Anette Olzon: Rapture (2024) In some ways I have always felt a little sorry for Olzon, as she was the filler in the sandwich between Tarja Turunen and Floor Jansen, and people tend […]

Stray: About Time (2023) I was more than a little surprised when I came across this release, as I remember Stray from years ago and had not realised they were still going. I did […]

Pestilence: Levels of Perception (2024) I must confess to have never seen an album so universally slammed as this one, and while I do understand where the reviewers are coming from, I do […]

Medicine Head: Heartwork (2024) Back in 1973, one programme I would never miss was Top of the Pops, as it was the best way to discover music at the time (at least through TV), and this […]

Mazlyn Jones: Planet For $ale (2021) Nigel contacted me via email recently and of course we started reminiscing about music and how long we had known each other (30 years), and it was only […]

Hour Of Penance: Devotion (2024) Originally formed in 1999, the still features guitarist Giulio Moschini who joined in time for their second album, 2004’s ‘Pageantry of Martyrs’, while […]

The Hollywood Stars: Starstruck (2024) Originally brought together by music svengali Kim Fowley in 1973, The Hollywood Stars recorded three albums during the 1970’s, although only one was r […]

Hanging Garden: Citylight Sessions (2024) Formed in 2004, Finnish melodic doom/gothic outfit Hanging Garden released their eighth studio album, ‘The Garden’, in 2023 and have now followed tha […]

Gigo: The Divine Proportion (2024) OK, so I am having a few issues getting my head around this album, and I will explain why. Back in 1980 I attended my first ever metal gig, Saxon […]

Funeral Leech: The Illusion Of Time (2024) Four years on from their debut, ‘Death Meditation’, funeral doom outfit Funeral Leech are back with their second, with five songs coming in at just ove […]

Bruce Dickinson: The Mandrake Project (2024) Back in 1980 I turned 17, and NWOBHM was everywhere: I was in my element. I grabbed Sounds when it came out every week to find out about new bands, and […]

Alice Cooper: Breadcrumbs (2019) A few months ago Alice Cooper reissued his 2019 EP, ‘Breadcrumbs’, with two additional tracks, “Don’t Give Up” (his message of hope during the COVID […]

Alison O'Donnell: Hark The Voice That Sings For All (2022) Born in Dublin, Alison recorded her first single, “Feeling High” for SNP’s Simon Napier Bell and David Hemmings at the age of 15 with the cult folk- […]

Wormwitch and Sadistic Ritual: Wormwitch and Sadistic Ritual (2024) I don’t grab all the music which is sent to me for review, but there was something about the cover which made me think of the 90’s underground metal sce […]

Steve Hunter: The Deacon Speaks (2024) When it comes to being a guitarist’s guitarist, then Steve ‘The Deacon’ Hunter would probably top many lists, having worked with the likes of Gabri […]

LONDON UNDERGROUND (ITALY) Live at the 19th Dream of Dr. Sardonicus Festival While I was tuning in to my usual prog radio staple, the Friday Night Progressive station, I was immediately and unexpectantly surprised by the first few […]

ICE (NETHERLANDS) Man in the Moon Since the release of their debut “The Saga” in 2005, and that catchy track “Not Only Love”, this Dutch band has been stuck in a 19-year-old iceberg […]