Album Reviews

A good few years ago it seemed like Black Country Communion were no more after the “big fallout” – that would have been a huge shame.  Fortunately they kissed and made up and the result was the cracking IV.  Fast forward another seven years (their longest gap between albums) and …

Crewe based pop punkers Chasing The Fall, crash back in with their latest single ‘Black And Blue’, recently played on BBC Radio 1, taken from recently released four track debut EP, Game Face. It’s one of their heavier songs musically and also the songs subject matter about a failed relationship, …

Industrial metal goth band Motel Transylvania new single ‘Children Of The Dark’ a tribute to MONO INC. out now! Busy working on new unreleased songs and prepping for their summer shows, Motel Transylvania decided to release their first official cover ‘Children Of The Dark’ ahead of festival season. Children of …

Orange County, California based Southern rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck, release ‘Trouble’, a single taken from their ninth studio album Red Moon Rising, released via Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records on June 28th, 2024. Formed in 2011, a succession of very impressive albums and live performances have given them well …

Planetmosh welcomes Mojo Thunder as the Lexington, Kentucky based Southern band follow up their 2021 debut album Hymns From The Electric Chuch by releasing the first single ‘Holy Ghost’, taken from their ten track sophomore album The Infinite Hope, to be released on 16th August 2024. Lead guitarist Bryson Willoughby …

Multi –UK Blues Award –Nominated rising stars, Brave Rival, have found a new fan in me after only one spin of their recently released ‘Fairytale’ single, the second one taken from their sophomore album, the self released Fight Or Flight, due for release on August 16th 2024 and it looks …

Blues Goddess Joanne Shaw Taylor releases ‘Change Of Heart’, the final and most personal single taken from her forthcoming studio album Heavy Soul, due out on June 7th 2024, via Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records. Joanne adds,”Change Of Heart is one of my favourite songs on the album. It’s about meeting …

Welcome back Collateral who give us a double dose of melodic hard rock with new, recently released single ‘Just One Of Those Days’, via Big Shot Records, from new studio album Should’ve Known Better, distributed by Cargo Records Direct, available on red vinyl, picture disc, CD and digital formats. I …

Toronto, Canada based The Commoners put their own stamp on Southern rock with ‘Gone Without Warning’, the fifth single taken from their third studio album Restless, released via Gypsy Soul Records on July 5th,2024. It’s a heavy performance to say the least, starting with a hint of ‘Should I Stay …

Welcome back Fahran, as they return after a five year hiatus with a brand new single ‘Hate Me’, that seems longer since I reviewed their last studio album V-A-P-O-U-R-S in 2019. Thankfully, the Nottingham based five piece have lost none of their edge, point proven by the single, taken from …

Anvil, the Canadian based terrors lift ‘Truth Is Dying’, the second single from their One And Only album, released by AFM Records on June 28th 2024, the perfect start to summer! The power trio of Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow, Robb Reiner and Chris Robertson defy trends by consistently firing out on …

Now this takes some balls, as Felix Rabin, a rising star in the Swiss rock scene and acclaimed guitar prodigy puts his stamp on ‘Dancing In The Dark’, the Bruce Springsteen classic, to celebrate its 40th anniversary, but Felix comes out with head, and guitar held high with an astonishing …

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, …

Following the release of The Fire Cosmic (2021) and Wings of Salvation (2022). Invocation is 11 tracks of wonder-inducing guitar solos, slide riffs and sultry blues-rock, featuring the singles The Fever, Getaway, The Strange, The Calling, and the latest single “Van Helsing”. Set for release by RED7 Records on Friday 17th May 2024, you can order …

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 …