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.
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.
Gutslit – Amputheatre for Midlands Rocks
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.
Samarkind – Samarkind for Midlands Rocks
The excellent debut album from Samarkind, terrific vocals and a great package, Bluesy Southern tinged Rock .
Rockingham 2017 for Midlands Rocks
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 😉
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.
Cracking night out, a revelation of an opening band and excellent sets from the Co-Headliners.
Code Red – Incendiary for Rockposer.com
Yet more high quality Swedish Melodic Rock.
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.
Steelheart – Through Worlds Of Stardust – for Midlands Rocks
Some terrific songs on this new Steelheart album, interesting, modern and powerful with those wonderful vocals.
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.
The Nights – The Nights – for Midlands Rocks
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.
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.
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.
Mr.Big – Defying Gravity – for Midlands Rocks
A real supergroup that continue to make different, interesting albums as they mature.
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.
Harbinger – Human Dust – for Midlands Rocks
Following on from 2016’s Paroxysm EP, Human Dust continues the bands development, good stuff.
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.
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.
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.
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.
HRH AOR V – 9th-11th March 2017 for Firebrand
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).
Sanctuary – Inception – for Planet Mosh
Nice release of the pre-debut Demos.
Lionville – A World Of Fools – for Midlands Rocks
Another excellent release from the Italian AOR masters.
Vermillion Whiskey – Spirit Of Tradition – for Midlands Rocks
Thrash as it was always meant to be.
Derek Davis – Revolutionary Soul – for Midlands Rocks
Pain Of Salvation – In The Passing Light Of Day – for Midlands Rocks
Stunning release.
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.
Pretty Maids – Kingmaker – Midlands Rocks
Another cracking album from the Danish Rockers, great stuff, will be killer live.
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.