melodic rock, Mikael Eriksson, review, Styx, Tommy Shaw, XXV | Leave a comment

Album review: THE JAMES OLIVER BAND – Live At The Earl Haig Club

Posted on March 4, 2022 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date 01.03.22] Released on St David’s Day the 1st of March, The James Oliver Band’s ‘Live At The Earl Haig Club’ (Cardiff) is as close as you will get to an old school live album. This all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Arthur Crudup, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, Dick Dale, Franny Beecher, guitar, James Oliver, Lazy Lester, live, Live At The Earl Haig Club, Mark Kemlo, Mick Green, Patrick Farrell, Peter Green, R&B, Ray Sharpe, review, rock& roll, rockabilly, The James Oliver Band, The Pirates, The Shadows, The Ventures, Vince Taylor | Leave a comment

Album review: BANGALORE CHOIR – All Or Nothing, The Complete Studio Albums (3 CD Set)

Posted on March 3, 2022 by brianmc

Global Rock [Release date: 11.03.22] This 3 disc set from Bangalore Choir is outstandingly well compiled. It’s the first release from Store For Music’s new imprint, Global Rock. As well as the band’s career albums, On Target (1992), Cadence (2010) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 3 CDs, Accept, album review, Andy Susemihl, Bangalore Choir, boxset, Complete Collection, Curt Cuomo, David Reece, Harry Parress, Max Norman, melodic hard rock, Steve Plunkett | Leave a comment

EP review: MICK PINI / AUDIO54 – Pastoral

Posted on March 1, 2022 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date: 28.02.22] There’s nothing like a creative surge of energy to bring fresh reward. And so it that blues veteran Mick Pini revels in his new found collaboration with indie producer Craig Marshall (aka Audio 54), to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Digital only, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Albert Collins, Audio 54, blues, Craig Marshall, EP, Freddie King, funk, King Curtis, Mick Pini, Muscle Shoals, pastoral, Peter Green, psychedelia, review, Robert Cray, Steve Winwood, Traffic | Leave a comment

Album review: JACOB BRYANT – Bar Stool Preacher

Posted on March 1, 2022 by brianmc

Snakefarm Records [Release date o4.03.22] Bar Stool Preacher is a well known phrase in country music, but still a clever one, and it’s apt – it sums up the songs on this pretty fine album. Jacob Bryant is a road … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Country Music, Grand Old Opry, Jacob Bryant, Luke Combs, review | Leave a comment

Album review: SABATON – The War To End All Wars

Posted on February 28, 2022 by david.wilson

Nuclear Blast [Release date 04.03.22] With the last Sabaton album, The Great War, the band led us through some of main events of the First World War and gave the listener an overview of the hell that was both unleashed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, CD, Chris Rorland, Dreadnought, First World War, Hannes Van Dahl, Joakim Bordon, metal, Milunka Savic, Nuclear Blast, Par Sundstrom, review, rock, Sabaton, Sarajevo, The War To End All Wars, Tommy Johansson, Ypres | Leave a comment

Album review: SERIOUS BLACK – Vengeance Is Mine

Posted on February 28, 2022 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date: 25.02.22] Sixth album from Power Metal band, Serious Black. Their reputation for international membership has continued throughout a 7 years and counting career. German founding member, Roland (Helloween) Grapow bailed early on. US vocalist Urban (Tad … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Bob Katsionis, Dominic Sebastian, Mario Lochert, Nikola Mijic, power metal, review, Roland Grapow, Serious Black | Leave a comment

Album review: PAPA GEORGE – These Wheels

Posted on February 28, 2022 by petefeenstra

Papa George chatted to Pete Feenstra for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, first broadcast 27 February 2022. Bandcamp [Release date 30.08.21] ‘These Wheels’ is Papa George’s first album for 15 years – an eternity in today’s digital download generation – … Continue reading →