Album Reviews

The greatest selection of albums, reviewed and rated

Laurence Jones Band – Laurence Jones

The start of the album was a little surprising as it was the first time I had listened to Laurence Jones, although he has been on the scene for some years now. I had expected to hear a “blues”- rock band right from the off, but “Everything Is Gonna Be …

Read More »

Flying Colors – Third degree

When Flying Colors formed seven years ago they were one of many supergroups, but they’re one of the very few that has lasted more than one album or a few short years. The lineup of Neal Morse, Steve Morse, Mike Portnoy, Dave LaRue and Casey McPherson is unchanged and with …

Read More »

Beth Hart – War in my mind

Beth Hart releases her latest album on 27th September. It’s produced by Rob Cavallo (Green day, My Chemical romance, Goo goo dolls etc) and her fans will no doubt have a pretty good idea what to expect – top quality blues from a woman with arguably the best blues voice …

Read More »

Acid Reign – The Age Of Entitlement

Acid Reign return with their first full length album in incredibly twenty nine years. Not since ‘Obnoxious ‘ back in 1990 have the band given us the excitement of a new album hitting the shelves. Finally, it’s here, and it spawns a sense of maturity immediately with the title track …

Read More »

Sam Millar – Holy Sass EP

Normally the class clown on and offstage with Bigfoot, guitarist Sam Millar seems to have surprisingly grown up (but I doubt it will last) by releasing his first solo EP Holy Sass and very impressive it is to! Its five tracks bristle with confidence, opening up with ‘Eyes’ it has …

Read More »

Opeth – In Cauda Venenum.

Since forming in Stockholm, Sweden in 1989, Opeth have eschewed from their death metal beginnings to a much proggier outfit without losing their heaviness and this point is proven vehemently with their thirteenth studio album In Cauda Venenum, Latin for poison in the tail. Out on Nuclear Blast Records, eight …

Read More »

Hellyeah – Welcome Home

Last year we lost one of our own when Vinnie Paul passed away. He had, as I’m sure you’ll agree, along with his brother been a pioneer in Metal and after Dimebag’s untimely death Vinnie had carried on within the Supergroup that was Hellyeah. He had though, before his untimely …

Read More »

GosT – Valediction Album Review

GosT

American GosT returns with his new album Valediction.  The constantly changing electronic landscape he creates includes many alternative musical styles.  For instance, black metal, brutal industrial, energetic dance music and catchy synth pop, all effortlessly flow from one genre to the other.  This results in a varied listen and most …

Read More »

The HU – The Gereg.

Metal music comes in many different forms. Heavy, thrash, black, death, hair, glam etc, so here comes Mongolian metal from The HU on their mindblowing debut album The Gereg, released by Seven Eleven Music. They first came to my attention when Planet Rock played ‘Yuve Yuve Yu’ and the instrumentation …

Read More »

PSOTY – Sunless

PSOTY, formally known as Pet Slimmers Of The Year, are a 4 piece heavy rock band from Peterborough, releasing this their 2nd full length album after 2014’s ‘Fragments Of Uniforms ‘. They play dark, heavy anthems that suck you into another world and I just love albums like this. For …

Read More »

Soldier – Storm Rider EP.

It’s been a bit quiet on the Soldier front since the release of the Defiant album in 2015 but they are back with all guns blazing for new EP Storm Rider. Founded way back in 1979 by Ian Dick, this three track EP released on Starhaven Records sees them battling …

Read More »

Thirteen Stars – Running So Long.

New single ‘Running So Long’ from Cumbria based rockers Thirteen Stars is a bit special for many reasons. Not only is it a country tinged musical tour de force, it was written by lead singer/guitarist Hoss Thompson as a dedication to the sadly departed Tom Petty. It’s a heart wrenching …

Read More »

Fallen Mafia – Awaken

As I write this, Fallen Mafia are preparing for the launch of their first full album. Having previously released 4 EP’s ( Leather, Lipstick & Cigarettes, How the Story Ends, Asylum and Fallen if you’re interested). This then is, no doubt a labour of love and, the highlight of their …

Read More »

THE AGONIST – Orphans

In September The Agonist return with a new album Orphans. One of Canadas finest exports (second maybe to Maple Syrup) this is their sixth studio recording and the third with singer Vicky Psarakis. This is a band with history which I won’t go into here, but it is sufficient to …

Read More »

Destruction – Born To Perish.

Deservedly still in the Big Four of German thrash metal, Destruction have no intention of losing that position with their fifteenth studio album Born To Perish, released via Nuclear Blast Records. As if the band were not already heavy enough, they have bolstered their attack even more with two new …

Read More »

Phobia – Generation Coward

Phobia have been with us since the early 90s grinding heads in worldwide. Grindcore is a genre that that has bands which have massive back catalogues which are near on impossible to complete. Phobia are no exception and this is a release in a long line of albums, eps and …

Read More »

Ivory Tower – Stronger

    Ivory Tower return to the fore with their fifth offering titled ‘Stronger’, and boy does it pack a hefty punch   Fancy a riff fest?, then climb the stairs of this ivory tower to the very summit of what melodic hard hitting Metal has to offer. Powering in …

Read More »