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Tuesday, January 31
Scorpions – Comeblack
by
Jason
on Tue 31 Jan 2012 16:01 GMT
This is an unusual release for the Scorps, re-recording a number of fan favourite tracks after they announced their retirement…
Seven of the thirteen tracks are from their own catalogue, while the remaining six songs are covers! Being a fan for well over 25 years I find this difficult ... more »
HUGH LAURIE - Let them talk
by
Jason
on Tue 31 Jan 2012 15:51 GMT
Hugh Laurie is best known for his superb acting in “House”, but there’s a lot more to this Englishman than meets the eye: along with his love for motorcycles and motorcycle racing, he has a passion for the old blues. He wants others to understand and love this genre ... more »
Saracen - Marilyn
by
Jason
on Tue 31 Jan 2012 14:59 GMT
This is the band’s first release since the highly acclaimed “Vox in Excelso” and this, like its predecessor, is a concept album – this time about the life of Marilyn Monroe.
The songs are good, but not outstanding and this may be due to the production not bringing out the ... more »
Ilium – Genetic Memory
by
Jason
on Tue 31 Jan 2012 14:57 GMT
Ilium is an Australian melodic/power metal outfit with four albums under their studded belts. “Genetic memory” is the band’s fifth release and the third with vocalist Mike DiMeo, who did time with Riot, as well as Masterplan.
DiMeo’s voice is instantly recognisable, although it rasps more in places on ... more »
Trillium – Alloy
by
Jason
on Tue 31 Jan 2012 14:43 GMT
Trillium is Amanda Somerville’s solo delving into the world of power metal. Her previous album, “Windows”, had a far more pop/rock flavour to it but, as she’s been involved with projects like Aina and Avantasia, it seems to be a natural progression to produce something in this genre.
Ms ... more »
SHY - Shy
by
Jason
on Tue 31 Jan 2012 14:34 GMT
It’s taken me some time to get to listen to this and the first thing that comes to mind is what took me so long?! This is Shy’s reunion album after a six year hiatus…
As it transpires, the album, special as it is, provides extra meaning for fans ... more »
Lee Small – Jamaica Inn (Escape Music)
by
Jason
on Tue 31 Jan 2012 14:33 GMT
Lee Small has the claim to fame of being the vocalist for Shy, as well as lending his vocals to Phenomena. He teams up with guitarist Martin Kronlund (Gypsy Rose) for his first solo release.
This is a lovely slice of melodic rock with heavy classic rock influences, which ... more »
Live at Montreux 2010
by
Jason
on Tue 31 Jan 2012 14:28 GMT
This release is Gary Moore’s last to be filmed/recorded and is the first to be released posthumously. Gary Moore had returned to his rock roots and this set is indicative thereof.
His voice sounds a bit off in places, where he barks instead of singing, but his voice does ... more »
Sunday, January 29
STYX - Live: The Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight
by
Jason
on Sun 29 Jan 2012 22:45 GMT
A double live CD featuring the band's current line-up plus original bass player Chuck Panozzo, performing the whole of tow of their classic 1970's albums - 'The Grand Illusion' and 'Pieces Of Eight'. more »
Saturday, January 28
Run From Robots - Rust
by
Jason
on Sat 28 Jan 2012 23:24 GMT
Pop punksters Run From Robots are about to release this, their debut
album. The ten tracks on offer here will be familiar to anyone who has
ever listened to Good Charlotte, Blink 182 etc, etc. The band go for the
twin vocal approach as with most bands of this ilk ... more »
SEP7EMBER - Strange Ways Of Going Home
by
Jason
on Sat 28 Jan 2012 22:18 GMT
This is the debut album from Sep7ember who are billed as a “rapidly
rising new German melodic punk band”. With this information, I was
expecting some high octane pop punk in the mould of Green Day but
instead I got what sounds like a Bush tribute act.
Having said that, ... more »
KLOGR - Til You Decay
by
Jason
on Sat 28 Jan 2012 22:01 GMT
Klogr are an Italian rock/ metal project which came together in 2010
under the watchful eye of frontman Gabriele “Rusty” Rustichelli who
appears to have had a hand in several alternative projects in Italy.
This album is part of a larger project involving 10 video presentations
of the band’s sound.... more »
Danny Bryant’s Redeye band - Night Life Live In Holland
by
Jason
on Sat 28 Jan 2012 22:00 GMT
Danny Bryant started young on his chosen path, turning professional
at the tender age of 18. Now 13 years on and still only 31, he has
released 7 albums to date, and this, his latest offering, was recorded
live in Rosmalen, Holland, on 17th Sept 2011 to be exact.... more »
Friday, January 27
CRIMES OF PASSION - To Die For
by
Jason
on Fri 27 Jan 2012 11:52 GMT
CRIMES OF PASSION ‘To Die For’ DR2 Records (2012)
Crimes Of Passion return with their second album and two new members – guitarists Charles Staton and Harry Griffths, after original guitarist Andy Lindsay left the band.
The band mix classic metal riffs with a more modern metal sheen, ... more »
Thursday, January 26
TENHI – “SAIVO”
by
Yiannis Stefanis
on Thu 26 Jan 2012 18:22 GMT
Writing about music is an activity I have undertaken with much passion and devotion over the last decade and, as it happens with every occupation outside work, it does tend to occupy much of my free time. So to answer the question, “Why bother?”, I can point to the excitement at discovering ‘new’ and interesting bands, such as that of the Finnish atmospheric metallers “Tenhi”, for example, whose fifth studio album “Saivo” is to be released by the German specialised label Prophecy Productions. more »
Lionsex - Get It
by
Jason
on Thu 26 Jan 2012 17:59 GMT
Lionsex’ debut album “Get It” is an interesting one, the band have a good sleazy look but when the vocals from Jef Leppard (seriously!!) come in they are in a lot lower key than you would expect. Musically the songs are sleazy and move along quite nicely, but the ... more »
Dirty Passion - Different Tomorrow
by
Jason
on Thu 26 Jan 2012 17:51 GMT
In vocalist Emil Ekbladh, Sweden’s Dirty Passion have a singer with a sound that is reminiscent of the early ‘90’s albums by that better known Swedish band Europe. This is not a bad thing but it is an observation that became apparent within the first few notes of opening track ... more »
Aesthesia - Shattered Idols
by
Jason
on Thu 26 Jan 2012 15:07 GMT
I was tempted to write “the most authentic Guns n Roses record since “Appetite For Destruction”” but that really doesn’t do Aesthesia’s newly released second album “Shattered Idols” the justice that it deserves. Yes this album is the closest thing I have heard to Axl Rose and the classic ... more »
Down & Dirty - Taste of Rock & Roll
by
Jason
on Thu 26 Jan 2012 15:06 GMT
As a band Chicago’s Down & Dirty have an average age of just 18 years old- yet the influences they display on new album “Taste of Rock & Roll” are bands that had their heyday long before the boys were even born, yet they have created a record that could ... more »
Wrathchild - Stakkattakktwo
by
Jason
on Thu 26 Jan 2012 14:15 GMT
31 years since the band was formed, and 21 years since the release of their last album, ”Delirium”, Wratchchild have released their 4th album “Stakkattakktwo”, and with vocalist Gaz Psychwrath taking the place of Rocky Shades, the band really are firing on all cylinders.
Wrathchild were formed ... more »
SEKS - Harder Than You
by
Jason
on Thu 26 Jan 2012 14:07 GMT
Norway’s Seks claim they are going to save us from radio dominated by Hip Hop and pop- and whilst that may never happen, they have released a debut album that harks back to ‘80’s arena rock and it is not a bad effort either.
The band members may include ... more »
HOPSCOTCH - Straight From The Heart
by
Jason
on Thu 26 Jan 2012 12:54 GMT
German band Hopscotch have self-released album number three, “Straight From The Heart”, a blend of heavy, sleazy, punk infused rock that reminds me of The 69 Eyes before they went heavily gothic.
Vocalist Markus Dangel has, for the most parts, a whisky stained, sleazy growl of a voice ... more »
Drought - Untapped
by
Jason
on Thu 26 Jan 2012 12:53 GMT
“Untapped” is the debut album from Houston’s Drought. The album is a solid piece of modern rock that will appeal to fans of Nickelback, Shinedown, and Alter Bridge etc- in particular tracks such as “Pick and Pen” and “Look At Me”.
Opening track “One Night Stand” is Simple Minds ... more »
D DRIVE - 3D
by
Jason
on Thu 26 Jan 2012 10:15 GMT
The 3rd album from New York’s D Drive, “3D” is released in an interesting 3D cover- which has actually been done quite well. Now that is out of the way, let’s concentrate on the album itself, 11 tracks of solid melodic rock- catchy, sing along choruses, hooks a plenty ... more »
RIOTGOD - Invisible Empire
by
Jason
on Thu 26 Jan 2012 10:13 GMT
The CD is just what is needed to blow those winter cobwebs away. Featuring a solid rhythm section of Monster Magnet’s Bob Pantella and Jim Baglino, the superb guitars of Garret Sweeney and the vocal talents of Mark Sunshine, Riotgod’s second album “Invisible Empire” is worthy of a major ... more »
Wednesday, January 25
LEE SMALL - Jamaica Inn
by
Jason
on Wed 25 Jan 2012 16:56 GMT
Fresh from his sterling vocal performance on last year’s excellent Shy album, Lee Small makes a splash with this solo album. He has previously sung with other bands including Cloven Hoof, Pride and appears on forthcoming albums from Phenomena and Gypsy Rose (two of the band – Martin Kronlund ... more »
Tuesday, January 24
THUNDERSTICK - Echoes From The Analogue Asylum
by
Jason
on Tue 24 Jan 2012 10:21 GMT
Finding notoriety with Samson (after a brief stint with Iron Maiden), the mask clad Thunderstick was perhaps better known for his image than his drumming skills, which is a shame because he’s actually quite thunderous.
After leaving Samson he formed his own band and recorded the Feels Like ... more »
VENGEANCE - Crystal Eye
by
Jason
on Tue 24 Jan 2012 09:51 GMT
Solid Dutch metal with a stellar cast and a decent follow up to their 2009 album Soul Collector. Hard to believe this band have been going 30 years now, and they still sound good.
With vocalist Leon Goewie is bassist Chris Glen (MSG, SAHB), guitarist Keri Kelli (Alice Cooper) ... more »
Monday, January 23
NITROGODS - S/T
by
Jason
on Mon 23 Jan 2012 22:43 GMT
A three piece band featuring former Thunderhead/Primal Fear guitarist Henny Wolter, Freedom Call's drummer Klaus Sperling (who was also in Primal Fear with Wolter) and on bass/vocals Oimel Larcher, who sang in former Motorhead guitarist's 'Fast' Eddie Clarke's band. Clarke guests on one song on the album and Larcher's vocals ... more »
History Of Guns - Whatever You Do, Don’t Turn Up At Twelve
by
Jason
on Mon 23 Jan 2012 10:22 GMT
This is a confusing album. The band have been together for 16 years and although I follow music closely I had never come across the name before. This is History Of Guns' fourth album and looking at the bands Wiki page there have been plenty of singles and even a ... more »
Sunday, January 22
BEYOND THE BRIDGE - The Old Man & The Spirit
by
Jason
on Sun 22 Jan 2012 20:56 GMT
Thursday, January 19
Dead Label - Sense Of Slaughter
by
Jason
on Thu 19 Jan 2012 09:44 GMT
Irish trio, Dead Label, formed in 2008, won a nationwide battle of the bands the following year and released an EP in 2010. This album release then is the natural progression for the band and one they hope will move the band up to the next rung on the ladder ... more »
Vinterblot - Nether Collapse
by
Jason
on Thu 19 Jan 2012 09:41 GMT
A bit of Pagan death metal this time all the way from Bali in Italy. This is the debut album from the 5 piece although they released an EP back in 2010 to critical acclaim.
Brutal about sums up Vinterblot’s sound with riffs hitting you like a sledgehammer to the ... more »
4 Arm - Submission For Liberty
by
Jason
on Thu 19 Jan 2012 09:38 GMT
Antipodean thrashers 4 Arm have been peddling their wares for the past 8 years and have gathered a good fan base and a number of equipment endorsements along the way. This is the band’s 3rd album, the others being 2005‘s ‘13 Scars’ and ‘The Empires Of Death’ from 2009 ... more »
Fourth Autumn - Mock The Weak
by
Jason
on Thu 19 Jan 2012 09:17 GMT
Fourth Autumn are clearly a band with a with a sense of humour, all be it of the black variety. This is the Welsh death metaller’s debut album and the band describe their sound as a mix of Behemoth, The Black Dahlia Murders and Cradle Of Filth with, and I ... more »
Tuesday, January 17
PRIMAL FEAR - Unbreakable
by
Jason
on Tue 17 Jan 2012 23:02 GMT
This is the ninth studio album from Primal Fear, a band I have never quite 'got' musically as I often found them to be too much of a Judas Priest copycat at times. I am very pleased to be proved wrong though as this album is one glorious metal ride!... more »
Monday, January 16
Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes
by
Jason
on Mon 16 Jan 2012 22:24 GMT
Craig Finn, for the uninitiated, is the front man of American indie
rockers The Hold Steady and this is his debut solo album shortly to be
released.
Craig has left the more guitar driven sound of The Hold Steady
behind for this album and instead has opted for a more ... more »
Sunday, January 15
ANVIL re-issues
by
Jason
on Sun 15 Jan 2012 21:20 GMT
Despite
many years of exposure to the ... more »
Saturday, January 14
SANGUINE - S/T
by
Jason
on Sat 14 Jan 2012 22:21 GMT
Now here is a band that have garnered a bit of heavyweight support
early in their careers. Slipknot’s Joey Jordison has waxed lyrical about
the band’s talents and Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden was impressed
enough to invite singer Tarin Kerrey to provide vocals for his solo
album. Not bad ... more »
Friday, January 13
SPOCK’S BEARD ‘The X-Tour Live’
by
Jason
on Fri 13 Jan 2012 11:39 GMT
SPOCK’S BEARD ‘The X-Tour Live’ Music Theories Recordings/Mascot
Recorded live at the Downey Civic Centre in September 2010 this live release will make the swansong of Nick D’Virgilio who left the band last year. They play all of the ‘X’ album on disc one save for ‘Their Names Escape ... more »
Tuesday, January 10
HOUSE OF SHAKIRA - HoS
by
Jason
on Tue 10 Jan 2012 23:30 GMT
Five years on since their last album 'Retoxed' House Of Shakira are back. The band's line-up has changed radically as well with former Mind's Eye vocalist Andreas Novak joining the band, along with Basse Blyberg and Martin Larsson on bass and drums. These new members join the guitar duo of ... more »
FORMER - The Kids Deserve Cable
by
Jason
on Tue 10 Jan 2012 13:30 GMT
Former hail from the home of country music, Nashville, but there is little of that city’s musical heritage evident in this the band’s second album. The band are billed as pop/rock and quote Cheap Trick, The Wildhearts and Elvis Costello as influences.
Their sound though owes more to Feeder than ... more »
DARKER HALF - Desensitized
by
Jason
on Tue 10 Jan 2012 13:14 GMT
Darker Half are a heavy metal band from the land down under, Sydney to be exact, but their influences are most definitely from the northern hemisphere. The band owe a lot to early Maiden more than anything else with a raw metal sound, twin guitar delivery and screaming vocals. Just ... more »
TARJA TURUNEN & HARUS - In Concert Live A Sibelius Hall
by
Jason
on Tue 10 Jan 2012 13:08 GMT
Tarja Turunen, as most people will no doubt know, was front women of Nightwish, a heavy metal band with major classical overtones. Tarja’s vocal delivery has always been very much in an operatic style, which was perfect for the majestic sound of Nightwish and on this DVD and CD package ... more »
Tuesday, January 3
STRAYLINGS ‘Entertainment On Foreign Grounds’
by
Jason
on Tue 03 Jan 2012 16:34 GMT
The band released a debut EP in 2011 which received rave reviews and they release this, their full debut album in March. The Straylings are a duo consisting of vocalist Dana Zeera and guitarist Oliver Drake.
An album of definite interest to those who enjoy PJ Harvey and the ... more »
Monday, January 2
BEGGARS & THIEVES - We Are The Broken Hearted
by
Jason
on Mon 02 Jan 2012 21:37 GMT
One of a number of excellent melodic ... more »
JOHN DU CANN - The Many Side Of John Du Cann
by
Jason
on Mon 02 Jan 2012 21:17 GMT
Angel Air have done a sterling job over the past few years bringing rare, previously unreleased and out of print titles in John Du Cann's catalogue to the shelves again and this collection forms a good overview of the man's career, or maybe a good starting point should you be ... more »
VIRGIN STEELE - Age Of Consent
by
Jason
on Mon 02 Jan 2012 20:55 GMT
In bemoaning the fact this album got overlooked upon initial release, vocalist David DeFeis explains his decision to remaster and revisit this album again. A late 80s release it marked the band's fourth full length discs and in places certainly features some grand ideas that see rough edges smoothed by ... more »
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