Birmingham, UK based band NAMELESS and a new one to me spew out one of the most intense songs I’ve heard of in quite sometime, courtesy of their new, recently released single, ‘Shapeshifter’. How they cram in all these three minutes of suffocating bludgeon is beyond my comprehension! It’s a …

Sometimes I need to step away from all the rock bombast and immerse myself in a more laid back genre to soothe the soul, so step up Everette, releasing their ‘Keys To Kentucky’ single, taken from a forthcoming, independently released EP in June of the same name. The single is …

Scarlet Rebels are so eager for us to hear their upcoming studio album Where The Colours Meet, due for release on August 16th, 2024, they’ve just released a second single from it, ‘Grace’, following the first that was ‘Secret Drug’. It’s another full on headbanger from the South Wales band …

At long last, the wait is over as Friday, May 17th 2024 sees Troy Redfern release his 6th studio album Invocation via RED 7 Records, these 11 tracks hit hard and heavy, point proven by ‘Van Helsing’, the 5th track taken from it. As well known for his blues prowess, …

Welcome back young upstarts Jayler who blew me and many friends away when they fired out a two hour set with no break at my local venue, the Cosey Club in Haslington on March 31st 2024. When the last note ended and the applause subsided, there was an eerie hush …

Welcome back to Midlands based thrashers Vicious Nature. Their title lives up to its name throughout their new five track EP Shadowlands, independently released on May 10th, 2024, on the same day as heading off to play European dates in Poland, Belgium and Germany. Opening track ‘And So It Begins’ …

August 9th 2024 cannot arrive soon enough as blues sensation Elles Bailey releases her Beneath The Neon Glow album via Cooking Vinyl Records, and has just released ‘Leave The Light On’, second single taken from it, and another bonus is a 16 date UK Autumn headlining tour! To my ears …

Taken from his last studio album, the chart topping Battles, comes Jack J Hutchinsons most melodic track to date from it, Said track is ‘Love Is The Law’ that still packs a punch from the lumbering grooves that drives this laid back bombast of a belligerent, bluesy ballad along that …

Once again, the resurgence in the blues comes up with another quality release, point proven by ‘Saratoga’, latest single on Ruf Records from Eddie 9V (9-volt), but you can add another two zeros to that due to the party starting energy it unleashes! At the tender age of 15, he …

Welcome back Demon, as they unleash a brand new studio album and celebrate their 45th anniversary with the aptly titled Invincible on May 17th 2024 via Frontiers Music s.r.l Formed in Leek, Staffordshire in 1979 by Dave Hill and Mal Spooner, they made their mark early on with three solid …

Welcome back Llanelli, South Wales based noisy bastards Scarlet Rebels. It seems an age since I last reviewed their album See Through Blue just over two years ago and now they treat us with a new single ‘Secret Drug’, taken from a forthcoming studio album ‘Where The Colours Meet’, due …

Welcome back Nashville, Tennessee based Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, releasing a brand new single ‘Snake Oil’, taken from forthcoming eleven track album Electrified, released on May 10th, 2024 on their very own independently owned and operated Rattle Shake Records, which perfectly describes four minutes of a fiesty fist fighter …

Welcome back Phoenix, Arizona based thrash metallers Flotsam And Jetsam as they release a brand new single ‘I Am The Weapon’, which is also the same title of a forthcoming 2024 studio album. Time goes so fast as I can remember buying their debut album Doomsday For The Deceiver in …

Birmingham UK based noisy bastards Gnawing Hunger don’t just release their new single ‘The Great Illusion’, they UNLEASH it! Sonically it reminded me of Hell Awaits era Slayer, mainly because of the superhuman drum battery that doesn’t let up throughout these three thrashtastic minutes of an aural assault to the …

Following on from the behemoth ‘Grey Morality’ single, Birmingham based noisemongers Vanitas return with thought provoking new single ‘Lies’, a feminine anthem exploring the idea of weaponised incompetence and acting as a rallying cry for women everywhere to express their anger at the patriarchy! It’s a myriad of mindboggling time …

The Milk Men return, delivering a brand new, self released gold top rated album Holy Cow! on Friday, May 3rd 2024. It’s not quite ten green bottles standing on the wall, but they smash their way through ten speaker rattling songs of raunchy rhythm and blues, including a couple of …

Welcome back NWOBHM stalwarts, Praying Mantis! Formed in London 1973 by the Troy brothers Tino and Chris, they have just released their thirteenth studio album Defiance via Frontiers Music, containing eleven tracks of the highest quality! Album opener, ‘From The Start’, brims with confidence, delivering with aplomb, four minutes of …

It’s barely a matter of weeks since The Milk Men released ‘One Man Band’, a single taken from forthcoming studio album “Holy Cow”on Friday, May 3rd but now release from it ‘Hungover’, proving that Ernie didn’t have the fastest milk cart in the West! It’s a guitar picking, finger clicking …

Welcome to Maziac from Planetmosh, a new band to me who have won me over immediately with their single ‘Stoic’, taken from a forthcoming studio album Test Of Time, due for release in the summer. The self titled “Eclectic London based alt/prog metal 3-piece” kick out the jams full throttle, …

Michael Angel breaks the chains from his other band Fugitive to come up with a much heavier animal titled Treeman, and releasing a four track firey EP Omnia, following on from first single ‘Society’, which also kicks off the EP with futuristic samples that vie for attention with guitar tones …

As Ted Nugent once said, “You can’t keep a good dog off your leg”, point proven by those crazy Canadians, Anvil as they return to give 2024 a boost with brand new single ‘Feed Your Fantasy’, taken from a forthcoming, twentieth studio album titled One And Only via AFM Records …

A big welcome back to Merseyside based metallers Ashen Reach, unleashing a very impressive five track EP titled The Fear. Opening track ‘Ghosts’ is also the first single taken from it, built around all consuming doom laden riffing, this captivating number swoops and soars from a clean, glass shattering vocal, …

A normally serene Easter Sunday was not the case this year at the Cosey Club in Haslington as West Midlands based young upstarts Jayler plugged in and certainly shook the foundations of a one hundred year old venue. I just got there in time to review the gig due to …

A huge welcome back to Glasgow based metallers Tantrum, returning with ‘The Darkest Of Times’, a brand new single. Formed in 2014, released their Rough Cuts EP in 2016, debut album Melt It Down in 2018 and second album Another Life on July 28th 2023. ‘The Darkest Of Times’ is …

Taken from their self titled debut album, Scarborough, North Yorkshire band This House We Built release ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’, a harsh reminder how easy it is for addictions to take over our lives, told here with no punches pulled by lead vocalist Scott Wardell, as his lyrics portray his struggle …

NWOBHM flag flyers Praying Mantis, tease us for a second time, releasing ‘Standing Tall’, following ‘Defiance’, taken from a forthcoming album of the same name, released by Frontiers Music on April 19th 2024. Formed in London 1973 by the Troy brothers Tino and Chris (Tino wrote ‘Standing Tall’). That line …

‘Invisible’ is the final Bernie Marsden single released from his final studio album Working Man, released on December 8th, 2023, via Conquest Music written before he sadly passed away on August 24th, 2023. ‘Invisible’ is accompanied by a video that also features Jamie Kyle, the only track on the album …

Orange County, California born band Robert Jon & The Wreck return with all guns blazing, as they release ‘Dragging Me Down’, the second single taken from forthcoming studio album Red Moon Rising, released by Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records on June 28th 2024. To my ears it romps and stomps seismically …

The Outlaw Orchestra steal their way into 2024 with ‘Born To Be A Thief’, third single taken from a mid 2024 studio album release, ‘La Familia’. Describing themselves as “A band from the Deep South UK”, but to be more precise, Southampton! Lead singer/guitarist David Roux proclaims, “We wanted to …

It’s been a few years since I’ve seen The Milk Men, a gig at The Nantwich Jazz Festival I think, so it’s a very nice surprise to hear their new single ‘One Man Band’, taken from Holy Cow!, a brand new studio album, their fifth, released on May 3rd, 2024. …

It’s only just over two weeks since my hearing has recovered from Troy Redfern shaking the foundations of the Civic Hall in Nantwich, for his first sold out headline gig there, so it’s time to strap on my headphones to review his latest single ‘The Calling’, the fourth one taken …

At the end of the day, rock and roll should not really be rocket science, just plug in and blast it out, point proven by Nantwich, Cheshire based rockers ‘Twitch’s Rats’, who have just released a brand new single ‘Shot Down’, available on all major streaming platforms. I recently saw …

Normally used for tribute bands, on February 24th 2024, the Civic Hall in Nantwich opened its doors for two originals bands, both at the top of their game, headliner Troy Redfern and support John Angus Band. Very impressively, the venue was nearly full up, with all proceeds of the evening …

Welcome back once more to Gypsy’s Kiss, formed in the East End of London in early 1974 by Iron Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris and vocalist David Smith, but unfortunately disbanded in late 1975 for Steve to form Iron Maiden. Thankfully, Gypsy’s Kiss reformed in March 2018 to play …

Birmingham based noisemongers Vanitas smash into 2024 with brand new single ‘Grey Morality’, keeping the ball rolling since forming in 2022, hitting the ground for a hectic 2023. Their technical riffing and huge orchestral soundscapes morphed into what they call ‘cinematic djent’ genre and judging by its results, they’re already …

Welcome back to NWOBHM stalwarts Praying Mantis, formed in London 1973 by brothers Tino and Chris Troy, aided by Steve Carroll and Dave Potts. Many line up changes have now been stabilized to the current line up of Chris Troy – Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals, Tino Troy – Guitar/Vocals, Andy Burgess …

Welcome back California based Roots – Rock band Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse, as they release a brand new single ‘Satisfy Your Queen’, taken from a forthcoming third studio album “Hot Nostalgia Radio”. Raunchy riffing adds a touch of Je Ne Sais Quoi to a Siren like vocal that …

Staffordshire based The Midwich Affair, definitely made the right choice by dropping their covers sets and make a change by only now playing originals, and judging by the strength of their new material, it’s a worthwhile sacrifice, point proven by their third new single ‘Oh! What A Pity’, available on …

Welcome back London based Jack J Hutchinson, starting 2024 immensely with the release of his brand new studio album Battles, via Earache Digital Distribution on February 9th. Ten triumphant songs are on the musical menu, kicking off the album with ‘Constellations’, a hairy headbanger to open up with neck aching …

Violet Redfern, a new performer to me, enthralls with her debut single ‘In A Mess’, recorded, mixed and produced by her father, rock slide guitarist Troy Redfern, recently released via RED7 Records. She started playing drums with Troy at only three years old, spent pre-teen years writing and recording her …

As sophomore albums go, this is one of the most impressive I’ve heard for quite some time as Derby based These Wicked Rivers unleash the aptly titled Force Of Nature, via Fat Earth Records on March 1st 2024. These ten songs will send them to the next level with ease, …

Robert Jon & The Wreck band info, including a pre-order digital album of Red Moon Rising is here :- http://robertjonandthewreck.com Orange County, California based rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck return to give 2024 a hefty start to the year, as they release a brand new single ‘Red Moon Rising’, …

Longevity is the right way to describe London formed Balance Of Power, only a few years from their thirtieth anniversary and recently releasing a brand new single ‘Never Be Here Again’, taken from a forthcoming studio album Fresh From The Abyss, released on April 29th 2024, via Massacre Records! Throughout …

A heavy track doesn’t need to be heavy, regarding bombast, but also heavy emotionally, and it doesn’t get any more emotional than this, as Crewe based band Son Of Shinobi pay tribute once more to their sadly departed drummer Steven Hadzik, a man I’ve seen play many times, not just …

A welcome return from Jack J Hutchinson is a timely one as he releases a new single ‘Rip It Up’, taken from forthcoming ten track studio album ‘Battles’ on Friday, Feb.9th 2024. The single is a gritted teeth delivered rant, adding more vitriol, especially in the put up or shut …

Welcome back Farnham based Kit Trigg who have just shared their ‘Light At The End Of The Tunnel’ video, taken from recently released ‘Goin For Glory’ EP, and to also celebrate two killer support tours in 2024 with Marisa And The Moths tour in May and the Sons Of Liberty …

I had planned on reviewing the ‘Here Comes The Rain’ album before Christmas but unfortunately the Planetmosh website went down, returning at the end of January, so in a way it’s given me a chance to take in the loss of Tony Clarkin, guitarist, songwriter and producer of Magnum for …

Boom! Out goes dry January 2024 but welcome fired up February as Crewe based power pop pogo punkers Chasing The Fall prove that they’re no fall guys (and lady), as they release a brand new single titled ‘A Million Times More’, proclaiming that, “I think we’ve just wrote the head …

These Wicked Rivers are more of a tidal wave than a river as they surge into 2024 with ‘The Riverboat Man’, a recently released third single taken from their sophomore album ‘Force Of Nature’, released via Fat Earth Records on March 1st, and judging by its quality, bodes well for …

Plymouth, Devon born, British blues guitarist and vocalist, Bex Marshall releases new single “5am”,on all streaming platforms, ahead of a forthcoming ten track studio album Fortuna, via Dixie Frog Records on March 1st 2024. To my ears, it’s the smoothest, silkiest four minutes I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing for …

It’s been quite some time since I’ve heard a band as brutal as Wasp Mother, since buying albums by Napalm Death, Brujeria, Carcass, Extreme Noise Terror etc, many years ago, but that’s all changed since hearing their Digital Pollution EP, due for release on January 19th 2024, following their Self …

Welcome back Troy Redfern, the cowboy lonesome on the trail, point proven by his latest single,‘The Strange’, taken from forthcoming studio album Invocation, the third single lifted from the eleven track album and bodes well, judging by its in your face ferocity! It’s definitely one of his heaviest songs, musically, …

Stop! It’s hammer time as Lancashire, UK based Damnation’s Hammer unleash their latest studio album Into The Silent Nebula, but it’s definitely not silent, following their debut album Disciples Of The Hex in May 2013 and Unseen Planets, Deadly Spheres in February 2019. Released via Massacre Records and featuring stunning …

Welcome back Scarborough, North Yorkshire based band This House We Built, and what a return as it takes some bravado, not to just attempt a song of this magnitude, but to put a twist on the John Farnham 1986 classic ‘You’re The Voice’, but to emerge with heads held high. …

Farnham based skate rockers, Kit Trigg have just released a very impressive four track EP, ‘Goin For Glory’, via Earache Digital Distribution. These tracks show great promise, point proven by the title track of the EP. An attention grabbing main riff drives this feelgood headbanger along, punctuated by shout em …

Welcome back Takeaway Thieves, who formed five years ago in Blackpool, recently releasing a new single ‘Sundance’, playing their biggest gig so far this weekend at Planet RockStock, Trecco Bay Holiday Park, Porthcawl, on Sunday, December 3rd which surely should have them singing, “Oh we do like to be beside …

Leaf Band UK, recommended to me by a friend, Julian Lloyd who saw the Stoke-On -Trent quartet recently at the Underground in Stoke, return with a recently released single, ‘Get Back On My Feet Again’. Pronouncing themselves as “A real rock band – No backing tracks allowed!”. Forming in 1992, …

My first hearing of The Rods was from their self titled album in 1980, followed up by Wild Dogs in 1982, two essential purchases of mine back then, but are the band still relevant almost forty five years later? Hell yeah they are, as they unleash a brand new single …

To be honest, there isn’t that much to pick apart here from the original version of ‘Man In The Box’ by Alice In Chains, but Jared James Nichols keeps close to it’s essence as he covers his version of it. It’s released ahead of his UK and European tour, supporting …

2024 looks like it’ll be off to a great start, as Joanne Shaw Taylor releases a new single, ‘Wild Love’, taken from a forthcoming studio, released by Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records. She states, “I love this track, I wanted it to be dark and sexy. I think with the boy’s …

Beginning in 2011, Orange County, California rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck flex their muscles for their latest single ‘Hold On’. They proclaim,” It’s a powerful, classic rock track that hits close to the heart for touring musicians like us, pondering how long we can hold on to this life …

Welcome back These Wicked Rivers, as they unleash ‘Force Of Nature’, brand new single taken from a forthcoming album of the same name on March 1st 2024, via Fat Earth Records, and judging by the potency of the single, the album will be a must buy! The Derbyshire based five …

Wounded Cross return from the wastelands to unleash their latest single ‘Monument Of Bones’ to tackle the subject of our environment and focusing on climate change, asking, “What will be left of our planet if we continue down the path we’re on?” It’s the first single taken from an upcoming …

For sheer power and precision, you can’t go wrong with a power trio, point proven by Cream, my personal favourite of the genre, and fortunately for myself, have been asked to review ‘Heavenly Cream – An Acoustic Tribute To Cream’, to be released on Friday, November 3rd, 2023 via Quarto …

Welcome back to the lonesome cowboy on the trail, Troy Redfern, with his latest single ‘Getaway’, not to be confused with Troy Tempest from 60’s TV programme Stingray, although he does whip up a storm for four fiery minutes of hurricane damaging ferocity. Beginning with a guitar tone so dirty …

Essex based Grace and Aaron Bond husband and wife rock band, When Rivers Meet return with their recently released third studio album, Aces Are High, that follows their 2020 debut, We Fly Free and the 2021 Saving Grace. Once again it’s a privilege to review their work and Aces Are …

Photo credit : Laura Schneider. Songs don’t really get more touching as this as Elles Bailey releases ‘Mumma & Me’, a brand new release from Elles’ brand – new EP, due for release in early Spring 2024. She croons sublimely over soothing keyboard nuances, wringing every last drop of emotion …

Welcome back Joanne Shaw Taylor with her brand new single ‘Black Magic’, second single taken from a forthcoming studio album to be released by Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records in 2024. Joanne proclaims, “I originally wrote the music for my album ‘Nobody’s Fool’, intending for it to be an instrumental called …

Montreal rockers The Damn Truth are back to blow your speakers and your minds with their brand new video single ‘I Just Gotta Let You Know’ to coincide with current UK dates supporting Glenn Hughes as well as headlining dates of their own. These four fiery minutes of the song …

This is close to being one of my favourite live albums of all time as Night Ranger celebrate their 40th anniversary with ‘40 Years And A Night With Contemporary Youth Orchestra’, due for release on October 20th 2023 via Frontiers Music SRL on CD/Vinyl (inc. ltd editions), DVD, Blu-Ray and …

For a debut album this is very, very impressive as Tailgunner unleash Guns For Hire via Fireflash Records. The five piece band have British heavy metal flowing through their veins for ten potent songs, opening up with ‘Shadows Of War’. It slams in full force from the off with earworm …

Let’s welcome back The Midwich Affair who return as erm, erm, The Midwich Affair who have dropped their covers band gigs in return for original songs and judging by the strength of their first collaboration, ‘There’s Something In The Beat’ on Friday 13th October 2023, proves to be a lucky …

So just when I thought ‘Between Lune & Eden’ was the heaviest song that Vanitas have released, they prove me wrong by unleashing their latest single ‘Secrets’. The Birmingham based five piece band have certainly raised the heavy bar higher with an overwhelming rush of adrenaline fuelled metal, describing it …

It seems apt that ‘The Weekend’, debut single from Crewe based band ‘Chasing The Fall’ is released on Wednesday today, which is of course hump day and almost the weekend so we can rock out after a hard week! They’ve changed their band name from Mankind Arise recently and now …

Yeehaw pardners, it’s time to get the moonshine out and rejoice for the release of ‘Lover On The Side’ from Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton taken from their critically acclaimed album ‘Death Wish Blues’. The single and music video are ahead of the duo’s “Death Wish Blues” October 2023 UK …

Welcome back Felix Rabin who has just released a new single ‘As She Comes’, taken from a forthcoming EP to be released early 2024 via Damp Music. It’s blues but with a bite that flows along with a feelgood vibe. Vocals by Felix swoop and soar over snappy snare work, …

If you like your guitars raw and raging then look no further than Philip Sayce as he releases his first new music for three years, a single called “Oh That Witches Brew”, taken from a forthcoming studio album The Wolves Are Coming on his own record label Atomic Gemini on …

Doesn’t time fly? Point proven by first meeting and seeing Devils Henchmen play at the Badass Bash Festival at the Snooty Fox in Wakefield, then a three piece they were all only fourteen. They showed great promise then which has been fulfilled. Now a four piece, they prepare to release …

Welcome back British Blues/rock guitarist/singer songwriter Jack J Hutchinson as he unleashes a brand new single ‘Days Are Gone’, the second one taken from his forthcoming studio album Battles released on February 9th 2024 via Earache Digital Distribution. The single is out now on Earache Digital that sees Jack crank …

Lancaster based metal maniacs Promethium raise up the spirits with their latest studio album ‘Bleeding The Ghost’, due for release late 2023. The ten tracks here crackle with energy, point proven by opening track ‘Goat’. It’s a calm before the metal storm of bubbling bass guitar lines, metronomic drum patterns …

Welcome back Robert Jon & The Wreck who are currently touring full throttle on a seemingly endless European tour, then head off into a US Fall tour and have just released a new video single ‘Stone Cold Killer’ which can be streamed here :- https://bit.ly/StreamStoneColdKiller . It’s been released via …

Welcome back Joanne Shaw Taylor with her brand new single “Sweet ‘Lil Lies” which is also the first song written for a forthcoming studio album. It’s a totally captivating five minutes of heart worn on the sleeve verses that slow burn to stadium filling choruses that rocket skywards from earworm …

Derbyshire based blues-rockers These Wicked Rivers prove that this river is not dry as they unleash a brand new single and video ‘Black Gold’ to support the pre- order launch for their sophomore album Force Of Nature, due for release on March 1st 2024 via Fat Earth Records that follows …

As if the first two albums We Fly Free and Saving Grace both hit the ground running, the husband and wife duo of Grace and Aaron Bond in When Rivers Meet have just released their third stunning new studio album Aces Are High on September 15th 2023 , with the …

Welcome back from the dead, the Dead Demons with with their brand new EP Trial By Fire. Due to the quality of these five songs, this trial was thrown out of court with ease. Formed in December 2019 in South Yorkshire, the EP kicks off with ‘Devil May Care’ and …

A very welcome return sees guitar slinger Joe Bonamassa release ‘Hope You Realize It’ (Goodbye Again), a brand new original song written by Joe and Tom Hambridge, the fourth single taken from his upcoming studio album Blues Deluxe Vol. 2, due for release on October 6th 2023. Joe proclaims “Part …

Well here’s a quick bit of time travel as 2023 sees the return of Gypsy’s Kiss as they release a brand new single ‘Better Than Me’, accompanied by a music video from a gig in Lublin, Poland, October 22nd and June 2023. The band originally started in 1974 by Steve …

Welcome back Brighton based blues rock raconteur Mike Ross as he releases ‘Face By Your Window’, a video single taken from his currently available Third Eye Open album to coincide for six solo UK dates throughout September. He proclaims that “It’s a song about a jealous lover.” He captures this …

Welcome back Elles Bailey as she releases a one-off standalone single, a cover of ‘Long Road Ahead’ originally recorded by Delaney & Bonnie. Elles proclaims, “I’m a big Delaney & Bonnie fan and this song resonates with me as I travel on this musical journey. There’s a long road ahead …

Birmingham based Vanitas return with a bang and not a whimper with their monumental, recently released new single ‘Between Lune & Eden’. To these ears it’s the heaviest song they’ve unleashed vocally and musically for five fast and furious minutes. They class themselves as ‘cinematic djent’ and this genre weaves …

Welcome back Scarborough based beer swillers This House We Built as they release the fourth song and accompanying video from their self titled debut album on their own THWB Records for the very impressive ‘Nobody’s Fool’ which sees them definitely not bricking it as they blast it out with cocksure …

We must give thanks to Barrie, Ontario, Canada for unleashing Spades GT as they fire up the furnace in hell with their incendiary debut album Sewer City Radio, saying that “We’ve come to save rock n roll” These eight party starting and finishing songs crash and burn with a put …

Can you remember the first time you saw Jurassic Park with the scene when the ground is shaking from an oncoming Tyrannosaurus Rex? Well, Stoke-On-Trent noisy bastards Red Spektor try to emulate that scenario with their third studio album 3, recently released by KOZMIK ARTIFACTZ. Lead vocalist and guitarist Rob …

Syteria return as the self proclaimed “A realm of colourful, pounding and punked – melodic rock” with third album SyteriaWorld via Cargo Records on August 11th 2023! The Yorkshire based quartet welcome you to their world with fourteen tracks, kicking off with ‘Chasing Dreams’. It’s driven by a huge main …

So many bands, and so little time, so my usual saying of “How has this band passed my radar?” certainly applies to the very impressive and very metal Lancaster-based Wytch Hazel who have not just released but also unleashed their fourth studio album ‘IV: Sacrament’ via Bad Omen Records that …

For a debut album this is very very impressive as West Lothian, Scotland based She Burns Red have pulled out all the stops for Out Of Darkness, made up of nine shimmering songs, produced, engineered and mixed with full force by Matt Elliss and an eye catching cover by Andy …

Rowdy rocker Jack J Hutchinson returns with new single ‘Constellations’, first track taken from an upcoming studio album Battles, due to be released by Earache Digital Distribution on February 9th 2024. Consisting of ten tracks it looks like being a must buy due to the strength of ‘Constellations’. It’s three …

The Damn Truth at The Tivoli Venue Buckley 27th July 2023 From over forty years of watching live bands it takes a lot to impress me but the set from Canadian based The Damn Truth was an almost out of body experience at the Tivoli in Buckley. The crowd and …

Finally the wait is almost over as the husband and wife duo Starlite & Campbell release their new concept album STARLITE.ONE, on their own Supertone Records label on September 1st 2023 and I’ve been climbing the walls to hear it courtesy of opening track ‘Saving Me’ which is also lead …

Crash bang wallop! Damnation’s Hammer return from the wilderness to unleash a brand new heavier than a heavier thing single titled ‘Sutter Cane’ taken from a forthcoming studio album Into The Silent Nebula due for release via Massacre Records on September 15th 2023 that follows Unseen Planets, Deadly Spheres, their …

Birmingham/London formed in 2016 band A Titan, A Deity return with another banger to join their already full arsenal of bangers as they unleash new single ‘In Dreams‘. The self proclaimed progressive metalcore titans hit hard and heavy through a rollercoaster four minute ride of time exhilarating time changes. Brutal …

The golden tones of Elles Bailey return with her recently released single ‘Devil Claims His Prize’. It was written with indie-rocker Brandy Zdan in Arkansas 2019 but has now been recorded at Middle Farm studio live to tape. It follows her recent 18 date headline tour, perfectly timed to open …

Hallelujah! Praise be! Starlite & Campbell return to save us from musical mediocraty with a brand new single ‘Saving Me’ and is also the lead single taken from Starlite. One, a forthcoming concept studio album released on September 1st 2023 on their own Supertone Records label. The husband and wife …

Rick Hunolt returns as he joins brand new band DieHumane, describing themselves as “Avant garde, blending elements of metal, industrial, jazz and blues”. It’s a far cry from when Rick was playing guitar for Exodus, my favourite thrash metal band ever but I’m really liking the path he’s taking with …

Welcome back to The Damn Truth as the Montreal based rockers return with their both feet kicking new single ‘Lonely’, released ahead of their headlining UK July 2023 tour. Three thrilling minutes from this slow burner threatens to ignite at any time but they keep us guessing throughout as grinding …

Welcome back to The Self Titled, The Fantastic Four return with four fantastic songs recently released as an EP titled In Your Fire which certainly applies to it, point proven by opener ‘Dust Devils’ and the dust doesn’t settle as it takes no prisoners from the off on snare drum …

Kaine, the irrepressible band formed in Colchester 2009 forge on with their unrelenting five track EP Extinction After. Formed and fronted by Rage Sadler, the Bruce Banner of metal,”Don’t make him angry, you won’t like him when he’s angry!” Opening track ‘Evil I (All Hail The Evil One)’ is an …

It’s not very often I get to review music by one of my heroes, let alone them being born in the same town of Oswestry, Shropshire that sees Ian Hunter, best known as lead singer for Mott The Hoople from 1969-74 releasing his twenty third star studded solo album Defiance …

Bisongrass, a heavy metal band from Scotland and not bovine informers channel their inner Mastodon, a band not an extinct mammal with their single ‘The Beast Of L.A’, probably in Los Angeles than lower Aberdeen! I was lucky to see them supporting Anvil at the Cathouse in Glasgow 2013, giving …

A very metal welcome back to Master Charger as they return from the blackest heart of the Midlands with their first single since 2020 ‘Social Witch Hunt’. Time has not calmed them down as the trio tackle the subject of the dark side of social media and how users constantly …

Welcome back Liverpool based rockers Fugitive with new studio album Nobody Gets Out Alive released on CAT Records Music Label, an apt description of how strong this is proven by opener ‘Anything Is Possible’, a feelgood rock and roller fuelled by big fat riffs that hit hard and heavy over …

Hang onto your hearing as A Titan, A Deity return with their raging new single ‘Shattered By The Touch’. It’s definitely shattering and more brutal than just a touch as riffs of mass destruction potency writhe and churn around a seismic drum battery that’s offset by a lung shredding lead …

Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa returns by kicking down the doors for new single ‘I Want To Shout About It’ that’s to be featured on an upcoming studio album in 2023 on his J&R Adventures label. It’s a cover of the blues classic by Ronnie Earl And The Broadcasters that Joe …

Formed in Birmingham 2022, Vanitas first came to my attention with their highly impessive self titled four track EP and they return just under a year later with a brand new single ‘Eventum’ released on May 19th, already reaching just under three thousand YouTube views. Four furious minutes effortlessly soothe …

It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed Twisted Illusion and I don’t know why but the stars have aligned once more as they have not just released their fifth studio album Upstairs To Optimism, they unleash it! Formed in Manchester 2013 by Matt Jones, his herculean work ethic has seen …

It seems rather fitting that Wolf At The Door, studio album from Trespass is released on May 26th 2023 via From The Vaults! Formed in 1979 in Sudbury, Suffolk by guitarist/vocalist Mark Sutcliffe and brother Paul Sutcliffe on drums , they embraced the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal), …

Many years ago when I started buying vinyl I would buy a live album as it’s a sort of greatest hits thing and you get to hear what they sound like onstage so fast forward about forty five years as Orange County,California based Robert Jon & The Wreck unleash their …

Welcome back to Syncolima, the curiously titled band from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire who have just released their sophomore studio album Wavelengths that features stunning artwork from Andy Pilkington at Very Metal Art , following Where The End Meets The Beginning, their 2021 debut. These ten tracks prove that they put the …

Welcome back Tygers Of Pan Tang who have just released their new studio album Bloodlines courtesy of Mighty Music! Formed in Whitley Bay, Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1978 embracing the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) movement by releasing several singles via local Neat Records and their debut studio …

Well here’s a nice surprise as a blast from the past that sees French heavy metal band Spirit return with their stunning new studio album Le Chaos , recently released by Rockcity Production. Formed in 1996 in the North Of France (hauts de France/pas de Calais), it’s sung in French …