-
Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
-
Gig review: CARDINAL BLACK – Sub 89, Reading, 15 November 2024
-
Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 13 November 2024
-
Gig review: HRH XVII, Great Yarmouth, 7-9 November 2024
-
Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES – Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024
-
Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024
-
Gig review: ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024
-
Featured Album Reviews
Features
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Features
Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS
Album review: ORDEN OGAN – The Order of Fear
Reigning Pheonix Music [Release date 05.07.24] Album number eight by the power metal veterans Orden Ogan (well, they have been around since 1997 under the Orden Ogan name!) and their first for their new record label, Reigning Phoenix Music. Mainman Sebastian “Seeb” … Continue reading
Album review : KRYPTOS – Decimator
AFM Records [Release date : 05.07.24] On their magnificent seventh album now, Indian heavy metal band, Kryptos still have their eyes on the prize. It’s always tantalisingly out of reach for most bands. Few ever get their hands on it. … Continue reading
Album review : THE BYRON BAND – On The Rocks… Again, 3CD Box Set
Cherry Red [Release date : 28.06.24] CD1: On The Rocks (1981) CD2: Demos recorded for unreleased second album (1982) CD3: Rehearsal Recording (1981), plus Live In Liverpool (1980) The title of the Byron Band’s debut album, On The Rocks, is … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Byron Band, David Byron, On The Rocks, review, Robin George, rock, Uriah Heep
Leave a comment
Album review: CIRCULINE – C.O.R.E.
Inner Nova Music [Release date 20.09.24] There’s nothing quite like a bit of old school schmoozing. Circuline have, let’s say, a certain maturity of years (their bassist Shelby excluded) and – therefore – a maturity of outlook. Old timers like … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, C.O.R.E., Circuline, Dave Bainbridge, prog, Progressive Rock, review
Leave a comment
Album review : CHATEAUX – Spirit Of The Chateau (3 CD Reissue)
Cherry Red [Release date : 21.06.24] CD1: Chained And Desperate (1983) CD2: Firepower (1984) CD3: Highly Strung (1985) Led by guitarist, Tim Broughton, English metal band Chateau signed to Ebony Records, a NWOBHM startup label, in 1981. The band (previously … Continue reading
Album review: ATLANTIC – Another World
Escape Music [Release date 21.06.24] Atlantic is the brainchild of guitarist and songwriter Simon Harrison, who released their debut album ‘Power’ back in 1994 (re-issued by Escape in 2008). It was originally planned to be a one-off – until now … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Another World, AOR, Atlantic, Dare, Escape Music, FM, Grim Reaper, Journey, Lionsheart, Mark Grimmett, melodic rock, review, Simon Harrison, Steve Grimmett
Leave a comment
Album review : PALLAS – Eyes In The Night (The Recordings 1981-86, 7CD boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date : 28.06.24] You have to credit Cherry Red with their even handed approach to reissues/remasters. No offence to fans of neo-Prog band, Pallas, but the band is not front page news, and never have been, but … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged boxset, DVD, Eddy Offord, ELP, Genesis, King Crimson, London, Marillion, neo prog, Pallas, review, Scottish, Yes
Leave a comment
Album review : MAGGIE E. ROGERS – Chasing Sunsets
‘Chasing Sunsets’ is a lyrically strong and musical versatile album rooted in the folk, singer songwriter and storytelling tradition. Significantly subtitled; ‘ Songs of love, life…and the sun’, the 11 tracks gather a momentum through M.D. Mike King’s inventive arrangements … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, blues, Chasing Sunsets, Damien Nolan, funk, jazz, Maggie E Rogers, Mike King, Mirco Altenbach, Noel Harrison, review, rock, Roger Inniss, singer, songwriter, Tom Waits
Leave a comment
Album review: FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION – Whisky A-Go-Go 1968
UMC [Release date 21.06.24] Singer, instrumentalist and composer Frank Zappa is widely considered one of the foremost, innovative, prolific and off-the-wall musicians to ever record, and he often took an anti-establishment view too. With his band The Mothers Of Invention, … Continue reading
Album review: VICIOUS RUMORS – Welcome To The Ball (Remaster)
Rock Candy [Release date : 24.05.24] Rock Candy Records are perhaps, unfairly, more associated with AOR and Melodic Rock than they are Metal, but among reissue labels they have no peers when it comes to value judgement. The always underrated … Continue reading
Album review : AXE – The Offering (Remaster)
Rock Candy Records [Release date 24.05.24] Third time lucky for Axe. The Offering, released in 1982, got enough sales and radio airplay to put them firmly on the USA’s Melodic Rock map, leading directly to tours with Kiss, The Scorpions … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, Axe, Bobby Barth, Edgar Riley, Kiss, melodic rock, Mike Osborne, remaster, review, Rock Candy Records, Scorpions, ZZ Top
Leave a comment
Album review : THE LADDER – S/T (Remaster)
Rock Candy Records [Release date : 24.05.24] Another “obscure” 1980’s American AOR album, rescued by Rock Candy Records. It was “big in Japan” though. Aren’t they all. The Ladder – writers Joe and Lou Parente, with vocalist Frank Mancano – … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, ATCO, Chicago, David Foster, Frank Mancano, Joe Parente, Lou Parente, Philadelphia, review, Rock Candy, The Ladder
Leave a comment
Album review : STRIDER – Exposed and Misunderstood (Remasters)
Rock Candy Records [Release date: 24.05.24] In 1970, Strider formed in London. Wrong place, right time? Right place, wrong time? Who knows. Certainly wasn’t for lack of talent or quality songs. Hugely popular with a core UK fanbase, Strider could … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Babys, blues, Eddie Money, Exposed, Gary Grainger, Misunderstood, review, rock, Rock Candy, Rod Stewart, Strider, Terry Brock
Leave a comment
Album review: ATLANTIS DRIVE – Atlantis Drive
Pride & Joy Music [Release date 14.06.24] Composer and guitarist Markus Pfeffer (Barnabas Sky, Lazarus Dream) is the mastermind behind Atlantis Drive. As Markus explains – “I had a very clear goal with this album: To take up the sound … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Atlantis Drive, hard rock, Lazarus Dream, Mark Boals, Markus Pfeffer, melodic, melodic rock, Pride & Joy Music, review
Leave a comment
Album review: JOE BONAMASSA – Live at The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra
J&R Adventures [Release date 21.06.24] Joe Bonamassas’s ‘Live at The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra’ is a triumph of ambition and execution, as a well chosen catalogue of songs are inbued with fresh energy and a bigger musical sweep. You’d be … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Barbra Streisand, blues, Bob Ezrin, Bobby Bland, British Blues Invasion, Calvin Turner, Chris Whitley, guitar, Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, Led Zeppelin, Lemar Carter, Live at The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra, Michael Kamen, orchestra, Pink Floyd, Rashawn Ross, Reese Wynans, review, rock, Warren Haynes
Leave a comment
Album review : TKO – Total Knockout – The Complete TKO 5 CD Boxset
Cherry Red [Release date 28.06.24] CD1: Let It Roll (1979) CD2: Lost Demos (1980) CD3: In Your Face (1981) CD4: Below The Belt (1984) CD5: Early Mixes 1979, 14 years before Brad Sinsel’s War Babies became the only band not … Continue reading
Album review: ROB TOGNONI – Rebel
MIG Music [Release date 18.01.24] Seemingly always a “Rebel”, it’s curious that it’s taken Aussie rocker Rob Tognoni until something like his 27th album to embrace the outsider theme as an album title. Ever since outgrowing the “latest big thing” … Continue reading
Album review : JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR – Heavy Soul
Journeyman Records [Release date 07.06.24] Joanne Shaw Taylor’s ‘Heavy Soul’ is a decent album with a handful of good songs, some fluid guitar playing and moments of intuitive band interplay, but the inclusion of 3 covers and the overall aim … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alison Prestwood, Anton Fig, Beth Neilson Chapman, Bob Clearmountain, Carmen Vandenberg, funk, guitar, Joan Armatrading, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Kenny Gamble, Kevin Shirley, Leon Huff, review, rock, soul, Van Morrison
Leave a comment
Album review : ANVIL – One And Only
AFM Records [Release date: 28.06.24] There’s Old School Heavy Metal bands, and there’s Anvil. On their 20th album now, the aptly titled One And Only, these Canadian legends have shed any pretence of “modernising” their sound, reaching back to the … Continue reading
Album review: TERAMAZE – Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace
Wells Music [Release date 24.05.24] teramaze.bandcamp.com/ For some strange reason I have only just become acquainted with this Australian prog metal band. This latest offering is their eleventh full-length album, so I have some catching up to do. Strangely again, over … Continue reading
Album review: BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION – V
J&R Adventures [Release date 14.06.24] After a 7 year hiatus, the Anglo-American super group Black Country Communion return with an album that rocks hard. There’s plenty of intensity, spirit and a handful of decent tunes with plenty of early 70’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AC/ DC, album, Angus Young, Black Country Communion, blues, Deep Purple, Derek Sherinian, funk, Glenn Hughes, guitar, Jason Binham, Joe Bonamassa, JOE COCKER, Kevin Shirley, Led Zepplein, Paul Kossoff, review, rock, Stevie Wonder, vocal
Leave a comment
Album review : AS I ROVED OUT – THE STORY OF CELTIC ROCK 1968-78 (3CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date: 21.06.24] Celtic music dates back to the 17th century. It’s part of the musical scenery in western Europe… mainly Portugal, Spain and France. And across the Atlantic in Canada … most especially among the island communities … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Al Stewart, Cape Breton, Celtic rock, France, Ireland, Newfoundland, Pentangle, Portugal, review, Runrig, Scotland, Spain, TASTE, Thin Lizzy
Leave a comment
Album review: THE DAVE FOSTER BAND – Maybe They’ll Come Back For Us
English Electric Recordings [Release date 31.05.24] Several years ago when I saw The Steve Rothery Band playing live Dave Foster provided support, and then reappeared in the Marillion guitarist’s band. Half way through Foster’s own set, an ethereally toned guitar … Continue reading
Album review: HUNGRYTOWN – Circus For Sale
Big Stir Records [Release date 21.06.24] Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson are Hungrytown, who have released three albums since they formed in 2005. All three have won accolades and Year’s Best Of recognition from within the roots and folk community and beyond. Expectations … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 60s pop, album, Aliento Chamber Players, Americana, Bert Jansch, Circus For Sale, folk, Hungrytown, Ken Anderson, pop, Rebecca Hall, review
Leave a comment
Album review: COLLATERAL- Should’ve Known Better
Cargo Records (Release Date 24.05.24) After bursting on the scene five or six years ago, Kent melodic rockers Collateral’s rise to the top has been a bumpy one – which has included the pandemic striking at the very moment they … Continue reading
