Album Reviews

The best way to deal with recent comments from Gene Simmons is to simply ignore them. Gene is shrewd. He knows that if he spouts his customary “rock is dead” comments, then people will take what he has said and run with it. His comments get repeated, his name gets …

Google defines escapism as: “the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment”. It could have saved some characters by merely saying “see the new W.E.T. album”. For, if ever there ever was a band to offer “distraction and relief from unpleasant realities” then it …

Throughout lockdown, the New Wave of Classic Rock group on Facebook has performed a valuable service in giving bands and musicians within the genre an outlet and income with a series of webfests and other online opportunities. Unfortunately, the very nature of lockdown has meant a rather more difficult time …

London-based quartet Hunted By Elephants returns with album number two: the rather timely named ‘Carry On’. “Classic Rock” might be the peg to hang their duffle coat upon, but dig a bit deeper and there’s more on offer than simply meat and two veg. Guitar-driven Rock is very much the …

Voodoo Circle founder, guitarist, and song-writer Alex Beyrodt gave long-time fans of the German Hard Rock outfit something to smile about when he announced a new studio album: ‘Locked & Loaded’. Beyrodt doubled down on the excitement by also announcing that album number six would feature the “classic” line-up of …

The Symphonic Metal scene is a crowded one. Stream a video from artists like Visions of Atlantis, Epica, Delain, Leaves Eyes, Serenity, to name but a few, and YouTube will constantly offer up multiple suggestions for bands “you might like”. The same with Spotify et al. Once they have your …

Originally released as part of Record Store Day 2020, ‘A Modern Man’s Way to Improve’, the debut album from South Mississippi’s Royal Horses, is now available to peruse for those of a non-vinyl nature. Record Store Day (or “Ebay Day” if you are a cynic) mixes vinyl releases from new …

When the book on British stalwarts Magnum finally closes, perhaps then, Tony Clarkin might finally get the recognition as a top-quality songwriter that he richly deserves. Also, one of the most consistent songwriters to boot. With a new Magnum studio album in the works (expected 2022), Clarkin has turned his …

Exit Eden: ‘Rhapsodies In Black’ – one of the most fun collaborative albums of the last decade. A simple concept: four powerhouse female vocalists adding a metallic edge to an album of pop covers with the might of Napalm Records behind them. Such good fun, and an album able to …

Liverpool-based Attic Theory formed from the ashes of three different bands, and the sextet (three fucking guitarists – oh my giddy aunt!) are beginning to make a name for themselves as a band to watch out for. The kind of band to get on board with when gigs return and …