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Tag Archives: metal
Album review: BIFF BYFORD – School Of Hard Knocks

Silver Lining Music [Release date 21.02.20] One of British heavy metal’s finest icons, vocalist (and occasional bassist) Biff Byford has fronted Saxon since the mid 70s, when they were called Son Of A Bitch. And after talk of a solo … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars
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Tagged album, Biff Byford, classic rock, interview, metal, NWOBHM, OPETH, review, rock, Saxon, School Of Hard Knocks
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Gig review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, 30 January 2020

This was my first visit to the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena and on arrival at the venue prior to the doors opening I was greeted with massive queues waiting to get into the sold out venue. Thankfully local boy and crack photographer Darren Griffiths was a … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 30th January 2020, Bad Wolves, Cardiff, Dave Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, Dolores O'Riordan, F8, Five Finger Death Punch, gig, Ivan Moody, Jason Hook, Megadeth, metal, Motorpoint Arena, Peace Sells, rock, The Cranberries, Wrong Side Of Heaven, Zoltan Bathory, Zombie
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News: MARILLION, NICK MASON, STYX, BLUE OYSTER CULT (February 2020)

Marillion release an expanded version of ‘Script For A Jester’s Tear’ on April 3 as a 4CD/Blu-ray package and on 4LP. Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets will release ‘Live At The Roundhouse’ (2LP, 2CD/DVD and Blu-ray) on April 17 through … 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
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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
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Tagged False Hearts, Halestorm, Hellz, melodic metal, metal, new bands, review, singles, Sold
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Album review: ALUNAH – Violet Hour

Heavy Pysch Sounds [Release date 29.10.19] Midlands four-piece Alunah show that, without doubt, you can take something primal and brutal but turn it into a thing of beauty. Their 60’s tinged doom metal follows in the footsteps of pioneers Black … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Alunah, Black Sabbath, Doom Metal, Heavy Psych Sounds Records, metal, psychadelic, review, Violet Hour
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Album review: SERPENTYNE & OPEROSE

Hell Fury Records [Release date 21.11.19] There is always so much to explore in music, as you explore every sub-genre of a sub-genre. Modern Symphonic Metal is a good case in point and, what was once just purely the domain … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged albums, Angels of the Night, Jennifer Coleman, Lion Music, Maggiebeth Sand, melodic, metal, Oceans Of Starlight, Operose, review, Serpentyne, symphonic metel
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Single reviews: SHADES OF GRAY, KOBURG, THUNDERSTICK

SHADES OF GRAY – I Get Up In a dark world, there are few things that unite us and raise our spirits more than music. Not many people understand this as fully as Myke Gray and the guitar guru/songwriter/producer offers … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
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Tagged alternative, Bastette, Derange, indie, Junk Food Death, Koburg, metal, Molly Karloff, Planet Rock Allstars, Powderhead, review, rock, Shades Of Gray, singles, Thunderstick
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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 →
News: FM, SKAGARACK, AIRRACE, NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA (January 2020)

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Got news? We want to hear it! Contact us now FM (pictured) have completed work on their new album and it will be released on Frontiers in April. THE DOGS D’AMOUR are planning to release a … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
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Tagged Airrace, album, AOR, classic rock, FM, gigs, January 2020, melodic rock, metal, Neil Innes, New releases, NEWMAN, news, Night Flight Orchestra, RIP, Skagarack, the Brothers
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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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Beast Over Europe, live, melodic metal, metal, Mob Rules, power metal, review
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Album review: ANVIL – Legal At Last

AFM Records [Release date 14.02.20] It’s impossible not to love Anvil. Sure, prior to the 2008 ‘Anvil! The Story of Anvil’ documentary they were just scratching a living, playing anywhere and everywhere that would have them but that film was … Continue reading →
Quick plays: SANGUINE, GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOUR

SANGUINE Cold Blood [Release date 06.13.19] Sanguine caught this reviewer’s attention with their 2016 release ‘Black Sheep’, where they successfully melded melodic metal riffs with the impressive vocals of Tarin Kerrey, along with some screamo vocals from guitarist Nick Magee … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged album, alternative metal, blues, Cold Blood, Graham Parker, live, metal, pub rock, Quick Plays, review, rock, Sanguine, the Rumour
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News: CROWDED HOUSE, EAGLES, DENNIS DEYOUNG, 10CC, THE CULT (December 2019)

News compiled by Jason Ritchie Got news? We want to hear it! Contact us now Dennis DeYoung’s new album ’26 East: Volume 1,’ will be released Spring 2020 via Frontiers and will feature the duet “The Good Old Days” with … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions
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Tagged 10CC, classic rock, Crowded House, December 2019, Eagles, folk, melodic rock, metal, New releases, news, Queen, rock, The Cult, tour dates
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Album review: PAUL DI’ANNO – Hell Over Waltrop: Live In Germany

Metalville [Release date 31.01.20] Forever known as the original Iron Maiden vocalist (and something he’s somewhat played on over the years), Paul Di’Anno and his band were asked to play this festival in 2006 and the recently discovered tapes are … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged Alex Harvey, classic metal, Hell Over Waltrop, Iron Maiden, Live In Germany, metal, Paul Di'Anno, punk
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EP review: THE SELF-TITLED – Beers & Bulls

http://www.theselftitled.com Four piece the Self-Titled have been around a few years, releasing their debut album ‘Defaced’ in 2012 and now they have a new four song EP ‘Beers & Bulls’ out. The band consist of vocalist Tom Procter, drummer Paul … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
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Tagged album, alternative, Beers & Bulls, EP, Faith No More, metal, modern rock, RATM, review, rock, the Self-Titled
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Album review: QUIET RIOT – Hollywood Cowboys

Frontiers [Release date 08.11.19] “After nearly ten years since the loss of his friend and co-founding member and bandmate Kevin DuBrow, and with careful consideration, soul searching and with the blessings and support of Kevin DuBrow’s family, Frankie has moved … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, classic rock, Frankie Banali, Frontiers, hard rock, Hollywood Cowboys, James Durbin, Kevin DuBrow, metal, Quiet Riot, review
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Album review: RAMMSTEIN – Rammstein

Spinefarm Records [Release date 17.05.19] 10 years is a long time in anyone’s book but in musical terms it can be a whole career, or in the case of some X Factor winners a career can pass in 10 minutes. The fact … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, CD, Deutschland, Industrial, metal, Paul Landers, radio, Rammstein, review, Richard z Kruspe, rock, Till Lindemann, X Factor
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Album review: CHANTEL McGREGOR – Bury’d Alive

Tis Rock Music Ltd [Release date 24.09.19] ‘Bury’d Alive’ is an album that celebrates honesty, integrity and intensity. It’s honest because what you hear is what went down on the night. It’s full of integrity because Chantel McGregor champions new … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged AC/DC, album, alt rock, blues, Bury'd Alive, Chantel McGregor, Colin Sutton, gothic, grunge, guitar, Jeff Buckley, live, metal, Pink Floyd, prog, review, rock, Samantha Fish, songwriter, Thin Lizzy, Tom Gardner, Wayne Proctor
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Gig review: HRH FESTIVAL, DAY 3 – Vauxhall Holiday Park, Gt Yarmouth, 9 November 2019

After the high of Saturday there was a more subdued feeling around the smaller arena as the early unplugged sessions got underway with CADENCE NOIR and DEVILFIRE. A little thin on the ground at this early hour, the previous long … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 9th November 2019, Ablaze, Brian Tatler, Candece Noir, Chemia, Chic, Devilfire, Diamond Head, Doro, gig, Great Yarmouth, Hand of Dimes, Hard Rock Hell, HRH, HRH Awards, live, Massive, metal, Michael Monroe, review, rock, Stonedeaf, Wolf Jaw, Zodiac Mindwarp
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Gig review: HRH FESTIVAL, DAY 2 – Vauxhall Holiday Park, Gt Yarmouth, 8 November 2019

First band on the mainstage were Highway To Hell winners, TWISTER. The Durham band had been popular winners and the early start saw many seeking out breakfast and a brew to join the band in the main arena. The set-up … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 8th November 2019, Beth Blade, Brian Downey Live And Dangerous, Buckcherry, Chic, Dante Gizzi, gig, Great Yarmouth, Gun, Hard Rock Hell, HRH, HRH Awards, Johnny Davies, Jools Gizzi, Kikamora, live, metal, Praying Mantis, review, rock, Those Damn Crows, Toby Jepson, Twister, Vauxhall Holiday Park, Wayward Sons, White Raven Down
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Album review: RAY ALDER – What the Water Want

Inside Out [Release date 18.10.19] It takes a lot of guts to step out from the safety an established band but Fates Warning frontman Ray Alder has produced an album of extraordinary depth and passion in this, his debut solo … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, AOR, Fates Warning, Inside Out, melodic, metal, progressive, Ray Alder, review, rock, Solo, What the Water Want
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Gig review – DRAGONFORCE, Liquid Room, Edinburgh, 2 November 2019

Its 15 years since I first caught Dragonforce live at this very venue and although tonight is sold out we are still in a fairly small hall so what, if anything, does this tell us about the band’s career? For me it tells me … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 2nd November 2019, album, Celine Dion, Dragonforce, Edinburgh, Extreme Power Metal, Fredric Leclercq, Gee Anzalone, gig, Herman Li, Japanese, liquid Room, live, Lovebites, Marc Hudson, McRocklin Hutch, metal, review, rock, Sam Totman, Techno, Thomas McRocklin, Titanic
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Album review: OTHERWISE – Defy

Mascot Records [Release date 08.11.19] New signing to the Mascot label, although this is the fourth album from Otherwise. Otherwise are brothers’ vocalist Adrian and guitarist Ryan Patrick, bassist Tony “The Beast” Carboney and drummer Brian Medeiro. Opening with a … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, alternative, Defy, electronic, Fall Out Boy, metal, Otherwise, Panic At The Disco!, rap, review, rock
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Quick plays: D’ERCOLE, THE WAY, SPEARMINT

D’ERCOLE The Ballad Of C.L. Rock Company [Release date 11.10.19] It’s that man again, Phil Vincent, on another release following hot on the heels of the Forest Field album. D’Ercole is a band affair with Damian D’Ercole (guitar) and B.F. … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged album, D'Ercole, Frequency of Spirit, funk, hard rock, indie pop, Joe Lynn Turner, melodic rock, metal, Phil Vincent, pop, review, Spearmint, The Ballad Of CL, The Way
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