Album Reviews

As Monty Python would say…And now for something completely different. I’m talking about the new mini-album from alternative rock band Thirsty. Thirsty was founded by Guy Bailey (former guitarist and founding member of the Quireboys) and Russian poet Irina D. That’s already starting to sound a bit unusual, but for …

Lynyrd Skynyrd have released a number of live albums over the years, but it’s been eight years since their last one. You might assume that this new album will focus on the newer material from the “God & guns” and “Last of a dyin’ breed” albums but you’d be wrong. …

It’s been six long years since Doro released her last studio album – Raise your fist. Since then she’s celebrated 30 years in metal with two massive shows with guests and an orchestra and released a live album/DVD from those shows. Now as she reaches 35 years in metal she’s …

              Crawl unleash a pure beast with their debut album ‘Rituals’ These Swedes sure know how to deliver a knockout blow with their debut full length offering ‘Rituals’, an album that takes the Death Metal genre to new heights with its intense brutality. Every …

                German Metalheads Horseman, saddle up and explode out of the stalls with their latest album ‘Of Hope, Freedom And Future’ With a history going back some ten years now, Horseman release their third full length album in the form of ‘Of Hope, …

I was lucky to catch these lunatics at Bloodstock Open Air Festival in 2017 as Torqued tested the resilience of the New Blood Stage with their seismic onslaught. So fast forward a year and they have just unleashed an over the top six track EP titled Resurgence, available on digital …

Never mind nature calling, when Vicious Nature call you had better be ready for some over the top heavy metal, point proven by their current six track EP VII available on physical CD from the band or an unlimited streaming and high quality download options from Confidential Records. The fearsome …

I first came across Millie Manders and the Shutup earlier this year at Bearded Theory festival – they were an act I knew nothing about but when they came on and started their set I was seriously impressed. Now just a few months on, they’re releasing their new EP – …

The Magpie salute was formed by Black Crowes gutiarist Rich Robinson and includes fellow former Black Crowes members Sven Pipien and Marc Ford. With a ten piece lineup, they have toured performing Black Crowes songs, Rich Robinson solo material and cover versions, and released their debut album last year – …

Mike Vernon may be a new name for many but he’s been in the music industry for many years, having founded Blues record label Blue Horizon which released singles and albums by acts including Rory Gallagher, Paul Kossoff, Christine McVie and Peter Green. As well as running the record label …

German hard rock band Mad Max release their new album “35” on the 10th August 2018. Why “35” as the title? Well it’s 35 years since the band formed, so it seems like a suitable title. It’s been five years since their last album (Interceptor) was released, but Mad Max …

Up for review today is the rather interesting concept album called The Art Of Manipulation from our fellow freaks on Ward XVI. They have come together to tell the tale of a female psychopath who has been locked away in a high security asylum whom, through exploring her past, develops …

“The cycle of need” is the second album from Leicester band Resin. Musically they’re hard rock with a healthy dose of Grunge, with the vocals in particular having that 90’s Seattle band sound. It’s a great sound that takes the best of both styles. One surprise is the addition of …

Burton Upon Trent based Theia have shown great promise with the studio album releases of Back In Line and Take The Pill but it has been fulfilled by the latest opus The Ghost Light. Out now on WDFD Records with eye catching artwork from Andy Pilkington at Very Metal Art …

It’s a return flight for me with Airrace as I first saw them support Ted Nugent at the Hammersmith Odeon in Feb 1984 and here I am today reviewing their executive class new studio album Untold Stories, released by Frontiers Music Srl on August 10th 2018. Laurie Mansworth returns with …

Man with a Mission (MWAM) release their new album Chasing the Horizon on August 10th 2018. Japanese super alt rockers Man with a mission bring an eclectic mix of musical styles. Not afraid to experiment, their sound veers from post hardcore, industrial Goth, to heavy rock, to happy dance, and drum …

American rock band Daughtry have released four studio albums, had four US number 1 hits and 4 Grammy nominations. They’ve sold over 8 million albums and 16 million singles, as well as selling out concerts around the globe. Their last album, “Baptized” was released in 2013, so it’s been a …

It’s been two years since Hell’s Gazelles introduced themselves with their self titled debut EP.  Leaping on to the music scene, the Oxford based quartet have had quite ride so far playing Bloodstock and Hard Rock Hell. Their music has elements of 70’s hard rock, 80’s heavy metal and 90’s …

Even by the standards Massive Wagons have set by their three previous studio albums they have raised the bar higher with Full Nelson, due to be released via Earache Records on August 10th 2018. Featuring ten brand spanking new tracks and two from previous album Welcome To The World added …

U.D.O, the band founded and led by former Accept vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, is back with a new album. The band has been fairly quiet in the last couple of years as Udo has toured under his own name playing Accept songs with the intention of drawing a line under that …