The Finnish heavy psych band Craneium has created their own style of fuzzed out music over the past decade now. With a dynamic take on what some describe as stoner rock, the band breathes 70's heavy rock as well as 90's desert psychedelia. The music of Craneium washes over you through a constant ebb and..
Svartanatt – Last Days On Earth (The Sign Records)
Last Days On Earth is the third studio album by Swedish Rock band Svartanatt, and follows their 2016 self-titled debut as well as their 2018 sophomore full-length Starry Eagle Eyes. Recorded in Svenska Grammofonstudion, Last Days On Earth offers 11 new cuts of hard hitting retro rock that will appeal very nicely to fans of..
Dictator Ship – Electric Jihad (The Sign Records)
There's a veritable "brotherhood" of Scandi bands indulging in high energy, retro, 60's influenced punky rock, all loving their soul and doo-wop influences but blended with high energy up-front rock'n'roll. Märvel are one stand-out crew in this genre, Dictator Ship are another! A frenetic foursome channelling their inner obsessions of 60’s soul, inspired by early..
The Sign Records – Compilation/Sampler Album 2022/2023
The Sign Records is an independent label from Linköping, Sweden. We've reviewed a lot of their bands over recent years, lots of great talent here, including (shameless plug alert) - my album of 2022 from The Riven!! **** The Sign Records have been releasing music since 2015 and they love rock. As they put it..
The Hip Priests – Roden House Blues (The Sign Records)
Honestly? - one look at the song titles on this album, and I just had to have a dabble! Rehearsed, recorded and mixed between the numerous U.K lockdowns in Roden House, one of Nottingham's former lace factories - this is where the Hip Priests have their own space, and this is where they spawned the..
Double Decade – compilation album by MÄRVEL out in February on The Sign Records
Märvel to release "Double Decade" vinyl compilation After releasing their 9th studio album Graces Came with Malice in April 2022, followed by organizing their own two day festival "Märvelfest" and heading on a tour in Spain, the Swedish power trio Märvel continues the celebration of their 20 year anniversary by releasing the double vinyl compilation..
Grande Royale – Welcome to Grime Town (The Sign Records)
What is it with Sweden?! How does it mange to foster the conditions and climate for so many zestful, energetic pub-rock / garage-rock bands?! So many to choose from, most of whom are thoroughly decent and great fun to listen to! Grande Royale are one such, they've graced these pages before and soon (24 March)..
Green King – Hidden Beyond Time (The Sign Records)
Spoiler Alert - this is NOT some sort of alcohol-fuelled musicians' collaboration with a British brewery! This particular brew of Green King is in fact a Finnish heavy metal group, and Hidden Beyond Time is their debut album! And exceptionally good it is too - in fact any self-respecting fan of NWOBHM bands (Iron Maiden..
Märvel – Graces Came With Malice (The Sign Records)
Märvel is a Swedish high-energy rock band which formed in 2002 that delights in offering a solid hard rock mixed with a little glam/sleaze rock. The guys spent a year in the States on a high school exchange to Colorado which has obviously influenced the musical development of the band, so you do get a..
Velvets – Velvets (The Sign Records)
In 1973/4, in my late teens, one never-to-be-forgotten episode of the OGWT featured two new bands that totally wowed me to the extent that I rushed out and bought both debut albums the next day. One band was Sassafras, the legendary Welsh rockers, the other was a trio called Blue - the original, excellent proper..