Album Reviews

It’s incredible to think that for a performer with so many decades under their belt, it’s taken until 2026 for them to release their debut solo album. But that’s exactly what ‘New Day’ is: the first full-length solo album of original material from well-travelled modern troubadour John Corabi. As Corabi …

With seminal Dutch rock outfit The Gathering celebrating the 30th anniversary of breakthrough album ‘Mandylion’ in 2025 by reuniting with vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen (it seems disrespectful to simply refer to the magical van Giersbergen as vocalist), once again, a genuine masterpiece of an album has been thrust back into …

On album number three, ‘Reckless’, Welsh songstress Chez Kane seems to have adopted the well-travelled idiom of “Go big, or go home”. Bigger, bolder, and more 80s-tastic (if such a thing is possible) than 2022’s sophomore album, ‘Powerzone’, ‘Reckless’ is Chez Kane four years down the road with heaps of …

It’s the album sleeve for ‘The Great Satan’ that provides the biggest clue that Rob Zombie is not dicking around. Rewind the last 20 years or so, and consider the cover artwork for albums such as ‘Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor’ (2013), ‘The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser’ …

October 2016. The month and year of the previous studio album from Tyketto. Stop and think about that for a second. Almost ten years. How much shit has gone down in those ten years? Presidents and politicians have come and gone, the world was put on pause in 2020 while …

Although not as overused in the way that water, rivers, etc. have been done to death, the imagery of a stark and unforgiving desert is a well-liked way for popular culture to represent discovering oneself, and ultimately, offer some sort of redemption. Who remembers Tony Soprano shouting, “I get it!” …

Self-describing as “slightly unpleasant, but novel.” Bristolian nutters Mother Vulture are often mentioned in the same breath as Queens of the Stone Age. But in all honesty, QotSA have not been this urgent since Nick Oliveri walked away some 20+ years ago. Mother Vulture are not the next QotSA, or …

It’s no secret at this point in their career – The Damned have always loved smashing out a good cover or ten. They’ve covered some of rock’s most prestigious and notable tracks. On their debut 1976 single New Rose (released half a century ago now!), a faster and heavier cover …

2026 is an important year for Bristol-based singer/songwriter Elles Bailey. The stars have been aligning for some time now, thanks to the impressive momentum that the likeable Bailey has built up. BBC Radio are on board – still a crucial ally to have on your side – and the mainstream …

On 2020’s ‘Hørizøns’, German metallers Beyond The Black stuck their necks out and opted to pull back some of the traditional symphonic metal elements of their sound in favour of a more glossy, pop-rock/metal sound, and the BTB faithful were split. The majority were in favour of ‘Hørizøns’ – a …