Album Reviews

Swedish Hard Rockers Hardcore Superstar release their latest album ‘HCSS‘ via GAIN Music Entertainment on 22nd April. With ten albums already under their belts (or braces in Jocke’s case) including the 2011 compilation album ‘The Party Ain’t Over ’til We Say So’ since they started the band back in 1994, that’s …

In the latter half of 2012, Northern Ireland heavyweights Sinocence emerged from what can be best described as a period of transition – one characterized by personal issues for certain members of the band, coupled with a (at the time relatively) recent line-up change – to produce the first volume …

Germany’s Messenger return with an eight track album of original tracks and covers, delivered in the classic Heavy Metal style, and with the subtlety of a brick. For a start, Siegfried Schüssler has the most Metal of Metal voices anywhere on the planet, when this guy screams, windows shatter and …

‘Everybody’s Making Lemonade’ is Leeds based The Blind Dead McJones Band 2nd album. Members Ben “Buddy” Slack, Andy “The Cake” Johnson and Steve “Wee-Man” Nixon got together in 2008 and released their debut album ‘Last Resort Mexico ‘in 2012, which received great reviews and a British Blues Award nomination for …

Dangerous Music II is, as if you hadn’t guessed is the follow up to Robin’s impressive Dangerous Music debut, an album that spawned ‘that song’. I will try not to mention it’s title, as even though it is a great track, Robin has a lot more to offer, as is …

Acid King have been about since 1993 but have quite a sparse catalogue. This being only their 4th Full Length in all these years. Led by the formidable Lori S the band has been through quite a few bass players including Guy Pinhas of Goatsnake and The Obsessed fame amongst …

Hailing from London town Stoneghost are a band I have been lucky enough to see a couple of times. Way back in 2009 and 2010 at Bloodstock. 2009 saw the band hit the S.O.P.H.I.E stage and the following year after making a good impression on the main stage. From then …

The new Whitesnake album is an album of Deep Purple covers.  It’s not just any old Deep Purple songs though, it’s songs from the three albums that a young David Coverdale sang on – “Burn”, “Stormbringer” and “Come taste the band”.  David Coverdale describes this album as a tribute to …

When Adrenaline Mob released their latest EP Dearly Departed in February via Century Media, no-one can have foreseen that drummer A J Pero would tragically be found dead (further information here) on the tour bus in the middle of a tour the following month, and therefore the poignancy of the …

The resurgence of NWOBHM has resulted in bands who fell by the wayside back in the day to give it another go and the latest welcome addition is Suffolk based Trespass . This new release consists of 10 re-recorded tracks originally written between 1979-1982. They never got to release an …

When it comes to playing the guitar, many a guitarist dream of being able to shred their axes as fast as their little fingers can go.  Nitro guitarist Michael Angelo-Batio once offered to give his fans “…the keys to the Lamborghini” by showing them how to play at lightning speed. …

Almost two years ago, I first chatted with Seb Mikkelsen about this new band, Nine Miles South. Now after a continuous period of playing live gigs, working the pubs and clubs the four guys have produced this little self titled teaser of an EP. Just three tracks long, but filled …

This beauty has been out for a couple of weeks now but I just could not let it pass by without inking a few lines with the quill. Sweden has always produced cracking bands in the past, from all genres but Doom being my personal passion, I was drawn like …

Last of The Dogs are an Indie Rock band from Crewe, Cheshire. They are holding an album launch party for their debut E.P. Evil Never Sleeps this Saturday (28th March) at Percy’s Cafe Bar at the Star Hotel, Whitchurch. This is a free entry show with a guest band, food …

It was back at the tail end of 2012 that I was introduced to “a whole lot of rock and roll mixed with dirty riffs and skanky licks” when I reviewed Mammoth Mammoth’s previous album… and I enjoyed it a lot. Fast forward a little over two years, and it’s …

The Jury And The Saints from Auckland, New Zealand (NZ) who describe themselves as ‘Monster Rock from Aoteoroa‘ (which is the Maori name for NZ) released their self-titled second album via SPV on 2nd March 2015. Formed by Jesse and Rowan as a two piece in 2009 they toured hard but …

Reach are a new band on my radar, I hadn’t heard anything about them up until this debut album dropped in my inbox. Reach are Reach are Alex Waghorn (vocals), Ludvig Turner (Guitar), David Jones (Bass) and Marcus Johansson (Drums). You may already know Marcus and Ludvig from Adrenaline Rush. …

It is hard to believe that it is 33 years since I heard the news of Randy Rhoads’ death in a tragic plane crash on Friday, March 19th 1982 on Tommy Vance’s Friday Rock Show on B.B.C Radio 1. I never got to see him play as even though I …

It’s been four years since Imaginaerum gave the world the most bonkers record of 2011 and now Finnish giants Nightwish have gone all Darwin on us. Taking inspiration from the naturalist’s seminal work ‘On the Origin of Species’, Endless Forms Most Beautiful is the band’s eighth studio effort, based around the ‘very loose’ concept …

I am waiting for confirmation from the bands PR that this record will be a world record holder after it finally gets released. Why, how? Mabel Greer’s Toyshop, the prog psychedelic outfit which sprouted the first shoots of YES, has applied for a Guinness World Record for the longest period …