Category: Album Reviews

Patriarkh ‘ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ’ (Napalm Records)

Patriarkh ‘ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ’ (Napalm Records)

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From out of the ashes… In the second half of the year just departed, the then incarnation of Polish black metal veterans Batushka took what turned out their final bow, transmogrifying themselves mid-tour into a “new” entity, taking the bold step of releasing new music under a new name while they were in the middle of shedding their former dark cloaks and re-emerging into the black night of a new era, now evinced by the release of this bold “debut” album.

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Gone Savage ‘Retrograde’ (Muzzle Records)

Gone Savage ‘Retrograde’ (Muzzle Records)

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Gone Savage were formed in Manchester back in the early ’90s and had some limited local success, releasing several albums before they went on hiatus from 2013. Several of the original members resurrected the band in 2019 and recorded and released multiple singles that eventually made it onto the 2022 digitally released album ‘Pastlife’. Getting signed by Muzzle Records has resulted in this compilation of new tracks, with original members Ian Salpeker (bass) and Will Glover on vocals being joined by Dex Tyler (drums) and Jon Sudbury on guitar and backing vocals.

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Headswim ‘Despite Yourself’ (Trapped Animal Records)

Headswim ‘Despite Yourself’ (Trapped Animal Records)

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Originally released in 1997, ‘Despite Yourself’ was the second and final album from Brit alt-rockers Headswim, hitting the Top 30 in the album charts, and featuring the single ‘Tourniquet’ which was also a Top 30 hit. Now Trapped Animal Records reissue ‘Despite Yourself’ on CD and for the first time ever on vinyl, with a whole host of bonus tracks added.

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Powell-Payne ‘Voilà’ (Frontiers Music)

Powell-Payne ‘Voilà’ (Frontiers Music)

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If you like artists like Journey, Foreigner, Asia and Toto (to name the pinnacles of the AOR genre) you would know that many of these are at the terminal end of their careers with the likelihood of any new music or tours getting less likely as time progresses. So you’d have to wonder where AOR as a genre was going to go in future. Could Welsh rockers Powell-Payne be a potential answer? Read on to find out!

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Body Count ‘Merciless’ (Century Media)

Body Count ‘Merciless’ (Century Media)

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Jonny B has got a bit of a confession to make… He snoozed on Body Count for far too long. For years he’d written them off as “probably just another rap/metal crossover group” and never really gave them a chance. A few years ago he finally saw the light and realized that not only is their music incredible, but Ice-T’s cutting social commentary goes incredibly deep making each song relatable and thought-provoking. Needless to say, when he caught wind of the new album, he made sure he was at the front of the queue to get a listen and see just how ‘Merciless’ Ice-T and the gang can be…

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The Rattlebacks ‘Sidewinder’ (Self-Released)

The Rattlebacks ‘Sidewinder’ (Self-Released)

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This Brighton based quintet have made a bit of noise since forming in 2021 including a recent supporting slot with Tailgunner, and not one but two inclusions (in consecutive months) on our very own Singles Club playlist, culminating with them earning one of our highly coveted #DailyPick slots just this past weekend… So, will their debut album wind its way into our hearts? There’s only one way to find out, isn’t there?

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Quireboys ‘Wardour Street’ (Cadiz Music)

Quireboys ‘Wardour Street’ (Cadiz Music)

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The history of rock ‘n’ roll is littered with tales of acrimony and dispute, break-ups and reunions, trails and tribulations… and one band who have undergone more than their share of these travails over the past two years undoubtedly have been The Quireboys, with the ever-troubled Spike being fired from the band most fans identified as being his band, the virtually inevitable consequence of two versions of the group hitting the road simultaneously, with the equally predictable round of “cease and desist” orders flying backwards and forwards between the rival camps… it all got messy, and the only losers were the musicians and their fans…

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Toby And The Whole Truth ‘Look Out! (Vol 1)’ (Jepsongs Music)

Toby And The Whole Truth ‘Look Out! (Vol 1)’ (Jepsongs Music)

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Even though he’s one of the hardest working men in rock ‘n’ roll, seemingly omnipresent on social media with all his various projects, it’s hard to believe that this is the first original solo material to be released by Toby Jepson in more than a decade! But, that is indeed the case, with this, the first in a triptych of EPs which will feature of 20 new songs showcasing the singer/songwriter’s diverse range of influences and subsequently styles which have characterized his career for almost 40 years…

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Aphrodite’s Child – ‘666 – The Apocalypse Of John’ (Universal)

Aphrodite’s Child – ‘666 – The Apocalypse Of John’ (Universal)

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One of the most iconic albums released in the golden ‘swirl’ era of Vertigo records, ‘666 – The Apocalypse Of John’ by Greek psyche/prog outfit Aphrodite’s Child is an album that refused to die, gaining a huge cult following over the generations since its original release in 1972, and is arguably more lauded now than it has ever been. Over 50 years on from that original release, it now gets a well-deserved ‘deluxe’ makeover.

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