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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Gig review: SWEET- Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 5 April 2025
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Gig review: ROMEO’S DAUGHTER- The Garage, London, 28 March 2025
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Gig review: SOUTH OF SALEM – Thekla, Bristol, 27 March 2025
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Gig review: JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE – The Underworld, Camden, March 13 2025
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Gig review: GRAHAM GOULDMAN – Cadogan Hall, London, 20 March 2025
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Gig review: THE DARKNESS – G Live, Guildford, 11 March 2025
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Tag Archives: melodic metal
Album review: THE UNITY – Pride
Steamhammer/SPV [release date: 13.03.20] As Euro power metal projects go, this third studio album from The Unity passes muster with flying colours. If a mesh of tight production and bombastic musical posturing is your thing, then step in line. And … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Gamma Ray, melodic metal, power metal, Pride, review, The Unity
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Album review: SERIOUS BLACK – Suite 226
AFM Records [Release date 31.01.20] “Suite 226” is seriously good Serious Black. The band have taken a lot of flak over the variable quality of their last couple of albums. Which isn’t surprising, knowing that the band’s refusal to conform … Continue reading
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Tagged AFM Records, album, melodic metal, metal, review, rock opera, Serious Black, Suite 226, Urban breed
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Album review: ABSOLVA – Side By Side
Rocksector Records [Release date 18.10.19] Absolva formed from the ashes of Fury (UK) in 2012, featuring Chris Appleton (vocals, guitar), Luke Appleton (guitar, vocals), Martin McNee (drums) and bassist Karl Schramm, who joined the band in 2014. The band also … Continue reading
Album review: SONS OF APOLLO – MMXX
Inside Out [Release date 17.01.20] Second studio outing from the prog metal supergroup Sons Of Apollo who consist of vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, bassist Billy Sheenan, guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, drummer Mike Portnoy and on keyboards Derek Sherinian. Sons Of … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged album, Billy Sheenan, Bumblefoot, Derek Sherinian, Dream Theater, Guns 'N' Roses, Jeff Scott Soto, Journey, melodic metal, metal, Mike Portnoy, MMXX, prog metal, progressive, review, Sons Of Apollo
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Single reviews: SOLD, FALSE HEARTS, HELLZ
SOLD ‘Empty Words’ Seemingly making quantum leaps with each new release, Estonia band Sold have really hit things out of the ballpark with ‘Empty Words’. A snarling wildcat of a song, its mix of growling male and clean female vocals … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged False Hearts, Halestorm, Hellz, melodic metal, metal, new bands, review, singles, Sold
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Album review: SERENITY – The Last Knight
Napalm Records [Release date 31.01.20] Austrian symphonic metal band Serenity are back and I seemed to have missed 2017′s ‘Lionheart’, having enjoyed the previous year’s ‘Codex Atlanticus’. That’s the trouble sometimes with so many bands around it is hard to … Continue reading
Album review: KOBURG – Position Of Power
Bandcamp [Release date 01.01.20] It sounds like a fairy tale but, at the stroke of midnight, as the old year passed into the next decade, a new Queen was crowned. Now, America has Amy Lee, Holland has Floor Jansen, Sweden … Continue reading
Album review: KEEL – Keel & The Final Frontier
Rock Candy Records [Release date 29.11.19] ‘The Final Frontier’ – Discovered, mentored and produced by Gene (Kiss) Simmons, Ron Keel’s hard rock band were of and for their times. On “The Final Frontier” the band’s 3rd album (1985), they make … Continue reading
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Tagged 80's metal, album, classic rock, Gene Simmons, hair metal, Keel, Marc Ferrari, melodic metal, review, Rock Candy, Ron Keel, The Final Frontier
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Album review: MOB RULES – Beast Over Europe
SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 13.09.19] Germany has long been a hotbed for rock and metal, with the Scorpions, Accept, Doro and Bonfire leading the way and the huge Waken Open Air festival bringing Teutonic thunder to the world. Celebrating their 25th … Continue reading
Album review: A NEW TOMORROW – Universe
Frontiers [Release date 06.12.19] Formed during 2009 by vocalist/guitarist Alessio Garavello (ex-Power Quest, Arthemis) and bassist Andrea Lonardi, the two were later joined by Tim Hall (drums) and Michael Kew (guitars). Another band marking Frontiers move into signing newer bands … Continue reading
Album review: EDGE OF PARADISE – Universe
Frontiers [Release date 08.11.19] Currently on a major European tour, Edge Of Paradise came up the hard way, slogging their away around the LA circuit, creating fans, making a name. It got them minor label recording contracts and two consequent … Continue reading
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Tagged album, David Ruiz, Edge Of Paradise, Frontiers, Kamelot, Margaret Monet, melodic metal, review, symphonic metal, Universe
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Album review: THE DARK ELEMENT – Songs The Night Sings
Frontiers Music [Release date 08.11.19] Dark Element is the second coming together of Symphonic Rock’s golden couple, Jani Liimatainen and Anette Olzon. One recorded 8 albums with genre giants Sonata Artica and Stratovarius, the other 3 albums with the genre’s … Continue reading
Album review: PRETTY MAIDS – Undress Your Madness
Frontiers [Release date 08.11.19] This new album by the Pretty Maids (number 16 from a band who have been around for nearly 40 years now), has been overshadowed by the sad news that vocalist Ronnie Atkins has been diagnosed with … Continue reading
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Tagged album, classic rock, hard rock, melodic metal, Pretty Maids, review, rock, Ronnie Atkins, Undress Your Madness
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Album review: THE FERRYMEN – A New Evil
Frontiers Music [Release date 11.10.19] Although the name may conjure up images of a Gerry & The Pacemakers tribute act playing package tours to provincial theatres, The Ferrymen are actually a European metal outfit fronted by Ronnie Romero on vocals … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, classic metal, Dio, Magnus Karlsson, melodic metal, Mike Terrana, Primal Fear, Rainbow, review, Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie Romero, the Ferrymen
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Album review: SASCHA PAETH’S MASTERS OF CEREMONY – Signs of Wings
Frontiers Music [Release date 13.09.19] UK audiences may not be too familiar with German-born Sascha Paeth but the multi-instrumentalist and producer has had a hand in many, many dozens of albums for an extensive roster of bands over the past … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AVANTASIA, Edguy, Epica, Frontiers, Master's of Ceremony, melodic metal, review, Sacha Paeth, Signs of Wings, symphonic metal
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Album review: EDENBRIDGE – Dynamind
SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 25.10.19] Classic melodic symphonic metal from Austria, Edenbridge have up there with the best of them since their formation in 1998. Still going strong, this is their 10th studio album. Formed by vocalist Sabine Edeisbcher and guitarist, … Continue reading
Album review: MOB RULES – Beast Over Europe
SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 13.09.19] Germany. Spiritual home of power metal. Influenced by British classic rock of early to mid 80s (think Saxon, Iron Maiden et al), the scene started in mid 80s mid Europe and it’s come a long way … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Beast Over Europe, Klaus Dirks, live, melodic metal, metal, Mob Rules, power metal, review, SPV
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Album review: FREEDOM CALL – M.E.T.A.L.
SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 23.08.19] Fronted by vocalist/guitarist Chris Bay, Freedom Call have been going since 1998, several line-up changes under their belt, and Bay has overseen a few changes. And this album is as great as ever. I have championed … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Chris Bay, Freedom Call, happy metal, M.E.T.A.L., melodic metal, metal, power metal, review
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Quick plays: JIMI ANDERSON GROUP, HOLLOW HAZE, HUMBLE PIE
JIMI ANDERSON GROUP I Belong AOR Heaven [Release date 30.08.19] Second album from the Jimi Anderson Group, which sees singer Jimi Anderson working again with producers/musicians Sandy Jones and Greame Duffin, plus guitarist David Cuthbert. There is nothing on here … Continue reading
Album review: JORN – Live On Death Road
Frontiers [Release date 14.06.19] Jorn Lande continues his fiftieth birthday celebrations, started off last December with a lavish box set, with a live double CD and DVD. Joining Jorn in his live band are guitarist Tore Moren, keyboards player Alessandro … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, classic rock, Dio, Frontiers, Jorn, Jorn Lande, melodic metal, metal, reviews, rock
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Quick plays: JAILBIRDS, TIMO TOLKKI’S AVALON, CHAOS MAGIC
JAILBIRDS The Great Escape Golden Robot Records [Released date 05.07.19] Jailbirds are an Australian/Irish hard rock band based in Dublin, Ireland and ‘The Great Escape’ is their debut album. The band is composed of Axel McDonald (vocals, lead guitar), Jay … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Caterina Nix, Chaos Magic, classic rock, Evergrey, Frontiers, hard rock, Jailbirds, melodic metal, metal, prog metal, reviews, Stratovarius, Timo Tolkki
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Album review: MYRATH – Shehili
earMUSIC [Release date 03.05.19] Tunisian metallers Myrath have been around since 2001, gaining more rave reviews and fans after 2016’s ‘Legacy’ album, one which saw them embrace their Arabic sounds more and ditch some of the Eurometal clichés. On ‘Shehili’ … Continue reading
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Tagged album, folk, melodic metal, metal, Myrath, power metal, prog metal, review, Shehili, traditional music, Tunisian
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Album review: SOTO – Origami
Inside Out [Release date 24.05.19] Jeff Scott Soto is a busy man with his solo albums, Sons Of Apollo, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, W.E.T. and of course the band SOTO (I am thinking the use of capitals is to differentiate from the … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Jeff Scott Soto, Journey, melodic metal, metal, Michael Jackson, review, rock, Sons Of Apollo, Soto, Talisman, W.E.T.
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Album review: BATTLE BEAST – No More Hollywood Endings
Nuclear Blast [Release date 22.03.19] Battle Beast are back with their second album since founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter Anton Kabanen left in 2016 to form Beast In Black (who released their latest album earlier this year on the … Continue reading
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Tagged album, AOR, Battle Beast, melodic, melodic metal, No More Hollywood Endings, Nuclear Blast, pop metal, power metal, review
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Quick plays: STARBREAKER, WEST BOUND
STARBREAKER Dysphoria Frontiers [Release date 25.01.19] Third album from the Starbreaker project featuring Primal Fear guitarist Magnus Karlsson and former TNT vocalist Tony Harnell. It has been awhile as their second album was released back in 2008. With Tony Harnell’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, blues rock, Bonham, Chas West, hard rock, Judas Priest, Magnus Karlsson, melodic metal, metal, Primal Fear, review, rock, Roy Z, TNT, Tony Harnell, West Bound
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