Firebrand Magazine Issue 23 - August by Firebrand's Rock&Metal Express

Issue 23 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; August 2014

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Hey folks I just want to say a big thank you to all of you that have supported Firebrand Magazine (and the station as well) since we have been going. We are always on the lookout for comments and how to improve our services. If there is something you would like to suggest so we can improve our services to our readers why not drop me a line doc@firebrandrr.co.uk Anyway I will shut up now so you can enjoy this months bag of goodies. Peace and Respect as ever Doc.

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Inxs 'All The Voices' 10 Lp Boxset Out September new BillyIdol.net and will be delivered instantly to fans that pre-order the new album beginning today on 1st On Umc iTunes. The iTunes edition of the album will also Umc are pleased to announce the release of INXS exclusively include “Hollywood Promises,” a new song All The Voices, a 10LP deluxe Boxed Set housing all recorded during the album sessions. Fans can 10 key studio albums - re-mastered and packaged in also pre-order the CD on Amazon.com beginning exact replicas of 9 of the original vinyl albums. This is today. the first time ‘Elegantly Wasted’ will be available on The artwork for Kings & Queens Of The vinyl. Underground, above, was designed by street artist With a career spanning more than 25 and graphic designer Shepard Fairey. extraordinary years, OZ - Music icons, INXS are The album will arrive close to the release of undoubtedly one of the world's great bands. They Billy Idol’s highly anticipated self-written have sold more than 30 million records worldwide, autobiography, Dancing With Myself, which as countless awards from their peers and fans, previously announced will be released worldwide the platinum certifications, and a history peppered with week of 7th October. outstanding achievements, the band are arguably Idol and his band, including long-time Australia's most successful rock export. collaborator and guitarist Steve Stevens, will launch The Australian TV event of the year has proved a European Tour in November, the first of several to be INXS-Never Tear Us Apart, and drew in a legs of a world tour that will continue into 2015. combined audience of 2.881 million viewers (1.974 Link to iTunes Pre-order of Billy Idol’s new Metro). 'INXS The Very Best', the careering-spanning album: http://smarturl.it/billyidolitunes compilation release, topped the iTunes Album Chart and we also saw five of the ten studios albums and numerous hit singles dominate the charts. Mr. Big confirm new drummer for 2014 World This new 10 LP vinyl boxset features the Tour following albums: Following the recent announcement detailing the • INXS revised September 29th UK release date for Mr. • Underneath The Colours Big’s forthcoming studio album ...The Stories We • Shabooh Shoobah Could Tell (Sept 30th in North America), the band • The Swing have confirmed Matt Starr as drummer Pat • Listen Like Thieves Torpey’s replacement on their upcoming 2014 • Kick World Tour. •X Starr, currently Ace Frehley's drummer, will sit • Welcome To Wherever You Are in for Torpey (who was recently diagnosed with • Full Moon, Dirty Hearts Parkinson's Disease) throughout Mr. Big's tour in • Elegantly Wasted support of the new album. The album is available for pre-order Billy Idol Will Release New Studio Album Kings & via Amazon UK. Mr. Big kick off their European tour on Friday October 17th at London’s Koko. Visit the Queens Of The Underground On 20th October official Mr. Big website for full 2014 tour dates. First Single “Can’t Break Me Down” Is Available Now With Itunes Pre-Order – And Is Streaming On The New www.Billyidol.Net Ranger sign to Spinefarm Records Rock icon Billy Idol will release Kings & Queens Of The Underground, his first new album in almost a Ranger, Finnish masters of speed metal, have signed decade, on 20th October. The album will be released to Spinefarm Records. The band will be recording on Idol's own BFI Records, via Kobalt Label Services. their label debut album this fall and a release is expected early 2015. The track list for the new album is listed below. These young metal merchants sound as if they Kings & Queens Of The Underground was came straight out of the eighties and adapted their primarily produced by Trevor Horn, with Greg Kurstin own style for a new generation of thrash and speed also contributing as a producer to two songs, including the anthemic lead single, “Can’t Break Me metal fans. Or as singer/bass player Dimi Pontiac likes to say: "Skull splitting METAL for maniacs Down.” The single is now streaming at the

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pure!”. Ranger nailed something that eludes them from the majority of 'retro' acts. Fans of Agent Steel, Exciter, Razor and classic teutonic metal beware! Ranger are Dimi Pontiac - vocals & bass, Miko Sipilä - drums, Mikael Haavisto - guitar and Ville Valtonen - guitar, and started in Helsinki, Finland in 2008. After three demos the band gained quite a cult status in Europe, which resulted in their first two releases on Ektro Records, the MLP Knights Of Darkness (2013) and their recently released 7” single Shock Skull. Ranger have already played many club shows in Finland and appeared on various Finnish festivals (Tuska, Ilosaari, Porispere, Jalometalli) and on European stages (Keep It True, Muskelrock, Live Evil). Until the new album in 2015, have a listen at their MLP Knights Of Darkness at Bandcamp here and their recent 7” single Shock Skull here. 100% headbanging material. Check their facebook page for all the latest updates www.facebook.com/rangerheavymetal. Ranger live: October 17th - The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, UK rangerheavymetal.bandcamp.com

Kamelot have held their own, very special position in the world of rock and heavy music: their elaborate melodic metal has always opened itself in a remarkably clever way to like-minded styles, integrating progressive elements as well as cross-references to doom/gothic metal and classical music, which have allowed their songs to define their own genre. Two of their most successful releases in particular, namely the albums Karma (2001) and The Black Halo (2005), are prime examples of Kamelot’s multi-layered approach, intensity and outstanding musicality. Silverthorn, sees the band raise this demanding standard even higher, because Silverthorn is a masterpiece of grand gestures, gritty melodies and haunting atmospheres. Inside Metal: The Pioneers Of La Hard Rock And Metal” Documentary Film Series press release

The Creators Of 'Inside Metal: The Pioneers Of La Hard Rock And Metal” Documentary Film Series, Which Features The Biggest Names Of '80s Metal, Offers Metal Fans A Chance To Be Included In These Historical Movies Though Fanbacked. The early '80s metal scene in Los Angeles has become legendary, as it spawned such worldwide Kamelot’s Latest Release Silverthorn Available headliners as Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Dokken, W.A.S.P., Now on SPV/Steamhammer and originally, Metallica (before the latter relocated Symphonic metallers Kamelot recently completed to San Francisco). And the new documentary, 'Inside work on the third video from their critically acclaimed Metal: Pioneers of L.A. Hard Rock & Metal,' 2012 SPV/Steamhammer release Silverthorn. chronicles the entire scene. The video for the song entitled "Falling Like The Directed by Bob Nalbandian and produced by Fahrenheit" can be seen here: Metalrock Films, 'Inside Metal' features all-new interviews with countless bands and artists that thrived on the scene, and tell its story, first hand. To ensure that this killer documentary receives the attention it deserves, a fundraising campaign has been set up at WWW.METALROCKFILMS.COM which will help strengthen the film's distribution, marketing and promotion. This groundbreaking movie features exclusive The video was directed by Ville Lipiainen and candid interviews with members of Metallica (Nightwish, HIM, Apocalyptica) and filmed at the (Lars Ulrich), Ratt (Stephen Pearcy), Dokken (Don bands sold out appearance at the famed 013 Venue Dokken), Quiet Riot (Carlos Cavazo), W.A.S.P. (Chris in Tilburg, Holland. Holmes), Megadeth (David Ellefson), Great White, The band is currently in the studio working on (Jack Russel), Y&T, (Dave Meniketti), Stryper the follow-up to Silverthorn. A massive World Tour (Michael Sweet) and Armored Saint (Joey Vera). will follow starting in early 2015. 'Inside Metal' is about giving fans the real inside The latest album Silverthorn is available in four story from the behind the scenes world of metal and exclusive formats. The LP and limited edition has hard rock with in-depth interviews, ultra-rare concert one version of the art, while the standard version of footage and photographs, and an original music Silverthorn has a different but equally exquisite score from that era; in this no-holds-barred, never version of the artwork. The standard version is before seen, recollection of untold stories. presented as an Ecolbook. The limited edition Early feedback has been exceptional, including contains the Ecolbook, a bonus CD with nearly 60 renowned video director Jonas Åkerlund (who has minutes of music, a 44 page book and an exclusive worked with the likes of Metallica and Ozzy) raving, poster. The double LP version is a gatefold on This film captures an era that catapulted metal into colored vinyl. The digital version is available on the spotlight and takes the audience on a wild iTunes.

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ride down memory lane. After watching it I wanted to get in my time machine and experience those days for the first time. You’re hit with a potent nostalgia, a time I thought we couldn’t get back, not until I saw this film. I can’t get enough of this shit, what an amazing film to watch over and over again, well done!" Metalrock Films ask - and want - real and serious metal fans to be a part of this historic documentary and spread the word that this was the scene where it all began, ground zero. "Our Fanbacked campaign will raise the direly needed financial support to bring this film to one and all in the US and Internationally in order to pay for the marketing and promotion to get it noticed by the general public. We want to bring this film to your theatre, town, bar, club and living room! Unite and support us. We have created some one of a kind opportunities for our friends and fans to participate with us in birth of this film. Get your name on the screen and let the world know that you support metal and the bands that create it. Help us tell the story of the music you love and let the world know you love it. Join in the festivities of our, and your, accomplishments by being at the premiere of the movie and interact with the artist that participated in its creation. Commemorate your participation with a plaque, t-shirt, poster or other limited edition merchandise items that says 'Metal Rules.' Keep checking back as we add more tasty premiums." And thanks to you and your donation, 'Inside Metal' will finally get the true story of the scene heard - worldwide! To make a donation, go to: WWW.METALROCKFILMS.COM Check out a sneak preview below!

taking part as well as some international, and very well known bands. Headline band is Diamond Head, often cited as being the defining force for the NWOBHM. Supporting them are London-based metalheads Skreamer, Fury, from Worcester, Jaguar, from Bristol plus Black Acid Souls, Enemo J, Kodiak Jack, The Heretic Order and a host of others. If you're a fan of rock and metal this is a must-attend festival with 20+ bands playing over more than 12 hours....and all this for just a tenner! Members of Northants exports Black Acid Souls have several relatives who suffer, or have suffered, the effects of diabetes. When asked why they chose to perform at the event they said: "Rock Diabetes is something close to the band's heart. 3 band members have a brother in law who is type 0ne diabetic and their grandfather was also type two. Their gran is also diabetic but controls this without medication. The bands producer is also diabetic so as you can imagine it's something we wish to help raise awareness and to help people understand that this condition is growing and can be dealt with, but to also understand the dangers in not identifying the problem early can also help drastically helping to prevent it getting worse and sometimes eradicate the illness." What better reasons can there be? Enemo J have their take on the event too: “Enemo J will play anywhere anytime for a good cause as long as we can get there' 'We have much respect for the 'rock diabetes festival' having grown up around people with this condition we are delighted to show our support for such worthy cause." Danny Felice of The Heretic Order said: "Rock Diabetes is a festival dedicated to a very good cause , i have a very close family member and friend with Diabetes and its a disease that needs to get awareness in the public eye as it can ruin peoples life's in many aspect even cause death . So apart of rocking out in great festival we get to help a bit , last year I had the chance of playing with Breed 77 and this year it will be with my new project The Heretic Order so already had a good experience of the fest and see it in a very positive light . Every little bit will help!" Rock Diabetes Day, October 11th 2014, Apart from this being for a very good cause, Trowbridge, Wiltshire the opportunity to play with names such as Diamond Head can't be overlooked too. The Trowbridge Civic Centre will see some big So, come and show your support for a very names in rock and metal descend on it for a one-day worthy cause, get yourselves into Trowbridge on festival on October 11th. This is Rock Diabetes, a festival organised in support of the Juvenile Diabetes October 1th and rock out with some of the finest Research Foundation (JDRF), a charity that lies very rock and metal bands around, it'll do your health close to the heart of organiser Doug Harvey. Doug's good too! 11-year old daughter has Type I diabetes, something that must really suck for someone so young, and has organised this event is appreciation of the activities of the JDRF. The line-up is impressive with many local bands

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Interviewed by Phil Schofield 10

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Hailing from Birmingham’s vibrant music scene, Blue Nation is a blues driven rock outfit. Fronted by the powerful vocals of Neil Murdoch coupled with an exquisite and talented backline supplied by Jon Hooker and Gurdev Sohal (Greddy). Firebrands Phil Schofield decided to shoot the musical breeze with the worthy winners of the July Band of the Month competition. Before we get into the heart of the interview and find out what Blue Nation are all about. It was very interesting to see the voting towards the back end of closing for the competition. It was very neck & neck & how much were you aware of that? It was one of the closest band of the month competitions we’ve ever had. BN We were very aware of it , we were all sitting in the same room basically looking at it and messaging out through Facebook & on Twitter., I think at one stage we were exactly tied with about ten minutes to go.

we said let’s give this guy a ring cos he’s gonna be an absolute idiot. So we rang it…and he was! Greddy answered and the funny thing was he said that posters been there about two years, so he’d obviously just sat there dormant. So he came along and it just worked out, the guy just nailed it. That was about 2012 about two years ago, so we just did lots of gigs and started rolling with Greddy.

When you first started did you start playing you own songs or did you play other peoples? What were the sets like in the early days? BN Well back in the early day when I was a kid, it was all like Oasis covers, because there’s only about Exactly, we try to plug this for the BOTM four chords you need to learn. But you quickly grow competition that it’s also about the band out of that stage and by the time Gred joined we sort networking as much as possible and up until the of had some of our own songs we didn’t have many last ten minutes it could of gone either way. BN Oh yeh definitely, cos we were there screaming covers but the songs we had then they’ve totally changed to where we are now. at the screen shouting “come on, come on.” Because they were quite nice I think there a bit So you’ve got one of the special screens that if you more gritty and Greds brought a bit more of a funk scream at it then it changes and you win it? Are or soul side into to add to the bluesy thing. they Japanese? BN Greddy has yeh, hes special that way. We’ve just So if you were to describe your sound what got normal pcs but yeh, he’s got one that you talk to. describes a Blue Nation sound? Greddy also has a mirror to talk to as well! BN It’s really difficult cos we have this conversation before we write songs and we say where does this Ha-ha. So let’s first of all ask you to give me a bit of need to fit where does this need to go? We always background to where you all arrived at the status kinda go rock, indie, blues……it’s not like indie where as Blue Nation. it’s depressing, it’s not rock where its hair rock and BN John and I kind of knew each other through its no so far blues that its all the same chords. So we different bands .I’ve been in different bands since I say rocky blues as a best description cos we can’t was about fifteen .So we kind of gravitated towards decide. each other through knowing each other on the scene in Birmingham. That was in about 2009 & we Rocky Blues, so we’re developing a new sub-genre were searching for ages for a bass player that could in the scheme of rock music, because rock music kind of compliment us, do the right job & lock in with has progressed over the years hasn’t it, where John. there are so many sub genres now I’m confused. So that was the main thing we looked for , we Like there’s Viking metal, I didn’t even know what auditioned a load of people, they didn’t look right, that is……what’s Viking metal? didn’t have the right sound, one guy turned up with a BN I dunno mate but there’s no way I can grow a guitar & one guy didn’t even turn up with a bass or beard for Viking metal, Greddy could probably. guitar! So you just have that moment when you look at each other and think what are we doing. Well we have got sponsorship for the show now by Then literally we saw this poster in one of the The Bluebeard Revenge so we could see if they rehearsal rooms we use & it was just the most could get some stick on beard for you? egocentric poster I have ever seen with this guy BN I like it, yeh we could try it wouldn’t wanna going I’m a bass player, I can do this & that etc and

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be a fake Viking though!

plus AC/DC, Queen, Who & Hendrix So as with age do you find your musical tastes Yeh I draw the line at the longboat though , don’t have changed overall? where we’re gonna fit that in…. BN Yes, definitely I think they do, they kind of develop. BN Its funny you should say that actually cos we Your never born with great music tastes are you. were at a gig the other day and a guy walked up to You get whatever’s around you at the time & then the bar and he had a massive cows horn he was over the years you just find what you like and sift drinking out of. We went to speak to him and he said through it. Even as individual members of the band “I’m a Viking” So we had a good long chat to him and we’ve been dragged into each others musical tastes. his cow horn pint glass!! John I was quite lucky in that I was brought up on good music like Hendrix and Queen. One of my first Well I did tell my dad not to go out drinking memories was watching Live Aid with my dad & BN Ah so it was you dad? watching Queen and been blown away by it. But yes you do change as you get older, some people it gets better some it gets worse. It’s the one thing that Well some bodys dad I don’t know. So musically takes you back to a moment or takes you back to a then give is an idea of who has influence you all individually over the years to play a part in the Blue time when you remember where you were. Nation sound. Who are your heroes, artists who That bring me to something we touched on there, you see as inspirational? BN Again this is so difficult because it goes through in that there are so many bands over the years where you can put on the cd or album and think so many different genres and so many kinds of how did they never make it as they next big different eras as well. thing..Whereas you see to some of the bands Neil Personally Led Zep, Clapton, The Who, Small who’ve made it shall we say and you think who put Faces, Black Keys, Audioslave, Soundgarden..that them where they are now renowned as a really kind of mix of stuff but you know what, it could be anything that musically turns you on and gets you good musical band .. not mentioning any names going. BN Don’t cos we will as well. Its criminal it really is John I grew up listening to heavier stuff like Metallica but to listeners to anyone, look just go down to your or Rage Against The Machine, Guns & Roses & local music venue, it will cost you between five & ten things like that but now it’s sort of mellowed down a quid to get in which is no more than a couple of pints. bit to liking John Meyer etc. Just go down and you will come across a gem & I Greddy Then you got like some of the funk & soul couldn’t think of anything better than that if a band

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does break from your area you could say I saw them 1 thing is a big weekend and I didn’t know kinda what in front of five people. I saw them when they were to expect, nor did the lads, but then you turn up and nothing. your sound checking and Sebastien Vettel & Fernando Alonso are screaming past you . I can certainly agree with that and possibly The track is literally right next to you and your thinking this is well surreal. It’s tipping down with rain sometimes you get into a situation where as the and they’re going a hundred mile an hour into a band gets more popular and successful certain corner and you asking lads can you keep it down people will try to move away from the band here! because they wanted to keep them as an underground band. You released your first album Cross the Line & BN Yeh there was that big thing with Green Day Decide in what year? How long ago is that since its wasn’t there where they were the quintessential release? underground band on the punk scene and then a whole furor around them when they released Dookie BN That was 2013 that was last year. We had the songs for a year but what we wanted to do was & everyone in the underground scene went mad record them with Greddy ,so we went into a studio in because the mainstream was picking up on them. Lemington Spa with John Rivers the guy who And the whole thing about well they’re not cool recorded Ghost Town with the Specials, so not a bad anymore because they’re not underground. guy to know and have a chat with. Think we did the At the end of the day these guys are working album within a week. hard and they need to earn a living doing this & I couldn’t think of anything better. The difference for me is if you keep grounded when you get to that level, So your about to go and work on the second album if you keep your head with good people around you, in September in studios local to me in Manchester not forgetting the people who put you there, then is that right? that’s the kind of mantra we live by. BN Yeh , Castlerock Studios…. We are recording You’ve got keep on that even keel you’ve got to with Andy McPherson who’s a lovely guy, he’s have people keeping you on the ground because you engineered and mixed The Who, Clapton , Iggy Pop, can’t forget those people who did come to those gigs New Order…you know he’s literally done The Who’s and did pay those five pounds, when there were five back catalogue, he did Live At Leeds. of you there and it was in the back end of nowhere, you were on last and it was midnight. You’re obviously gigging quite a lot, where are some of your favourite places to play? What’s the Talking about gigs, looking down your biog..I see music scene like in the Midlands at the moment? you’ve played some interesting places like New BN Its like everywhere, going back to getting people York City. off the sofas and seeing it….it’s a good scene, there’s BN Yeh we went out there and did a couple of good people , good venues. You’ve got your Carling acoustic tours, just the cool venues and stuff. That Academies; you’ve got Actress & Bishop, The was a bit mental. We went into one place & the Sunflower Lounge. You know the little sweatboxes management came up to us and said this is the first which are really good if you get thirty people in & place Bruce Springsteen played when he came to then you’ve got the Asylum if you get a hundred or a New York. hundred and fifty people in. But it’s making sure people get there, so I can’t In Greenwich Village are you talking? complain about Birmingham. It’s a nice vibe and BN Yeh, yeh it was Kennys Castaways…and that was always great to play hometown gigs. really helpful just before your about to walk onstage to say you know the boss has been on this stage…so So on the horizon is the gig scene looking pretty no pressure there. healthy at the moment? Have you got a lot of It was good as well because you get a different things lined up? culture of people . I thought it was gonna be quite BN Yeh we got the Worcester Festival, then we are aggressive but they couldn’t of been nicer about it. back in Birmingham, then down to London .The main You have some preconceptions about what gigs are focus is the album and recording it then we are gonna be …you know you go up north they’re probably going to go out on tour. We are probably friendly ,you go down south and they’re a bit quieter going to do a north & south tour, again go up one but it was just eye opening especially to go over to a side of the country, and come down the other side. different country. The main big gig for us will probably be the 26th September at The Waterats in London. So what about , you played on the F1 …was it on a London’s a cool place to play, a lot of people tour? on a stage? don’t like it but we love it, we always get a really good BN We never really knew about the F1 stuff until following down there. they kinda made contact with us. The whole formula

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Well it’s been great to chat to you guys, congratulations again on becoming this months’ Band of the Month and I wish you every success. Links: WEBSITE: www.bluenation.co.uk FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/BlueNationMusic TWITTER: @Bluenationmusic

YouTube: www.youtube.com/bluenationmusic SOUNDCLOUD: www.soundcloud.com/blue-nation MERCHANDISE: www.bluenation.bigcartel.com/ iTunes: Extended EP– Tales of a Liar, EP - New York City Lights, Album - Cross The Line & Decide, Singles - Maybe Goodbye & Joker https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/cross-the-linedecide/id669168674

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The Robin 2, 27 July 2014 Supports: Chemikill, The Marina Hollow and Divided We Fall Review and Photos by Reg Richardson 16

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This was an events where the world seemed to be conspiring against me. First, the original headline band, Imperia, were forced to withdraw due to their vocalist, Helena Iren Michaelsen, being hospitalised, then work demanded that I stay until 5.30pm, that's fair enough, but a 50 mile trip up the M5 that usually takes less than an hour taking an hour and 45 minutes really isn't on! With the loss of Imperia main support band Ex-Libris were promoted to top spot and Divided we Fall added to the line up. So, I arrived at the Robin 2 a little later than expected to find that Divided we Fall had already been and gone while The Mariana Hollow were well into their set. Apologies to both bands on behalf of myself and the Highways Agency!

Next came Midlands metalheads Chemikill, complete with their relatively new singer Bexie James. Bexie has replaced Natalie Bradshaw and has brought a new dynamic to the band. This was an impressive performance since it was, she said, only her eighth gig so it's still early days but seeing this performance indicated that there could be so much more good stuff to come. Carried by the ever-present Garry Wain and Damon Russell the band power through the songs, both old and new, and before you know it the 10-song set is coming to an end as the band finish with 'Demons'.

What I did get to hear of The Mariana Hollow was really pretty good. Vocalist Rebecca Spinks looked and sounded brilliant. She had a rich vocal style, not overly 'metal' (i.e. not growly or screechy!) but ideally suited to the style of rock the band play, which was very well executed and musical, not particularly heavy but bright and lively. The set seemed to consist of mostly new material and started with 'Final Call' from the 2009 Coma Heart album. The 7-song set ended with 'Swear to God' which allowed Rebecca the chance to show her vocal range to the full.

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Time for the newly promoted headline band, Ex Libris, fronted by the imposing Dianne van Giersbergen. This was symphonic metal of a very high order; combining many of the aspects of gothic metal with a powerful operatic voice has yielded a band capable of producing a remarkable and involving sound. The band took the opportunity to play virtually the entire Medea album which was released in January this year and started with the title track, a mix of quick fire guitar riffs and calming keyboards all held together by the vocals of Dianne. Next came 'Murderess in Me' followed by 'On the Ocean's Command' and 'My Dream I Dream', all from Medea. A break in the middle allowed for a couple of additional songs, both taken from the debut album Amygdala released in 2008. 'Love is Thy Sin' and 'Destined' were played out and the set returned to Medea and the final four songs which included 'A Mother's Lament', 'Daughter of Corinth', 'A Tale Told' and finally 'From Birth to Bloodshed'. This intense set of non-stop metal from the Dutch maestros more than made up for the absence of Imperia. That said, I hope that Helena gets well soon and the tour can be re-scheduled. Yet another great night of female fronted metal mayhem - bring on the next one please.

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'The Sleeping Prince' Hits The Snooze Button and App Store Next Week Check out the brand new teaser trailer for The Sleeping Prince, from Signal Studios (developers of Toy Soldiers) and Tilting Point, and announce the game's release date of next Thursday the 11th, available only on the App Store. Check out the new teaser here which introduces our hero, Prince Perilous:

Prince through his castle in this ragdoll puzzle platformer. Confront your enemies and solve puzzles while conserving your magic power to help save Cloudreach. For more regal slumber, please visit: www.thesleepingprince.com and Facebook and Twitter. Attend Blizzcon 2014 From Anywhere With The Virtual Ticket

Join Blizzard Entertainment’s mega Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo community celebration online this November 7 and 8—live and in HD Virtual Ticket available now at BlizzCon.com Want the best seat in the house for BlizzCon 2014? Grab your most comfortable chair and invite a few friends over to join Blizzard Entertainment’s epic gaming convention from home with the BlizzCon Virtual Ticket, now available to order at www.blizzcon.com. You control Prince Perilous as he attempts to The BlizzCon Virtual Ticket provides save his Kingdom of Cloudreach from the grips of the comprehensive live online HD coverage of evil Sydney Slime. The only catch is, he's fast Blizzard’s Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo community asleep! Players will need to strategically fling the

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celebration, taking place November 7 and 8 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Available for £ 24.99, the Virtual Ticket grants access to two exclusive channels of BlizzCon content on both days of the show, making it the next best thing to being there live. The BlizzCon 2014 Virtual Ticket includes: Developer Panels & Exclusive Interviews Get the latest World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, Diablo III, Hearthstone, and Heroes of the Storm news straight from the developers, and witness all of the epic moments as they happen live from the Main and Panel stages. In between, dig deeper into your favorite games in exclusive one-on-one interviews with Blizzard Entertainment designers, artists, and producers. Community Contests—Hosted by Chris Hardwick Witness the spectacle of the legendary BlizzCon Costume Contest and Talent Contest on Friday night. This year’s festivities will be emceed by stand-up comedian and podcaster Chris Hardwick (aka @nerdist on Twitter), host of Comedy Central’s late night Internet-spelunking game show @midnight and creative head of geek-minded media network Nerdist Industries. Closing Ceremony Behold the closing festivities on Saturday night, capping off two full days of Blizzard gaming and eSports action—more details to be announced later. On-Demand Replays Rewatch epic moments with the Virtual Ticket’s DVR functionality, and catch content you might have missed for up to two weeks after the show’s over. Epic Bonus Loot Unlock this year’s commemorative BlizzCon in-game goodies for World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, Diablo III, Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm (details coming soon). The Virtual Ticket also grants early access to this year’s online BlizzCon merchandise sale, which will run from October 17 through November 11 and feature a selection of commemorative items that will be available for purchase at the show. Even if you don’t purchase a Virtual Ticket, you’ll still be able to catch plenty of BlizzCon action online. Coverage of the opening ceremony and this year’s eSports tournaments—including the StarCraft II World Championship Series Global Finals, World of Warcraft Arena World Championship, Hearthstone World Championship, and Heroes of the Storm exhibition matches—will be streamed for free in HD at www.blizzcon.com. More information on BlizzCon 2014 and the Virtual Ticket can be found at www.blizzcon.com. With multiple games in development, Blizzard Entertainment has numerous positions currently available—visit http://jobs.blizzard.com for more information and to learn how to apply. While supplies last. All orders placed in the online BlizzCon merchandise sale will be shipped from the United States; international shipping rates

may apply. Activision News Announcement And Assets Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger Of The Ooze We’re slicing up the first details for Activision Publishing, Inc.’s new video game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze, a side-scrolling action-adventure video game which bridges the gap between season 2 and season 3 of Nickelodeon’s popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated programme. Blending classic 2D fighting and platforming gameplay with the 3D art direction of the TV series, this new title from developer WayForward Technologies will launch for the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Sony’s PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Nintendo 3DS hand-held system later this year. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze brings together new locations, allies and threats! The game quickly heats up as Shredder, Tiger Claw and a new army of mutants threaten the streets of New York, forcing Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo to take action into their own hands. The game’s distinguishing feature is its vast, interconnected, non-linear game world, which rewards exploration and creative thinking. Powers, upgrades and equipment scattered across New York and Dimension X opens up new environments to traverse, secrets to discover and bosses to battle. All four Turtles can be swapped between freely throughout the adventure and each has its own unique rhythm, with specialised stats, strengths and skills. Combat is fast-paced, emphasising the gang’s martial arts prowess through attack and item combos, counters and finishers but also provides tools for stealth-based approaches to avoid or tackle enemies. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze is expected to emerge in Autumn 2014 for Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 and Nintendo 3DS and is rated PEGI 12. For more Turtles news as it comes, follow along at www.Facebook.com/ TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles. Wasteland 2 Combat Movie inXile Entertainment releases a new gameplay video ahead of the highly-anticipated | https:// wasteland.inxile-entertainment.com/ inXile Entertainment has released a new gameplay video for Wasteland 2, one of the most successfully crowd funded projects/video games of all-time. Highlights in the exciting video from the highly anticipated, post-apocalyptic turn-based RPG include: A focus on combat, with narration from General Vargas, taking you through some of the elements that go into combat in Wasteland 2. Character creation, attributes, skills (field

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medic, surgeon, weaponsmithing) and party balance. A fight against Damonta robots, first with the wrong approach where the party gets wiped out, and then with a more tactical approach and better party choice. Shows use of environment (height, cover) in the Prison. Reprogramming Jaime the robot in Damonta and sending him in to fight on the Ranger’s side.

development provides tools and mechanisms to players to help shape the game. Landmark players also have the opportunity to contribute to the highly anticipated EverQuest Next, through building projects guided by the development team. Unrestricted access is only available through purchasing a Founder’s Pack. In addition Yogscast fans who don’t qualify for a key will be able to get seven days of free access to Landmark via this link: http:// www.landmarkthegame.com/yogscast Developed by an amazing team of RPG pioneers that “We’re really happy to be working with SOE include Brian Fargo and Chris Avellone and with a on Landmark and to be able to provide our fans with musical score composed by the legendary Mark keys to the game so they can get involved in what we Morgan, Wasteland 2 will be on 19 September 2014 think is a really exciting project,” said Yogscast for PC, Mac and Linux. An early access beta is available co-founder Lewis Brindley. via the Steam store: http://store.steampowered.com/ “As we showed earlier in the summer with the app/240760/ TUG deal, we’re committed to finding great gaming experiences for the backers who lost out when Yogventures folded and we think Landmark is something they’ll be eager to try out,” Brindley added. Assassin’s Creed: Pirates Is Now Free To Play “We’re psyched to get to work with the folks at New mission in the Arctic Sea now available Yogscast. Their audience is powerfully creative and Ubisoft announced thatAssassin’s exactly the sort of folks we’d love to see discovering a Creed ® Pirates, the stand-alone Assassin’s game like Landmark. Creed ® mobile game from the popular franchise, is “Plus, the Yogscast crew should be able to find now free across all platforms*. Additionally, a new much hilarity within the crazy things that players make content update takes players to the Arctic and in the game so the partnership between us should be introduces a legendary new crew member. fantastic. We’re very happy to work with them now and A new chapter appendix called “Cold Blood” has in the future,” said SOC director of development David been opened to explore the Arctic Seas in the latest Georgeson. game’s update. Sailing north from the warm and All Kickstarter backers and paypal supporters of familiar Caribbean Sea to the frigid Arctic Sea, captains Yogventures will receive a Settler Pack key that enables will be introduced to a legendary new crew member who permanent access Landmark in closed beta. will help procure resources and share their knowledge Yogventures backers should look out for an email in the of the icy waters. To combat the cold waters of the coming days. Arctic, ship customisation has been upgraded, giving players the option to overhaul their vessels to improve their abilities on the open sea. Ahoy! The Zoro Armor Pack And The Gladiator Pack Assassin’s Creed Pirates, now available for free, Available Now! allows players to step into the boots of Alonzo Batilla, a young captain looking to make a name for himself during Bandai Namco Games Europe announced that a two new DLC Packs are available now on e-Shop and the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean. Players PlayStation Network, all One Piece lovers will be thrilled recruit crew members, upgrade their ships, sail the to get deeper within the piratical world they are open waters and engage in intense naval battles. journeying in: To learn more about Assassin’s Creed Pirates Zoro Armor Pack: visit http://assassinscreed.ubi.com/en-US/games/ · An extra costume for Zoro, allowing him to wear a assassins-creed-pirates.aspx. suit of sturdy, Western-style armor. · ‘Watch Your Step’ quest: players need to defeat Yogscast Partners with SOE in Landmark Deal Black General Franky in this high difficulty quest! Fans will have to use all their offensive power to get the "Old Leading YouTube broadcasting group the Gold Coin"! Selling it might turn them among the Yogscast announced today that it is partnering with wealthiest pirates! Sony Online Entertainment’s Landmark. The Gladiator Pack is a nice surprise that will let The partnership includes SOE providing free fans wrap themselves in the same gladiator armour Settler Founder’s Pack keys for Landmark to all the that Luffy uses to conceal his identity during the Yogscast fans who backed the game Yogventures, Coliseum tournament. which ceased development earlier this year after the The gladiator armour costume comes with two developer Winterkewl LLC closed down. versions: 'full' to show off or 'light' to go unnoticed. Landmark is an online sandbox game that This paid DLC has been added as an extra, and is not combines combat/survival with creative building and exploration. Currently in Closed Beta, Landmark’s open covered by the Season Pass of One Piece Unlimited World RED.

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Saracen - Redemption Record Label: Escape Music

8/10 Released: 19 September 2014

Highlight of the album: Crusader Website: http://www.saracenlive.com/ Reviewer: Rob Birtley

The band Saracen go back a long way. The origin lies with lifelong pals Richard Lowe and Rob Bendelow formed their first band “Lammergier” during the mid-70 together with folk guitarist turned rock bassist Barry Yates. The name changed to “SARACEN” in the early 80’s and were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, but the music remained the same; an ever growing repertoire of powerful guitar orientated rock, laced with lush keyboards and evocative vocals. Redemption is the bands 6th studio album and follows the 2011 concept album Marilyn which was a rock opera about Hollywood Star Marilyn Munroe. The band now consists of Steve Bettney – vocals, Paul Bradder – keyboards, Paul Highfield – bass, Tris Alsbury – drums, Rob Bendelow – guitar and Simon Roberts – Guitar. Their sound well although part of N.W.B.H.M don’t think Maiden or Saxon Saracen sound more like a blend of Magnum and Warlord. The album opens with Rocamadour which is tells a tale of a place in France were the buildings of Rocamadour rise in stages up the side of a cliff on the right bank of the river Alzou and is a place of Pilgrimages. It begins with a symphonic wall of sound, layers of lush keyboards and powerful drumming. Steve Bettney’s vocal soars like the eagles he’s describing you know from this track the album is going to be special. Track no.2 on the album Reacher and was inspired by Jack Reacher, the fictional creation of best-selling author Lee Child. The vocal is gritty and full of hidden menace matched in equally measure by the thudding chunky guitar line as the song unfolds the story of an anti-hero in true cinematographic scale and may well feature on the big screen. Next comes Give Me a Sign. Here the band slow the pace a little and enter almost ballad territory. There is a plea like quality in the vocal

mirrored by the lead guitar and the effect is haunting in a good way. Geraldine reminds me of Asia especially with the harmonies, the keyboard and guitar have a definite Magnum flavour all knitted together by a very fine and distinctive vocal. Road to Yesterday opens with a sparse piano line and Bettney’s vocal and then begins to build guitar and keys move in and the pace speeds up. Again echoes of Asia here and there love lost moments right down to the echoing fade out. Crusader opens in titanic fashion. Almost like Blue Murder and Valley of the Kings in places the guitar and rhythm hits that kind of note as well as the Keyboards. The band is definitely Rocking Out on this one and the vocal goes all the way up to a scream. The track is complete re-working of from the 1981 debut album, Heroes, Saints and Fools, as is the last track Ready To Fly. Catch the Wave see the band heading in a Blues/Rock direction that has a bit of UFO about it including a vocal that is reminiscent of Phil Mogg in full voice. The title track Redemption opens in a way that instantly tells you this is meant to be an epic. The lyrics reference Genesis to Revelations, the books of the Bible not the band of the same name. It’s a tale of Good versus Evil with a keyboard backline just as you would expect enhanced by a number of changes of tempo. Backed up with a layered choral arrangement yes it’s Classic Prog and I really like it. I have to say there is a bit of everything going on in this album British well definitely Symphonic Metal well in places. Echoes of Magnum and Asia well Hell Yes. Vocals that sometimes sound like Prime time UFO, guitar sounds almost on the scale of John Sykes without his pyrotechnics and keyboard flourishes midway between Wakeman and Mark Stanway are also their so if any of that appeals to you this is an album you will be more than interested in.

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Black Star Bullet - Black Star Bullet Record Label: TBFM Records

8/10

Released: 1 April 2014

Highlight of the album: This Is Rock ‘N’ Roll Website: http://blackstarbullet.co.uk/ Reviewer: Phil Kane

Oh dear, poor old Black Star Bullet. This CD was sandwiched between Quo's, Priest's and Accept's newies on the works delivery van's death decks as it trundled around the Cornish badlands. That's a bit like these scribblings being anthologised with Steinbeck, Hemingway and Tolkien innit? So how did they do?

films. The lead guitar work should be mentioned too, which artfully ricochets between the shambolic rock ‘n’ roll of the likes of Johnny Thunders to the frantic Slashisms of da Gunner’s early years, peppering the album with some great, driven, focused work. The vocals, initially having you rolling yer eyes at their yappy angsty delivery, soon settle down. Even 'The Only This is a re-issue of their 2011 debut, but instead of Answer' manages to stave off punk’s spiky altiness to a remixing, re-mastering blah blah... the boys went back large degree. Underpinning it all is a rhythm section into the studio and rerecorded the whole lot; different. I that’s as solid as a lump of granite on yer toe. Overall, suppose you could say it’s a nostalgia trip more nothing fancy then, the band concentrating on getting associated with the older veteran bands looking to the basics right, and do a pretty bang up job too, boost the pension funds, but that only really works if witness killer '8.50 AM' (again with some superb, anyone remembers an album the first time around, but unfussy, whip like lead guitar work). This album has a unfortunately in Black Star Riders case, no one down serious old time rabble rousing potential, yet modern here at the bar in The Hole remembers a damn thing enough to turn even the snootiest heads at Radio 1FM. about these Midlanders. Ok, the earthy Talking of holes, production this lot used to could've be called been better, Loophole and especially released a brace with the of albums under weak drums, that moniker a bit more (ring any bells? sparkle No? Thought would not not). What they, have hurt, or the original though the version of this suspicion is album sounded they've like is any ones deliberately guess. gone for a bass heavy First thing to say sound; it‘s about Black Star Bullet is that it is an album of straight really a bit too muddy in places, making the album down the line rock ‘n’ roll that touches so many bases, sound like a dogs dinner on yer average farty's it could almost be described as attention deficient. Its in-car-stereo, which isn't helpful. The song aranging main, very robust thrust, typified by 'Online Lunch', is could do with opening up a bit, taking more advantage rocky chain saw pop punk Americana so beloved of U.S. of rock ’n’ rolls great traditions of injecting a bit of harp alt bands c. mid nineties. Then, they throw in all too and piano into its carbs, but that's just nit picking, easily rare and subtle gob iron and Jerry Lee style remedied by loosening up and getting a bang up hammering keyboard flourishes; what a difference producer. such touches make to 'This Is Rock n Roll', an otherwise average punked up rocker. It doesn't end What we have here is a cracking little r ‘n’ r outfit, so there either, 'Energy Daze' taps into that riffy yes, Black Star Bullet more than held its own against Aerosmith scamper that Velvet Revolver used to the recent work of some of the finest old guard outfits attempt, does it just as well too, and 'Fake' throws in a rock still has on its roster, unlike the jottings of farty fine syrupy bottleneck that deflects the band's groove here verses Tolkien etc... just a tad towards Americana's more swampy territories. 'Mistakes' is a rather good take on the dark, alty jangle that occasionally crops up in Scandi Noir

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Adrenaline Rush - Adrenaline Rush Record Label: Frontiers Records

8/10

Released: 22 August 2014

Highlight of the album: Change Website: http://www.adrenalinerush.se/band.html Reviewer: Stephen Brophy

Another of the flood of talented young Swedish Melodic Rock bands, Adrenaline Rush were the creation of lead singer Tave Wanning and Erik Martensson (Eclipse, W.E.T.) when they started writing and recording together in 2012. Once they had the bones of Adrenaline Rush's debut album together they then set about putting together the band from local Stockholm musicians, Tave on vocals, Ludwig Turner on lead guitar, Alexander Hagman on guitar, Soufian Ma'aoui on bass and Marcus Johansson drums.

like "Girls Gone Wild" and "Hit You Like A Rock" which have a more glam edge to them, and are a little more in your face. "Want It All" is a nice straight ahead rocker with good harmony backing vocals throughout and the closest thing we get here to a ballad is "When We're Gone" which is really nicely put together, and showcases some nice control in both the vocals and music.

There are a couple of tracks here that don't quite hold up to the rest for me, "Black n' Blue" for me just The lead single "Change" is a highly addictive melodic doesn't hasn't got the strength I was hoping for to kick rock song with a pop edge, with a great hook and it this album into action and "Oh Yeah!" just doesn't hit also shows shows off some of the ability in this quintet, the spot, it's not that either are bad songs, just for me some classic guitar work running right through the they aren't quite as strong as the rest of the album. middle of the track and solid drumming and rhythm Having said that this is a very decent debut album, and guitar and bass all the way through, when a band has a I'm sure this is just the start for this band, they have lead singer like Tave they sometimes need to work a only started getting out on the live circuit and once little harder in order for the Media especially to look they keep getting their name out there and people hear past her looks, but this band certainly has the ability to what they are capable of I'm sure there are big things just do their thing as cardboard cutouts and still in the pipeline for Adrenaline Rush. Another name to produce the goods. "Change" itself is probably the add to the rapidly growing list of young bands to keep standout track on the album, along with other songs tabs on over the coming 12 months.

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State Of Salazar - All The Way Record Label: Frontiers Records

5/10 Released: 26 June 2014

Highlight of the album: All The Way Website: https://www.facebook.com/stateofsalazar Reviewer: Rob Birtley

State of Salazar was brought to life in 2010 by five students from the Malmö Academy of Music who wanted to play rock music in the manner of the great AOR bands of the eighties that filled arenas across the planet. Singer and songwriter, Marcus Nygren, began thinking of the concept of having a band like State of Salazar in 2009 when he wrote a couple of songs that did not fit the metal based band he was in. They list Queen, Toto, Journey, Survivor, Balance, Europe and Chicago as their influences so these young guns have a lot to live up to.

Queen song of the same name and the band are going for that kind of feeling tinged with a sprinkling of Journey but the vocal is a tad slow in tempo and definitely drags along. The result of this song may well see the love of your life fast asleep before the climax is reached. Eat your Heart Out has more going for it still it lacks the venom and angst that a song about love lost should have and sounds more like an amicable parting to me and a jolly one at that. By the time I reached Time to Say Goodbye I really had hoped I’d reached the end of this album unfortunately it still had 5 more tracks to go. Track 8 Let me Love was an The band are a 5 piece outfit consisting of Marcus improvement a bit like the title track and sounded Nygren – Vocals, Johan Thuresson – Guitar, Stefan more original and finds the band trying to head more Mårtenson – Keyboard, Johannes Hansson – Bass into the Foreigner ballad area all be it played in a and Kristian Brun – Drums. All the way is their debut Europe vain. The song Catastrophe well it is one I think album and its creation was assisted by Markus Nilsson it is meant to be the tear jerker but when you get the (A.C.T, Andromeda, Royal Republic, and Deville) as a lyric I need a Catastrophe I don’t need another happy co-producer, recording- and mixing engineer for the song you really should have some pathos to carry it of album. if you want to be taken seriously. The album opens with I Believe in You. The opening keyboard run is very much in the style of Journey and Toto as is the rest of the song. The chorus vocal echo’s Toto not quite the energy of a Survivor chorus it’s clean and catchy and sounds like it has just been plucked out of the early 1980’s. It’s Deja-vu all over again and you will definitely get the feeling you’ve heard this before somewhere else an experience that runs throughout the album. Next is Field of Dreams. Now this opens like a Survivor song as does the chorus. Sorry to report although well done there’s not much originality to be found and little of Survivor’s fight and passion. Third is the title Track All the Way. I have to say I really liked this track. It has more attack a flavour of Europe going on and at last the band are finding a distinct voice instead of mirroring what’s gone before. Next comes Love of My Life the opening well reminds me of the

State of Salazar set out to produce a slab of vintage Stadium/Soft Rock ripped straight from 1982 and to be fair to some extent they have captured that feel but in doing so have shown very little originality or their own personality. It’s well played and sung and the production whilst aping the 80’s is tight and the songs are radio friendly. It is fair to say that others will have an opinion very different to mine but I did live through the 1980’s and saw and heard all this live the first time around so the predictability of their effort didn’t really impress me. For other people this album will be as familiar as their old pipe and slippers and just as comforting and reassuring with no sharp edges and no sudden surprises all wrapped up in a new wrapper and may be just what they are looking for.

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Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Hypnotic Eye Record Label: Reprise

8/10

Released: 28 July 2014

Highlight of the album: Power Drunk Website: http://www.tompetty.com/hypnoticeye/row Reviewer: Phil Kane

There's already been a lot written about this album; how angry it is, profound even, Petty tapping into the raw energy of his early records. Well, yes, if not angry, he’s certainly disillusioned, kicking against deceptive, impotent politicians with their hidden agendas, the hypocritical devout, the amoral quest for the Yankee dollar, an increasingly godless society that devours its own young in the relentless hunt for instant, perverted, self gratification; fuck the new generation, they can clean up the mess. Profound? Perhaps, but he isn't saying anything that hasn't been said before, isn't telling us what we don't already know, careful to leave any interpretations of his observations and finger pointing to the listener. Yes, it does call on earlier glories, but don't expect another 'American Girl' or 'Refugee'. Where last album 'Mojo' saw the boys scratch their blues itch, 'Hypnotic Eye' tips us back into familiar Heartbreakers territory, a sound they never really abandoned, that gave new wave Americana its Rickenbacker jangle and sunburned southern Cali groove; mellow, rocked up alt country blues, best described as strong words softly spoken. It takes you back to when Petty led a new breed of southern rockers, before the south got too fat to rise again, ending up taking on The Man, winning too, eventually, without selling out; no butter or insurance advert crap for this boy, oh no sirree. The album is said to have been recorded over a three year period, but you wouldn't know it, the overall feel that of a band that has cut the record in one session, standing around a mic, the old fashioned way. 'All You Can Carry', the sludgy 'American Dream Plan B', the rocked out 'U Get Me High', 'Red River' and (vinyl and Blu-ray only bonus track) 'Playing Dumb' all have that

immediacy of a veteran jamming outfit that can knock out first takers at will, and unafraid to stretch out a little; witness the relaxed ‘Sins Of My Youth', the sultry Memphis late night barroom blues of 'Burnt Out Town', the jazzily lazy 'Full Grown Boy' and the hip swinging bosa nova(ish) 'Fault Lines'. 'Forgotten Man', the sinister sun scorched groove of 'Power Drunk' and the moody 'Shadow People' are about as close as the album gets to the younger Petty, but mercifully not that close. The band are on top, cutting form; the tight, rolling engine room, the rapier like understated interplay between the snarling guitar and tinkling keyboards, the soloing brief but fiery, Petty's vocal weary, the sharp song writing populated by fantasist, rebels and fanatics, the desperate, damned and estranged, all showing today’s pretenders how it’s done. The album’s prolonged gestation hasn't been a bad thing, 'Hypnotic Eye' sounding considered, stripped back, lyrically biting, dark, despite being spiked with the still lingering exuberance of a youth long gone. This is Petty telling us there is still hope, despite his deep misgivings; for the young the American dream is still achievable, all be it a more elusive, contracted version. Yet maybe, just maybe, the root of his dismay rests not with the powerful, elected and uber rich elite, but with us, the flabby majority; our apathy, our mass acceptance of the status quo, our willingness to have our backs pissed on and be told it’s raining. Whichever, but when Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, the wholesome pin up boys of road weary, small town Americana romanticism, take their gloves off you know we're all in really, really deep shit. Yes, we can still chase down a dream, despite society's moral disintegration, but the question is, will anyone be bothered enough to try anymore?

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MoonLand - MoonLand Feat. Lenna Kuurmaa Record Label: Frontiers Records

9/10

Released: 19 September 2014

Highlight of the album: Crime Of Love Website: http://www.frontiers.it/album/5215/ Reviewer: Stephen Brophy

MoonLand featuring Lenna Kuurmaa is another new project coming out on the Frontiers Label, this time featuring the excellent vocal talents of the aforementioned Lenna Kuurmaa. Lenna is an Estonian singer, musician and actress, probably best known from her time in the band Vanilla Ninja, a female pop/rock band that had success in mainland Europe. Being 100% honest I really wasn't sure this would be an album I would get into, so did the music manage to change my thinking ? After running through this album a number of times I have to say it's excellent, the band contains members of Hardline and with Alessandro Del Vecchio also taking care of production duties it was pretty obvious that this would be a polished Hard Rock album. Lenna's vocals throughout are really stunning, being a fan of many female fronted rock bands such as Dante Fox and Romeo's Daughter it's interesting to me to pick up the odd element of both in here and at times even a touch of the tone of Ann Wilson of Heart. The ballads such as "Live And Let Go" which is a beautiful song shine out here, and the added Acoustic version only adds to this.

"Look At Us Now", everything is really solid, yes there's a familiar sound about the music, but I've never believed that that can't be a good thing, I like a lot of the song compositions and the guitar work all help to elevate the tracks above the run of the mill releases. For me "Live And Let Go" would normally be good enough to be the top track on 9 out of 10 of the albums I listen to, but here for me "Crime Of Love" is the outstanding song on the album, it's just a cracking song it's the one where the vocals and the music just peak. I'm really hoping that this project turns into a long term band, Lenna's voice is perfect for melodic rock songs and it would be a terrible shame were they not to follow up on the excellent work done here, already looking forward to the follow up.

Kicking off with "Heaven Is To Be Close To You" shows this is very different to the Vanilla Ninja albums, which is very important, this is a new project, with it's own identity, and maybe the emergence of a more mature artist. The whole band name "feat" an artist is never something that inspires me, is it a band that will use someone different on the next album, or not a band but a one off project showcasing the vocalist. Either way this album certainly showcases the talents of Lenna along side the same quality we have come to expect from the Frontiers guys. The track itself is excellent, high quality hard rock with a pop edge, with this high quality maintained across the rest of the album on songs like "Poison Angel", "When Love Is Gone", "Out Of Reach" and

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X-Drive - Get Your Rock On Record Label: Frontiers Records

9/10 Released: 22 August 2014

Highlight of the album: Baby Bye Bye Website: https://www.facebook.com/XDriveMusic Reviewer: Stephen Brophy

X-Drive are a new band to me and probably the rest of you, hailing from Los Angeles they are the brainchild of Oregon guitarist Jeremy Brunner, and what a good job he has done here, one thing is for sure this is not your average 2014 hard rock release. This has been a labour of love, one mans passion, but having gone to Los Angeles with only a handful of songs he has managed to assemble one hell of a band to make this debut album with, none other than Keith St. John (Montrose, Burning Rain) on vocals, James LoMenzo (White Lion, Megadeth, Black Label Society) on bass and Fred Fischer (Midline) on drums. No quick six week record and release here, the album was produced by the late and great Andy Johns before his untimely death last year, the mixing process then took over a year with Brunner and Wyn Davis who has worked with Sabbath, Dio, Whitesnake and Dokken, showing that every detail was agonised over in the process. Twelve tracks of classic hard rock delivered with an element of panache. So how good are X-Drive's songs, well I've gotta say overall they are pretty damn good. When you have a great base and add contributions from well known and respected musicians it's a great recipe. My one real annoyance here isn't with the music at all, but I honestly think that the albums artwork does it no justice at all. but with that gripe out of the way lets move onto the music. there is no pretence here, no nonsense or attempt to make out that this album is anything but 80's hard rock, but it doesn't sound dated, it doesn't sound stale, there is some magic in this album.

"Lay Me Down" is another excellent track, nothing is rushed here, it's another classy piece of work. That's what pretty much sums up the whole album, classy, just take a listen to "Fly Beyond The Angels" which is one of the most beautiful ballads I've heard in many years, it pauses in all the right places, some solo's gently placed in appropriate spots, and the songs themselves are all placed in an interesting sequence, a jigsaw that fits together perfectly. It's not like all of the songs are of the same style either, but there is a definite feeling that there is a method to the madness. There are rockers like the opener "Love's A Bitch" and closer "Love Breaks The Fool" which add a little bit of a change of pace to proceedings, and another classy ballad in "Change Of Heart", I have to say Brunner has achieved exactly what he set out to on this album, and also that he really knows how to put together rock ballads, and I've always been a sucker for a ballad, to get one of high quality on an album these days isn't that easy so to have two is just a great bonus. Having said all of this there is still one track that I haven't cracked yet, "Turn The Noize Down" is just one I haven't been able to get into, but it might come, and that's the only reason I can give for not giving this album the full 10. Congratulations Brunner, St.John, LoMenzo, Fischer and anyone else involved with this project, great work and long may it continue.

The more I listen to it the more I pick up on new things I like, and some of these songs are going to stay with me for a long time, right now "Baby Bye Bye" just won't leave my head, what a cracking and well written song. However long it's taken Brunner to get his music out to the masses it's definitely been worth the wait, and I think he's picked the perfect partners in crime for the job, St.John just oozes emotion on this track, which helps to lift it to another level, and lets not leave Brunner's guitar playing out of this either, again with albums I tend to keep on the spin this doesn't just feel like s few musicians thrown together, it sounds like a band. The lead track from the album "California" isn't half bad either, a laid back West Coast rocker, but it's not the best song on this album by a long way which is great, there's more to explore.

Firebrand Magazine

Allen—Lande - The Great Divide Record Label: Frontiers Records

9/10 Released: 20 October 2014

Highlight of the album: The Great Divide Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/AllenLande/19550548398?sk=info Reviewer: Rob Birtley

My Aunty Dolly one of my more colourful relatives had a saying “Have 2 in case 1 makes you sick” I don’t think she was talking about The Great Divide but on this album you get two of the greatest Singers in Metal tag teaming it in a display of vocal mastery few could match. She also said “Keep it Dark it’s a Black pudding” which I have to admit still puzzles me but that was said just before she was taken away in a padded white van. The Great Divide is the 4th instalment in a series of album featuring vocalists Russell Allen (Symphony X, Star 1, and Avantasia Adrenaline Mob etc.) and the Norse God of Metal Jorn Lande (Masterplan, Ark, Beyond Twilight, Millennium, Vagabond and Snakes etc.). The rest of the band on this occasion is Timo Tolkki (XStratovarius) Guitars, Bass, and Keyboards who is also responsible for song writing and production and Jami Huovinen on Drums. The sound well it’s the lighter end of mainstream Metal with touches of Rainbow, Blue Murder and mellower moments of Priest and Sabbath all powered by two Huge voices. The album opens up with Come Dream With Me. The track is available streaming from Frontiers and is the first track off the album generally accessible. Instantly it reminds me of J.L.T era Rainbow and songs like Street of Dreams. The opening guitar riff and solo has a Man in Black flavour and I’m sure I’ve heard Cosy thumping a kit to the same rhythm. Not to say this is a bad thing far from it. It’s an opening that says yes this is a Rock album but not as Metal maybe as the last outing Showdown. Next up is Down From the Mountain. This track opens Priest Like and has all the attributes of that band’s lighter moments, Living After Midnight comes readily to mind. Track 4 Solid Ground well that has the scale and feel of some of the better Blue

Murder Tracks and the guitar solo is one John Sykes would of appreciated. Lady Of Winter opens with a simple piano line which is repeated during the track. Then a Blackmore esque guitar part rips in and a drum rhythm that is remarkably like Cosy in Headless Cross. The whole track has a sense of Glen Hughes era Sabbath going on and would fit nicely on Seventh Star one of the bands often underestimated records. The next song Dream About Tomorrow follows on in a very similar vein if a shade less convincing it still Rocks along. The main vocal from Jorne has a gruff Dio edge to it and I could imagine the late great R.J.D singing the chorus refrain. Hymn to the Fallen see Russell Allen taking the lead and once again for a number of reasons Blue Murder come to mind. Notably for the song structure and guitar work and is almost my favourite track on the album but not quite. The title track The Great Divide makes the best use of the two great voices on the album and they reach a unity of purpose and purity of form that tops everything else on the record. It is just a vocal Tour de Force and I’d love to see it live. The whole song slows down the pace of the album nicely and is truly atmospheric and immensely powerful combining in it some of the best guitar playing as well. If you ever needed justification for having two such outstanding singers on one record well this track gives it to you in spades. Bitter Sweet is the ballad of the album and draws the work to a satisfying conclusion. I guess we all have had bitter sweet moments in affairs of the heart and this song puts them to words and music in a way we can all relate to. This album well it’s fair to say is not as heavy or as immediately impressive as the 2010 release Showdown but after listening to it a number of times during the course of my evaluation it definitely grows to the same stature and will be a must have for all Allen and Russell fans and may well broaden their audience.

Firebrand Magazine

Dusk At Dawn’s - Farmasutra Record Label: Self Release

7/10 Released: 31 July 2014

Highlight of the album: Little Red Rover Website: https://www.facebook.com/dusk.atdawns.7 Reviewer: Phil Kane

Dusk At Dawn’s is a bunch of hell raising Cornish hick town beer bellies that got together for an open mic session at the Tintagel Arms one evening, and ended up the South West's best kept secret, and here's the down home, self produced reason why.

run, a lonesome hobo harp and bottleneck straight off the old Redruth to Launceston freight line. So it's essentially an acoustic covers album, but does it belong here? Well, if the Hayseed boys, The Bad Shepherds, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, and BRMC (with their 'Howl' album) can turn metal heads, then I'm damned sure the good 'Farmasutra' is earthy, raw, and very, very loose ol' Dusk At Dawn’s boys can do it too. The blues cats acoustic hillbilly roots that you might possibly be able to and rock ‘n’ roll pure bloods may decry it, the wild eyed use to exfoliate yer knicker line. These boys capture southern purists will holler foul, and the country that sun scorched southern back woods vibe about as bumpkins will just cry, but when yer applying the slap good it can get this side of Muscle Shoals with Al ready to go and see that new outfit that's just blown Kooper at the desk, reinterpreting old songs that have into town, this album will not only get you in the mood become rock standards; Dixon's 'Little Red Rooster', JJ for a damn good night, you'll not be able to sit still long Cale's 'Call Me The Breeze', ZZ Top's 'Fool For Your enough to put that eyeliner on. It's drunken, slack jawed Stockings', Junior Parker's 'Mystery Train', Steve debauchery in a 33 minute groove that might even Earle's 'Copperhead Road', along with less well known convince yer granny to take out her teeth just so's her ditties, in hard rock circles anyway, by Hank Williams III fella can suck on her gums; live, it's wild as hell. and Leadbelly. It borders on sloppy in places, ambles rather than struts in others, but that's more than Dusk At Dawn's have been ripping up bars around the compensated for by its gut full of attitude and heart full south west for the past year or so, have at least two of soul; something our more established outfits might riots to their name and are as sleazy as hell with a want to take note of. Imagine the Georgias when they rabid following to suit; they even had a biker rally eatin' were partial to picking a mandolin, Dan Baird when he out their hands. Their stuff is best served hot ‘n’ live, so wants to get close to his hillbilly down home acoustic if yer get your chance, go see ‘em, just don't take the roots on a porch with a fiddle player, ‘cept with a little lady; she'll gleefully end up outside with her skirts fucking huge rocking hillbilly moonshine running engine tucked under her tits, getting her back doors banged in and a growling vocal that sounds like its owner would while you're up front, jigging about, not giving a flying chase the devil out the neighbourhood just to see him fuck.

Firebrand Magazine

Evergrey - Hymns For The Broken Record Label: AFM Records

10/10 Released: 26 September 2014

Highlight of the album: Hymns For The Broken Website: http://www.evergrey.net/ Reviewer: Stephen Brophy

Evergrey have been creating and releasing top quality Melodic Metal with a bit of a darker edge since 1998. Hailing from the Swedish city of Gothenburg they have always been one of those bands that I thought would have been bigger, not that they haven't been successful, or that they haven't gained an excellent reputation in the scene, they are just one of those bands I thought might explode and become huge, and maybe they still will. Tom Englund is the only original member of the band remaining, but with the return of both Henrik Danhage and Jonas Ekdahl to the ranks for this album we have as close as we are likely to get to the original lineup, and maybe that's a big factor in what makes this release so special.

What we get with "Black Undertow" is probably the darkest and heaviest track on the album, nice heavy guitar riffs and the drums really kick in, but it's not played at breakneck pace, and when the keyboards come in to the slower parts of the song they keep a dark tone and work perfectly. The aggression is kept high on "The Fire" which just launches itself, and keeps going, Next up the title track "Hymns For The Broken" is just a master class in how to make a Melodic Metal song, it sweeps along, changes of pace and tempo, every component is crisp and clear, the vocals as they are everywhere, are excellent. It's quite difficult to pick a favourite track on this album but I think just edges it, well today at least.

Hymns For The Broken is the follow up to the 2011's Glorious Collision, which many thought would see the end of the band and also marks the first release by the band on AFM Records. There are 12 tracks of top drawer Metal presented here and right from the rather excellent opening intro "The Awakening", which sets the scene nicely, it's an absolutely killer album. First up is "King Of Errors" with an underlying riff that just keeps going and driving you in between the slower parts of the song, this is just classy Metal. Next up is "A New Dawn" which is just wonderful, it contains so many elements, from classical vocal accompaniment to piano, keyboards and their normal Melodic Metal all over it, the writing and production of this album is all of the highest order and Tom Englund's vocals as always are excellent, and really that's the theme on every track, there melody, rock, something classic in the sound and a tinge of darkness in everything we get here. But it's very hard to turn off, which is of course a good thing. Next up "Wake A Change" once again, as with all of the album really contains some excellent keyboard playing, Rikard Zander gets to make his mark in different ways all over the album, but here in particular the intro and booming backdrop tie in with the pounding drums and a classic crunching riff and that's before we get to the nice solo and vocals, another fine track. "Archaic Rage" keeps us powering on, another really well written track, with "Barricades" following on, one of my favourite things about this album is the variety, there's a core sound that you can recognise, but everything is very different there's no mash of tracks here where you thing you are still listening to the same song. Again the instruments work in harmony here, pulling everything together with individuals jumping into the spotlight when it works for the song, not just for the sake of it, lovely guitar work through the middle of this song.

"Missing You" is a beautifully constructed ballad that literally sings to me, there's something in it's simplicity that makes it stand out from the crowd. It's just Tom's slightly haunting vocals and Rikard on piano, it's a wonderful piece and once again displays some of the versatility and sheer class that this group of musicians hold. Sadly we are approaching the end now and "The Grand Collapse" is the penultimate track, still there's no filler here, one of the heavier tracks in places, but again has that rise and fall that few bands have the ability to carry off effectively, to make a seven minute plus song continue to hold the attention is nice. Finally, and sadly the last track, "The Aftermath", fittingly closes what's been a bit of an epic journey here, and as the song fades out I'm already looking forward to making that trip again. This album is an absolutely triumphant return for Evergrey, there is a great balance here, no shortage of skill in the musicianship and more than anything top quality songs that have been really well written and terrifically put together. Do yourself a favour, not only if you are already an Evergrey fan but if you are a Metal fan, check this album out, you will be missing out on one of the releases of the year if you don't.

Firebrand Magazine

Dalton - Pit Stop Record Label: Frontiers Records

9/10 Released: 17 October 2014

Highlight of the album: Beautiful Website: https://www.facebook.com/DaltonSweden Reviewer: Rob Birtley

I take you back some 25 years plus. Along with the likes of Europe and Treat, for a few years in the late 80’s, Dalton was a force to be reckoned with in Sweden. They enjoyed success touring, teen media coverage, TV appearances and a string of radio hits. World stars such as Bon Jovi and Michael Bolton provided original songs to their two albums. The band, formed by ex-Treat drummer Mats Dahlberg was named after his nickname, and their genre was melodic hair metal. The band was killed by grunge in the early 90´s, a destiny shared by many bands of the 80´s.

I do have to say that Bo Lindmark has the perfect voice for this kind of song not in the Danny Vaughn stratosphere of course but well up there none the less. Bad Love has a punchy opening with Powerhouse drumming from Dahlberg. The band is moving into Rock mode once more. It reminds me in places of Tyketto with a European sensibility with a bridge and chorus a late 80’s Europe would have been proud of. Beautiful is the albums Torch song. Bo Lindmark is sounding like Pretty Maids front man Ronnie Atkins and the song has the style of many a memorable tune used as title tracks in films of the 80's ’yes it’s cinematographic. The album Come forward to today 25 years after their debut draws to a satisfying end with a living for the weekend album the original members were brought back Rocker TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday). We all know that together for a reunion filmed for TV and after opening feeling. for the Scorpions in December 2012 the band decided they were enjoying playing together so much it was Pit Stop is a vintage slab of late 80’s Melodic Rock time to go back into the studio and record the latest brought bang up to date with pin sharp production Erik album Pit Stop. Dalton now consist of Bo Lindmark Mårtensson (Eclipse, W.E.T., and Jimi Jamison). The lead vocals, Mats Dahlberg - drums, backing vocals, album consists of demos made for the never recorded Anders Lindmark - bass, backing vocals, Leif Westfahl - third album along with some newly written songs and lead guitar, backing vocals and Ola Lindstrom - keythey all fit seamlessly. If you’re a fan of an 80’S boards, backing vocals. Melodic Rock and most of us are even if we won’t admit it you’ll be glad Dalton decided to come back and The opener Ready or Not storms out of the speakers even after 25 years Pit Stop was worth the wait. at break neck pace. Crowd pleaser well Hell Yeah straight out of the time tunnel from 1987 with modern production mix in a touch of Bon Jovi and a slice of Europe, with fine vocal harmony in the chorus and even a tad of Hammond Organ you will get the gist. Next Hey You keeps up the sonic assault with another good time song. Once again Dalton builds a wall of sound with the harmonies in the chorus. The track is driven along on the back of some fine drumming from Mats. This is followed by a ballad of love lost Don’t Tell Me Lies. It’s a song you think you have heard somewhere before but you just can’t remember when. It has a good if short guitar solo and ends as well as it starts. Follow your Dreams starts and ends with an acoustic guitar opening, vaguely country in style, in a Jovi vain and this hue colours the whole song.

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Fahran - Chasing Hours Record Label: Fahran Records

8/10 Released: 11 August 2014

Highlight of the album: Take This City Alive Website: http://www.fahran.com/ Reviewer: Stephen Brophy

Hailing from the UK and having formed from the ashes of Toxic Federation Fahran started to get themselves out there right from the start, initially with Nick Whitcroft on vocals and Alex Stroud on bass, but when they stepped away from the band Fahran drafted in Josh Ballantyne on bass and the excellent Matt Black on vocals, the latter having recently parted ways with Serpentine. The band have self released Chasing Hours and this is a really nice piece of work, getting a mix of modern and classic rock and metal. This album has been available to Pledgers for a couple of months, but the official album launch now comes as I'm sure the guys are in the middle of working on the next album.

albums with 13 tracks on them, it can be very much a mish mash of styles running through them, and although the guys are all trying to show off their individual abilities it's not to the detriment of the concept as a whole. The lead off song "Take This City Alive" is probably the stand out here, it's got a great rhythm from start to finish, kicking drums and guitars all over, there's a really nice clean sound to it and it's just got that something that makes you want to play it again from the start.

The closing segment of the album is made up of 4 tracks, and it's really strong. "Back To Me" and "Prison" are excellent, with "Prison" in particular having a bit of So what's on Chasing Hours, well you aren't going to an epic feel to it, building up from a really nice intro, but find a bunch of power ballads here, nor are you going it kicks in hard half way through and provides us with a to get another Serpentine sounding album. Farhan mix memorable track that will hold it's own in high classed a twin guitar assault with Melodic leanings, a balance company. Both "Black Mirror" and "Storms We Ride" that is certainly not easy to thread, but they manage to really round things off nicely, they have a slightly more run along that fence really well, and the energy runs mellow vibe to them and "Black Mirror" still manages high right through from start to finish. The opening to have enough bite in it to lift it above the norm. As a track "Long Gone" builds nicely as it goes along, and closing track "Storms We Ride" has a lot going for it, along with a number of the tracks has an almost not just thrown in there as an after thought, at the end Progressive feel in places, everything is played really of the day this is their debut album, the first work with well, I love the drums and Matt's vocals tie it all Matt on vocals and as debuts go you have to applaud together. This is a very very solid debut, a number of the guys for their hard work, I can only see more good the tracks have the same kind of feel about them things to come and the next album may have a bit without everything melting into a mush or being more input from Josh and Matt. Keep your eyes on repetitive, along the way tracks like "A Thousand Fahran, they will certainly be playing live somewhere Nights", "Cased In Steel", "Are We Free" and "Some close to you soon, go check them out and lets see Kind Of Family" all have different approaches and the where they can go from here. ability to stand on their own, but there is some nice flow to how this album has been put together and arranged, absolutely love the guitar attack on "Some Kind Of Family". This doesn't always happen with

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Theory Of A Deadman - Savages Record Label: Roadrunner Records

6/10 Released: 29 July 2014

Highlight of the album: Salt In The Wound Website: http://www.theoryofadeadman.com/ Reviewer: Stephen Brophy

Theory Of A Deadman are a band that often get slagged off in certain corners, they have close affiliations with Nickleback's Chad Kroeger having been signed up to his record label back in 2001, but that just goes with the territory sometimes I guess, to be honest up until now I have not really taken a huge amount of notice of them. Savages is the bands fifth album, having been pretty successful thus far commercially, at least up until 2011's The Truth Is.... which was not quite as well received. Which brings us to 2014 and an album with guest appearances by Alice Cooper and Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts).

left very flat, some of the tracks like "Panic Room" just sounds like anyone could have done it, it doesn't have a stamp of any band on it, not that it's awful, it just doesn't go anywhere, I could see a remix version of it showing up pretty quickly though. "Livin' My Life Like A Country Song" is a Country song, featuring guest vocals from Rascal Flatts Joe Don Rooney, and if anything it's one of the better tracks on the album, nice melodic intro and does exactly what it says on the tin. Tracks like "Blow" and "In Ruins" just wash away without leaving any real impression, but there are good tracks here too, like the opener "Drown", "Heavy" and for me the best track is "Salt In The Wound" which has Once again we are presented with a mixture of Rock a lot of rawness in it and offers a bit more emotion and Country, but more different songs here and there than the rest. The title track "Savages" features the rather than blended into a solid album. This means that legend that is Alice Cooper, it's a decent track but there are songs on this album that stand on their own again nothing really above the level of the rest for me. right pretty well, but when put together as a collection songs for me it just doesn't work, maybe this is more The slower songs here "Angel" and "The Sun Has Set an album for the iTunes generation where you can just On Me" are functional enough, but again nothing that download a track or two that suits the style they lights a fire in me I'm afraid, Theory Of A Deadfavour, being more of the whole album type generation man may just be that band that I don't get and will I have always felt that creating an album means you try never do anything for me, but this album is mediocre at and get something that works in some form as a body best. of work. After a number of listens here however I'm still

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The Pineapple Thief - Magnolia Record Label: Kscope

8/10 Released: 15 September 2014

Highlight of the album: The One You Left To Die Website: http://www.pineapplethief.com/ Reviewer: Phil Kane

The Pineapple Thief; can't decide if this band is one of those outfits that are actually mega masters, but have managed to stay off the mainstream radar, or just a very, very well guarded secret. Either way, if you haven't come across them before, here's a nice, accessible chance to get aquainted.

abandoning of the ‘chuck everything in the pot’ attitude of yore producing a more immediate album, the dreamy atmospherics backed up with the grit and drive of a live band without loss of depth. Despite the sometimes vertiginous changes in mood, even in the same song, ‘Magnolia’ represents prog coming about as close to pop rock as it’s ever likely to get, The band hails from the hotbed of talent that's gently occasionally venturing a bit too close to the BBC Radio simmering away in the English south western peninsula 2 friendly territory of Muse and Elbow (which here, is at the moment; Somerset in this case. Formed in '99 not as bad a thing as you may think), but that just adds by chief songwriter Bruce Soord as an experimental another dimension to an already deeply layered piece bedroom project, The Pineapple Thief has evolved into of art. what many see as one of the most interesting and innovative rock bands the UK has recently produced. The deluxe edition of this album comes with a second, Soord seems also to be following in Steve Wilson's six track CD of alternative acoustic versions and two footsteps, collaborating with other Kscope artists, unreleased tracks which was not available at the time joining Katatonia on their recent Dethroned & of writing (how about it Kscope, yer tight fisted buggas) Uncrowned Unplugged acoustic European tour, getting so I've no idea how the bonus stuff stands up to the involved with all sorts of other studio based projects. final mixes. They must be putting something in the water down there (apart from aluminium sulphate that is). With only one song out lasting five minutes, ‘Magnolia’ is a concise, elegant, intelligent, and occasionally brutal ‘Magnolia’, TPT’s tenth album, very much treads the affirmation of the rude health progressive rock is in at same paths as Anathema, Mostly Autumn, Porcupine the moment. An album to savour and enjoy, its layers Tree even. Taking the lush, spacey whimsy of classic to be peeled away and immersed in, even the most Floyd and King Crimson, it shoves a whopping dose of evangelical metal pure blood will find some form of 21st century bollocks up its ass. At turns whimsical, solace when the bludgeon gets too much. It is a perfect moody, then punchy, The Pineapple Thief welds the entry level album for anyone interested in getting a more contemplative facets of classic progressive rock handle on this expansive and rewarding avenue of onto short, snappy modern, alt rock numbers that modern rock music. work exceptionally well. In fact, the lack of longer tracks forces the band to tighten up its writing, the

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YES - Heaven And Earth Record Label: Frontiers Records

7/10 Released: 16 July 2014

Highlight of the album: Subway Walls Website: http://yesworld.com/ Reviewer: Rob Birtley

For someone who’s Biker roots tends him to lean towards Heavier and Blues orientated music it might come as a surprise to some that the two albums that started my love affair with Rock came from a very different genre. Those albums that literally Rocked my world both came out in 1971 and both were milestones in Prog Rock , Nursery Cryme by Genesis and Fragile by Yes. So looking into this album was in many ways like revisiting and old friend.

picking by Steve Howe. It has an early Genesis quality to it that enmeshes you into its story. In a World of Our Own is something of a Blues track and the most modern song on the album. The Bass playing of Chris Squire stands out on It Was All We Knew. His Bass is the heartbeat of the song. The album ends with the song Subway Walls. This song typifies the supreme musicianship that has been the trademark of Yes throughout their entire career.

The Yes Line up on Heaven and Earth which is their 21st studio album is Steve Howe – Guitars and Vocals, Chris Squire – Bass and Vocals, Geoff Downes – Keyboards, Jon Davison – Vocals – Guitars and Alan White on Drums. Jon Davidson is the singer from American Prog Rockers Glass Hammer who list Yes and Genesis amongst their influences so may be this is what inspired his selection to take the mike. The question is does this album see Yes reaching a new milestone or something less satisfying?

I have to ask myself just what do I expect from a Yes album? Excellence in symphonic rock with great virtuoso playing and a distinct sense of melody and lyric which is truly their own well I take that all as given and of course you will find all that on Heaven and Earth. So why am I not in seventh heaven over this album well because lots of it sounds like a recapitulation of Fragile without it’s freshness but with 21st century production values including a vocalist who could so easily be Jon Anderson but isn’t. The final enigma is the closing track which is the one track on the album that seems to be The album opens building on the with Believe Again. What strikes you instantaneously is legacy rather than reliving it and leaves you thinking just how similar the voices of Jon Davidson on this alwhat if. I’m not going to say this is a bad album far bum and Jon Anderson of the from it. This bunch of guys could not fail to produce Fragile era sound it’s almost shocking. The song itself quality music and the production by Roy Thomas Baker sounds as though it was penned at the same time as is outstanding but they have already set the bar so high Wondrous Stories and it could have been an out take and Heaven and Earth just doesn’t reach that bar. from Going for the one. I do think as the title suggests this is a look back to past glories rather than striking out in a new direction. Next up is The Game. This track reminds me of very early Supertramp it showcases some great harmony vocal work and heartfelt lyric, close your eyes and you can see Jon Anderson. Step Beyond is more whimsical. Underpinned by a quirky keyboard line and it has a poppy quality about it like most of the later more accessible Yes tracks. To Ascend starts off with some exquisite guitar finger

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Laneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Legion - Laneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Legion Record Label: Perris Records

8/10 Released: 22 April 2014

Highlight of the album: Beneath The Surface Website: https://www.facebook.com/laneyslegion Reviewer: Stephen Brophy

Laney's Legion are new Swedish Hard Rock band featuring Chris Laney on Lead Guitar/Vocals (Zan Clan, Randy Pipers Animal), Rob Marcello on Guitar (Danger Danger), Mats Vassfjord on Bass (Grand Design, Impera) and Patrik Jansson on Drums. The album was released a couple of months back, but managed to slip through my net, so time to rectify that. Some great talent in this band with Laney himself taking on lead vocals, but every member supplying backing vocals. This is an interesting project, it's hard rock with an edge, some glam in there for sure and through the album there's a mix between melodic and something a little heavier, which is a nice change. All of the ingredients are here, from party songs to just really good hard rock tracks with some excellent guitar work all around, no surprise with Laney and Marcello at the helm. We have 11 tracks that stand up on their own merit here, I am very glad I managed to revisit this album, classy rock music, vocally Chris is excellent here with some varying styles throughout. Kicking off with the pacy rocker "On And On" gives us a nice idea of what's the come here, then we get smashed in the face with the really gritty "Taste Of Your Tongue" and then the absolutely glammy "Poptastic" it's great to see

someone with the ability to stretch across boundaries, but what ever direction this band travels they are never far from a hard rockin' attitude, for me the standout track on the album is "Beneath The Surface" which has a bit of a funky, groovy driving rock background with some nice solo's layed on top and it's just a really good song. On the rock side dominates the rest of the album, but as I said it's not all the same thing, so although I think nearly everything works here there is the odd track that doesn't quite hit the spot, however "Let's Get It On" and "No One Can Stop Us Now" rise a little above the rest. The one real change of pace on the album is "Bleed Within" which is a really top notch ballad. Laney's Legion definitely give more of an impression of a solid band as opposed to Laney's solo work, and it tells in the quality of the album, I really hope there's more to come from this project, always hard to tell these days and with some very busy members in the band, Chris's own work Engineering and Producing for a wide range of artists certainly keeps him working, but there is a lot of talent here and plenty of promise from this debut effort.

Firebrand Magazine

Lord Volture - Will To Power Record Label: Mausoleum Records

7/10 Released: 25 August 2014

Highlight of the album: My Sworn Enemy Website: http://www.lordvolture.com/ Reviewer: Phil Kane

Here yer are then, Euro power metal done Dutch style, which to be fair, sounds just like its close Teutonic relative. Lord Volture stick pretty tightly to the power metal template, don't mess about too much with a formula that’s been tested to destruction, everything that's necessary is present and correct. So, to a point it could be anyone; I said to a point, but such is the nature of the beast.

passages, 'Line 'Em Up!' for instance, but that's all kept on a mercifully tight leash and only one track pops off anything resembling an acoustic interlude (Lamb of God's 'Omerta'), hallelujah. There are moments where the band try on just a little extra complexity for size, 'Badajoz (1812)' and 'The Great Binding' for instance which doesn't always work, some ideas causing the album to occasionally lose its momentum, and therefore tension, but despite this it’s still better than a What sets this apart from the herd is that it’s so well lot of this sort of stuff that's graced the death decks done. The chassis is solid, the bass and drums back in this year. In short, with a grittiness, a bite, that was the the engine room keeps the album nailed to the groove, signature of Saxon and Y&T ('The Pugilist'); 'Will To the guitars tight, providing the industrial hammering Power' is probably one of the better examples of Euro precision this sort of stuff needs if it is going to work power metal south of U.D.O., Priest, Accept and properly; check out 'Taklamakan', 'My Sworn Enemy' Scorpions. The band have even managed to coax exand 'Where The Enemy Sleep' to see what I mean. The Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland into duelling on the duelling solo work is rapier like, soulful, tight, the “The Great Blinding” with Paul Marcelis and Leon shredding kept in its place. Even the prescriptive vox, Hermans which, with respect, is tellingly unnecessary; with their stratospheric glass shattering capabilities the band are good enough to manage without him. know when to stay below the cloud base, or just shut Alright, it’s doubtful 'Will To Power' will make the year's the fuck up. Innovative Lord Volture may not be, but the end best-of lists, but that's no disgrace, it’s been a boys know their stuff, know when to just let the music rather good year after all, but it's still a rather juicy have its head and run. There are touches of NWOBHM lump of heavy metal that won't disgrace any frantic knocking about, especially in the harmonising guitar delivery driver's death decks, and indeed, it hasn't.

Touchstone - Live Inside Outside (3 Disc DVD/CD) Record Label: Cherry Red Records

8/10

Released: 28 July 2014

Highlight of the album: Joker In The Pack Website: http://www.touchstonemusic.co.uk/ Reviewer: Paul Nicholls

On the heels of their fourth album ,Oceans Of Time, Touchstone release their first official DVD ‘Live Inside Outside’.

which includes Wintercourt and Joker in the Pack, Strange Days is again here. Once more the quality of the camera work and audio mix doesn’t let the band down in any way.

Recorded over two concerts ‘Inside’ features the entire set from the bands appearance at The Robin 2 at Bilston (in support of the Oceans Of Time album) Magentas Rob Reed handles the filming, mixing, editing and directing (which means he must have been busy, as the quality is nothing short of excellent). The set features tracks from the Oceans album in addition to favourites such as Corridors and Strange days. ‘Outside’ again is a comparatively short live set from Touchstone, recorded at High Voltage Festival in 2010.

Also included are a documentary covering the making of Oceans Of Time, an audio cd of the Bilston show Plus for the first 500 copies an exclusive audio EP featuring previously unreleased. Musically Touchstone are bang on the money throughout the DVD/CD set, Kim Seviour still has that distinctive lilt to her voice and when the song dictates it the power to do it justice, Adam Hodgson, the leading light of the band, play exquisitely, his guitar weaving the melodies and putting in some soaring solo work. A band at the top of their game.

Jeremy Irons introduction sets the scene for the show

Firebrand Magazine

VEGA - Stereo Messiah Record Label: Frontiers Records

10/10 Released: 17 October 2014

Highlight of the album: With both Hands Website: https://www.facebook.com/OFFICIALVEGA Reviewer: Stephen Brophy

VEGA are without doubt one of the best Melodic Rock bands to come out of the UK in the last 10 years. From their debut album Kiss Of Life (2010) through to last years release What The Hell the band have shown they have all the ability in the world, excellent musicians, and high quality songwriters, add to that the fact that VEGA are one of the best and most energetic Live bands on the scene you may understand that the new album release is something I have been very much looking forward to. The band are back on the Frontiers label for the third album Stereo Messiah, which comes out mid October. So onto the album itself, being 100% honest the album didn't grab me as I was expecting on first listen, and that had me a little disappointed, but that disappointment didn't last long and the more I listen to Stereo Messiah the more I like it, which is just super. The title track is also the lead song for the album and "Stereo Messiah" the song is top notch, it's punchy and contains the usual high energy I'd expect from VEGA and at the same time there's lots of nice work in here, be it the guitar solo or keyboards, this is an excellent way to kick off an album, maybe a little strange to say, but you can already feel a little bit more maturity in the music. Don't get me wrong, this definitely sounds like VEGA, but just like from Kiss Of Life to What The Hell! there is a definite move on here from What The Hell!. "All Or Nothing" and "Wherever We Are" are typical VEGA songs, with sweeping vocals, classy rock with a slight pop edge, and this really is an album that keeps growing on you. Next up is one of the best tracks on the album, "Ballad Of The Broken Hearted" isn't really a ballad at all, it's one of those songs that digs deep into your head though and I'll admit to just humming it while walking around work, and it doesn't end there we follow on straight into "Gonna Need Some Love Tonight" which just beats you into submission, this song live I think will be an absolute monster. It's hardly a surprise that the album itself sounds so good when it's been mixed by John Mitchell (It Bites) and mastered by Harry Hess (Harem Scarem), personally I really like the way it sounds right through, add to that the fact that there's a Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) song on here, which he not only gave to the band but also duets on with Nick, and we have a very impressive piece of work here. From the first time I head VEGA Nick Workmans voice has stood out, he is without doubt one of the most recognisable frontmen in Melodic Rock, and one of the best, there is just a depth to some of the work here that you don't here

very often. There really is no let up in the quality on this album, "The Fall" and "Neon Heart" power along, once again this is an album where it's the sum of all parts and not just an individual trying to dominate. The bombastic "With Both Hands" is probably my favourite song on the album, but that title has changed once or twice over the last couple of weeks, it is superb though, ebbing and flowing with strong lyrics and it's a track that gets played more than once on repeat without becoming annoying. This leads us onto the Joe Elliott track "10 x Bigger Than Love", which is a decent track, with some nice guitar licks in there, and Joe himself singing on it, and it's not like it sounds like a Def Leppard song or a cast off, but there is something in the back of my head that keeps making me think of FM's recent EP, can't pin it down and it's nothing bad, but maybe a little distracting. "My Anarchy" has VEGA stamped all over it, ten tracks in and this album is fast becoming one of my favourites of the year, at times this album sounds effortless which I'm sure it wasn't, but Tom, Marcus, Daniel, James and Nick have made something that is just a bit special here, and for a band who have already made two very impressive albums to be still showing improvements and making strides forwards is brilliant to see, they are not content to rest on their laurels. With just "The Wild The Weird The Wonderful" is the last of the uptempo tracks and the penultimate song on the album, and again it's really good, this leads us to the closer, "Tears Never Dry" which is a six minute odd ballad essentially, another very well put together song and should be taken in while sitting in a room with time to appreciate it. There are of course people for whom VEGA do nothing, we all have our own tastes, maybe to some they are a little bit too poppy or their sound is one that just has now appeal to them, but I really thing this is an album that everyone should give a bit of time to and let it sink in, don't just listen once walking to work, really I think this one will surprise a few people. Another thing that may sound a little odd is that the one track that doesn't really stand up to the rest for me is the Joe Elliott track, having said that I believe that the work that VEGA have put in here and their own tracks deserves full marks, so they are getting them.

Firebrand Magazine

Work Of Art - Framework Record Label: Frontiers Records

10/10 Released: 19 September 2014

Highlight of the album: How Do You Sleep At Night? Website: https://www.facebook.com/musicofworkofart Reviewer: Stephen Brophy

Work of Art have really made a mark on the AOR scene over the last few years, after their debut Artwork (2008) made people sit up and take notice, and the stunning In Progress (2011) the new album is one that a lot of people have been waiting eagerly to get a listen to. WOW it will not be letting anyone down.

finish I was very much reminded of In Progress in a lot of the sounds, but to my ears at least there's even more depth here, everything is really well written, tracks like "Can't Let Go", "Over The Line" and "The Turning Point" are all great songs in their own right, but there's a way that everything is put together here that just raises it to another level, and that's before we get to the likes of "Hold Onto Love" and the wonderful "Natalie" which just lifts you that little bit. Even with all of these excellent songs there's still one for me that stands out above the others "How Do You Sleep At Night ?", what a talented band of musicians and songwriters we have here.

The band itself hail from Sweden and are made up of some well-known musicians such as Robert S채ll (who also plays keyboards with W.E.T.) on Guitar and Keyboards, Herman Furin on Drums and the stunning Lars S채fsund on Vocals. These three are the listed members of the band and they fill out the lineup with Bass and Keyboard players for Live shows. It's essential I think that this album gets toured, it would be If the aim on Framework was to get a bigger, fuller a terrible shame if fans and prospective fans didn't get sound and just expand on what they achieved on In the chance to hear Progress then top this AOR monster marks to WOA, live. they've absolutely nailed it, honestly This album comes this album has not flying out of the come out of rotation traps with "Time since I got it, brilliant To Let Go" which work from all has the same involved, this may great sound of just be the some of the more smoothest release energetic tracks of 2014, even if you on the In Progress aren't a big AOR fan album. This is just give this a try, it's bursting out of the addictive an album speakers and is as I've heard in about as hook many years. Drums laden as you can don't always have to get. Somehow be hectic 100mph, Work Of Art have or a blastfest, managed to everything on this create classic album is placed AOR with a West Coast edge while still being modern, where it should be and all of the instruments wrap and right throughout this track, just like the rest of the around each other to create something special. Take album, everything is strong. The guitar work "Shout Till You Wake Up" for example, so solid drums throughout the album is particularly impressive, Robert throughout, a wicked running baseline, and although has excelled himself on this release, there is a balance the guitar work isn't showing off and crazy solos it's on this album that just isn't achieved with 99% or again working really well with everything else, keyreleases. There is just no doubting that this band exude boards sitting on top like the cream rising to the top, class, of course the style of music isn't going to be or rarely I go on and on about this kind of thing, but just everyone, it's just very difficult to point out any weak throw in the vocals of Lars and I think this may just be spots here. Ignoring the vocals and drums for a the most difficult review I've managed to get out, for moment, just take a few listens to this album and the me album of the year in the AOR genre. Really hoping layers of keyboards that add textures all over the place, that Frontiers manage to get WOA out there in the and again as with all top albums you pick up on coming months to tour Europe. something new in the songs on each listen, subtle changes or solos. The first time I listened from start to

Firebrand Magazine

Scar For Life - Worlds Entwined Record Label: Escape Music

9/10 Released: 29 August 2014

Highlight of the album: Worlds Entwined Website: http://www.scarforlife.com/ Reviewer: Rob Birtley

Some bands struggle with changes in Line ups others seem to grow and evolve with them. One of the bands apparently strengthened with the significant personal changes within the line-up is Lisbon-based rock/metal outfit Scar For Life. The group and its mainstay guitarist and writer Alexandre Santos play Metal with a difference incorporating Melodic/Groove/Power Metal tinged with a dark edge creating a Hard Rock style all of their own.

doing one of their epics on state of mind. Mancini’s vocal has lots of light and shade and the up tempo keeps the track moving at a rate of knots. Track 5 Vendetta is the most radio friendly and mellow track on the album. It’s more than notable for a fine guitar solo from Neil Fraser who also collaborated with Alexandre Santos in the recent D.N.A project EP along with Mikael Carlsson and singer David Reed Watson. “My Dark Serenade” is the catch your breath segment, as it grows into a dark yet enchanting ballad with a The current line-up of Scar For Life is Rob Mancini (of powerful, emotionally laden chorus and just may be Hotwire and Crush) – vocals, Alexandre Santos – Rob Mancini’s vocal Tour de force on the record. This guitars, Teen Asty – bass and Joao Colaco (Rage Of album contain plenty of tracks where lightning fast Angels) – drums. Worlds Entwined is the bands fourth guitar riffs are put back to back against melodic verses studio album since their inception in 2008 and was and choruses a contrasting combination that is both mixed and mastered by Martin Kronlund. This release as interesting as it is unexpected as typified by is also notable for the collaborations of a number of Disconnected, The Patriot or Fire And Flame. Another Rock Luminaries such as the drum god Vinnie Appice ballad, but of different nature is a mellow acoustic (Black Sabbath, Dio),guitarist Neil Fraser (Ten, Rage Of piece Wish You Well Tonight and maybe is this is the Angels, D.N.A), Lover Under Cover’s Michael Carlsson track in which the band’s artistry overshadows their and the acclaimed violin player Anne Victorino mighty technical prowess. The album ends with the title d’Almeida. The question is the old one is the whole track Worlds Entwined right from the beginning it has greater than the sum of the parts? an epic Apocalyptical feel about it. It’s Doom Laden with furious instrumental interludes and Rob Mancini’s voThe album opens with Thirteen Revolution. Right from cal and inspired lyric match the music perfectly and is the first note you get the feel of Dio era Sabbath as the my favourite track of a great album. Mighty Vinnie Appice bombards the kit in a way only he can. The bass is also doom-laden Sabbath and Rocks Worlds Entwined is a personal statement from the on through the track. This is the first single now out as band that draws inspiration from the current situation a lyric video and with events in the middle east at the in the world, the juxtaposition of good and evil touching moment could hardly be more current in lyrical upon subjects such as war, selfishness and more. It is content. Rob Mancini puts his stamp on the album powerful and compelling full of great playing it neither right from first bar always musical sometimes preaches nor offers solutions but it does paint a reminiscent of Lemmi but never aping. Because I Can gripping picture. finds the band sounding like a Metalled up Pretty Maids

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