Tag Archives: hard rock

Single review: PARKER BARROW – Nothin’ Left To Save

pb single

Website I do like music with attitude, and this single earns a big five stars from me, for its attitude, for its grit, for its musicianship, for its utter rock n rollness I’ve said Parker Barrow are going places since … Continue reading

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Album review: Ritchie Blackmore’s RAINBOW – Live In Dusseldorf (3-LP vinyl)

RAINBOW - Live In Dusseldorf

Demon/Edsel [Release date 26.06.26] The second (after Cologne) of three live albums recorded in Germany 1976, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow were promoting their Rainbow Rising LP to huge acclaim. The three albums were originally issued as double CDs a few years … Continue reading

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Album review : LYNCH MOB – The Final Ride (Live)

Lynch 150 Mob Final Ride image

Frontiers Music [Release date : 29.05.26] George Lynch was always known for his incendiary axework in a live setting. Never straying too much from the album the song came from, but adding enough to make it seem fresh and new. … Continue reading

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Album review : SPREAD EAGLE – The Brutal Divine

SPREAD 150 EAGLE Brutal image

Frontiers Music [Release date : 12.06.26] This is US rock band, Spread Eagle’s fourth album in 25 years, and second album on the Frontiers’ label, not very hard on the heels of 2019’s rather good Subway To The Stars. Ray … Continue reading

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Single review: BLACKLIST UNION – Jackson

bu

Website/BLU Records  This is exactly what you need for the summer, a great punked up reimagination of the Johnny Cash classic “Jackson”, and what a great version this is. With Blacklist Union frontman Tony West and Femme Fatale’s Lorraine Lewis … Continue reading

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Album review : BRIAN ROBERTSON – Diamonds And Dirt (2 CD Reissue)

BRIAN ROBERTSON 150 Diamonds image

Cherry Red [Release date 29.05.26] Scottish guitarist/ songwriter Brian Robertson played on what were arguably Thin Lizzy’s top 5 studio albums. Over a four year period, 1974-78, he contributed as guitarist and co-writer with Phil Lynott on Nightlife, Fighting, Jailbreak, … Continue reading

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Album review: BEGGARS BLISS – S/t

bliss

Website [Release date 22.05.26] Derby based Beggars Bliss formed in 2024, with a mantra of – “if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing.” Their line-up is Henry John (vocals, guitar), Milly Ayesha (keyboards, vocals), Dan Griffiths (bass, vocals) and Chris … Continue reading

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Album review: W.A.S.P. – s/t

WASP

Madfish [Release date 21.05.26] Record label Madfish have been working some of the early W.A.S.P. catalogue, including The Savage 7 CD boxset. Here is the band’s 1984 debut and in line with all the other Madfish releases I’ve encountered, it … Continue reading

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Album review : VON GROOVE – Born To Rock

VON GROOVE 150 Born image

Frontiers Music [Release date : 15.05.26] There can be few more explosive opening tracks than Von Groove’s ‘Once Is Not Enough’ from their self titled debut, 1992. 30 years later : they’ve got the band back together – Michael Shotton, … Continue reading

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Single review: PARKER BARROW – Blinded

pb

Blinded is taken from Parker Barrow’s forthcoming album Hold The Mash, and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were listening to a new Stones single with the opening riff, as guitarist Alex Bender says the riff was given life as … Continue reading

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Album review : DEGREED – Curtain Calls

DEGREED - Curtain Calls

Frontiers [Release date 24.04.26] Eighth full length album from respected Swedish Hard Rock band, Degreed…Robin Eriksson, Mats Eriksson, Mikael Blanc and Daniel Johansson. Their sound is impossible to categorise. Is it toughened up AOR, melodic hard rock, metallised hard rock … Continue reading

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Album review : URIAH HEEP – Beautiful Dream, The Recordings 1975-77 (4CDs)

URIAH 150 HEEP Beautiful Dream

Cherry Red [Release date 24.04.26] Return To Fantasy (1975) High And Mighty (1976) Firefly (1977) Innocent Victim (1977) Cherry Red’s latest Uriah Heep boxset, Beautiful Dream, is essentially a follow up to their Shadow And The Wind set released last … Continue reading

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Album review: XTASY – Phoenix

XTASY - Phoenix

Art of Melody Music / Burning Minds Music Groups [Release date 10.04.26] Now here’s a thing. Melodic rock that’s not from Scandinavia! Spain’s Xtasy formed in 2011 and have been building a following in their home country and in Continental … Continue reading

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Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Live & Ready 1980-1984

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP - Live & Ready 1980-1984

Chrysalis Records [Release date 03.04.26] Guitar legend Michael Schenker has had a largely wonderful career, with his own band as well as with both Scorpions and UFO. And of his eponymous band, the 1980 to 1984 period is widely considered … Continue reading

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Feature: GRTR! Greats – BETH HART

GRTR! Greats - Beth Hart

Photo: Manuela Langotsch Beth Hart’s place in the GRTR! Greats series was sealed a long time ago by her heartfelt songwriting, emotionally charged voice and musical excellence spanning a 18 plus album career backed by non stop touring. Her vibrato … Continue reading

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Album review: WARRANT – Belly To Belly Vol.1

WARRANT - Belly To Belly Vol.1

Deko Entertainment [Release date 15.04.26] Warrant’s fifth album ‘Belly to Belly, Vol. 1′ has been remastered and repackaged and is being re-released in April, and for the first time will also be released on vinyl. Originally released in 1996 it … Continue reading

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Album review: AEROSMITH (Deluxe expanded edition)

AEROSMITH (Deluxe expanded edition)

Universal Music Group [Release date 20.03.26] One of the USA’s rock bands, Aerosmith have released 15 studio albums, and sold 150 million records world-wide. And their blend of rock, blues, glam and pop has been very influential too. With roots … Continue reading

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Album review: CASEY MAUNDER – Smash Down Jericho

CASEY MAUNDER - Smash Down Jericho

Website [Release date 20.03.26] Album number three from Casey Maunder and pleased to report that he carries on with his high standards of penning catchy, melodic hard rock. Of the ten songs on here, only ‘Paint’ has been released ahead … Continue reading

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Album review: RAINBOW – Temple Of The King 1975/76

RAINBOW - Temple Of The King

Edsel/Demon Music Group [Release date 27.03.26] Originally touted as Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow were formed by Deep Purple guitarist Blackmore. In late 1974, Blackmore had wanted to record a cover of Quatermass’ Black Sheep Of The Family, and did so as … Continue reading

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Album review: ROBIN TROWER – Live!

ROBIN TROWER - Live!

Chrysalis [Release date: 03.04.26] Guitarist Robin Trower made himself as a guitarist, originally with Procol Harum, before forging a successful solo career. Most will (or should) know his classic second album, Bridge Of Sighs, which was remastered and expanded last … Continue reading

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Gig review: SMITH KOTZEN – Bristol Academy, 20 February 2026

SMITH KOTZEN - Bristol Academy, 20 February 2026

It’s a band and promoters nightmare. Towards the end of a relatively short UK tour the special guests Kris Barras Band had to pull out due to Kris’ throat infection. Shame as I was looking forward to seeing Barras live … Continue reading

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Album review : BLACK SWAN – Paralyzed

BLACK SWAN - Paralyzed

Frontiers Music [Release date : 27.02.26] Four years after Black Swan’s second album, Generation Mind, comes Paralyzed, with the four horsemen, Robin McAuley, Reb Beach, Jeff Pilson and Matt Starr riding quickly into view. So called “supergroups”, of which this … Continue reading

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Album review : WILD HORSES – Standing Our Ground (6 CD Boxset)

WILD HORSES

Cherry Red [Release date 13.02.26] The two Wild Horses’ studio albums were arguably the last gasp of seventies’ hard rock before it went under. Glaswegian forces of nature, Brian Robertson and Jimmy Bain, guitar and bass (and vocals), had jumped … Continue reading

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Album review: DENNIS CHURCHILL-DRIES – Crazy Is This Life

DENNIS CHURCHILL-DRIES – Crazy Is This Life

AOR Blvd Records [Release date 30.01.26] Former White Sister and Tattoo Rodeo vocalist Dennis Churchill-Dries is back with another album packed full of classy melodic rock. He’s joined by Steve Newman on guitar and keys, along with Newman drummer Rob … Continue reading

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Album review: GOTTHARD – More Stereo Crush

GOTTHARD – More Stereo Crush

Reigning Pheonix Music [Release date 13.03.26] Gotthard released ‘Stereo Crush’ last year and now have a follow on eight-track EP. Five songs are previously unreleased from the ‘Stereo Crush’ sessions, ‘Mayday’ had only been available as a video, and there … Continue reading

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