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...

Yngwie Malmsteen. I have been a big fan ever since I first heard the 'Odyssey' record as a young teenage boy just getting into guitar music. I was drawn to the arrogance of just having a picture of yourself as an album cover as the guitar player in the band as I always saw music as a band effort at that time. If you're a guitar player you will know who Yngwie is and you will most likely have your own strong opinion about him. One thing that not an opinion whether you like his playing or not is that he is/was an innovator on the instrument. He has an iconic sound you can spot a mile off and I personally, enjoy it a lot.  The new album. "Blue lightning" is being advertised as a blues album but I would use that term very loosely talking about this collection of music. Whilst you would think covers of Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton would be straight up blues he has chosen the more hard rocking songs from these artists alongside ZZ Top, Deep Purple, The Rolling Ston...

Released : 21 Sept 2018 Long Branch Records Track Listing: 1. Animals 2. Party Monster 3. Soul & Chemicals - Studio Session 4. Tunnel vision - Studio Session Whilst perusing through my emails checking out what's new, I came onto this band and it hit me straight away. This is a band I'm going to love. I've not heard of them before and now I'm disappointed that hadn't. Siamese are a Danish, what I might describe as a 'pop metal' band. The email says 'soulful metal' and their Spotify bio says 'RnB core'. These are all correct to some degree. It is a rare mix of metal instrumentation with pure pop melodies and vocals. This won't be to everyone's taste but sits very well with me. They remind me of one of my favourite but now disbanded groups Forever Never. The first track is the new single 'Animals'. With its overlaid synth and low syncopated guitar chugging it's a very modern metal sound with a very tigh...

Release date - 14.6.18 Record Label - Independent  Track Listing  1. Bloodbath 2. Natural Downer 3. Lately 4. Break Ground The Full Bug are a hard rock band from Tel Aviv, Israel. They responded to my call for new music on twitter and straight away from a 30 second Spotify link I knew it was my type of thing. According to the band's website 'The Full Bug' is slang for 'give it all you've got'. It's a phrase I've never heard before so I learned something new as well. I would say this band are a blend of hard rock/metal/stoner/groove/blues and that sits well with me. The E.P. is a short listen coming in at around 14 mins total. In that short time is does pack quite a big punch. Blood bath, Natural Downer and Lately are all heavy hitters with big drums, big guitar riffs and big rock vocals. I've grouped these three together because there isn't much that separates them style wise. That's not to put them down. The qua...

Release date - 10.8.18  Record Label - Frontiers Music SRL Track Listing 1. Apocalypse 2. New Rise 3. The Ritual 4. King Of Madness 5. Blood, Sweat, & Fear 6. Supernova 7. Hail To The Fear 8. Hounds Of Justice 9. The Beast 10. Eye Of The Storm 11. Cannonball 12. Fight Against Evil (Bonus Track – Deluxe Version) 13. Into The Fire (Bonus Track – Deluxe Version) 14. My War Is Over (Bonus Track – Deluxe Version) It's been a while since I posted a review. Partly because I've been listening to different genres of music that don't fit this blog. Partly because I've been in the mood to listen to old music and the albums I've already reviewed. Another reason is not much has stood out to me recently to feel like I need to tell you about. That was until today. Primal Fear have been going for 21 years and it was only today I have given them the time of day. I heard the song 'The Ritual' on Down the Front podcast #86 and in the first 1...

Chasing Dragons - Like Gravity  Chasing Dragons are a hard rock/metal band from Leeds that have been around a few years now. I first heard of them after walking in on them mid set during a Macmillan Fest held at Nottingham Rock City. At the time I wasn't blown away but I didn't think they were bad. I remembered them though. Earlier this year my band played Waynestock V at Wakefield's Black Mass Bar alongside them and after that performance I was sold. They are a good all round professional band. The only gripe you can have with them is the style isn't to your taste because there isn't a weak link in the group. Why am I writing about them? A new single has been released ahead of their album due out in October this year called 'Faction'. 'Like Gravity' kicks off with a riff that wouldn't sound out of place on a Machine Head album. Instrumentally it's kind of Megadeth meets Alter Bridge but what gives the band the unique sound is th...

  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...

Released - June 8th © 2018 Napalm Records Handels GmbH Track listing 1. Bringer Of War 2. From The Sky 3. A Dying Machine 4. Trust 5. Throw Them To The Lions 6. Make It Hurt 7. Traipse 8. The First The Last 9. A Lot Like Sin 10. The Day When Legions Burned 11. As The Silence Becomes Me 12. Take You With Me 13. Desolation 14. Found Mark Tremonti is a guitarist I've followed since the end of Creed (wasn't a massive fan of that). His work with Alter Bridge and his previous solo albums though have all been worthy of well more than a passing listen. His skills on the guitar improve with every release and in the case of the Tremonti albums, so have his vocals. After a slightly disappointing release from his Alter Bridge colleague earlier in the year I was quietly confident that the next Tremonti release (this one) would not let me down. Largely I'd say it hasn't. The steady increase in quality from his previous 3 albums reaching what appear...

Release Date : 11.5.2018 Record label : Frontiers Track Listing  Hard Times Over and Over Spirit That Made Me Into the Light Bring It on Home Days Since I Saw the Sun Will You Wait Break You Come My Way Were You Ever Mine Too Far Left to Fall Now seems to be a good time for new underground hard rock bands pushing themselves to the forefront of the scene. Doomsday Outlaw are a good example of that. I was told the day after their Debut album 'Suffer More' was released Frontiers got into contact with them to hear it based on a review in Classic Rock magazine. I have a lot of respect for Frontiers because they are willing to takes chances on new music and usually they get it right. This is one of those times where they have. The three singles that were released 'Over and Over', 'Spirit That Made Me' and 'Bring It On Home' all carry on the same style as 'Suffer More' which is a sort of groove blues hard rock with a pinch of co...