Firebrand's Rock & Metal Express - Issue 1

Firebrand Rock & Metal Express

John Steel Marillion FISH Urban Voodoo Machine Liv Kristine Marilyn Manson UFO Kerbdog The Answer Issue 1 - Price = Free

Page 30 Nth Ascension Page 31 Titan Force Page 32 Kerbdog Nubian Rose Page 33 John Steel Leah Page 34 Nordic’s Yell Page 35 UFO Page 36 Melissa Etheridge China Sky Page 37 Pat Travers Page 38 Wild Rose Page 39 Stargazery La Muerte Page 40 The Answer Page 41 The Rascels Bonz Page 42 Liv Kristine Reason Page 43 The Toi Nightblade Page 44 Marilyn Manson Pretty Addicted Page 45 Bowling For Soup HATE Page 46 People On Vacation Zero Down Page 47 Evil Invaders The Deep Page 48 Iron Lamb Impera Page 49 21st Century Goliath Page 50 Furyon SnakeyeS Page 51 The Dreaming

Page 04 Page 24 Page 25 Page 28

News Top 5 Videos Top 5 Covers Top 10 Albums of 2014 Page 52 Games Dungeon Page 60 Gig Listing Page 64 Band Of The Month

Page 12 Urban Voodoo Machine Page 22 Marillion Page 26 FISH

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2015 welcomes a new start for Firebrand.

Most of you had read both the original Firebrand Magazine and Firebrand After Dark so now we welcome you to Firebrand's Rock & Metal Express featuring the best of both worlds combined into one streamlined magazine catering for all tastes in music.

developed their own unique sense of identify with F/Mag catering for all things rock, prog and AOR with FAD dealing with every else that wasn't covered and rather than start adding in genres that didn't fit with the target audience that they was geared towards and hoping that they didn’t notice, like a lot of magazines seem to try to get away with, we As the year progresses we will be decided to be upfront about the change in introducing new features to the magazine, format and create a new magazine to herald including a few that you the reader has asked in this change of direction for Firebrand as for time and time again but if there is we look to future. anything that you want to see featured feel free to drop us a line to We present to you the first edition of reviews@firebrandrr.co.uk Firebrand's Rock & Metal Express your one and we will see what we can do. stop shop for all things rock, metal and everything in between.

Why have we merged the magazines together? Simply put both magazines

Editor In Chief Rick Palin Magazine Editor Lee Walker Senior Media Consultant Rachel Whiston Contributing Writers Reg Richardson Download Contents Team Judith Fisher Rick Palin Reviewers Aaron Price Graham Pritchard Gavin Griffiths Joey Lowebins Phil Kane Rob Birtley Stephen Brophy

Telephone +44(0)207 0978556 Review Submissions reviews@firebrandrr.co.uk Advertising Enquiries sales@firebrandrr.co.uk News Submissions News@firebrandrr.co.uk Editor Contact lee@firebrandrr.co.uk Gig Submissions reviews@firebrandrr.co.uk

*All content and layout are copyright of Firebrand Magazine. Any attempt to distribute Firebrand Magazine to another site for purposes of download is strictly prohibited. All Firebrand Magazines are property of Firebrand.*

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RUTHLESS ISSUE FIRST NEW ALBUM IN 29 YEARS, 'THEY RISE’ TODAY

And McGee is a firm believer in the new material (which was produced and engineered by Bill "Slayer, W.A.S.P., Armored Saint" With vintage '80s metal sounds Metoyer) - "I think this new album experiencing an unmistakable compares to the 'Metal Without renaissance, Los Angeles cult Mercy' album. The opening song, metallists Ruthless have picked 'Defender,' just kicks your the perfect time to unleash a ass! Second song, 'Laceration,' is reunion disc (their first in 29 very melodic/slow picking in the years!), which is released January intro, and then kicks into a killer 30th - titled 'They Rise.' double harmony riff. Third song, Responsible for two classics 'They Rise,' is another favourite of the metal underground the heavy bass riff and guitars. It lifts 1984 EP 'Metal Without Mercy' you up and drops you down. Also, and 1986's full-length 'Discipline of 'Time Waits' is a slower song with Steel,' Ruthless picks up exactly very emotional singing - Sammy where they left off with their new tears it up on the vocals." disc, which can be purchased via Beginning today, fans will be the following links: able to rediscover/discover one of Physical copies: http:// the best kept metal secrets of the www.puresteel-shop.com/ 1980's.

RUTHLESS-They-Rise iTunes download: https:// itunes.apple.com/us/album/they- UFO RELEASES ALBUM TEASER rise/id962753286 FOR A CONSPIRACY OF STARS Amazon download: http:// British Hard Rock legends UFO www.amazon.com/They-Riserelease a new teaser for the Ruthless/dp/B00SYBM7N0/ upcoming studio album "A ref=sr_1_2? ie=UTF8&qid=1422628298&sr= Conspiracy Of Stars". The trailer is available for viewing below: 82&keywords=ruthless+they+rise Comprised of members Sammy D (vocals), Kenny McGee (guitars/vocals), Dave Watson (guitars), Marc McGee (bass/ vocals), and Jason Van Slyke (drums), Ruthless' reunion was not a pre-planned proposition, according to McGee. "This just The album will be released in kinda happened. Me and Sam March in jewel case, vinyl blue were just thinking of doing some colored double LP and download recordings...not even thinking Ruthless would ever happen again. through SPV/Steamhammer. It is available for pre-order on Amazon But, after our new drummer, and iTunes.

Jason, came down, the first Of course you don't need to practice, we went, 'Wow!!!' We fit attach more importance to this together perfectly!"

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piece of news than it necessarily has, but it certainly deserves to be mentioned: for the first time in more than 20 years, one of the most British rock bands in music history has recorded a studio album in their native country. Their latest offering is entitled A Conspiracy Of Stars, was cut by rock legend UFO and breathes that typically British easy-going confidence for which this band has been known for over 45 years. A strong release consisting of eleven songs which combine everything that the group surrounding frontman Phil Mogg stands for: meaty riffs, distinctive hooks, diverse songwriting, intelligent lyrics and that generally laid-back attitude which we have associated with UFO from the start. The fact that A Conspiracy Of Stars was produced and mixed by Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore, among others) may be considered another successful element in a thoroughly consistent release. To cut a long story short: their 22nd studio recording to date sees UFO prove that past and present can be blended in a homogeneous whole.

FROSTHELM TO RELEASE THE ENDLESS WINTER ON MATT HYDE'S BLACK WORK (ALKEMY BROTHERS) LABEL Thrashened Black Metal unit Frosthelm sign to Matt Hyde's Black Work (Alkemy Brothers) label and are set to release their debut full length album, The Endless Winter on March 22.

Formed in 2009, Frosthelm hail from the frozen plains of North Dakota, where the extreme

weather and bleak environment has left a profound and distinct mark on their sound. With two critically acclaimed self-produced and released recordings under their belt, they have recently joined forces with esteemed metal mastermind Matt Hyde's new label Black Work (Alkemy Bothers).

They are set to unleash their darkest material to date via their debut full length, The Endless Winter.

A vile brew of black/thrash metal, The Endless Winter is abundant with punishingly memorable riffs, melodic frostbitten savagery, and plague infused revulsion down to it's frozen core. Guitarist Dakota L. Irwin describes the album as "bitter, dark, angry and disgusted."

Tracked at Clear Lake Recording Studios in Los Angeles during July 2014, The Endless Winter was produced and engineered by Eric Milos and Alec Schneider. Drum engineering was handled by Sir Robert Kramer at Mekoche Studios in Bismarck, ND. Mixing and mastering duties were helmed by Matt Hyde (Slayer, Skeletonwitch, Kreator).

unstoppable team of what quite possibly could be one of the greatest lineups metal has ever seen.

The pre-mix of the song 'The Night Of New Moon' can be streamed here: https:// soundcloud.com/blackwelder/ blackwelder-the-night-of-new-moon The new album was mixed

by Matt Smith (Theocracy), mastered by Anfinn Skulevold (Abhoth, Access Hollywood) and Artwork by Mario Bouffier (Iggy Pop, Sacred Reich).

completely new breed of listeners.

The footage ends with a large amount of empty pints covering the bar; a good time was had by all and many more are still to come. This is just the beginning!

Blackwelder are: Ralf Scheepers – Vocals (Primal Fear, ex-Gamma Ray) Andrew Szucs – Guitars (Seven Seraphim) Bjorn Englen – Bass (Dio Disciples, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) Aquiles Priester – Drums (Primal Fear, ex-Angra)

New Way Of Life will be available on CD and digital download from 9th March 2015. Electric Funeral will be available to download and on iTunes as an instant gratification track on album pre-orders from the beginning of February.

NIKLAS KVARFORTH’S SHINING MABEL GREER’S TOYSHOP TO RELEASE FIVE ALBUMS RELEASE NEW VIDEO FOOTAGE ON PRO-TAPES FOR ELECTRIC FUNERAL With the release of their ninth Album New Way Of Life out on 9th full-length album set for the 20th March April on Season of Mist, Sweden’s Pre-YES psychedelic-prog Shining have come to an outfit Mabel Greer’s Toyshop have agreement with another French released new footage for Electric label, Never Dead Productions, to BLACKWELDER ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM TITLE AND IT’S Funeral, the opening track of their release five of the band’s full-length upcoming reunion album New albums on pro tapes. Each album RELEASE DATE Way Of Life out on 9th March. will be strictly limited to 100 International power prog metal The video shows founding copies and will include pins, band Blackwelder have announced members Clive Bayley and Robert patches or stickers, depending on “Survival Of The Fittest” as the title Hagger as they meet for the individual titles. of their upcoming debut album, rehearsal, two old friends finding The Shining albums that will due to be released on April 24, each other again after 45 years, be released on tape include the 2015 via German label Golden with the same chemistry and upcoming “IX / Everyone, Core Records/ZYX Music. some terrific new songs. Smiles all Everything, Everywhere, Ends” and Hailing from the four corners around speak louder than words are as follows: of the world, Blackwelder Is a about the spirit of this reunion as I Within Deep Dark Chambers brand new metal experience they meet to jam in a bar in Nice, II Livets Ändhållplats featuring some of the top names France.

V Halmstad in Power Prog Metal today.

Joined by Billy Sherwood, VI Klagopsalmer Arguably the best singer in all of Hugo Barré and Tony Kaye, Clive IX Everyone, Everything, metal, Ralf Scheepers (Primal and Bob have recently reformed Everywhere, Ends Fear, Ex-Gamma Ray) fronts this Mabel Greer’s Toyshop – the 60s Never Dead Productions will extraordinary outfit at the top of prog psychedelic outfit which issue updates on the progress of his game, alongside guitar sprouted the first shoot of YES – the releases at virtuoso Andrew Szus (Seven and created a record that brings www.customcore.com and once Seraphim). Bjorn Englen (Dio new life into their trademark ready for pre-ordering the tapes Disciples, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) sound, aiming not only to rekindle will also be available from the and Aquiles Priester (Primal Fear, their love affair with the old YES Shining Legions webshop ex-Angra) round out this fans, but also to conquer a at http://www.shininglegions.com

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In preparation for the release of “IX / Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, Ends” long-time Shining collaborator Martin Strandberg is directing a video for a track from “IX / Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, Ends”. Strandberg, is responsible for the videos for “Tillsammans Är Vi Allt” and “Förtvivlan, Min Arvedel” from the band’s seventh full length album “VII / Född Förlorare” and is also working on a documentary about the band. Photos from the video shoot can be found at http:// www.facebook.com/shiningofficial The band’s website was recently completely re-designed by Japan’s Ogino Design (http:// oginodesign.com/) and the re-launched website can be seen at www.shiningasylum.com

announce the release of their fifth album "TeraPunk" The new album is a mix of industrial, rock and electro music with a raw punk attitude. TeraPunk is a recording that mixes real and artificial sounds such as live guitars, bass and drums meshed together with e-guitars, programmed drums & loops to create a deep cocktail of rock and electro music. The album was described by the band as a “terabyte of raw data straight to your face. A synth'n'roll perversion of real and artificial machines” With lyrics inspired by Cyberpunk imagery and subculture Dope Stars Inc. have been mixing industrial beats, acid synths and distorted sounds with a bratty rock’n’roll sound and attitude since their foundation in May 2003.

NIGHT RANGER PLAY SPECIAL LONDON CONCERT ON MARCH 12TH

THUNDER ANNOUNCE SPECIAL LONDON SHOW AND FESTIVAL APPEARANCES

Night Ranger; the critically acclaimed San Francisco hard rockin’ band, will play a special concert at the London Islington O2 Academy on Thursday 12th March. The special London show is being treated as a rare and intimate, warm-up to their Hard Rock Hell AOR Festival appearance on Saturday 14th March.

Islington O2 Academy tickets are available from 0844 249 1000, and Ticket Web, Eventim, Gigantic or See Tickets. VIP Experience Packages can be booked from Night Ranger’s Website.

One of the most popular and enduring British rock bands of the last 25 years, with 18 Top 40 singles in the UK and a string of gold and platinum albums around the world, Thunder have just announced a series of new live shows.

As well as a trio of arena dates in March, the band are set to play a very special acoustic performance at HMV, Bond Street on Tuesday 17th February, in support of their brand new album 'Wonder Days', which hits the shelves the day before. Tickets went on sale this morning and sold Night Ranger will perform out immediately. songs from their multi-platinum The band are also set to play 1983 album Midnight Madness, at this year’s legendary Download which includes their hits “Sister Festival at Donington Park, Christian”, “When You Close Your alongside the likes of Kiss, Motley Eyes” and “(You Can Still) Rock In Crüe, Muse, Slash and many more.

America”, plus songs 2014’s Thunder first stormed the “High Road” album.

Donington stage in 1990, when they opened the old Monsters Of Rock festival alongside DOPE STARS INC TO RELEASE Whitesnake, Aerosmith, Poison NEW ALBUM ‘TERAPUNK’ and Quireboys. The band have Cyberpunk Rockers Dope Stars Inc since gone on to grace the stage

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for Download in 2009 as part of their farewell tour, and again in 2013 as part of the band’s comeback.

On announcing their appearance at this year’s festival, singer Danny Bowes says: "Download is one of my favourite festivals in the world, so I can’t wait for June to come around.

Donington was where we made our mark back in 1532, so it's fitting somehow to be back at Download this year when we release 'Wonder Days', our first studio album for 6 years, and it’ll be great to see how the new tracks go down alongside the classics. The Download crowd is always amazing, so as my dear old Mum used to say, "Let’s have it!…”

The group’s first studio album in six years, ‘Wonder Days’ reminds us why Thunder are now more revered than ever before, with a sound that is a timeless marriage of unforgettable melodies and sheer rock power.

Their long-awaited return with ‘Wonder Days’ should ensure that Thunder are elevated to their rightful place in the pantheon of truly great British bands.

Recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, with Luke Morley reprising his role as producer, the album was mixed by the renowned Mike Fraser, whose CV includes such names as Aerosmith, AC/DC and Metallica and who worked on several of the group’s key early records including their celebrated debut, ‘Back Street Symphony.

Thunder also hit the road in March with headline arena dates in Leeds, Birmingham and London, with Reef and Tax The Heat as support.

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Interviewed by Gavin Griffiths

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We practiced every single night for years and years.

EVERY night...

The music industry these days is a fickle creature, with many artists doomed to obscurity after an initial fifteen minutes of fame; a lot of artists are disposable, but Bowling For Soup have just celebrated twenty years together writing, recording and touring. Looking back, how would you summarize your journey to date and did you ever see yourselves reaching this point?

Definitely never expected to reach this point, or to still even be making music for that matter. We started as a band of 4 dudes in a town that had nothing to offer but keggers in a field and hanging out on the main drag on weekends.

We practiced every single night for years and years. EVERY night…

And then it clicked and we knew what we wanted. So we went after it. Honestly I feel very blessed to be in a band with these guys and am positive we have more to bring to the table in the future. Because it is still fun!

because then I wouldn’t be talking to you right now. But there are things along the way I regret and people I have lost in my life that I wish I hadn’t. We missed a lot of weddings, birthdays, funerals and the list goes on. But we knew that going in. That was part of the sacrifice. So, we did what we set out to do. So hardship was a learning experience and mistakes were life lessons.

narrow it down. So rather than try and make a double album, I separated it by years. IT worked out great, because I absolutely LOVE this collection of songs!!

You released the album via Pledge Music, re-recording the tracks giving them a fresh lease of life, plus one brand new song, can fans expect the same for volume two somewhere down the line or has that not even been With regards to your twentieth considered yet? anniversary, you’ve released a That was my initial plan. But, as we new “Best Of” compilation, got into later albums, especially brilliantly titled “Songs That Drunk Enough To Dance, it was People Actually Liked”, as is the actually challenging to give the tongue in cheek nature of the songs new luster. We had figure band. It’s been released as a shit out by then! Ha! I definitely volume one of your career to want to do a volume two, but I may date, covering the first ten years, put another spin on things. We will see! assuming there’s a volume two on the way, where did the idea Mentioning Pledge, it’s a service come from to do separate that’s rapidly growing in albums instead of one popularity with all sorts of compilation?

Well, as I started making a list of artists; do you believe that it’s the songs I would want to do for a the way to go to release music Have there been any regrets GH album, I was focused on the generally given the condition of along the way? Personal or early years. Songs people might the industry, alongside professional, given time to not have heard. Songs recorded in streaming? Record sales aren’t reflect, would there be anything 1994 that were building blocks for what they used to be and labels you would have done differently if the band, but, recorded with don’t seem to be backing bands limited resources, technology and you had the opportunity? the way they used to…

I can’t say I would change anything, experience. It was really hard to I think for bands with a base, it is

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the only way to go. The fans are the label now! That said, I am not a label hater. I still see them as being important and some of them have adjusted nicely to the changing industry. Others have not, but such is business. The willing adapt and survive. The unwilling dry up and blow away.

you quash these thoughts with any news of future plans for new music? Is it something that’s even crossed your minds whilst releasing the “Best Of”?

Not at ALL. BFS is in full swing. I do have POV and Jarinus, but BFS will always come first for me. I just LOVE being busy and I love making music. I am in 4 bands now and Are there plans for any working on a solo thing that will anniversary tours? I know you probably surprise people…IT is recently did a farewell tour of the crazy, but I love it. WE are full UK, which did leave a hole in the steam ahead in BFS! It is just that live music calendar this side of touring is hard for us. We aren’t the pond, but is a tour State-side getting any younger, and we have families at home and such. You on the cards given the haven’t seen the last of us by far! celebration?

I think so. We did Warped Tour On the subject of Jaret and Peolast year in the states and it was ple On Vacation, is that a project amazing! We plan to go out this spring and try and shake things up that’s here for the long run, with a bit! the new album coming out plus touring, or is it simply for With the saying farewell to the enjoyment for both yourself and UK, the ever so slightly nostalgic Ryan (Hamilton)? How have you feeling of the “Best Of” release, found the response to the plus Jaret’s other project People collaboration so far from both On Vacation getting attention, sets of BFS and Smile Smile some fans are beginning to worry fans? that Bowling For Soup are at a It is the real deal. We have been point now where you believe it’s doing it 4 years and I think we have maybe time to down instruments found our groove. I love POV. It is and call time on the band. Can different for me on so many levels

and I have learned a lot about what I can do and what I can’t. ha…. I never expected all BFS fans to cross over into liking POV, but I will say I was surprised more didn’t jump on board at first. That was a big lesson, but one that I should have already learned from watching my peers. Now, 4 years in, we are catching on and people are taking notice. It makes it more real that we have to earn it and it definitely makes me respect the fans even more for making us!

Finally then, given your status now as twenty year veterans of the business, what advice would you give to any aspiring band just starting off who may look up to bands such as yourselves, praying for the longevity you’ve had in an ever changing musical landscape?

I would say enjoy it. There are no guarantees. Get out there and do what you love…And if you throw everything away to follow the dream, be ready to build it back if it doesn’t happen. Either way, you will look back on the experience as the best of times, because you did what you love. Go gettum!

Get out there and do what you love…

And if you throw everything away to follow the dream, be ready to build it back if it doesn’t happen 10

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If you've never heard of the Urban Voodoo Machine then you've missed out on one of life's great acts. Describing themselves as playing 'Bourbon Soaked Gypsy Blues Bop'n'Stroll' this bunch of irreverent entertainers could have walked straight out of a travelling carnival. There is nothing ordinary about the Urban Voodoo Machine, they don't play any of your bog standard rock music, this 11-piece band don't look like anything you've seen before. They dress in red and black, they play guitars, they play trumpets...they play sousaphones, saxophones, accordions, they play washboards, they have a bright green zombie playing the drums!

This is skiffle for the 21st century.

The band are out on their 'Love, Drink & Death' tour, which is quite poignant given that part way through the tour the band sadly lost their fiddle player, Robb Skipper. Their latest album, Love, Drink & Death' is out now on Gypsy Hotel Records and is a 16-track cornucopia of styles covering rock, R'n'B, Latin, Jazz, Gypsy......I could go on!

through songs old and new, mostly new, including 'Not with you', new singles 'Pipe & Slippers Man' and 'Help me Jesus'; oldies 'Orphans Lament' and 'Crazy Maria' were thrown into the mix for good measure.

The changes in style focussed on different parts of the band, sometimes it was the guitar work of Nick Marsh, then the brass section led by Ane Angel and Luci Fire Tusk, and then maybe the accordion of Slim Cyder. Even zombie drummer, the Late J. Roni Moe, got a solo slot. While each section is capable in its own right, the band as a whole is generally well aligned despite the apparent disorganisation seen on stage.

The band perform the inevitable encores which end with 'Love Song 666' which enjoyed a significant level of audience participation.

This was not just a gig, it was a spectacle, and one that should not be missed. So, get yourselves along to the next showing of the Urban Voodoo Machine although your head might regret it the next morning!

Led by their hyperactive frontman, Paul-Ronney Angel, the band run

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Interviewed by Lee Walker I came across the band literally a couple of days ago via an Iron Maiden Facebook page and listening to you thinking ‘this is what the Blaze era of Maiden should have sounded like’. Was this ‘sound’ intended for the band or did it just develop that way?

Hello. First of all thank you for the interview. Well we are glad that more and more people like the album.

Regarding sound, we like very much this kind of melody heavy metal sounding and we were look exactly for it when we do the recordings.

guitarist and former member Ivan person.

Stalev. Ivan is equal to John and Stalev in Russian Stahl means How did you come to team up Steel. with Blaze Bayley for the album?

One day in 2012 our drummer and former member Zhivodar Dimitrov, just came and told us “Guys I wrote to Blaze Bayley and just ask him to sing 2 of our songs for the first album and he said ok ...” This is the beginning of the story, Blaze came in Bulgaria, we recorded Nightmare and Evil Sky. He likes the band and we just asked him to record the whole album.

How did the band become known as ‘John Steel’?

Has this caused any confusion with people looking for Sometimes it causes some ‘John Steel’ thinking it was a confusion, but we are getting well person? known and most of the people John Steel is the name of our already know it is a band, not a

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What was it like working with him?

He is amazing person.

Great man and great professional. He helped so much with doing the songs. He wrote some of the lyrics and vocal lines also he helped us with the arrangements.

Lately we understood that this has not often happened. I mean Blaze is doing lots of guest appearances, but only for song or 2, it is first time he’s done a whole album and also doing lyrics. For us it was amazing.

raise the amount of money that the people carrying them out were aiming for. Have you been happy with the way it has gone so far?

Yes we are happy.

work for the compositions for the second album, which will be singing by our vocalist Bogoljub Manic. For now with Blaze we will do some more concerts in 2015.

What do you have lined up to do next?

Record the second album.

How would you describe the album?

Classic heavy metal, modern sounding.

I noticed that the album is also helping to raise money for the ‘Keep a Child Alive’ charity. How did you become involved with this particular charity?

We just saw that there are couple of causes in Reverb nation. We took a look and we choose “Keep a Child Alive” it is because children are the future of Do you have any plans to work this world and we need to take with Blaze again in the future? care of them.

Maybe yes, maybe no ... who knows, time will show. What we A lot of charity ventures lately know is that we are starting to seem to have been struggling to

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Are there any messages that you would like to pass onto your fans?

We want to say Happy New Year to all of them and to thank them for the support, as you know we don’t have Label Company and we are publishing on our own. So support of the fans is really very precious for us.

Keep rocking!

John Steel

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Interviewed by Lee Walker Thanks for taking the time out for an interview. I must have followed your various bands since the early 1990s back when you were part of Sepultura. Did you imagine you would still be involved in the music industry today?

Yeah, it's been a long journey, but I'm glad to be making records and touring and creating music. I love metal and I love this part of the metal scene. I'm very excited for next year, we've been on tour for the new Cavalera Pandemonium and Killer Be Killed and I'm making

a new Soulfly record to come out next year, so it should be a good year you know, but a busy year as we've got a lot of stuff going on.

It definitely sounds a busy year there. I was listening to some of your earlier stuff the other week, stuff like Beneath The Remains and Arise and realised how thrash influenced your sound was back then, obviously you moved over to a heavier sound.

Was that intentional or did it just happen?

It was kind of natural when me and

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Igor get together that's the sound that comes out of it. You don't need to force it too much, you just gotta have a kind of motivation and we had a lot of motivation making Pandemonium. A lot of points of reference from our past, stuff like Arise, Beneath The Remains, Nails were big influences in our music and we just have to go back and dig some of those roots out, put it in with the elements of today, what's going on today and the sounds of today and that's how we got Pandemonium and I think it's fair to say that the music is

influenced by the past but has the sound of the present, and of today's metal.

studio until you feel they are good enough to cut it and then you make a cut of it and if you are happy with it then you continue It's interesting that you mention over dubbing the guitars, bass and vocals and then the lead guitars on that, how different the music top of it and you've got a finished scene has changed overall in song. So I think our method of terms of the sounds being recording is very similar to how it produced by bands now. was even in the early days as to It's changed a little bit. Although we're not too dependable on those how it is today. tunes like a lot of bands, we use it a little bit just for fixing a couple of What is it like working with Igor? things. The majority of the things I mean you were working together back in Sepultura until heard on Pandemonium is like that, the bands playing live, we kind you left and went on to Cavalera of believe in that system of live Conspiracy to work with him bands and we try to capture as again. What was is like working much of the live experience as you with him again after all that can capture and put it on the CD. time?

So all the drums are live so It's great you know. I think that the everything you hear on 10 years we didn't speak was a Pandemonium, Igor is playing all of lesson for all of us, to cherish our that live. It still has a feeling of old brotherhood and our friendship. days and of how we made the We really understand that more records in the old days, how I now how important it is and the made all the Sepultura records. bond we created which was born This is very similar still. So it's like in childhood and we learnt music you get together, find your together when we were kids, the favourite riffs, they turn into songs brothers who play metal, playing and then you jam them in the fast again like we used to do, it

really takes me back in time, so it was a lot of fun making this record with Igor. I kind of pushed him to the limits on this record, I wanted him to play fast on the majority of the album and he didn't complain he liked to be pushed and for me it is a great feeling to be playing with him again. I love touring with him and making records with him, this is our third record together. Out of the three I think Pandemonium was the most exciting record that we've made together, I think it was even more exciting than the first one, even thought he first ones do have a lot of excitement as we were back together after all that time. Pandemonium I think has really captured our fire and the best of our metal playing abilities, it's captured our pandemonium.

Have you had much feedback on the album?

Yeah, we've had feedback form our fans and they really like it man, a lot of them were like finally the brothers playing fast again and back how they used to in the Sepultura days and I get a lot of

I think that the 10 years we didn't speak was a lesson for all of us 19

comments like this is Sepultura this is what it should sound like a lot of cool comments like that, and I think its exciting. I think the record came out really good. If I had a little more time I would have worked a bit on some of the songs a little longer to make them a little more complicated, but I think overall I'm pretty happy with the final results.

That's interesting about the Sepultura comments again. One of the questions that will pop up time and time again is could we ever expect to see you as part of Sepultura at some point or is that just never going to happen?

I don't think it's gonna happen, and I think its OK. I think its like how The Beatles will never be put back together, you can't replace a guy like Dimebag and you can't replace a guy like John Lennon. Even though none of us died, we're still here we don't really click anymore, we have different lives and the past is still there, people can watch us on Youtube and hear the records that we made, but that was then, now is now.

We've got out own projects now, I have three Cavalera Conspiracy, Soufly and Killer Be Killed, so I've got plenty to make music for a long time, so I don't really need a reunion myself, I wanted to do it for the fans but I don't think it's going to work just because of how we are in this time of our lives, and in a way I think it's ok because it leaves the band how it was and it won't ruin it, you know sometimes reunions can ruin a band, you know they're not as good as they used to be and then it's

the question, why did we do it? So to leave it like that and keep it a little more exciting.

lined up at all to support them or any festival appearances lined up?

Yeah, we are hopefully having a Are there any up and coming Cavalera Conspiracy tour in bands out there you'd February in America and then recommend people to keep an we're coming over to Europe for the Pandemonium tour. I don't eye on?

I listen to a lot of Full Of Hell, know who we're going to play with yet, we're still figuring that out they've got a new record and it's amazing. Aborted The Necrotic right now and I've heard a rumour Manifesto which is a great record, that Kill Or Be Killed may be Hour Of Penance Regicide is a playing the download festival which would be great in the UK, and Kill or Be Killed is also going to be playing the Soundwave Festival in Australia in January.

So my time is going to be between Cavalera Conspiracy and Killer Be Killed and writing the new Soulfly.

great record, Code Orange Kids with I Am King is another great album, Abysmal Dawn has a really good record, Bloodbath has just released a great record. All of those are amazing bands and are doing great stuff right now.

Obviously you mentioned you have some albums in the pipeline for 2015, do you have any tours

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So a very, very busy year! So finally, have you got any messages you would like to pass onto your fans?

I want to thank all of the fans for their great support and it has been an amazing journey, 30 years and counting and we're still in this together and I want to thank all of them that have given me support for all of those years and all of the bands - Sepultura, Soulfly, Nailbomb, Cavalera Conspiracy, Killer Be Killed. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. We're going to do a lot more, there's a lot more metal to come.

Just want to say cheers for the interview and was great talking to you.

Alright brother night talking to you man

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Support from - Luke Jackson When I got to the Assembly Rooms the queue from the doors went around the corner and snaked almost out of sight; it was bloody cold so I heard the pub calling and went off for a beer.

Ten minutes later the queue had subsided a little and I discovered that there had been a hiccup with the ticketing system so all tickets were collect at the door.

The beer was welcome but may have been a mistake because I got into the hall just in time to see support act, Luke Jackson, start his final song. Luke played a very accomplished acoustic set it seems that went down well with

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the Marillion hoards. The show was a sell-out and being so close to Christmas was very good to see, it had been two years since I saw the band last and looked forward to the set.

The band haven't produced anything new since the 2012 release, 'Sounds That Can't Be Made', so the evening was a great excuse to go over old material with the band pulling songs from half a dozen albums dating back to 1987, the end of the Fish era.

yet more 'apple juice', and it didn't sound too shabby it has to be said.

'Trap the Spark' and 'Woke Up' came next, both of these from 'Happiness is the Road' released in 2008 followed by 'Easter' from 'Seasons End' with the crowd again working exceptionally hard.

Two songs later and Steve First up was a song from the Hogarth decided to explain the 1995 album 'Afraid of Sunlight' song that was to come next, and the band launched into summing up that he didn't 'Gazpacho' before moving swiftly understand a word of the lyrics, on to the 'Seasons End' album, this was 'Man of a Thousand Steve Hogarth's first with the Faces' from 1997. The set ended band, and belted out 'Uninvited with 'King' from 'Afraid of Guest'. The crowd were as keen as Sunlight' (1995) and the band ever as they sang loud enough to strolled off the stage to great compete with Hogarth's vocals. applause and the inevitable calls for more.

Steve Hogarth seemed to have After a brief rest the band been taking regular doses of returned and provided some 'medicinal apple mellowed his seasonal cheer with a couple of theatrical side to a juice', which classic Christmas covers before had certain extent, and his chatter finishing the night off with 'The with the audience mainly Release', the original B-side to concerned the fact that everything 'Easter', their 1989 single, and the and everyone was 'lovely'! final song, 'Cannibal Surf Babe' The band brought the evening up to date with 'Power' from 'Sounds That Can't Be Made' followed by 'No One Can' from the 1991 album 'Holidays in Eden'. Then it was on to 'Warm Wet Circles' the only Fish-era song taken from the 1987 album 'Clutching at Straws'.

The crowd did most of the work for this song singing aloud, while Steve Hogarth looked on sampling

from 'Afraid of Sunlight'. The evening was seen as a celebration of the past 27 years covering the final album of the Fish era and on to much of what the band have achieved since. This was an outstanding gig and my thanks go to Lucy Jordache for the passes.

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Hirax Hellion Rising

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Tygers Of Pan Tang Gangland

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Skarlett Riot Rising

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Defy All Reason Bad Blood

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Jettblack Explode

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Nth Ascension Ascension Of Kings

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UFO A Conspiracy Of Stars

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Stargazery Stars Aligned

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Evil Invaders Pulses Of Pleasure

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SnakeyeS Welcome to the snake pit

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Support from - Voodoo Room I have always regarded Liverpool as a musical city thanks to being the birthplace of live music for me way back in the early 90’s and have witnessed some fantastic shows there over the years. For various reasons I have struggled to get across the water to there for the past couple of years but when ever I have had the chance to go it has always brought back fond memories to me and tonight was no exception.

Being pretty much a bit of a last minute thing I didn’t really have the time to do my home work and track down the support band ‘Voodoo Room’. Surprisingly

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‘Voodoo Room’ are a covers band who cover both Jimi Hendrix and Cream . On paper it seems a strange mix and on a personal level I can’t remember seeing a covers band as a support before but things do happen now and then that I wasn’t expecting and this was one of them.

Musically speaking both Cream and Jimi Hendrix were, and still are, regarded as pioneers of their generation and leaders of their respective genres of music so to be able to pull off a good cover version of either band requires a lot of skill, to pull off a good cover version of both bands simultaneously requires you to be very very talented which is something which the guys who make up ‘Voodoo Room’ are. One of the things that it is easy to overlook with tribute bands is the actual quality of the musicianship that make up the band. With ‘Voodoo Room’ this is impossible as there are no gimmicks or showmanship allowing the pure unadulterated musical talent to shine through winning over the crowd one classic song after another warming them up nicely for Fish.

Derek William Dick, or Fish as he is better known as is a man which needs no introduction thanks partially to his time as the frontman for iconic prog rockers ‘Marillion’. Despite leaving the band back in 1988 there has, and no doubt always will be a huge part of his following that want to see the two reunited, which is a massive testament to what he managed to achieve with the band, and yes the crowd was very vocal with its requests for Fish to sing songs from that glorious era, but

this tour was about Fish and his ‘Moveable feast’ showcasing the material from his 2013 ‘A Feast Of Consequence’s’ release as well a as the expected scattering of classic Fish ballads and the obligatory Marillion songs thrown in with ‘Heart of Lothian’ and ‘Incubus’ making an appearance.

As a singer Fish is very comparable to malt whiskey, an analogy which I am sure he would appreciate, as in the older it is the better it tastes (or sounds in this case) with Fish’s vocals sounding better and more poignant now than they ever did in his ‘Marillion’ days. The old adverb that a singer is only as good as his backing musicians is true and you could not find fault with Steve Vantsis , Robin Boult, et al as they performed as a tight, cohesive unit expertly backing up and bringing out the best of Fish’s vocals leading to a flawless performance captivating the audiences attention from start to finish, be it with the exquisitely crafted songs or the poignant stories.

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Nth Ascension

Ascension Of Kings

Record Label

Sonic Vista Music

Release Date

15 December 2014

Reviewer

Rob Birtley

Highlight

Fourth Kingdom

Recently I had the great pleasure of reviewing the latest album by Ten ‘Albion’, so when a new Prog Album featuring the Ten keyboard maestro came my way I felt duty bound to have a listen to it.

The album starts with the sounds of unearthly winds passing over a long lost dreamscape that is the opening for ‘Fourth Kingdom’.

From the first note you know this album is about to transport you on an ethereal journey. Mostly driven by thudding guitar and the drum line the first thing that hits you is the voice of Alan Taylor. He has a theatrical quality, great depth and scale that’s, excuse the pun, tailor made for this genre. The synth line comes in and takes me back to the billowing folds woven by Wakeman. It’s simply a Huge start for a Prog album and a great statement of intent. Next up is the instrumental ‘Return Of The King’.

Lightning strikes the land the first blow to be quickly followed by swirling keyboards producing a sound akin but not aping some of the best parts of ‘Journey The Centre Of The Earth’ the rest well it’s a tour de force of playing from the band. With the next track ‘Strange Dreams’ the band are hitting a note midway between Dream Theater and Genesis with a hook Asia would be proud of.

Looking to the future this time in a Matrix like world. Still you get the common theme of one man alone battling against the odds. The vocal well it’s even more plaintive and emotion packed delivered from the viewpoint of someone struggling to get a grip of what is real. Somehow it brings to mind Gabriel’s intensity delivered during parts of the ‘The Lamb’. The next three tracks are part of a concept project the band is going to develop in further albums.

‘Overture (Clanaan Part1)’ is an

instrumental and I know Nth Ascension see this saga as a tale in the same vein as the ‘Narnia Chronicles’ or ‘Lord Of The Rings’ but to me it would be the perfect backdrop for Thomas Covenant opening his eyes for the first time in the ‘Land’ atop of ‘Kevin’s Watch’. As a long-time fan of Sword and Sorcery I do have to say this 3 part epic brings to mind ‘The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant’ so much more than the tales of C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. You sense a real person as the protagonist who gets caught up in events beyond is comprehension.

‘Realm With A Soul (Clanaan Part 2)’ starts with gently running water and a gentle whisper held up on the wind it is for all intense and purposes a hymn to Stephen Donaldson’s fictional realm. The vocal is rich and healing as well as being very subtle. Background harmonies pour in. At this point I should mention the part Ten’s Gary Hughes has played on this release. Recording the vocals and contributing on the backing vocals it’s a singing masterclass. This part of the album draws to a close with another instrumental ‘Seventh Rider (Clanaan Part3). It contains an electric guitar line Steve Rothery would have been proud of along with some delicate acoustic fingering reminiscent of Steve Howe as a counterbalance.

The 3 parts have made me really look forward to the promised continuation. ‘Weight Of The World’ has a ring of Porcupine Tree about it and is heading in a slightly more modern direction.

More contemporary it’s a tale of how desperation and fear that can cripple the soul but how redemption can happen through love for each other and true friendship. The standalone long track is ‘Vision’ taking 18 minutes to tell its tale. ‘Vision’ tells the story

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of Moses versus Rameses from a slave’s eye view. Its origin was an 8 minute idea of Darrel Treece Birch from around 1991 which the band worked on and expanded into a biblical epic. Vaguely for its scale and stature it reminds me of ‘Grendel’ I just hope the band won’t be as reluctant to play it live as Marillion are with their magnum opus.

I think you will have realised by now I really rate this album. It has cohesion and unity of purpose and playing that may well be rooted in Nth Ascension being almost a family band, Martin Walker being the dad of Craig and Gavin. You can tell that although the band does have a core of writers Nth Ascension is very collaborative affair. Initial skeleton of songs are brought into a rehearsal setting and the band form and colour the rest from there. Playing and production well all parts are excellent as you would expect creating the 3D soundscape needed for epic story telling. The voice of Alan Taylor creates a magical spell all of his own throughout in a unique manner. To sum it up this is a band I need to hear more off and if you’re a fan of great Prog so do you.

Titan Force

Force Of The Titan

Record Label

Skol Records

Release Date

28 November 2014

Reviewer

Rob Birtley

Highlight

Dream Escape

It seems 2014 is the year of the comeback. Titan Force, who originally started off as Titan are on that trail, but is this a journey they should be taking? Or should they have rested on past glories?

This was the question Force Of The Titan posed me.

The album opens up with ‘Too Late’. From the first note it reminds me of Stryper from the ‘Soldiers Under Command’ album.

It has a post apocalyptical flavour, with a fine guitar solos flourishes.

Singing bass player John Flores does a fine, if a little lightweight, melodic job on the vocals. Next up is ‘No One Wins’. This track is more obviously a demo and lacks some of the polish of the first track after a promising start with a nice bit of acoustic guitar. This is especially noticeable in the vocal harmonies. The bass and drum section seems to lack something a bit slow and ponderous, the direction of the song well just can’t make its mind up if it wants to be a power ballad or be more ballesy.

All in all a bit confused.

Tomorrow/Today’ begins in a much more Metal vein almost Diamond Head like heading towards N.W.O.B.H.M with an American accent. Still you detect a slight slowness of pace and a lack of sound clarity and dynamism that tells you instantly this track was recorded a while back. ‘Fist To The Sky’ rocks on quite well. But there is something quaint and a bit amateurish when the band harmonise the song title even to the timing not being quite right.

The slowed down guitar/ instrumental break is well played but just seems to go on a bit too long and I’m not sure how it fits in with the rest of the song until it speeds up towards the end. The main vocal is a bit thin and needs to be meatier. This is definitely an

album of two halves as well as two singers. The later Titan Force tracks kick off with ‘Master of Disguise’ a track that has some Dio Holy Diver era going on with a touch of early Priest as well. Vocal duties carried by Harry Conklin are much more sure footed and the whole track has the feel of the finished article and not a work in progress. This is followed by ‘Fool on the Run’. The sound well still in the realms of N.W.O.B.H.M has an echo of Samson and maybe a touch of early Maiden minus the twin lead guitar. It’s mean and moody and so is the vocal, almost stark in some places but drives along nicely. ‘Wings of Rage’ picks up speed from the first note with a driving distorted and blocked bass riff that sets the pace. Vocal that has that sense of rage you get in the title but still controlled and a couple of nice lead guitar flourishes as well. The eighth track is an instrumental called ‘Will O’ the Wisp’. It shows the band in full flow really rattling along with some fine interplay between the players.

Track 9 ‘Toll of Pain’ begins with the classic acoustic guitar intro then bursts into life Iron Maiden fashion. The vocal holds centre stage strong and proud as the guitar repeats thudding along. The song is one of the later tracks a demo from 1990 and at last we have a demo worthy of an album track. The band is using this release as a springboard for touring in 2015 and this song just makes you wonder what new stuff they have in their locker. Hopefully more like this. ’Fields of Valour’ is the obligatory tale of war and conflict all Metal albums seemed to have dating from the 80’/90’s.

Maiden like in some aspects with some interesting guitar work it is a bit ponderous and slightly repetitive. The last track ‘Dream Escape’ begins with a ticking clock.

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After a prolonged thudding drum beat it has a Hawkwind like musical intro then goes into a kind of Prog themed and paced vocal.

It’s the mess with your mind track a bit like Saga with a Rob Halford vocal. A strange mix but it works. It is like a primitive forerunner of some Queensryche tracks and just shades it as my album highlight.

I have already said this Force of the Titan is and album of two halves and two singers. The production, sound and content of the songs sung by John Flores put him at a disadvantage but the band sound a lot better with Harry Conklin at the Mike. Those earlier songs are a stark contrast and if the entire album had sounded like that the release would have only been of interest to hard core fans of the band intent on completing their collection. As it is you get the feeling it still may be the case but it is worth a listen.

Kerbdog

Congregation (Live CD)

Record Label

Graphite

Release Date

6 October 2014

Reviewer

Stephen Brophy

Highlight

Dry Rinser

For the uninitiated Kerbdog hail from Kilkenny in Ireland and released a couple of really good Alt Rock (you could throw a but of Grunge or Metal at their wall and it would stick too) albums in the Early 90's. Congregation is Kerbdog's first live album release, there was a US Live Promo called Live At Concrete in 1994, but that was more of an EP, the last studio release being On The Turn in 1997, so Congregation is a live album release and also contains new material. Over recent years the guys have played some sporadic Live dates but it's good to have them back as a full operational unit once again and in the process of recording new material. Recently they completed their first UK Tour in many years.

Having been lucky enough to catch

them at their Dublin date before Christmas don't miss out the next time they are on the road, they are on great form and sound terrific and above all they seem to be having an absolute blast playing live again.

basis. Added onto the end of the Live tracks we get the first new studio recording in many years, and "Electricity" is a bloody good song and shows that there's great potential still there for this band, they still have a very supportive fanbase and hopefully this really All the classic songs are present good Live album is just the start of here, "Mexican Wave" (gotta love the second coming of Kerbdog. that track), "On The Turn", The new track also, for me at "Sally" (with full crowd least, shines a light on the participation), "JJ's Song" and of importance of having Billy Dalton course the crushing "Dry Riser" (Guitar) back in the band, they a and although the mix is quite clean different proposition as a four there's no doubting this was a live piece, twin guitars just give them recording and the audience and that bit more in their sound, and it band alike are very much into it, has to be questioned how Cormac with some nice banter between Battle (Vocals/Guitar) looks tracks. I'm sure that these dates exactly the same twenty years on, had a large part in the band still a very funny frontman too. Roll getting back to recording and on 2015 and a new does of playing live on a more regular Kerbdog.

Nubian Rose

Mental Revolution

Record Label

Limewire/Cargo Records

Release Date

24 November 2014

Reviewer

Stephen Brophy

Highlight

Higher

Nubian Rose released their debut album Mountain in 2012 and it was a really good Melodic Rock debut, which was followed up with a live UK debut at the inaugural HRH AOR Festival in April 2013, having discussed the band with numerous people over that period of time, they appeared to split opinions a little, but personally I really liked them and the album. So how do the band do with the release of their sophomore album Mental Revolution ? There's a bit of a different vibe about it, it leans a little more to a heavier path, but that's not to say that there aren't Melodic Tracks on here, and there's nothing wrong with turning

a little bit heavier or more aggressive at times.

one suits Sofia, a cool, aggressive track

Mental Revolution is a ten track album, it contains soaring guitars and vocals and for me everything is based around the striking vocal talents of Sofia Lilja and the excellent guitar work of Christer AĚŠkerlund. Kicking off with "War" which starts with a very mellow intro containing some choral accompaniment but then just kicks into another gear, with blazing guitars and cracking drums, it's a great way to start the album, definitely heavier, a real rocker. "The Eye" is another of the harder tracks, and I really think this

For me "Higher" is the stand out track here, it is excellent, more mellow that a lot of the tracks on the album, but it just works really well as a melodic rock/metal song, as a whole the album may not be a huge leap on from Mountain, but it is a really good album and a bit different, so there's a definite progression, looking forward to hearing some of these new songs live in 2015, Nubian Rose will be playing Camden Underworld early in February so check them out if you get a chance.

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John Steel

Freedom

Record Label

Self Release

Release Date

6 September 2014

Reviewer

Lee Walker

Highlight

Nightmare

Stumbling across this band from a post on an Iron Maiden Facebook page I was all to happy to give it a whirl especially when I saw that Sir Blaze Bailey provided guest vocals on a number of tracks on the album.

reminding me of legendary Power metalers Hammerfall resulting in album that all true metalheads should be required by law to listen to.

From start to finish this album should be played loud and proud.

As albums go ‘Freedom’ is literally lives up to the old, well used cliché of being ‘all killer, no filler’ with a mix of Maiden style guitar riffage and the old school all out powerhouse vocal assault that you would expect from a vocalist of Mr Bailey’s elk, being thrown in with the remaining tracks that Dilian Arnaudov provides vocals on

Leah

Kings And Queens

Record Label

Inner Wound/MBM

Release Date

2 February 2015

Reviewer

Rob Birtley

Highlight

Palace Of Dream

Leah is the brainchild of Canadian singer/song writer Leah Mc Henry. Dubbed ‘The Metal Enya’ by her fans. The style can best be described as Symphonic/ Progressive Metal interwoven with Celtic Folk influences of Clannad and fellow Canadian Loreena McKennitt. Kings and Queens Features Timo Somers (Delain, Vengeance), Sander Zoer (ex-Delain) and Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian, Vengeance).

Expect to be transported into ethereal dreamscapes with lyrics telling tales of fallen empires, spiritual warfare, love and destiny.

This sonic journey starts with ‘Arcadia’. Opening with Gregorian chants it soon delivers guitar and

counter- rhythm drums. Leah’s vocal soar over the piece high and pure reminiscent of Liv Kristine in places. The track end with the repeat of the chants, the overall effect evokes Lacuna Coil and is a perfect scene setter. Next up is ‘Save The World’. Opening Eastern flavoured this track is notable for a fine solo and heavier guitar riffage from Timo and a really melodic chorus. Beginning as Folk-Metal evolving into something anthemic.

‘Angel Fell’ opens with keys and rumbling bass has another titanic solo, combined with more fine singing, a potent cocktail of Within Temptation and Evanescence. ’Enter The Highlands’ is the first single. Starting heavy with Metallic guitar and drums before Leah’s

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otherworldly vocals kick in, building with even more intense rhythms, a spiralling riff, and choral vocals.

The beating pulse of this album is the epic almost 8 minutes ‘Palace Of Dreams’. Cinematic in scale, great guitar and piano with a lyrical vocal that binds the whole album together.

This is an album with a number of influences all tied around Leah’s excellent voice. Somers playing is subtle and varied the band are absolutely spot on as well. If I had one criticism to it would be I’d like to hear the vocal more forward in the mix but if you like your Symphonic/Progressive metal with a twist you’ll love this album.

Nordic’s Yell

Nordic’s Yell

Record Label

Self Release

Release Date

20 July 2014

Reviewer

Rob Birtley

Highlight

Wild Child

I may be of advancing years but I’m always up for something new.

So when an album appeared in my inbox from the editor by a band I’d never heard of and just the teaser “Think you may like this” my curiosity was immediately sparked.

Nordic’s Yell is a French band and is the brainchild of two brothers Lorenzo and Neils. The band got its distinctive name Nordic’s Yell because the singer Niels has a Viking name and because his voice his really heavy. The album line up is as follows. Lorenzo: Guitar, Neils: Guitar and Vocals, Tommy Rizzitelli: Drums and Jerome Duclaut on Bass. The self titled and first album was recorded at Magic Studio in St Peray because this it is an analog studio and they wanted a warmer sound and mastered at Absolute Studio (New York). The sound, well think guitars influenced by the Classics Zeppelin, Hendrix and more modern Slash and Metallica. Vocal styling well it’s a melodic growl fest in the groove of Black Label Society, Stone Sour and Corey Taylor. They describe themselves as Grunge/Rock but that only tells half the story.

The album Rocks up with ‘Quiet Spectator’ it’s one of the band’s tracks that can be found on Youtube and comes in just short of three minutes. It opens with a Blues guitar riff and a yell. The Blues shuffle and thudding drum line power it along. Like most of the songs on this release the underlying theme is rebellion to the pressure to conform and not be yourself a lot of us feel. Also running through the album is the struggle of retaining one’s soul in a world that tells you it doesn’t exist.

Spelt out most literally spelt out in track 4 ‘Lose My Soul’. The middle break chorus is almost anthemic

and the whole mixture is a head banging, fist clenching rebel rouser. ‘On The Road’ has a 60’s vibe going on. The track opens with a piece of drumming right out of the Bonham hand book and the rhythm line follows in the Zep tradition. Guitar well touches of Hendrix especially in the break and the vocal is verging into the Stoner area. At points when the track slows early Rival Sons with a gravel vocal comes to mind.

‘Nocturnal Frenzy’ is another track you can find on Youtube. It opens with acoustic guitar and electric guitar coming in to play counterpoint. There is a depth and warmth in the recording that takes you way back. May be it was using an analog recording studio but in some ways this is old school in a good way. The short guitar solo has a bit of ‘All Along The Watch Tower’ in it as the track winds out into a hypnotic ending.

‘Wild Child’ is based on a true story and is the personal favourite of guitarist Lorenzo who wrote the lyric. The vocal is a tortured and plaintiff growl full of passion bringing to mind Black Label Society in their quieter moments.

Chunky and blocked driving rhythm guitar heavy with reverb thuds along mixed in with acoustic segments ripping into a fine solo that just edges out before the final scream. ‘Red Bag Girl’ is a thank you song to a friend of the French Blues/Folk artist Gaelle Buswell who did all the backing vocals on the album. It seems every time the band needed guitar strings, harmonica etc. she had it all in her big red bag so the brothers wrote an extra song for her. ‘Hey You’ is a plaintiff plea set to a mostly acoustic background. A song about the dangers of walking through your life with your eyes closed. It’s slow pace is powerful and compelling and draws you in

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almost like a later day Johnny Cash singing ‘Hurt’ type of way.

To close this album is something different. You can tell English is not the first language of the singer but that seems to add rather than detract. It’s moody and atmospheric and has warmth in the recording I’ve not heard in a long time. The brothers Lorenzo and Neils wrote the songs in 2013 then the band split up before recording losing the singer and Neils taught himself to sing to complete the album. Then they had a distribution deal fall through so they had to release the album digitally themselves so the whole process has been far from an easy birth you can feel this pain and passion in every track. Do yourselves a favour at least check out the Youtube videos. The band has produced something rather special and deserves your support.

UFO

Conspiracy Of Stars

Record Label

Steamhammer/SPV Records

Release Date

23 February 2015

Reviewer

Rob Birtley

Highlight

Sugar Cane

How far back do I go with UFO? Well just about all the way. I have to say ‘Strangers in the night’ is my favourite live album of all time and I’ll never forget the 29th of June 1978 when I heard Phil Mogg sing ‘Lights out in Liverpool’ and Metal Mickey destroyed the Empire with his guitar pyrotechnics. So when the latest UFO album hit my inbox I was all ears.

Conspiracy Of stars is UFO’s 22nd studio album and is the follow up to the very well received Seven Deadly released in 2012. The line-up for the album is Phil Mogg (vocals), Paul Raymond (keyboards, guitar) and Andy Parker (drums), Rob De Luca (bass) and on lead guitar Vinnie Moore who has become a permanent member of the band. It was recorded at Chris Tsangarides’ Ecology Rooms studio and supported by the Greek Cypriot-British sound engineer, from late August until mid-September. Coincidentally Tsangarides was working at the studio as a 14-year-old trainee when UFO recorded their debut album UFO 1 in 1970.

The album starts with ‘The Killing Kind’. It has the same vibe as ‘Shoot Shoot’ from the 1978 album Force It. There is more Blues going on though and the lighter touch of the Vinnie Moore guitar solo that takes the song to a conclusion reflects this. It’s fair to say Phil Moggs vocal doesn’t quite have the same power or angst as days gone by but he still is a master of his craft and is right on the money. Typical to all UFO tracks and this album is no exception Mogg manages to keep that blue collar working class feel in the lyrics yet still staying meaningful. ‘Run Boy Run’ opens

with a blocked and distorted blues line on the bass and carries on throughout the track. Moore dances in and out with a delicate flourish until his main solo starts to rip in. ‘The Ballad Of The Left Hand Gun’ is based on a Blues shuffle with a country edge that repeats through the track. How much of the track is based on the story of Billy the Kid and the Paul Newman film of a similar name I’ll leave up to you. Moggs vocal on this track turns back the clock and really digs deep. ‘Sugar Cane’ opens with an organ line. Thudding beat is classic UFO with a touch of Bad Company for good measure.

Moore’s guitar parts acting almost like a harmony to the vocal in the background. The solo well for my ear one off the most complete and accomplished one on the album. The whole effect Rocks you back to the 70’s when no decent track was complete without the compulsory Hammond, all in all very, very nice.

‘Devil In The Detail’ begins in full Rocking mode straight from the first guitar burst. The lyric well you may think it’s a relationship tale but sounds more like a semi-autobiographical ode to the music business. The band as a whole mesh so well and this makes the track really happen.

With ‘Precious Cargo’ Phil makes the most of his register deepening over the years, beginning way down and soulful in a laidback kind of way which suits the tempo of the track. Yes it’s a song of love and lost but in a mature kind of way that fits the stature of the band, they know that they’re not 20 something’s and don’t pretend to be. Strange as it may seem the almost Jazz embellishments of the interplay of guitar and keys fit this track like a glove. ‘Real Deal’ takes you right back to 70’s belt and braces Blues/Rock. Starting off

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old school in the time honoured manner as the drums lead the band in. It’s almost a statement that with the arrival a lot of young bands are going for this sound with varying degrees of success but this band is original and genuine.

How am I going to sum up this album? First off UFO still has a lot left in the tank. Granted Mogg isn’t the titanic vocal force he once was but he’s still damn good. It should also be noted as gifted as Vinny Moore is and he is gifted his sound doesn’t have the visceral and explosive Teutonic power that Michael Schenker made such a part of the band’s sound. The next part well it’s hard to put into words. This album just doesn’t sustain the sense of excitement found on classic albums UFO from years gone by, but to be fair at times it comes pretty close.

Melissa Etheridge

This Is M.E

Record Label

SPV Records

Release Date

19 January 2015

Reviewer

Stephen Brophy

Highlight

Take My Number

This Is M.E is a collection of eleven new songs, and a number of collaborations with some producers that maybe you wouldn't have automatically thought of for her normal style of music, such as R&B Producer RoccStar who has worked with the likes of Usher and Chris Brown in the past, of course change and stepping out of the comfort zone every now and then isn't a bad thing, but my first thought was that it could lead to some of the tracks here being a little less immediate or accessible that on other Etheridge releases.

The album kicks off really nicely with the track "I Won't Be Alone" which has a gentle intro leading into good song with a bit of a boom in the chorus, nice and simple, but one of those songs that gets into your head just like that.

The second track on the album is

for me the real standout song, "Take My Number" just has a classic feel about it, a really good Rock/Pop song and it gets your foot tapping right from the get go. It stuck in my mind on first listen and has been the one song that I've been waiting to come back on after repeated listens, this and the excellent and very personal "Who Are You Waiting For" which she wrote for her wedding last year to Linda Wallem, it's a lovely piece with a wandering piano running right the way through it, and again the album version as with "Take My Number" was worked with Jon Levine, I don't know if he just got lucky with the tracks that were presented to him or if there's a special something in the way they work, will be interesting to see if the two continue to collaborate in the future. There are other tracks here such as "A Little Hard Hearted",

China Sky

"Like A Preacher" and "Stranger Road" which has a bit more of an edge to it and almost a country rock feel. Not much that misses the mark here, maybe for me "Monster" isn't quite up to the same level as the rest, it just doesn't grab me at all, but maybe I'll be alone on that one.

All in all this is a really good modern sounding album, there are some stand out tracks and a couple that don't quite match up to the rest of it, but with such a varied set of songs that would always be expected. A brave move and one that I think has paid off, working with a different range of collaborators seems to have pumped some new energy into Etheridge and that's great, looking forward to seeing what comes next.

China Sky II

Record Label

Escape Music

Release Date

20 February 2015

Reviewer

Stephen Brophy

Highlight

I Wish I Could Fly

China Sky looked set for great things in the late 80's, they were releasing a debut album, the first single seemed to catch fire, lots of airplay, sales around Europe and Japan and the momentum continued to pick up with the release of a second single, and sadly that is where the story ended for the last twenty five years. The band split up, went their separate ways and continued working in different projects with China Sky disappearing from most peoples memories and thoughts.

Now with a bit of luck, some persistence and the sheer quality that album contained China Sky

back and with a new album, albeit Fly" there really is very little to some changes in the bands lineup. criticise, certainly not Ron Perry's excellent vocals, top notch backing China Sky II is really quite a breath vocals all over the album, of fresh air, can't put my finger on keyboards that aren't too light and the reason it has grabbed me, poppy, guitars that in places are maybe it's the non over polished just subtle and add perfectly to the production, it doesn't sound like songs. everything else that's hitting the market at the moment, and add to Sometimes things just come right that it's a bloody quality album. To for a band, be it musical styles some there may be an argument aligning with the public or just that that this has a bit of an old school hurdles are no longer in band sound, but who cares, this has members way, this is time for high points from the very start, China Sky, don't be afraid to join tracks like "One Life", "The Road what for me is going to be a bit of Not Taken", "I Believe In You" and a magical music journey, because the oh so classy "I Wish I Could this is great.

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Pat Travers Band

Live At The Iridium, NYC

Record Label

Frontiers Records

Release Date 23 January 2015

Reviewer

Phil Kane

Highlight

Canadian Patrick Henry "Pat" Travers, guitarist, keyboardist, and singer, began his recording career with Polydor Records in the mid-1970s. Over the intervening years, his band has seen such worthies as Pat Thrall, Nicko McBrain, Tommy Aldridge, Carmine Appice and Michael Shrieve amongst others pass through their ranks; Kirk Hammett rates him extremely highly.

Travers has been touring pretty much ever since, even making the arena circuit briefly, and here to celebrate a 2012 comeback and 2013’s subsequent 'Can Do' album he releases 'Live At The Iridium, NYC', recorded over two shows at New York City’s Iridium Club in 2012.

down in yer front room. The bulk of the album's material is taken from right across his prolific recording career, finished off in fine style with a handful of covers. His own material stands up well with a sizzling 'Rock And Roll Suzie' kicking things off in fine style.

'Gettin' Beta' hangs a healthy dose of funk off the rockin' blues chassis, 'Josephine' and Ray Charles' 'I've Got News For You' get the burningly slow blues treatment. Yet when all is said and done, it’s the ragged arsed motor city boogification of Clapton's 'If I Had Possession over Judgement Day' with its wailing harp and a rather juicy ‘Black Betty’ that steal the show. The band are on fire, tighter then the hub nuts on an eighteen wheeler, the tunes big If you are familiar with the 70s hitting ball breakers, the output of the likes of the Winter production clear enough without bros, Trower, and Rick Derringer losing the live thrill. The bass ‘n’ then you'll know what to expect drums stick to the groove like here; hard driven testosterone limpets allowing the guitars room fuelled Yankee arena blues rock to roam, though they seldom do, that plonks a polished big stage and the vocals are suitably belt atmosphere of a bygone age right and braces. There are no

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If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day

extended jams, the 64 minute running time and the between song gaps suggesting this isn't likely to be a full gig; the omission of 'Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights)', 'Statesboro’ Blues’ or "Snortin' Whiskey" reinforcing the suspicion, so though this isn't being plugged as a greatest hits package, it would've been nice to hear an entire show anyway.

Sadly, Travers never really made the big time despite getting his fair share of FM radio airtime, the pincer movement of punk and the Eddie Van Halen phenomena pretty much snuffing out his chances and to be fair, when 'Live At The Iridium' is compared to the recent reissue of Gallagher’s ‘Irish Tour ’74’, the performance does lack fire. His tendency to muck about and experiment in the 80s and 90s didn’t help either. This album, however, shows he has more than enough going on to give today’s rocking blues young guns something to consider.

Wild Rose

Hit ‘N’ Run

Record Label

AOR BLVD Records

Release Date

13 October 2014

Reviewer

Stephen Brophy

Highlight

Through The Night

The excellent Wild Rose hail from Greece, formed in 2004 and Hit 'N Run is their third studio album and contains eleven tracks, and it's a little belter. The band contains Andy Rock (Guitar/Keys/Backing Vocals), Dirty Haris (Keys/Backing Vocals), Phil Gun (Bass), Tiny Karpo (Guitars), Dimos Thomaidis (Drums) and the considerable Vocal talents of none other than David A Saylor. It is no surprise with Andy and David in the lineup that this is a very melodic rock album, nothing hidden here, right from the Keyboard into to the opening track "Through The Night", which is an excellent opener by the way, we are lead on a trip of pure melodic rock, if this is the type of music that floats your boat then you really will lap this album up. The track itself is really strong in pretty much every department, all of the individual Instruments including Vocals shine somewhere in the song, and there's just something a bit addictive, where you don't mind listening to this song a few times in a row and still enjoy it each time.

The album as a whole just rolls

along from this extremely promising start, "I'll Be There" is like most of the tracks here, is based on some excellent keyboards, guitar and vocals, and that's not to say there is anything wrong with the drums and bass, this is high quality work from a very experienced and talented group of musicians, and with the album being both mixed and produced by Andy Rock himself, there is a beautiful flow here from one track to another. "Stay", "Can't Wait On Love", "Give In To Me", "All For Love" and "Don't Walk Away" are all very immediate and give you that feeling of an old friend when you play them, always a great feeling from any song, "Don't Walk Away" in particular is a really nice piece of work, I must say it's been quite a while since I enjoyed keyboards as much on an album as I don on Hit 'N Run, it all just falls into place really well add to that Andy's excellent guitar work winding and weaving it's way in, out and through the melodies and to me this is one of the albums released towards the end of 2014 that I really should have been paying more attention to, the more

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I listen the more I want to listen, David's richly textured vocals just add an extra layer of class on top of what is already a very classy piece of work.

"Without Your Love" can be considered the main ballad on this album if there really is such a thing on melodic rock albums these days, but it's another classy track, and for me at least the really cool thing about this one is that it doesn't remind me of a hundred other ballads, it's just a great song.

The album finishes off with "I Want Your Love" and again it's just a really good song, the Wild Rose guys have created a little magic on this gem of a release, and if like I said if Melodic Hard Rock is your thing then jump all over this one, it does not disappoint, and it's a big reminder to me to be careful at the end of a year not to overlook things, especially with a band that I was looking forward to hearing again.

Stargazery

Stars Aligned

Record Label

Pure Legend Records

Release Date

23 January 2015

Reviewer

Rob Birtley

Highlight

Absolution

The album opens with ‘Voodoo’.

From the first guitar intro you’re reminded of a speeded up version of the Classic Sabbath song of the same name off Mob Rules.

Granted the vocal is more like a higher key more Tony Martin than RJD and the song doesn’t have the same Sabbath Heavy going on sounding more like something off Seventh Star. Keyboards evoke Rainbow in its pomp as does the rest of the song and guitar solo.

It’s a good opening, and fine calling card for the band. ‘Angel Of Dawn’ has a distinct Europe feel going on.

Most noticeably for the vocal harmony and the opening guitar line, may be a bit heavier, not as polished perhaps with Jari Tiura sounds like a dead ringer for Rob Rock. ‘Invisible’ is not a cover of the Dio song of the same name but it does have it does have that same feel. At the same time it manages to invoke shades of Rainbow with a fine guitar solo as

its centre piece. ”Absolution” is a great recreation of the 80’s SABBATH kind of atmosphere and is equally spellbinding straight from the first drum beat and the Martin era Iommi guitar part and solo. Jari Tiura runs his full vocal range during the song and maybe it his best vocal performance on the album. After this track I could forgive a lot. ‘Academy Of Love’ begins classic style with just piano and has a Whitesnake circa 1987 vibe going on including a young Coverdale like vocal and is the album’s most AOR orientated track. I do have to say I was hearing John Sykes during the short but sweet guitar solo and ending riff. ‘Painted Into A Corner’ with outstanding Hammond organ parts is like something out of the Deep Purple/Uriah Heep songbook. With Rainbow echoes in the chunky guitar part and vocals that remind you of Graham Bonnet it speeds along in vintage 70’s way

La Muerte

at a rapid rate of knots. ‘Dim The Halo’ also has a Rainbow feel, once again Bonnet like vocal but the effect reminds me a lot of ‘Eyes Of The World’ with an influence of N.W.O.B.H.M. and almost matches my highlight track but not quite.

What sets this album apart is how it seems to flow from one song to the next. Influence yes aplenty but so well done. Jari Tiura turns in a vocal performance that doesn’t miss a beat that runs the whole spectrum of Melodic Metal. Pete Ahonen guitar sound does likewise whilst paying its dues to The Man in Black. Keyboards feature well as do drums but I would have loved to have heard Cosy behind the kit on this release to give it just a bit more kick. Final thoughts well the sum of the parts is greater than the whole with this one and it’s a definite grower and I stayed afloat with this one.

La Muerte

Record Label

Self Release

Release Date

1 November 2014

Reviewer

Lee Walker

Highlight

Deathwish

One of the many E.P’s to land on the desk at Firebrand Towers is the debut, self titled release from the interestingly titled La Muerte.

Continuing the resurgence of making single and E.P releases extra special La Muerte opted to release the e.p on vinyl to enhance the bands gritty old school punk roots with a sound not to dissimilar to The Dead Kennedys

as they quickly unleash three annoyingly addictive tracks of bass heavy, old school punk rock, in rapid fire succession barely leaving time for the DM’s to land and the oi’s to die down leaving you in doubt that La Muerte are definitely a band to keep an eye on.

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The Answer

Raise A Little Hell

Record Label

Napalm Records

Release Date

9 March 2015

Reviewer

Rob Birtley

Highlight

Cigarettes And Regrets

A number of things puzzle me. I’m the first to admit I don’t have all the answers or even most of them. One such vexing problem is The Answer. My appreciation goes way back but not as far back as the Irish Rock sage Stephen Brophy. After all The Answer is a great band. The number of people who agree with me about their prowess live is staggering. They are a staple at any decent Rock festival and after an album like ‘Every Day Demons’ they should be huge but it just quite doesn’t seem to happen for them. So it was with mixed emotions I approached their new album.

has that same 60’s guitar vibe.

Cormac has that gritty Blues fuelled and Booze soaked vocal going on to full effect a sound I never tire of. It also has a really Bluesy guitar break into the chorus and bridge. ‘Aristocrat’ definitely has a lot of Led Zeppelin going on right down to the harmonica and some fine guitar soloing by Paul Mahon definitely in the same vein. ‘Cigarettes and Regrets’ has that Country/ Americana feel that The Answer has somehow made part of their sound. The distorted guitar and effects bring back to mind a slower tempo ‘Nowhere Highway’ invoking the same sense of love The album opens with ‘Long Live lost with a touch more melancholy.

The Renegades’ which anthemic ‘Last Days Of Summer’ starts off for this Good Time Rock band. with a strong bass line and simply Reminding of AC/DC you get the drum beat. The sound is a deeper feeling from the first beat and blue Led Zeppelin stripped bare. bass note, and like a number of Vocal well each word is ripped out their songs it’s semi of Cormac’s heart you can feel his autobiographical. Either way it’s a pain. Add a short but sweet guitar definite statement of intent, this is solo and you can feel the a band that feels in some senses increasing chill as Autumn they are outsiders and they aren’t approaches and the weather inclined to change to find passing turns. ‘Strange Kinda Nothing’ fame. Next up ‘The Other Side’ slows thing down a bit. Cormac reminds me of ‘Spectacular’ the goes for a more tuneful and lead-off single from their last mellow vocal to match the mood. album New Horizons. The opening Almost acoustic in effect and you

40

could easily imagine it done that way. Simplicity yes but often with The Answer less is sometimes more. ‘I Am What I Am’ is built on an AC/DC riff including using the title as part of the backing vocal chorus. Paul Mahon wades in with a wonderful wailing guitar solo amid the thudding rhythm line.

‘Whiplash’ is one of the more hard -on Rock songs. It’s got an edge of UFO about it and looks back to that 70’s in the vibe. This one will definitely be a ‘Live’ favourite in years to come.

In the end maybe The Answer are a Marmite band, you either get them totally or not at all. In their individual parts well much better than most of their contemporaries but put all together they are Immense. Raise A Little Hell is a better album than the last one New Horizon. It’s a really hard album to pick a highlight from so strong are the individual tracks.

Even after saturating myself in it reviewing the album I had to go back and listen to it again and again. If you are not a fan already check this album out and be happy you have another 4 albums to enjoy.

The Rascels

This IS...

Record Label

Self Release

Release Date

25 October 2014

Reviewer

Gavin Griffiths

Highlight

Get Up

With a set of influences ranging from legendary artists such as The Beatles and Elvis Presley, to more modern day indie bands such as Oasis and Arctic Monkeys, it would be safe to suggest that Nottingham’s The Rascelshave started off on the right foot, so it’s with much anticipation we hit play on their newest EP/mini album; ‘This Is’…

being merely pleasant. ‘My Summertime’ and ‘Quiet Life’ follow suit…they’re nice songs, there’s no questioning that but again, that’s as far as they go, nothing leaps out at you; no big hooks, no infectious choruses to make you want to so much as even tap your foot, it’s almost bland. ‘Get Up’ does liven up a little, more guitar driven and it does at least have a hint of rock ‘n’ roll in its tone with a very welcome solo thrown in for good measure, albeit briefly, before ‘Lovesick’ and ‘Georgia’ round things up fairly safely.

quartet, this new EP is really a bit of a let-down. Oasis were exciting, they had balls and shook up the Brit-pop scene, the Gallagher brother famous for not giving a f**k. Elvis and The Beatles caused hysteria everywhere they went, The Rascels? I’m afraid there’s no risk of that happening judging by the songs on offer here. ‘This Is’ The Rascels? This is a shame…

Taking one look at the cover; soft pastel colours, bright, easy on the eyes…it pretty much resonates with the band’s sound as soon as ‘Kiss Me Like You Mean It’ hits your ears. It’s a pretty straight forward pop-rock track, with little Given the list of artists that have to no edge or energy to lift it above supposedly inspired this young

Bonz

Broken Silence

Record Label

Eternal Soul Records

Release Date

10 February 2015

Reviewer

Gavin Griffith

Highlight

30 Seconds To Swat

To many who’ve grown up listening to rock and/or rap during the 90’s, the name Bonz should be a familiar one. Formerly the vocalist of cross-over band STUCK MOJO, he helped cement the legitimacy of the whole rap-hip-hop/metal genre, brilliantly blending together the once opposing sides of the musical spectrum. Fast forward almost twenty years and we find him still going strong, fronting a new band, simply under the banner BONZ, with a new album; ‘Broken Silence’ ready to drop via Eternal Sound Records. Let’s assess the damage…

‘Sinister Grin’ gets us underway and it doesn’t mess around. Bonz

lyrically and vocally as angst-ridden as ever, his passion shining through with each visceral statement uttered, while Curt Taylor (guitar), Don Leslie (bass) and Erin Stagg (drums) keep the track rocking hard. The title track, along-side ‘Bad News’ and ’30 Seconds To Swat’ sounding BIG, churning out riff after riff; managing to sound refreshing whilst retaining a slight nostalgia, harking back to the early days of Bonz former band. Tracks such as ‘Sour Diesel’ and ‘Bad Love’ are slower but no less pummelling, before we round things up with the inclusion of a bonus live track.

Artists and bands such as Bonz

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don’t discriminate, there is no right or wrong in music and he continues to blend together two genres, usually poles apart in style, almost effortlessly. When combined well, rap-rock, or whatever you want to pigeonhole it as, is great. Don’t be put off by any lingering thoughts of poorly produced nu-metal, give ‘Broken Silence’ a listen; Bonz has spoken.

Liv Kristine

Vervain

Record Label

Napalm Records

Release Date

24 October 2014

Reviewer

Stephen Brophy

Highlight

Love Decay

From the start I make no secret that I am a fan of Liv's vocal talents, have loved her work to date be it with Theatre Of Tragedy, Leave's Eyes or indeed her previous solo work and many guest appearances with bands like Atrocity, Cradle Of Filth or Delain.

So what does Liv deliver on her new solo album Vervain, I think generally with singers of Liv's style the solo work tends to be a little bit lighter in sound than the band work, that's not to say there is anything wrong with that, and of course it's quite possible that it allows the singer to work outside their normal boundaries and express themselves more or in different ways, and this album is

an excellent example of that, and it's very good. On top of that we also get some nice guest appearances from the likes of Michelle Darkness (End Of Green) and the legendary Doro.

together, there is just that touch of class that Liv possesses which is unquestionably stamped on anything she does, there's something quite hypnotic about this one. For me the standout tracks on the album are There's plenty to keep fans happy "Stronghold Of Angels" with Doro, here, some beautiful songs that "Lotus" is wonderfully haunting, deserve to get heard by as wide an and my personal favourite "Love audience as possible. The albums Decay" which has an additional starts off with "My Wilderness" Gothic edge with the vocals of which opens with an almost Thin Michelle Darkness.

Lizzyesque guitar into, but as with everything else here, there's a Vervain is another quality release, maturity in the music that you a great album to put your feet up would expect from a seasoned with, stick headphones on and turn veteran and a group of very up the volume, excellent stuff. talented musicians. The song itself is as expected really well put

Reason

The Deception Of Dreams

Record Label

Alienation Records

Release Date

26 January 2015

Reviewer

Rob Birtley

Highlight

Sacrifice

Reason was formed in 2009 by ex -Vandamne/Fyrebyrds/Empire/ Crywolf guitarist & songwriter Chris Gyngell and vocalist Paul Mace. The rest of the line-up is Gil Hird - Keyboards, Graham Corbett - Bass and John Townsend Percussion. The Deception Of Dreams is their follow up to the excellent debut album Darkest Star. They describe their sound as Melodic/Progressive Hard Rock.

Expect echoes of Asia and Yes with hints of Pink Floyd and Genesis with the harder edge of Dream Theater.

The album opens with ‘Synchronised’ from first note its vibrant melodic riff remind you of

Queensryche and progressive drum/rhythm section is pure Dream Theater. The bridge invokes Saga likewise the vocal.

Next up is ‘Sacrifice’ built up on a heavy Bass and Drum beat that drives the track. Structurally like Dream Theater that same kind of tension builds, for obvious reasons it’s the first track to be released as a video. ‘Eternal Fire’ still has that solid drumming but the vocal is more melodic the whole song sounds like the faster tunes of Asia with echoes of 80’s Hard Rock in the chorus. ‘Heartless’ recalls Cosy and RJD era Rainbow.

Blackmore like guitar parts and the kit takes a bashing rock drummers would be proud of. This

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track is the least Prog influenced on the album. September Child’ opens like a Sabbath song from Eternal Idol and has that type of guitar riff and solo running through it using keyboards out of the Asia song book. It also has the best vocal on the release.

The Deception of Dreams is a unique mix. Strongly influenced by the Heavy of Dream Theater and a melodic Sabbath reverb it still has an ‘English’ sound from the old school of Yes and Asia. Finely produced with stunning singing and playing there is just one question you need to ask are you ready for the next step in Progressive Music?

The Toi

Water Into Wine

Record Label

Sushi Roll

Release Date

2 March 2015

Reviewer

Lee Walker

Highlight

The One

Hailing from, Glasgow The Toi have been creating quite a stir in the melodic rock scene since there inception in 2011.

Opening song ‘Get On It’ really sets the pace for this album with its AOR friendly guitar work and typical 80s lyrics, which isn’t such a bad thing as Reckless Love have proved. As the album progresses you get the feeling that you are listening to something special and that’s because you are be it with the catchy arrangements, the soulful lyrics or the way it is pulled together either way you have the full package here originating from Glasgow of all places.

As melodic rock albums go ‘Water Into Wine’ ticks all the right boxes and AOR/melodic rock aficionados will love this album from start to finish and I dare say will produce much more suitable alternative to compare them against. Regardless of the comparison though ‘Water Into Wine’ pretty much showcases The Toi’s ability to create catchy, addictive melodic rock that is somehow still original and stands out from the crowd while remaining true to its roots.

Nightblade

Crisis Has No Prejudice

Record Label

Self Release

Release Date

23 November 2014

Reviewer

Lee Walker

Highlight

Poison Women

After unconfirmed reports that a Tassel clad Grim Reaper was stalking the band at a recent London gig Nightblade are back.

‘Crisis Has No Prejudice’ was originally set to be released as a cd but later changed to download only which is a shame as I guess you will never get to see the other half of the release cover.

Labelled as NWOBHMI always thought that Nightblade’s sound was more in tune with proto-thrash, similar to Satan, rather than outright NWOBHM but that’s just me. As a three track E.P the results are impressive and serve as a great preview for their as yet un-named forthcoming album.

Released as download only ‘Crisis Simply put the Nightblade are back Has No Prejudice’ continues with a vengeance. where ‘Closer To The Threshold’ left off with Firebrand’s favourite reapers returning with three slabs of NOWTHM coming at you faster than a hot sickle slicing through butter.

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Marilyn Manson

The Pale Emperor

Record Label

Cooking Vinyl

Release Date

20 January 2015

Reviewer

Lee Walker

Highlight

Deep Six

The original anti-Christ superstar Marilyn Manson makes an appearance with a new release titled ‘The Pale Emperor’ and I have got to be brutally honest with you I am really not digging this album at all ~ perhaps it will grow on me…..

Having followed MM since the infamous ‘Smells Like’ E.P through to the classic ‘Anti-Christ Superstar’ (wasn’t overly fussed by the ‘Portrait’ album to be honest) and survived up to ‘The Golden Age Of Grotesque’ before giving up so I was somewhat piqued to say the least as to what MM 2015 would have to hold.

Having always been hit and miss in my opinion I was somewhat interested in hearing what MM has come up with (especially in light of the cancelled UK Alt Fest appearance this year) so I readily lapped up the chance to hear what Brian Hugh Warner aka MM has came up with this time around.

As an MM album ‘The Pale Emperor’ is, well, average to be perfectly frank, with the commercial appeal of 1998s ‘Mechanical Animals’ being met with a couple of the tracks, notably ‘Deep Six’ and ‘Slave Only Dreams To Be King’ , but on the whole the quality was not there for me.

Perhaps this album will grow on

Pretty Addicted

me but as it stands now ‘The Pale Emperor’ screams to me of yet another MM album that is nice to own but does not adequately convey Mr Manson’s ability to capture people’s imagination and pull out the fantastic, highly addictive songs, that he has got the ability to produce. I don’t know about being a ‘Pale Emperor’ but Marilyn Manson can do better than this.

It All Stems From Childhood

Record Label

Record Union On Beatport

Release Date

6 August 2014

Reviewer

Lee Walker

Highlight

Mania

One of the few positive’s to come from the ill fated Alt Fest was coming across new bands (with the other main positive being the way that the ‘community’ gelled together to help each other get there money back).

Who are ‘Pretty Addicted’? well being one of the many bands scheduled to appear at ‘Alt Fest’ you would not be at all surprised that to hear that they fall deep within the loosely phrased ‘Alternative’ scene with their sound a mixture of dark wave and ebm with a distinctly driven beat to the music. Lyrically I have seen comparison’s to Marylin Manson but to be brutally honest PA’s

lyrics (and sounds) are a damn site better than anything MM has put out lately and can not see the comparisons between the two with the possible exception of re-occurring drug use themes for songs but that said the sounds are really not remotely similar.

From the offset this album grabs you by the throat and demands your listening attention with its mix of dark wave/ebm infused beat and the provocative, thought provoking, lyrics with subjects ranging from ‘dirty mouthed whores’ through to ‘monkeys in space’ getting Vish’s special treatment.

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Overall ‘It All Stems From Childhood’ is like disappearing down the rabbit hole after dropping a tab or six of acid while being led on your journey by a demonic Micky Mouse. A must listen for all fans of the alternative/gothic sounds.

Bowling For Soup

Songs That People Actually Liked Vol.1

Record Label

Que-so/Brando

Release Date

26 January 2015

Reviewer

Gavin Griffiths

Highlight

20 Years (That’s A lot Of Beer)

Pledging has fast become one of the go-to methods of releasing new music for artists of all genres in recent times… it helps them with their creative output without the need for a major label’s financial backing, also allowing for more creative control on the bands part, but, using it to release a ‘Best Of’ compilation? Isn’t that just …lazy?!

Texan pop-punk party-band Bowling For Soup don’t seem to think so! Currently celebrating their twentieth anniversary, they decided to release the quirkily titled ‘Songs People Actually Liked – Vol. 1 – The First Ten Years (1994-2003)’. It just rolls off the tongue doesn’t it? It’s the first half of an official band-approved greatest hit’s collection, spanning their first decade of material with the songs chosen being freshly re-recorded, plus one new track.

Sounds promising, so let’s go bowling…

Kicking off with ‘Last Rock Show’, this brief yet bouncy number sets the mood perfectly with its short, sharp delivery, textbook pop-punk if you will, but it’s tinged with a hint of questionable negativity. It’s set up like this is to be the beginning of the end, a last hurrah if you will?

Are the band gently hinting at something here? ‘Suckerpunch’ follows immediately and that’s exactly how you’re feeling with such thoughts going around your head, almost detracting from the light-hearted punk melodies filling your ears.

Classic tracks such as ‘Emily’, ‘Punk Rock 101’, ‘The Bitch Song’ and of course, ‘Girl All The Bad Guys Want’ all soon make their presence known and such is the bands ability to pen such catchy, radio friendly bangers you can’t help but reminisce of days gone by when jeans were baggy, chains

HATE

were for wearing and punk rock was fun in a time before ‘American Idiot’ was a thing. Early tracks such as ‘Thirteen’ and ‘Sandwich’ from the band’s debut sound lively as ever re-recorded, before we eventually finish on the only new song on offer; ’20 Years (That’s A Lot Of Beers)’. It’s an acoustic driven song, quite tongue-in-cheek as is typical of the gents from Texas, but again, just as the compilation started, it’s got this vibe to it; despite being full of fond memories, it’s hinting very much towards a tearful farewell and a band preparing to down their instruments. A world without Bowling For Soup doesn’t sound fun at all, so when they get round to releasing the second half, it could very well be a sad day for pop-punk if this in fact their swansong.

Crusader Zero

Record Label

Napalm Records

Release Date

30 January 2015

Reviewer

Stephen Brophy

Highlight

Valley Of Darkness

Polish Death Metal stalwarts HATE have been one of those bands that never seemed to get the acclaim they deserved, having released some excellent material in the past eighteen years and being a really good live band too.

Crusader Zero is their ninth studio album release and although it starts off in a slightly odd manner, I don't quite remember when I've ever heard an album starting with two Intro's, just when you are expecting the band to unleash hell you get another short piece,

nothing necessarily wrong with that and it's definitely different and both tracks are as you'd expect very well put together. But for me we really get going with "Death Liberator" which is one of the better tracks on the album, along with "Leviathan", "Rise Omega The Consequence!" and the stand out track for me being "Valley Of Darkness".

There me be nothing ground breaking here, but this is an above average album from a band that

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never seems to drop the quality in their releases. After the very sad death of bassist Slawek "Mortifier" Arkhangelsky while on Tour with the band in April 2013 many wondered if they would even continue, Crusader Zero shows that there is still a lot left in HATE and hopefully we will see an even better follow up in the near future, keep an eye out for them live in 2015.

People On Vacation The Chronicles Of Tim Powers!

Record Label

Brando Records

Release Date

3 February 2015

Reviewer

Gavin Griffiths

Highlight

Don’t Ask The Question

The term super-group gets thrown about a bit, there are of course the obvious ones such as your Audioslave’s and Velvet Revolver’s …but if you were to say People On Vacation, would the term super-group spring to mind? Not really, it’s more of a collaboration to be honest. Comprising of core members Ryan Hamilton of Smile Smile and Jaret Reddick from Bowling For Soup, the duo have been writing and recording music since their respective bands shared a tour just a couple of years ago, and have recently completed their brand new album ‘The Chronicles Of Tim Powers’.

Originally set for release December 2014 but put back a few months, let’s see what people can expect from the pair…

Let’s start with the album’s title;

who exactly is Tim Powers? Well the answer to that is no one in particular, just someone who helped fund the album via Pledge Music, he pledged and was chosen to be part of the album’s title, which, I guess is kind of quirky.

Does the music follow suit however? Knowing Jaret from BFS is involved, are we in for another serving of whimsical lyrical humour and song writing? The album starts off with ‘Don’t Ask The Question’ which really is a great track; it’s a somewhat simplistic indie-rock piece of music but it’s really easy on the ears with plenty of catchy hooks, it’s a really encouraging start. Other tracks maintain the feel-good vibe, such as ‘You May Not Believe In God’, ‘We Shoulda Made It’ and ‘I Might Change My Mind’ but for the most part, the music leans more

Zero Down

towards the style of Ryan’s band than Jaret’s. There are a lot of soft songs on offer here, such as ‘All I Ever Really Wanted’ and the questionably titled ‘Punk Rock World’. There’s nothing wrong with the more laid back approach the duo have taken as such, it’s just that it feels there’s just a little something missing.

Essentially POV have a decent thing going here, both parties are experienced song writers and the proof is here throughout the eleven tracks, but right now they find themselves literally stuck somewhere between each other’s respective bands, maybe something they will eventually iron out and decide between them if they want to aim more for sentiment or silliness. Either way, it’s a decent listen.

No Limit To The Evil

Record Label

Minotaur Records

Release Date

15 December 2015

Reviewer

Phil Kane

Highlight

Two Ton Hammer

Hailing from Seattle this bunch of metal merchants, not to be confused with a long defunct So. Cal. surfer punk outfit of the same name, play an unremarkable mix of American speed metal and trad heavy metal that chucks in a bit of the old fashioned Teutonics and a large spoonful of NWOBHM's stodge to taste. The vocals are a bit Udo in places, Halford and King Diamond in others, occasionally bordering on the downright silly, embellished with some LA gang chants. The harmony lead guitar work has a nice early Maiden ring to it. All of which is rather ironic considering the city’s legacy as birthplace of trad rock's Final

Solution. The inclusion of ‘Two Ton Hammer’, a rerecording of a track from their 2005 debut and (again) ironically the best track here, sums up ‘No Limit To The Evil’ perfectly; it lacks imagination and flair, is antiquated and staid. It has a sound that has been cemented into metal's folklore for decades now, plundering a section of metal's archive that must by now be thumbed out of existence. It's all just another example of the same old same old that gets pretty tiresome after a while. Zero Down have allowed their slavish adherence to the past stifle any innovation that they may have had. Check out 'Leche di Tigre' for instance to see what I mean;

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where's that riff from? Scorpions, d'yer reckon?

Zero Down have been plugging away since 2002 and 'No Limit To The Evil' is their fourth album but you would think the last thirty five years just never happened, nothing has been learned. It feels like an album that's been thrown together just for a laugh, it's allure probably increasing in direct proportion to the amount of alcohol consumed, perfect for that party game of Spot The Riff you've got planned, confirming Americans can do irony (albeit unintentionally. probably).

Evil Invaders

Pulses Of Pleasure

Record Label

Napalm Record

Release Date

27 February 2015

Reviewer

Stephen Brophy

Highlight

Pulses Of Pleasure

Pulses Of Pleasure is their first full length studio release, following on from the self titled EP in 2013 and I guess what most people have been wondering is could they manage to translate the energy of their Live performances into a studio release. Well what we get here are nine balls out killer tunes and no rehashes of what was on the EP either, these are nine new tracks. There are places where I am reminded of early Destruction, Violence or Forbidden, they really are a Thrash band, playing classic stuff and no apologies for it.

The album flies into action with "Loud, Fast 'N' Rude" and honestly within the first ninety seconds you know exactly what Evil Invaders are all about, there's not much playing around with these guys, they just get the job done, immediately makes me want to be back in the heyday of the mid to late 80's, pull

on the tight black jeans (not that they'd fit) and runner boots, but this isn't just nostalgic music, and although I am reminded of some of the big names of the genre here and there, this is a new album thats fresh sounding and absolutely bursting to the rim with energy. If you like riffmania, pounding drums and bass lines, and vocals that maybe a little high pitched for some, but if you were a fan of the previously mentioned bands and the likes of Agent Steel, Heathen, or really any thrash at all you should be very happy to give this one a spin. The title track "Pulses Of Pleasure" is another fast and furious one, that breaks out into a very melodic section just after the half way mark that adds a touch of class to the song and makes for a nice change of pace, showing that the guys have put some thought into this and not just run into the studio and blasted for

The Deep

two or three days. There is a lot to enjoy here, "Eclipse Of The Mind", "Siren", "Shot To Paradise" and "Venom" are all excellent tracks, and they don't all just sound like one mashed together song, there's nice differences between them, and still they work well together, for me there's a little bit too much of a Maiden vibe to "Stairway To Insanity" but it's still a good track.

The album closes with "Master Of Illusion" preceded by it's own Intro "Blinded", and ok again I get a bit of a Maiden vibe off it, the track itself is a little slower and more methodical than some of the others and stretches them a bit more in a straightforward Metal area, but it's a fine finish to what has been an extremely solid debut album, the guys can be very proud of this and this is a band you should keep on your radar.

Premonition

Record Label

Self Release

Release Date

TBC

Reviewer

Lee Walker

Highlight

Nightstalker/Premonition

Having first came across The Deep thanks to their self titled demo I was more than happy to take a listen to the forthcoming album ‘Premonition’.

For those who have not yet had the chance to discover The Deep yet the band have deep routed connections to bands such as Rogue Male, Airrace, Bugeyed Starfish and Angel Witch and produce a sound similar to what would be achieved if nwobhm giants the Tygers Of Pan Tang merged with Praying Mantis (yes

it’s that good).

strongest debut albums that I have heard in a very long time and With this debut album release firmly laying down the gauntlet for monsieurs Tony Coldham, Paul 2015 album releases by Smith, Mick Feleppa, Don unleashing a strong contender for Whiberley and Steve Kingsley the album of the year despite still firmly capitalise upon the being in January. My premonition success of the previously released is that you will much more of The demo by offering up ten tracks of Deep. pure, unadulterated rock, striking a balance perfectly between out and out rock and full on nwobhm capturing the imagination with an away of traditional nwobhm riffs, melodic rock power ballads and classic vocals producing one of the

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Iron Lamb

Fool’s Gold

Record Label

High Roller Records

Release Date

30 January 2015

Reviewer

Phil Kane

Highlight

Smile Now, Cry Later

When it was mentioned to guitarist Johan Wallin that Iron Lamb "live and breathe the spirit of '77 era Motörhead” he responded, “Sure, that feeling ain't going nowhere, that's for sure... Fast Eddie Clarke obviously has been a huge influence on us as a band, both for riffs and lead guitar work." Perhaps Motorhead circa 'Overkill' to ‘Ace Of Spades’ would be nearer the mark, the only thing 'Fool's Gold' lacks is a rousing reappropriation of 'Overkill' itself and Clarke's trade mark wah wah soloing effects, the fact that Iron Lamb need two guitars to achieve what Fast Eddie did on his own working well as an adequate summation.

As homages go, 'Fool's Gold' isn't half bad. The production captures

the sound of an era quite well and it scores highly with the song writing; the tunes are catchy, snapping along with no little verve, the hooks irresistible perfectly summed up by "Feed The Fire", "Smile Now Cry Later”, and the sucker punch "Center Of The Universe". Bubbling underneath all the 'Headism are a few ideas that do occasionally percolate through because in amongst all the monotonous retro punk metal bluster, just to break things up, Iron Lamb chuck in 'Leave Me Be' mid album which veers wildly into Sisters Of Mercy territory, the following ‘Pink Mist’ taking both styles and mashing them up before the album reverts completely back to type. Yet it’s all a bit too focused on one aspect of

Impera

that Motorhead sound when there is more to it than just gravelly vocals and chainsaw rhythm bass.

Overall, "Fool’s Gold" is fundamentally an album of the sort of good old fashioned dirty biker heavy metal that's never really fallen from grace and Iron Lamb do it very well. They could maybe try something a little different more often though. Whether it catches the spirit of a bygone era is questionable, many of these bands forget that Lemmy has always claimed Motorhead were/are basically a very loud, dirty rock’ n’ roll band and not so much out ‘n’ out heavy metal, so sadly it would appear Iron Lamb are yet another band that has missed the point.

Empire Of Sin

Record Label

Escape Music

Release Date

26 January 2015

Reviewer

Rob Birtley

Highlight

End OF The World

I don’t like to use the words Super Group but in this case I’m afraid I’ll have to. Impera consists of: Matti Alfonzetti – vocals (Jagged Edge, Scott Gorham, Red White & Blues) / Tommy Denander – guitar (Toto, Paul Stanley, Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper) / J.K. Impera – drums (Graham Bonnett, Vinnie Vincent, John Corabi, Brian Robertson) / Mats Vassfjord - bass (Vinnie Vincent, John Corabi, Grand Design). As you can see an all-star line-up and with this lot Hard Rock with impressive solos in the best 70s / 80s style and a pinch of Blues-Rock and AOR is the order of the day.

Empire Of Sin begins with ‘The Beast Is Dead’. This track especially around the chorus has a lot of Blue Murder going on including a matching guitar solo. It also has that Heavy/Blues vibe. Alfonzetti puts in a hard full-throttle vocal.

Next up ‘Evil’ is much in the same vein driven and loaded. ‘Don’t Stop’ opens up like vintage Ratt then Matti turns up the melodic heat with vocal. You’ll certainly enjoy this good time song. ‘Hole In The Sky’ after the slightly Eastern opening morphs into a heavy riff the effect is not unlike Warrant 'Dog Eat Dog' era before the song fills out to a Bluesy/Rocker like the best of House of Lords. ‘End Of The World’

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has the best vocal performance on the album. In theme and musical parts it reminds me of later-day Ten, epic and dreamy storytelling and Denander delivers a six-string masterclass. ‘Light In The Sky’ is anthemic and heads right into hitesnake territory.

This album just like the Ronseal add delivers exactly what it says on the tin. With a cast of Sweden’s Melodic Rock Illuminati ensuring great playing and singing, fine songs throughout and pin-sharp production failure was not an option. If Melodic Hard Rock is your bag this is one for your collection.

21st Century Goliath

Back With A Vengeance

Record Label

Self Release

Release Date

5 December 2014

Reviewer

Phil Kane

Highlight

So Much To Learn

Here yer are then, definitely one for the boogie boys.

Imagine Priest done closer (a lot closer) to that Young bros inspired SG driven Antipodean sound than the Euro Teutonic, the lead singer fancying himself a bit of a James Hetfield too; initially at least. ‘Back With A Vengeance’ is greasy, grubby, having more in common with a bike and a long hot outback road than a panzerkampfwagon forging a trail through the Ardennes.

Where debut ‘Radio Destroyer’ ploughed a furrow vaguely biased towards a sleeker metal sound, 'Back With A Vengeance' offers us an altogether tougher ragged assed r ‘n’ r proposition. Top heavy with mid tempo groovers, it’s not ferocious enough to be in the same class as Airbourne or da Tatts, too rock ‘n’ roll to be pureblood metal, ‘Welcome To The Dark Side’ for instance. On initial listen it’ll sound like a creaky straight down the line ‘DC inspired

rocker, but give it a chance and the subtleties will start to bubble up revealing an album that has a heart as big as a wrecking ball with a bucketful of soul to match.

These boys have tried to spice the groove with a touch of the south, a smidge of trad Brit grunt and a slightly over egged punky gang choir chorus line. There's a little blues in there too. Unlike a lot of other albums, ‘Back With A Vengeance’ gets stronger the further you get into it, the boogie quota progressively increasing inversely proportionate to the irritating Hetfield vocal. The great rock ‘n’ roll solo work and road hog gob iron just about finish off ‘Detroit '76’ to a turn. The hooky 'Cold Hearted Woman' gets every ones thumbs up for radio attention, but sounds more like it would be happier on a Harley low rider with a .357 tucked in its boot. 'Got My Number' and 'Brace Yourself For Hell' have a bit of that wild eyed southern guitar harmony thing going on that Blackfoot used to do so well; must be a

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Confederacy thing, they are from Charlotte NC after all. Apparently band leader and guitarist, Scott Roby, spent 16 months in the can which has no doubt contributed enormously to the dirty production work and the album’s overall urgent one-taker feel, the drums in particular sounding great. If you ache for the beer swilling, oil stained glory days of the all conquering biker bands like Jackyl, Great White and Four Horsemen, then 21st Century Goliath with their bad attitudes and bigger bollocks might just go some way to easing the pain some.

If there were to be any criticism of this album it would be that the boys get a bit too finicky where a little less fuss and a bit more groove might have improved things and it does get a bit samey too but perhaps that's being a bit too picky, it is only the band’s second outing after all. So, minor quibbles aside and only five bucks through the bands website, what more incentive do you need.

Furyon

Lost Salvation

Record Label

Dream Records/Cargo Records

Release Date

23 February 2015

Reviewer

Rob Birtley

Highlight

These Four Walls

Lost Salvation begins with ‘All That I Have’. Musically after an initial Prog line it sounds like brooding Alterbridge verging towards Creed territory. At the same time Furyon manage to make it heavier and more melodic with a vocal that has Brit angst, these guys are no wannabees they are the genuine article. You know it’s a good sign when the opener draws you back in again and again. ‘Lost Salvation’ is the title track. Once again it kicks off much like a Myles Kennedy fronted track off Fortress before reaching the title chorus which is a more melodic affair. The guitar, well not as blocked or distorted as Mark Tremonti but in that vein at the start then lightens up for the break with a fine solo that merges the two six string attach at the end. ‘These Four Walls’ is the first single off the album and has a vocal the ‘troubled’ Scott Stapp would be proud of. It’s a kindred spirit with Creed’s ‘My Own Prison’ as just as moving. This is a full blooded melodic monster with an

outstanding vocal running the gamut from gravel tones hitting the high notes, Chris Green's guitar playing is icing on the cake and at the same time binds the track together. This is also one of the points the vocal harmony backing soars into the Shinedown sphere. ‘Scapegoat’ is one of the heavier tracks on the album, starting with a solid bass riff that just keeps on giving and giving right through the track. Structure wise it reminds me of Avenged Sevenfold in their bluesy moments played in a time signature akin to Led Zeppelin. Vocal well it’s full on with loads of emotional and colour going on. ‘Left It With The Gods’ is heading towards 70’s Blues/Rock a bit like early Rival Sons. Gravel vocal line goes melodic when the high notes are hit during the chorus it’s just such a solid and groove filled vibe and like the rest of the tracks on this album has an epic feel to it. ‘Good Sky’ has a certain Chris Cornell vibe to it. A meeting of ‘Black Hole Sun’ and ‘You Know My Name’ comes to

SnakeyeS

mind and I could see it opening a Bond film especially with the words ‘A thousand ways to die choose a path and hope you’re not alone’ as part of the chorus which spins into a superb guitar solo as the band go into overdrive like a well-tuned Aston Martin. ‘What You Need’ has a Bad Company blues feel with a bass line carved out of Black Sabbath akin to lighter tracks from Zack Wilds band with guitar flourishes to match. Do Not make the mistake just because I don’t detail all 10 tracks that this album tails off that are far from the truth is it’s down to time and space that’s all.

Lost Salvation is a fine album in many ways and I’m glad to say that Furyon are truly what I’d describe as a Hard Rock band they defy labels and combine so much still making the sound their own.

Contender for my album of 2015 well maybe my advice to you is just do not miss this one.

Welcome To The Snakepit

Record Label

Self Release

Release Date

25 November 2014

Reviewer

Phil Kane

Highlight

Riding The Sententiel Into Hell

This EP has been out a while now, but seems to have been given a reissue (I think) with a forth track tacked on to prime us for the imminent release of the band's debut album. 'Welcome To The Snakepit' is a rip roaring homage to classic metal a la Priest. It's all done very well too, this Spanish/ Romanian outfit seemingly done its homework. The original three tracks 'Time of Dismay', 'Snake Pit' and 'Shadow Warriors' all weigh in

with gusto, unafraid to wear their heritage on their sleeves. The song writing and production, by founding father and bass player Jose Pineda, is bang on the retro button, none of the tracks would disgrace any ‘Painkiller’ inspired tribute. Yet it’s the bonus track that steals the show, 'Riding The Sentinel Into Hell' (a medley of three Priest songs, 'Riding on The Wind', 'The Sentinel' and 'Burn in Hell' - see what they did there?), the wrinklies

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still seemingly having all the best tunes. Some have cited other references, Primal Fear and Iced Earth for instance, and to be fair there is a Teutonic thrust to the proceedings, but in the end it all boils down to the same thing; Judas Priest. 'Welcome To The Snakepit' doesn't say anything new, and it does get a bit samey, yet as a twenty minute nostalgia trip it should at least pique the interest of most metal fans.

The Dreaming

Rise Again

Record Label

Metropolis Records

Release Date

10 February 2015

Reviewer

Stephen Brophy

Highlight

Alone

The Dreaming are the the band that evolved from the embers of popular 90's Industrial Rock band Stabbing Westward and was formed in 2002 by Christopher Hall (Vocals) and Johnny Haro (Drums), with Walter Flakus (Keyboards/Programming) becoming a full time member last year, both Hall and Flakus were founding members of Stabbing Westward and Haro also played with the band. There have been a number of line up changes along the way, and this has probably been a contributory factor in them not pushing out prolific output over the last thirteen years. But Rise Again is the third full length release following up on 2008's impressive debut Etched In Blood and 2011's excellent Puppet, so can they raise the bar even higher with Falkus full time in the ranks.

more often than not they have been emotions on the darker edge, but that doesn't necessarily mean negative. The album was recorded with Brent Ashley on Bass (Static X) who has since moved onto become a member of Combichrist and has been replaced in the band by Franccesca D'struct and Carlton Bost, also of Orgy on Guitar. Rise Again kicks the dust off with "Alone" which for me is the stand out track on the album, it just takes you into that place you really don't want to go, isolation, grim and gritty, it's the first single from the album and it's damn classy, the bass is just downright dirty, everything blends together and the subject matter with Hall's vocals are more than enough, so good it's very hard to keep an album up to that level. But you have to lead off strong these days in order to grab Personally Hall's voice and delivery attention early, this album is able style blew me away from the first to keep the standards high, tracks time I heard in on Stabbing like "Painkillers", "Afraid" and the Westwards debut Ungod, and I've title track "Rise Again" are all really stayed a fan with whatever he's good songs, and you can then take worked on since, there's an ability a track like "Blink Of An Eye" and it to switch emotions with ease, has a slightly different sound to it

51

but a booming chorus, something about some of these songs screams Soundtrack to me, and I don't mean that as a bad thing, their music is easily accessible and hopefully Rise Again will showcase them to a larger audience. The electronic element is still strong in the music, and maybe if I had one criticism of the album as a whole it would be that tracks like "Empty Promises" focus just a little bit too much on that rather than full on band aggression, that's not to say it's not a good track, there really isn't filler on here, there are changes of pace and style throughout the album but not to the detriment of the of it as a solid piece of output, if you don't know The Dreaming but liked Stabbing Westward, do yourself a favour and check these guys out, they are making really good albums, and much more on their own terms than towards the end of the lifespan of their previous band. It's great to see them doing what they love to do and hopefully we will get to see the proposed European Tour in 2015.

answer? Shoot The Devil in the face. Play as either Johnny Gat or Kinzie Kensington as you tear apart Hell in a quest to save the The ultimate deadly weapon/ leader of the Saints’ soul. luxury recliner is dragged up from Historical icons, old friends, older the depths of Hell and piloted by enemies, a talking gun, a full Steelport’s own STAG in a special length musical number, and a episode of Gat Gear. whole lot of other shenanigans all Some say it was welded await you in the open world together in the depths of Hell by standalone expansion playground Satan himself, and that its that is Saints Row: Gat out of Hell. upholstery was woven together Gat out of Hell is the from Johnny Gat's discarded standalone expansion to the navel fluff. All we know is it’s award-winning and multi-million Armchair-a-geddon. Deep Silver selling Saints Row IV from Deep brings to life Saints Row: Gat Out Silver and is available now for last of Hell’s most deadly, sloth-enly gen and new gen console weapon in a one-off special Gat platforms as well as PC. Gear.

It has been stirring the About Saints Row IV: Re-Elected trousers of Saints Row fans for In Saints Row IV, the head honcho months and now you can see of the Saints has been elected to what happened when Steelport’s the Presidency of the United own tame racing driver, STAG, States. But the Saints are just took the fully-loaded armchair for getting started. Now the larger a spin through the streets of than life insanity of the Saints London. In Deep Silver series gets a new twist with a Volition's Saints Row: Gat out of catastrophic alien invasion, and Hell standalone expansion, this the aliens have transported the explosive weapon is all you need to Saints to a bizarre Steelport shoot the Devil in the face. Now simulation. Wield gargantuan see it take on London traffic: superpowers and fight to free humanity from alien granddaddy Zinyak’s mental grasp. Escape the simulation that’s trapped the Saints crew, or die trying.

With Saints Row IV: Re-Elected, players will now be able to enjoy all the antics of the blockbuster release on their new gen consoles. Re-Elected is About Saints Row: Gat out of available to buy now.

For more information about Hell the Saints Row universe, please After the space faring antics of Saints Row IV, many fans asked visit one of the following official sites: what we could do next... the Gear up as Saints Row’s Armchair-a-geddon wreaks havoc on the streets of Lon-

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Web: http://www.saintsrow.com Facebook: http:// www.facebook.com/saintsrow Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ saintsrow YouTube: http:// www.youtube.com/saintsrow Dying Light Global Launch Dates Confirmed “Be the Zombie” PvP Mode Now Available for Free + Video Playthrough Techland announced today the updated global launch dates for Dying Light. The game will have a worldwide digital release on PC of January 27, 2015. In North and South America, the digital release and physical copies for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will be available at the same day.

In Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Australia, Dying Light will have a digital release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One of January 28, 2015. Physical copies of the game will be released in these territories on February 27, 2015.

Additionally all of the physical preordered versions will include two DLC packs, Cuisine & Cargo and Ultimate Survivor Bundle, free of charge.

Subsequently, the “Be the Zombie” multiplayer mode, where players take control of the Night Hunter and can invade others’ games, will be now be available for free on all platforms everywhere.

first closed beta, including officer progression, a new weapon upgrade system, and earlier unlocks in the gameplay cycle for With the launch of Final Fantasy more features. Anyone who Type-0™ Hd just a few months creates a free GameSamba away, SQUARE ENIX® today account will be able to participate, released the “Orience News as no closed beta key is required Combat Special” trailer. With for this test period.

Rubrum now fighting alone in the Following its launch on battle for peace in Orience, we January 22, the second closed follow the elite combat force of beta test is scheduled to run until Class Zero deeper into battle as February 6, 2015. A series of beta they improve their skills. We take a events are scheduled to begin closer look at their styles and coinciding with the launch of the techniques including party-based new test, and players can obtain combat, unique abilities, magic and rewards that can be used both in the summon system.

CBT2, and in the future full The new trailer can be release. viewed on YouTube: For more information Orience News – Combat Special on Star Trek: Alien Domain and the Closed Beta 2 schedule, you can visit the game’s official website at http://startrek.gamesamba.com, or follow the game on Facebook and Twitter Action Packed Battle System From Final Fantasy Type-0 Hd

Latest Square Enix Collective Project: Goetia Heads To Kickstarter!

Star Trek: Alien Domain Begins Second Closed Beta GameSamba today announced new details regarding the second closed beta test of the new free-toplay online strategy game, Star Trek: Alien Domain, which is set to begin today, January 22, at 6PM PST. Taking place many years after the events of Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Alien Domain follows players as they take on the role of a new Federation or Klingon captain trapped in the unexplored realm of fluidic space. Players will face a variety of threats - including Species 8472 - encounter new hostile creatures and species, and be forced to contend with a war that has erupted between the trapped Klingon and Federation forces.

The second closed beta test will include several features that have been added or improved based on player feedback from the

Haunting Point-And-Click Adventure Is The First Game Of 2015 To Be Supported By Square Enix Collective, Targeting $30,000.

Following successful Kickstarter campaigns last year for Moon Hunters and Black The Fall, the first project to be supported by Square Enix Collective in 2015 is Goetia – a point-and-click adventure set in a haunted English mansion in the middle of World War II. You take control of Abigail Blackwood, a girl who died some 50 years previously, as you explore your surroundings and answer some key questions: Where is everybody? Why have you returned? And what has your family gotten mixed up with since your death…?

The team behind the game is France-based Sushee, which first submitted the project to the Collective feedback platform last year and achieved a 90% yes-vote.

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With strong design from French artist Moeity, and some nice twists on the classic adventure game style, the team is seeking $30,000 to complete the game (which is already partway through development).

An Extraordinary Adventure Lies At Your Fingertips With The Lego Movie Video Game For iPhone, iPad And iPod Touch Become a Master Builder and Help Save the LEGO Universe Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, and The LEGO Group today announced the release of The LEGO® Movie Video Game for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices, now available

for download at the App Store.

The LEGO Movie Video Game follows Emmet, an average, rule-following citizen, who is mistakenly identified as the key to saving the world. In the game, players guide Emmet as he is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared. With a delightful mix of over 90 characters from the feature film, including Batman, Superman, the Green Ninja and Gandalf, The LEGO Movie Video Game leads gamers on a journey through fantastical worlds in 45 exciting levels. Utilizing the option of two

distinct control schemes, Classic and Touch Screen, as well as controller support, players will collect and use LEGO instruction pages to create a new path and harness the power of the Master Builders to virtually build extraordinary LEGO creations. The mobile game also features the iconic new animation style that simulates the movement of actual LEGO toy sets, as seen in the film.

Developed by TT Games, The LEGO Movie Video Game is available for £3.99 on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at :https:// itunes.apple.com/gb/app/thelego-movie-video-game/ id901999406?mt=8

re-entering their age after initially being denied access; and (3) does not display any ESRB rating information on the video player or the age-gate itself. Failure to implement these requirements may jeopardize your ability to obtain material of this nature from us in the future."

In addition, Bohemia Interactive posted a new dev blog revealing some of its plans for Arma 3 in 2015. Starting with the release of the Arma 3 Marksmen DLC in April, the studio will be adding new weapons, showcase missions, a new multiplayer mode, and several much anticipated platform features related to weapon handling. Later in the year Bohemia Interactive also aims to deliver a completely new and 33 Things About Arma 3 fresh terrain for Arma 3. More Trailer details are available in With a very exciting year ahead the ‘Scanning The Horizon: Arma for its tactical military shooter, 3 in 2015’ dev blog.

Bohemia Interactive today To enlist for Arma 3, people deployed a brand new trailer, can purchase the regular edition highlighting some of the most of Arma 3 (44.99 EUR/39.99 impressive content and features GBP/59.99 USD) and the Arma 3 Digital Deluxe Edition (49.99 EUR/42.99 GBP/64.99 USD) which includes the Arma 3 soundtrack, tactical maps of Altis and Stratis, a tactical guide containing more than 350 pages, and Bohemia Interactive’s debut game Arma: Cold War Assault - from Steam in Arma 3. and Store.bistudio.com. A boxed Exploring the game’s core version of Arma 3 is sold at many components, such as the 270 of the major km² terrain, its selection of high-street retailers. weapons and vehicles, and the For more information about in-game scenario editor, the video Arma 3, please visit also takes a closer look at the www.arma3.com and/or follow more hidden details, such as the Arma 3 on Facebook, Twitter, simulation of projectile ballistics, and YouTube.

Arma 3’s many character stances, the accurate star map over Altis, and many more.

Nosgoth Enters Open Beta "This trailer/video may only be displayed if it is behind an Humans vs Vampires: get ready age-gate that: (1) is age-neutral to rumble! Square Enix and (i.e., requires the user to input their date of birth or select it from Psyonix are excited to announce Nosgoth, the free-to-play a drop-down bar; (2) employs reasonable technical measures to competitive multiplayer game set in the Legacy of Kain universe, has keep underage users from

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entered Open Beta.

Open Beta status means all players worldwide are free-to-play Nosgoth, which pits the resourceful Human faction against their marauding Vampire opposition. Players switch factions at half time in keeping with the game’s dedication to asymmetric gameplay and competitive balance.

To celebrate the milestone, players will earn double XP for the first week of Open Beta, with a strong lineup of new content on the way: The Summoner - a new Vampire class who call on the powers of the Underworld to command ravenous ghouls.

New Human Class (details coming soon) New city map (Vampire-based, details coming soon) New game mode New character skins League rankings Crafting, gifting and trading Observer tools A new trailer featuring the Nosgoth community showcasing the game’s signature asymmetric gameplay has been released to mark the occasion.

“We are incredibly passionate about the Nosgoth community and we wanted to highlight this in our Open Beta launch trailer which was made in conjunction with actual players” said Corey Davis, Game Director.

“The community is at the core of the game and it is humbling to have such a vibrant and supportive fan-base and put these players’ front and center of our campaign.”

See both Vampire and Human players tear their opponents to shreds in the trailer.

Bethesda Softworks Announces The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimitedtm Arriving On No Game Subscription Required for Console, PC or Mac. Bethesda Softworks, a ZeniMax Media company, today announced that its long awaited, award-winning multiplayer roleplaying game, The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, will release worldwide on 9th June, 2015 for the PlayStation 4 system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft. For the first time in history, players will explore the legendary world of Tamriel with their friends on console. In the latest and biggest Elder Scrolls game ever made, players will be able to adventure alone, quest with friends, or join an army of hundreds in epic player vs. player battles as they explore and discover the secrets of a persistent Tamriel.

We are also pleased to announce that The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited players will no longer be required to pay a monthly game subscription for extended play. Players will make a one-time purchase of the game and can then enjoy hundreds of hours of content without the requirement of a monthly game subscription fee when The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited becomes available on console in June and beginning 17th March for PC/Mac players.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited includes all the great gameplay from the original PC/Mac game, plus all the updates and content additions, including the exciting new Justice and Champion systems. All existing PC/Mac game accounts, open or closed, will be updated to the Tamriel Unlimitededition in March and former players will be invited back to the game at that time to experience all that is new in the world. New players will make a one-time purchase of the game

and play, without restrictions, for as long as they like – without game subscription fees. Tamriel Unlimited will be supported with special, optional downloadable content available for purchase and an in-game Crown Store for convenience and customization items. Regular updates and new gameplay will be offered to all players to enjoy free of additional charges.

In addition, Bethesda will offer ESO Plus™ to players who wish to pay a single monthly charge for a premium membership service, providing exclusive in-game bonuses, a monthly allotment of crowns to use in the store and access to all DLC game packs while a member.

PC/Mac players with active subscriptions on 17th March will be automatically enrolled into ESO Plus and begin enjoying its membership privileges.

“Our fans are our biggest inspiration, and we’ve listened to their feedback on the entertainment experience they want,” said Matt Firor, Game Director ofThe Elder Scrolls Online.

“We know that Elder Scrolls fans want choice when it comes to how they play and how they pay, and that is what they will get. We have made numerous changes to the game over the past year, and are confident this is a game that Elder Scrolls fans will love to play.

Players can explore Tamriel with friends, battle creatures, craft, fish, steal, or siege. The choice is theirs. The game offers hundreds of hours of gameplay with unlimited adventures with one single game purchase. We can’t wait for everyone, whether they’ve played before or will be experiencing it for the first time, to begin adventuring in The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited.”

For more information on the different ways players will be able to experienceThe Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, please watch our livestream on twitch.tv/ zenimaxonlinestudios today at 5pm GMT or visit: www.elderscrollsonline.com/faq.

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The Elder Scrolls Online, named Best Role Playing Game at E3 2013 by the Game Critics, was released for PC/Mac on 4th April, 2014. The previous chapter in this franchise was The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim® which was released in November 2011 and enjoyed worldwide critical and commercial success. As the sequel to the 2002 Role-Playing Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind®, and the 2006 Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion®, Skyrim earned hundreds of ‘Game of the Year’ awards and sold over 20 million copies.

For more information on The Elder Scrolls Online visit http:// elderscrollsonline.com.

Release of Human Extinction Simulator Machine 22 has announced the release of "Human Extinction Simulator", a turn-based tactical space combat game, on the game's official website and also on Steam.

Facing overwhelming odds in a direct military conflict against the Navassian extraterrestrial species, Earth's leaders released to the public the Halting Extraterrestrials Strategy program in a desperate effort to maximize humanity's chances of survival. The simulator presents likely space combat encounters based upon observed Navassian tactical data from previous engagements. In a matter of days the program became known as the Human Extinction Simulator due to the extensive and often catastrophic scenarios depicted.

While Human Extinction Simulator is very easy to learn it has been described many times as a "very tough strategy game". If you're looking for a challenge then this is the right game for you.

Seconds after launching the game, you are immediately able to conduct covert operations or engage in large-scale space battles. The turn-based, no

AI cheating and deterministic nature of the game put all the weight of saving humanity on your shoulders. This time there's no counting on luck to overcome this challenge.

Buy the game on the official website for a DRM-free copy and a key to redeem on Steam: http:// www.machine22.com/ humanextinctionsimulator Buy the game on Steam: http:// store.steampowered.com/ app/342500 Machine 22 is a one man independent game development company run by Dave Toulouse.

Since 2008 it published diversified games ranging from browser-based MMOs to RPG puzzle games.

3,000,000 Survivors have arrived in DayZ Just over a year ago, Bohemia Interactive released DayZ on Steam Early Access. Yesterday DayZ achieved 3,000,000 sales.

This is the standalone version of the extremely popular Arma 2 modification created by Dean Hall, that has started and defined an entire genre of video gaming and inspired many other games studios.

From the beginning of the DayZ Early Access program, the DayZ team has continued to update the game on a regular basis. Since the initial release the team has released 24 updates to the main public branch of the game.

These updates have been focused on improving DayZ, and have included core redesigns of some of the most significant features including the inventory, multiplayer architecture and map improvements. As the DayZ team outlined in their development plan for 2015, there are many more large improvements in the pipeline, such as the transition to an improved anti-cheat system and multiplayer optimizations.

One of the largest changes that the DayZ team began in 2014 was to rewrite the core engine. Improving the engine will have significant long term benefits to DayZ and all of DayZ's 3,000,000 players. The name of the new engine is Enfusion. The main benefits to reinventing the core engine are in the upgrades to the renderer, as this will enhance performance for players, and also vastly improve the visual aesthetics of particle effects. In the long run these improvements to the engine will enable DayZ to utilize DirectX 11, which will further enhance the experience of console versions of DayZ. Enfusion will also bring upgraded tools for both the DayZ team and content creators, improving the efficiency of creating official content and modifications. Currently DayZ is still mostly using the Real Virtuality engine, however throughout 2015 DayZ will progressively switch to utilizing Enfusion to a greater extent.

All of these improvements have been possible due to the expansion of the DayZ team to over 80 people. This expansion allows the project to take on these greater challenges and increase the tempo of development in 2015, bringing more quality updates to DayZ's 3,000,000 players.

David Durcak the project lead of DayZ had this to say about the amazing milestone: "We would like to say thank you to every single one of the three million players, that have joined us on the journey of making DayZ. You all have helped make DayZ the best open world, zombie survival game. This is an amazing achievement, and we are really looking forward to start sharing with you all of our game design improvements, anti-hack solutions and other optimizations we have been working on for a majority of the last year."

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Starbreeze AB : Payday2 DLC's "The Bomb Heists" and "Dragan Character Pack" now available on Steam Starbreeze AB, one of Sweden's leading independent game developers, today announced that DLC pack no. 15 and 16 for Payday 2, titled "The Bomb Heists" and "Dragan Character Pack", successfully launched on Steam on 22 January. The DLC packs are available for purchase at $ 6,99 (6,99€/£4.99) and $ 4,99 (4,99€/£3.99) respectively on PC through Steam and other digital distribution channels. The DLC's feature: The Bomb Heists A new contact, called the Butcher, brought to life by actress Mira Furlan (LOST, Babylon 5) Two all-new heist where you steal a bomb from a police protected train or a ship Pre-planning; plan the Bomb heists beforehand so you can perform the perfect crime Four new masks, materials and patterns The LEO pistol, a new secondary weapon with accompanying weapon modifications Dragan Character Pack A new crew member called Dragan, the first Croatian member of the Payday gang The new Lion's Roar Assault Rifle with accompanying weapon modifications Dragan's own personal Cleaver melee weapon Dragan's mask that everyone identifies him with A new perk deck called the Infiltrator, focusing on using the environment to gain an upper hand "This release is very exciting for us at Starbreeze; for the first time ever, an external partner has created the DLC. Lion Game Lion have made a fantastic job and we look forward to working together again. . As for the DLC's themselves, we introduce a Croatian character called Dragan to the Payday gang, portrayed by

Dragomir Mršic. He is cruel, brutal and utterly ruthless. We are also proud to present Mira Furlan as our latest contact named the Butcher. She tasks the Payday gang to perform two new Bomb heists for an explosive reward." said Bo Andersson Klint, CEO, Starbreeze AB. "Finishing our first DLC packages for Payday 2 with Starbreeze as our publisher marks an historic achievement for us as a studio. For me personally, having been part of Overkill before I started Lion Game Lion, this is a very special day. Having the type of developer-publisher relationship we have is very unique. We look forward to continue working with Starbreeze Studios." said Nikica Petrusic President, Lion Game Lion

The Art of Total War Book, out now from all good bookshops The hotly anticipated “The Art of Total War” is officially out today.

This high-end, hardback art book is packed with the story of 15 years of Total War art, from the original Shogun and Medieval, all the way up to sneak peeks at Attila and Arena. Written by award-winning journalist Martin Robinson, and includes interviews and commentary from the Total War art team.

A limited edition is also available which features an alternate cover, premium slipcase and signed print by ROME II illustrator Rado Javor. These are limited to 500 copies worldwide and can be found exclusively with these retailers: https:// forbiddenplanet.com/131996-the -art-of-total-war-limited-art-printedition-hardcover/ For more information, please check your favourite bookseller, or visit: http://titanbooks.com/theart-of-total-war-7607/

Plot Your Path of Vengeance: Ronin Coming 2015 from Tomasz Wacławek and Devolver Digital

Brotherhood update is now live and ready for immediate download globally, adding one new map and five new Soviet-built heavy tanks to the garages of tankers everyFans are able to get their hands where. on some sweet turn-based ninja The most brutal of the Soviet action real soon as (amateur) heavy tanks roll into the fray with assassins Devolver Digital armor thick enough to take a announce Ronin, a new title beating and guns large enough to coming to PC, Mac and Linux later return the damage in kind. this year from developer Tomasz Tankers now can climb into the Wacławek. hatches of T-150, KV-3, KV-4, STI Laying out an unrelenting and IS-4. In the right hands, any path of retribution, Ronin follows one of these heavies is capable of the exploits of a vengeful heroine dominating a battle while delivering determined to strike down five a serious beat-down to enemies. prominent figures of a powerful Additionally, a new “South Coast” corporation. Plot your strikes via map arrives in the update, giving cunning use of razor wire or your tankers new strategic deadly katana, or avoid combat via opportunities and terrain to a holographic replicator and explore in their new heavy tanks. grappling hook until you locate For more information about your most advantageous position World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition, for an all-out assault. visit: http:// Ronin takes you through worldoftanksxbox360edition.com/ more than 15 complex missions *Xbox Live Gold membership (sold as you stalk your targets with separately) required. Additional silent steps and soaring leaps – in-game content available and sold but be careful, your enemies are separately. carefully guarded and part of a secret, destructive conglomerate.

Taking them out will be no easy task.

Online multiplayer game, Ronin will be featured in Heroes of Newerth, to ring in Devolver Digital's booth all 2015 with new quest system weekend at PAX South in booth and game mode 1243.

For more information about The HoN Team announced plans Ronin, hit to implement two new in-game up www.devolverdigital.com and features for its popular multiplayer follow us on Twitter online brawler, Heroes of @RoninGame and @DevolverDigital. Newerth. The War Effort, a quest system designed to reward players for completing daily objectives ; and Blitz, a mode that Iron Brotherhood Update encourages an onslaught of Deploys Soviet Heavy Tanks to World of Tanks on Console offensive action with gameplay mechanics such as reduced hero Wargaming today announced the cool down timers and lower mana arrival of the Iron Brotherhood costs. Both features go live Jan. content update for its free to play 28. console multiplayer game, World To participate in the War of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition.

Effort, players must complete Available as a free download for all quests presented in Heroes of Xbox Live Gold members*, World Newerth’s in-game user interface of Tanks can also be experienced (UI). Two quests will remain active by new players through a free concurrently, until an objective is seven-day trial for all other Xbox fulfilled. Once completed, another Live account holders. The Iron quest will appear and players will

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earn reputation points for their efforts.

Reputation points earned can be used to unlock satchels and chests, which contain a variety of in-game products ranging from gold and silver coins that can be used to purchase avatars, voice packs, and more, to exclusive event goodies. The 14th and final unlockable container houses the Treasure of Champions – a chest with the War Effort’s most prestigious prizes.

To adhere to Heroes of Newerth’s competitive nature, The War Effort will also feature a leaderboard that can be climbed by completing quests. At the end of each cycle – typically cycles will last 28 days – players who have finished the most quests will receive additional in-game compensation, including the coveted Trophy Avatar, a gold plated avatar only given to the War Effort’s top 25 questers.

“A big goal for The War Effort is to incentivize players to step outside of their comfort zone with awesome content,” said Brent Wiedmer, Director of Design for Heroes of Newerth.

“We’ve found that, even with HoN’s massive catalog of heroes, new and veteran players alike tend to pick from a small pool of heroes.”

“In many instances a player selects heroes based on what HoN’s 'current meta’ is, or what they are familiar with, reducing match diversity,” said Wiedmer.

“The expectation is that, once an incentive to check out previously unexplored content is established, it will greatly improve a player’s HoN experience by ensuring that each game is unique and approached differently from the last.”

War Effort quests are not limited to accomplishing objectives with heroes .Many will require participants to enlist their services on battlefields across Newerth such as on flagship 5v5 map, Forests of Caldavar, or Blitz

Mode, amongst others. ”Blitz mode is Heroes of Newerth on steroids ,” said Sam Braithwaite, Marketing Director for Heroes of Newerth. “The beautiful thing about Blitz Modeis that anybody can jump in, veterans and new players alike, and start kicking ass right away.”

In addition to reduced cool down times and mana cost, Blitz Mode, unleashes chaos on the battlefield with: · Increased hero attack damage and movement speeds · 40% reduction in stun and debuff durations; and · Double damage auto attacks.

Visit heroesofnewerth.com/ thewareffort to learn more about The War Effort.

Glorious Destruction Comes To Galactic Civilizations III Beta 4 With Battle Viewer.

Stardock's interstellar 4X strategy adds battles, extreme worlds, and biggest maps yet Stardock released a major update toGalactic Civilizations III today, letting players witness the terrible might of their starfleets with the new battle viewer. Galactic Civilizations III Beta 4 also adds extreme worlds with hostile environments that require advanced research to colonize, reworks the ideology system to give incredible bonuses to malevolent, pragmatic, and benevolent leaders, and enables the Gigantic and Immense map sizes.

Galactic Civilizations III is the next installment in one of the highest-rated strategy series of all time, created by the original developers at Stardock. Players expand their space empires across galaxies that range up to enormous maps only possible thanks to Galactic Civilizations III's 64-bit engine, which allows both Stardock and modders to put an effectively unlimited amount of

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content in the game. Unique tech trees for each of the game's eight races and multiple victory conditions give a huge number of ways to play – not even counting custom races, ships, maps, and franchise-first online multiplayer.

The battle viewer marks the first time players can see their starships in real-time action.

Lasers pierce the void at long range until ships can close the distance and unleash deadly missile barrages and finally open fire with banks upon banks of direct-fire kinetic weaponry. All ships designed in the incredibly powerful Galactic Civilizations III ship designer are supported in the battle viewer, so players can enjoy the full destructive potential of their hand-crafted starships.

The revamped ideology system gives amazing boosts to players as they choose between diving deep into one branch of an ethos, going wide across multiple branches, or even exploring additional ideologies. Discover hidden planets, give all your fleets free fighter escorts, and more as you unlock your civilization’s true potential.

This update also scatters valuable extreme worlds across the galaxy, which require advanced technologies to even land on. The keys to these rich new frontiers join the many existing paths on the sprawling Galactic Civilizations IIItech tree – choosing between new worlds, advanced deflector shields for your starships, diplomatic gambits to sway the United Planets, or starbase facilities to broadcast your culture ever deeper into rival empires is difficult, but such is the lot of any space emperor.

Galactic Civilizations III is available now through Steam Early Access for $49.99 and is on track for full release this spring.

Learn more at http:// www.galciv3.com.

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36 Crazyfists February 07 Bristol The Marble Factory 10 Glasgow The Classic Grand 12 Manchester Academy 3 13 Nottingham Resure Rooms 14 Birmingham Asylum Bar and Venue 17 ondon Electric Ballroom 19 Oxford O2 Academy 2 All Time Low February 09 Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 10 Birmingham LG Arena 12 Glasgow SSE Hydro 14 London The O2 20 London SSE Arena Anathema March 04 Leeds Minster 05 Exeter Cathedral 06 Winchester Cathedral 07 Liverpool Cathedral Betraying The Martyrs February 01 Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach 02 London Underworld 07 Nottingham Rescue Rooms Black Label Society February 11 Glasgow O2 ABC 12 Birmingham The Institute 13 London Roadhouse 14 Bristol O2 Academy 15 Leeds O2 Academy 17 Norwich Nick Wayns LCR UEA 18 Nottingham Rock City 19 Manchester Academy Black Star Riders March 05 Glasgow O2 ABC 06 Glasgow O2 ABC 07 Newcastle O2 Academy

10 Nottingham Rock City 11 Cambridge Corn Exchange 14 Wolverhampton Civic Hall Blondie February 26 London Olso Cancer Bats April 22 Birmingham Insititue 23 Manchester The Ritz 24 Norwich UEA 28 Newcastle University 29 Glasgow O2 ABC 30 London Forum Collisions March 2015 26 Manchester Sound Control 27 Newcastle The Globe 28 York Fibbers April 2015 03 Worthing Pangalactic Festival 04 Brighton The Green Store 05 Bournemouth The Anvil 06 Plymouth Tiki Bar 07 Southampton Joiners 08 London O2 Academy 2 Islington 10 Essex The Square Deep Purple December 03 London The O2 Dropkick Murpheys March 17 Dublin Vicar Street 18 Glasgow Barrowland 19 Manchester Academy 20 Nottingham Rock City 21 London O2 Academy Brixton 22 Birmingham O2 Academy Echo And The Bunnymen February 12 Belfast Mandela Hall

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18 Dublin Olympia Theatre 20 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Echosmith April 22 Birmingham O2 Academy 3 23 London Dingwalls 25 Manchester Deaf Institute 26 Glasgow King Tuts Enter Shakiri February 16 Portsmouth Pyramids 17 Cardiff University Students Union 18 Wolverhampton Civic Hall 20 Manchester Academy 21 Glasgow Barrowlands 22 Middlesbrough Town Hall 24 Cambridge Corn Exchange 25 Norwich Nick Rayns LCR UEA 26 London Roadhouse Fleetwood Mac May 27 London The O2 28 London The O2 June 08 Birmingham Genting Arena 09 Birmingham Genting Arena 12 Manchester Arena 16 Glasgow SSE Hydro 17 Glasgow SSE Hydro 22 London The O2 24 London The O2 26 London The O2 27 London O2 Arena 30 Leeds First Direct Arena July 01 Manchester Arena 04 Birmingham Genting Arena 05 Leeds First Direct Arena 08 Glasgow SSE hydro Halestorm March 02 Norwich UEA 03 Nottingham Rock City

05 Leeds O2 Academy 06 Glasgow Barrowlands 07 Inverness Ironworks 09 Wolverhampton Civic Hall 10 London The Roadhouse 12 Southampton O2 Guild Hall 13 Cardiff University Great Hall 14 Manchester O2 Apollo Hardcore Superstar March 17 Nottingham Rock City In This Moment February 28 Glasgow The Garage March 01 Leeds Metropolitan University 02 Manchester Academy 2 04 Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall 05 London Koko Interpol February 06 London Roadhouse 07 London Roadhouse 08 Manchester Albert Hall 14 Glasgow Barrowlands 15 eeds Beckett Students Union 17 London The Forum Jesus And Mary Chain February 16 Liverpool Su Mountford Hall 17 Leeds O2 Academy 18 Newcastle O2 Academy 19 Edinburgh Corn Exchange 21 Norwich Nick Rayns LCR UEA 22 Nottingham Rock City 23 Brighton Dome 25 Birmingham The Institute 26 Bristol O2 Academy Kamelot March 13 Pwllheli Hammerfest VII Kerrang! Tour 2015 February 06 Norwich Nick Rayns LCR UEA 07 Leeds O2 Academy 09 Southampton O2 Guildhall 10 BristolO2 Academy 13 Cardiff University Students Union 14 Manchester Academy 15 Newcastle O2 Academy 16 Glasgow O2 Academy 18 Liverpool O2 Academy 19 Birmingham O2 Academy

Kodaline February 15 Glasgow Barrowlands 17 London Roadhouse March 09 Nottingham Rock City 10 Southampton Guild Hall 11 Norwich UAE 12 Bristol O2 Academy 14 Birmingham Institute 15 Leeds O2 Academy 16 Newcastle O2 Academy Less Than Jake March 04 Glasgow O2 Academy 05 Birmingham O2 Academy 07 Nottingham Rock City 09 London Koko 10 London Koko 12 Manchester Academy 13 Bristol O2 Academy 14 Leeds O2 Academy Lynyrd Skynard April 21 Glasgow Clyde Auditorium 22 Manchester O2 Apollo 23 London Eventim Apollo Monster Magnet February 13 Nottingham Rock City 14 Glasgow Garage 15 London Electric Ballroom Nickleback November 13 Sheffield Motorpoint Arena 14 Glasgow SSE Hydro 16 Newcastle Metro Radio Arena 17 Manchester Arena 19 Liverpool Echo Arena 21 Birmingham Genting Arena 22 Nottingham Capital FM Arena 24 London The SSE Arena Wembley Papa Roach March 08 Norwich Nick Rayns LCR UEA 10 Bristol O2 Academy 11 Southampton O2 Guildhall 12 London Roundhouse 14 Glasgow Barrowland 15 Manchester Academy 17 Birmingham O2 Academy 18 Nottingham Rock City 21 Belfast The Limelight

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People On Vacation February 25 Glasgow Cathouse 26 Leeds The Key Club 27 Birmingham Temple 28 Manchester Sound Control Basement March 01 Nottingham Bodega 02 Milton Keynes Crauford Arms 03 Bristol Thekla 04 Southampton Joiners 05 London Dingwalls Placebo February 26 Belfast Waterfront Hall 28 Edinburgh Corn Exchange March 01 Glasgow O2 Academy 03 Aberdeen Music Hall 04 Newcastle O2 Academy 06 Hull City Hall 07 Blackburn King George’s Hall 09 Leeds O2 Academy 10 Liverpool Mountford Hall Primordial February 07 London O2 Academy Islington

11 Wolverhampton Civic Hall 13 London O2 Academy Brixton 14 Nottingham Rock City Satyricon April 07 Manchester Sound Control 08 London Scala Saxon February 03 Newcastle O2 Academy 04 Nottingham Rock City 05 Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall 06 Oxford O2 Academy 07 London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire Sick Of It All January 30 Leeds Brudenell Social Club 31 Leeds Brudenell Social Club Status Quo April 20 Glasgow Royal Concert House 21 Sheffield City Hall 23 Wolverhampton Civic Hall 24 Portsmouth Guildhall 26 London Eventim

Reef March 04 Brighton Concorde 05 Reading Sub 89 06 Bristol O2 Academy 07 Barnstaple Factory 19 London Scala 20 Liverpool O2 Academy 21 Manchester Academy 2 26 Nottingham Recue Rooms 27 Norwich Waterfront April 02 Inverness Ironworks 03 Aberdeen Garage 04 Edinburgh Liquid Rooms 05 Newcastle Riverside

Stiff Little Fingers March 06 Bournemouth O2 Academy 18 Leeds O2 Academy

Royal Blood February 22 Glasgow Barrowland 27 Plymouth Pavillions 28 Bridlington Spa March 02 Portsmouth Guildhall 03 Newport Centre 05 Norwich UEA 06 Blackpool Empress Ballroom 08 Belfast Ulster Hall 09 Dublin Olympia

Texas April 18 Brighton Dome 19 Birmingham Symphony Hall 20 Salford The Lowry 22 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 24 Dunfermline Alhambra 25 Edinburgh Queen’s Hall 27 Gateshead The Sage 28 Hull City Hall 29 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall

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Sting & Paul Simon April 10 Glasgow The SEE Hydro 12 Birmingham LG Arena 13 Manchester Phones 4 U Arena 15 London The O2 System Of A Down April 10 London SSE Arena

May 01 Bath Forum 02 London Palladium 03 Margate Winter Gardens 05 Cardiff St David’s Hall 06 Reading Hexagon The Answer March 06 Belfast Limelight 07 Dublin Whelans 09 Manchester Academy 3 10 Leeds The Key Club 11 York Fibbers 12 Aberdeen The Lemon Tree 13 Glasgow The Garage 14 Newcastle Riverside 16 Grimsby Yardbirds 17 Liverpool Arts Club 18 Southend Chinnery’s 19 Nottingham Rescue Rooms 20 Birmingham Institute 21 Sheffield The Corporation 23 Norwich Waterfront 24 Bristol Motion 25 Brighton Concorde 2 26 London O2 Academy Islington 27 Exeter Lemon Grove 28 Southampton 1865 The Moody Blues June 06 Plymouth Pavillions 07 Cardiff St Davids Hall 08 Brighton Centre 09 Bristol Colston Hall 11 Bournemouth BIC 12 London Eventim Apollo 13 Ipswich Regent Theatre 14 Oxford New Theatre 16 Manchester O2 Apollo 17 Nottingham RCH 18 Sheffield City Hall 20 Birmingham LG 21 Liverpool Philharmonic 22 Newcastle City Hall

The Used February 05 Southampton Mo Club 07 Nottingham Rock City 08 Newcastle O2 Academy 10 Glasgow The Garage 11 Aberdeen The Lemontree 13 Leeds Uni Stylus 14 Manchester Academy 2 15 Birmingham O2 Academy 2 17 Oxford O2 Academy 19 London Koko 20 Bristol O2 Academy Thunder March 12 Leeds First Direct Arena 13 Birmingham NIA 14 London Eventim Apollo Toto May 21 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 25 Manchester O2 Apollo 26 London Eventim Apollo U2 October 25 London The O2 26 London The O2 29 London The O2 30 London The O2 November 06 Glasgow The SSE Hydro 07 Glasgow The SSE Hydro UK Subs May 14 Wolverhampton Robin 2 16 Manchester The Ritz November 27 Doncaster Leoart Wednesday 13 March 15 Bristol Marble Factory 18 Cardiff Globe While She Sleeps April 22 Birmingham Insititue 23 Manchester The Ritz 24 Norwich UEA 28 Newcastle University 29 Glasgow O2 ABC 30 London Forum Wolf February 07 Nottingham Rock City

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Sponsored by

Interviewed by Phil Schofield 64

So Andre, can I ask you for a bit of a background to Sunset Mob as to where it all comes from & where it all got started.

Andre: Well it’s kind of an old & new story, we began working on this project back in 2010 when Pablo & I got together with the goal of having a different sound to that of what was going on the scene that year. We also called a couple of friends to join us but things were a little complicated as we were pretty much new to this world of songwriting.

We also didn’t have much skill in recording & the end result wasn’t what we wanted so we sort of left this thing on hold for a while.

So maybe Pablo can also comment on that.

Pablo: Well I can add that the people we worked with were probably not the best for this kind of work because we weren’t quite sure what we wanted as we wanted to have a different sound & didn’t want to repeat or sound like bands of the eighties or nineties. In the project we had tried to put together it was hard to get the ideas of what we wanted from our sound.

that we have in this band. Mix it up & create something new, that may sound pretentious but it’s the main idea behind Sunset Mob. Andre: Yeh, we are a rock band we don’t want to sound like an eighties band or sound like a heavy metal band. You will find all these elements in our songs but with a different approach. Different textures, you’re going to find heavy riffs combined with melodic catchy choruses.

didn’t seem ready or mature enough , Whereas these EP tracks represent our best efforts to date.

So who are the bands or artists that you have been influenced by?

Andre: Basically I’d say bands from the eighties. The first band that got me into the music was Iron Maiden, when I watched them on the Rock in Rio festival in 1985, not live but on TV unfortunately as I was only twelve at the time. Also So at what stage did you get to I’m influenced by the heavy riffs of feel comfortable to set down & Metallica, Whitesnake & in terms record? of guitarists I’d say Yngwie Andre: We resumed the project Malmsteen and the feeling from when Pablo called me last year & I Adrian Smith from Maiden.

Pablo: Well like Andre I’m a huge fan of Whitesnake, I love David Coverdale& he’s a huge influence on me, also Steve Perry .What can you say about him he’s an amazing singer.

Can I just ask you there Pablo, although Steve is a great vocalist, how do you feel about the current situation with Journey & Arnels voice in the band? Although we are all aware of his background & how he came to be in Journey, how do you Yes its interesting find his vocal style you should say that compared to Steve.

Pablo, as you tend to find with a thought ok let’s keep the dream Do you think he’s doing a good lot of rock bands even job? alive. Because we are all in our todays current established or Pablo: Well I think he’s doing a forties now & we began working new bands as there’s a lot of great job but you know Steve Perry on the songs with a different same or similar sounds being is Steve Perry, an amazing singer. I mindset. Focusing on the right produced making it difficult to approach to get the best quality of love his voice, Arnel has a great differentiate between them. It’s music and recording. voice too but Journey at the good to hear that Sunset Mob moment is a different band and of were trying to create their own course they currently have two Would you say that you were niche or style & would you agree happy with the results and what amazing singers in Arnel & the that you were aiming at creating came out of it on the four tracks amazing Dean Castronovo. your own unique sound? of the Under My Skin EP? Pablo: Exactly, I think we were Pablo: Well I guess we are pretty Have you heard the Revolution trying to avoid comparisons & walk happy it them as although we Saints album? our own path, trying to mix the Pablo: Yeh, I heard it and I saw already had enough tracks different elements & backgrounds previously for a cd those racks Journey here in Brazil; the show

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with Arnel was amazing also.

Can I ask you both individually what’s the rock scene like in Sao Paolo? It’s a huge city of 12 million people something like that how strong is the rock following down there?

Andre: It’s a really difficult scene here as I was mentioning before we started the interview recording. Being the biggest city in the country with over twelve million people we only have two radio stations that broadcast rock!

That’s a pity that when they go to a bar they want to listen to cover songs. They don’t want to listen to or are open to new things.

Yes that’s interesting that you should say that, as we were discussing this before that I’ve interviewed other bands from Europe & Australia where this

situation seems to be the same where it’s hard to get people out to support new music. People seem to want to see established artists or prefer to listen to covers rather than original new music. Can I ask Pablo do you share Andre’s viewpoint on that?

Pablo: Yeh definitely I share it & I think the main problem is that music seems always to be attached to a memory. You know if you have a good memory from your past you seem to have a piece of music attached to it. I think people just need to allow new bands like us to show what we can do and make new good memories, To show we can be a good hard working band and deliver the best melodic sound that is available right now.

I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all those that voted for us in the band of the

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month competition. We talked with a lot of followers & they were always supportive of us and gave us the opportunity to showcase our music.

Andre: Yes well I’d also like to thank Firebrand for this opportunity to share a little bit of our work & I hope to keep the rock scene alive here.

Yes thank you guys for this & we hope to hear Sunset Mobs full album sometime in the near future. www.sunsetmob.com The EP - UNDER MY SKIN is available on I tunes and other formats to download from www.reverbnation.com/ sunsetmob

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