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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: CARDINAL BLACK – Sub 89, Reading, 15 November 2024
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Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 13 November 2024
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Gig review: HRH XVII, Great Yarmouth, 7-9 November 2024
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Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES – Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024
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Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024
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Gig review: ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024
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Featured Album Reviews
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Album review: THE FIERCE & THE DEAD – News From The Invisible World
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Album review: PAUL RODGERS – Midnight Rose
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Quick plays: LARS BOUTRUP, AL DI MEOLA
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Album review: CADO BELLE – Cado Belle (reissue)
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Album review: BLACK SABBATH – Supersonic Years The Seventies Singles Box Set
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Album review: DARWIN – Darwin 2: A Frozen War
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Features
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Features
Tag Archives: Helloween
Album review : STATUS QUO – SQ (Official Archive Series Vol1 – 2CDs)
earMUSIC [Release date 11.08.23] For SQ’s new live album it all began with the ‘Beginning Of The End’. That single, released in 2007, sparked an idea that has only now seen the bright light of day. It was a foretaste … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, Ear Music, Eike Freese, Helloween, Kai Hansen, Netherlands, review, Rick Parfitt
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Album review : IRON SAVIOR – Riding On Fire – The Noise Years 1997-2004, 6 CD Boxset
Cherry Red [Release date 28.07.23] “A constant and independent force within the Power Metal universe”. No prizes for attributing this quote to Iron Savior mainman, Piet Sielck. It could easily have come from his Iron Savior buddy, Kai (Gamma Ray) … Continue reading
Album review: RONNIE ROMERO – Raised On Heavy Radio
Frontiers Records [Release date: 27.01.23] Second “Raised On…” album from Ronnie (Rainbow, Lords Of Black, The Ferry Men) Romero. Recording cover versions of your favourite songs must be a temptation that’s impossible to resist. Many singers/bands have done it. Few … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged album, Bad Company, Chris Caffery, Foreigner, Gus G, heavy metal, Helloween, Iron Maiden, Journey, Judas Priest, melodic rock, Nozuma Wakei, Rainbow, Raised On Heavy Radio, review, Roland Grapow, Ronnie Romero, Steve Perry, Survivor
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Feature: GRTR!@20 Anniversary – Metal – Primer
During the period 2003-2023 metal had morphed into various guises. Brian McGowan tries to keep up with it and surveys the period… Heavy Metal is a musical phenomenon that continues to gain in strength and popularity, worldwide. It has the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, The Primer
Tagged 2003-2023, Avenged Sevenfold, Blind Guardian, Edguy, Helloween, history, metal, power metal, Rammstein
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Album review: IRON SAVIOR – Reforged Ironbound Volume 2
AFM Records [release date: 26.08.22] You could argue that Piet Sielck and Kai (Gamma Ray) Hansen kick started the entire Power Metal genre in Europe when the former Helloween bandmates formed Iron Savior in 1996. That was then. More recently, … Continue reading
Quick plays: BLACKLITE DISTRICT, NORTHTALE
BLACKLITE DISTRICT – 1990 AK19 Entertainment, LLC [Release date 31.12.21] Kyle Pfeiffer is better known by the name Blacklite District and has been releasing music since 2011. The album title gives a little clue to the sounds contained within, as the … Continue reading
Album review: INSANIA – V Praeparatus Supervivet
Frontiers [Release date 12.11.21] Few bands get back together after a 14 year breakup, but that’s what Sweden’s Power Metal band, Insania have done. Twin vocalists, twin guitars, bubbling bass and ahhh… that double kick bass drum thump on the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts)
Tagged album, Frontiers, Helloween, Insania, Iron Maiden, power metal, review, Sweden
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Album review: PARADOX – Heresy II, End Of A Legend
AFM Records [Release date: 24.09.21] German giants of Thrash, Paradox are well known within the genre. They have a sizeable coterie of discerning fans who’ve followed them since the band’s inception in 1986. Had their chosen genre been say, power … Continue reading
Album review: IRON SAVIOR – Skycrest
AFM Records [Release date 04.12.20] Installed like a figurehead at the prow of European heavy metal, Piet Sielck’s Iron Savior proudly trail the story of this classic musical movement behind them. You could argue that along with Kai Hansen, Sielck … Continue reading
Quick plays: UNISONIC, RON POPE
UNISONIC Live at Wacken earMUSIC [Release date 21.07.17] Unisonic are the band formed by ex-Helloween members Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen (of Gamma Ray fame), joined by Denis Ward (Pink Cream 69 and many production credits), Mandy Meyer (Asia/Krokus) and … Continue reading
Album review: MASTERPLAN – PumpKings
AFM Records [Release date 28.07.17] Masterplan is one of those bands that as soon as someone mentions the name you automatically think, “What a great band!” At least I do. Since their inception in 2003, they’ve consistently released some killer … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Helloween, MASTERPLAN, power metal, PumpKings, review, Roland Grapow
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Quick plays: EZOO, KAI HANSEN & FRIENDS
EZOO Feeding the Beast earMUSIC [Release date 02.06.17] Graham Bonnet has been very busy of late with his own Graham Bonnet Band releasing a studio and live album and now this, Ezoo which features guitarist Dario Mollo (Voodoo Hill/Tony Martin). … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Dario Mollo, Ezoo, Gamma Ray, Graham Bonnet, Helloween, Kai Hansen, Rainbow, review
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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL IX – Hafan Y Mor, Pwllheli, Wales, 12-14 November 2015
Thursday When the line-up was announced for this year’s 9th chapter of the Hard Rock Hell journey there were the usual naysayers but to be fair it’s the same for every festival… However one thing that topped everything was the … Continue reading
Album reviews: GAMMA RAY – Sigh No More/Heading For The East
earMUSIC [Release date 25.09.15] Another anniversary edition, Gamma Ray’s second album Sigh No More was originally released back in 1991. It came out just as grunge was starting, although metal bands were never hit as much as the hair metal … Continue reading
Album review: GLORYHAMMER – SPACE 1992: Rise Of The Chaos Wizards
Napalm Records [release date 25.09.15 ] Angus McFife and his merry band are back in another tale of daring do. This time taking on the galactic hordes in the defence of the mighty galaxy of Fife … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS
Tagged Aberdeen, album, Alestorm, Anstruther, CD, Christopher Bowes, Crail, Dragonforce, Dundee, East Neuk Of Fife, Edguy, GLORYHAMMER, Helloween, Paul Templing, power metal, review, rock, Space 1992 - Rise Of The Chaos Wizard, Tales from the Kingdom of Fife, Thomas Winkler
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Album review: GAMMA RAY – Heading For Tomorrow
earMusic [Release date 24.07.15] Gamma Ray were formed after Kai Hansen left Helloween, the band he helped co-found, back in 1988. Back then this was big news as Helloween were riding a massive wave of popularity (they had played Monsters … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged 25th anniversary edition, album, classic, debut album, Gamma Ray, Heading For Tomorrow, Helloween, Kai Hansen, metal, power, review
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Album review: KISKE SOMERVILLE – City of Heroes
Frontiers Records [Release Date 17.04.15] Despite the rather unimaginative name, some of rock’s most respected names are behind this project. The singers are former Helloween and more recently Place Vendome singer Michael Kiske and Trillium singer and vocal coach Amanda … Continue reading
News: THUNDER, SHINEDOWN, TANK – Sunday 22nd February 2015
Shinedown are currently recording their next album and plan a summer release. Axel Rudi Pell releases ‘Magic Moments – 25th Anniversary Special Show’ on CD/DVD on 27th April via SPV. Thunder charted at number nine in the UK album charts … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS
Tagged alternative, Axel Rudi Pell, Helloween, metal, news, RAVEN, rock, Shinedown, Tank, Thunder, UK albums chart
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Album review: UNISONIC – Light Of Dawn
earMUSIC [Release date 04.08.14] Arguably, 2014 has already been a good year for the power metal genre: Gamma Ray, Edguy and Freedom Call, amongst others have spun out very worthy platters. German supergroup Unisonic have easily augmented that roster … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Dennis Ward, Gamma Ray, Helloween, Kai Hansen, Light Of Dawn, Mandy Meyer, Michael Kiske, power metal, review, Unisonic
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Singles and EP reviews: THE YOUNG FOLK, AMY SIMPSON, UNISONIC
THE YOUNG FOLK – Way Home Pixie Pace Records [Released 26.05.14] www.theyoungfolk.com Dublin based alt-folk band The Young Folk release their debut UK single and feature Anthony Furey (son of George from the legendary the Fureys & Davy Arthur). This … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Amy Simpson, EP, Fairy Tales, folk, Gamma Ray, Helloween, Kai Hansen, Michael Kiske, pop, power metal, review, singer, single, songwriter, Stories & Myths, The Way Home, The Young Folk, Unisonic
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Album review: IRON SAVIOR – Rise Of The Hero
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
Album review: FREEDOM CALL – Beyond
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
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Beyond, Freedom Call, Gamma Ray, Helloween, metal, power metal, review
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Album review: DRIVING MRS SATAN – Popscotch
www.drivingmrssatan.com Does the world need an album of metal covers by acts like Helloween, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Anthrax, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Slayer and Faith No More? You might not think so, but when it’s something as unique as Popscotch, by … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged acoustic, album, Black Sabbath, Driving Mrs Satan, Helloween, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, metal, Metallica, pop, Popscotch, review, rock
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Album review: ARMORY – Empyrean Realms
Metavania Music (Release date – out now) This album was actually released on the 12th of November 2013 and has only just come to my attention, it has been my loss it would seem! Armory formed back … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Armory, CD, Empyrean Realms, Helloween, Massachusetts, power metal, prog, review
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Quick plays: GINGERFEET, ANDI DERIS & THE BAD BANKERS, NIGHTMARE BOYZZZ
GINGERFEET – High And Above: The First Wave https://www.facebook.com/gingerfeetindia You don’t get many new funk rock/metal bands come along nowadays so it’s a bit of a treat to have this new band from India Gingerfeet come along. They have a … Continue reading
