As Queen once said, “You know it’s time for the hammer to fall” and it will on August 19th as Swedish power metallers Hammerfall unleash their eleventh studio album Dominion via Napalm Records. They hit hard and heavy from the off as ‘Never Forgive, Never Forget’ bludgeons with big powerchords …
Read More »Twisted Illusion – Star And Garter, Manchester.
I had not planned to review this gig but being the last date on the tour and also no support bands meant that over two hours of music was promised by Twisted Illusion so it would be a shame to not document it. Notes were kept to a minimum so …
Read More »Hollowstar – Star And Garter, Manchester.
Two gigs in two days for me at the Star And Garter, a new venue to me and very impressed with the acoustics, atmosphere and the bands they have playing there. Headliners Hollowstar were supported strongly by Florence Black and gig openers Matt Mitchell & The Coldhearts who warmed a …
Read More »Spreading The Disease – Mindcell EP.
I very much doubt that Spreading The Disease will ever record anything acoustic as they continue to batter us into submission once more with the Mindcell EP. Currently available on their webpage for £8 it certainly hits hard and heavy. Opener ‘Obsession’ is a full on rant from the off. …
Read More »Falling Eden – The Underground, Stoke.
Considering this was only the second Falling Eden gig, the first being way back in August 2018, they may have been nervous being first on a three band bill but any doubts were blown away as they tore into set opener ‘Falling Eden’. Their debut album Our Time Is Coming …
Read More »Footprints In The Custard – A New Low.
With all the crap going on in the World, you can always rely on class clowns Footprints In The Custard to make you forget about it, point proven by current release A New Low. To these ears the Crewe/Manchester based band have reached a new high with 13 pieces of …
Read More »Possessed – Revelations Of Oblivion.
In all my years of listening to rock/metal I can’t think of any album that has blown me away than Revelations Of Oblivion by Possessed. Death metal can be repetitive at times but to keep my full attention for just under an hour takes some doing. Released on Nuclear Blast …
Read More »Blind Haze – Red Light Fever EP
I can remember Leeds based nutters Blind Haze play a hangover curing set at Bloodstock Open Air Festival a few years ago and it’s good to see they have still got that fire as they hit the ground running with their latest EP Red Light Fever. It’s currently available for …
Read More »Entombed – Clandestine Live
Well here is a thrilling blast from the past to say the least! Clandestine Live sees Entombed joined by the Malmo Symphonic Orchestra to blast out their 1991 studio album Clandestine on November 12th 2016 in Malmo, Sweden. Three original members from that line up, Alex Hellid on guitar, Uffe …
Read More »Vader – Thy Messenger EP
Vader, a band I’ve heard of but criminally have heard nothing by until now and I have certainly got a lot of catching up to do judging by the quality of soon to be released EP via Nuclear Blast called Thy Messenger. Formed in 1983 in Olsztyn, Poland, they open …
Read More »Diamond Head – The Coffin Train.
It’s hard to contemplate that only a few years ago, founding member Brian Tatler of Diamond Head, who formed the band in 1976 did not envisage recording anymore albums but with the arrival of vocalist Rasmus Bom Andersen in 2014 and a self titled studio album in 2016, latest album …
Read More »Takeaway Thieves – This Is Rocknroll EP
Formed just over a year ago, I’ve seen early promise a few times from the Takeaway Thieves at the Waterloo Music Bar in Blackpool and they have carried that vibe with them into the studio for their debut EP This Is Rocknroll ,currently available on CD and digital music sites …
Read More »Luke Appleton – Snake Eyes.
Following on from the 2018 E.P release of How Does It Feel To Be Alive, Luke Appleton has carried on with his wealth of songwriting on his full length album titled Snake Eyes, currently available via Rocksector Records. He has a few guest appearances that include his brother Chris who …
Read More »Rammstein – Rammstein.
Rammstein have most certainly divided opinion since their formation in Berlin 1994. Their latest self titled seventh studio album, released by Spinefarm/Universal has been a long time coming, 10 years to be precise but it’s well worth the wait! The cover is of an unstruck match which may be a …
Read More »RockForce Festival – Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool, Day Two.
Ding ding! Round 1 of day 2 and first band of the day, London based District 13 gave us a highly entertaining nonet of songs considering they had been on the road since 4am. A dizzying array of musical dishes was served up for Sunday lunch as they kicked off …
Read More »RockForce Festival – Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool, Day One.
Festival organizer Martin Short has a change of name for his annual festival and venue for 2019 so the Badass Bash now became Rockforce Festival and it was certainly a force to be reckoned with as 16 bands, all playing for free shook the rafters of the Waterloo Music Bar …
Read More »Hollowstar – Hollowstar.
Once again another bunch of young upstarts prove that rock isn’t dead, but is well and truly alive and kicking, with the self titled debut album by Hollowstar! The St.Ives based quartet have been causing a bit of a stir on the live circuit playing support slots and all this …
Read More »The Room – Caught By The Machine
Judging by the strength of Caught By The Machine, the third album by The Room, I’m looking forward even more to their set at Rockforce Festival on May 5th. Ten songs of crafted melodic rock have just been released on White Star Records make it an essential purchase for me …
Read More »Falling Eden – Our Time Is Coming
Our Time Has Come sums up Falling Eden perfectly now they have released their debut album that has taken a few years to see the light of day. The Crewe/Stoke On Trent based 5 piece have penned 9 songs that hit hard due to a very in your face production. …
Read More »Mad Spanner – Life Absurd
There must be something other than water in the River Severn as it flows through the normally sedate Shropshire town of Shrewsbury to addle the brains of Mad Spanner when they came to write their latest album, the aptly titled Life Absurd as it seems to have turned them into …
Read More »