-
-
-
If you can't find what you're looking for - or wish to refine your search to include only references to the key search term - try putting inverted commas around the search term e.g. "Steve Lukather" or "Black Star Riders"
For example if you enter Black Star Riders the results will include all instances of "Black" "Star" and "Riders". The search will also be slower.
-
Our star rating
***** Out of this world
**** Pretty damn fine
*** OK, approach with caution unless you are a fan of the artist or genre
** Instant bargain bin fodder
* Ugly, just ugly
Switch site
-
Upcoming Gigs & Albums
-
Latest Album Reviews
-
Album review: MICK ROGERS – The Guitarist
-
Album review : This Can’t Be Today – American Psychedelia and The Paisley Underground 1977-88
-
Album review : AUSTEN STARR – I Am The Enemy
-
Album review : WILD HORSES – Standing Our Ground (6 CD Boxset)
-
Album review: DENNIS CHURCHILL-DRIES – Crazy Is This Life
-
Album review: GOTTHARD – More Stereo Crush
-
-
Latest Gig Reviews
-
GRTR! Greats
-
Featured Album Reviews
-
Features
-
Interviews
-
Single & EP Reviews
-
DVD Reviews
-
Book Reviews
-
News
-
Quick Categories
Categories (All)
Tag Archives: metal
Book review: MOTORHEAD (Duncan Harris), BLACK SABBATH (Chris Sutton)

MOTORHEAD – On Track … every album, every song by Duncan Harris Sonic Bond Publishing [Publication date 15.04.22] Two more books that give an insight into these legendary classic rock bands, and like others in the series they act as … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS
|
Tagged Bill Ward, Black Sabbath, book, Classic Albums, Doom Metal, Geezer Butler, heavy metal, metal, Motorhead, On Track, Ozzy Osbourne, review, rock n roll. Lemmy, Sonic Bond Publishing, Tony Iommi
|
Leave a comment
Album review: GRAHAM BONNET BAND – Day Out In Nowhere

Frontiers Music [Release date 13.05.22] Bonnet’s back catalogue gets frequent outings via the world’s ever popular reissue/ remaster labels. So it’s good to hear some new material from him and this “elegant, late career outfit”, The Graham Bonnet Band. He’s … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album, Alcatrazz, Conrad Pesinato, Graham Bonnet, melodic hard rock, metal, MSG, Rainbow, review
|
Leave a comment
Album review: FOZZY – Boombox

Mascot Records [Release date 06.05.22] Fozzy have been present on the rock scene for over two decades and their pedigree is clearly demonstrated on this latest album – it’s a master class in pure Rock ‘n’ Roll! Fozzy have had … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album, Boombox, Chris Jericho, Fozzy, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, melodic metal, metal, review, Rich Ward, rock
|
Leave a comment
News: JOE BOUCHARD, SLASH, SEX PISTOLS, (May 2022)

Alter Bridge release their latest album ‘Pawns & Kings’ on October 14 via Napalm Records. The Answer make a live return at Planet Rockstock on December 3 and plan to release a new album in 2023 on Golden Robot Records. … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
|
Tagged classic rock, folk, gigs, Joe Bouchard, metal, New releases, news, prog, punk, rock, Sex Pistols, Slash, tours
|
Leave a comment
Album review: MICK WHITE – Something’s Got To Give

Enghardt Media/The Metal Society [29.04.22] Now here’s a blast from the past. I first encountered vocalist Mick White in the late 80s when he was working with Paul Samson, and later when he fronted First Strike (that Just Another Night album … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album, First Strike, hard rock, melodic rock, metal, Mick White, NWOBHM, review, Samson, Something's Got To Give
|
Leave a comment
Gig review: SOUNDBAY FESTIVAL – Patti Pavilion Swansea – 25th – 27th March 2022

Finally, after what seemed like a rollercoaster ride, Soundbay went ahead. All be it with a slightly rearranged line up, a couple of bands pulling out at the last minute due to illness, the core of the line up remained … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
|
Tagged Anchor Lane, Baz Mills, Beth Blade, blues, Darren Griffiths Photography, Daxx and Roxanne, Florance Black, Howling Tides, live, Massive Wagons, Matti Alfonzetti, metal, Patti Pavilion, Ricky Warwick, rock, Scarlet Rebels, Soundbay Festival, Swansea, These Wicked Rivers, Valhalla Awaits, Wayward Sons
|
Leave a comment
Album review: RIOT ACT – Closer To The Flame

Global Rock Records [Release date 01.04.22] This is the debut album from Riot Act, the band initially formed by former ‘classic era’ Riot members Rick Ventura and Lou Kouvaris and it is a must listen to for any classic hard … Continue reading →
News: JOURNEY, MIKE BATT, TIM BOWNESS (April 2022)

Altaria release their new album ‘Wisdom’ on July 8 via Atomic Fire Records. Alter Bridge plan to release their new album in September. Atomic Kings – vocalist Ken Ronk, bassist Greg Chaisson (Badlands, ex-Red Dragon Cartel), guitarist Ryan McKay and drummer Jim Taft … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Re-issues/special editions, RIP
|
Tagged classic rock, folk, gigs, Journey, metal, Mike Batt. prog, New releases, news, punk, rock, Tim Bowness, tours
|
Leave a comment
Quick plays: PAUL TASKER, BLACK LAKES, D’ERCOLE

PAUL TASKER Tierra Quemada Yellowroom Records [Release date 01.04.22] Paul Tasker is now releasing his second instrumental album, best known for being co-songwriter with Doghouse Roses and a previous member of the Willard Grant Conspiracy. The album’s title translates to … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
|
Tagged album, alt metal, alt rock, Black Lakes, D'Ercole, folk, For All We’ve Left Behind, guitarist, instrumental, melodic hard rock, metal, Paul Tasker, Phil Vincent, Quick Plays, review, rock, Tierra Quemada
|
Leave a comment
Single review: MORS PRINCIPIUM EST – The Lust Called Knowledge

AFM Records You have to confess that the emphasis is on the “Melodic” when Mors Prncipium Est are described as Melodic Death Metal. New album, ‘Liberate The Unborn Humanity’, which is an interesting proposition, is due out on 8 April … Continue reading →
Album review: SABATON – The War To End All Wars

Nuclear Blast [Release date 04.03.22] With the last Sabaton album, The Great War, the band led us through some of main events of the First World War and gave the listener an overview of the hell that was both unleashed … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, CD, Chris Rorland, Dreadnought, First World War, Hannes Van Dahl, Joakim Bordon, metal, Milunka Savic, Nuclear Blast, Par Sundstrom, review, rock, Sabaton, Sarajevo, The War To End All Wars, Tommy Johansson, Ypres
|
Leave a comment
News: SKID ROW, STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL, BOWLING FOR SOUP (March 2022)

Belle and Sebastian’s new album ‘A Bit Of Previous’ will arrive on May 6 via Matador. Graham Bonnet Band will release a new album, ‘Day Out In Nowhere’, on May 13 via Frontiers. Don Airey guests on one song. Bowling For Soup … 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
|
Tagged AOR, blues, Bowling for Soup, folk, gigs, melodic rock, metal, New releases, news, prog rock, rock, Skid Row, Steelhouse Festival, tour dates
|
Leave a comment
EP review: THE CRUX – Time and Space

Facebook [Release date 22.04.22] The Crux were founded in 2009 by heavy metal loving brothers James Boyd & Neil Ward. Having released a self-titled EP in 2009 under the name Warcrux, they played multiple shows in Northern Ireland & Ireland … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Single and EP reviews
|
Tagged album, metal, modern metal, review, the Crux, Time and Space
|
Leave a comment
Album review: THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE – Fascination

Metropolis Records [Release date 18.02.22] Have you ever craved the thick tones of electric guitars over synths in a dark, electronic cocktail of gothic delightfulness? The Birthday Massacre might just be the thing you are missing. Unless of course, like … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album, darkwave, Fascination, goth, melodic, metal, review, synth rock, the Birthday Massacre
|
Leave a comment
Album review: JACK J. HUTCHINSON – The Hammer Falls

Pete Feenstra chatted to Jack J Hutchinson for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 20 February 2022 Earache Records (Release date 04.02.22) Hard rocker Jack J. Hutchinson tells us: “We’ve thrown everything but the kitchen sink at this record.” … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
|
Tagged album, blues, classic rock, Jack J. Hutchinson, Josh Norton Cox, Josiah J. Manning, Lazarus Michaelides, Led Zeppelin, metal, Oasis, Ozzy Osbourne, Pink Floyd, prog, review, Rush, The Hammer Falls
|
Leave a comment
Album review: TRICK OR TREAT – Creepy Symphonies

Scarlet Records [Release date 01.04.22] ‘Creepy Symphonies’ is the seventh studio album from Trick Or Treat, who always entertain with their music. Like Freedom Call, Trick Or Treat like to think of their music as happy metal. Vocalist Alle Conti … Continue reading →
EP review: LORDS OF RUIN – Ruin Within

Website [Release 24.01.22; streaming services from 14.02.22] Metal band, Lords of Ruin have released their long-awaited debut EP, following the inevitable Covid delays to production and release, which have affected so many up-and-coming bands. It literally stalled them in their … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
|
Tagged EP, heavy metal, Lords of Ruin, metal, review, Ruin Within
|
Leave a comment
Gig review: SAXON- Hammersmith Apollo, London, 29 January 2022

Saxon’s 40th anniversary show was a case of deferred pleasure even by current standards. It was actually first scheduled as long ago as October 2019 but delayed when singer Biff Byford underwent heart surgery, and subsequently rescheduled at least twice … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
|
Tagged Biff Byford, Diamond Head, Doug Scarratt, gig, GIRLSCHOOL, metal, Nigel Glockler, Paul Quinn, Saxon, Uriah Heep
|
Leave a comment
News: SAXON, ALICE COOPER, THE UNDERTONES (February 2022)

Accept have signed with Napalm Records. Aerosmith release ’1971: The Road Starts Here’ on April 8. Angel Nation release their new album ‘Antares on April 8 through Inner Wound Recordings. Autograph have signed with Frontiers with a new album due … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
|
Tagged albums, Alice Copper, AOR, blues, February 2022, folk, gigs, melodic rock, metal, New releases, news, prog, rock, Saxon, The Undertones, tours
|
Leave a comment
Album review: PRAYING MANTIS – Katharsis

Frontiers [Release date: 28.02.22] Only occasionally since their debut have Praying Mantis registered a decent sized blip on the radar of rock music in the UK. It was in Japan – where NWOBHM labelling was less meaningful – that the … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album, Frontiers, Japan, Journey, melodic hard rock, metal, Pony Canyon, Praying Mantis, review, Survivor, Troy Brothers
|
Leave a comment
Album review: FASTER PUSSYCAT – Babylon, The Elektra Years (4 CD boxset)

Cherry Red [release date: 25.02.22] Faster Pussycat were one of a number of apparently identikit Glamrock bands who emerged from the LA Club scene in the mid eighties. Many fell by the wayside, but some stood out. Faster Pussycat … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
|
Tagged album, boxset, Bret Muscat, eighties, Faster Pussycat, glam, Greg Steele, LA Club scene, metal, review, sleaze rock, Taime Down
|
Leave a comment
Album review: SAXON – Carpe Diem

Silver Lining [Release date 04.02.22] Saxon, one of the world’s most consistent and reliable classic metal bands, a name synonymous with the New Wave Of British Heavy (NWoBHM); there were there at the start in the late 70s. Hits such … Continue reading →
News: BIG BIG TRAIN, DIAMOND DOGS, NICK MASON (January 2022)

Alestorm begin work on their next album, ‘Seventh Rum Of A Seventh Rum’, which will be released on Napalm Records later this year. Arch Enemy will release their latest studio album, ‘Deceivers’, via Century Media Records on July 29. Big … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
|
Tagged AOR, Big Big Train, blues, Classic Rock Magazine, Diamond Dogs, folk, gigs, Melodic Rock Records, metal, news, Nick Mason, prog, re-issues, rock, tours
|
Leave a comment
Quick plays: BLACKLITE DISTRICT, NORTHTALE

BLACKLITE DISTRICT – 1990 AK19 Entertainment, LLC [Release date 31.12.21] Kyle Pfeiffer is better known by the name Blacklite District and has been releasing music since 2011. The album title gives a little clue to the sounds contained within, as the … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays
|
Tagged 1990, album, Blacklite District, Helloween, Kyle Pfeiffer, metal, modern rock, NorthTale, nu-metal, Nuclear Blast, power metal, review, symphonic metal
|
Leave a comment
Gig review: ALESTORM – Barrowlands, Glasgow, 5 December 2021

For those who are unfamiliar with Glasgow, the Barrowlands Ballroom shares its name with Barra’s market which takes up a lot of the surrounding area. The Barra’s market used to be a huge affair which attracted people from all over Scotland looking … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
|
Tagged 5th December 2021, Alestorm, Angus McFife, Barrowlands, Bootyard Bandits, Captain Yarrface, Christopher Bowes, Drink, gig, Glasgow, GLORYHAMMER, Hoots, live, Luke Philp, Mate Bodar, metal, Mexico, pirate metal, power metal, rock
|
Leave a comment


