Tag Archives: rock

Artist: Avatarium Album Title: Hurricanes And Halos Label: Nuclear Blast Date Of Release: 26 May 2017 ‘Hurricanes And Halos’ is the title given to the third studio release from Swedish doomsters Avatarium, a band that was formed in the minds of Leif Edling (Candlemass) and Marcus Jidell (ex-Evergrey, Soen) before becoming a reality in 2012.  Continue Reading »

  Artist: Ayreon Album Title: The Source Label: Mascot Label Group/Music Theories Recordings Date Of Release: 28 April 2017 My relationship with the music of Arjen Anthony Lucassen is a complex one. I would definitely class myself as a fan, but not one without reservation, as the back catalogue contains both the sublime and the  Continue Reading »

Artist: Bjørn Riis Album Title: Forever Comes To An End Label: Karisma Records Date of Release: 19 May 2017 I’ve made no secret of my ardour towards the music of Airbag on this very blog. The Norwegian progressive rock band is a powerful entity with a knack of penning emotional and deeply engaging music, which  Continue Reading »

Artist: Voyager Album Title: Ghost Mile Label: IAV Records Date Of Release: 12 May 2017 In the three years since the release of Voyager’s last album, ‘V’, much has changed in my life. I am no longer writing for Powerplay magazine, I’ve moved house and I now have a second daughter on which to dote.  Continue Reading »

Artist: Big Big Train Album Title: Grimspound Label: English Electric Recordings Date Of Release: 28 April 2017 Is there a nicer feeling than when you discover that one of your favourite bands is to return with new material much sooner than predicted and somewhat unexpectedly? There aren’t many better moments that’s for sure and Big  Continue Reading »

Artist: Lonely Robot Album Title: The Big Dream Label: InsideOut Music Date Of Release: 28 April 2017 Those who know me and my style of writing will know that I never shy away from bringing personal experiences into my reviews, particularly if it helps to contextualise or explain my feelings towards an album. And this  Continue Reading »

It is becoming something of a trend now that  almost immediately after I post one of these updates, one of the mentioned bands will release something new, either a new song or more detailed information about their upcoming release. On the one hand, it is quite funny. But on the other, it means that I’m  Continue Reading »

Artist: Nova Collective Album Title: The Further Side Label: Metal Blade Records Date Of Release: 10 March 2017 The progressive rock and metal genres are awash with projects that operate outside the boundaries and the constraints of the musicians’ day jobs. And it’s a double-edged sword to be honest. If you’re a glass half full  Continue Reading »

Artist: The Mute Gods Album Title: Tardigrades Will Inherit The Earth Label: InsideOut Music Date Of Release: 24 February 2017 The debut album from The Mute Gods, ‘Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me’ was an album that tore me in two. On that record, there were some very good songs and a few that  Continue Reading »

Artist: Pyogenesis Album Title: A Kingdom To Disappear Label: AFM Records Date Of Release: 24 February 2017 German metal band Pyogenesis have been around since the beginning of the 90s and, despite a prolonged hiatus between 2002 and 2015, have released seven albums in that time. The return of the Stuttgart-based quartet in 2015 with  Continue Reading »