Tag Archives: album review

Constance Tomb – Constance Tomb album review

Constance Tomb was the brain child of Washington based multi-instrumentalist Tony Reed who originally wrote and recorded these tracks in 1988.  Originally the songs were recorded using two track tape to tape overdubbing which resulted in the songs having a lot of hiss.  Thirty two years later Tony has re-recorded …

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Nightwish – Human :II: Nature

I’ve always felt there is something Tolkienesque about Nightwish. With their blend of operatic, folk, power and Celtic metal. The vocals from Floor Jansen are as close to an angelic angel as can exist in this mortal realm. That is not to say her style is always heavenly, more a …

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Five Finger Death Punch – F8

Proprietors of the coolest band name in  music since Congratulations On Your Decision To Become A Pilot,  Las Vegas finest Five Finger Death Punch return to the ring with album number eight, and one that comes on the back of a tough personal journey. In 2017 when performing in Tilburg, …

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Absolva – Side By Side

When the likes of Iron Maiden, Saxon and Judas Priest eventually decide to hang up their leathers, the position of being one of the superpower’s of British Heavy Metal will be up for grabs. Enter Absolva, a bruising fourpiece from Manchester who are armed with all the credentials potent enough …

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Syteria – Reflection

Yorkshire based Syteria have been making a name for themselves on the live circuit since their formation in 2015, playing a number of festivals including Call Of The Wild and Hard Rock Hell.  Their debut album Rant-O-Bot was released in 2017 and they are now set to return with their …

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The Burning – British Lion

Mr Steve Harris, bass player with Iron Maiden is a busy fella. After finishing a lengthy tour he has released an album with his side project British Lion, and booked a mini UK tour followed by loads of dates in the US. British Lion has been a project he’s been …

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Shakra – Mad World

Despite celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, Switzerland’s Shakra are a band who have never truly got near to dining at the top table of rock ‘n’ roll. Sharing stages with heavyweights like Iron Maiden and Guns ‘N’ Roses gave them a wee snifter of how the other half live, …

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Dirty Rats – End in Tears

The Dirty Rats have just released their second full length album End in Tears. Formed in 1982 and originally a five piece rock band, active in the pub rock scene in Melbourne, Australia from the mid to late 1980’s. Fast forward over 30 years and the Rats are back, as …

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Grand Slam – Hit The Ground

Grand Slam

 Grand Slam, formed as a solo band in 1983 (that included Magnum keyboard player Mark Stanway) by Phil Lynott that took on the name when Thin Lizzy had completed their farewell tour the same year. A revolving line up included ex Stampede guitarist Laurence Archer who joined in 1984 but …

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Tygers Of Pan Tang – Ritual

Currently blazing a trail around Europe promoting their latest studio album Ritual, NWOBHM legends Tygers Of Pan Tang are showing that they are wildcats not to be messed with, point proven by these eleven songs here. Formed in Whitley Bay 1978, band leader Robb Weir still exists from the original …

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Marisa And The Moths – Marisa And The Moths

  The self titled debut album from Reading based Marisa And The Moths is a bakers dozen of tunes that totally captivate from the pile driving opener ‘Needy’ to the haunting closer ‘Everything Is Going Swimmingly’. Fronted by the honey coated vocals of Marisa Rodriguez, it commands your total attention …

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Agnostic Front – Get Loud!

Having caught the documentary “The Godfathers of Hardcore” on some TV channel not so long back my interest in this New York band was reinforced yet again. This is a band that clearly has a lot to say regarding current social/political situations. And they say it against a backdrop of …

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StoneWire – Life As We Know It

Sometimes you just need a good old dose of rock and roll, and when you get to hear the new release from StoneWire that’s what you get. It’s been a long time since they last scratched out some vinyl (5 years in fact) but like a good wine they seem …

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Michael Monroe – One Man Gang

Michael Monroe, the stage name of Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm founder and frontman of the iconic glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, (formed when he was a teenager back in 1979) has just released his ninth studio album One Man Gang via Silver Lining Music. The talented Mr Monroe not only sings but …

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Down ‘n’ Outz – This Is How We Roll

Down ‘n’ Outz, the side project of Def Leppard‘s frontman Joe Elliott was founded back in 2009. Heavily influenced by Mott The Hoople the band also features a somewhat stellar cast with members of The Quireboys, Wayward Sons & Vixen. You can find out the history behind the project from …

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District 13 – Soma.

Caught this groovy three piece at a festival in the Waterloo Music Bar in Blackpool last April. First band on at 1pm since being on the road from 5am in London, District 13 tore the place apart so here they are now doing the same thing in the studio with …

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Babymetal – Metal Galaxy

For the uninitiated Babymetal takes a bit of explaining. There are things in this world that go together naturally like Strawberries and Cream. There are also combinations that should never be allowed like custard and fishfingers. However sometimes there is a fusion which, whilst it shouldn’t work, does. Babymetal may …

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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 …

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