Skip to main content

Best of 2018

I haven't posted for a while mostly because I've been obsessed with old albums I've discovered and this is not what this blog is about for me. It's about promoting what is new because despite the cries that rock and metal are dead. It's just not true. I'm going to share with you my top five releases from this year that I heavily recommend. I know the year isn't technically over yet but if something new comes in I'll let you know

No.1

Judas Priest's 'Firepower' is the definition of heavy metal from the legends that created it. A well deserved top spot.




No.2

Doomsday Outlaw take the second spot with 'Hard Times'. Only on their second album they have delivered a belter and hopefully have a lot more where this came from.




No.3

Album number 3 comes from local (to me) stoner groove metallers Witch Tripper. 'I, of the storm' is another second album that see's the band reach a new level and one that should definitely be on your radar.




No.4

I didn't review this album but I should have done. It spent a long time in my car CD player. It is Vega's 'Only Human'. It's a bit on the softer side compared to the rest. More along the lines of Def Leppard. I picked this up from their live show in Wolverhampton that I did review.



No.5

The final slot belongs to Danish pop/metal (?) Siamese. They only released a short E.P but the quality of it turned them into one of my favourite bands of the year. I'm very excited for the album that is intended for release next year.



If none of this tickles your fancy then I don't know what to tell you. This music has taken over my brain at various parts of the year and made life worth living.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Nick Johnston - Wide Eyes In the Dark

Release date: 19 Apr 2019 Nick Johnston   I first heard of Nick Johnston from a suggested YouTube video of his entire "Remarkably Human" album. The artwork image stood out to me and I was in the mood for new music and I left it on in the background. I ended up listening to it few times through and then going and buying his entire 4 CD biography, a ticket to see him live and the guitar tab for the RH album. Quite simply, I was hooked. As a preface to talking about the new album I'll briefly go over the development as I see it from the previous 4. The first to albums are a wide spread of styles where Nick is still exploring and developing his sound. By the third album 'Atomic Mind' the sound is more refined but still has the odd wild track. It is only at album number 4 where 'Remarkably Human' has a continuous theme and what is now a style that you can distinguish quite clearly as Nick Johnston. You can always tell his playing on the previou

Whitesnake - Flesh and Blood

Release date : May 10th 2019 Whitesnake fans are often divided between which era of the snake is the best. Some prefer the more old school bluesy approach of the early days but to me that's too close to the deep purple sound compared to what would eventually become what is to me the 'signature' sound. That is the John Sykes / Steve Vai big hair '1987' and 'slip of the tongue' era. What keeps Whitesnake consistent are the powerhouse vocals of the legendary David Coverdale. In his prime he was one of the best vocalists in rock music as far as I'm concerned. Years of screaming like the rock god he is has taken it's toll on the old vocal chords though because in recent years at live shows you can hear that the high scream is more a metal roar and you can sometimes hear the struggle to reach where he should be. That's if I had to criticise. I think it's forgivable given his career. Another thing worth noting is the whoever is

Vega - Live Review

  Venue - The Slade Rooms - Wolverhampton 6.7.2018 At a loss for what to do with a free Friday night I reached out to the friendly Facebook community group 'New Wave Of Classic Rock' to see what was on offer and the best recommendation for me was this gig. I was only vaguely aware of Vega so I checked a few songs and liked what I heard so I committed myself and bought a ticket that morning. Let me tell you I was not disappointed. I feel like I haven't been to a gig in a while and this was a good reminder that live music is always better. I was smiling throughout the whole thing.   First up we had Devilfire. Due to unexpected traffic I missed the first half of the set but what I did see I liked. If you're a fan of guyliner, straight long hair and melodic rock and roll then you will like them too. I would say it felt to me like the Scorpions with a touch of Nickleback. Did I buy a CD? yes I did. I've given it a quick spin and although it's good I th