Tag Archives: album review

Dirt Box Disco who, in their own words, describe themselves as ‘Born in the UK from the malfunction of a terrible musical chemical laboratory experiment!‘ release their fourth album ‘Only In It For The Money’ via STP Records on 19th April 2015, with a series of album launch shows this weekend. …

To be honest, it’s not terribly hard to compare The Dirty Youth to the likes of superstar upstarts such as Paramore:  both bands have young – cute, if you’re so inclined to describe them so – female singers, and both play infectious pop-punk infused rock music.  The main difference, of …

The Quireboys released their ninth studio album ‘St Cecilia And The Gypsy Soul’ via Off Yer Rocka on 30 March 2015. They head into their fourth decade by bringing out this Four CD deluxe edition, which was preceded by the release of the ‘Gracie B’ EP on 16 March 2015. Whilst this is …

Swedish Hard Rockers Hardcore Superstar release their latest album ‘HCSS‘ via GAIN Music Entertainment on 22nd April. With ten albums already under their belts (or braces in Jocke’s case) including the 2011 compilation album ‘The Party Ain’t Over ’til We Say So’ since they started the band back in 1994, that’s …

In the latter half of 2012, Northern Ireland heavyweights Sinocence emerged from what can be best described as a period of transition – one characterized by personal issues for certain members of the band, coupled with a (at the time relatively) recent line-up change – to produce the first volume …

The Jury And The Saints from Auckland, New Zealand (NZ) who describe themselves as ‘Monster Rock from Aoteoroa‘ (which is the Maori name for NZ) released their self-titled second album via SPV on 2nd March 2015. Formed by Jesse and Rowan as a two piece in 2009 they toured hard but …

For some inane and unknown reason, this third album from Melbourne’s White Widdow initially fell under this reviewer’s radar – which is something which almost became a crying shame as it is a hugely powerful slice of melodic rock. Very much rooted in the classic Eighties roots of the genre, …

Sticky Boys. Now where do I start? I have never heard of this Parisian threesome before I listened to their latest and second album ‘Make Art‘. The French trio certainly do show their love and affection for all things Rock and Roll here, but it took several listens of the …

Exactly a year ago, mid-Ulster hard rockers Trucker Diablo shocked fans by announcing that they were putting the brakes on and going on an indefinite hiatus.  Guitarist Simon Haddock had already announced his intention to quit the band, due to family commitments:  a show at a small social club on …

Given that vocalist Simon Gordon once fronted acclaimed Brit tech deathsters Xentrix, it may come as somewhat of a surprise to many to find that this debut album from the beautifully named Black Whiskey (any band that combines my favourite colour with that of my preferred tipple – and with the …

Good bands, like a really fine Cabernet Sauvignon, truly do get better with age, improving on the palate as they in turn develop and mature:  but, like wine, they also need the right environment in which to do so – and, with a new three-album deal with Napalm Records tucked …

Having released their first demo away back in 2002, this debut album by Peruvian devils Goat Semen has been more than a decade in the making.  In the intervening years, the band have released a few split EPs, deliberately designed to tantalize their fans – among whom they have reached …

A brilliant 13 song offering released in late 2014, Once, Forever & Again by London-based The See See showcases the band’s latest sonic journeys, and is the subject of this week’s Pop Focus. Once, Forever & Again, The See See’s third full-length studio effort, finally breaks some ground and gains a …

Hailing from São Paulo, Jupiterian play the sort of funereal doom-laden sludge metal that is darker and denser than the rainforests which surround their home city. This EP was originally released in Brazil last July (and subsequently has been succeeded by a second EP, ‘Proclamation’, in the latter part of …

Italy’s Game Over, founded in 2008, has presented fans with a crisp, 13-track re-release of their 2012 debut disc, For Humanity. A word being thrown around these days in some metal circles is “revival”, with practitioners labeled “revivalists”. Thrash and speed metal arguably had their heyday around the same time …

One thing keeps me interested in UFO, and that is Phil Mogg, the singer of UFO (and joint founding member along with Pete Way) since the band formed in 1969, I was 4 then. Phil’s vocals are still solid; if slightly lacking in power since the hay day of UFO …

Sometimes an album, or even a band, is of its time.  This re-issued debut from New Jersey (at the time) upstarts Exxplorer definitely falls into that categorization – but, in a good way. Quite rightly, when first released three decades ago, ‘Symphonies Of Steel’ was regarded as a groundbreaking album, …

Satan’s Host are one of those rare bands that the much over-used musical terminologies “cult” and “underground” most definitely can be applied – and liberally! After forming around the nucleus of guitarist Patrick Evil and vocalist Leviathan Thisiren (otherwise known by his real name of Harry Conklin, frontman of Jag …

This band’s fans, humorously dubbed Peripherals, are going to adore this set by Washington, D.C’s Periphery. Titled Juggernaut: Alpha and Juggernaut: Omega, the dual-disc ‘concept album’ set serves to redefine the band for anno 2015. Seventeen songs of djenty, modern progressive metal glory will tickle the earholes of an eager …

Atlas Losing Grip a five piece Alternative Crossover Punk band from Sweden released their third album ‘Currents’ via Cargo records today (16th January 2015). Formed in 2005 ‘Currents’ marks their tenth anniversary. Atlas Losing Grip embark on the Currents European Tour 2015 Part 1 next week with support on many …