Reviews

Contact gets under the listener's skin fast and stays there for a long time - every track brings something new.

Schelmish stay mischievous on their eighth studio album too, an enigma you can only follow if you're drunk or a native of one of the German-speaking countries. Punk backed by traditional German instruments, brrrr!

Can't Slow Down is a record for devoted fans. It won't bring back the old glory, but I doubt that glory ever went away.

»Wer Wind Saet« triumphantly continues down the path they've laid out. It's a great new studio album from seasoned old hands, fully credible in its roots. Medieval folk metal that In Extremo fans will keep on loving.

Dandelion Children, dandelion fluff, a trio! A garage trio. Throw in a bit of blues, punk, old-school classic rock, even some post-Britpop melodies (hello Kaiser Chiefs?) — in short, what can you even say?

Progressive, advanced rock fusion, with no limits and no hang-ups about what anyone does in the music world, where, why or how. A multifaceted musical outlook with an innate sense of art freedom.

On their first demo, Brežice-based Sagaris deliver a dynamic, polished slab of epic melodic death/power metal.

A thrilling post-rock debut from a Croatian band, with great production, tight and varied motifs, plenty of mood swings, and a character all its own that could get even sharper down the road

"King Bee" is far from a textbook specimen of the musical uniqueness that Muddy Waters embodies all by himself, but that doesn't mean the album lacks material to "chew on."

July 17 was the day Djabe were announced to play Slovenj Gradec. Their longtime friend Steve Hackett joined them on stage.

Get Lucky offers a subtle look into the craft of one of today's greatest pop rock musicians. A convincing storyteller, he reaches back into the old days and into the present.

Norwegian duo Röyksopp, who've been Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge since their formation in 1998, aren't reinventing the wheel on their third record "Junior" — they're sticking to a tried-and-true formula.

Tinkara Kovač is a fixture on the Slovenian music scene. After 7 albums, the singer came back in November with a compilation of the triumphs from the musical road traveled so far.

»Till Death Do Us Party« is a pact with the devil, signed by four women from Sweden. It proves that in the four years since their debut, the band has gotten even more shameless and scandalous in its rock n' roll noise.

"Visionary" is anything but visionary, an album chronically short on fresh ideas, yet it also packs all those trademark elements that earned Eloy their spot in the progressive rock pantheon of the greats.

The first four tracks from the original Turbo lineup, recorded in August 1988, mark the first steps of the fastest and loudest heavy metal band in Slovenia. A strictly limited release of just 60 copies

2009 brought a different, new story that's writing the history of radio Val 202. Maybe a less varied, inspired and challenging year genre-wise, but thoroughly high-quality and encouraging enough

With Surprise, Spaltklang don't just carry on in the same style as on Alpenglühen, they also take a step forward in the band's development.

Vatrene ulice are a band whose core sound spans a whole range of genre forms that defined individual eras of rock music (punk, post punk, grunge). A fresh rock album charged with energy and emotion.

With "Overkill," Motorhead finally staked out the spread of a unique branch of rock & roll, one that modern medicine still hasn't found an antidote for after 30 years.

In-Sane are a Slovenian curiosity, cultivating a currently trendy sound that's supposed to sit in alternative waters but has the potential for rotation on MTV Adria. Happy emo punk, which can be deceptive.

Mr. Doldinger and his crew strode into the eighties with a surprisingly successful move, and, let's be honest, only a modest percentage of jazz rock fusion bands can say the same.

A return to former glory, or just filling their wallets?

With Muzej revolucije, the Sarajevo crew obviously didn't start a revolution in the music world, but they've pleasantly surprised us and steered us back into rockier waters, where they once felt right at home

A gorgeous continuation of the story from the album “We Must Obey” (2007), proving that the Californian stoner rockers haven't lost their legendary charm, nor their fire and drive, with the release of their 11th studio album.

"Ride Your Life" is rehashed hard rock, with production on a level that wouldn't have satisfied even an AC/DC-type band in 1983. An album that feels like it was released more for the sake of a personal image.

"Saga" is a record that doesn't get under your skin as quickly as you'd expect, given the familiar, or the expected. It doesn't chase hits and it's not just an album of obligatory rock n' roll "kicking ass". No strings, no horns, no…

With Hail to the Thief, Radiohead went back to basics and served up a record that, for once, isn't stuffed with musical experiments, but is a more regular indie rock affair.

"An Old Coat Won't Ever Let You Down" is a tantalizing blend of rock, blues and, at times, even folk, and with it Rod Stewart carved out a musical signature all his own.

Individual parts can be excellent, but they aren't put together all that skillfully.

Steve Hackett has marched out of the tunnel's mouth with a new masterpiece that gives longtime fans plenty to cheer about: it delivers everything he made his name on in the past, while also bringing some fairly fresh ideas to the table.

Barbaro (ma non troppo) is a fantastic album. The only real criticism is that there isn't enough new music on it – just 28 minutes.

"First Step" is the debut album from the legendary British blues rock quintet Faces, born from the ashes of Small Faces, one of the most eye-catching r & b outfits of the '60s.

With "The Whirlwind", the international super-group predictably hasn't set a new milestone in the endless world of progressive rock, but it has delivered its best and most mature work to date.

"Inconstantinopolis" is a defiantly offbeat record from a curious, avant-garde mind, putting Analena in a class of their own on the alternative rock scene, where it's hard to find anyone to compare them to.

"Right Place, Wrong Time" cemented Otis Rush as one of the leading standard-bearers of the Chicago generation of blues, arriving just when the genre most needed reviving.

Black Gives Way to Blue is a dark, gritty album, and its acoustic stretches are a reminder of why Alice in Chains were once among the finest voices of their era.

With "Up," the legendary prog rock artist has outdone himself yet again and made another timeless masterpiece, one that leaves the countless followers of his musical legacy with nothing to do but blush helplessly.

From The Cradle is a masterfully balanced collage of 16 blues-standard covers, showing off the many faces and guises of the die-hard blues interpreter.

Amnesiac is yet another huge chapter in the band's history.

Verjnuarmu prove that using an obscure language isn't enough to make a band sound fresh and unique.

If Bon Jovi were still capable of cooking up decent tunes for seventeen-year-olds' birthday parties on their products of the past decade or more, on The Circle that "gift" has finally abandoned them for good!

Alt rock this offbeat? It's been ages! Cripple And Casino are sworn to garage-style thrashing, with no overthinking and songs written off the cuff. Good luck finding anyone to compare them to.

With "Murder By Pride", Stryper remain inspired, credible torchbearers of their golden-era legacy. It's a different album with a rawer sound, but still written for the band's loyal fans.

"Regeneration" is a mature step forward for Tide, giving the band all the right ingredients for a serious breakthrough into wider recognition abroad. Clearly defined indie pop rock tunes with excellent production!

"Digital Ghost" is a great new Shadow Gallery album that gets right up there with the band's magnum opus "Tyranny" (1998). Less experimental than "Legacy" (2001) and less biting than "Room V." (2005)!

In the spirit of folk music, of this once sharp and good band, the DVD "Živa pićka" is best summed up by the verse: »uzalud vam trud svirači« (»your efforts are in vain, fiddlers!«)...

Shoulda Been Home follows Cray's old recipe, carrying on the mission of serving up undemanding nods toward soul music, but all too often it turns its back on the blues.

Bratko has become an even better composer. He hasn't lost a thing and has gained a ton, especially on the compositional side. Consider this a warning: nobody is safe from this album.

A motley crew of musicians gathered around mastermind Vlado Poredoš has marked the band's twentieth anniversary with a fresh release that doesn't stray from the Orlek playbook.

Everyone living on the edge of the woods or in freshly mown fields will prick up their ears with extra excitement at "Live At Madison Square Garden", because the whole recording easily ranks among the best Tull live documents.

On their sixth record, Eternal Tears of Sorrow serve up solid symphonic/melodic death metal, but nothing you haven't heard before.

Torture Killer drag us down into a dark, filthy sewer where wicked riffs echo and the brutal vocals chase us through the tunnels.

Kurai is like a horror movie without the actual horror. All you get are hints of what could happen any second, but it never does. It's a seriously original idea, since the listener is kept on edge and wound tight the whole way through.

The hardest album of Jaded Heart's career? Jaded Heart? Still 100%. A different album, sharply honed, yet it keeps that knack for riding the middle lane between the bombast of big melodies and aggressive kicking.

"Ground Zero" is a thrilling manifesto of prog metal's golden age. Scandinavian school! It's an album that hasn't been matched in ages for its breathtaking mix of complex wizardry and melodic compactness.

What Winger didn't quite pull off with their 2006 comeback album "IV.", they nail with "Karma". A mature marriage of retro impulses and the high atmospherics of a modern sound, in just the right balance. Karmically awesome.

With "Less Is More", their first acoustic album, Marillion mostly confirmed that they remain among the top masters of sonic reinvention. There's no doubt the band had a blast making it.

"Backspacer" is a Pearl Jam record that gets downright biting and loud at times. Still, the contrasting stamps of melancholy and nostalgia don't get neglected. Just over 36 minutes of rock music that rips by tight and fast!

Winds of Plague sling little axes over their shoulders, buckle on little swords, and ride off on their little ponies into The Great Stone War.

"Burn" is the solo album from Belgian guitar hero Wim Roelants. It packs in 56 minutes of top-notch guitar rallying that's highly listenable and layered with real musical depth.

A deeply personal album from a musician raised on jazz rock fusion, and it sounds relaxed, playful, fluid and easy to listen to from start to finish. A light but richly arranged album with an organic sonic soul!

"Dictum Factum" is a different kind of album. It stands apart from the diarrhea of the "alternative SLO boom" and its barren messaging. With it, the guys have successfully laid the cornerstone for building up their recognizability down the…

With their first demo, The Scourge prove that a garage is no excuse for a weak production, and that they're bursting with fresh ideas and a hefty dose of death/thrash metal.

Kansas aren't coming back with new material. Instead, they try to surprise us with a pretty standard set of their best-known songs.

With The Incident, Porcupine Tree have "cooked up" yet another modern progressive rock masterpiece, one that grows in your ears with every new listen and always rewards the listener with fresh surprises.

Label: Roadrunner RecordsRelease date: 06/23/2009Production: Mike Portnoy & John PetrucciAlbum length: 75.22 minGenre: Progressive Metal When you spin a new Dream Theater record in your CD player these days, only two questions…

Black Clouds And Silver Linings is an album with no standout moments. More restrained than its predecessor Systematic Chaos. Just a good album. The lack of inspiration is once again hiding behind solo escapades. Exhausting.

"Sonic Boom", the first Kiss album in 11 years, serves up an unvarnished helping of songwriting mediocrity that you'll digest without a hiccup on the very first spin.

"Live At Moles Club" is a cult live recording of huge historical importance for every fan of prog-rock giants King Crimson, because it captures the first gig by the legendary band after their 1981 reunion.

Kid A continues Radiohead's tradition of trying something new on every album.

House Of Dreams picks up the story where the Sunstorm debut left off. Joe Lynn Turner has once again dug through the archives of his eighties career, and Dennis Ward and company have recorded another excellent AOR album!

Celebration marks the 40th birthday of the legendary rock band in the best way possible. Recycled cult classics in an exciting new look that breathes out the scent of retro nostalgia more strongly than ever.

With "Say Hello To Tragedy", Germany's Caliban stay true to their own language. They keep the traditional aggression of the metalcore sermon, set against a richly arranged backdrop of melodies that keeps things interesting and different.

Death... the Brutal Way is a fantastic "comeback" album from the Dutch giants of death/doom metal.

Despite the low commercial profile it had when it came out, "Indelibly Stamped" is an interesting record that shows a young band still hunting for its own sound, just before its big artistic breakthrough.

»Tinseltown Rebellion« is one of Frank's best live documents. It vividly captures the boundless energy, untamable wit and technical perfectionism his touring bands were known for between 1979 and 1980.

Angel's Perfect Dream's debut, from the Škofja Loka crew, is a multidimensional album, at least when you look at it through the lens of grunge's basic framework.

Sanctuary holds the bar set high by its predecessors Forever In Time, Nowhere To Hide and The Journey Goes On. It's a fresh, dynamic new album full of brilliant melodies. This time, picking the favorites is up to you.

The first studio recordings from Lene kosti, the godfathers of Slovenian heavy metal, have finally seen the light of day. Even 21 years on, they proudly thumb their noses at the ravages of time with unbridled destructiveness and the charm…

"White Lunar" is a compilation picking out the brightest moments from the film soundtracks the two musicians contributed to between 2005 and 2009. Serious music for serious listeners.

The first studio album in 9 years of waiting delivers the "party time" energy of the first two albums, thanks to the return of Ted Poley. With a new creative peak, Danger Danger have confirmed their creative maturity.

Tough is irrefutable proof that when John Mayall disbanded the famed collective The Bluesbreakers, laying it to rest in 2008 to the surprise of many, he wasn't thinking about retirement.

"From The Beginning" is a pretty bitter example of a modern jazz compromise: sterile academic guidelines, which show most in the stiff, ossified rehashing of jazz classics, and only a few rare moments of original inspiration.

“Eye in te Sky” remains a one-of-a-kind art rock classic to this day, and in the ears of every eternal music romantic it sounds every bit as nostalgic as it did when it came out.

"Guitar Gansgsters And Cadillac Blood" is a quality Volbeat album, but it's less incisive, with more control at the production helm and less of the aggression and daring the first two albums delivered.

The Chair In The Doorway is an album that feels relaxed and unforced, armed with that trademark Living Colour inimitability of musical extravagance. Living Colour remain inspired, fresh and downright attractive.

Need To Believe is fresh proof that the front-runner of Swiss hard rock is in top form: shortly after Domino Effect, the band has pulled together another top-notch studio album!

Truelove's Gutter stays true to Hawley's trademark folk-rock, a calm drowning in melancholic landscapes, though never before has it loomed with this much dark charge.

James Christian keeps his crew in the waters he knows best and tames like no one else. "Cartesian Dreams" is a fresh, excellent-all-round album, the kind that, in their current form, only House Of Lords can deliver.

Unstoppable is the sixth studio album from American country rock icons Rascal Flatts, and the commercial success just keeps rolling. But how much songwriting insight does it actually offer? That's a whole other chapter.

The one and only release from a short-lived project by two former (and returning) Saga members is a splendid melodic rock record with fantastic production, and no fan of mighty anthems and addictive melodies will be able to stay cold to it.

"To Our Children's Children's Children" is one of the key albums that sculpted symphonic progressive rock and left a major mark on the experimental and popular music scenes of the seventies.

Under the spell of playing through some of the originals covered on "Kicking Against The Pricks," "Your Funeral... My Trial" defined the musical direction Cave would stay true to later on.

With See The Light, Jeff Healey boldly stepped up alongside the standard-bearers of a new generation of blues rock, which had already revitalized the genre with great success back in the early '80s.

"The Chicago Transit Authority" is one of those "eternal" albums everyone should hear at least once in their life before they can lie down for their final rest.

Iwrestledabearonce, a wonderfully wacky experimental core band, uses its debut It's All Happening to prove that mashing together the incompatible is thrilling. It's an album with a clear character, but not for just any ears.

Jet leave behind a whole lot of intangibility and self-parody as we wander through the tracks on their new album. With the exception of the hit She's A Genious, finding the band's moments of musical insight this time takes real artistry.

"16.6." is the most vivid and varied album of Primal Fear's career. On it, the band brilliantly crosses their traditional approach with the ideas of new guitarist Magnus Karlsson, and the result is a very mature record.

"Dominator" is a fresh burst of inspiration from Udo Dirkschneider and his crew, and all you guardians of old-school consciousness in the art of chiseling out traditional metal craft will have a hard time resisting it.