The nights are drawing in, the temperature is dropping and somewhere in an animated world a gothic city is preparing to sing ‘This is Halloween’ all over again. Curiously, this is the first show at the Fleece in a good number of months where the audience are queuing round the …
Read More »Kansas – The Prelude Implicit.
At the ripe old age of fifty three I must admit to hearing only a handful of tracks by Kansas over the years but this has been rectified by being given the opportunity to review their comeback album The Prelude Implicit since the departure of front man Steve Walsh in …
Read More »Beth Hart Interview, 12/10/16
With her ninth solo studio album released, Beth Hart can confidently claim to be on fire right now. Fitting really, given that the title of that ninth album is Fire on the Floor and is arguably her freest, most emotionally unhindered release to date. Her previous recording, Better Than …
Read More »Methane Signs with Dark Star / Sony Records
Methane Signs with Dark Star / Sony Records Swedish Southern metal band Methane has signed a record deal with Sony affiliated Dark Star Records and is now in planning for the release of the band’s first full length studio album entitled “The Devil’s Own”. Methane have released 2 EP singles …
Read More »Blackberry Smoke – Like An Arrow
Following the band’s widely successful 2015 album, five-piece Southern Rock band, Blackberry Smoke, are set to release their fifth studio album, ‘Like An Arrow’ on Friday 14th October 2016 via Earache Records. The latest album features twelve new tracks, which includes a feature from the one and only Gregg Allman, …
Read More »StOp, sToP – The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton: 1st October 2016
As the season saunters into autumn I found myself at The Slade Rooms in Wolverhampton for the second time in my life this time to see StOp, sToP a flamboyant three piece originally from Barcelona and Bulgaria and now based, not too far from Wolverhampton, in sunny (sometimes) Birmingham. Opening …
Read More »Kai Hansen – XXX – Three decades in metal
Kai Hansen is a German heavy metal legend as a member of Helloween and then Gamma Ray, and more recently his work with Unisonic. This album celebrates his 30 year career in metal. Rather than just doing a Gamma Ray album he’s done a solo album, and alongside him on …
Read More »Cornerstone – Reflections
Austrian band Cornerstone are back with a new album, Reflections. It’s been five years since their last album, “Somewhere in America” and in that time the and have changed singer. Sadly I’ve missed them whenver they’ve come to the UK, but definitely want to try and see them live at …
Read More »Amaranthe – Maximalism
OK, cards on the table, I really like Amaranthe. There I’ve said it. Ever since coming across Within Temptation a decade or so ago I have had a soft spot for the the female fronted melodic death metal genre and with Maximalism. Amaranthe have managed to keep me hooked in it. With this …
Read More »Glenn Hughes – Resonate
Glenn Hughes’ latest offering, Resonate, should come with some kind of health warning. Loud, proud and indisputably ballsy, this is an album that demands to be played with the volume switch cranked so far over to the right the woofers in your amps will complain. From the very instant the …
Read More »Robin Trower Plus Special Guests, The Steve Nimmo Trio at The Chester Live Rooms
Outstanding is an often overused term. When used to describe former Procul Harum guitarist Robin Trower however, there is hardly an adjective more fitting on this evidence. Yet this isn’t a night owned solely by Trower and his superb backing band of Richard Watts on bass and vocals and Christopher …
Read More »Rock Wolves – Rock Wolves
Rock Wolves are an all-star trio springing forth from a dynamic heritage of German thoroughbreds. Showcasing the unmistakable talents of ‘Herman Rarebell’ (Scorpions) on drums, ‘Michael Voss’ (Mad Max) guitar and vocals, and ‘Stephen “Gudze” Hinz’ (H-Blockx) on bass. This astounding, diverse and fresh sounding debut will be unleashed to …
Read More »Soothsayer – At this Great Depth
Soothsayer hail from Ireland and have been described as doom merchants, however there is a lot more on offer here than doom. They present two hefty tracks with a mixture of influences which have been moulded together to give a unique and dense sound. The First track “Umpire”, begins with a …
Read More »Status Quo – Aquostic II – That’s a fact
In 2014 Status Quo released an acoustic album – “Aquostic: Stripped bare”. It was a bit of a shock to suddenly hear the classic songs we know and love being done acoustically, but like many fans, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Clearly plenty of other fans enjoyed it too as Quo …
Read More »The Last Hero – Alter Bridge
They might be headlining the O2 Arena in November, but Alter Bridge are one of those bands that often slip under the radar when we think about bands who could top the bill at Download, for example. Maybe it’s the band members’ other commitments – Myles Kennedy’s touring with Slash and …
Read More »Vader Announce Second UK Show for November
Announce second UK show for November Polish death metal legends Vader are very pleased to announce they will be playing another UK show this November at The Rainbow Courtyard, Birmingham. This new addition will follow a show at The Dome, London the day beforehand. Both shows will be part …
Read More »Attica Rage – Rebellion Rock Bar, Manchester 01/10/16
A Saturday night out in Manchester was something I hadn’t experienced for quite a while, so I was looking forward to this, the third show of the current tour by Glasgow’s Attica Rage. I really enjoy the Rebellion Rock Bar as a venue, it seems to be able to maintain …
Read More »Simon Townshend- Denial
Raw passion is the underlying spirit that bursts through on the second of Simon Townshend’s former USA Only releases, Denial. An album that in its entirety examines addictions – personal and witnessed – this is a musical statement with balls and introspection that is never burdened by laconic remorse or …
Read More »TBFM Music Industry Awards
Its that time of year again ladies and gents! We are looking for your help to suggest the best new songs of 2016, the best festivals, best videos, albums and a lot more. There are 3 phases that the awards go through. Phase 1 which we are at now is …
Read More »Steve Hackett announces UK and Ireland tour
Steve Hackett lines up 16 dates during April and May 2017 where he’ll play tracks from 1976 Genesis album Wind & Wuthering. Former Genesis guitarist and prog legend Steve Hackett is returning with an exciting new show for a 15 date UK tour next spring after his outstanding performance at …
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