ALBUM REVIEW: The Struts – Pretty Vicious


 

The Struts’ new album Pretty Vicious (Big Machine Records/John Varvatos Records) starts with the strutting, tongue-in-cheek tale of hedonism “Too Good at Raising Hell” – done in their signature mix of The Darkness, Queen and the Rolling Stones.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Starbenders – Take Back The Night


 

Life is a cabaret, old chums, with the scintillating Take Back The Night (Sumerian Records). A power-packed, credulity-stretching showcase of strong, strong pop-rock songwriting and arranging courtesy of Starbenders; this album is full of punky attitude and thrusting ambition.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Corey Taylor – CMF2


CMFT2 (Decibel Cooper / BMG) is the second solo album from one of the largest mouths in Metal, a musician who you might have thought had all bases covered for his creative output by virtue of being the frontman in two wildly successful bands.

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CONCERT REVIEW: Iron Maiden – Lord of The Lost Live at AO Arena Manchester


 

Opening up the night was the enthralling German band, Lord of the Lost. Readers may recall these from their recent stint in Eurovision, but we won’t hold that against them. Despite the notoriously daunting task of opening for the legends that are Iron Maiden, they graced the stage with a riveting presence. Their performance blended a unique mix of dark metal Goth with even a dash of Glam Rock, like a diverse sonic tapestry.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Arjen Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution – Golden Age Of Music


 

Who’s your favourite time traveller? Whoever it is, you’ll surely know about The Doctor’s TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space). Now, Dutch prog-meister Arjen Lucassen, he of Ayreon, Star One, and Guilt Machine, takes us back to the 1970s for some Tremendous Awesome Rock Delivering Intense Sensations! Well, sort of. Continue reading


Tom Keifer, Night Ranger, Extreme, Queensrÿche, Quiet Riot, Stryper, and More Booked for Monsters on the Mountain


This summer is gonna rule so hard with the upcoming Monsters on the Mountain Festival, brought to you once again from the creators of Monsters of Rock Cruise! Taking place this August 19th-21st, 2022 at The Gatlinburg Convention Center the fest is going to have a ton of killer bands from your favorite era of music such as Cinderella’s Tom Keifer, Night Ranger, Extreme, Queensrÿche, Quiet Riot, Stryper, Kix, and Firehouse, plus an array of interactive events and activities for fans! Get ready for photo opportunities with bands, access to the Rock N’ Roll Vendor Market, Rock N’ Roll Art Gallery, and the Outdoor Patio Experience, with more to be announced. The MOTM fest is once again hosted by Eddie Trunk (VH1, SiriusXM), comedians Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine (former hosts of VH1 Classic’s hit TV show, “That Metal Show”), and pioneer rock radio DJ Nikki Blakk. Plus, Eddie Trunk will be broadcasting his SiriusXM show live on Friday (8/19). Three-day packages and individual day tickets on sale now!

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ALBUM REVIEW: Asking Alexandria – Like A House On Fire – Sumerian Records


Following the monumental impact of their 2017 self-titled, Asking Alexandria’s sixth album Like a House On Fire (Sumerian Records) had a lot to live up to. Thankfully, if anyone’s truly mastered the ability to evolve without betraying themselves or their fans, it’s AA. They’ve stood as a pillar in metalcore and metal for over a decade now, and they’ve made it damn clear they aren’t looking to give up their throne anytime soon.

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CONCERT REVIEW: Municipal Waste – Toxic Holocaust – Enforcer – Skeletal Remains: Live at Club Academy


I think it’s fair to say that there is nothing unexciting about the prospect of seeing Municipal Waste and Toxic Holocaust perform under the roof of a sweaty club on a Friday night. Through their consistently solid releases and even better live reputation, these highly regarded acts in equal parts reignited interest in the possibilities of what modern thrash metal could truly offer. With Municipal Waste’s image and sound playing heavily into nostalgia for 80’s crossover acts such as D.R.I. and Suicidal Tendencies, Ryan Waste and the boys reminded us, for better or for worse, just how blistering the genre could be during an era where metalcore dominated the loud rock mainstream when they dropped The Art of Partying back in 2007.Continue reading


EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: The Devil’s Party Band Share’s “Banned Outta Town” Lyric Video


Ghost Cult has teamed up with South Africa’s “first hard rock supergroup” – The Devil’s Party Band for the debut of their new lyric video today! Among its members are notable fixtures of the SA scene such as Anthonie van der Walt (ex. Thysis and JackHammer), Chris van der Walt (Vulvodynia), Werner Bosman (Led Zeppelin Tribute Band), and Jason Oosthuisen (Van Coke Cartel, Oooth). The band throws it back to the hairspray and riffs of the Sunset Strip’s glory days, while also evoking memories of Led Zeppelin and Metallica on their upcoming debut EP coming later this year. Watch the lyric video for ‘Banned Outta Town’, and if you dig it, purchase it from the links below and support this band! Continue reading


CLASSIC ALBUMS REVISITED: X Japan – Blue Blood


Cast your mind back thirty years to the late 80s where hard rock was in full swing. Def Leppard in the UK at the peak of their career after the release of their seminal release Hysteria and over in the states, Guns N Roses were selling out stadiums across the globe. However, in the western world, there’s one band from that era that go somewhat underlooked compared to their peers: X Japan. On April 21st, 1989 the band released Blue Blood (originally titled, X) (CBS/Sony), the album that led them to become one of Japan’s biggest bands.Continue reading