Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond (2024)

Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond (2024)

Over the years there is no doubt that Sonata Arctica have released some really powerful melodic metal albums, but it is also true they have released some which have not really been up to standard, and their last album, 2019’s ‘Talviyö’ is one of those. Given they have...
Shawn Maxwell: J Town Suite (2023)

Shawn Maxwell: J Town Suite (2023)

On his twelfth album as band leader, Shawn Maxwell (alto & soprano saxophones, flute) takes us back to his hometown, Joliet, Illinois. It is not a very bright and lively release, but perhaps that is because Joliet is not the brightest and most inspiring of places,...
Sebastian Bach: Child Within The Man (2024)

Sebastian Bach: Child Within The Man (2024)

I am not going to go over Sebastian Bach’s history, as he is quite a controversial figure in some ways, but no matter what anyone thinks about him there is no doubt he is one of the best singers around. ‘Skid Row’ is one of the finest rock debuts ever, and I was lucky...
Sarah Prodan: Little Bird (2023)

Sarah Prodan: Little Bird (2023)

One morning I was working through my emails and came across one from Play MPE informing me of an album by Sarah Prodan, someone I had not previously come across. I was just about to file it when the photo caught my attention, long enough for me to then read the...
Riot V: Mean Streets (2024)

Riot V: Mean Streets (2024)

Riot were a band who appeared in many ways to get more praise in the UK than they did in their home of New York, with both ‘Rock City’ and ‘Narita’ gaining lots of praise during the NWOBHM era although their sound was quite different. It was always Mark Reale’s band,...