Sunday 16 May 2010

Danko Jones - Below The Belt

Canadian Trio Danko Jones return with the new (ans 6th) full length album by the way of Below The Belt. What we get is pure ass kicking rock n roll, with pop sensibilities Kiss would be proud of. from opening track 'I Think Bad Thought' this album is non stop class. All the songs are extremely well written, the production is spot on and the band are as tight as a ducks arse!

Front man Danko Jones is in great voice, telling us just how he lives the rock n roll life style,but in a fun matter of fact way. The band have been around for years now, and as I said earlier this is their sixth album, but they haven't lost their hunger and drive!
I love this entire album, but If I had to pick out a few stand out tracks then I would have to go with, 'I Think Bad Thoughts', 'Magic Snake', 'Had Enough', (I Cant Handle) Moderation and 'I Wanna Break Up With You'
Again, this album is great, and just goes to show how good old fashioned straight ahead rock music can be!

Very Highly recommended

website - http://www.dankojones.com/

rating 10/10

Dangerous New Machine - Set The World On Fire

Dangerous New Machine, are a new band featuring former/current members of Stereomud, Fozzy and Stuck Mojo, Set The World On Fire is their cracking debut!

Opening with 'Shut Up', the album gets off to a blistering start, lot's of angst and frustration vented here, with lyrics we can all relate too!
Quickly follows 'Burn' and 'Bulletproof Hero', before things slow down a little with 'Lets Talk About Sex'! The standards never drop anywhere on this album, in fact songs like 'Feel Alive Again', 'My Sins', 'I Wish', 'Skeletons' and 'Push It' just emphasise the class and quality of the musicianship and song writing on display here.
If I had to draw comparisons, then I would say that Dangerous New Machine, have a sound that's in the same vein as Nickleback, Shinedown and the last Fozzy album, but they deliver a solid brand of melodic, heavy, contemporary hard rock

Very Highly recommended!!!

website - http://www.myspace.com/dangerousnewmachine

rating 10/10

Lunar Dusk - 4 track Promotional EP

Lunar Dusk are (presently) a one man Gothic / Electronic / Alternative band formed by Ariel a former member of London based goth/industrial/dark electronic band Cryptonic Love Revival. This self produced and released promotional Ep features 4 tracks, 'Temple Of Ishtar', 'Blood and Tears', 'Saturn' and 'Tranquillity'. The songs are pretty strong, lots of keyboards, electronic piano, fuzzy guitars and Ariel seems to have a little bit of David Bowie type of croon about him places. The production is ok, a little murky at times, but for a one man show this Ep is quite impressive. Id love to see what this guy could come up with given a full band and a bigger production budget behind him!


Think Type Of Negative, Acey Slade, Plastic Toys and you wont be too far off of the mark!

website - http://www.myspace.com/lunardusk

rating 7/10

Violent Arrest - Minute Manifestos

24 tracks of high energy hardcore British punk! Featuring former members of the legendary 80's punk outfit Ripcord, Violent Arrest give us all 24 tracks in just under half an hour, yet each one is a perfectly formed little gem, filled with energy and angst!

'Kill Me First', this albums opening track, really does set the stall out for this album, fast angst file punk with great big catchy hooks. The songs are great, the band is pretty hot, and well what else can I say. Violent Arrest are a British Hardcore Punk band delivering just that. If you like punk, and are getting tired of the watered down stuff the American so called punks have been putting out over the past few years then this album could just very well be for you!
Check It out!!

website - http://www.myspace.com/vapunk

rating 8/10

Widespread Panic - Dirty Side Down

Dirty Side Down, is the 11th studio album from US Rock / Blues /Jazz band Widespread Panic.

The band have been together an amazing 24 years, yet somehow they managed to slip under my radar, and judging from the first couple of listens to this album then damn, Ive been missing out. The band offer a up a kind of jazzy southern tinged blues rock, that's pretty unique to my ears. The songs have a very laid back feel to them, especially on the likes of 'Saint Ex', 'Dirty Side Down' and 'This Cruel Thing', yet the maintain a certain energy that keeps you captivated.
This is a very strong album, and great for those times when you just want to mellow out, this is perfect chill out rock!
Check these guys out, you may discover you've been missing out like I have!

website - http://www.myspace.com/widespreadpanic or http://www.widespreadpanic.com/

rating 9/10

Thursday 13 May 2010

Tribe - Pray For Calm...Need The Chaos

Hotly tipped UK rocker's deliver up debut album Pray For Calm.....Need The Chaos.

Tribe are being championed by non other than Iron Maidens legendary front man and rock show DJ Bruce Dickinson, and upon hearing this album I can see why. Whilst the band are obviously inspired by the likes of Iron Maiden, Queensryche, Judas Priest and the like, they offer up more, they have a contemporary edge and an experimental quality about them which is not on endearing but bloody awesome!
Vocalist Paul K sings in a style very similar to Bruce Dickinson and Blaze Bayley, yet has a certain individuality about himself which lends itself to the songs perfectly.
Stand out tracks for me, if I have to pick any out, have to be 'Head', 'Oberon', 'Havels Hurricane' 'Bad Dreams' and 'Words That Kill', in fact every track is excellent!

If you like your rock with a melodic metal flavouring to it then check these guys out!!

website - http://www.myspace.com/tribeband

rating 10/10

Black Spiders - St. Peter EP

UK rockers Black Spiders deliver up a classic three track Ep here.

From the southern flavoured Sabbath inspired stomper of title track 'St. Peter' to the hectic punk fuelled rocker ' I'll Be The Judge'. Even closer 'Undertaker Blues' offers up something a lil different. The band have been getting quite a lot of airplay in the UK recently on the likes of Kerrang etc, and things seem to be starting to take off for them at the moment, and deservedly so. They have a new Ep out this month titled No Goats In The Omen scheduled for release at the end of the month which I personally cant wait to check out. Just roll on the full length debut album!

Website - http://theblackspiders.com/

rating 10/10

Jackyl - When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide

Has it really been seven years since Jackyl's last album? Well it sure has, and 2010 see's the US classic / southern rockers return with When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide.

This is a beast of an album, it pulls no punches, in fact its Jackyl doing what Jackyl do best, plan out rocking!
When Moonshine is filled to the brim with sleazy southern tinted classic rockers, from opening track 'Loads Of Fun' to closer 'Full Throttle'. You know that Jesse James Dupree (Jackyl front man) isn't just singing these lyrics, he's living them!
This album will satisfy the bands already existing fan base and is strong enough to draw in a few more along the way.

Great stuff!
website - http://www.myspace.com/jackyl

rating 9/10

Bombay Black - Love You To Death

With influences that include the likes of Mötley Crüe, Kiss, Pantera, Nickelback, Seether, Disturbed, Van Halen, Journey, Def Leppard, King's X, Type O Negative, you can bet your soul that US rockers Bombay Black are hoping to deliver a solid and varied album with Love You To Death, and to be totally fair they really do deliver. The band manage to combine all of the aforementioned influences and come up with a solid contemporary sound, whilst delivering some great tunes along the way. Songs like 'Reign Over Me', 'Love You To Death', 'Demons Down', 'Black Widow' and 'New Psycho' really do showcase the bands versatility. Erik's vocals are well suited to the songs and the bands sound, and Devil Jim delivers some great guitar work. The Rhythm section are solid too, equally at home on the out and out rockers as they are on the reggae / ska inspired 'Give Yourself To Me'.


A great album well worth checking out.

website - http://www.myspace.com/bombayblack

rating 9/10

Axident Avenue - Shaken & Disturbed

Axident Avenue are a Glam / Metal / Rock band hailing from Norway. Shaken a & Disturbed is their debut album released via Demon Doll records. What we have here is pure 80's influenced glam Ala the likes of Motley Crue / Poison / Pretty Boy Floyd etc.

The album opens with a beautiful short instrumental intro then explodes into 'Don't Fall In Love', which really lays the bands cards out on the table. Next up is 'Dirty With You' which continues in the Motley Crue styled vein. All 11 tracks on Shaken & Disturbed are brilliant, and although the band are heavily influenced by the likes of Nikki Sixx and crew, something you just cant miss, you never feel that they are trying to rip them off!
The songs are solid and the band are tight. Stazii Violet has a good enough voice to keep your attention throughout the album even if he's not the strongest of vocalist's.
Axident Avenue I imagine must be a blast live, and if like me you miss the glam / rock of the late 80's / early 90's then you really should check this album out as its likely to be right up your street.

Thoroughly enjoyable experience!!

website - http://www.myspace.com/axidentavenue

rating 9/10

Monday 3 May 2010

Chris Laney - Only Come Out At Night


Chris Laney returns with his second album, and much like his debut album, Pure, and most of his production work, he once again wears his influences high on hi sleeve. We're talking Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Def Leppard, and a very health dose of 70's glam rock. At times this album has a sound not a million miles away from Def Leppard crossed with Wasp, and its bloody fantastic!
'Only Come Out At Night' is a hard rock monster, and upon hearing this album you can understand just why Chris is such a highly sort after producer, in fact he has recently been involved with the works of  Steevi Jaimz, H.e.a.t. and Crazy Lixx, to name but a few!
Opening track, 'Only Come Out At Night' sets things of with a Zeppelin type riff, and is a real beast of track setting the mood perfectly for what is to follow, and just what follows is 11 tracks of pure hard rock heaven!
There's not a duff track anywhere to be seen on this album, the production is spot on, the musicianship is amazing, and the songs are un-nervingly brilliant, especially when you consider just how busy this guy is! Just where did he find the time to write these gems?
Stand out tracks include 'Only Come Out At Night', 'Rockstar', 'Eyes Out Poppin', 'Playing With Fire' and closer 'Daydream'.


rating 10/10

Sunday 2 May 2010

Hovercraft Pirates - When Our Wake Hits Your Shore

With cameo appearances from rock legends Rick Wakeman and Alice Cooper, as well as having a wicked band name, expectations for Hovercraft Pirates album were already reasonably high. Tracks such as ‘Strangest Creatures’ and album finale, ‘Addictions’ provide perfect examples of the bands pure and unrelenting talent, whilst ‘Til The Turnpiece Melts’ conjures up images of packed mosh pit's and bodies flying everywhere!


Hovercraft Pirates have been described as 'Nu-Rock from the Irish trio, breaking the moulds of genres. " Tracks effortlessly craft a melodic, yet mature sound - that breathes influence of rock and roll history in every note!'

but what I say is that Hovercraft Pirate are a great alternative / punk / rock band and with When Our Wake Hits Your Shore, they have succeeded in creating a loud rock album that isn’t afraid to roll with the punches.

website - http://www.myspace.com/hovercraftpirates

rating 9/10

GU Medicine - Lords Of Oblivion

Yorkshire based noise merchants, GU Medicine return with their third full album in the form of Lords Of Oblivion, and one of the first things that you notice about Lords of Oblivion is that it dispenses with gimmicky drawn-out intros, launching straight into a convincing showcase of its classic heavy rock pedigree!


Lee Storrar’s howling voice has a pure raw honesty about it, and the entire album possesses this unrelenting groove that just pulls you in. Yes the lyrics are a little clumsy and spinal tap / steel panther Esq at times, but you just dint seem to mind as the band bludgeon you with their Motorhead / Wildhearts inspired musical assault!

Stand out tracks ‘Lords of Oblivion’ and ‘Lighting Up The Skies’ are real gems of tracks, really bringing the album to life, that's not saying that the others aren't as good, the entire album is great.

Whilst Lords Of Oblivion is unlikely to become a classic in the annuls of Rock History, it’s a fine body of work nonetheless.

Plus they're amazing live!

website - http://www.myspace.com/gumedicine1

rating 9/10

Hey Hey My My - A Sudden Change Of Mood

French Alternative / Indie / Folk rockers, Hey Hey My My offer up A Sudden Change Of Mood. Hey Hey My My is the folk/indie-rock duo of Julien Garnier and his good friend Julian Gaulier, The Parisian duo share songwriting and composition duties and, to date, have released a handful of EPs and their debut self-titled LP over the last 4 years. A Sudden Change Of Mood is their second album and continues to straddle the line between mainstream pop and the DIY nature of folk and indie-rock.


There are some great tunes on here, well worth checking out if your looking for some easy going melodic music!

website - http://www.myspace.com/heyheymymyband

rating 7/10

Eagle Scout - New Hands

Hailing from the Rockwell-Esq Greenville, IL, Missouri bordering Midwesterners Eagle Scout do nothing less than shake up their sleepy small town with their big sounds. New Hands is the second full album from Eagle Scout and continues to see them blend elements of post-punk, indie and pop,


The five piece deliver high energy well crafted poppy punk tunes with well though out lyrics.

Well worth checking out!

website - http://www.myspace.com/eaglescoutmusic

rating 8/10

Calabrese - They Call Us Death Calabrese III

You could summarise this review by stating "If you love the Misfits you'll love 'They Call Us Death', but that would be unfair as there is so much more to Calabrese.

As the band tear into the opening (and title) track of the album, their self styled Damned meets Misfits meets Ramones B-movie Gothic Rockabilly vibe is evident for all to see.
'Blood Of The Wolf' has a pure channelled aggression that wouldn't be out of place on a hardcore bands album,
This Calabrese's third full length album is easily as good as its predecessor's, if not better, and if your into a Misfits inspired Gothic / Punk / Rockabilly onslaught (less the Danzig Esq crooners) then this album maybe right up your alley!

website - http://www.myspace.com/calabrese

rating 8/10

Thunderbird Motel - Rockit Til the Wheels Fall Off

Seattle based rock band Thunderbird Motel offer up their new self released album Rockit Til The Wheels Come Off. Influenced by industry heavyweights like The Who, Bad Company and Lynyrd Skynyrd, this short eight track album has a sound that is bluesy hard rock with a very clear towards the hey day of 70's rock.


Rockit Til The Wheels Come Off shows a lot of promise for a band that just haven't quite arrived yet. Songs like 'Red Dress', with its Keith Richards lick are absolutely brilliant, whilst 'Hellraiser' is still a little too chaotic, and I swear the backing vocal have been taken straight from The Who's 'Who Are You'!

'Black Eye' and 'Borrowed Time' again show a lot of promise for a young band, and maybe if the band had held off just a little longer before opting to record the album they could have matured to the levels of 'Red Dress'.

Worth checking out, but I'm really looking forward to the next album!

website - http://www.myspace.com/thunderbirdmotel

rating 7/10

The Slagsterz - So In Love With The Rock n Roll World EP

This is the first release from Sweden's Slagsterz, whom feature the talents of Spinx B'Stard and John Priest, (two former Salvation Star Brigade members), Dallas Chrome (ex-Starlet Suicide / Leaded Fuel) and drummer Pepz.


This three track Ep wears its influences well, 'Southside Entertainment' has a Sex Pistols meets early Hanoi Rocks feel to it, 'Ghetto Blaster' is pure glammed up street punk and 'One More Time' takes the dark brooding styles of Lords Of The New Church and Slagsterizes it!

The Slagsterz have a great musical heritage, and judging from this taster EP a bright and sleazy future ahead of them!

website - http://www.myspace.com/theslagsterz

rating 8/10

The Slackers - The Great Rocksteady Swindle

The Slackers return with their new album, The Great Rocksteady Swindle, which see's the veterans of the New York Ska scene return to their Rocksteady roots. The Great Rocksteady Swindle is The Slackers 12th studio album and is a credit to the bands continuing vitality and longevity in the music scene. The songs are all well thought out and have a rhythm that can't be denied. The Slackers are one of those that bands don't need to change direction


to remain fresh and relevant. After 20 years they're still managing to deliver the goods.
The Great Rocksteady Swindle isn't going to set the world on fire, or even break ska into the mainstream, but it will serve to remind the mainstream that ska, and very good ska at that, is alive and well on the underground!

website - http://www.myspace.com/theslackers

rating 9/10

Mavalour - Election Smile

Mavalour is French for rock n roll, apparently, and rock n roll is what these Californian rockers bring in spades.Mavalours' second album is filled with the things that define Rock & Roll, cool guitars, a singer with a great set of pipes bags full of attitude everywhere!


Mavalour are very much in the same rich classic rock vein as Led Zeppelin, The Black Crowes and The Rolling Stones, yet they offer up something that's always a little different and unique. They have been described as an Americana meets early British rock & roll Band With Piano, Hammond Organ, Back up singers and yes, lots and lots of slide guitar, and they sound terrific!

Tracks like 'Time To Ride', One and Lonely', 'If I Fall', 'Election Smile' and 'Filling Colour' just ooze a certain class and maturity. This band deserve to huge, they have the talent, the drive and the songs. Check 'em out!

website - http://www.myspace.com/mavalour

rating 9/10