rock/metal albums
Album Review: Dommengang – No Keys
No Keys, the third album from Dommengang, sees the three piece further hone the blues rock of 2018’s Love Jail, while still keeping some of the psych rock stylings that permeated the bands self-titled debut record from four years ago. The result is a rough-hewn hard rock record, with lyrics that address the loss and …
Album Review: Knuckle – Life Is Hard When You’re Soft Inside
From the opening riffs of the Spilt Milk, the first track on Huddersfield three piece Knuckles debut album, you’re transported away. Not far, but maybe to a hostelry in the trio’s home town. The sort of place with worn carpets, and woodbines and dominoes, and pints of bitter. A place that’s full of atmosphere and …
Album Review: Disturbed – Evolution
The one thing that is common among hard rock / heavy metal acts throughout the genre’s evolution is just how devoted their fans are. It doesn’t matter if you have followed Led Zeppelin since the late 60s, or were a denim and leather clad Iron Maiden fan of the 80s, or a Nine Inch Nails …
Album Review: Larkin Poe – Venom & Faith
Larkin Poe have brought the music of their roots bang up to date on progressive third album ‘Venom & Faith’. Larkin Poe, aka Atlanta-born sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell, have spent the last eight years releasing music that continues to surpass all expectations. From their ‘Band For All Seasons’ series of four EPs (one for …
Box Set Review: Mott the Hoople – Mental Train (The Island Years 1969-71)
Before “All The Young Dudes”, before Top of the Pops appearances, before David Bowie, Mott The Hoople were a brilliant live act that arguably struggled to transfer the tremendous energy that they generated on stage to the studio. It’s not that they didn’t try, indeed, they recorded four solid albums that were met with mass …
Album Review: Jethro Tull – 50 for 50
50 for 50 is the new 3CD career-spanning collection released to celebrate 50 years of Jethro Tull, and I just so happen to be a big Jethro Tull fan. But I just don’t ‘get’ it. Tull’s 20th anniversary in 1988 was marked by a tour, a TV documentary, and a lavishly packaged 3CD box set …
Album Review: christian fitness – Nuance-the Musical
Andy Falkous seems to be immune to the law of diminishing returns. Nuance -The Musical is the fifth of his christian fitness outpourings. Interleaved with Future of the Left albums, that’s a lot of music in the last few years. Practice seems to be making perfect though -both of his guises have been going from …
ALBUM REVIEW : MINDWARS – Do Unto Others
If there is one name that gets me up-and-about regarding Thrash Metal it’s the mighty Holy Terror from Los Angeles. Responsible for possibly the greatest Thrash masterpiece of all time in 1987’s ‘Terror & Submission’ – if it isn’t part of your wheelhouse or you simply have no idea what/or who I’m taking about, then …
Album Review: MESSA – Feast For Water
Italians Messa have a striking sound, a kind of doom rock, which is occasionally blissed out with with low key jazz arrangements and soaring bluesy solos. FEAST FOR WATER is a tad more accessible than their equally striking debut from 2016, Belfry. Belfry was a touch more metallic and rawer. Feast For Water sounds like …
Album Review: Perpetual Warfare – Earthliens
I’m not sure what is going on down in Columbia, but as far as Thrash Metal is concerned, it is clear that the country has some of the best underground bands on the planet! – Fire, Psycho Mania, Subversion, Athor, Agony…the list is endless! And in 2018, rising out of Bogota D.C like a behemoth …