Music Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Zodiac N Black – The Aftermyth

- by Jon Seymour

Artist: Zodiac N Black
Title: The Aftermyth
Genre: Hard Rock

I was given this album to listen to, by someone involved with the band. I’m always up for trying out new music, and honestly, sometimes I come across stuff that’s actually a bit pants….. This, thankfully, is not one of those times.

Right from the opening track, this album comes out all guns blazing. It pounds you into the corner with relentless hammer blows, leaving you battered and bruised, and that’s just for starters… It’s not a seriously heavy album, but the thundering basslines and the rhythm section really get under your skin. It’s music you can ‘feel’ that’s for sure.

Overall, I’d say the album has a grunge feel, and often I was taken back to the glory days of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. I mean that of course, with the highest praise. Read more…

ALBUM REVIEW: Pearl Handled Revolver – Colossus

- by Jon Seymour

Artist: Pearl Handled Revolver
Title: Colossus
Genre: Original Blues Rock

This is another of those albums that was given to me out of the blue. I was pointed in the direction of some sample tracks, and that left me hungry for more. Pearl Handled Revolver are a blues/rock band based here in the UK, and they have been around for some time. Having released three EPs already, Colossus is their first ‘full length’ album, and what an album it is.

The vocals are probably what hit me first. They’re lower than gutter level in terms of being down and dirty, with enough gravel to keep a concrete mixer going for weeks on end. That said though, there are some clean vocals too, that provide a soulful interlude to the proceedings. Musically, it’s wall to wall blues rock, with crunching guitars, lively keyboards, wailing harmonica, and groovy bass. It’s a very strong album indeed.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Vengeance – Crystal Eye

- By Phil Allely

Artist: Vengeance
Title: Crystal Eye

Release Dates:
Europe: February 27th, 2012           
Germany: February 24th, 2012
USA/Canada: March 2012

It’s hard to believe that Dutch rockers Vengeance have been around for thirty years. Founding member Leon Goewie has never given up hope on his band and that is a testimony to his enduring faith in the music he makes and the genre he loves so much.

With his distinctive vocals maturing nicely Goewie and Co. are on fine form in this their latest assault on the senses Crystal Eye. Taking a slightly more serious route than previous efforts this is a positive and expressive release by a band that have been plugging away solidly for three decades.

Vengeance are an old school rock act at heart. Their lyrics are catchy, the vocals are gritty and powerful and the guitar hooks bring the songs to life as they rightly should. Read more…

EP REVIEW: Voodoo Six – Falling Knives

- By SJRox

Artist: Voodoo Six
Title: Falling Knives
Genre: Classic / Hard Rock

Voodoo Six might be a new name to some people, but they have a couple of albums out and “Falling Knives” is the band’s latest EP that was released in digital format on November 28th. This special limited edition release, containing 3 new songs & 3 re-recorded versions of tracks off earlier albums, comes following the success of a tour early 2011 with the Michael Monroe band and a headlining tour staring on 17th Nov.

The EP starts with the groovy rocking “Falling Knives“, an aggressive hard hitting track with powerful vocal lines and a solid guitar work. Next up is “Sharp Sand”, with a catchy riff it’s a fantastic rock tune to get people air guitaring, headbanging & singing along to.  The other new track “Stop“, is perhaps the best of the new ones, it has a blusier, old-fashioned dirty funky sound to it. Read more…

ALBUM REVIEW: The Amorettes – Haulin’ Ass

- By Phil Allely

Artist: The Amorettes
Title: Haulin’ Ass
Genre: Classic / Hard Rock

Girls in rock bands are always a welcome sight to see. The majority of rock fans may be male (although that may be debatable when you factor in the male/female breakdown at some of 2011’s more popular rock festivals) but that doesn’t mean the vast proportion of guys don’t want/wish to see a rock chick strutting herself on stage.

The Amorettes are a feisty all-female three-piece rock band based in Scotland and they certainly tick all of the boxes when it comes to not only their lives shows, but their recorded work. Debut album Haulin’ Ass is a nice ten track trip through the bands psyche (I.E. these are fun loving young ladies with rock in their hearts and it shows in their musical output). Since their formation in 2009 The Amorettes, Gillian, Hannah and Heather have gigged their way around the UK and played support spots for such luminaries as W.A.S.P. and LA Guns, their recent spots at Highway to Hell in Glasgow and Hard Rock Hell in Wales haven’t harmed their street cred either.  Read more…

ALBUM REVIEW: Inferno – Welcome to the Lion’s Den

- By Phil Allely

Artist: Inferno
Title: Welcome To The Lion’s Den
Genre: Alternative Rock

One thing I enjoy about freelance reviewing is that I can not only pick and choose who or what I review, but I can also make a trip to a gig and pick up a cd that this fine website (TBFM) will allow myself to review. This is a great way for not only me and potentially our DJs, but you the loyal listener/reader to get to know about the existence of band outside of our usual realms of interest, geographical area or preferred genre.

This past October (whilst hooking up with the TBFM crew) at the Highway to Hell competition I was able to catch my first live set from young welsh rockers Inferno and I was suitably impressed.  On this occasion the trio were on fine form and their performance on the night netted them a spot at the 2012 Hammerfest festival.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Psycho Kiss – Monkeying Around

- By Phil Allely

Artist: Psycho Kiss
Title: Monkeying Around
Genre: Rock

They always say don’t judge a book by its cover, in the music industry that can be adapted to don’t judge a band by its name. Psycho Kiss may sound like an all-out heavy metal style outfit, but when you look at their album cover (and song titles) for Monkeying Around you start to see the underlying humour that this popular South Wales four-piece bring to their music.

Psycho Kiss are a nicely balanced collective, their particular classic rock sound is one that takes in every aspect of the genre. Vocalist Helen has a range that can easily adapt to softer ballad styles and yet seamlessly has the ability to burst into some pretty heavy lyrics. The rest of the band work well together to assist her, bass (Jason) and lead guitar (Paul) building the songs nicely to allow Helen the space to do her thing. Drummer Penfold is perhaps the key here as he thunders his way through the ten tracks on offer. Read more…

EP REVIEW: Baleful Creed – Buried Beneath

- By Phil Allely

Artist: Baleful Creed
Title: Buried Beneath
Genre: Rock

Hailing from Northern Ireland Baleful Creed are a classic rock influenced four-piece that also take a nod at the stoner rock section of the genre. With a growing number of well-received gigs and guest spots under their belts Baleful Creed are now finding themselves in what is undoubtedly their zone musically.

So to the matter at hand what does Buried Beneath offer us? This five track release by the hard-working outfit (founded by John Allen & Fin Finlay) acts as a perfect introduction to the boys Southern Rock influenced double guitar–based doom tinged sound. Each track taking a slightly different tack, yet remaining a distinct part of Baleful Creed’s own persona/style. It’s easy to see why this outfit are rapidly gaining momentum in their career when you listen to each track.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Mötley Crüe – Greatest Hits

- By Phil Allely

Artist: Mötley Crüe
Title: Greatest Hits
Genre: Heavy Metal, Glam Metal
Label: Mötley Records
Release Date: 17 November 2009

Mötley Crüe are one of a few elite bands that have rarely if ever gone out of fashion, their music appeals to every breed of rock fan and like their UK counterparts Def Leppard, the Crüe boys have done their bit for strip clubs across the globe too (for which we all are very thankful). Crüe of course gave us all time classic “Girls, Girls, Girls” (whilst Sheffield’s finest offered up “Pour Some Sugar On Me”) and as this collective release attests many other timeless rock classics.

This 19 track CD and DVD set is perhaps the best introduction to messr’s Sixx, Neil, Lee and Mars as you will get. Taken from each section of their career, this is a nice way to follow the bands history, you can almost smell the drug/girls laden mayhem and yet you still feel all that the success brought with it also.

The main CD here gives a very broad overview of the boys output since their 1980s debut, taking in such legendary tracks as “Smokin’ In the Boys Room“, “Wild Side“, “Dr. Feelgood” and others alongside some more recent offerings and a few retro classics.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Pay*ola – Optimism Will Destroy Me

- By Phil Allely

Artist: Pay*ola
Title: Optimism Will Destroy Me
Genre: Rock

Having already reviewed this Northern Irish rock bands recent live shows I thought perhaps I’d do something no other journalist has done for this hard working quartet and let Pay*ola see someone review their recent album ‘Optimism Will Destroy Me’ instead of a live show once again.

This is Pay*ola’s second venture into album land and it perhaps showcases their particular brand of rock music better than its predecessors (both album and EPs) could.

It’s hard to fault this ten track assault on the senses, which collects tracks from previous EP releases and includes a few new tracks too. Optimism does indeed highlight just how good a unit some local (yes I’ll say it again) veteran acts can be. These guys are like so many across the UK, they know what they do, they do it well and we the fans know exactly what to expect from their live shows and CDs. Which is why we make the effort to attend their gigs and gig them our support, whether they like it or not.

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