Tag Archives: review

Album review: VIRGINMARYS – Beyond The House of Fires

VIRGINMARYS - Beyond the House of Fires

Website [Release date 22.05.26] The Virginmarys new album is both new and old, in that is their reinterpretation of their most recent album, 2024’s ‘Beyond the House of Fires’. This time around the Virginmarys – Ally Dickaty and Danny Dolan … Continue reading

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Gig review: LUKE JAMES WILLIAMS – Wax and Beans, Bury, 15 May 2026

LUKE JAMES WILLIAMS – Wax and Beans, Bury, 15 May 2026

This is the second time I’ve been to this venue, and I would highly recommend it for anybody in the Bury/Rochdale/Heywood area. Get to see an artist in an intimate setting whilst drinking coffee or alcohol. The first time was … Continue reading

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Single review: THE ROLLING STONES – In the Stars/Rough and Twisted

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I went to a gig in a record shop and as I was waiting for the artist to come on, I spied the new Stones single In The Stars, so it was my duty to buy it wasn’t it. I’ve … Continue reading

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Gig review: COLIN BLUNSTONE – The Sub Rooms, Stroud, 14 May 2026

COLIN BLUNSTONE - The Sub Rooms, Stroud, 14 May 2026

Colin Blunstone represents that rare and sadly dying breed of consummate performer, with six decades of trial and tribulation in the music industry.  A real trooper. As Colin recounted tonight his period of chart activity with The Zombies was short … Continue reading

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Album review: BEGGARS BLISS – S/t

bliss

Website [Release date 22.05.26] Derby based Beggars Bliss formed in 2024, with a mantra of – “if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing.” Their line-up is Henry John (vocals, guitar), Milly Ayesha (keyboards, vocals), Dan Griffiths (bass, vocals) and Chris … Continue reading

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Album review: W.A.S.P. – s/t

WASP

Madfish [Release date 21.05.26] Record label Madfish have been working some of the early W.A.S.P. catalogue, including The Savage 7 CD boxset. Here is the band’s 1984 debut and in line with all the other Madfish releases I’ve encountered, it … Continue reading

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Album review : FRONTLINE – Rebirth

Frontline 150 Rebirth image

Frontiers [Release date : 15.05.26] Calling your new album Rebirth, 20 years after your last release, seems quite an understatement. But still, Frontline wade back out confidently into melodic rock’s fast flowing waters. Many have attempted the same kind of … Continue reading

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Gig review: LIGHTNING THREADS – The Half Moon, Putney, 3 May 2026

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The recently refurbished Half Moon welcomed a Sheffield based double header over the bank holiday weekend with headliners, Lightning Threads, backed up by The Fargo Railroad Co. Fargo are something else! Their light hearted but infectious take on Southern Country … Continue reading

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Album review : VON GROOVE – Born To Rock

VON GROOVE 150 Born image

Frontiers Music [Release date : 15.05.26] There can be few more explosive opening tracks than Von Groove’s ‘Once Is Not Enough’ from their self titled debut, 1992. 30 years later : they’ve got the band back together – Michael Shotton, … Continue reading

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Single review: PARKER BARROW – Blinded

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Blinded is taken from Parker Barrow’s forthcoming album Hold The Mash, and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were listening to a new Stones single with the opening riff, as guitarist Alex Bender says the riff was given life as … Continue reading

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Album review : JOHN CORABI – New Day

JOHN 150 CORABI New Day image

Frontiers Music [Release date : 24.04.26] John Corabi is the ex man…ex Motley Crue, ex Ratt, ex Brides Of Destruction but not yet ex-frontman of The Dead Daisies, a band with a greater membership turnover than Deep Purple. There’s a … Continue reading

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Album review: LADY MAISERY AND JIMMY ALDRIDGE & SID GOLDSMITH – Wakefire

Lady Maisery and Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith - Wakefire: A Summer Album

Bandcamp [Release date 01.05.26] After several years delighting audiences with their wintertime project Awake Arise, the folk supergroup of Lady Maisery (Hannah James, Rowan Rheingans & Hazel Askew) and Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith, have joined forces again to celebrate … Continue reading

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Album review : DEGREED – Curtain Calls

DEGREED - Curtain Calls

Frontiers [Release date 24.04.26] Eighth full length album from respected Swedish Hard Rock band, Degreed…Robin Eriksson, Mats Eriksson, Mikael Blanc and Daniel Johansson. Their sound is impossible to categorise. Is it toughened up AOR, melodic hard rock, metallised hard rock … Continue reading

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Album review: HARDLINE – Shout

HARDLINE - Shout

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 17.04.26] It’s some 34 years since Hardline’s classic album ‘Double Eclipse’ with a line-up that boasted Neal Schon in its ranks. Whilst it might have seemed like a last gasp for hair metal in 1992, Hardline’s frontman … Continue reading

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Album review: LUKE JAMES WILLIAMS – Limes Hotel

LUKE JAMES WILLIAMS - Limes Hotel

Bandcamp  [Release date 17.04.26] Some people want to be Kiss, some people Queen, some, Kyle Minogue Marvin Gaye or Britney Spears, the list is endless, fame, fortune and formula with capitol F’s .But some people have no other choice than … Continue reading

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Album review : GENERATION RADIO – Take 2

GENERATION 150  Radio image

Frontiers Music [Release date: 24.04.26] “In the beginning of 2020, Generation Radio came together with the intent to form a band with a purpose — to bring classic 1980s rock back to life.” So says the band’s website. Formed by … Continue reading

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Album review: JENNY COLQUITT – Pockets Full Of Rain

JENNY COLQUITT - A Pocketful Of Rain

Bandcamp [Release date 01.05.26] Whatever else this album is, and it is many things, it is not Americana, which is what it is being promoted as. It is a pretty special collection of really well crafted songs delivered in a … Continue reading

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Album review: SOMETHING FOR THE LONGING – Scottish Independent Pop 1985-1999 (3 CDs)

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Cherry Red [Release Date : 24.04.26] Compiled by Scottish film director, cinematographer and writer, Grant McPhee, Something For The Longing is a deep dive into “Scottish Independent Pop”. A 15 year, widescreen snapshot taken as the 20th Century was coming … Continue reading

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Album review : CREYE – IV Aftermath

CREYE IV 150 Aftermath image

Frontiers Music [Release date : 24.04.26] Scandi band Creye hit their stride with their fourth album, Aftermath, delivering melodic rock of depth and width, polished, full of neat gearshifts, and verses as strong as the choruses, just about. The fact … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – Academy 2, Manchester, 16 April 2026

RJTW_photo by Mark Powell (25)

All the way from Orange County California, Robert Jon And The Wreck pulled a near capacity Manchester crowd, who were eager to be entertained. They started with ‘The Devil Is Your Only Friend’, but I think Manchester could be added … Continue reading

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Gig review: SKINDRED – O2 Academy, Oxford, 17 April 2026

skindred

Skindred released their new album, ‘You Got This’, and their ninth overall, on the same day as they played this sold out gig in Oxford. So good to see that for once at a gig I was at the older … Continue reading

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Album review : JACK BRUCE – Halfway To The Stars – The Recordings 2001-2003 (5 CD Boxset)

jack 150 bruce-stars_cover

Cherry Red [Release date : 24.04.26] Shadows In The Air (2001) More Jack Than God (2003) Live At The Milky Way part 1 (2001, with the Cuicoland Express) Live At The Milky Way part 2 (2001, with the Cuicoland Express) … Continue reading

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Album review: ELEGANT WEAPONS – Evolution

ELEGANT WEAPONS - Evolution

Exciter Records [Release date 24.04.26] Album number two from Elegant Weapons, the band formed around Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner and vocalist Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, MSG), with bassist Dave Rimmer (Uriah Heep), and drummer Christopher Williams (Accept) making their recording … Continue reading

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Album review: LONG DISTANCE CALLING – The Phantom Void

LONG DISTANCE CALLING The Phantom Void

earMUSIC [Release date 10.04.26] Long Distance Calling have been around for some twenty years now and this, their ninth studio album continues their predominantly wordless approach to story telling. The core of the group remains unchanged with David Jordan and … Continue reading

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Album review : URIAH HEEP – Beautiful Dream, The Recordings 1975-77 (4CDs)

URIAH 150 HEEP Beautiful Dream

Cherry Red [Release date 24.04.26] Return To Fantasy (1975) High And Mighty (1976) Firefly (1977) Innocent Victim (1977) Cherry Red’s latest Uriah Heep boxset, Beautiful Dream, is essentially a follow up to their Shadow And The Wind set released last … Continue reading

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