Reviews – Albums/Gigs 2017

Here are links to Album and Live Show Reviews that I do for a number of media outlets in the UK and Ireland.  Click on the individual review title or Album Cover image to go to the publication.


 

Kobra And The L:otus – On The Rox, Dublin – 25-11-2017       for             Overdrive

With so much stuff going on in the lead up to Christmas this one was a little delayed, but was a really excellent gig in a small venue on the same night that Queen were playing in Dublin. Supported ably by Brutai.

 


 

Dehydrated – Resurrection                    for                           Firebrand’s Rock & Metal Express

Another very interesting return from a band after a couple of decades without any output, Slovakian five piece Death Metal monsters Dehydrated.

Dehydrated - Resurrection cover

 

 

 

 


 

EXALTER – Persecution Automated              for                                         Midlands Rocks

Proper old school sounding Thrash Metal from Bangladesh. EXALTER have created an excellent album and we can look forward to the next being yet another step forward.

Exalter-Web

 

 

 

 


 

Gutslit – Amputheatre                         for                                                       Midlands Rocks

Albumartwork-WEB

A really nice slice of Death from India’s Gutslit, well worth checking out if you get a chance one of many we shouldn’t let just slip by in 2017.

 

 

 


 

Raintimes – Raintimes                             for                                                       Midlands Rocks

A late entry into the top list of AOR releases for 2017, top notch and featuring the excellent Michael Shotton (Von Groove) on vocals.

album_cover_RAINTIMES COVER_5a02d8a24d829

 

 

 

 


 

Samarkind – Samarkind                             for                                                      Midlands Rocks

The excellent debut album from Samarkind, terrific vocals and a great package, Bluesy Southern tinged Rock .Samarkind-Album-Front-Cover

 

 

 

 


 

Rockingham 2017        for             Midlands Rocks

Rockingham2017-lineup

Day 1 – Fri 20-10-2017

Day 2 – Sat 21-10-2017

Day 3 – Sun 22-10-2017

What a fantastic weekend again at the Rockingham Festival in Nottingham. Great music, great friends, just a lot of fun all around.

 


 

Jeff Scott Soto – Retribution                                          for Midlands Rocks

Really loving Jeff’s most recent works, releasing this and the Sons Of Apollo albums within a couple of weeks of each other is really spoiling us 😉 JSS-Retribution

 

 

 


 

Mollie Marriott – Truth Is A Wolf                                        for Midlands Rocks

Terrific debut album from another very talented female vocalist, a great blend of Rock, Blues and Soul.Truth Is A Wolf (2017)

 

 

 


 

Fozzy/Hardcore Superstar/Madame Mayhem/The Last Band – Tivoli, Dublin – 28-10-2017    – for Overdrive.ie

Cracking night out, a revelation of an opening band and excellent sets from the Co-Headliners.Fozzy-Tivoli-28-10-2017

 

 

 


 

Code Red – Incendiary                                                            for Rockposer.com

Yet more high quality Swedish Melodic Rock.CODE RED - Incendiary 3000x3000px

 

 

 


 

Midnite City – Midnite City                                   –                             for Rockposer.com

When the lists of Top Melodic Rock albums for 2017 are drawn up there’s no doubt that this one is going to be getting a number of votes, a new name on the scene and hopefully one that will be around for a long time.MidniteCity-cover

 

 

 

 

 


 

Steelheart – Through Worlds Of Stardust                             –                    for Midlands Rocks

Some terrific songs on this new Steelheart album, interesting, modern and powerful with those wonderful vocals.     steelheartthroughworldscd-300x300

 

 

 

 


 

ColdSpell – A New World Arise                    –                        for Rockposer.com

Brilliant new album from Swedish Melodic rockers ColdSpell, definitely work checking out and spending some time getting to know.ColdSpell-ANewWorldArise-2017

 

 

 

 


 

The Nights – The Nights                     –                               for Midlands Rocks

THE-NIGHTS-cover-300x300-150x150

 

 

 

 


 

Attic – Sanctimonious                              –                             for Midlands Rocks

If theatrical sounding Metal with high pitched vocals and screams is your thing, with an edge of King Diamond in the sound then this will be right up your street, really good album from a band that’s created a flowing and developing Concept.    Attic-Sanctimonious

 

 

 

 


 

Leprous – Malina                                 –                            for Midlands Rocks

Brilliant new album from Leprous and can’t wait to catch some of these songs live when they hit the UK/Ireland later in the year.    Press_Cover_01

 

 

 


 

Kissin’ Dynamite – Generation Goodbye – Dynamite Nights       –     for Midlands Rocks

Terrific Live DVD/2 CD package from a band that were clearly on fire on that night in Stuttgart in December 2016, and this release brings you right into the venue, one of the better Live albums I’ve hear in recent times.  KD_GGDN_C_1500x1500

 

 

 

 


 

Mr.Big – Defying Gravity             –          for Midlands Rocks

A real supergroup that continue to make different, interesting albums  as they mature.Defying Gravity

 

 

 

 


 

Shadowman – Secrets And Lies                      –                      for RockposerDotCom

As always with any project Steve Overland is involved in it’s a classy piece of work, great vocals and much more.    folder

 

 

 


 

Harbinger – Human Dust                  –               for Midlands Rocks

Following on from 2016’s Paroxysm EP, Human Dust continues the bands development, good stuff.  Harbinger_cover (low res)

 

 

 


 

Suffocation – …Of The Dark Light              –          for Midlands Rocks

A classic Death Metal band that are still one of the leaders in the genre, killer stuff from the monsters that are Suffocation.      _..Of The Dark Light

 

 

 


 

Therapy?  –  Whelans, Dublin  –  25-04-2017

A personal review of one of my favourite shows of 2017, just a wonderful night of great stories, music and acoustic arrangements that were spot on. Full review linked from title or photo.    20170425_204903

 

 


 

Crazy Lixx – Ruff Justice                                             for Midlands Rocks

Always one of the more underrated acts coming out of Sweden in my opinion, this is possibly their best album to date.  Crazy-Lixx-–-Ruff-Justice-150x150

 

 

 


 

Eclipse – Monumentum                                             for Midlands Rocks

This band just keeps getting better and better with each release, surely one of the best bands in Melodic Rock at the moment.   Eclipse-Monumentum-150x150

 

 

 


 

HRH AOR V – 9th-11th March 2017                               for Firebrand

Day 1 – 09-03-2017

Day 2 – 10-03-2017

Day 3 – 11-03-2017

HRHAORV-Poster

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Dirty White Boyz – Down And Dirty             –          for Rockposer.com

Excellent debut album from a very classy band that contains great UK Talent. Feat Tony Mitchell – Vocals/Guitar (Kiss Of The Gypsy), Nigel Bailey – Bass/BackingVocals – (Bailey, Lifeline), Paul Hume – Guitar/BackingVocals (Lawless/Demon), Jamie Crees – Guitar (Guitar), Neil Ogden – Drums (Demon/Lawless).    DirtyWhiteBoy

 

 

 


 

Sanctuary – Inception                               –                   for Planet Mosh

Nice release of the pre-debut Demos.    Sanctuary

 

 

 


 

Lionville – A World Of Fools                      –                  for Midlands Rocks

Another excellent release from the Italian AOR masters.    Lionville-–-A-World-Of-Fools-150x150

 

 

 


 

Vermillion Whiskey – Spirit Of Tradition                                –                    for Midlands Rocks

Smoke filled bluesy Rock.    Vermilion-Whiskey-–-Spirit-of-Tradition-150x150

 

 

 


 

Kreator – Gods Of Violence

Thrash as it was always meant to be.    Kreator-Gods-Of-Violence-2017-150x150

 

 

 


 

Derek Davis – Revolutionary Soul                     –           for Midlands Rocks

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Pain Of Salvation – In The Passing Light Of Day             –     for Midlands Rocks

Stunning release.    Pain-Of-Salvation-–-In-The-Passing-Light-Of-Day-150x150

 

 

 


 

Jim Jidhed – Push On Through                   –           for RockposerDotCom

One of the smoothest most talented voices in AOR, Jim Jidhed has produced an excellent solo album with Push On Through, great stuff.    JimJidhed

 

 

 


 

Pretty Maids – Kingmaker               –          Midlands Rocks

Another cracking album from the Danish Rockers, great stuff, will be killer live.Pretty-Maids-–-Kingmaker-150x150

 

 

 

 


 

Interview with Josh from Wovenwar    –    for Midlands Rocks

A brief interview with Josh Gilbert around the time of the release of their 2nd album in 2016.    Wovenwar