Tag Archives: Japan

Album review : ILLUSION FORCE – Halfana

Posted on December 6, 2024 by brianmc
ILLUSION FORCE – Halfana

Frontiers [Release date : 13.12.24] Five year veterans of the Japanese rock/metal scene, Illusion Force have now been recognised by Frontiers’ Music as indeed, a force to be reckoned with worldwide. They cite Dragonforce and Helloween as being among their … Continue reading →

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Album review : TAK MATSUMOTO GROUP – TMG II

Posted on November 29, 2024 by brianmc
TAK MATSUMOTO GROUP – TMG II

Frontiers [Release date : 06.12.24] Through one of those close encounters you read about, Tak Matsumoto, guitarist and founder of leading Japanese rock band, B’z met up with Jack (Night Ranger) Blades and Eric (Mr Big) Martin in LA, in … Continue reading →

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Album review: CLASSIX NOUVEAUX – Battle Cry

Posted on November 20, 2023 by petefeenstra
Classix Nouveaux - Battle Cry

Cherry Red [Release date 17.11.23] And suddenly it’s the 1980’s and the New Romantics all over again, as Classix Nouveaux reform for the first album in 40 years. Except that it’s not. The world has mercifully moved on and the … Continue reading →

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Album review: LOVEBITES – Judgement Day

Posted on February 16, 2023 by david.wilson
LOVEBITES - Judgement Day

JPU Records [Release date 24.02.23] I first became aware of Lovebites a few years back when they opened for Dragonforce. Not knowing the band’s musical leanings, I was very surprised that night at their blend of power and thrash metal … Continue reading →

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Album review: TABOO – Taboo

Posted on September 2, 2022 by brianmc
taboo

Frontiers [Release date: 09.09.22] Taboo is an interesting marriage of the old and the new… Pretty Maids’ guitarist and guiding light, Ken Hammer and H.E.R.O’s singer, writer, producer Steffan Stjerne. Sony recording artist, H.E.R.O is “Big in Japan”, racking up … Continue reading →

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Album review: UFO – High Stakes And Dangerous Men / Lights Out In Tokyo (2 CD set)

Posted on July 20, 2022 by brianmc
ufo_highstakes_hnecd_glqND

Cherry Red [Release date 22/07/22] UFO’s Lights Out (1977) had been a huge album for the band in Japan. So when they toured the High Stakes And Dangerous Men album there in 1992, they would include a Lights Out set. … Continue reading →

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Album review: PRAYING MANTIS – Katharsis

Posted on January 31, 2022 by brianmc
PRAYING-MANTIS-katharsis-COVER_600x600

Frontiers [Release date: 28.02.22] Only occasionally since their debut have Praying Mantis registered a decent sized blip on the radar of rock music in the UK. It was in Japan – where NWOBHM labelling was less meaningful – that the … Continue reading →

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Album review: MARTY FRIEDMAN – Tokyo Jukebox 3

Posted on April 12, 2021 by brianmc
marty friedman tokyo jukebox 3

Mascot Records/The Players Club [Release date 16.03.21] Still mining a rich seam of J-pop, guitarist Marty (Megadeth) Friedman is now on his third Tokyo Jukebox album of instrumentals. The J-Pop genre is ubiquitous in Japan, the country Friedman has called … Continue reading →

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Album review: YUKA & CHRONOSHIP – The 3rd Planetary Chronicles

Posted on December 28, 2015 by alanjones
YUKA & CHRONOSHIP - The 3rd Planetary Chronicles

Cherry Red Records [Release date: 25.09.15] There are times aren’t there when all the planets align to produce something a bit special – er, no pun intended… Essentially the band of keyboard virtuoso Yuka Funakoshi, Yuka & Chronoship have been … Continue reading →

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Album review: YUKA & CHRONOSHIP – Dino Rocket Oxygen

Posted on May 6, 2014 by alanjones
YUKA & CHRONOSHIP - Dino Rocket Oxygen

Musea Records – [Release Date 2013] Great progressive rock music is appearing from all corners of the world at the moment – especially from eastern Europe, Scandinavia and South America. But now Japan are muscling in on the scene in … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: BALFLARE, CHRIS NORMAN

Posted on August 16, 2013 by jason
CHRIS NORMAN – There And Back

Album review: BALFLARE – Downpour Balfare are a Japanese power metal band who have been around since 2004 and this is their fourth studio album. The music is keyboard led and keyboards player Tommy is the star of the show, … Continue reading →

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DVD Review: AEROSMITH – Rock For The Rising Sun

Posted on July 2, 2013 by petefeenstra

Eagle Rock [Release date 22.06.13] Much like the Stones who are 10 years their senior, Aerosmith pop up on this DVD like cartoon characters come to life. They rock and roll and charm their way round the post-tsunami Japan on … Continue reading →

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