In the maelstrom of late ‘60s music, groups came and went with alarming speed, and those that lasted more than one album had to be deft at changing styles to match the rapidly developing nascent rock scene. Some emerged to be powerhouses of the ‘70s while many faded away undeservedly (and some deservedly, it must..

Fire – Father’s Name Is Dad: The Complete Fire (Grapefruit / Cherry Red)
Did Fire deserve to have more success with this material? Listening to the three discs here, the answer is definitely a yes. Take a moment to consider what is the worst pop single you have ever heard in your entire life. Got one in your head? Well, now go to YouTube and listen to Round..

Seven Sisters – Shadow Of A Fallen Star Pt. 1 (Cherry Red Records)
Seven Sisters is a band from London, which has been active since 2013. Both their eponymous debut and second album The Cauldron And The Cross were really convincing in mixing US speed metal with NWOBHM. For third full length Shadow Of A Fallen Star Pt. 1,coming out on October 22nd, the band's rhythm section is..

Orange Goblin – Healing Through Fire (Rerelease) (Dissonance/Cherry Red)
...this release captures the band perfectly in a pivotal moment in their rise to stardom. It may be a coincidence but the key turning point in the fortunes of Orange Goblin seems to me to be the departure of one of the two founding guitarists, Pete O’Malley in 2004. To that point, the band had..

LYNYRD SKYNYRD – Nothing Comes Easy 1991-2012 (HNE / Cherry Red)
...it may come as a surprise to some just how vital the best of this material is. God & Guns is essential, but Last Of A Dying Breed and The Last Rebel aren't too far behind. It's interesting that so many people still seem to think that Lynyrd Skynyrd ceased to be after the tragic..