Tag Archives: album review

It’s not very often I get to review music by one of my heroes, let alone them being born in the same town of Oswestry, Shropshire that sees Ian Hunter, best known as lead singer for Mott The Hoople from 1969-74 releasing his twenty third star studded solo album Defiance …

Welcome back Liverpool based rockers Fugitive with new studio album Nobody Gets Out Alive released on CAT Records Music Label, an apt description of how strong this is proven by opener ‘Anything Is Possible’, a feelgood rock and roller fuelled by big fat riffs that hit hard and heavy over …

The history of YES over the last 20 or so years has seen more ‘Drama’ than Coronation Street and Eastenders combined.  I’m not going to go over all the details but for fans it has been a bit of a ride. Albert Tatlock and Ena Sharples have nothing on this. …

It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed Twisted Illusion and I don’t know why but the stars have aligned once more as they have not just released their fifth studio album Upstairs To Optimism, they unleash it! Formed in Manchester 2013 by Matt Jones, his herculean work ethic has seen …

It seems rather fitting that Wolf At The Door, studio album from Trespass is released on May 26th 2023 via From The Vaults! Formed in 1979 in Sudbury, Suffolk by guitarist/vocalist Mark Sutcliffe and brother Paul Sutcliffe on drums , they embraced the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal), …

Many years ago when I started buying vinyl I would buy a live album as it’s a sort of greatest hits thing and you get to hear what they sound like onstage so fast forward about forty five years as Orange County,California based Robert Jon & The Wreck unleash their …

Welcome back to Syncolima, the curiously titled band from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire who have just released their sophomore studio album Wavelengths that features stunning artwork from Andy Pilkington at Very Metal Art , following Where The End Meets The Beginning, their 2021 debut. These ten tracks prove that they put the …

Welcome back Tygers Of Pan Tang who have just released their new studio album Bloodlines courtesy of Mighty Music! Formed in Whitley Bay, Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1978 embracing the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) movement by releasing several singles via local Neat Records and their debut studio …

Well here’s a nice surprise as a blast from the past that sees French heavy metal band Spirit return with their stunning new studio album Le Chaos , recently released by Rockcity Production. Formed in 1996 in the North Of France (hauts de France/pas de Calais), it’s sung in French …

With the recent release of studio album Third Eye Open on Taller Records, Brighton based Mike Ross is definitely the boss with these twelve speaker rattling songs and I’ll admit to not expecting it to be this heavy, point proven by album opener ‘I Swear’. Wailing guitar feedback intro is …

Hail, hail, hail and thrill to the return of Ross The Boss as he unleashes Legacy Of Blood, Fire And Steel via AFM Records on April 28th 2023. It highlights the best of his four solo albums New Metal Leader, Hailstorm, By Blood Sworn and Born Of Fire since his …

Recently released via US One/Proper Distribution, Dead Man Walking is the sophomore studio album from Jim Kirkpatrick that follows Ballad Of A Prodigal Son, released in 2020. Normally known for his guitar duties in FM, he’s once again been let off the leash! It’s slightly more melodic than his debut …

Welcome back Demonstealer AKA Sahil Makhija, the quietly spoken creator of Demonic Resurrection but it’s Demonstealer we are talking about as he will release his latest studio album The Propaganda Machine via Black Lion Records on March 31st 2023. Dubbed as technical symphonic death metal, these eight tracks are overwhelming …

I have had a rocky relationship with Haken over the years, whilst their shows have been somewhat of mixed quality their albums have remained consistent, but that consistency has sometimes felt like their albums are something of a facsimile of others. Come 2023 and Fauna is upon us.  This is …

The first time I saw Empyre I must admit they did nothing for me, they didn’t click at, all but at last year’s Firestorm Festival it was like watching a different band so when their new album came up for review I was eager to have a listen. The first …

Some collaborations work, some don’t work (sorry Lars!), but HOST make theirs work as they release their album IX via Nuclear Blast Records. It’s a synth -pop side project by Nick Holmes and Greg Mackintosh from Paradise Lost that is “Taking the concept of what we attempted to do on …

THE ANSWER releases their long-awaited new album ‘Sundowners‘ on 17th March 2023, via Golden Robot Records and 7Hz. Celtic beats draw you in on album opener Sundowners. The psychedelic vibe is hard and heavy and almost hypnotic as Cormac Neeson’s smokey vocals sing over the entrancing rhythm. It’s like The Doors and Led …

Set all your calendars, mobile phones etc to March 17th 2023 as the self proclaimed “Elles Bailey, the smokey voiced, human dynamo” releases her Shining In The Half Light Deluxe Edition, to coincide with a full headlining tour to promote it. Basically it’s the original album released in February 2022 …

Point Of No Return, the second album by Bridgend based Those Damn Crows released in 2020 is very apt with its title considering they’ve kept on breaking down doors resulting in their Inhale/Exhale third album recently released via Earache Records. These ten tracks see them hone their craft of musicianship …