Album Reviews

The self-titled debut album by psyched-out retro blues rockers Blues Pills understandably made a huge impact on its release two years ago.  Not only was it one of the few albums of its kind to genuinely coalesce all its constituent elements into a strong, powerful and cohesive manner which did …

Even before the release of Aerosmith’s 2012 album, ‘Music From Another Dimension’ which featured guest vocals from country superstar Carrie Underwood, there were rumors of Steven Tyler branching out of the Aerosmith musical juggernaut, since then there have been several well choreographed clues as to which direction the new music …

London based Jupiter Way consisting of Kevin Thomas (guitar, vocals), Jullian Vuitton (lead guitar), James Collymore (keyboard), Alex Walls (bass) and Sebastien Solsona (drums) are, if nothing else, an interesting listen. The band’s debut EP, Catch Fire, is available now and what you’ll get, above all else, is a sound that …

Dare, a melodic rock band hailing from Manchester and formed in 1988, have just today (Friday 15 July) released their seventh studio album – a highly anticapted release for all their fans.  I had the privilege of seeing them live when they last played Belfast, and they put on a fantastic …

Steve Hackett has just released another dvd/cd combo called ‘The Total Experience Live In Liverpool’, what sets this apart from previous releases, is that on this he tries to cram as many of his solo hits as well as Genesis favourites into a show lasting a little under three hours, …

Let me start by giving you a small introduction to the deadly Nervosa: originating from Sao Paulo, Brazil, they began forming in 2010 and finally became the line up we love in 2013 with the arrival of Prika Ferraz on drums.  This created this unit of metal awesomeness, and they began …

I was so excited on hearing that Opeth were putting ‘Lamentations’ out on vinyl; I still can’t quite believe that iconic show was thirteen years ago at Shepherd’s Bush Empire.  This is a really special one for me to revisit; fifteen year old me was handed ‘Blackwater Park’ by a friend and …

It could be argued that, for a while, Raging Speedhorn could have been regarded as one of the “also rans” of the heavy metal scene.  Breaking ground with their use of two vocalists – a combination extremely hard to work effectively effectively, especially in the hardcore subgenre – the band …

It doesn’t seem that long ago since The Dead Daisies came out of the woodwork, and in the space of only four years, the band are back again with their third studio album, ‘Make Some Noise‘, set for release worldwide on Friday 5th August 2016. In such a short period …

Moody, heartfelt and outstanding. Three words that quite nicely sum up the vibe running through Rich Robinson’s latest solo album, Flux. The Black Crowes founder member and guitarist has more than enough capability to pack so much into the thirteen original songs, broaching a broad spectrum of genres.  This is testament not only to his own self-belief, but …

If nothing else, Italian keyboard player Mistheria – real name Giuseppe Iampieri, who has included collaborations with the likes of Bruce Dickinson and Rob Rock in an 18-year career that has also seen him release a series of movie soundtrack-based albums – possesses a sense of the ambitious and the …

After a bit of a break from the whole writing thing, I am so happy to have something that is out of this world to review. To my great pleasure, a bunch of lads that dominated Dublin a few months ago are my next review. Incite are back and you’re …

I have been following my local scene in Northern Ireland for quite a few years now and I have seen some bands come and some bands go.  While my heart may have wept for the acts that decided to call it a day I have rejoiced with the ones who …

The Amorettes released their debut album ‘Game On’ nearly 18 months ago, and since then they just haven’t stopped touring, except to record this new album’ White Hot Heat’, which was crowd funded. Such is their popularity that at the end of the Pledge campaign, it was 300% funded. So …

Headline Maniac is a new project from three members of Eddie and the Hot Rods – Ian ‘Dipster’ Dean, Chris Taylor and Simon Bowley.  They actually put the power trio together as the opening act on the Eddie and the Hot Rods 40th anniversary shows, and after getting a good …

  Hell’s Addiction a Hard Rock band from the Dirty Old Town of Leicester release their second album Broken today (2nd July 2016) via TBFM Records. This hard rocking five piece formed in 2010 and released their debut album Raise Your Glass to rave reviews in 2012. I haven’t actually heard that …

In September last year the classic Ayreon album, The Human Equation was brought to life on stage at a theatre in Rotterdam for just one weekend.  Billed as The Theater Equation, as with the album, there was a large cast of singers including James LaBrie, Marcela Bovio, Anneke van Giersbergen, …

It’s hard, if not downright impossible, to fault the musical pedigree of the group of musicians who, over the past couple of years, have come together to create the entity that is known as Four By Fate.  Between them, they have played with a list of bands that you’d probably …

If you are expecting something akin to Stiltskin’s 1990s monolith Mind’s Eye from the band’s front man Ray Wilson’s latest solo album Song for a Friend – or indeed something as multi-layered as his contribution to the Genesis catalogue, Station to Station – then you’re going to be in for …

That difficult second album,eh? It can be a bit of a bother but, apparently, that’s not the case as far as West Midlands blues artist Rebecca Downes is concerned. With her debut Back to the Start from 2014 still basking in the glow of positivity, along comes her second offering …