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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL- Thames Side Brewery, Staines, 8 December 2024
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Gig review: STRAY- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 December 2024
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Gig review: THE SHEEPDOGS, THE COMMONERS- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 5 December 2024
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Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow, 14 December 2024
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Gig review: THE DAMN TRUTH – The Grace, London, 26 November 2024
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Gig review: LAZARUS HEIGHTS – The Auditorium, Bassilac, SW France, 7 December 2024
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Featured Album Reviews
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Single & EP Reviews
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Tag Archives: symphonic
EP review: DANIELE LIVERANI – The Wheel Of Emotion
Spotify [Release date 30.03.23] After being lost for more that 30 years in old tapes, Daniele Liverani issues these four unreleased songs. Recorded back in 1992 with a 4 tracks and minimal home recording equipment tools, the tracks have been restored and … Continue reading
Album review: MAGNUS KARLSSON’S FREEFALL – Hunt The Flame
Frontiers [Release date: 14.04.23] Fourth Freefall album from rock’n’roll workaholic, Magnus Karlsson. For this, Freefall’s fourth album, Karlsson’s rounded up 11 singers, all of whom offer something different, and we get a few tracks that show every sign that he … Continue reading
Album review: LOVEBITES – Judgement Day
JPU Records [Release date 24.02.23] I first became aware of Lovebites a few years back when they opened for Dragonforce. Not knowing the band’s musical leanings, I was very surprised that night at their blend of power and thrash metal … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Asami, Dragonforce, Haruna, Japan, JPU Records, Judgement day, Lovebites, Medori, metal, Myaki, power, review, rock, Steve Harris, symphonic, Thrash
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Album review: ARDOURS – Anatomy Of A Moment
Frontiers [Release date: 08.07.22] A merger of two musical forces who once crossed paths, Ardours are Mariangela (Tristania) Demurtas, who sings and writes. And Kris Laurent, who writes, plays all instruments and produces. Their album, Anatomy Of A Moment, frames … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Electronic Rock, Kris Laurent, Mariangela Demurtas, pop, review, symphonic, Tristania
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Album review: GRACE – Hope
Frontiers Music [Release date 10.06.22] Under the Grace moniker, Hope is an album put together by twenty year music biz veteran, Isra Ramos, and it’s a genre hopping blast. Ramos has toured to support Europe, Nightwish, The Scorpions, Angra and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, ANGRA, Eletcronic, Europe, Isra Ramos, metal, Nightwish, pop, Queen, review, Robby Valentine, rock, Scorpions, symphonic, T-Ride
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EP review : RHAPSODY OF FIRE – I’ll Be Your Hero
AFM Records [Release date 04.06.21] There’s no band more adept at sucking us into their fantasy world of bombastic, exhuberant Metal than Champions League Melodic Metal band, Rhapsody Of Fire. This is one of those rarities we call an EP. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Single and EP reviews
Tagged AFM Records, album, EP, melodic metal, power, review, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, symphonic
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Album review: KITT WAKELEY – Symphony Of Sinners And Saints
Website An interesting mix here, and following on nicely from Kitt Wakeley’s previous album, this is a high energy programmed sounding orchestral rock, with very big (almost TSO like) production. Imagine, if you will, a synth pop band going orchestral, … Continue reading
Album review: SCARDUST – Strangers
M-Theory Audio [Release date 30.11.20] Progressive Rock’s most famous unknown band, Scardust, released their second album, Strangers, to widespread critical acclaim in November last year. It was an unauspicious time to be releasing new product. Consequently, the label has “re-released” … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, concept, Jens Bogren, M-Audio, Progressive Rock, progrock, review, Scardust, symphonic, Yonaton Kossof
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Gig review: LED ZEPPELIN MASTERS – Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 13 April 2019
The Led Zeppelin Masters (also known as the Zep Boys in their native Australia) – vocalist Vince Contarino, guitarist Tzan Niko, bassist Warwick Cheatle and drummer Bradley Polain – were back for their second UK tour with the 35-piece Black … Continue reading
Album review: DEVIN TOWNSEND – Empath
Hevy Devy/Inside Out [Release date 29.03.19] Devin Townsend has rested his Project and with ‘Empath’ we have his first solo album since ‘Ziltoid’. Guests include regular contributor Anneke van Giersbergen, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, Frank Zappa alumni Mike Keneally as music … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged album, Anneke van Giersbergen, Casualties of Cool, Chad Kroeger, choral, classical, Devin Townsend, Empath, folk, melodic, metal, Nickelback, progressive, review, rock, Solo, Steve Vai, Strapping Young Lad, symphonic
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Single & EP reviews: RED CAIN, MICHAEL ARMSTRONG, BLINK
RED CAIN [Release date 25.11.16] Hailing from Alberta, Canada Red Cain consist of Evgeniy Zayarny (vocals), Nik Ryzhenkov (guitar), Rogan McAndrews (bass), William Lancaster (synths/orchestration) and Samuel Royce (drums). This is a self-released EP and of very good standard it … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Blink, Christmas, EP, indie, metal, Michael Armstrong, pop, Red Cain, review, rock, singles, symphonic
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Gig review: DELAIN, Evergrey – O2 Ritz, Manchester, 12 November 2016
In May 2013, David Randall chatted to Charlotte Wessels at the time of the release of their first mini-album for Napalm Records, ‘Interlude’. Their chat includes references to the early development of the band, the split from the Roadrunner label, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 12 November 2016, Delain, Evergrey, gig, goth, interview, Kobra And The Lotus, Manchester, melodic, metal, O2 Ritz, progressive metal, review, symphonic
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Album review: TARJA – The Shadow Self
earMUSIC [Release date 05.08.16] Tarja returns with her fourth album and on this one there are a few surprises, none more so than guest vocalist/growler Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy on ‘Demons In You’. This one is possibly the heaviest … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Arch Enemy, classical, metal, Nightwish, review, rock, symphonic, Tarja, the Shadow Self, Turunen
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Quick plays: TREETOP FLYERS, SERENITY
TREETOP FLYERS – Palomino [Release date 11.03.16] This is the second album from this London five piece and listening to the album you would think you were back in the 1970′s and the West Coast sound of artists like Crosby, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged 70s music, album, Codex Atlantus, metal, Palomino, power metal, review, rock, Serenity, symphonic, the Treetop Flyers
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Album review: AVANTASIA – Ghostlights
Nuclear Blast [Release date 29.01.16] Tobias Sammet is back with another instalment of his Avantasia project. This one follows on thematically from ‘The Mystery Of Time’ album, with the lead character, a young scientist, unwittingly drawing the attention of a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AVANTASIA, Bob Catley, Dee Snider, Edguy, GEOFF TATE, Ghostlights, Jorn Lande, metal, Michael Kiske, Nuclear Blast, opera, review, rock, symphonic, Tobias Sammet
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Quick plays: AMBERIAN DAWN, SUNSPOT, LUKE GASSER
AMBERIAN DAWN – Innuendo Napalm Records [Release date 23.1.15] Second album from the Finnish symphonic metal band to feature vocalist Capri Virkkunen and she helps lift the band from another run of the mill metal band. To be honest it … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged A Quest For Life, Abba, album, alternative, Amberian Dawn, Angel Air, Crsytal Gates, David Ellefson, Doll Skin, EMP Records, Innuendo, Love Affair, Luke Gasser, Megadeth, metal, review, rock, Steve Ellis, Sunspot, symphonic, Weirdest Hits
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Album review: PHANTASMA – The Deviant Hearts
Napalm Records [Release date 27.11.15] Phantasma is a project consisting of Georg Neuhauser (Serenity), Oliver Philipps (Everon) and Charlotte Wessels (Delain). Helping out are drummer Jason Gianni, bassist Randy George from Neal Morse’s band and Tom Buchberger (ex-Serenity) guests on … Continue reading
Album review: KAMELOT – Haven
Napalm Records [Released 05.05.15] Kamelot are back! Following on from 2013′s ‘Silverthorn’, which marked the debut of vocalist Tommy Karevik, Thomas Youngblood and co. have come back with another cracking Kamelot album. They have changed labels, leaving SPV who they … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Charlotte Wessels, Haven, Kamelot, metal, Napalm Records, power, progressive, review, rock, symphonic, Thomas Youngblood, Tommy Karevik, Troy Donockley
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News: LONELY ROBOT, FAIRPORT CONVENTION, LEAVE’S EYES – Thursday 19 March 2015
Lonely Robot, aka John Mitchell (It Bites/Arena), will record a new album later this year for release early next year. Leave’s Eyes have signed with AFM Records and release their new album later this year. Mr Big release a box … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS
Tagged acoustic, AFM Records, Fairport Convention, folk, John Mitchell, Leaves' Eyes, Lonely Robot, metal, Moonspell, news, rock, symphonic, Tour
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Album review: RAPHEUMET’S WELL – Dimensions
Sometimes a local band will come along and blow you away with the music they play. Living around Charlotte, NC I’m a lucky guy because the metal scene is pretty incredible. I have been lucky to see some amazing bands … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Black Metal, metal, Rapheumet's Well, review, symphonic
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Album review: SEPTICFLESH – Titan
Season Of Mist – Out Now. When the members of the Symphonic Death Metal outfit Septicflesh (originally Septic Flesh) decided to call it a day back in 2003, there were quite a few of their fans, myself included, who truly … Continue reading
Gig review: TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA – Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London, 4 January 2014
The first time that I saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra live, it turned out to be one of the musical highlights of the year for me. The year was 2011, the venue exactly the same as tonight (note: then called The Hammersmith … Continue reading
Interview with LIV KRISTINE (Leaves’ Eyes) – 12 December 2013
There are few people who I have thoroughly enjoyed talking to over the years in my capacity as a music journalist, and Liv Kristine, leading member of the Symphonic/Gothic Metal sextet Leave’s Eyes is certainly one of them. Hours prior … Continue reading
Album review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Dark Wings Of Steel
AFM Records – [Release date 25.11.13] Keyboard wizard Alex Staropoli, founding member of the Symphonic Metal outfit Rhapsody (Rhapsody Of Fire since 2006), is a man who has suffered trials and tribulations and undoubtedly grown a second skin through relentless … Continue reading
Interview with ALEX STAROPOLI (Rhapsody Of Fire) – 7 November 2013
Name changes, line up changes, legal disputes: Rhapsody Of Fire have been through and survived all these last couple of years. What is quite surprising, though, is the fact that they have emerged looking stronger and with a top quality … Continue reading
