ALBUM REVIEW: Blanket – Ceremonia


A genre-striding quartet from Blackpool, Blanket are back with their latest album, Ceremonia (Church Road Records). It is their third record and sees them continue their emotive brand of Post-Rock and Shoegaze, with the metal influences from their previous album Modern Escapism replaced with nineties Alternative Rock. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: The Black Crowes – Happiness Bastards


Rock ‘N’ Roll might be a young man’s game, but it is not stopping the Robinson Brothers from again coming together on Happiness Bastards (Silver Arrow Records) to prove they still have it. If Amorica was the last album you picked up by these guys, then things have changed dramatically. If you are one of their more avid followers then you have heard their transition away from merely being a Led Zeppelin/Rolling Stones hybrid, so this album makes perfect sense.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Jack J Hutchinson – Battles


Having initially fancied himself as an abstract artist, Jack J Hutchinson picked up a guitar and the rest, as they say, is history. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Florence Black – Bed of Nails


There has been a mini-surge in Black Stone Cherry-influenced rock in Britain recently, with new bands Stone Broken, Those Damn Crows and Scarlet Rebels amongst others specialising in catchy and consummately made hard rock.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: The Gems – Phoenix


After experiencing “creative differences” as part of Thundermother, Guernica Mancini, Emlee Johansson and Mona Lindgren left and formed The Gems – a three piece Rock band, and it is fair to say that this Swedish trio’s debut Phoenix (Napalm Records) is in similar territory to their previous vehicle: sixteen tracks of no frills Classic Rock built on chunky riffs and shoutalong choruses. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Emil Bulls – Love Will Fix It


For a band like Emil Bulls, who have been slavishly grinding away at their music for coming up to three decades now, it is a wonder that their latest album Love Will Fix It (Arising Empire), is the first collection of original music to come from the band in over five years. Having come through various waves of metal and hard rock, whilst bringing plenty along for the ride into their own unique sound, it’s truly curious how much they’ll have taken in their stride since the release of their previous album, Kill Your Demons. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Bad Touch – Bittersweet Satisfaction


Rock ‘n Roll quintet Bad Touch, hailing from Norfolk, England, are back with their fifth album, Bittersweet Satisfaction (Marshall Records). This time round they spent half a year making the record, tempering their balls-to-the-wall rock with polished hooks and a healthy portion of soul, the end result being a more rounded, earthy Classic Rock that still has plenty of bite. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Tijuana Bibles – Free Milk


Tijuana Bibles play an explosive style of rowdy post-punk flavored rock. The Glasgow-based band takes you back to a time when punk sprang from the seedy intersections of rock n’ roll in the early seventies. These guys are forward-thinking and time and dedication went into Free Milk (Button Up Records). It is thought out from a production and songwriting standpoint without feeling like the danger was edited out in the mix. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Michael Catton – Point Of No Return


 

Ace vocalist/songwriter Michael Catton’s first solo collection Point Of No Return (Mighty Music) sounds like a “Best of the Eighties” tribute album, while effectively showcasing the considerable talents of the man himself and all involved.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Rival Sons – Lightbringer


 

You wait four years for a Rival Sons album and, just like buses, two come along at once. Lightbringer (Atlantic Records) is the new record from the Californian quartet, following on from companion piece Darkfighter which came out in June this year. With the everpresent Dave Cobb behind the desk, their eighth album is a compact six track offering that mixes their classic, fuzzed up Rock N Roll with atmospheric Folk and acoustic elements to great effect.

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