Quick-Tiques!

DOWNRIGHT MALICE/Mechanica Temporis (Self Released) This is a groovy nu/jump metal band and very generic. Stuff that has been done to death and then some. Brutal vocals mixed in with clean vocals are a style I can’t stand. Not thrashing metal, as I’ve read. Another run-of-the-mill band that is doing nothing different. Think a lousy […]

SKOLD/Dead God (Cleopatra Records) Apparently, this is a lost long album now seeing the light of day. It is industrial metal not far off from NIN and throws in Marilyn Manson. The music on this is heavy, groovy stuff with industrial overtones. Keyboard parts at times too. Pretty cool and is quite memorable and worth […]

I’ve always had a soft spot for Australian hard rock ever since I heard Stevie Wright’s “Evie” back in 1974. Soon enough, AC/DC popped up, and on it went with bands like Rabbitt, Taste, and later on excellent bands like Tracer, Electric Mary, Wolfmother, and Twenty Two Hundred. Add a heavy Roller to this lot. […]

Guitarist extraordinaire Jimmy Ryan is finally following up his excellent “21st Century Riffology” CD of 2017. Jimmy is an outstanding player, mixing his blues-oriented with classic rock in the vein of Wishbone Ash, which was the first thing I came to think of when listening to the opening track “Starlord.” Killer melodic, instrumental, melodic guitar […]

ELECTRIC SIX formed in 1996; from what I read and on this CD, the band was out doing cover material and approached to record a release of cover tunes. No songs were off-limits. They fooled around with a Garth Brooks tune, but they quickly dismissed it. The band’s sound is garage rock, sounding band with […]

One of Greece’s most brutal working men is, without a doubt, Stavos Papadopulos. Guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, singer, producer, recording engineer, mastering engineer, and songwriter. His name is found in bands like Universal Hippies, Hard Driver, Freerock Saints, and Super Vintage och Revolution Highway. King Mountain is another one, and it rests on the sacred grounds […]

Here’s is an atmospheric, doom, death metal band. The songs on this are pretty long, but that doesn’t matter cause they suck you in and take you along for a ride, and then the next song takes you on another ride. This isn’t just some typical, awful doom metal band that would put you to […]

The best thing about music is when you discover new music that kicks maximum ass. All of the classic rock bands at one point where new artists were being discovered. How many of you remember the day you discovered your favorite band? I found out about Mark Gable. The first song I listened to was […]

JACO/Trace (Bervatim Music) This is a pop-rock band in the vein of a band like REM. Back at with their 3rd release. I am not a big fan of what I call “pop-rock,” but this was “ok” for what it was. The tunes are well crafted, with catchy numbers and excellent vocals. The Melodies will […]

Greece has presented some good stuff now and then, unfortunately not that often. However, there have been many good things in the last 6-7 years, with a friendly 70s vibe coming out with bands like Universal Hippies, King Mountain, Hard Driver, Freerock Saints, and Super Vintage. One guy has a finger in each pies, guitarist, […]

JYRKI 69/American Vampire (Cleopatra Records) This is a solo album of Jyrki 69, the lead singer in The 69 Eyes. According to a bio, I was reading, the band was more glam rock until he joined, and then they went to a more gothic sound. Now I am reviewing this solo album release, and I […]

Not sure why Argentina, of all countries, seems to have fertile soil for retro/stoner rock, but here you’ll find excellent bands like Mephistopheles and Sahara and also Fulanno. Hash Negro En Las Misas Fúnebres was originally released in 2016, but then only in digital format. Now, Helter Skelter (sub-label of Swedish Regain Records) has finally […]

Stygian Fair from Umeå made their debut in 2017 with the EP ”Into The Coven,” and the year after, they released the debut album “Panta Rei”, followed by “Nadir” in 2019. Now they have produced their third album “Equilibrium”. I shall admit I have missed out on the band’s previous releases, but after having digested […]

Swedish band Perpetual Etude boasts former bands like Dionysus, Treasure Land, Air Raid, Nation, Stormwind, etc. Musically Perpetual Etude is not that far from them (except maybe Air Raid). Opening track “I’ve Got The Power” immediately kicks off with a Strat that sounds like Yngwie Malmsteen, but keeping in mind what Mr. Malmsteen has released […]

Once only available to Megafanclub members of the American heavy metal band Megadeth who formed in Los Angeles in 1983, acoustic album “Unplugged In Boston” gets it’s full release on CD and Vinyl via LA indie label Cleopatra Records, Inc. Recorded on The World Needs A Hero acoustic tour at Bill’s Bar in Boston, MA […]

If you’re a fan of the Tony Martin era Black Sabbath, here’s a band you definitely shouldn’t miss out on! Swedish quartet The Sonic Overlords (who do their name justice) is fronted by singer Marcus Zachrisson Rubin with Morgan Zocek (Sideburn) on guitar, Daniel Ramirez on bass, and Per Soläng (Corroded) behind the drums. The […]

Blending vintage psychedelia with modern-day rock, The Reed Effect is guaranteed not to disappoint with their brand-new album “1973”. Outstanding musicianship and production which is complimented by eye-catching artwork leave no doubt in my mind that this band will certainly continue to gain fans not only within the Canadian music scene but undoubtedly on an […]

Having endured over 20 years, the first new album in more than three years, “The Sum Of All Things,” released July 23rd, 2021, is the eighth studio album for Tantric. The veteran producer Chuck Alkazian (Chris Cornell, Sponge) produced it. Hugo Ferreira’s deep tone and overall vocal harmonies, the crisp guitars and piano, poetic lyrics, […]

This is not the Swedish heavy metal band; this is the original Air Raid, the 1980s US pomp rock band fronted by Arthur Offen and Rick Hinkle on guitar. Yes, they are back! Air Raid only made one self-titled album back in 1981, but boy, what an album. After some silent years, Arthur came back […]

Jack Russell does Led Zeppelin for the second time around except this one is a studio recorded version opposite the 1998 live record release that was one of the group’s best-selling albums. When Great White released ‘Great Zeppelin – A Tribute to Led Zeppelin’ it was recorded live in a concert that took place in […]

The Almighty God Of Metal Thunder “THOR” is back with a most impressive United Front of Guests! But first, let me tell you, this sucker kicks you in the ass pretty much from start to finish. Awesome guitar riffage. I mean, this record is one Powerhouse of metal thunder!! The vocals on this release are […]

One of my favorite bands from the 70s, “CACTUS,” has released one badass album! Drums on the 1’st track (Tightrope) stand’s out big time, and rightfully so. Armed and loaded with twelve strong blistering tracks, from Hard Rock to Boogie Blues, to Heavy Rock, believe me, this record will rock your world and has something […]

Phil Vincent has several releases on his conscience. In 2019-2020 alone, he has released many albums with Tragik, Legion, and D’Ercole, and here comes his ninth (!) solo album. His solo album is pure melodic hard rock/ AOR. His solo album is pure melodic hard rock/ AOR; His other bands and projects lean in different […]

Tommy Bolin was a guitar player in Deep Purple and the James Gang and released some solo stuff before unfortunately dying a drug overdose in 1976. He has no less than over 30 releases out after his death! This release contains archival sessions that would be on his 2nd and final solo album, “Private Eyes.” […]

Some are like, who the fuck are The Outlaws. Well, The Outlaws are a Southern rock band that formed in the ’70s, and when I saw them in 1979, I was in the front row at Philadelphia Spectrum, and I saw them headlining along with Molly Hatchet and 38. Special for five friggin bucks. The […]

Greek singer/guitarist/producer/mastering engineer Stavros Papadopoulos is one of the most active persons I know! He releases a never-ending stream of albums by bands like Universal Hippies, King Mountain, Free rock Saints, Super Vintage, Shadowplay Project, and solo artist. The common thread for all of Stavros’ bands and projects in the 70s. The riffs, the sound, […]

The first riff of the opening track,” Damned,” makes your sense of a smell of diesel. Straight ahead, uncomplicated, hard-driving blues-based hard rock ‘n roll. If the season had been right for it, this one would crave on an open cab and a motorway—a very nice start on Swedish hard rockers Black Paisley’s third effort. […]

Gudars Skymning (”Dawning of the Gods” or more like ”Holy Shit!!”) is one of the many high-quality Swedish retro-rock bands. On their seventh album, they have, however, taken a slightly different path. It’s still retro, still fat riffs, and always in Swedish, but “Olycksfågel” (a person with bad luck) is a concept album. The songs, […]

The band is very mellow, almost acoustic on the guitar style of the band. They do set a mood and do suck you in, and I’ll say that. The singer sings with a lot of emotion and feeling in these tunes. Each tune also has its vibe and sound, and even though this is not […]

Another long line of groovy thrash metal bands with the Pantera like vocals and then “clean or normal” are sung. Bands like this suck and just sound like any other band I would hear on “Liquid Metal” on Sirius/XM. This band sound no different than any other band on there, pretty much. I hate when […]