Single and EP Reviews

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 …

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 …

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 …

A heavy track doesn’t need to be heavy, regarding bombast, but also heavy emotionally, and it doesn’t get any more emotional than this, as Crewe based band Son Of Shinobi pay tribute once more to their sadly departed drummer Steven Hadzik, a man I’ve seen play many times, not just …

A welcome return from Jack J Hutchinson is a timely one as he releases a new single ‘Rip It Up’, taken from forthcoming ten track studio album ‘Battles’ on Friday, Feb.9th 2024. The single is a gritted teeth delivered rant, adding more vitriol, especially in the put up or shut …

Welcome back Farnham based Kit Trigg who have just shared their ‘Light At The End Of The Tunnel’ video, taken from recently released ‘Goin For Glory’ EP, and to also celebrate two killer support tours in 2024 with Marisa And The Moths tour in May and the Sons Of Liberty …

Boom! Out goes dry January 2024 but welcome fired up February as Crewe based power pop pogo punkers Chasing The Fall prove that they’re no fall guys (and lady), as they release a brand new single titled ‘A Million Times More’, proclaiming that, “I think we’ve just wrote the head …

These Wicked Rivers are more of a tidal wave than a river as they surge into 2024 with ‘The Riverboat Man’, a recently released third single taken from their sophomore album ‘Force Of Nature’, released via Fat Earth Records on March 1st, and judging by its quality, bodes well for …

Plymouth, Devon born, British blues guitarist and vocalist, Bex Marshall releases new single “5am”,on all streaming platforms, ahead of a forthcoming ten track studio album Fortuna, via Dixie Frog Records on March 1st 2024. To my ears, it’s the smoothest, silkiest four minutes I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing for …

It’s been quite some time since I’ve heard a band as brutal as Wasp Mother, since buying albums by Napalm Death, Brujeria, Carcass, Extreme Noise Terror etc, many years ago, but that’s all changed since hearing their Digital Pollution EP, due for release on January 19th 2024, following their Self …

Welcome back Troy Redfern, the cowboy lonesome on the trail, point proven by his latest single,‘The Strange’, taken from forthcoming studio album Invocation, the third single lifted from the eleven track album and bodes well, judging by its in your face ferocity! It’s definitely one of his heaviest songs, musically, …

Welcome back to The Outlaw Orchestra for their annual festive feast of rock and roll, as they head out to the highway with recently released single, ‘Holy Ground’, available on all digital platforms. It’s taken from a forthcoming late spring, early summer 2024, titled ‘La Familia’, and judging by the …

“Christmas time, mistletoe and ……………..”Bah Humbug” from Blind Chaos as they self release their Christmas Covers EP, “Heavy Metal Christmas”. It features members of I The Betrayer and follows the release of their cover of the Wham classic ‘Last Christmas’ on December 15th 2023. Blind Chaos are from Oslo, Norway. …

Welcome back Blackpool, Lancashire, formed in 2004 terrors, self proclaimed “Punk Rock N Roll” The Senton Bombs as they deliver a new single ‘Retro Boy’,available from all digital outlets, recently released via Regolith Records, and also comes with an official lyric video. To these ears (what’s left of them), it’s …

A welcome return from Birmingham based noisemongers, Vanitas, sees them stretch out as they release their take on ‘Sonic Frontiers,”I’m Here” (cover version)’. It’s not just a video feast, but also an audio one of mood changes, giving off a challenge to the listener, to try and take it all …

Wow! How has Treeman slipped past my radar in 2023? They’ve just released a very impressive debut single ‘Society’on all download/streaming sites,(with an accompanying music video), on the CAT Records Music Label, and plans for a full length album are already underway. It’s three thudding minutes of heavy industrial music …

Recorded back way in 2020 during lockdown, The Night Owl And The Lark EP from Elles Bailey will finally see the light of day on February 23rd 2024. It seems rather surreal reviewing this beautiful piece of work, whilst looking at torrential rain, but these five sunshine enducing songs save …