Album Reviews

SubRosa have been described as an experimental sludge-doom metal band from Salt Lake City, Utah. Coming from a well known religious hub makes this band that little bit more intriguing. This album is inspired by the Sci-fi novel “We” written in 1921, the book describes a familiar future wherein human …

2016 sees the release of (hed)P.E.’s 10th and outstanding studio album Forever! which is the much anticipated follow up to the highly acclaimed 2014 album ‘Evolution’, which was ultimately hailed by Metal Hammer Magazine as “(hed)P.E.’s finest album since their heyday.”  Jahred had this to say about his record, “In …

It doesn’t seem to matter what some people touch, everything just turns to gold. You either have it, or you just go home mate because you don’t. Bryan Scott (The Union Underground) is the gold finger in the case of newly formed American rock band Into The Fire. Conceived in …

Last Great Dreamers are a London-based band that date back to the early 90s, imploded after a couple of years and then reformed in 2014. They consist of Marc Valentine on lead vocals and guitar, Slyder on lead guitar and vocals, Steve Fielding on bass and Denley Slade on drums. …

Hell’s Gazelles are a young band from Oxford. The members are Cole Bryant -Vocals, Nath Digman- Guitar, Dan Podbery – Bass and Luke Evans -Drums. This EP is their first recorded output. It blasts into your ears with the aural assault of Intro, a 45-second burst of drums and heavy …

Death Resonance from Soilwork is a collection of tracks that probably should not work but does in a kind of strange way.  Two new offerings, Helsinki and Death Resonance, along with 13 rare, previously unreleased and remixed tracks gives us an opportunity to hear how the Soilwork sound has progressed over the years. Normally you may wonder as …

Different: not the same as another or each other; unlike in nature, form, or quality. Eclectic: deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. These are just two definitions of separate words that sum up to perfection Your Desert, My Mind the new album from …

It might seem like a paradox, but it’s just as likely for a band to evolve their sound over time as it is for them to stick to their guns. Both have their merits – AC/DC are the surefire answer when you think of a group who have never strayed …

In an alternate universe somewhere, Tesseract are one of the biggest rock bands on the planet. The quintet from Milton Keynes have trailblazed through their career with their odd time signatures, mid-range distortion and polyrhythmic riffs, releasing three superb albums along the way. Somewhat stifled by an ever changing frontline, …

The debut album from Dutch band Synergy Protocol is certainly not an album comprised of disposable, mindless tracks. No, this is heavy, symphonic progressive rock with all the Gothic and Classical influences that this brings with it. ‘Odd To Get Even‘ is a collection of hard edged songs that sound …

Some albums just grab your attention don’t you think? I’ll readily admit to not having come across California’s Cardinal Wyrm previously but upon stumbling headfirst into the promo for new release ‘Cast Away Souls’, I was completely and utterly hooked. Now signed to Svart Records, a label that just seem …

Tesla debuted Mechanical Resonance to critical acclaim in 1986 and it quickly gained platinum status. Now, fast forward to 2016 and the band are celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of their stunning debut. This new offering means Mechanical Resonance is captured live in its entirety from Salt Lake City. First of …

Beth Hart is back with a new album – Fire on the Floor.   In the last few years her career has reached new heights, helped in part by her two collaborations with Joe Bonamassa which brought her to the attention of a wider audience.  An appearance on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny collaborating …

Texan guitarist Eric Johnson may not be as well known as guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Steve Vai or Carlos Santana, but he is one of the world’s top guitar players, having been voted one of the 100 greatest guitarists of the 20th century by Musician magazine and been named …

“An Evening with Todd Rundgren: Live at the Ridgefield” is the fourth live release from Todd Rundgren.  It’s a surprisingly low number for a man who released his debut album in 1970 and has released a steady stream of studio albums ever since.  As well as his own musical career …

There is something instantly warm &  welcoming about Illustr8rs opening track ‘Your Animal’. There’s a snappy riff with enough meat to entice, and then the vocal beams like a neon sign. Scott Sharp excels throughout this ep, and in Your Animal there’s a very cool Robert Plant vibe. A big …

Sometimes, all you want in life is a loud, bouncy rock album to relax to on a Sunday afternoon. Well, you’re in luck; British-born RavenEye have provided just that. NOVA, out on Friday 23rd, is the full-length debut from a band that have already directly supported The Darkness, Halestorm and Slash …

What must it be like growing up in a city, dreaming of filling your local venue like all your heroes have done before you? Then ask yourself, what must be like to fulfil that dream? Ask King King, whose sold-out hometown concert at O2 ABC in Glasgow on 14th May …

FyreSky’s debut EP ‘The Circle’ has left me very pleasantly surprised.  It may only contain 5 tracks, and be recorded in a ‘Live Lounge’ style, but this doesn’t diminish the fact that the songs are all fundamentally quite strong. It opens with ‘Magik Woman (Ritual Beginning)’, all dark incantations and …

This new band hail from America and are paying homage to the gods of old whilst keeping their own identity. Demon Bitch formed in 2011 and play in a style which fuses power metal and high octane speed metal with dexterity and passion. The playing is superb, however the production …