Reviews

The fourth album, The Soft Parade, is the least like a record that The Doors would actually put out, and it clearly suffers above all from the lack of involvement of its key man Jim Morrison, who was getting less and less interested in the…

Over the last three decades, Saga have been known as one of the leading and most original bands in melodic prog rock/art rock, the kind with witty, refined arrangements, and they've managed to dodge clear genre labels pretty successfully…

The roots of Arena's debut go back to 1979, when Mick Pointer formed the band Silmarillion, which shortened its name to Marillion after guitarist Steve Rothery joined. After a grind of garage rehearsals and gigs on local stages, Mick's…

Calling Card is Gallagher's eighth studio album, on which Rory keeps drifting away from traditional blues rock frameworks. Though blues remains the main ingredient of the guitarist's message, the background is showing its outlines ever more…

Clapton's music from the late seventies and on through the eighties stays fresh and interesting. An enviable achievement, especially considering the kinds of trouble the guitarist was wrestling with at the time. To an already long list

What does it take to reduce a man to such a primitive state that he suddenly joins the Motor-heads? A question that deserves special anthropological attention and would very likely clear up more than a few mysteries in the evolution of the…

With their debut, Iron Maiden climbed straight to the top of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), and with Killers they planted a flag up there. Killers also brings the first big change in the band, Dennis Stratton's exit and…

The first quarter of 2007 has been truly unbelievable for metal releases. We've already had a handful of excellent titles, and now they're joined by the fifth studio album from Swedish one-man band Pain.Ta one

Vagabonds Of The Western World is the last album Thin Lizzy put out on Decca Records, and also the final trio incarnation of the legendary Irish band. It's also the best work of a lineup that has far too often been unfairly

Viva Voce, in other words married couple Anita and Kevin Robinson, have swung between all sorts of musical genres throughout their active career, which boasts three albums so far. So it's no surprise that on this fourth outing titled

Draw The Line brings together the best and the worst "traits" of one of the biggest hard rock bands of the seventies. Yes, we're talking about Aerosmith. The naive Boston lads, riding the wave of Toys In The Attic and especially the…

Everybody knows you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Well, almost everybody. Lynott and his Lizzy comrades-in-arms apparently didn't in 1983, at least judging by Thunder And Lightning. Blindly chasing the musical trends of the early…

On April 14, 1980, music history changed forever in an instant. A history that had started being written five years before the debut of heavy metal monsters Iron Maiden. On Christmas Day way back in 1975, Santa was still

"Iron Maiden is a superb showcase of the evolution of the Iron Maiden sound and a historically important release, for the band, for the genre and for music history as a whole. Up the Irons!"

There's something about Dylan's songs that draws all kinds of musicians in like moths to a lightbulb. And usually every musician (singer) has their own modest idea that they can only make these songs better with their interpretation. But is…

I have to admit I was pretty surprised to hear that Blaze Bayley, best known as the former singer of Iron Maiden and Wolfsbane, was planning to put out a double live album after just his first two studio records, "Silicon Messiah" (2000)…

Sanctity is a pretty new and unknown name on the metal scene, at least if you leave out their home turf of Asheville, North Carolina, where the band has been around since 2000. Here we have their debut Road to Bloodshed, and they're already…

This recording comes from a gig in The Hague, where Camel celebrated their tenth anniversary, and honestly, they couldn't have picked a worse setlist or delivered a limper performance to mark it. Anyone who knows what shape their sound was…

Avantasia is the project of a power metal enthusiast who refuses to accept that the old Helloween are dead and that the best thing to do is leave them buried in their grave. Tobias Sammet, otherwise the singer of the German power metal band…

In 1989, Marillion found themselves at a major turning point in their career. Charismatic singer Fish, who many fans saw as the band's central figure, had left not long before to focus on his solo career. Their

Although the sticker on the box claims Galloglass sound like a "blend of old Helloween and early Blind Guardian, and even like the early work of Helstar and Fates Warning", that's miles from the truth. It is true, though, that they try…

After the release of their second album Iron (2004), dark clouds gathered over Ensiferum. First the band's mastermind, brilliant songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Jari Mäenpää left and founded Wintersun. Soon after, the two bands said adi

A good five years ago I first heard the demo Beyond Equator from the pretty obscure Norwegian band Ingermanland, and it blew me away with an original sound that leaned a little toward Nevermore but had a strong whiff of its own creative

It's funny how Sabaium always get tagged as gothic metal in the same breath. Their third record, Gravity Divine, delivers anything but gothic metal. The only things that even faintly recall the genre are the atmospheric

With »A Nod And A Wink« Camel marked their thirtieth anniversary in fitting style, still exploring all sorts of musical forms through the lens of the endless fields of melodic, symphonic prog rock. After the release of &r

Eighteen years have passed since the founders of the Gothenburg sound formed, yet Dark Tranquillity still stand on the front line of Swedish melodic death metal, proudly carrying an unblemished, fluttering flag

Well, I've heard a lot of praise for this band, especially since they put out their third album "Afterlife". Chances are I've been missing out big time, or maybe not. So let's take a closer look at the situation. The novelty is the…

Black Rose is Thin Lizzy's ninth album in a row, and it doubles as the last refuge for everyone who loves Lynott's traditionally romantic odes to the woes of everyday life. With one difference! After Robertson's departure, the Lizzy sound…

French duo Air, made up of Nicolas Godin and JB Dunckel, is back with a new album, Pocket Symphony. The record brings twelve fresh tracks that carry on that traditionally quiet and atmosphéri&

Canadian thrash metal legends are making us happy again with a new record two years on, simply titled Metal. With their first two albums, Alice in Hell (1989) and Never, Neverland (1990), Annihilator earned a spot among the giants of thrash…

E. C. Was Here is yet another in a line of phenomenal live recordings from the legendary guitarist. The tours that followed the big success of 461 Ocean Boulevard are a unique challenge for Eric, since this is the first time he steps out as…

"Fear Of A Blank Planet" is the ninth studio album from cult progressive rockers Porcupine Tree, who are becoming more recognizable every year (commercially too). They're one of the few modern prog bands that never stops surprising

Pink Floyd had a hugely interesting evolution. From a small rhythm and blues band to pioneers of psychedelic rock, they gradually grew into one of the biggest and most respected groups in the history of rock music (especially its…

Label: EMI RecordsRelease date: August 4, 1967Produced by: Norman SmithAlbum length: 41.54 minGenre: Psychedelic Rock/Space RockRating: 7.5/10 Pink Floyd went through a seriously fascinating evolution. They started out as a small…

Finally, something's moved. After two mediocre follow-ups to the successful debut, the one that led to what started out as a mere "Iron Savior" project growing into an actual band of the same name in 1997, came "Condi

Before and during the W2K tour, which followed the release of their Orient-soaked masterpiece "Rajaz" (1999), Camel ran into a whole string of logistical problems. So the decision to put out a live

After a long battle with heroin addiction that forced him into complete seclusion in 1971, Eric Clapton rises from the dead like a phoenix two years later. His long-awaited return to form comes with Townshend's Rainbow Concert, organized…

Already boasting two hugely popular albums, The Doors found themselves under heavy pressure while making their third, Waiting For The Sun. Their demanding audience wanted a "hit" from them on one hand, and on the other

Mark Knopfler is known in the music world first and foremost as the frontman, guitarist, singer… in short, the alpha and omega of one of the best rock bands of the eighties, Dire Straits. And although he released a few solo records while…

The new record from old school speed metal legends Vicious Rumors is always a hotly anticipated affair for anyone familiar with the band's eighties output, with the album "Digital Dictator" standing out above all. After

Gazpacho are a relatively new (neo) prog rock band from Norway, who most likely got their name from the Spanish national specialty – a heavily spiced tomato soup, although there's also a song of the same name

After a few years of intense touring, the American death metal champions are back four years later with the follow-up to Dechristianize. So how would you describe Icons of Evil? Pretty much as Dechristianize 2. Yep, Icons of Evil is &

Zak Stevens, former Savatage vocalist, has put together his own band called Circle II Circle. Their musical direction points straight at the unmistakable Savatage sound, drawing on the roots of traditional American-flavored power metal,…

As laughable as they are with their thoroughly chewed-over, clichéd fairytale lyrics, power metal iconography full of excess (dragons, swords and wizards) and endless recitations of "chronicles

For some, Manowar are the "kings of metal"; for others, they're an incorrigible collection of the worst metal clichés, kitsch, intolerance and over-the-top excess, which has earned them the not-so-flattering title of metal's biggest clowns…

Two years ago, when I first heard about this band, I immediately thought - just another copy of Helloween and Gamma Ray, of which power metal has no shortage. Especially when I saw it with my own eyes in early 2001

Finland's power metal institution Stratovarius hardly needs a big introduction, since they're one of the most respected and established European power metal bands, with cult status back home and a few albums that had a real impact on the…

In recent years Marillion have undoubtedly become one of those bands that take a lot of listens before you can judge them objectively and write a halfway credible review, since they make albums that in the ears

Thin Lizzy's wild lifestyle, which the lads had already perfected down to the last detail by 1977, brings them an international reputation as the bad boys of rock & roll. The mere fact that they survived 1976, in which on top of…

A quick glance at the cover is enough to tell you that on »Rajaz« Camel have revived the original "desert" spirit of their early work, led by »Mirage« (1974), where individual compositions took priority over interlinked concept pieces

If anyone's passionate about what they do, it's without a shadow of a doubt the German thrash/death metal champions Dew-Scented. They put their passion for the music they play into the consistent quality of their records, which they kept…

»Real Time« is the long-awaited double live recording of a historic show, marking the magnificent return of one of the best and most revered prog rock bands of all time, Van Der Graaf Generator. Zbra

The misfortune that has dogged Finntroll since the very start of their career is almost unbelievable. Only the likes of Nevermore have comparable "luck". The band was founded in 1997 by vocalist Katla (Jan Jänsen) and guita

Eric Clapton finds himself at a crossroads again in the early seventies. Years of playing in supergroups had finally turned into an unbearable burden, but Eric shakes it off in grand style. Against all odds, Layla And Other Assorted

There aren't many bands that have been through as many ups and downs as Bay Area outfit Machine Head. From the excellent debut Burn My Eyes, which is still considered one of the best thrash metal albums ever and topped every metal best-of…

Progressive metal fans know the name Kiko Loureiro. Quite the opposite, in fact: Kiko is a proven, established guitar name in the world-famous Brazilian progressive band Angra, where he proves his mastery of his instrument again and again.…

Camel's renaissance, which kicked off with their fantastic comeback in the early 90s, carried on in their live recordings too, as fans could already hear on the excellent »Never Let Go« (1993), which was the one that

An upgrade or a sequel to one of the best records to come out of the former Yugoslavia – 'Mirakul' Gibonni is one of those Croatian artists whose mastery nobody doubts – not even the most hardcore anti-Croatian music critics and editors

Velenje band Šank Rock could easily be called legendary on the Slovenian music scene — they've been around since way back in 1982 and put out their first record five years later, the album Pridi

For many, The Rolling Stones are the greatest rock'n'roll band of all time, which I personally don't agree with, since it seems to me their career had too many bad moments and a lot of music that's not even close to rock'n'roll

On "Pictures At An Exhibition," the notorious prog rock trio Emerson, Lake & Palmer boldly, uncompromisingly and arrogantly gave a near-revolutionary reinterpretation, for those days when classical music still counted as something…

When the conversation turns to the legendary art rockers It Bites, masters of a sophisticated brand of progressive pop rock, we're talking about one of the most overlooked bands of their generation, one that will apparently never get the…

Call them whatever you like, but these guys are anything but disposable pop fodder catering only to the commercial demands of the music industry. The lineup has changed a lot. Members came and went, and because of internal dissatisfaction…

Rory Gallagher, the giant of white blues, is one of those musicians whose love of music knew no bounds. Whether it's his legendary battered Fender Stratocaster, a tamburica, a sitar or a harmonica, with his love and devotion to the blues he…

Which rock band or musician would be capable of dedicating an album to a noble breed of ancient country horses facing extinction? The answer is dead simple, because the only real farmers among rockers have always been just

The late nineties and the turn of the new millennium. New times and new trends. The big names were just a bundle of fond memories gathering dust on shelves. Evidently spring-cleaning season had arrived, and some, if not many, are coming…

This little thing landed in my hands by accident: a release from two years back by metalheads from Veliko Ubeljsko near Postojna who go by Forgotten Eden. It's not even clear whether it's a debut album or just an EP, since it clocks in at a…

Ian Anderson, the undisputed chieftain and personification of Jethro Tull, was a born Scottish country boy who has always loved living in close contact with nature and animals (besides sprawling farms, fish hatcheries and greenhouses, he…

To most well-informed fans of "more demanding" music, Alan Morse is a reasonably familiar name, while the vast majority of the wider music crowd still has no idea who he is. Until now, Alan has been best

Gonoba is another great Slovenian metal band that isn't getting the attention it deserves. These guys have been around for a solid two years, and now we've got their second demo, and the first one with the new, current lineup. Just how…

It's truly unbelievable to hear a band that still sounds as fresh after twenty years as Pink Cream 69 do in 2007. What's more, they've probably put out the best record of their long career, one that se

Dante Fox's third album after almost 10 years of silence is a very welcome comeback. But one swallow doesn't make a summer, and that doesn't mean "Under The Seven Skies" is anything special or a uniquely recognizable musical achievement.…

The album laid out before us should have been the debut of the Swedish band Sabaton five years ago. But Swedish metal had no luck with the Italian label Underground Symphony, which took a two-year siesta over the release of Metalizer, the…

Blind Ego is a side project from RPWL guitarist Kalle Wallner, and it has everything it needs to become a kind of new progressive supergroup, since it's made up of some seriously big names in today's (neo) prog scene

The fact that Joe Cocker, at 63 and with that incredible voice of his, can still wow music fans of every generation doesn't surprise anyone anymore. Hymn For My Soul is his latest effort, s

At the start of last year, after about two years of recording, neighboring Croatia finally got its first official roots reggae album, and the honor went to the debut 'Stereo Roots' from a band that's been around since 2000&#2

Steve Hackett, one of the most revered guitarists of the golden age of prog rock, kept pursuing his musical visions with plenty of creative energy even after the magnificent masterpiece "Spectral Mornings" (1979), though he never again…

Stadium Arcadium is an ambitious project that RHCP pulled off after all, much to the surprise of critics and fans alike. The record came out in May 2006, and within a month of release it sold a million copies in Europe. To date, it has…

Robert Cray belongs to the younger generation of blues musicians who woke up the blues movement in the early 80s and, with their fresh new approach, kicked off a kind of renaissance for blues music, with which

Chris Eckman and Carla Torgerson are (were) the creative core of The Walkabouts, born in Seattle in the mid-eighties, but sound-wise they never really belonged in the same "basket" as the other, better-known bands from that city. No, The…

In 2005 a tide swept over the Slovenian scene. Practically overnight, rockers Tide came crashing onto the stage. Part of the band had spent a good while abroad beforehand, making music and playing gigs. The album Seven Days is an…

The new millennium brought a new way of consuming music. We're talking about new technologies that make it possible to distribute and play it. No artist is safe from uncontrolled file sharing over the internet. Kip Winger, the band's…

L'essentiel makes a nice cross-section of Cocker's legacy, and as such it works as a great starting point for any newcomers wondering what all the fuss around the old guy is about.

"Senca sebe" leaves me happily, post-orgasmically cleansed every time the CD player finishes a spin! "Senca sebe" gives the listener the side of the Šank Rock guys that was only &#

Progressive folk rock legends Jethro Tull are inexorably closing in on their 40th anniversary, which they'll mark, let's hope, with the release of the long-awaited new studio album that their l

A name that perfectly sums up the band's sound! Grinderman literally grind, even though the band is made up of the very core of The Bad Seeds, better known as Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. And Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds always knew how…

Rhythm, pomp and beauty beyond compare. Spring is coming, my dears. Spring is already here, and just the right dose of love lyrics and slight melancholy is the perfect companion for these days, when the sun wakes up in us and we gravi

Supergroups of one kind or another are always a tricky business – exceptional individuals team up to make something truly great, but because of those very individuals' exceptionality, the whole thing often falls apart or doesn't turn out…

One question Ian Anderson still gets asked in interviews all the time is: are Jethro Tull really too old to rock 'n' roll? A pretty tasteless, almost grotesque question, even today

Melodrom first introduced themselves to the wider Slovenian music scene in 2002, when they played as part of the Klubski maraton, organized by Radio Študent, and I too first heard them live on Radio Študent.

The third album from American pop metal outfit Winger, Pull was made under the pressure of the solid commercial success of their debut and, even more so, of In The Heart Of The Young. Before the recording of Pull, keyboardist

Right after Melodrom's second album, The Guide, came out, some people talked about how sonically removed it is from the self-titled debut. In reality, it's pretty far from that. It's a seemingly spontaneous record that, in essence

In October 1967, Elektra Records released the second album by The Doors, titled Strange Days. It came out just nine months after the debut and caught the Doors at the peak of their creative powers. In many ways, Strange Days feel

Years ago, Dan D were already considered one of the best Slovenian rock bands around, the kind who didn't have to play only boozy student parties but earned their place among more serious music listeners too. K

Beginnings are always tough. The same goes for Thin Lizzy, who, after three unnoticed albums, step into a new era on the wings of two fresh recruits. With Gorham and Robertson on board, Lynott starts opening a new chapter in the Lizzy…

Rock, grunge and a whole bunch of other bands break up while new ones, supposedly supergroups, rise from the ashes. Zack de la Rocha left Rage Against The Machine, Chris Cornell disbanded Soundgarden – after some initial birth pangs, Audi

Masterplan have been considered one of the best bands of the last few years by critics and fans alike ever since their very first release, the 2003 self-titled album. With excellent power metal driven by acrobatic

“To Keep From Crying”, the second album from Comus, the one-of-a-kind pioneers of progressive folk rock, is a monstrous letdown that will make even the most devoted fan give up in the end and rack their brains in vain for a long time over…

Under the leadership of the indestructible guitarist, singer and flutist Andy Latimer, Camel remained a synonym for everything that's best in symphonic prog rock even into their third decade. They endured as one of a handful

The new album from Saxon, surviving dinosaurs and champions from the N.W.O.B.H.M. days, who ever since "Solid Ball Of Rock" have sounded German, mostly thanks to a rawer production that was never typical of the Brits