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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2025
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2026
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Upcoming: Festivals UK & Europe (2026)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Latest Album Reviews
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Tag Archives: metal
Album review: THE KUT – Valley Of Thorns
Cargo Records [Release date 13.04.18] Formed in 2005 by frontwoman and self-taught multi-instrumentalist Princess Maha (she sings and plays guitar, bass, drums and piano), this London based all-female 3 piece have been frequently mentioned in the same breath as Courtney … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, hard rock, metal, punk, review, The Kut, Valley Of Thorns
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Album review: EVERTHRONE
In 2015 the band Everthrone released easily one of the best albums that year (The Dawning, which in fact topped my Top 5 of the year without much competition). They decided to crowd fund the follow-up and without much fanfare … Continue reading
Album review: KNIGHTMARE – Walk Through Fire
Bandcamp [Release date 16.03.18] Knightmare, out of the Raleigh, NC area have been around for a bit, and are a phenomenal live band to witness. A hybrid mix of USPM and NWOBHM, these young guys show the utmost respect, and … Continue reading
Quick plays: SCOTT MATTHEWS, SHIRAZ LANE, MIKE LEPOND’S SILENT ASSASSINS
SCOTT MATTHEWS The Great Untold Sheido [27.04.18] Album number six from the Wolverhampton singer songwriter Scott Matthews, who has gone for a sparse sound and production on this album. His guitar playing is simply superb, which coupled with his haunting … Continue reading
Album review: DEAN WEEN GROUP – Rock2
Schnitzel Records [Release date 16.03.18] Dean Ween, aka Mickey Melchiondo, is one half of the duo behind US band Ween, who split in 2012 and then returned in 2015 with live shows and a live album. This is the second … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, alternative, Dean Ween Group, funk, lounge, metal, Mickey Melchiondo, review, rock, Rock 2, soul, soundtrack, Ween
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Album review: ROSS THE BOSS – By Blood Sworn
AFM Records [Release date 20.04.18] Ross the Boss has already laid out a pretty legendary career. From his time with The Dictators to Manowar to Dick Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom to his most recent group DeathDealer, Ross has recorded some pretty significant … Continue reading
Album review: SAXON – Reissues (Saxon, Wheels Of Steel, Strong Arm Of The Law)
BMG [Release date 30.03.18] Bastions of British Heavy Metal, Saxon formed in the late 70s and were at the forefront of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, alongside Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Samson and Girlschool et al. And while … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, classic rock, metal, NWOBHM, reissue, review, rock. Biff Byford, Saxon, Strong Arm Of The Law, Wheels Of Steel
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Album review: LIONE CONTI – s/t
Frontiers [Release date 26.01.18] A few years ago Frontiers released a series of albums from Allen Lande – Symphony X’s Russell Allen and Jorn Lande – which are very good. Now in a similar idea i.e. linking two name vocalists … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alessandro Conte, Fabio Lione, Frontiers, Lione Conti, melodic, metal, power metal, review, Rhapsody, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, Trick Or Treat
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Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST – Resurrection
Nuclear Blast Records [Release date 02.03.18] Most people will now be aware of the Schenker Fest project which has toured extensively over the last 18 months. The premise was to reunite his former MSG bandmates and gather the three vocalists … Continue reading
Album review: AXEL RUDI PELL – Knights Call
Steamhammer/SPV [Release date: 23.03.18] The prolific German axe-meister Axel Rudi Pell is back with another slab of committed power/melodic metal. Like clockwork, he releases an album of new material every two years. ‘Knights Call’ is Pell’s seventeenth release since leaving … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Axel Rudi Pell, Knights Call, metal, review, rock, Steeler
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Album review: BOREALIS – The Offering
AFM Records [Release date 23.03.18] Borealis started out in 2005 as a female fronted symphonic metal band before guitarist Matt Marinelli took over vocal duties in 2007. They have changed bassists since their last album with Trevor McBride replacing original … Continue reading
Album review: THE POODLES – Prisma
Gain Music/Sony [Release date 26.01.18] The Poodles add to the growing list of rock acts who have released a covers album in the past few years. On ‘Prisma’ they tackle a variety of genres and eras, including a few surprise pop choices. Jakob … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Blondie, Covers, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, metal, pop, PRISMA, review, rock, the Osmonds, The Poodles
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Album review: W.A.S.P. – Re-idolized
Napalm Records [Release date 02.02.18] Moving away from the trashy, good-time, OTT lyrics of earlier albums, The Crimson Idol (released in 1993) saw Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P. move into the territory of the concept album. The Crimson Idol tells the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Blackie Lawless, metal, Naplam Records, Re-idolized, review, rock, The Crimson Idol, W.A.S.P
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EP review: BLACK TREE VULTURES – Sanity Isn’t Perfect
Straight outta Bournemouth (with an attitude which says “f**k you, Compton !”) come spunky pistols Black Tree Vultures with their manic and muscly debut EP, Sanity Isn’t Perfect. Tipping the hat to several heavy rock protagonists and oozing piss-and-vinegar confidence, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged EP, metal, review, rock, Sanity Isn't Perfect, the Black Tree Vultures, Voodoo Six
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Album review: SAXON – Thunderbolt
UDR [Release date 02.02.18] Bastions of British heavy metal, NWoBHM stalwarts, basically if you like trad heavy metal, Saxon are where it’s at and have been for longer than I can remember. Album number 22 comes two and a half … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Biff Byford, heavy metal, metal, Motorhead, NWOBHM, review, Saxon, Thunderbolt
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Album review: LEAVES’ EYES – Sign Of The Dragonhead
AFM Records [Release date 12.01.18] Back in April 2016 Leaves’ Eyes parted ways with singer Liv Kristine, which led to various accounts of how the departure came about surfacing on social media and ill feeling between both parties. So this … Continue reading
News: For Your Listening Pleasure…January 2018 – Toto, Judas Priest, Narrow Plains
A new monthly page where we give a brief mention and/or review to new lead songs from upcoming albums and more… Judas Priest are back with ‘Lightning Strikes’ off their upcoming album ‘Firepower’ which is due on 9 March via … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Editorial & Opinion, NEWS
Tagged albums, Alex James Brierley, Fiction Syxx, Judas Priest, Kayak, melodic, melodic rock, metal, New releases, new songs, pop, prog rock, rock, Simon Lewis, singles, the Darker My Horizon, the Narrow Plains, Toto
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Album review: CHRIS BAY – Chasing The Sun
SPV [Release date 23.02.18] Vocalist and guitarist Chris Bay is best known as the founder and frontman of German power metal band Freedom Call (formed Nuremberg, 1998), whose sound has centred around catchy guitar melodies and big vocal harmonies. Inheriting … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Chasing The Sun, Chris Bay, Freedom Call, metal, pop rock, review, rock, solo album
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Album review: ALMANAC – Kingslayer
Nuclear Blast [Release date 24.11.17] Second album from the band Almanac, which was formed by former Rage guitarist Victor Smolski, who utilises a trio of vocalists, namely Andy B. Franke (Brainstorm), David Readman (Pink Cream 69) and Jeannette Marchewka (Lingua Mortis … Continue reading
Gig review: The Choir Boy, A Bullet Belt & Lemmy by Tim Atkinson – Saffron Waldren, 28 December 2017
It is December 28th 2017 two years to the day of the passing of his lord Lemmy; after a treacherous walk uphill on sheet and black ice, a Jack Daniels and Coke is in my hand and I am compelled … Continue reading
Gig review: EXTREME/Dan Reed Network – Bristol Academy, 18 December 2017
A double bill tour that not only sees the return of Extreme to these shores – capitalising soon after a headline slot headline at this summer’s Ramblin Man – but also the return of the groove masters in Dan Reed … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 18 December, Bristol Academy, Dan Reed Network, Extreme, funk, Gary Cherone, gig, metal, Nuno Bettencourt, review, rock
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Album review: ANVIL – Pounding The Pavement
Steamhammer/SPV (Release date 19.01.18) Few who have seen the brilliant ‘Story Of Anvil’ film could fail to fall in love with this band. But is being the world’s most loveable metal band enough to make you want to carry on … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, anvil, metal, Pounding The Pavement, review, rock, SPV, Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow
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Album review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – A Decade Of Destruction
Eleven Seven Music [Release date 01.12.17] It has been quite a tenth anniversary year for Five Finger Death Punch. It did appear at one point that the whole FFDP world may come crashing down and the future of the band … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, CD, Decade Of Destruction, EarMusic, Five Finger Death Punch, Greatest Hits, Ivan Moody, metal, review, Rob Halford, rock
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Quick plays: PRIMAL FEAR, KRANKSCHAFT
PRIMAL FEAR Best Of Fear Frontiers [Release date 10.11.17] Primal Fear have been around since 1997 and to celebrate their twentieth year we have a two disc best of. Disc one has four new songs, although one ‘Area 16′ is … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged albums, best of, Best Of Fear, Hawkwind, III Mysteries, Krankschaft, Matt Sinner, metal, Primal Fear, punk, Ralf Scheepers, reviews, space rock
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) January – March 2018
Compiled by Jason Ritchie January 12th ASKING ALEXANDRIA S/T Summerin Records AUDREY HORNE ‘Blackout’ Napalam Records AVATAR ‘Avatar Country’ BLACK VEIL BRIDES ‘Vale’ CORROSION OF CONFORMITY ‘No Cross No Crown’ Nuclear Blast FLEETWOOD MAC S/T (re-issue of 1975 album with … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
Tagged 2018, album, AOR, Bluray, CD, DVD, February, heavy rock, January, March, melodic rock, metal, New releases, progressive, rock
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