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Album review: MICK ROGERS – The Guitarist
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Album review : This Can’t Be Today – American Psychedelia and The Paisley Underground 1977-88
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Tag Archives: metal
Album review: ICE AGE – Breaking The Ice

GMR [Release date 21.10.17] Many fans of 80s thrash may well remember all girl Swedish band Ice Age. Originally formed in Gothenburg by Sabrina Kihlstrand, Pia Nystrom, Sabrina’s sister Helena (later replaced by bassist Viktoria Lafsson), and drummer Tina Stromberg, … Continue reading →
Album review: GAMMA RAY – Reissues (Land Of The Free/Alive ’95)

earMUSIC [Release date 29.09.17] earMUSIC’s Gamma Ray re-issue schedule continues with the band’s fourth studio album (original released in 1995) getting a deluxe 2CD re-issue. The second disc adds three songs (including the band’s blistering cover of Holocaust’s ‘Heavy Metal … Continue reading →
Album review: MOONLIGHT DESIRES – Just The Hits 1981-1985

Infamous Butcher Records [Release date 15.09.17] Moonlight Desires hail from Canada and have produced a set of very enjoyable covers, and not the usual suspects either as they have gone for 80′s synth led pop rockers. The band’s name comes from … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged 80's music, album, AOR, Corey Hart, Covers, Just The Hits 1981-1985, Lawrence Gowan, melodic, metal, Moonlight Desires, pop, review, rock, Steve Winwood, Styx, Trevor Ziebarth
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Album review: PHIL VINCENT – XX

Phil Vincent Music Phil Vincent is very prolific, this being his twentieth solo album, plus he has been in various bands/projects through the years including D’Ercole, Legion and Tragik. Although Phil plays and produces all of the music on here, he … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions
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Tagged album, hard rock, interview, melodic, metal, Paul Sabu, Phil Vincent, review, rock, Solo, Vince O'Regan, XX
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Quick plays: A II Z, INTO THE UNKNOWN

A II Z The Witch Of Berkeley Caroline Records [Release date 18.08.17] Part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, AIIZ (pronounced A To Z) were formed in Manchester in 1979 and recorded one album, this live set (like … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues
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Tagged A II Z, album, Chris de Burgh, Headcharger, Hexagram, Into The Unknown, metal, NWOBHM, Out Of The Shadows, review, rock, The Witch Of Berkeley
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Album review: VARDIS – Reissues

Dissonance [Release date 22.09.17] Vardis have to be one of the most underrated and overlooked bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal genre. Their brand of metal, often dipping into boogie/biker metal, could also be seen as a … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
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Tagged 100MPH, album, metal, NWOBHM, Quo Vardis, reissue, review, rock, Steve Zodiac, The World's Insane, Vardis
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Album review: THRESHOLD – Legends Of The Shires

Nuclear Blast [Release date 08.09.17] Threshold have been in the metal news a lot recently after vocalist Damian Wilson left the band in March and they announced former vocalist Glynn Morgan was returning to the band – he left them back … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, The Best of 2017
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Tagged album, Damian Wilson, Glynn Morgan, Karl Groom, Legends Of The Shires, metal, Nuclear Blast, prog metal, progressive metal, review, Richard West, Threshold
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Album review: KLOGR – Keystone

Zeta Factory/Phd [Release date 06.10.17] Keystone is the new album from Italian-American alternative metal outfit, Klogr. Some may find the juxtaposition of very melodic, rather proggy instrumentation with grungy, alt-rock vocals something of an acquired taste but there are certainly … 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, alternative, Keystone, Klogr, metal, review, rock
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Album review: EDEN’S CURSE – Eden’s Curse (Revisited)

AFM Records [Release date 24.08.17] Is it really 10 years? Phew! The timeline of EC has pretty much followed that of GRTR! and we have been enthusiastic supporters throughout. But a revisiting of the debut album in 2007? Well I … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Eden's Curse, hard rock, heavy metal, melodic, metal, Paul Logue, re-recording, review, Revisited
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) October-December 2017

Compiled by Jason Ritchie October 6th AUTOGRAPH ‘Get Off Your Ass’ EMP JEFF BECK ‘Live at the Hollywood Bowl’ JON BODEN (ex-BELLOWHEAD) ‘Afterglow’ THE DARKNESS ‘Pinewood Smile’ Cooking Vinyl LIAM GALLAGHER ‘As You Were’ HEAVEN & EARTH ‘Hard To Kill’ … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
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Tagged album, AOR, Bluray, CD, DVD, heavy rock, melodic rock, metal, New releases, October-December 2017, progressive, rock
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Album review: THOR – Beyond The Pain Barrier

Deadline/Cleopatra [Release date 04.08.17] Canadian born bodybuilder Jon Mikl Thor has been acting and singing since the mid 70s, fronting his eponymously named band and, on stage, combining his strength with steel bars and blowing up hot-water-bottles to give a great … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions
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Tagged album, Beyond The Pain Barrier, interview, Jon Mikl Thor, metal, power metal, review, rock, Thor
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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Day 1 – Mote Park, Maidstone, 28 July 2017

The Ramblin’ Man Fair is now in its third year and is going from strength to strength. It is situated in Mote Park right in the centre of Maidstone in Kent, it is a bit bizarre passing a children’s playpark … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events, The Best of 2017
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Tagged 28 July 2017, Biff Byford, Dave Meniketti, Dio, gig, Graham Bonnet, Last In Line, Maidstone, metal, Mote Park, Rainbow, Ramblin' Man Fair, review.rock, Saxon, The Eagle Has Landed, Vivian Campbell, Y&T
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Gig review: STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL, Ebbw Vale, 30 July 2017 (Part Two)

Mud and music – what more can a hardened rock fan ask for? Sunshine? Well it was in short supply again today. Cars had been marooned in the muddy field but it wasn’t going to deter the faithful… The Texas … Continue reading →
Posted in GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
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Tagged 30 July 2017, British Lion, Broken Witt Rebels, classic rock, Ebbw Vale, gig, Jared James Nichols, metal, review, Rival Sons, rock, Saxon, South Wales, Steelhouse Festival, Steve Harris
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Quick plays: DA VINCI, LEPROUS

DA VINCI Ambition Rocks AOR Heaven [Release date 25.08.17] It has been a mere 25 years since Da Vinci last released an album, the rather good ‘Back In Business’. The 2017 version of the band appears to only feature guitarist … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged album, Ambition Rocks, AOR, Da Vinci, LEPROUS, Malina, melodic, metal, progressive, review, rock
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) July-September 2017

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Updated 14.08.17 June 2nd ADRENALINE MOB ‘We Are The People’ Century Media DON AIREY ‘K2 – Tales of Triumph & Tragedy’ Gonzon Multimedai (limited editoion 100 copies) http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/donairey ALL TIME LOW ‘Last Young Renegade’ COLDPLAY ‘Kaleidoscope’ … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
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Tagged 2017, album, August, blues, Bluray, CD, DVD, forthcoming, July, metal, new release, progressive, rock, September
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Album review: QUARTZ – Against All Odds

Dissonance Often associated with the NWoBHM, Quartz were at the melodic end; a bit like Magnum without the pomp. And before splitting in 1983 they produced some fantastic hard rock (and since their reformation too). The catalogue has been reissued … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
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Tagged Against All Odds, album, heavy rock, metal, NWOBHM, Quartz, reissue, review
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Quick plays: EMPIRE, LAST BULLET, TOM RUSSELL, DICK

EMPIRE The Raven Ride Pride & Joy Music [Release date 18.08.17] Pride & Joy Music continue their Empire re-issues and here we have the band’s third album which was originally released in 2006. Former Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin sang … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged album, Americana, country, Dangerous Dreams, Dick, Empire, folk, Folk Hotel, Juanita Stein, Last Bullet, metal, review, rock, Rolf Munkes, Tom Russell, Tony Martin
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Album review: EDGUY – Monuments

Nuclear Blast [Release date 14.07.17] Edguy are celebrating their 25th anniversary in style with this 28 song compilation that has an added live CD and DVD. Edguy main man Tobias Sammet never does things by halves and there are five … Continue reading →
Album review: BITCHES SIN – Predator

Dissonance Formed in 1980, Bitches Sin were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and have since issued a number of classic metal albums, including Invaders, Uduvudu, The Rapture and First Temptation. It’s a genuinely great catalogue. This, … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
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Tagged Bitches Sin, Dissonance, Heavy Metal Records, metal, NWOBHM, Predator, reissue. album, review, rock, Rodney Matthews
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Quick plays: SNAFU, BELL XI, ADRENALINE MOB

SNAFU Live Nottingham 1976 Angel Air www.angelair.co.uk [Release date 04.08.17] Snafu featured vocalist Bobby Harrison and guitarist Micky Moody amongst their ranks, although Micky Moody left the band shortly after the tour this gig was recorded from and joined Whitesnake. … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged Adrenaline Mob, album, Arms, Bell XI, blues, Bobby Harrison, Duane Forrest, indie pop, Live In Nottingham 1976, metal, Micky Moody, review, rock, Russell Allen, Snafu, Symphony X, The Climb, We Are The People
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Album review: THUNDERSTICK – Something Wicked This Way Comes

[Release date 28.07.17] There are few musicians as iconic in image as Barry Graham Perkis, aka Thunderstick, who originally found fame as the masked and caged drummer for NWoBHM band Samson. Previously a short lived drummer for Iron Maiden, he … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017
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Tagged album, Barry Graham Purkis, Iron Maiden, metal, NWOBHM, review, rock, Samson, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Thunderstick
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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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged album, country, Denis Ward, Helloween, Kai Hansen, Live at Wacken, metal, Michael Kiske, power metal, review, rock. Gamma Ray, Ron Pope, Ron Pope & the Nighthawks, Unisonic, Work
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Gig review: DOWNLOAD, Donington Park, 11 June 2017 (Part 2)

Photo: Andy Nathan Sunday The phenomenal attendances at Download are a tribute to the enduring if underground popularity of the broad church we call metal and hard rock, even if the site seemed a touch smaller this year. From the … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 11 June 2017, Aerosmith, AIRBOURNE, ALTER BRIDGE, Donington Park, Download, festival, gig, metal, review, rock, Steel Panther, The Dead Daisies
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Gig review: DOWNLOAD, Donington Park, 9-10 June 2017 (Part 1)

Friday My expectation for the first two days of Download was somewhat low in terms of the line-up, given my predeliction for the classic rock era. However the stunning weather went some way to raising the spirits and Blackwater Conspiracy … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 9-10 June 2017, Biffy Clyro, Donington Park, Download, festival, Five Finger Death Punch, gig, metal, Prophets Of Rage, review, Rob Zombie, rock, Tax The Heat
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Album review: ORDEN OGAN – Gunmen

AFM Records [Release date 07.07.17] Orden Ogan are back with their new studio album ‘Gunmen’ which follows hot on the heels of last year’s ‘The Book of Ogan’ compilation. They have already released a well received western themed video on … Continue reading →


