Album Reviews

A big welcome back to Merseyside based metallers Ashen Reach, unleashing a very impressive five track EP titled The Fear. Opening track ‘Ghosts’ is also the first single taken from it, built around all consuming doom laden riffing, this captivating number swoops and soars from a clean, glass shattering vocal, …

A huge welcome back to Glasgow based metallers Tantrum, returning with ‘The Darkest Of Times’, a brand new single. Formed in 2014, released their Rough Cuts EP in 2016, debut album Melt It Down in 2018 and second album Another Life on July 28th 2023. ‘The Darkest Of Times’ is …

Taken from their self titled debut album, Scarborough, North Yorkshire band This House We Built release ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’, a harsh reminder how easy it is for addictions to take over our lives, told here with no punches pulled by lead vocalist Scott Wardell, as his lyrics portray his struggle …

NWOBHM flag flyers Praying Mantis, tease us for a second time, releasing ‘Standing Tall’, following ‘Defiance’, taken from a forthcoming album of the same name, released by Frontiers Music on April 19th 2024. Formed in London 1973 by the Troy brothers Tino and Chris (Tino wrote ‘Standing Tall’). That line …

‘Invisible’ is the final Bernie Marsden single released from his final studio album Working Man, released on December 8th, 2023, via Conquest Music written before he sadly passed away on August 24th, 2023. ‘Invisible’ is accompanied by a video that also features Jamie Kyle, the only track on the album …

Orange County, California born band Robert Jon & The Wreck return with all guns blazing, as they release ‘Dragging Me Down’, the second single taken from forthcoming studio album Red Moon Rising, released by Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records on June 28th 2024. To my ears it romps and stomps seismically …

The Outlaw Orchestra steal their way into 2024 with ‘Born To Be A Thief’, third single taken from a mid 2024 studio album release, ‘La Familia’. Describing themselves as “A band from the Deep South UK”, but to be more precise, Southampton! Lead singer/guitarist David Roux proclaims, “We wanted to …

It’s been a few years since I’ve seen The Milk Men, a gig at The Nantwich Jazz Festival I think, so it’s a very nice surprise to hear their new single ‘One Man Band’, taken from Holy Cow!, a brand new studio album, their fifth, released on May 3rd, 2024. …

It’s only just over two weeks since my hearing has recovered from Troy Redfern shaking the foundations of the Civic Hall in Nantwich, for his first sold out headline gig there, so it’s time to strap on my headphones to review his latest single ‘The Calling’, the fourth one taken …

At the end of the day, rock and roll should not really be rocket science, just plug in and blast it out, point proven by Nantwich, Cheshire based rockers ‘Twitch’s Rats’, who have just released a brand new single ‘Shot Down’, available on all major streaming platforms. I recently saw …

Welcome back once more to Gypsy’s Kiss, formed in the East End of London in early 1974 by Iron Maiden founder and bassist Steve Harris and vocalist David Smith, but unfortunately disbanded in late 1975 for Steve to form Iron Maiden. Thankfully, Gypsy’s Kiss reformed in March 2018 to play …

Birmingham based noisemongers Vanitas smash into 2024 with brand new single ‘Grey Morality’, keeping the ball rolling since forming in 2022, hitting the ground for a hectic 2023. Their technical riffing and huge orchestral soundscapes morphed into what they call ‘cinematic djent’ genre and judging by its results, they’re already …

Welcome back to NWOBHM stalwarts Praying Mantis, formed in London 1973 by brothers Tino and Chris Troy, aided by Steve Carroll and Dave Potts. Many line up changes have now been stabilized to the current line up of Chris Troy – Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals, Tino Troy – Guitar/Vocals, Andy Burgess …

Welcome back California based Roots – Rock band Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse, as they release a brand new single ‘Satisfy Your Queen’, taken from a forthcoming third studio album “Hot Nostalgia Radio”. Raunchy riffing adds a touch of Je Ne Sais Quoi to a Siren like vocal that …

Staffordshire based The Midwich Affair, definitely made the right choice by dropping their covers sets and make a change by only now playing originals, and judging by the strength of their new material, it’s a worthwhile sacrifice, point proven by their third new single ‘Oh! What A Pity’, available on …

Welcome back London based Jack J Hutchinson, starting 2024 immensely with the release of his brand new studio album Battles, via Earache Digital Distribution on February 9th. Ten triumphant songs are on the musical menu, kicking off the album with ‘Constellations’, a hairy headbanger to open up with neck aching …

Violet Redfern, a new performer to me, enthralls with her debut single ‘In A Mess’, recorded, mixed and produced by her father, rock slide guitarist Troy Redfern, recently released via RED7 Records. She started playing drums with Troy at only three years old, spent pre-teen years writing and recording her …

As sophomore albums go, this is one of the most impressive I’ve heard for quite some time as Derby based These Wicked Rivers unleash the aptly titled Force Of Nature, via Fat Earth Records on March 1st 2024. These ten songs will send them to the next level with ease, …

Robert Jon & The Wreck band info, including a pre-order digital album of Red Moon Rising is here :- http://robertjonandthewreck.com Orange County, California based rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck return to give 2024 a hefty start to the year, as they release a brand new single ‘Red Moon Rising’, …

Longevity is the right way to describe London formed Balance Of Power, only a few years from their thirtieth anniversary and recently releasing a brand new single ‘Never Be Here Again’, taken from a forthcoming studio album Fresh From The Abyss, released on April 29th 2024, via Massacre Records! Throughout …