Single and EP Reviews

Orange County, California born band Robert Jon & The Wreck return with all guns blazing, as they release ‘Dragging Me Down’, the second single taken from forthcoming studio album Red Moon Rising, released by Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records on June 28th 2024. To my ears it romps and stomps seismically …

The Outlaw Orchestra steal their way into 2024 with ‘Born To Be A Thief’, third single taken from a mid 2024 studio album release, ‘La Familia’. Describing themselves as “A band from the Deep South UK”, but to be more precise, Southampton! Lead singer/guitarist David Roux proclaims, “We wanted to …

It’s been a few years since I’ve seen The Milk Men, a gig at The Nantwich Jazz Festival I think, so it’s a very nice surprise to hear their new single ‘One Man Band’, taken from Holy Cow!, a brand new studio album, their fifth, released on May 3rd, 2024. …

It’s only just over two weeks since my hearing has recovered from Troy Redfern shaking the foundations of the Civic Hall in Nantwich, for his first sold out headline gig there, so it’s time to strap on my headphones to review his latest single ‘The Calling’, the fourth one taken …

At the end of the day, rock and roll should not really be rocket science, just plug in and blast it out, point proven by Nantwich, Cheshire based rockers ‘Twitch’s Rats’, who have just released a brand new single ‘Shot Down’, available on all major streaming platforms. I recently saw …

Welcome back once more to Gypsy’s Kiss, formed in the East End of London in early 1974 by Iron Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris and vocalist David Smith, but unfortunately disbanded in late 1975 for Steve to form Iron Maiden. Thankfully, Gypsy’s Kiss reformed in March 2018 to play …

Birmingham based noisemongers Vanitas smash into 2024 with brand new single ‘Grey Morality’, keeping the ball rolling since forming in 2022, hitting the ground for a hectic 2023. Their technical riffing and huge orchestral soundscapes morphed into what they call ‘cinematic djent’ genre and judging by its results, they’re already …

Welcome back to NWOBHM stalwarts Praying Mantis, formed in London 1973 by brothers Tino and Chris Troy, aided by Steve Carroll and Dave Potts. Many line up changes have now been stabilized to the current line up of Chris Troy – Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals, Tino Troy – Guitar/Vocals, Andy Burgess …

Welcome back California based Roots – Rock band Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse, as they release a brand new single ‘Satisfy Your Queen’, taken from a forthcoming third studio album “Hot Nostalgia Radio”. Raunchy riffing adds a touch of Je Ne Sais Quoi to a Siren like vocal that …

Staffordshire based The Midwich Affair, definitely made the right choice by dropping their covers sets and make a change by only now playing originals, and judging by the strength of their new material, it’s a worthwhile sacrifice, point proven by their third new single ‘Oh! What A Pity’, available on …

Violet Redfern, a new performer to me, enthralls with her debut single ‘In A Mess’, recorded, mixed and produced by her father, rock slide guitarist Troy Redfern, recently released via RED7 Records. She started playing drums with Troy at only three years old, spent pre-teen years writing and recording her …

Robert Jon & The Wreck band info, including a pre-order digital album of Red Moon Rising is here :- http://robertjonandthewreck.com Orange County, California based rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck return to give 2024 a hefty start to the year, as they release a brand new single ‘Red Moon Rising’, …

Longevity is the right way to describe London formed Balance Of Power, only a few years from their thirtieth anniversary and recently releasing a brand new single ‘Never Be Here Again’, taken from a forthcoming studio album Fresh From The Abyss, released on April 29th 2024, via Massacre Records! Throughout …

A heavy track doesn’t need to be heavy, regarding bombast, but also heavy emotionally, and it doesn’t get any more emotional than this, as Crewe based band Son Of Shinobi pay tribute once more to their sadly departed drummer Steven Hadzik, a man I’ve seen play many times, not just …

A welcome return from Jack J Hutchinson is a timely one as he releases a new single ‘Rip It Up’, taken from forthcoming ten track studio album ‘Battles’ on Friday, Feb.9th 2024. The single is a gritted teeth delivered rant, adding more vitriol, especially in the put up or shut …

Welcome back Farnham based Kit Trigg who have just shared their ‘Light At The End Of The Tunnel’ video, taken from recently released ‘Goin For Glory’ EP, and to also celebrate two killer support tours in 2024 with Marisa And The Moths tour in May and the Sons Of Liberty …

Boom! Out goes dry January 2024 but welcome fired up February as Crewe based power pop pogo punkers Chasing The Fall prove that they’re no fall guys (and lady), as they release a brand new single titled ‘A Million Times More’, proclaiming that, “I think we’ve just wrote the head …

These Wicked Rivers are more of a tidal wave than a river as they surge into 2024 with ‘The Riverboat Man’, a recently released third single taken from their sophomore album ‘Force Of Nature’, released via Fat Earth Records on March 1st, and judging by its quality, bodes well for …

Plymouth, Devon born, British blues guitarist and vocalist, Bex Marshall releases new single “5am”,on all streaming platforms, ahead of a forthcoming ten track studio album Fortuna, via Dixie Frog Records on March 1st 2024. To my ears, it’s the smoothest, silkiest four minutes I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing for …

It’s been quite some time since I’ve heard a band as brutal as Wasp Mother, since buying albums by Napalm Death, Brujeria, Carcass, Extreme Noise Terror etc, many years ago, but that’s all changed since hearing their Digital Pollution EP, due for release on January 19th 2024, following their Self …