When KISS released four solo albums on the same day
In 1978, the world saw one of the most extravagant album launch campaigns ever: the simultaneous release of solo albums by all four members of […]
Hard Rock/Metal
MARKO HIETALA – «Mustan Sydämen Rovio»(a.k.a. «Pyre of the Black Heart») (2019)
My favourite album of 2019 is a dark odyssey through loss, separation, self-doubt, depression, and ultimately survival and strong statements of intent. This is heavy […]
PRISTINE – «Road Back To Ruin» (2019)
They are Pristine, and they are the hottest band north of the Arctic Circle! Hailing from Tromsø in Norway (in case you don’t know, that’s […]
MAGIC PIE – «Fragments of the 5th Element» (2019)
The fifth studio album from Norwegian progressive hard rockers Magic Pie seems to have reached far beyond the Norseland region. The band has released several […]
THE DARKNESS – «Easter Is Cancelled» (2019)
“Give me a D! Give me an Arkness!” Justin Hawkins & co. are back, with the usual mix of panache, chutzpah, flamboyance, and catchy rock’n’roll. […]
BACKSTREET GIRLS – «Normal Is Dangerous» (2019)
Backstreet Girls are a rock’n’roll institution in Norway. They have played the same style of boogie-based rock’n’roll since 1984, heavily inspired by bands like the […]
CELLAR DARLING – «The Spell» (2019)
Sometimes band drama can lead to good things. When Swiss folk-metallers Eluveitie went through personnel issues between members in 2016 (too much to get into […]
Artist spotlight: Hällas
Hällas is a Swedish retro-progressive band with dashes of hard rock and psychedelia – albeit the 1970s version of these genres. Their sound and inspirations […]
THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG: «I Was Made For Loving You» by KISS
By the late 1970s disco was in full vogue, and a lot of musical acts were jumping on the bandwagon. Examples from the rock world […]
THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG: «To Tame A Land» by Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden, and in particular their bass-playing band leader (and frequently the main song writer) Steve Harris, often base their compositions on books, TV shows, […]
Aerosmith’s 1976 «Rocks» tour of Europe
Aerosmith would grow to become one of the biggest concert attractions in America during the 1970s. Their self-titled first album was primarily toured in their […]
GRETA VAN FLEET – «Anthem of the Peaceful Army» (2018)
Greta Van Fleet was the big “love them or hate them” band of 2018. I am in the first camp. I’m not alone. This was […]
URIAH HEEP – «Living the Dream» (2018)
The Heep have always been prolific. Over the course of their whole career, they have released an average of one album every two years. Living […]
THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – «Sometimes the World Ain’t Enough» (2018)
The Night Flight Orchestra is as previously outlined the side project that took on a life of its own. It is well on the way […]
JUDAS PRIEST – «Firepower» (2018)
Judas Priest seem to be experiencing a late-career invigoration after a few challenging years. When the (IMO great) Nostradamus album was greeted with low enthusiasm […]