We had a very American sound, and when we came over, bang, it just fitted... A common theme with articles about classic European bands is their failure to ‘crack America’. It seems strange that bands that are household names over here, or even part of the British or European psyche, are virtually unknown to our..
Rikard Sjöblom: Somewhere In Between Alone And Together
I don't know what they put in the drinking water in Sweden, but I wish they'd share their secret. The ever burgeoning music scene there has been a rich source of top shelf progressive bands for well over five decades. The 1970s brought us legends like Samla Mammas Manna and Kaipa. The second wave of..
Off on another one with Andy Tillison
I have no objection to music that makes you want to head-bang, as long as it remembers that you dance with your legs and feet.Andy Tillison, july 2020 The Tangent are one of the most skilled and interesting bands of modern times. Like all naturally gifted musicians, band leader Andy Tillison seems wholly incapable of..
Maidens of Mercury – Matt Young’s new project comes to Life
One thing right now is certain - 2020 managed to turn the world on its ear. Nothing is the same as it was on New Year’s Day. Masks are no longer the purview of thieves and surgeons. “Social distancing” doesn’t mean feigning a headache to avoid a dinner party - to be fair, dinner parties..
Interview with Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear)
Nuclear Blast have welcomed back the prodigal sons Primal Fear after a 15-year break in partnership, and the first product of the renewed team speaks for itself. We have grabbed to opportunity for a short talk with band founder and heart – Ralf Scheepers. Ralf is a great, down-to-earth guy, even if he already owns..
Static-X – Regeneration Project Vol.1 (Ostego Entertainment Group)
It is a tough call and as ideas go, bringing the dead 'back to life' and not one to be taken lightly. Thanks to technological advancements being what they are - we have already seen holograms of artists ranging from Dio, Whitney Houston and Roy Orbison 'perform' on tours that travel the world and as..
GORDON GILTRAP OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY – Exclusive Sample Chapter
The Wymer publication Perilous Journey, by Velvet Thunder writer Steve Pilkington, is the official biography of guitarist Gordon Giltrap, produced with the full involvement of Gordon himself. Presented here is a sample chapter from the book, to give a flavour of it, and hopefully entertain! We take up the story just after the Perilous Journey..
KANSAS – Singer Ronnie Platt gives his thoughts
Summer 2020 sees legendary US band Kansas releasing their seventeenth studio album, entitled The Absence of Presence, and it’s drenched in the sound which has made them one of the most iconic bands from the USA. You want classic rock, Prog rock and heart wrenching ballads, all played with the high quality of musicianship which..
Kyros – Isolation gigs, interview
Readers will recall the recent review of Kyros' latest album Celexa Dreams, launched in June of this year. It received positive reviews throughout the music press rock, demonstrating a skillful mix of Alt-Rock, Electronic Rock and Art Rock with heavy leanings towards Prog Rock. The band have cited influences as diverse as Porcupine Tree, Kate Bush, Muse, Radiohead, Rush, CHVRCHES, The Dear Hunter, Duran Duran, Trevor Horn, IQ, Spock’s..
Stephen Dale Petit’s dystopian nightmare…
Everything was put on hold. The initial diagnosis was dire... So here we are, barely halfway through 2020, and already we have been subjected to the horrific scenario of Australia burning, a crisis in the Persian Gulf that threatened to provoke a third world war, some of the most catastrophic floods in British history (and..