Just seeing the name Tony Harnell brings to mind one particular style of music and in particular one band, TNT. By my reckoning I think he has been in that group on four different occasions, for a sum total of […]

Maryen’s second album, ‘For Eternity’, was released in 1994. This was a stripped back affair in that Maryen provided vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards, arrangements and programming, JJ Barry provided elect […]

After gigging around London and recording two solo albums, Maryen decided it was time to go home, where she became a mother. After a while she decided she should be encouraging original music, so started and […]

This double disc set contains Slayer’s entire set of their August 5th, 2017, show at The Forum in Los Angeles. For most of their career, the three guys at the front of the stage have been the same (they have been […]

Guitarist Greg Mackintosh will always be associated with Paradise Lost, the band he has been involved with since they came together in March 1988, but he also had a side project called Vallenfyre. This band was […]

This has been a hard album for me to really get into to, not because Amber cannot sing or swing, as it must be said that this set is a delight from a great singer. No, it’s all to do with the opening title cut w […]

This 2015 album was the second from Avatarium, a project put together by Candlemass bassist Leif Edling, drummer Lars Sköld (Tiamat), guitarist Marcus Jidell (Evergrey, Royal Hunt), his wife Jennie-Ann Smith on […]

Between the second and third album both Leif Edling (bass) and Carl Westholm (keyboards) left Avatarium, being replaced by Mats Rydström and Rickard Nilsson respectively. Then between the third and this the […]

Here we have the latest album from pianist Carol Albert, following from 2017’s ‘Fly Away Butterfly’. That album had been written and recorded in the period following the sudden death of her husband, and this is on […]

I have been fortunate in recent months to interview Daria Kulesh, and have also watched her “at home” concerts, so it seems somewhat strange to be coming to this her second album now, as I already know the son […]

The Auckland-based band describe their music as Stoner Punk, which somehow is quite apt. The music tastes and influences are quite varied with each band member, so it is a bit different from the mainstream genre, […]

Like many others, I am a huge fan of the 2019 studio album from Eluveitie, ‘Ategnatos’, and this album was recorded that year in the Czech republic at the Masters of Rock Festival while they were promoting it. Con […]

It is not often I am at a loss for words, but with this release I am, I really am. Part of me is saying that it is because my musical knowledge is sadly lacking and if I only understood more then I would […]

When I am sent an album by a band I know little or nothing about, I always do some research even if I am sent a press release. This album was released in December 2019 (yes, I’m way behind on where I need to be w […]

One huge positive about moving to the end of the world some 14 years ago is that I have become far more aware of the NZ and Australian music scene. NZ has far more to offer than just Split Enz and Lorde for those […]

This is the debut release by singer Laura Noejovich, where she is accompanied by pianist Takeshi Asai. The concept is simple, just a singer and a seasoned accompanist as she works her way through some of her […]

I remember the first time I came across Molly Hatchet, it was back in 1979 and our local rock radio show used “Boogie No More” as their theme. It featured three guitar slingers in Dave Hlubek, Steve Holland, and […]

Just one look at the cover art by the cover art of Denver graphic artist Max Sherman should be enough of a clue as to what lies inside. Yes, the crystal in the outstretched palm is red, and we are deep in the […]

Jeff Buckley, and his incredible album ‘Grace’, is surely well-known to all fans of great music. But what may not be so well-known is where some of the songs actually come from. Before going solo, Jeff was lea […]

I fell asleep listening to this album one night, and I am not quite sure what it says about both my state of mind and my musical tastes when I find something so experimental and challenging to be actually quite […]