RELEASE YEAR: 2026BAND URL: https://omnibuspress.com/products/how-does-it-feel-the-jim-lea-autobiography While renowned British rockers Slade are the stuff of legend and the very definition of cool in so many ways, one of its principial songwriters and sonic architects, namely bass player extraordinaire Jim Lea, seemingly always thrived in the background and was rarely the center of attention, nor did he desire…
RELEASE YEAR: 2026BAND URL: https://thosemadebroken.bandcamp.com/ The Glaswegian purveyors of heavy, emotionally charged, and occasionally brooding alt. rock sporting the appropriate moniker Those Made Broken are a most enticing and rewarding musical proposition, and judging by the overall quality of this muscular-sounding effort, this writer needs to check their entire discography out asap. A Door You Can…
RELEASE YEAR: 2026BAND URL: https://omnibuspress.com/products/dear-boy-the-life-of-keith-moon-omnibus-remastered?srsltid=AfmBOoryhaCbxlk8SoCO06TrDJvAuPy3cRfsez_jHAMHZVhkmUqBGaTX What we have here is undoubtedly one of the greatest rock music biographies ever written. The very thought and idea of summing up the magnificence and quality of this vivid portrait of the infinitely talented and sadly missed Keith Moon of the Who fame is a daunting task as mere words…
RELEASE YEAR: 2026BAND URL: https://hexad.bandcamp.com/album/surgical-cuts-in-the-cosmos Three years on from the near-flawless LP titled Delightful Sharp Edges comes a new output by the magnificent Norwegian doomsters Hex A.D., and that is cause for celebration if you are as much into the band’s potent mixture of prog rock, classic heavy metal, stoner rock, and old-school doom metal as…
RELEASE YEAR: 2026BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/kaasinmusic/?locale=nb_NO Norwegian hard rockers Kaasin, which is the brainchild of Come Taste the Band guitarist Jo Henning Kaasin, impressed yours truly quite a bit a few years ago when they released the melodically strong and impeccably crafted Fired Up. Said album was a superb mixture of eighties classic heavy metal and late…
RELEASE YEAR: 2026BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/beggarsbliss What a lovely little treat this self-titled effort by the Derby-based hard rockers Beggars Bliss is. Immediately accessible and full of meaty motifs and bluesy riffs, this disc is an effective slab of vintage rock with staying power and depth to it. The song arrangements often impress and the compositional skill…
RELEASE YEAR: 2026BAND URL: https://linkin.bio/studfarmmafia/ Sweet mother of lord, this is some incredibly catchy and infectious stuff, and rarely has an EP struck these ears as being so uplifting and . . . well, entertaining, really. This is just what I needed today, but we should probably discuss its musical qualities (of which there are many)…
RELEASE YEAR: 2026BAND URL: https://gjenferdbergen.bandcamp.com/album/black-smoke-rising Just when I thought that it would be impossible for this quartet to improve on their flawless self-titled debut offering from 2024, they go ahead and do something like this, i.e. bringing a lovely crafted piece of magical hard rock with vintage vibes to life and doing it in such a…
RELEASE YEAR: 2026BAND URL: https://originalasia.com/ Legendary prog rockers Asia returned to the stage last year with a reconfigured line-up featuring original keyboardist Geoff Downes, world-class guitarist John Mitchell, bass player extraordinaire Harry Whitley, and the fabulous drummer that is Virgil Donati. At the renowned venue known as Trading Boundaries in April 2025, the quartet performed the…
RELEASE YEAR: 2026BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/RobinTrower/ The legendary Robin Trower (ex-Procol Harum) has been impressively productive not to mention highly creative these past many years as evidenced by a string of robust and enjoyable solo offerings. As solid as many of those outputs are, the stage is where Trower truly shines and also where his songs pack…
RELEASE YEAR: 2025BAND URL: https://www.electrichighband.com/ The debut album by these hard rocking Norwegians impressed this writer greatly and was a vigorous, vibrant, and riveting tour de force of groove, hooks, crunchy riffs, and 70s vibes. All of that is very much present throughout this sophomore effort of theirs too, but what sets the latter slightly apart…
RELEASE YEAR: 2025BAND URL: https://linktr.ee/LunaMarble Manchester’s very own Luna Marble are set to release this self-titled opus of theirs in early November, and I might as well start out by saying that it is a proper gem that weaves the best parts of Led Zeppelin, the Yardbirds, Jimi Hendrix, early Fleetwood Mac, Rival Sons, and Pink…
RELEASE YEAR: 2025BAND URL: https://www.waltertrout.com/home Legendary blues rocker Walter Trout is the ultimate survivor and a divinely gifted songwriter whose compositions overflow with raw nerve, fiery passion, words that speak to the soul, and gritty riffs with enough power to shake loose your fillings and prompt you to call that much-dreaded dentist of yours. There is…
RELEASE YEAR: 2025BAND URL: https://deeppurple.com/ A much-overlooked entry in Purple’s impressive catalog is the classy and well-written Rapture of the Deep, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. What better way to mark that occasion than remixing and remastering the entire thing and including a handful of bonus track?”! I have always felt that their…
RELEASE YEAR: 2025BAND URL: https://alicecooper.lnk.to/RevengePR The phrase “highly anticipated” does not quite do this one justice in that we are talking about a marvelous new opus by the original Alice Cooper group – the first one in fifty years no less. Excited? You should be as this one is a real belter in more ways than…
RELEASE YEAR: 2025BAND URL: https://www.francisrossi.com/ Francis Rossi of Status Quo fame recently released this seventeen-track compilation of various demo versions and alternate takes – many of which relate to his work with and songwriting contribution to the aforementioned Quo – and it is a rather intriguing album in many respects. Some of the ideas presented on…
In what has become a tradition of sorts, this scribe caught up with renowned keyboard player Mark Stanway who is primarily known for his magnificent work with such legendary acts as Magnum and Grand Slam. Since 2018 he has been occupied with a fabulous musical outfit known as Kingdom of Madness, and this talented ensemble…
RELEASE YEAR: 2025BAND URL: https://www.jonanderson.com/ None other than the legendary and inimitable Jon Anderson assembled a group a few years ago endearingly named the Band Geeks and recorded something akin to a Yes fan’s wet dream in the shape of this superb-sounding live album. A collection of epics and classics by Yes sure sounds good, does…
RELEASE YEAR: 2025BAND URL: https://www.mascotlabelgroup.com/collections/gary-moore Often imitated but never surpassed, the sadly missed Gary Moore was one of a kind and his music will continue to inspire and thrill us for many decades to come. Recorded towards the end of 2008 a mere three years before his untimely death at the age of 58, this beautiful…
RELEASE YEAR: 2025BAND URL: https://omnibuspress.com/products/their-generation-the-who-in-america-1967-69-available-to-pre-order What a delightful piece of music literature this is! A beautiful and aesthetically appealing large hardback book that visually documents the Who’s conquest and capture of the US and its audiences back in the late sixties – what more could a proper fan of 60s rock music ask for?! Compiling hundreds…
RELEASE YEAR: 2025BAND URL: https://omnibuspress.com/products/love-and-fury Darryl W. Bullock was an immensely talented writer (with the phenomenal The Velvet Mafia: The Gay Men Who Ran the Swinging Sixties being a standout) whose books on queer music history were thought-provoking and reflective, but the latest entry in his bibliography may well be the finest and most impressive one…
RELEASE YEAR: 2025BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/RobinTrower/ The renowned and skilled Robin Trower (formerly of Procol Harum) has been rather prolific these past ten years or so, and this upcoming eleven-track effort of his sees the blues rock veteran deliver a solid and enjoyable set of catchy tunes. With his lovely laidback and occasionally restrained vocals on top…
RELEASE YEAR: 2025BAND URL: https://theactualdarkness.bandcamp.com/album/dreams-on-toast Who could possibly resist the temptation of surrendering oneself wholeheartedly to a sparkling new album by the UK’s finest exponent of uplifting and raunchy rock ‘n’ roll, namely The Darkness? Not me, that is for damn sure! Dreams on Toast is basically the sound of the kick-ass outfit firing on all…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.dewolff.nu/#/news Just by listening to this joyous and uplifting record I could have sworn that these gentlemen originate from the Deep South of the US, but the fact is that Dewolff hail from the Netherlands. Nevertheless, such is the authenticity and conviction with which these chaps churn out their passionate tunes,…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://electrichigh.bandcamp.com/album/colorful-white-lies Apollon Records were kind enough to hand me a copy of this raw and raunchy debut offering by the Bergen-based hard rockers known as Electric High, and I am eternally grateful to them for that as this groove-laden, catchy, and energetic record ticks a lot of the boxes for me…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://tobyjepsonofficial.com/ Renowned songwriter, screenwriter, record producer, and radio host Toby Jepson is as talented as they come, but as much as I admire his work with Wayward Sons, it is rather refreshing to once again hear same brand-new solo compositions of his. “Look Out!” marks the first musical chapter of a…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.georgiathunderbolts.com/ US rockers The Georgia Thunderbolts have a wonderful knack for churning out crisp and candid tunes with an electrifying vibe to them, and this spright sophomore album of theirs is simply an essential listen. Not only does Rise Above It All show how resolutely great this band is but also…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://thecoldstares.bandcamp.com/album/the-southern The talented trio from Indiana known as The Cold Stares is gearing up to release this beautifully crafted and evocative record of theirs titled The Southern in September, and it is something to look forward to. Full of captivating ideas, classy melodies, emotive vocals, and sophisticated hooks, the album is…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/Eddieandthewolves/ What a delightful surprise this Derby-based act is! These talented and hard-rocking blues rockers conjure up a massive amount of groove and countless golden hooks on this refreshing and robust 9-song record of theirs, and the whole thing is literally a treasure trove of strong, bouncy riffs and superb vocal…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/HumanZooOfficial This is my first encounter with the German hard rockers known as Human Zoo and let me tell you right off the bat that I am wildly impressed with these guys and what they offer. We are off to a cracking good start with the bombastic and punchy album opener…
PHOTOGRAPHER: Oliver HaremsaPhotos copyrights belong to the photographer. No unauthorized usage allowed. Please contact photographer if you wish to reuse images in any context. Conducting an interview with the great Doogie White is always a pleasure and a real treat; not only is he a true gentleman but his discography is also utterly impressive…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.thunderonline.com/ The awe-inspiring British rockers Thunder are on grand form on this powerful live recording from the archives, which just goes to show that these gentlemen are at their fiery best when belting it out on stage in front of a loud, appreciative audience. Recorded at First Direct Arena in Leeds…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.thunderonline.com/ The fabulous British rockers Thunder have unearthed a cracking good and highly energetic live recording dating back to late December of 2006 when they played a surprise gig at the Planet Rock Christmas party, which took place at the Islington Academy in London as the title of the release aptly…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023BAND URL: https://omnibuspress.com/products/whatever-happened-to-slade-when-the-whole-world-went-crazee Whatever Happened to Slade? by Daryl Easlea is undoubtedly one of the most enthusiastic, warm-hearted, and passionate books on any band out there that I have come across for quite some time. This one basically reads like a love letter to not only one of the greatest yet most underrated…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023BAND URL: https://www.statusquo.co.uk/ Few acts are as cool and entertaining as UK legends Status Quo are, and their latest output is the second entry in their inspired Official Archive Series appropriately subtitled Vol. 2. Captured for posterity at the hallowed 02 Arena in London back in December 2012, this one is quite special…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://mesaverde.bandcamp.com/album/all-is-well I thoroughly enjoyed the debut offering by the eclectic Oslo-based ensemble known as MesaVerde, namely the engrossing KY album that came out in October 2022, and I was very much looking forward to this sophomore effort of theirs. In simple terms, All is Well surpasses its predecessor in every conceivable…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://omnibuspress.com/products/white-knuckles-the-life-of-gary-moore-published-on-8th-september-2021?_pos=1&_sid=672ce29c4&_ss=r Being the huge fan and admirer of Martin Power’s epic book on Jimmy Page titled No Quarter that I am, I was naturally rather psyched and excited when a copy of White Knuckles landed on my doorstep. The role and significance of the immortal and sadly missed Gary Moore cannot…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://nightranger.com/ I am incredibly fond of Night Ranger and their (mostly) stellar musical outputs, and it is always exciting to receive one of their records for review. This latest one is rather special and a welcome addition to their discography in that it adds an extra dimension to some of their…
VENUE: ForumDATE: 16.11.2023 ORGANIZER: Bergen LivePHOTOGRAPHER: C. NepperPhotos copyrights belong to the photographer. No unauthorized usage allowed. Please contact photographer if you wish to reuse images in any context. American rockers Rival Sons were back at the Forum in Bergen on a dark and cold Thursday night – and what a night it was!…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.rivalsons.com/ No other outfit executes raw, vibrant hard rock quite like Rival Sons, and it is always a treat to hear and experience what these skilled Americans are up to in terms of their live activities and studio work. As to the latter, what we have here is their upcoming slice…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.statusquo.co.uk/ This nicely packaged offering by legendary British boogie rockers Status Quo is a real treat to the eyes and ears; the booklet, band pictures, and overall layout look killer, and the actual musical content kicks ass. Recorded at the well-known Heineken Hall in Amsterdam back in October of 2010, these…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: http://www.joelhoekstra.com/ The brilliant songwriter and guitarist Joel Hoekstra has not only done wonderful things for Whitesnake but also released a couple of fabulous solo records, the latest being this 12-track effort titled Crash of Life where he is joined by a stellar cast of friends and musicians, namely Vinny Appice, Tony…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: http://sheburnsred.com/ Having not yet had the pleasure of listening to the previous offering by this Scottish hard rock act, namely the debut EP named Take Back Tomorrow from 2020, I had no idea what to expect from this upcoming album by She Burns Red. What I can tell you is that…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.hollywoodvampires.com/ Recorded in Rio back in 2015 by the magnificent Hollywood Vampires, this CD/DVD is a riveting and massively entertaining experience that sees Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Tommy Henriksen, Johnny Depp, Matt Sorum, and Duff McKagan tear through some of the best and most beloved rock songs of all time with…
VENUE: AO ArenaDATE: 08.07.2023 ORGANIZER: AEGPHOTOGRAPHER: C. NepperPhotos copyrights belong to the photographer. No unauthorized usage allowed. Please contact photographer if you wish to reuse images in any context. The fabulous Hollywood Vampires featuring Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, Joe Perry, and Tommy Henriksen played a rousing and utterly entertaining set at the AO Arena in…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.piledriver.eu/en/ This review of mine is way overdue as this 3 CD/DVD/Blu Ray box set by the German boogie rockers Piledriver came out in late April, so we shall keep things short and to the point here. Consisting of three gigs from the group’s Rockwall tour in 2019 and early 2020…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/schonmusic/ This mammoth 3CD/DVD set captures legendary Journey guitarist Neal Schon and his friends live on stage in San Francisco back in 2018 when they did a charity gig to raise funds for victims of the fires that had ravaged the North Bay area of the San Francisco region in late…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: http://enslaved.no/ Whereas E²⁰¹⁷ was a sore disappointment after the phenomenal In Times²⁰¹⁵, the former seemingly ending the string of top shelf material from Axioma Ethica Odini²⁰¹⁰ and Riitiir²⁰¹², Utgard²⁰²⁰ was a notable, if a partial return to form. I remarked similarly in my review of the album (5/6) where I…
VENUE: BastionenDATE: 17.06.2023 ORGANIZER: Bergen LivePHOTOGRAPHER: J. Nepper.Photos copyrights belong to the photographer. No unauthorized usage allowed. Please contact photographer if you wish to reuse images in any context. The awesome purveyors of atomic hard rock from California known as Dirty Honey paid the lovely city of Bergen a visit on a hot and…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/MikeTrampOfficial/ Renowned Danish guitarist/vocalist Mike Tramp recently released this wicked 12-track offering via Frontiers Records, and as the title of the record signifies, this one is rather special in that it sees Tramp interpreting (or rather re-imagining, I suppose) the songs of glam metal outfit White Lion, i. e. his former…
