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://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: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.robbenford.com/ The legendary guitar-slinger Robben Ford is a true master of his craft as evidenced by the quality of his recorded works and live performances be that as a solo artist or a member of various bands such as Yellowjackets and L.A. Express. Also, the number of renowned artists and musicians…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.helmetmusic.com/ Noise rock pioneers Helmet surely need no introduction as their impact on fans, critics, and other artists has been (and is) rather significant, and their influence on genres such as nu metal and alternative rock is undeniable. It is as simple as that, really. Page Hamilton (vocals, guitars) may be…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.heatsweden.com/ Very few hard rock acts are as interesting and cool as the Swedish phenomenon H.E.A.T are, and Extra Force is the perfect illustration of why that is. Comprised of a couple of brand-new studio recordings (‘Freedom’ and ‘Will You Be’), some classic tracks by the band that were originally sung…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.heatsweden.com/ Yes, this is just what the good hard rock doctor ordered for a dismal day at work – a brand-new and sparkling remix of the excellent Freedom Rock, i.e., the second full-length LP by Swedish legends H.E.A.T, which originally came out in 2010. It should come as no surprise…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://tarjaturunen.com/new-release-dark-christmas/ The beautifully packaged Dark Christmas by Finnish sensation Tarja Turunen is undoubtedly one of the more interesting winter/Christmas-themed outputs that I have ever heard or come across thanks to its rather creative arrangements and great ideas. In addition, the way in which everyone involved in the endeavor has colored the…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.ericsardinasmusic.com/ American blues rocker EriC Sardinas is known for his wild and electrifying albums and tours, and his new offering titled Midnight Junction, which is out via earMUSIC, perfectly summarizes and encapsulates what he and his bandmates are all about. We are talking unashamedly raw, suitably loud, and delightfully unpolished blues…
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: 2023BAND URL: https://tarjaturunen.com/rocking-heels-live-at-metal-church/ Tarja Turunen hardly needs any introduction, and she is undoubtedly a much-loved and highly praised vocalist by fans of symphonic metal and gothic metal (and with good reason I might add as she possesses a rather unique and charismatic voice). Rocking Heels took me by surprise as it features live…
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…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.officialdamned.com/ Legendary British punk rockers The Damned are still firing on all cylinders regardless of whether they are on stage or in the studio. Should you need an example of the latter, Darkadelic, which is their brand-new slab of energizing and superbly crafted rock, finds the band in rude form and…
RELEASE YEAR: 2022 BAND URL: https://www.statusquo.co.uk/ The legendary Status Quo have made some excellent and noteworthy recordings in the noughties as evidenced by this 3-disc set containing a nice mixture of classics, rarities, overlooked gems, and even a previously unreleased live show from 2008. This is quite the interesting release in that it displays just how…
RELEASE YEAR: 2022 BAND URL: https://www.ear-music.net/alice-cooper-live-from-the-astroturf/ What a lovely little package this CD/Blu Ray release is! Back in 2015, the remaining original members of the Alice Cooper band reunited on a small stage in the Good Records store in Texas and played a short and concise set of songs in front of a rapturous audience. The…
RELEASE YEAR: 2022 BAND URL: https://www.heatsweden.com/ The incredible Swedish hard rockers H.E.A.T parted ways with the amazing singer Erik Grönwall a while ago and then welcomed the return of original vocalist Kenny Leckremo, and what I can tell you about this stadium-sized juggernaut of delicious hooks titled Force Majeure is that it is the band’s finest…
RELEASE YEAR: 2022 BAND URL: Joe Satriani – home Legendary guitar-wizard Joe Satriani hardly needs any introduction as such, so let us instead cut right to the chase and discuss the maestro’s latest effort, i.e. the LP entitled “The Elephants of Mars”, which was actually something of a surprise to these ears in that it differs…
RELEASE YEAR: 2022 BAND URL: https://www.ear-music.net/oncehuman/ The third record by Once Human came out a couple of months and recently found its way to my pile of promo CDs, so let us briefly discuss what the US metallers have in store for us this time around. Once Human’s fiery musical cocktail consists of melodic death metal,…
RELEASE YEAR: 2022BAND URL: https://www.marillion.com/ The British prog rock legends Marillion surely need no introduction, and after forty years they still manage to bring something that sounds fresh, daring, and vital to the table. This powerful new musical tour de force of theirs is a case in point, and as much as I love and…
RELEASE YEAR: 2022 BAND URL: https://www.annihilatormetal.com/ The renowned Canadian thrash/speed/groove metal mongers Annihilator, which is masterminded by the hugely skilled Jeff Waters, were one of the groups that I grew up listening to, but I must admit that I have found quite a few of their later albums to be patchy affairs. “Metal II” is essentially…
