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Tag Archives: metal
News: The Best of 2024 – The Get Ready to ROCK! Reviewer Selections (December 2024)

We started 2024 with the sad news that Tony Clarkin of Magnum had passed away just days before the release of the band’s latest album. The band have been venerated over the years by GRTR! and were celebrated in our … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, The Best of 2024
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Tagged 2024, albums, Amelia Coburn, best of, Black Sabbath, blues rock, Brave Rival, breakthrough acts, classic rock, Honeymoon Suite, live acts, melodic rock, metal, Progressive Rock, reissues, reviews, Scarlet Rebels, Starchaser, Steve Hackett, Walter Trout
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Album review : 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 →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged Dragonforce, Frontiers, Gagaku, Helloween, Illusion Force, Japan, Jinn Jeon, metal, review, rock, Shiramoura brothers
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News: AVANTASIA, GOTTHARD, MICKEY JUPP (December 2024)

Airforce (who feature former Iron Maiden guitarist Doug Sampson) release their new album ‘Acts of Madness’ on February 21 through ROAR Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks release a CD/DVD package ‘Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks Live- Perpetual Change’ … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
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Tagged albums, AOR, AVANTASIA, blues, folk, gigs, Gotthard, melodic rock, metal, Mickey Jupp, news, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates
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Gig review: ANTHRAX – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 November 2024

It’s been a while. 35 years in fact, since I last saw Anthrax. March 1989 at this very venue. I had to look it up, but I needn’t have bothered. During a mid-set chat, Scott Ian listed all the times … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 23November 2024, Anthrax, gig, Hammersmith Apollo, Joey Belladonna, Kreator, live, metal, review, Scott Ian, Thrash
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Feature: PHIL VINCENT’s Baker’s Dozen

A Baker’s Dozen, in which various musicians choose 13 songs – a baker’s dozen – to make a playlist. The following rules apply – Maximum of three songs from any artist Maximum of two songs from any album Maximum of two … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES
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Tagged Bakers Dozen, Beatles, feature, hard rock, heavy metal, Jon Butcher Axis, Judas Priest, melodic rock, metal, Phil Vincent, pop, prog rock, Queen, RAVEN, Thin Lizzy
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Gig review: HRH XVII, Great Yarmouth, 7-9 November 2024

Hard Rock Hell (HRH) was back for its 17th instalment “Valhalla”. Rockers from up and down the country were already here in their masses. The atmosphere was already building and I couldn’t wait to get stuck into this weekend. Thursday … Continue reading →
Album review: MASSIVE WAGONS – Earth To Grace

Earache Records [Release date 08.11.24] Amazingly this is album number seven from Massive Wagons, and their fourth on Earache Records, with their last two albums both making the UK top 10 album chart. No pressure then lads! The pre-released songs/singles … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Earth to Grace, hard rock, Hundred Reasons, Massive Wagons, melodic, metal, punk, review, Wildhearts
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2024)

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check artist and venue websites for latest information. Your tour not listed? Contact us! To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS
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Tagged 2024, AOR, gigs, Ireland, melodic rock, metal, pop, progressive, rock, tour dates, tours, uk
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News: BONFIRE, MOGWAI, KID KAPACHI (November 2024)

Ambush have signed with Napalm Records with a view to release a new album next year. Tori Amos releases a new live album, ‘Diving Deep Live’, via Decca on December 6. A remastered 2CD/2DVD box set version of ‘An Evening Of Yes Music Plus’ … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
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Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Bonfire, folk, gigs, Kid Kapachi, melodic rock, metal, Mogwai, news, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates
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Album review: DEVIN TOWNSEND – PowerNerd

InsideOut Music [Release date 25.10.24] PowerNerd is the latest musical instalment from the over-active mind of Devin Townsend. With Devin you are never 100% sure what you are going to get, however, you know it won’t be boring! Over the … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged 25th Oct 2024, album, Canada, CD, coffee, country, Devin Townsend, Insideout Music, metal, PowerNerd, Rammstein, rock, Ruby Quaker, Strapping Young Lad, Vinyl
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) 2024

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Updated 28.10.24 To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on a Mac) on the keyboard. The “F” stands for “Find,” and it works … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions
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Tagged 2024, album, blues rock, Bluray, CD, classic rock, DVD, hard rock, heavy rock, melodic rock, metal, New releases, Progressive Rock, reissue, singer songwriter
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Album review: CLEANBREAK – We Are The Fire

Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] We Are The Fire is the second album from Cleanbreak, Mike (Riot/Riot V) Flyntz and Frontiers’ wunderkind, James Durbin. While Mark Reale and Rhett Forester were getting all the headlines with Riot and Riot V, … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged Alessandro Delvecchio, Cleanbreak, Frontiers, hard rock, James Durbin, metal, Mike Flyntz, review, Riot V, Stryper, We Are The Fire
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News: JESSE DAMON, NICKY HOPKINS, NEIL YOUNG (October 2024)

After Lapse release their new album ‘Pathways’ on December 13 on Frontiers. Arch Enemy release their twelfth studio album, ‘Blood Dynasty’, on March 28 via Century Media Records. Joan Armatrading has announced that her new album, ‘How Did This Happen And What Does … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
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Tagged albums, AOR, blues, folk, gigs, Jesse Damon, melodic rock, metal, Neil Young, news, Nicky Hopkins, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates
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Album review: TONY IOMMI featuring GLENN HUGHES – The 1996 Dep Sessions, Fused

BMG [Release date 04.10.24] The two albums guitar legend and Black Sabbath founder Tony Iommi recorded with bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes get a well deserved reissue, as well as a first time release on vinyl. Marvellous. The Dep Sessions, so called … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
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Tagged albums, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Dep Sessions 1996, Fused, Glenn Hughes, hard rock, metal, modern metal, review, Tony Iommi
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Album review: SkoR – Mess You Up

Facebook [Release date 18.09.24] Stockholm based SKoR’s new album is out for streaming, and a very limited hand numbered CD, and what a pleasure it is to listen to. I’ve known singer Emil Gammeltoft for over 30 years, sharing a … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Dan McCafferty, Emil Gammeltoft, hard rock, Mess You Up, metal, Nazareth, review, SkoR
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Rising Stars: PETCH (interview)

Hot off the heels of her acclaimed performances opening for Placebo at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in July and international festivals, 14-year-old Thai rock sensation Vimolwan Saisathit a.k.a. PETCH has release her latest single, ‘Ultraviolet’ listen here We caught up with Petch to find out … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars
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Tagged alt rock, interview, melodic, metal, Petch, Rising Stars, rock
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Interview: BLOOD FEAST (CJ Scioscia)

When I decided to approach Hells Headbangers in order to arrange an interview with the New Jersey based Thrash Metal legends Blood Feast, little did I know that in guitarist CJ Scioscia I would end up finding a musical kindred … Continue reading →
Gig review: STONEDEAD FESTIVAL – Newark Showground – 23,24 August 2024

Since the first Stonedead (or Stonedeaf as it was back then) the festival has gone from strength to strength driven by word of mouth and a very active Facebook group. Each year has sold out that bit sooner than the … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 24th August, Biff Byford, blues, Bonafide, Chris Sumby, Doro, Ecilipse, festival, KK Downing, KK's Priest, Krusher, Lemmy, live, metal, Motorhead, Newark Showground, Paul Di'Anno, rock, Saxon, Scarlet Rebels, Spike, Stonedead, Tailgunner, The Bites, The Hot One Two, The Quireboys, Warlock
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Interview: DEATH COURIER

Thirty seven years ago, a trip into the world of extreme Metal started for the author of this Interview which you are about to read. One of the bands whose music was responsible for shaping the musical taste of my … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews
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Tagged Bill, Death Courier, Death Metal, Demise, interview, metal, Perimortem
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News: AUSTIN GOLD, WARREN HAYNES, HOUSE OF LORDS (September 2024)

Lee Abraham releases his latest album ‘Origin Of The Storm’ through F2 Music on October 21. Bryan Adams releases ‘Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2024′ on November 15. It will feature complete performances of three of his iconic albums: … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
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Tagged albums, AOR, Austin Gold, blues, folk, gigs, House of Lords, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates, Warren Haynes
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Book review: REMEMBERING LIVE AID by Andrew Wild

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 30.08.24] Although the fortieth(!) anniversary of Live Aid is next July, this book by Andrew Wild gets in early on any anniversary events/books and is a great way to jog the memories of those who were … Continue reading →
News: STEEL PANTHER, FLEETWOOD MAC, VON HERTZEN BROTHERS (August 2024)

Photo: Steve Goudie Bryan Adams (pictured) has launched his own label Bad Records with the release of two songs – ‘War Machine’ and ‘Rock And Roll Hell’ – both of which were written by Adams alongside Jim Vallance, and Gene Simmons for the KISS album … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions
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Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Fleetwood Mac, folk, gigs, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, special editions, Steel Panther, tour dates, Von Hertzen Brothers
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EP review: FORLORN HOPE – Valour Part I

Website [Release date 30.08.24] Historical metal band Forlorn Hope are back with an ambitious new album ‘Valour’. This EP is the first part of ‘Valour’, which tells the stories of fifteen Victoria Cross winning actions from Crimea to the Second World … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Single and EP reviews
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Tagged EP, Forlorn Hope, historical metal, melodic metal, metal, review, Sabaton, Valour Part I
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News: TWISTED SISTER, ULTRAVOX, JESSICA LYNN (July 2024)

Accept will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2025-2026 with a “unique anniversary tour” planned for the end of 2025. An anniversary album will be released early 2026. Avantasia return with their latest album ‘Here Be Dragons’ due for release early … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
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Tagged albums, classic rock, EP, festivals, folk, gigs, Jessica Lynn, metal, New releases, news, punk, rock, singles, tours, Twisted Sister, ULTRAVOX
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Album review: ORDEN OGAN – The Order of Fear

Reigning Pheonix Music [Release date 05.07.24] Album number eight by the power metal veterans Orden Ogan (well, they have been around since 1997 under the Orden Ogan name!) and their first for their new record label, Reigning Phoenix Music. Mainman Sebastian “Seeb” … Continue reading →

