Album Reviews

The greatest selection of albums, reviewed and rated

Rory Gallagher – The Best Of Rory Gallagher

Back in the day, my introduction to rock music was to buy live albums, so for me to discover Rory Gallagher, essential purchases were Irish Tour 74 and Stage Struck and that was all I bought so I’ve jumped at the chance to review the upcoming The Best Of Rory …

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Dropdead – Dropdead

Dropdead finally present their long awaited third album in an incredible thirty year career.The band state on Bandcamp: “Musically, this album is a bit different from previous recordings, style-wise and vocally, with the latter being delivered so the words have an impact more so than just raw screaming.With 23 songs …

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The Pineapple Thief – Versions of the Truth

What is the truth? A difficult question to both ask and answer in a society where facts are disposable commodities and the accepted reference point for truth has made way for a contentious ‘post-truth’ era.  The latest installment from the British-prog rockers, ‘Versions of the Truth’, attempts to address just …

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Airforce – Strike Hard

When the NWOBHM genre started to get into the music magazines like Sounds, Kerrang etc and bands of that ilk were getting played on the Friday Rock Show, it was a very exciting time for me in my late teens. I bought as much as I could at the time …

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Kid Klumsy – The Faces Don’t Fit – review

Kid Klumsy

Kid Klumsy have released their lastest epic EP ‘The Faces Don’t Fit‘ which boasts seven kick-ass tracks including a cover or two.   2020 sees the third CdEp release from Kid Klumsy on STP Records, following on from 2018’s Spit Your Dummy Out and 2019’s Singing Our Souls, the bands …

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Raven – Metal City

Well stone the crows! NWOBHM legends Raven have really upped their game with new studio album Metal City. Brothers Mark and John Gallagher remain from the original line up formed in Newcastle Upon Tyne 1974. For many years I’ve said this is where NWOBHM started and I still do. Released …

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Ward XVI – Metamorphosis album review.

WARD XVI

Metamorphosis, the follow up album to the debut The Art Of Manipulation seems to be taking longer to arrive than the Scorpions depart on their farewell tour! Second albums can be strange things when they have to follow a groundbreaking debut which is what Ward XVI, the Preston based lunatics …

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Thundermother – Heat Wave

Thundermother

Thundermother, a new band to me and another that has slipped past my radar, even though this all female four piece founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 2010. Heat Wave is their fourth studio album currently released by AFM Records. It’s an absolute banger of an album which wears its heart …

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Elmsfire – Wings Of Reckoning

The stars seem to have aligned once more, as Elmsfire release their long awaited new album , ‘Wings Of Reckoning’ Formed over 20 years ago now, the band has seen a few line up changes along the way but the core of guitarists, Doro and Germano remain. Now with a …

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Crapsons – Clotheslined By A Nun

Well, well, well. Wirral’s finest junk punk wailers return with a brand spanking new EP. With acclaimed singles ‘You Don’t Know When You’re Going to Die ‘ and ‘Who’ll Babysit the Goths? ‘ included here, the duo back these hits up with new single ‘Clotheslined By A Nun ‘(the first …

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Viscula – Alien Milk (single)

‘Alien Milk’, another strong single release from London based indie rock band Viscula is a captivating little earworm to say the least. To these ears I was getting the quirkiness of John Otway or The Divine Comedy by its off the wall vibes. An almost deadpan vocal delivery from John …

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Elimination – Of Gods & Beasts

This is a relatively short EP from Suffolk metallers Elimination. However I feel a little sold short here as the Amazon version contains three live tracks which I haven’t received!! Nevertheless the three I have received are indeed welcomed with open arms in what is a bloody enjoyable EP. Formed …

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Learn To Lie – Cloud 9 (single)

Learn To Lie, a new band to these ears embrace the vibe of early nu-metal with a modern twist for their latest single ‘Cloud 9’. Formed in Stafford in 2017, the self proclaimed alt rockers kick out the jams hard and heavy. A sugar sweet vocal from Jake Regan with …

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Ace Frehley – Origins vol 2

In 2016 Ace Frehley released an album of cover versions – “Origins vol. 1”. It featured songs by acts as diverse as Cream, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Steppenwolf, and Led Zeppelin plus some KISS songs. Now he’s back with a second covers album, “Origins vol. 2”. This time there …

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Kiss the gun – We see you

Kiss the gun formed in 2016 in Salisbury and in 2017 released their debut album, Nightmares which is a great album, particularly for a debut from a small band. In 2018 they replaced their singer with Abigail Austin, and now two years on they’re releasing their second album (the first …

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Mad Max – Stormchild rising

Formed in 1983, German hard rock band Mad Max have a brand new album. Their last album (35) was released in 2018, 35 years since the band formed. Thankfully the new album isnt called 37, it’s Stormchild rising. One thing it does have in common with it’s predecessor is that …

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Vicious Rumors – Celebration decay

Vicious Rumors come from the Bay area, home to many of metal’s greats over the years, and have been around for a long time now having released their debut album in 1985. Despite that they’re nowhere near as well known as some of the other bands from the bay area …

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Savoy Brown – Ain’t Done Yet

“You Can’t Kill Rock And Roll” and “You Can’t Stop Rock And Roll” proclaimed Ozzy Osbourne and Dee Snider some years ago. So “Ain’t Done Yet” is the statement added to them by Kim Simmonds, lead guitarist and vocalist for blues-rock band Savoy Brown and is also the title of …

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