Nostalgia is a huge part of the music business these days and we have seen any number of retro acts touring in support of their glory days - and now we have the welcome addition of bands taking to the road to play classic albums from their back catalogues. The latest is this rather wonderfully..
DEXTER WARD – III (No Remorse Records)
Dexter Ward is a joint Italian/Greek band with members from Venice and Athens and was formed in 2009 when vocalist Mark Dexter aka Marco Concoreggi and guitarist Manolis Karazeris left the Greek power metal band Battleroar. Their name of Dexter Ward being taken from the novel The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward by American horror/fantasy..
Firewind – Firewind (AFM Records)
The band Firewind was initially formed in 1998 as a showcase for the mercurial talents of Greek guitarist Konstantinos Karamitroudis (more commonly known as Gus G) but it took another three years for a real band to emerge with the debut, Between Heaven And Hell, being released a year later in 1992. Since then there..
SÜNDENKLANG – JAHRESRINGE (Drakkar Entertainment)
This is the second album by the German duo of Patrick Nevian and Martin Soer, who collectively make up the band Sündenklang. Sung entirely in German, this is a rock album with pop sensibilities, but with a rather dark heart and a stark delivery that gives an air of mystery, intrigue and romantic beauty to..
One Desire – Midnight Empire (Frontiers Music)
Midnight Empire is the long awaited second album by One Desire, a refined and smooth melodic rock band from Finland. In my experience, Finnish bands tend towards the heavier side of rock with heavy and power metal, symphonic and doom themed bands very much to the fore but One Desire are closer in style to..
FM – Synchronized (Frontiers Music)
If you are a fan of melodic rock then you will know that the name of FM is one that is synonymous with the genre and a moniker that always guarantees sublime, quality AOR. Synchronized is the band’s twelfth album (this number also includes the re-recorded Indiscreet 30 version of their debut from 1986) and..
THE THIRD GRADE – OF FIRE AND ASHES PART 2 (Art Gates Records)
The Third Grade is a rather superior progressive metal band from Valencia in Spain, having been around since 2010; this is now their third album, although they have released several EPs and singles too. They released their self-titled debut in 2012 with Deeper, Darker following in 2016 so, you may ask, why is this album..
GENTLE GIANT VINYL REISSUES
Great news for vinyl fans, the iconic and ground breaking Gentle Giant have had their first four albums re-released on vinyl this month, which will be music to your ears if you have been missing your GG vinyl fix! These releases have been prompted by the success of last year’s Unburied Treasure, the all encompassing..
SECRET RULE – AGAINST (Pride & Joy Music)
Secret Rule is another addition to the ever increasing list of female fronted rock bands and, whilst they list the usual groups in Within Temptation, Delain, Epica and Nightwish, it is fair to say that they are a touch heavier than these outfits. They also state Rammstein and Slipknot as bands they admire and you..
Bonfire – Fistful Of Fire (AFM Records)
This remarkable German heavy rock band has been around since 1972 but was initially known as Cacumen until 1986 when they changed their name to Bonfire. This proved to be a masterstroke and since then, they have released many great rock albums and continued to raise their profile worldwide. For the uninitiated, Bonfire is a..