Album Reviews

The greatest selection of albums, reviewed and rated

Ward XVI – Burn The Witch (single)

Even by the standards that Ward XVI set with their 2017 debut album The Art Of Manipulation they forged ahead with giant steps for the follow up Metamorphosis released in 2020 on Metal Rocka Recordings and one of my major highlights from it, ‘Burn The Witch’ has recently been released …

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Bad Touch – Can’t You See (single)

It takes some balls to take on a song of this magnitude and come out with your heads held high as Bad Touch step up for their version of ‘Can’t You See’ from The Marshall Tucker Band, first released in 1973. The original was sublime and credit is due to …

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The Gypsy Pistoleros – The Mescalito Vampires

The Gypsy Pistoleros "the ideal house band for the Titty Twister bar of Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn!" (their words, not mine, see here), a band with a long and colourful history have just released their new album The Mescalito Vampires via Off Yer Rocka. The current line-up sees the return of Gypsy Lee Pistolero, on vocals, and the addition of a brass section with Kris Jones on trumpet.

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Troy Redfern – Sanctify (single)

Troy Redfern

‘Sanctify’, the third single taken from the no holds barred recently released album The Fire Cosmic is four minutes of boisterous barroom boogie driven along by snare drums that snarl and snap at your ankles. A midway slide guitar solo from Troy flies off his fretboard like bolts of lightning …

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Bernie Marsden – ‘Kings’

The constant work ethic of Bernie Marsden sees him release ‘Kings’, his first solo album in 7 years via Conquest Music and Bernie Marsden’s Little House Music. The album is the first of the ‘Inspirations Series’ as Bernie pays tribute to his peers. The idea came out in 2018 when …

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Joe Bonamassa – Notches (single)

A more than welcome return from Joe Bonamassa sees him release a brand new single ‘Notches’ taken from a forthcoming studio album later on in 2021 and this strong song to say the least bodes well for it. These fiery four minutes are built on a laid back barroom boogie …

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Bastette – Exposed (EP)

Bastette, another band that have come my way via the NWOCR various artists album impress highly with their 5 track Exposed EP due for release on September 17th 2021 on RPM Records. Opening track ‘Stand Back’ has soothing keyboards and snappy snare work in the verses giving off a 1980’s …

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Dead Man’s Whiskey – Breakout (single)

dead mans whiskey

I only heard about Dead Man’s Whiskey just over a week ago from hearing them on the NWOCR compilation album with a stunning track called ‘War Machine’ and that quality also comes from this recently released single ‘Breakout’. This 5 piece London based band kick out the jams with not …

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Little Triggers – Yeh Man! (Single Review)

Liverpool’s Little Triggers have just released their new single Yeh Man! with an accompanying lyric video. The band allegedly wrote Yeh Man! after watching media coverage of businesses winning massive contracts to provide protective equipment for the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic, purely because of who they knew, not what …

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Bang Bang Firecracker – See Evil (EP1)

Strangely enough, Stoke metallers Bang Bang Firecracker played at the last gig I went to before the first lockdown in March 2020 when they opened up for Syteria. They took to the stage and really kicked out the jams and they’ve lost none of that fire as they’ve just released …

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Black Coast – Stranger’s Skin (single)

‘Stranger’s Skin’ the fourth single taken from the upcoming debut album Outworld due for release on November 19th 2021 will surely make November reign for Black Coast! It’s a tantalizing teaser of what’s to come as a foundation of earworm slamming riffs pave the way for a languid lead vocal …

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Takeaway Thieves – Soothe Me (single)

Takeaway Thieves

Blackpool bruisers Takeaway Thieves far from soothe us with ‘Soothe Me’, first single taken from their debut album ‘9’ released on September 9th 2021 via Rock People Management as it’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve heard by them. Maybe the impending release date has fired them up! Stop start …

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Troy Redfern – Ghosts

Troy Redfern

Friday 6th August 2021 sees Troy Redfern unleash his sixth studio album ‘The Fire Cosmic’ via RED7 Records. An early taster came from the potent single ‘Waiting For Your Love’ and now a free download track ‘Ghosts’ is now available from it to. Both of these tunes bode well for …

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The Hot Damn! – Dance Around (single)

the Hot Damn

Goddamn here comes The Hot Damn! with their debut single ‘Dance Around’ released on July 2nd 2021 via Rock People Management. The four ladies are not just a super group but a super duper group consisting of Gill Montgomery (ex- The Amorettes), Josie O’Toole (ex-Tequila Mockingbird), Laurie Buchanan (Aaron Buchanan …

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