Album Reviews

Blues Goddess Joanne Shaw Taylor releases ‘Change Of Heart’, the final and most personal single taken from her forthcoming studio album Heavy Soul, due out on June 7th 2024, via Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records. Joanne adds,”Change Of Heart is one of my favourite songs on the album. It’s about meeting …

Welcome back Collateral who give us a double dose of melodic hard rock with new, recently released single ‘Just One Of Those Days’, via Big Shot Records, from new studio album Should’ve Known Better, distributed by Cargo Records Direct, available on red vinyl, picture disc, CD and digital formats. I …

Toronto, Canada based The Commoners put their own stamp on Southern rock with ‘Gone Without Warning’, the fifth single taken from their third studio album Restless, released via Gypsy Soul Records on July 5th,2024. It’s a heavy performance to say the least, starting with a hint of ‘Should I Stay …

Welcome back Fahran, as they return after a five year hiatus with a brand new single ‘Hate Me’, that seems longer since I reviewed their last studio album V-A-P-O-U-R-S in 2019. Thankfully, the Nottingham based five piece have lost none of their edge, point proven by the single, taken from …

Anvil, the Canadian based terrors lift ‘Truth Is Dying’, the second single from their One And Only album, released by AFM Records on June 28th 2024, the perfect start to summer! The power trio of Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow, Robb Reiner and Chris Robertson defy trends by consistently firing out on …

Now this takes some balls, as Felix Rabin, a rising star in the Swiss rock scene and acclaimed guitar prodigy puts his stamp on ‘Dancing In The Dark’, the Bruce Springsteen classic, to celebrate its 40th anniversary, but Felix comes out with head, and guitar held high with an astonishing …

Birmingham, UK based band NAMELESS and a new one to me spew out one of the most intense songs I’ve heard of in quite sometime, courtesy of their new, recently released single, ‘Shapeshifter’. How they cram in all these three minutes of suffocating bludgeon is beyond my comprehension! It’s a …

Sometimes I need to step away from all the rock bombast and immerse myself in a more laid back genre to soothe the soul, so step up Everette, releasing their ‘Keys To Kentucky’ single, taken from a forthcoming, independently released EP in June of the same name. The single is …

Scarlet Rebels are so eager for us to hear their upcoming studio album Where The Colours Meet, due for release on August 16th, 2024, they’ve just released a second single from it, ‘Grace’, following the first that was ‘Secret Drug’. It’s another full on headbanger from the South Wales band …

At long last, the wait is over as Friday, May 17th 2024 sees Troy Redfern release his 6th studio album Invocation via RED 7 Records, these 11 tracks hit hard and heavy, point proven by ‘Van Helsing’, the 5th track taken from it. As well known for his blues prowess, …

Following the release of The Fire Cosmic (2021) and Wings of Salvation (2022). Invocation is 11 tracks of wonder-inducing guitar solos, slide riffs and sultry blues-rock, featuring the singles The Fever, Getaway, The Strange, The Calling, and the latest single “Van Helsing”. Set for release by RED7 Records on Friday 17th May 2024, you can order …

Welcome back young upstarts Jayler who blew me and many friends away when they fired out a two hour set with no break at my local venue, the Cosey Club in Haslington on March 31st 2024. When the last note ended and the applause subsided, there was an eerie hush …

Welcome back to Midlands based thrashers Vicious Nature. Their title lives up to its name throughout their new five track EP Shadowlands, independently released on May 10th, 2024, on the same day as heading off to play European dates in Poland, Belgium and Germany. Opening track ‘And So It Begins’ …

August 9th 2024 cannot arrive soon enough as blues sensation Elles Bailey releases her Beneath The Neon Glow album via Cooking Vinyl Records, and has just released ‘Leave The Light On’, second single taken from it, and another bonus is a 16 date UK Autumn headlining tour! To my ears …

Taken from his last studio album, the chart topping Battles, comes Jack J Hutchinsons most melodic track to date from it, Said track is ‘Love Is The Law’ that still packs a punch from the lumbering grooves that drives this laid back bombast of a belligerent, bluesy ballad along that …

Once again, the resurgence in the blues comes up with another quality release, point proven by ‘Saratoga’, latest single on Ruf Records from Eddie 9V (9-volt), but you can add another two zeros to that due to the party starting energy it unleashes! At the tender age of 15, he …

Welcome back Demon, as they unleash a brand new studio album and celebrate their 45th anniversary with the aptly titled Invincible on May 17th 2024 via Frontiers Music s.r.l Formed in Leek, Staffordshire in 1979 by Dave Hill and Mal Spooner, they made their mark early on with three solid …

Plague of Angels, the new band on the block, are ready to release their first interesting and unique single. Plague of Angels is a brand-new band made up of some well-known and seasoned musicians from the metal scene. The brainchild of Mark Mynett (Kill II This), Jeff Singer (Kill II …

Welcome back Llanelli, South Wales based noisy bastards Scarlet Rebels. It seems an age since I last reviewed their album See Through Blue just over two years ago and now they treat us with a new single ‘Secret Drug’, taken from a forthcoming studio album ‘Where The Colours Meet’, due …

Welcome back Nashville, Tennessee based Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, releasing a brand new single ‘Snake Oil’, taken from forthcoming eleven track album Electrified, released on May 10th, 2024 on their very own independently owned and operated Rattle Shake Records, which perfectly describes four minutes of a fiesty fist fighter …