Dooms children-Dooms children

After "Me and that man" this is the second memorable case of an artist of the extreme metal era who exploits his more sensiticve side and exhibits such a diversity of musical colors .Wade MacNeil ALEXISONFIRE guitarist / GALLOWS front man presents an album where Neil Young of the early years (Cortez the killer, Harvest etc) and early Santana meets Nick Cave, Johnny Cash along with the Lana Del Ray and PJ Harvey and Mark Lanegan in an amalgam of dark, esoteric modern infused retro rock. Did i confuse you? That was my point. The album is full of id tempo trips to the inner self of DOOMS CHILDREN magical world. Those of you who are familiar with the 90s USA/Aussie alternative scene and names like Chris Cacavas,Luis Tillet, BEAST OF BURBON, THE LONG RYDERS, Steve Wynn, DREAM SYNDICATE you ll find in this album a hidden masterpiece. 

 

 

Distortion, eastern guitars, mesmerizing rhythmic parts, a whiskey soaked, gravy voice and some songs to watch the dark skies getting the city ready for the storm. All these with the Neil Young feeling of bitter sweetness, loneliness, abandons and the dreamy parts like at "Stardust Lullaby" and you re ready for a long ride with the car ,with the rain dropping on the windshield. I need to mention MAZY STAR as another reference and not influence ans the final product of DC is unique and beautiful Music made for long, cold, dark nights in smoky bars all over the globe. Well done, im drinking  my whiskey making a toast to the losers of the world with DC been the perfect soundtrack.

8

 

Troy Redfern- "The fire cosmic"

 

A prolific writer, modern bluesman from the Midlands, Troy Redfern has the sound that would suit the next Tarantino movie. Delta blues with a good portion of slide guitar and a modern approach, a bit Alice Cooper "One way ticket a bit Rob Zombie, he likes his music, dirty, bluesy and groovy. As he admits, working with a band this time and an external producer, let his music come to the forefront. For the recording, Troy enlisted what he describes as “the ultimate dream team” – Darby Todd on drums (The Darkness, Robben Ford, Martin Barre, Paul Gilbert), virtuoso bass guitarist Dave Marks (Hans Zimmer), and guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal (Guns N’ Roses, Asia, Sons of Apollo).

 

 

 

Troy is a guitar player that goes beyond being a good blues/slide guitar player, just listen to the manic "On fire" to feel his passion bursting the dam of convenience and conventionality. He is a prolific writer who brings new ideas to the blues, and definitely one with one foot in the US.

So "The fire cosmic" is a modern blues/Hard rock album that combines Delta blues and LA hard rock scene along with some excellent slide guitar, plus some great country & western overtones ("Ghosts") and drives you all the way down south. Bands like LITTLE CAESAR and CIRCUS OF POWER could have a lot to earn with a collaboration with such a guitar player. His approach, stripped from the fancy tricks and the polished studio sound of the blues extraordinaire contemporaries, credits his sound and music with authenticity. 

 

 

Dry, tight sound and songs that ooze passion and originality. Its up to you to check him, but he will be around for a long time.

7,5

 

The Georgia Thunderbolts- "Can we get a witness"

From LYNYRD SKYNYRD to SMALL FACES/FACES/HUMBLE PIE "Be good to yourself", TGT are a real Southern band with guts.Honky tonk piano, battered ,fuzzed guitars and a singer that knows how to use his voice. Dirty, ballsy rock n roll base don boogie, blues, Soul and with the Southern twist we all love. Yet the band is more on the classic rock side of the road and although you can listen to pre 76 SKYNYRD you can listen to BOA,ALLMAN,CREAM, Clapton and most of all Delta blues burning their soul and letting music pour out like hot water from a gazer well. If LED ZEPPELIN were Southerns instead of UK hippies they might have tried to sound like TGT. Hard rocking anthems like "Helpless woman' give their place to Southern boogie  like "Dancin with the devil" making "Can we get a witness" a joy for the ears. Traditional, yes, obsolete no, check them out and we may have here BLACKSTONE CHERRY successors. 

 

From the opener "Take it slow" the beat and the groove are ever present, manly,Southern hard rock with dizzy,screaming guitars and a singer somewhere between the Marlboro man and the Jack Daniels commercials oozing whiskey and old time manhood. 'Lend a hand" has the kind of groove we love at BLACKFOOT and MOLLY HATCHET with a new generation Southern harmonies at the chorus (BLACKBERRY SMOKE, CADILLAC THREE, MOLLY HATCHET, BLACKSTONE CHERRY). At songs like "Looking for an old friend" are the closest i have heard to SKYNYRD for years and you must take this as a compliment. 

 

 

 

THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS is a band who loves their musical tradition and at the same time tries to differentiate themselves by writing damn good, groovy, Southern hard rock songs. Raise the confederate flag and listen to them, or bury yourself in the political correct shit of the middle class /left wing losers.

7,5

 

Great Ad-"Deep Down Death"

Sweden really retro rock from the 70s and not another BLUES PILLS, cause i know what you think of. GREAT AD are far  70s and more into the psychedelic side of music. From the hard rock opener ``Got the fire" to the instrumental with obvious influences by bands like THE SHADOWS "Borne,Andy, Mountain" to the more bluesy, abstract "You ll never believe' everyone is here mostly from the San Francisco scene. Joplin,Santana, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE but also BLUE CHEER, AMBOY DUKES, MOUNTAIN, jamming at the beautiful instrumentals of the album or building the climax in edge hard rock songs. The album is 37 minutes in length and has a number of songs that the instrumentals (who are easily could be among the best moments of the album) are adding extra depth. GREAT AD are not another revivalist band, they are the real deal. GREAD AD Are stuck in the crack of time and their music  aims straight to the heart and the stoned mind. "Fast love" is like MOTORHEAD would jam with BLACK SABBATH leaving vocals out of the picture. 

 

 

 

The album is raw, proto metal, vintage rock with enough dirt like they have just finished the Paris Dakar race on camels. Whiskey soaked  vocals that are equally occult and retro are spicing the songs, that have the folk/melodic feeling of LED ZEPPELIN filtered through the BLACK SABBATH distortion, all together praising the American proto metal scene.The band recorded and released two private press singles in 1975 and 1976 respectively. Both were done in micro pressings of 100 copies each making them very rare and sought after. We follow the band from their first incarnation as a killer heavy power trio and then expanding into a massive 5-piece powerhouse and until the military draft put an end to their teenage hard rock dreams. So this is a reissue worth every penny and every minute of your time.

7

DANG!!!- "Sociopathfinder"

What an album, what a debut !!! From the 70s blues propelled intro "Preludium desperado" to "Long gone misery" , DEEP PURPLE, URIAH HEEP and 60s psychedelia join forces to create an amalgam of delightful music. Much more innovators than revivalists, Norwegian musical collective of DANG!!! they use the essence of classic 70s hard rock and 60s psychedelia, along with some surf and pop elements to create immensely dynamic music. Norwegian rockers DANG!!! is a seven-headed monster on a mission to create a new world post-pandemic rock n roll order with their debut album “Socipathfinder” The band is formed around the core duo of Arne Thelin (ex Lust-O-Rama) and Stig Amundsen (ex Gluecifer) and.feat. members from Kvelertak, Mork, Giuda, The Cynics, and ex-members from, Motorpsycho, Nashville Pussy and more.

 

 The  good vibrations of the music are all over the place ,as are the references to 60s TV show music themes. Imagine FUZZTONES, CRAMPS and HELLACOPTERS jamming at the same room with MK II DEEP PURPLE and yet i'm not sure if i can describe in its entity the result. So I'm closing this small presentation just saying that DANG!!! nail it from the first time and the result is a diverse, full of sonic surprises album.

 

8,5

 

 Joanna Connor- "4801 South Indiana Avenue"

Sometimes you need Joe Bonamassa to get in touch with an artist like Joanna Connor. Her "4801 South Indiana Avenue" is a great Chicago blues album and her 14th. Bonamassa produced the album and more. From the opener "Destination" with Jimmy Hall, the honky tonk piano and the venomous blues /slide guitar are ever present. "Come back home" is a traditional blues boogie that drags listeners to its rhythm with the slide guitar driving the joint  crazy. "Bad news" is in the classic form of the slow ,painful twelve bars blues with some great guitar and even more soulful vocals, reminiscent of George Benson."I feel so good" is a great boogie song, in the Bo Diddley vein.'For the love of a man" is a great Chicago blues, with thrilling guitar, horns and some breathtaking performance."Please help" is a twelve bar barnstormer, ready to set the joint on fire. 

 

 

 

"4801 South Indiana Avenue" is a soulful, blues album, filled with originals, that is based on the tradition, the fire in Connors heart and her great ability to raise hell with her guitar/slide guitar  playing and voice. For those who are stuck at the details, Bonamassa takes part in "Part time love'  and "In my time" a slow, blues/rap composition, with a hypnotic beta/background making this great blues album even better. An album for purists and more, polishing the old blues sound making them shine again.

 

 

8

 

Santana-"Blessings and miracles"

The return with another album full of famous collaborators and also of inspiration. Carlos Santana has nothing to prove to anyone. He likes his spiritual,new age approach to music ,blended with Latin and rock overtones, groovy and smooth "Break" with Ally Brooke, old timer with deep emotions "Whiter shade of pale" with Steve Wintwood, modern, rap and beat "She's fire" a modern  Mexican FM approach. He brings the man who saves other musicians and we speak about Chris Stapleton who resurrected METALLICA, Tom Morello and his collaboration with Santana will be discussed and the soul of the song, the emotion burden and his vol=cal delivery make  the "Joy" one of the most successful songs Santana ever released in collaboration with another artist. 

 

But Santana is also a man of his time and he has political views, opinions and says it openly and loud. "America for sale" with Kirk Hammet (METALLICA) and Mark Osequeda (DEATH ANGEL) is an a example what happens when Carlos gets angry, a masterpiece of aggression full of riffs that METALLICA would kill to have (probably the collaboration on Cindy Blackmans album ignite this one). A modern funk rock song with Corey Glover ``Peace power" is another example of how Santant speaks for the minorities and stays on the forefront of music, with some great 70s, wah wah guitar work.

 

At “Song for Cindy”, Santana pays his guitar tribute to his current spouse, the jazz drummer and percussionist Cindy Blackman. He shows his love to Jazz  at “Angel Choir/All Together”. a song with special guests the former Mahavishnu Orchestra member Gayle Moran Corea, and  recently deceased piano jazz legend Chick Corea.While the family participation (Blackman, Santana son Salvador Santana-vocals and keyboards , ) continues with “Breathing Underwater,” which features Santana’s daughter Stella Santana as vocalist and songwriter, an ethereal, easy listening pop song. Soul, funk, reggae, rock are all here in a mix that smooths the soul and shakes the booty. Listen to the funky, guitar driven `Mother yes' and get a grip on good music, still mind blowing from a man who seems never tired to put the groove back in its place in rock music.
 

So the recipe may be the same, Rob Thomas is once again here at the excellent but the inspiration takes the album to the next level as Santana is charged with positivity and social awareness and delivers it with groove, power and some excellent guitar work as always. A reborn artist, who knows? He is definitely on fire and positively charged, a man blessed who creates miracles with his guitar work and the choices he makes regarding his music collaborators.

8

 Eddie Spaghetti & Frank Meyer- "Motherfuckin rock n roll"

SUPERSUCKERS mastermind joint forces with Frank Meyer (Streetwalkin Cheetahs) and the result is a pure rock n roll album .Rockabilly with some hard rock twist jus to t light up the fire. Songs like the same title and "Barroom bawl" would be perfect songs for every roadhouse at route 66 or every high school prom at the 60s where zombies would replace and devour gradually the graduates.

 In your face rock roll, twelve bar blues and some groovy music to get your bootie at the dance floor with no hesitation. A cover of "My Sharona" (KNACK) makes the album even more difficult to resist. If you are in to AC DC, STATUS QUO, MOTORHEAD, Chuck Berry and NASVILLE PUSSY grab a copy, a convertible, your gril and start partying.

 If you are in a bad mood crank up "Knock my teeth out". The magic of rock n roll is sheer power and simplicty and this duo have it all.

7,5

 

ECLIPSE-"Wired"

Probably the best melodic hard rock band returns with another killer album. From the opening track, ECLIPSE are determined to grab the listener by the throat. Razor sharp riffs, like ACDC meets EUROPE to party over JOURNEY songs, everything is here. The tongue in cheek lyrics, the unforgettable melodies, the catchy choruses, "Roses on your grave" is a killer opener, while the consequent "Dying breed" is the ecological song we all need, in these days of electric cars and solar power-(ok we all pay higher electric rates but who cares, it's the 80s and we have money). 'Carved in stone '' starts semi acoustic and then explodes. "Twilight" is a marching song, a march to happiness. "Poison inside my heart" is a pure pop diamond-reminding their older days, but this is the trick, have your own identity."Bite the bullet" is like JUDAS PRIEST decided to try and get the FM rock territory. Celeic influences from THIN LIZZY to Gary Moore are everywhere at 'Things we love' .

 

 

 

The main problem with ECLIPSE is that they have more close to perfection songs, then most bands will have in their best of compilations. Embracing every AOR,FM, pop rock element that will make their tune memorable and catchy they write songs. Songs to be played on the radio, to be sung in arenas. I wish they could give their songs to PINK or Miley Cyrus to get the airplay and recognition they deserve. Forget terms like Euro metal, pop metal or whatever bullshit some paper loving journalists try to improvise to describe their sound. 

 

ECLIPSE is the distillation of pure fun, melodic yet ballsy hard rock that brings the house down. Erik Mårtensson and co ,did again. I considered myself lucky having seen them a little before the quarantine and also lucky enough to follow them ,in a time when rock and metal are so trivial, that Myley Cyrus and Lady Gaga are far more interesting. "Wired" is an album to listen to and party with.

8,5

Gus G- "Quantum leap" 

Our own but not local for more than a decade, guitar hero, Gus G, takes a break from his bands and releases another instrumental album. What I really dig into this album is that it combines the 90s Shrapnel album shredding feeling with the modern sound of the 00s. Melodies that could be found easily at every Vinnie Moore and even more Tony Macalpine albums, with tuning that brings to memory the 00s the low tuning and the massive riffage. On top of all that, the personal stamp of Gus G that is a direct continuation of the masters like Schenker and Malmsteen, Friedman and Becker especially the first one as Gus G focus on melodic lines when soloing. "Demon stomp" is among my favorites as he moves from shredding to melodic lines as simple as we change the fork with a spoon. "Night driver" is a more emotionally charged composition, more atmospheric, with a small touch of Friedman in it while the album closer ,"Force majeure" is a composition that Vinnie Moore upgrades with his own performance.

 

 

 Gus G is well accomplished and known,  for decades . Albums like "Quantum leap" are the cherry on the cake as he lets himself meander around melodies and provides inspiration beyond the traditional metal band limitations, taking a leap to his own, deep preferences as musician, fusing metal, rock, fusion/jazz in a unique way. The live additional cd with covers and originals that accompany the album is an extra treat for the listener. Overall, a metal instrumental album that is far beyond the trivial ones.

 

8,5

 

Felipe Andreoli- "Resonance"

When the bassist came to town to paraphrase the famous song. ANGRA s bass player releases his solo work and along a strong team of musicians indulges himself in to fusion prog rock. 

 

 

From the opener "Driven" where Allan Holdsworth meets DREAM THEATER in a furious progressive masterpiece , to the more symphonic "Resonance" Andreoli doesn't seem to have limitations. A more in to CYNIC piece of music, atmospheric with the elements that made Patrick Rondant and his eco metal explorations so unique, he pushed the progressive metal envelope way too far. Simon  Philips and Dino Jelusic come to assist at "Thorn in our side" a heavy, but also melodic piece of music with the intervention of Jelusic to make it more acceptable to the average listener, a bit like MR BIG decided to go progressive metal. "Metaverse" features Virgil Donati and Andre Nieri is a fusion metal waterfall with slow parts innerchanging with blasts of sheer power in the vein of the Chic Corea Electric band with some astonishing bass work, , "Neutron Star" with Brett Garsed could be easily on any DT album  with the "Chaos theory" in the same style, 'Down the line" with Guthrie Gowan is a jazzy trip to West Coast, "Sagan" is a psychedelic, heavy space rock song with Kiko Lureiro,  and the album closes with "Thorn in my side" without the vocals. 

 

 

An album for musicians only, you may ask yourself and the answer is definitely No, an emphatic one. Andreoli keeps the monstrous bass lines intact without compromising the melody,the heaviness or the fusion direction of the album. Greg Howe and Stu Ham are two artists whose albums are heading the same way. 

 

Modern, addictive and at the same time straight to the listener, taking more paradigms from jazz than metal especially in the time schedule department. Andreoli follows the Stu Ham school allowing the music piece to breathe and let each and everyone participating having his moment under the spotlight. That way doesn't let the album be underestimated by the fans and also let his artistic dream become true in his own conditions. 

8

 

Jared James Nichols- "Shadow dancer"

Modern hard rock with a bluesy edge, is what you'll listen to on this ep. Big ,fat riffs and a modern twist at "Saint or fool" with some extraordinary blues guitar work. A bit Kenny Wayne Shepherd, a bit SHINEDOWN, CANDLEBOX Nichols provides a modern twist to an old idiom that seems fresh and attractive while taking every advantage he can from the pentatonic scale. 

 

 

 

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, BLACK SABBATH, TREMONTI echoes at ' 'Shadow dancer" with its low tuned, heavy demolition rhythm pattern and led riffs. A power trio that is based heavily on the tradition of the Hard rock trio's and looks into the future, incorporating modern elements , composing tunes equally familiar as modern.

 

8

 

 

Samantha Fish-"Faster"

US blueswoman Samantha Fish makes a serious career move with this album her seventh. Besides she is a hard worker, she has a great pop sensibility for modern rock. "Twisted ambition" has the elements to become a radio hit with traces from FOREIGNER, BLACK KEYS, WHITE STRIPES like an FM blues song aiming to the younger generation. She is a skillful guitar master that never compromises technique with the touch of a good song. 

 

 

"Hypnotic' moves at the same direction, a bit PRINCE, a bit WHITE STRIPES a bit modern blues is as its titles implicates a slowly growing groovy modern song with some nice touches of pop elements at the face of some electronic sounds. 

 Fish knows how to differentiate from her contemporary rivals and prefers to build her ferocious blues solo on more pop aesthetic songs, making the listening of the album far more enjoyable in a retro focus world."Forever together" is the perfect pop song from the 80s showing she is far more than a retro lover. The mid tempo "Crowd control" is at the same motive, part electronic, part pop, part bluesy, making Fish a far more open minded singer,songwriter in the vein of Dido. And then a sudden turn to modern blues at "Imaginary war' showing her riffs are as hard as her blues convictions with the organ ravishing the sound and the beat backbone break the listeners resistances, with its groove. "Loud" feat TechN9Nne is another great example of how she perceives modern blues. The old recipe spiced with some rap vocals and a groovy beat creates a modern blues rock sound that has the swagger of Slash all over her guitar playing. "Better be lonely" is at the same style of modern, mesmerizing blues rock with a twist. "Like a classic" continues at the same path, modern blues with a pop twist and Mrs Fish delivering the goods for one more time with poignant pop sensibility.

 

 

 

Overall on the contrary with the other rival for the blueswoman throne Joanne Saw Taylor, Fish plays her cards well, mixing the blues with some 60s pop, electronica, and looking more to the mainstream than anyone of her contemporaries. I wish Amy Winehouse would be alive to make an album with her, proving that music has no barriers as the closing "All the words' proves in all its stripped down ballad glory.

7,5

 

Tommy Castro- "Tommy Castro presents: a bluesman came to town"

 US blues man Tommy Castro returns with a brand new album full of blues based tunes. "Tommy Castro Presents A Bluesman Came To Town" is a roots music odyssey. This special project was composed by Castro along with Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter Tom Hambridge. Through its 13 songs, the album tells the tale of a young man, working on his family farm, who gets bitten by the blues bug. He masters the guitar and heads out on the road seeking fame and fortune, only to find what he’s left behind is the treasure he’s been looking for. “A Bluesman Came To Town isn’t a story about me,” says Castro. “It’s pulled from some of my friends’ and my experiences, though. I’ve seen first-hand for a lot of years what it’s like out there on the road.”Along with him on this journey are PAINKILLERS his regular  band including , horns, harmonica, piano and a bunch of songs that deserves your attention and respect. 

 

 

Blues, Soul,Funk, Stax and rhythm n blues are all here vivid and present form one of the few originals of his generation. Texas blues with some excellent guitar, Albert King, BB King and Luther Alisson are giving their blessings along with John Lee Hooker to this glorious return of the bluesman. Don't expect the reinvention of the blues, but a far more wrm, live sound then the one of Joe Bonamassa as Castro knows not to focus only on his guitar but prefer to let the full band blooming in every song.Stand outs should,could be "Blues prisoner', "Women,Drugs and Alcohol" a Rory Gallagher influenced song while at "I want to go back home" he pays his tribute to the Chess masters. 

 

A brilliant soul searching odyssey to his musical roots, the roots of rock n roll, the roots of all good modern music. Tommy Castro delivers more than he promises as usual

 

7,5

 

The Royal Empire- "L.o.v.e"

 

 A German band that mixes stadium rock, fm rock, alternative and some gothic rock elements and creates a mostly low pace, intriguing album. "Times of fear" is a great song with an anthemic feeling, bit THIN LIZZY, bit Sisters of Mercy, "In the name of brotherhood" has the glam feeling that songs from QUIREBOYS and DOGS D AMOUR had along with the ALARM and BIG COUNTRY ,AC DC riffs at "in the name of brotherhood" are the party feeling of a band that creates music to lift the spirits up."L.O.V.E" is mix of classic rock, sleaze and alternative 80s big stadium. 

 

The band reminds of this pop oriented soft rock that Steve Jones played at his "Mercy" album. From the CULT to ULTRAVOX, BIG COUNTRY,ALARM, KILLERS, MANIC STREET PREACHERS and FURY IN THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, RASMUS, Billy Idol pop rock bands and pop bands with sensibilities and a love for big, fat, honey dripped choruses and mid tempo songs like "Evening wind" that let your mind drift away. The "psychopath" is another example of how their sisters influenced metal to deliver the goods. Nothing that really changes the music tide but a nice song with some distinguished vocals with a gravelly voice and some traditional rock solo that makes the song a nice addition for a motorcycle rally festival. 

 

A nice album that brings something missing from a lot of more successful bands. A personal sound, with a lot of 80s influences but nevertheless personal and that counts. Waiting for their next move, we re in to 'L.o.v.e' and partying like it is 1989.

7

 

Billy Idol- "The roadside"

Billy Idol returns along with Steve Stevens with a new four song ep. The opener is a fast rocker. "Rita Hayworth" has an essence from his punk youth and really ignites the listening. "Bitter sweet" is a blend of FM rock, modern pop, Chris Isaak, Iggy Pop and Brit pop. With its catchy melody and especially the chorus along with  the laid back vocals is the perfect song for a night ride at some bars drinking and letting the lights dim while drifting to the song's mesmerizing melody. "U dont have to kiss me like that" is the electro rock song that built Idol's fame. A vibrant juicy song that would start the party with rock n roll overtones. On the other hand, for me it is the most predictable song in the EP and the least refreshing. 

 

 

"Baby  put your clothes back on" is a great example of how Idol or Pop would sound if they sang at a tribute for Burt Bacharach or Roy Orbinson. Modern day crooners revealing their pop sensibilities. Four new songs and an ep that let the listener ask for more. Idol and Stevens are in pretty good form (thank the pandemic?) and the idea of a full length album is tempting for the fans and not only the die hards if we count our reaction to the ep.

 

 

7,5

 

Sami Yaffa- "The Innermost journey to your outmost Mind"

Sometimes we write about albums that are diversified and incorporate the composer's influences and expreriences but it is very seldom to have the description fit the reality. Yaffa is a real punk rocker at heart and pays homage to his heroes, Iggy Pop,THE CLASH but also at his reggae love and gothic shadows. An immense album, with songs coming from the heart without the limitations of the multinational record company that compels the artist. Freedom to let himself play what he likes ,as he likes. 

 

From the opener " Armageddon together" a mix of Iggy Pop and early MOTORHEAD with a "Lost Johnny" vibe, the punky  turn to dub "You selling me shit" to the reggae flavor "Rotten roots"  Sami Yaffa offers an introduction to hard rock and punk history in small, compact lessons, usually less than 4 min. Fuzzed up rockabilly at "Fortunate one" and the NEW YORK DOLLS smile,especially Johnny Thunders with the saxophone interval.Slow burning 70s hard rock at "I can't stand it' and Yaffa makes a stylistic exposure of diversity and class during the album, root rock album where each and every of his influences come to life, screaming for your attention with feelings overloaded along the guitars and the beating heart of the rhythm section."The Last time" is his "modern" approach to bands like BLUR and MONSTER MAGNET all in one song and that is what makes this album so volatile and at the same time so attractive. It reshapes the form of punk rock, hard rock and if STOOGES were a 2021 band i bet my bitcoins they would sound like this. Bregovic meets Tom Waits at the gypsy, drunken lullaby of "Look ahead' and let the festivities begin.He got the punk swagger, the heavy rock muscle and the street spirit to lift his music to a more personalized level, for those who don't get attracted by the fat riff or the catchy hook line only. 

 

 

 

Massive, angry, street poetry dressed with electric guitars and eclectic rhythm section , Yaffa's new work stands side to side with HANOI ROCKS, Michael Monroe band, DEMOLITION 23, CHERRY BOMBZ,THE CLASH, MOTORHEAD, NEW YORK DOLLS and all his heroes without giving a cent to the mainstream.

8

 

Danko Jones- Power trio

Life is simple, rock is simple. Danko Jones knows that and he delivers another in your face, straight forward album. No MUSE tech prop pop histrionics, No MAHOGANY RUSH space tripping, No RUSH stellar prog experiences, no EXCITER ,THE RODS speed metal anthems. Danko drinks AC/DC and pisses MOTORHEAD. His trio is the result of almost two years with Covid protected lifes full of bitterness, anxiety, fear, disillusion, lack of human contact, overload by digital conferences, meetings, buying. He just switches on the amplifier, plugs in his guitar and starts the musical mayhem from the AC/DC opener "I want out" to the more sophisticated "Ship of lies" and the rockier "Blue jean denim jumpsuit" . DJ Trio delivers music from the heart with guts, distortion, brutality and melody. "Start the show" says it all. 

 

 

We need bands like the Danko Jones band and I hope he collaborates with Iggy. He is a human dynamo and this album is reinvigorating in these difficult times. Uplifting hard rock music from a tight band with a leader who will raise the roof of your local club, whenever concerts will be a reality.

 

7,5

Lindsey Buckingham-"Lindsey Buckingham"

 

 

A man his guitar and his sensitivities. LB can work properly out of FLEETWOOD MAC and he has the touch for a soft spot melody working at the maximum. '' I Don't mind" could be easily a song by the BEACH BOYS, THE BANGLES or even a Brit pop lost diamond. Mesmerizing rhythms, great vocals and some female backing vocals that make a sugar coated song ready to leave its fingerprint in your brain cells. The more upbeat "On the wrong side' still has the CARS feeling , the one of the sun showered melodies that drive the blurriness and the bad mood away. 

 

A pure pop melodic album, equally modern and equally based on the 60s recipes that defined the pop/FM sound. This album sets the standards high for the next work by the rest of the MAC's as the melody has probably left the building. You'll hear the characteristic guitar that made "Rumors" such a hit , a bit more modern, but always touching. A songwriter of the highest caliber, delivers a beautiful melodic pop rock album, that even at more drum n bass songs like "Swan song" never loses its orientation although LB tries to flirt with the dance floor and the younger generations. 

 

 

"Blind love" is a song that Roy Orbison would love to have sung, with its catchy melody and the uptempo chorus, contrasting the laid back main song. "Time' is a simple song about everyday bitterness ,kind of a more pop-ish REM.The album balances between 60s influenced pop and modern melancholic FM rock like "Dancing". In every case and every sense it aims straight to the heart to the deeper feelings and emotions, painting the post covid world with the colors of the sunset after the storm.

 

 

7,5

 

 

Bernie Marsden- "Kings"

 

Ex ALASKA/WHITESNAKE/M3 and whatever you want guitar man at his latest effort. He already wrote along Joe Bonmassa, his latest effort and he returns after his autobiography "Wheres  my guitar" with an album full of blues standards. WHITESNAKE until "Slide it in" are equally Marsden's work and creation as are Coverdale's. Bernie Marsden is a low key guitar player with a great feeling for the blues and wrote some of the best WHITESNAKE songs. At this his latest work, h introduces the younger generations aT  to his sweet style of playing and even beats contemporary artists black keys and WHITE STRIPES at songs like "Key to the highway". 

 

 

 

An album for purists and those who didn't like the 1987 turn full of heart,sentient,honky tonk piano, Hammond, harmonicas and a guitar that resonates BB KING,Albert King and Elmor James keeping the blues feeling by one of the last British Blues guitar heroes. Along with Marsden are “KINGS” is the first album of Bernie Marsden’s “Inspirations Series”. Featuring 10 songs that were originally recorded by Albert, B.B. & Freddie King, and recorded in a studio in Oxfordshire with a band that just locked into a natural groove, “KINGS” is chock full of blues and soul. Additionally, two Bernie Marsden penned instrumentals inspired by The Kings appear as bonus tracks on the album.And because Bernie Marsden is arel old school musician, he gives away plectrums as long as you send a stamped envelope and a stock is remaining. No money killer instinct, just that of a great player."Help me through the day' and "Ill play the blues for you" are among the songs that stand out especially because of his approach a mix between British Invasion and US blues.

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