Music reviews and retrospectives with a focus on rock and metal.
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Written: 20th August 2026 Kamelot have long since established themselves as one of the most enduring names in symphonic metal. Fourteen studio albums into their career, the band's reputation is secure, with the Roy Khan era in particular producing several albums that I continue to hold in especially high regard. Tommy Karevik's tenure also began in impressive fashion with Silverthorn, but while…
Written 18th August 2026 As someone based about ten miles from Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England, seeing the name attached to a thrash/death metal band certainly raised an eyebrow. This Maidenhead, however, hail from Massachusetts, where they have been forging their own path since 2013 with a blend of thrash precision and old-school death metal aggression. Led by guitarist and chief songwriter…
Written: 16th August 2026 It is hard to remember a time when Flotsam and Jetsam were not part of the heavy metal landscape. From their debut Doomsday For The Deceiver (which featured in my look back at forty memorable rock and metal albums of 1986) to the present day, they have remained a familiar presence within thrash metal. While the band's career has experienced its share of twists and turns,…
Artwork: Jon Santos Written: 14th August 2026 Formed in the early 2020s, Static Abyss is the side project of Greg Wilkinson and Chris Reifert, both members of legendary death metal outfit Autopsy, with Reifert's career stretching back even further to the formative days of the genre as a member of Death. Following the release of Labyrinth of Veins in 2022 and Aborted From Reality a year later, the…
August 13th 2026 After heading back from Southern Poland where they headlined Zydnia DIY Fest INSTIGATORS have two UK shows coming up fast starting with the legendary 100 Club in London where FANTAZMAZ and QUICK ROMANCE join in for a special Vive Le Rock Presents show on Friday, August 21, 2026. Their first time back there in 41 years! The following day INSTIGATORS make a hometown return to…
Artwork: Paolo Conte and Bianca Gambrioli Written: 13th August 2026 Italian progressive power metal band Noveria return with their fifth studio album, Becoming After. The record marks a significant shift in personnel, with vocalist Francesco Marino, keyboardist Paolo Campitelli and drummer Paolo Conte joining founder and guitarist Francesco Mattei and bassist Andrea Arcangeli in the band's current…
Artwork: Simon Ward Written: 11th August 2026 As a fan of both Steve Hackett and Steve Rothery since the mid-eighties, the news of a collaborative album with two of the foremost guitarists in progressive rock – which was first mentioned several years ago – was most welcome. However, it has taken the best part of eight years for the duo to complete the album due to their respective itineraries. Now…
Written: August 2026 Motörhead occupy a somewhat unique position in my music collection. While I would never claim that every album is of the same standard, I also believe the band never released a truly poor studio album. Some connect with me more strongly than others. However, even those releases towards the foot of this ranking contain plenty to enjoy. My own journey with Motörhead began in…
Photo credit: Jeremy Kehlenbeck 4th August 2026 Black death metal force BELPHEGOR has finished work on its 13th studio album, scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2027 via Reigning Phoenix Music. The forthcoming record will mark the next chapter in BELPHEGOR’s uncompromising legacy, continuing the band’s relentless exploration of black death metal and its distinctive fusion of brutality,…
Photo credit: Anne-Marie Forker 4th August 2026 Two titans of progressive music, Steve Hackett (Genesis) and Steve Rothery (Marillion), come together on 'The Roaring Waves' - a striking and deeply atmospheric instrumental album shaped by memory, imagination, and the elemental power of the sea. The record has been much talked about over the years, and it will now finally see the day on the 28th…
