Reviews

If you have read my review of Swedish hard rockers Shaggy’s pompy/proggy return album “Destination Nowhere”, you noticed I said I was expecting a hard/heavy rock album, but instead they went proggy/pompy. Well, THIS album is actually what I would have expected. Opening track “Black Hearted Angel” kicks off in a full-throttle Heep/Purple vein with […]

FINALLY!!!! G’daaaam! I’ve been waiting for this 70s classic to be released on CD since Moses was running around in shorts. Rockicks classic album “Inside” was released on RSO Records back in 1976 and I purchased the LP then. The band delivers a big chunk of southern influenced hard rock with dual guitars all over […]

Not sure of the exact title of this release because the band stamped “advanced copy” in big capital letters across the album title, which wasn’t the brightest idea guys. Anyway, all you care about is the music, and this does sound like something that would come out in 1972. It is down, and dirty garage […]

This is a recent release that was shelved by the band’s label back in 1974 and has recently seen the light of day thanks to this label, Cleopatra Records. Now I have not heard all of this band’s releases and I remember they had a hit in 1979 with “A Fool For A Pretty Face” […]

Undoubtedly THE most mind-blowing release that I’ve heard in ages! Sarasin has delivered a massive injection of pure in your face / melodic metal that will please the hardest of well-seasoned Head-Bangers while turning on and attracting new Supporters to their ever-increasing legion. Outstanding production by Julius Butty, combined with powerful tracks such as “Kill […]

Angeline formed in 1987 and released a 12” EP in 1990. Their release schedule has however made even Def Leppard look busy. But around 2010 things started happening (and more frequently). “Confessions” was released in 2010 and “Disconnected” in 2011, but unfortunately the label (Avenue of Allies) went bust, and it took until 2018 for […]

Metalville Records (Sweden) Swedish Riot Horse follow their debut “This Is Who We Are” with another slab of southern style retro hard rock. The title track opens the album with an outstanding punchy and powerful Led Zeppelin goes Texas heavy rocker. There are a couple of songs in this vein, but overall this album is […]

The Deep is a prime example that the UK is still bringing kick-ass NWoBHM bands to the table. The 2015 release “premonition” really blew me away, and even though this EP (well, it’s four new tracks and four live tracks, so an EP with bonus tracks), came out already in 2018 it’s still highly current. […]

No doubt a Metal release by far, and a pretty damn good one at that! Just get by the corny intro and on 1st track “Monster girl” Then turned this sucker up! Slams HARD! Very distinctive, harsh, loud in your face sound, Can hear some Alice Cooper influence. Great structure, riffing throughout. Played with grit, […]

KILLSMITH/Halloween (Kachina Records) by Chris Forbes Simple, but effective riffing sort of like AC/DC at times, but more of a boogie to it and different style vocals too. The songs are simple but effective and significant time catchy as well. The production is also old school, which was fine by me. The 10th anniversary of […]

Man, this screams metal with the opening track “Ascending.” Has all the right ingredients to please any metal fans ears. The vocals on this record are second to none. Provided by metal veteran “Wade Black.” (ex Leatherwolf, Crimson Glory). A colleague of Wade’s, Guitarist “Rick Renstrom,”(ex Leash Law.”) Handles the intense rhythms, precise leads & […]

The recently released Pure Fire is a complete overhaul of the 2004 album  “Spin The Bottle.” This disc is just oozing with talent. Believe me, when I say if you’re a true KISS fan you want this CD.  Includes all the KISS anthems you’ve grown up with and more. A spectacular line-up with such artist […]

Ten explosive tracks of well executed hard rock and final recordings from Motorhead guitarist Würzel and features guest appearances with metal’s elite! I mean an album which opens & exit’s with Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister distinctive pipes got my blood to boil! Don’t get me wrong that’s not a bad thing as this CD is the […]

“Christmas In Valhalla” is a pure holiday delight as The Almighty THOR has once again demanded our scrutiny with his first-ever holiday record. Yes, that’s right The Metal Legend has returned with nine original metal Christmas slabs that will satisfy your metal festivities. 1st track “Donner and Blitzen is a kickass Hard Rocker that will […]

Here is another blues-rock release. The only thing I wish for was some more vocals as I like vocals in my songs. Other than that, Steve can play and play fantastic and write some killer tunes that are both catchy and gritty. I love the guitar sound he gets. He plays from the heart with […]

What a magnificent piece of ear candy! These guys belong on the airwaves. From the first track to the last track, this record has something for everyone. From rock to pop, street punk, dirty blues, including English pub rock with bits of ska, reggae, also in the mix, this release is begging to hit the […]

Killing Grace “Speak with a fist” (MVD audio) This disc commences with somewhat of an edgy mellow instrumental but believe me this is just the intro and shift gears from here big time. 1st track “Say My Name” has the grit, bite, growl, and power Killing Grace fans expect and this just the beginning! What […]

Quick-Tiques! Greg Kihn Band “Rekindled” (Riot Media & Mgmt) Released in 2017 This CD begin’s rocking right out of the gate and continues pretty much to the finish. It mix’s Pop, Rock, Hard Rock very tastefully. Even boogies a bit too! The last time we heard from Greg, he was in Jeopardy (Referring to the […]

PODD/Cosmic Forces (Self Released) This was some very mellow almost progressive rock at times with no vocals. I have been a fan of smooth jazz for years. This stuff isn’t catchy at all. It seems to me to be blindly played with not a lot of thought into the writing of a catchy riff or […]

CARPTREE/Emerger (Self Released) This is progressive rock that for the most part was pretty good. At times some of the vocal patterns and lines I didn’t like, but for the most of it, they were cool to my ears. The music is very spacey and different and for that I applaud them. Think of the […]

TARA LYNCH/Evil Enough (Self Released) Some solid rock/metal from this band with some great lead vocals by Tara Lynch and impressive lead guitar work by her as well. Strong and catchy tunes make this a winner in my book. The songs have a ton of feeling to them and it is like Tara is making […]

SIMON PHILLIPS/Protocol (Phantom Recordings) This I found to be annoying as all it was, was a bunch of senseless of guitar soloing and this got boring quickly. The songs weren’t strong at all. Yes the playing it top notch and the guys in the band are talented as hell, but when the songs aren’t catchy […]

This group features some members of the Alice Cooper group, and this release features their first show ever. They did put out one album in 1977, and I assume a bunch of tunes on this are on that album. The tunes on this are very raw and have that old rock n roll sound, and […]

SECURITY PROJECT/Contact (7d Media) Want an amazing progressive metal band this is. Sort of like a mix of Voivod meets Rush and throw some Yes into the mix too. Security Project is a live recording from April 2017 and unlike some prog bands where the material is far out in outer space that it is […]

This is one of those groove metal bands that I can’t stand. It is like Pantera, but not as trashy and I can’t stand bands like this. They all sound the same and this is not catchy and not good at all. The singer isn’t bad, but the music is pointless and goes nowhere fast. […]

OTIS “Eyes Of The Sun” | Purple Pyramid Records by David LaDuke Back in October of 2016 Guitarist Paul Nelson messaged me the following, “Thanks for turning me on to all this, Had a great time with Greg and Otis. In fact, he had such a great time he got them signed to Bullseye management, […]

ALIAS/Same (MVD Audio) By Chris Forbes Very well crafted heavy metal with plenty of thick, juicy hooks that will hook you in and keep you there. The singer has a clean, but very powerful voice and he fits the music style that this band is playing. The production allows everything to flow freely and I […]

KINLIN/The Last Stand (MVD Audio) This was one of the groove/happy metal bands that are making the rounds these days and you can also throw a little grunge like Alice in Chains in the mix at times as well. I am not a fan of this at all cause to me this is not metal […]

Quick-Tiques: Perfect Defect / Self Titled (MVD audio) This begins with a rather upbeat alternative track titled “Rollin With G”. Has somewhat of a catchy guitar lick throughout the track with generic-sounding vocals. Next up “Treat Your Man” is kinda hard to wrap my head around due to the fact the guitar intro reminds me […]

Now, this is a total ass-kicking rock n roll band with tons of wicked, heavy riffs that are totally catchy and memorable. When the songs end you remember them that’s for sure. I love the singer too he pours his heart out on this release and you can feel it as he sings the songs. […]