In 25 words or less:  Just like the 1989 release No Respect, Enough Rope is an essential hard rock classic. With it being over 20 years now since the glory days of 80’s hard rock, it’s certainly been intriguing to say the least to observe the bands, albums and songs that have “survived” so to speak in 2011.  There is […]

In 25 words: A lethal combination of driving guitars, hooks, soaring choruses and pure addictiveness. Having first discovered Nottingham based Teenage Casket Company (TCC) on MySpace, yes MySpace, some 7 or 8 years ago, what I found in this “casket” was indeed a “best kept secret”.  A band that captured the essence of the anthemic style of power rock that […]

The early 2000’s really were a wasteland for fans of sleaze rock, glam metal and just hard rock in general.  Whilst around 2006 and the years beyond would see a proliferation of 80’s hard rock bands reuniting for reunion tours and being the catalyst for a bunch of USA festival line-ups such as Rocklahoma etc, a true hard rock/sleaze rock […]

Hailing from Italy, Absynth Aura first came into existence in 2007 and in 2011 have now released their debut album Unbreakable, after the formative years spent establishing the band in Italy and Europe.  Fronted by female vocalist Claudia “Klod” Saponi, Absynth Aura deliver a style of rock that whilst could be compared to the likes of fellow Italian’s Lacuna Coil, […]

Now here’s a release that all the truly dedicated sleaze merchants worldwide may have been waiting for….the CD release of Like An Empty Bottle from Italian sleaze rockers Jolly Power, previously only available on cassette tape.  That being said, quite obviously this is a very raw sounding release, however in a way that fits in perfectly with the brand of […]

In 25 words or less: One of the most enjoyable and unexpectedly awesome releases I have heard this year.  Simply magnificent! 2011 has definitely been a truly monstrous year for lovers of melodic rock, AOR and all things “keytastic” and just when we probably thought we had heard it all, along comes one of the most magnificent names in rock, […]

 In 25 words or less:  Best band names ever? – “Whiplasher Bernadotte”,”Skinny Disco”, “Nightmare Industries”, “Vice” and “Cat Casino”. Releasing a “greatest hits” album when you have only released 3 albums in your 11 year history may seem a little over the top…but then again, over the top is what those Swedish natives, Deathstars have built their foundations upon, with […]

Rob Mancini is a name some rockers may know as the former frontman of bands such as ‘Hotwire’ and ‘Crush’ but if you have never heard of him, you’ll be so glad we now have. This new album from the Irish local of German/Italian background, his first album in almost a decade titled ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus gives us some […]

In 25 words or less: “On paper this had every potential to be good, basically on every medium besides the recorded one this had potential to be good. Sadly…” Now, before I even start this album I have been warned. Basically the resounding reviews are saying it’s terrible, they don’t get it and my favourite which was something along the […]

In 25 words or less: “This band needs to be heard, so listen, share, talk, tell everyone about Trucker Diablo…” Loud, crunchy, fast riff driven, bass heavy, gang vocal laden, classic rock and roll is pretty much how you could describe Trucker Diablo. Did I mention they’re from Northern Ireland? No? Well you’d have no idea when listening to them […]

In 25 words or less: Melodic Kick Ass Rock I love it when a band you’ve never heard of makes an album this good. This to me is what I’m listening to now with the debut album from our newest ‘Best Thing You’ve Never Heard’ Captain Black Beard from Sweden (of course, I mean does any bad rock music come […]

In 25 words or less: Shades Of White is easily one of the most enjoyable albums I have heard all year With a swag of influences that firmly rest in the era of 70’s glam and rock & roll both visually and musically, it has to be stated right up front that Shades Of White is easily one of the […]

In 25 words or less: “It’s a heavy, at times classic sounding metal album and one I’ll be happy to listen to again” Im not sure if I’ll be berated for this but my favourite Megadeth album is ‘Countdown To Extinction’. So when I heard this new album from Dave and the boys was somewhat similar to that awesome album […]

One of the most personally rewarding aspects of May The Rock Be With You, at least for me personally is typified by unearthing a band such as young Italian sleaze rockers, Sandness. Having first heard about them through the number 1 sleaze authority here in Australia, Glam Junkie’s Sleaze Ball (make sure you join up the Facebook page), Sandness are […]

Whilst having grown up as a teenager in the late 80’s on a staple of traditional hard rock and heavy metal, I am by no means a one-trick pony when it comes to music, with my musical listening, likes and knowledge being incredibly eclectic.  So what then does that statement have to do with Death Dealers, the second album from […]

In 25 words or less: A prog, jazz, blues, psychedelic, metal vibe delivered in a great slab called Heritage From the opening piano intro I truly didn’t know what to expect with this new release from Opeth but as that faded out and directly in to the next track I could finally get a gist for what I was in […]

In 25 words or less: A great album that is not too heavy, not too light, it’s just right. The new album from mastodon is pretty damn good. There, I said it. This is an album full of chunky riffs and catchy heavy songs. This album is their first since 2009’s ‘Crack The Skye’ and continues to show the growth […]

Having existed for well over a decade now, when it comes to the Swedish “sleaze” scene, few bands are bigger than Gothenburg natives, Hardcore Superstar, who have blazed the trail since the year 2000 for the cavalcade of bands that have since followed.  With the prospect of a new studio album not likely to be released until April 2013, Hardcore […]

In 25 words or less: Insert disc, press play and prepare yourself for about 45 minutes of the best damn feel good hard rock anthems heard this side of the 80’s… Finnish rockers Reckless Love return with their second album Animal Attraction that is bound to get the hard rock world talking, just as did their debut album. The dance […]

In 25 words or less:  Catchy as hell shout out choruses and tongue in cheek lyrics, horror inspired song titles against a backdrop of infectious hard rock riffs are the order of the day throughout the albums 11 songs… Wednesday 13 must surely be one of the most prolific music artists on the planet, having released an album (eg. Wednesday […]

In 25 words or less:  “A highly enjoyable album, featuring a collection of timeless songs that are no doubt as intrinsic to many of our own musical upbringings, as they are the members of Puddle of Mudd.”  Cover albums, tribute albums, whatever you may want to refer to them as, are always an interesting proposition and there never usually seems […]

In 25 words or less: It’s a real honest, moody and raw brand of rock that Brand New Sin deliver and the key to enjoy the album is to pick your own mood when you are likely to best enjoy… United State sees American based Brand New Sin deliver their fifth album.  If you are reading this and are from […]

In 25 words or less:  “Only your own ears can determine whether they like a concoction of reggae, nu-metal, dub step, metal, hard rock, beats and rhymes” Since 1998, the Welsh based Skindred have been bringing it with their genre defining, well actually, let’s say genre creating, blend of reggae and metal that they themselves refer to as “ragga metal”.  […]

In 25 words or less: The band name check Aquanet, Motley Crue, Dokken, Slaughter, Stryper, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Iron Sheik, L.A Guns and Bon Jovi in “She Don’t Wanna Rock”…instant winner! With a history thus far spanning fifteen years and now nine albums, Zebrahead have certainly been one of the mainstays of pop punk and in 2011 with an uprising of […]

Hyro Da Hero, now here is an interesting musical proposition to match an equally intriguing name.  Fusing rap and hip hop with rock isn’t exactly something new, but as the Houston native, but now L.A based Hyro Da Hero will tell you “no one has done it like this. It’s raw, and it’s real.”  Adding some real rock credibility and […]

In 25 words or less: Amazing playing, amazing songs, something to get lost in… Ok. Now forgive me for saying this but I know of Dream Theater but I can honestly say I’ve never listened to any Dream Theater before. I know, stop mocking me, it’s not nice, so forgive me if I can’t compare to previous releases.  This being […]

In 25 words or less: “Pop punks not dead”…this album proves it! With a history thus far spanning fourteen years and now seven albums, New Found Glory have certainly been one of the mainstays of pop punk and in 2011 with an uprising of young challengers to the pop punk throne, New Found Glory have hit back with 12 songs and […]

Back in 2010, Acey Slade, formerly of Murderdolls, Dope & Trashlight Vision fame and now current Joan Jett bass player, unleashed upon the world The Dark Party.  Cleverly bringing together and stretching the boundaries between both the rock and electronic genres, Acey himself described the release as ‘a non-hard rock album, for hard rock people’.  For me personally, The Dark […]

In 25 words or less: ” If you like heavy, I mean really heavy music then you need to already have Dead Throne in your collection.” Wow. Not really knowing what to expect going in to this new album by The Devil Wears Prada I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a nice soothing dose of the fucking heaviest […]

To sum it up.  When The City Calls, you answer… The Power Pop Punk Rock genre or however you want to categorize it is one that is and always has been based on fun catchy music, look at bands like Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory, Boys Like Girls and Paramore just to name a few.  Obviously it works and […]