Velvet Thunder (2025)

26/05/2025

Overall, this is a compilation which gives a fine overview of a band who are, like so many others, well known for a couple of songs yet unfairly forgotten about otherwise.

When the subject of the horn-driven sound of Blood Sweat And Tears comes up, there is always one obvious subject - that being the comparisons with Chicago, and which one is preferred. It's understandable really - the bands started around the same sort of time (BS&T actually released their first album the year before Chicago), and the use of the horn sections as part of a large band membership drew unavoidable parallels. Despite the name sounding rather more like a heavy rock band, Blood Sweat And Tears were originally brought together as a project by Al Kooper, the highly respected session keyboardist who had played on Bob Dylan's groundbreaking Like A Rolling Stone among many others, as he wanted to explore the idea of horns within a mixture of styles including rock, blues, soul, pop and jazz.

Overall, this is a compilation which gives a fine overview of a band who are, like so many others, well known for a couple of songs yet unfairly forgotten about

25/05/2025

I remember well what a shock to the system The Haunted’s self-titled debut caused in mid 1998. Thrash was so out of fashion by that point, replaced by rising stars of the Swedish melodeath scene, which was still grieving the disbandment of legendary At The Gates. Amazingly, the whole rhythm section plus one of the guitarists were replicated in The Haunted, with the addition of Patrik Jensen (Séance, Satanic Slaughter) on second guitar and Peter Dolving on vocals. The second album …Made Me Do It introduced Marco Aro as the new vocalist, but didn’t slow neither the tempo nor the quality of metal served.

Fast forward quarter of a century, with both Aro and Dolving leaving then returning, some very experimental albums released, Anders Björler leaving to be replaced by Ola Englund (Feared, ex-Six Feet Under) and we are now less than a week away from the release of their tenth album and fifth with Marco Aro.

I remember well what a shock to the system The Haunted’s self-titled debut caused in mid 1998. Thrash was so out of fashion by that point, replaced by rising

24/05/2025

British rockers Beth Blade & The Beautiful Disasters have returned with a brand new single. Never Let Go, which released on May 1st, is the band’s first release since their 2022 album Mythos, Confession, Tragedies And Love, and will act as a precursor to their upcoming new album, set for release on 12 September.

Speaking about the band’s new material, Blade said: “It’s been a long time coming. Our new album is finally seeing the light of day on September 12th, and we are so excited to share it with you and whilst I can’t yet divulge too much, there is laughter, unadulterated fun, rock and roll spirit and a vintage flair that never goes out of style. There’s also pain, fear, vulnerability and depths so dark they may make old wounds ache.

British rockers Beth Blade & The Beautiful Disasters have returned with a brand new single. Never Let Go, which released on May 1st, is the band’s first r

23/05/2025

This is absolutely and resolutely a progressive rock album, let's get that clear - any pretence otherwise would be absurd, as it is proud to wear its heart on its gatefold sleeve and be what it is. However, it does traverse the full orbit of styles and diversions found within that umbrella term in a satisfying and impressively coherent manner.

It's not an uncommon thing for band members to get the itch to record and release a solo album, as we all know of course. Indeed, there can be few major musicians who have not used that particular avenue to vent their own particularly creative muse - some spectacularly well, and others... well, less so.

This is absolutely and resolutely a progressive rock album, let's get that clear - any pretence otherwise would be absurd, as it is proud to wear its heart on i

22/05/2025

These guys may be Commoners, but they've got King-size cojones! This album has nine slabs of melt-down Southern rock in the best traditions of rock'n'roll, performed live on tour in the UK in 2024, out now on Gypsy Soul Records. Over the last couple of years, the UK has become almost a second home for the band, playing dozens of shows over the course of four UK tours. Each time, crowd reaction has got better and better, to the point where the band realised they simply HAD to record a few of their final shows. The band were really pleased with these takes and felt compelled to share them with their fans - so here we are!

Mixed and mastered by The Commoners’ lead guitarist Ross Hayes Citrullo at RHC Music in Toronto, this album features two tracks from Find A Better Way and no less than seven from last year's Restless (in fact the first seven tracks on this live album).

These guys may be Commoners, but they've got King-size cojones! This album has nine slabs of melt-down Southern rock in the best traditions of rock'n'roll, perf

21/05/2025

"California Calling hits home for anyone that came of age in the 80’s and if you didn’t, you’ll wish you did” FOO FIGHTERS - CHRIS SHIFLETT

"If you want to climb into the head of a hyper-active disenfranchised youth gone wild, no one will deliver the goods better than Joe Sib”. BAD RELIGION - JAY BENTLEY

“The abiding take away from California Calling is that rush of youthful discovery doesn’t have to dissipate with adult life”. LOS ANGELES TIMES

Introducing Joe Sib who makes his Edinburgh debut with his show ‘California Calling’ to Gilded Balloon’s Appleton Tower- Pip Room. The US comedian is known for his witty and engaging performances. ‘California Calling’ is a high-energy, hilarious and heartfelt ride through Joe Sib's punk rock-fuelled journey. Sib fuses stand-up and storytelling like no one else, sharing raw, relatable tales from the 1980s to stages with Metallica, The Ramones, and Social Distortion.

"California Calling hits home for anyone that came of age in the 80’s and if you didn’t, you’ll wish you did” FOO FIGHTERS - CHRIS SHIFLETT "If you w

20/05/2025

Atomic Rooster are, I suspect, one of those bands that everyone has heard about, but few are deeply familiar with their catalogue. This is despite them being something of a supergroup formed by two former members of The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown - organist Vincent Crane and drummer Carl Parmer (of future ELP fame). A very fluid line-up put together five albums between 1969 and 1973 before falling apart. Of these five releases, perhaps just one truly deserves being remembered: 1970’s Death Walks Behind You, put together by what is now considered the ‘classic’ Atomic Rooster line-up of Crane plus guitarist/singer John Du Cann and drummer Paul Hammond.

Atomic Rooster are, I suspect, one of those bands that everyone has heard about, but few are deeply familiar with their catalogue. This is despite them being so

19/05/2025

Fierce heavy rock crew, THE FIRES BELOW, have released an intriguing new EP, Crouch End Sessions, which encompasses three brand new tracks recorded live at Crouch End Studios, as well as a full live performance, behind the scenes footage and band interview. Listen to the EP and watch the film.

Fierce heavy rock crew, THE FIRES BELOW, have released an intriguing new EP, Crouch End Sessions, which encompasses three brand new tracks recorded live at Crou

19/05/2025

We had to wait eight years for new music by Swedish masters of death-tinged thrash, but here we are and their tenth album Songs Of Last Resort will live up to even the highest of expectations. The band sounds refreshed, hungry and inspired and Velvet Thunder gladly jumped at the opportunity to chat with frontman Marco Aro. And even though the “people of the North” in his very words, “don’t like to talk”, he was kind enough to share some interesting details on The Haunted.

Hey, Marco – nice to talk to you for the first time. Songs Of Last Resort is in my opinion among the top-3 best albums by The Haunted. It sounds so fresh and inspired. What was the secret this time? Did the 8-year gap made you hungrier and more aggressive?

-The only thing that we had spoken about prior is that it would be our tenth album, so let’s make it really aggressive. The Haunted’s music has always been about adrenaline. It’s very intense. We decided to do the normal stuff but turn it up to eleven.

We had to wait eight years for new music by Swedish masters of death-tinged thrash, but here we are and their tenth album Songs Of Last Resort will live up to e

18/05/2025

Few bands have left as distinctive a mark on the musical landscape - or in honing my own musical tastes - as Horslips. Emerging in the early 1970s, they more or less created ‘Irish Celtic Rock’, drawing from Irish traditional music and blending it with British/American rock to craft a sound that was both timeless and radical. Barry Devlin, Jim Lockhart, Eamon Carr, Charles O'Connor and Johnny Fean had it all: a brickhouse rhythm section, bluesy guitar licks and almost magical multi-instrumental dexterity. Their combination of ancient melodies, slick harmonies, strident riffs and tales of Old Ireland sounded exotic to these teenage ears in the mid 70's - and still stand the test of time as something very special. Seeing them live in Newcastle in 1979 is still up there in my "Best Gigs Of All Time"!

The name Horslips originates from a spoonerism on The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse which they turned into "The Four Poxmen of The Horslypse", daft sorts!

Few bands have left as distinctive a mark on the musical landscape - or in honing my own musical tastes - as Horslips. Emerging in the early 1970s, they mo

17/05/2025

The resurrection of WARD XVI is in full flow as the band are set to release their explosive new album, Id3ntity, which is out on Friday 11th July, via Earache. The alluring six piece will unleash their enticing new single and video, We Are Legion, which arrives on Friday 23rd May.

WARD XVI have also just announced an extensive UK Autumn tour and check this link for tickets and all details.

The resurrection of WARD XVI is in full flow as the band are set to release their explosive new album, Id3ntity, which is out on Friday 11th July, via Earache.

16/05/2025

Hawkwind's remarkable dependability pays off again in delivering their satisfying brand of the comfort food we call space rock...

If ever I was to meet Dave Brock, I'd surely drop to my knees and give him a few hearty and sincere 'We're not worthy!' salutes (not that I think my knees could take it, but in the presence of my elder, I'd have to give it the ol' college try). Brock is approaching his mid-eighties and is still so overflowing with creativity that he continues to release quality new Hawkwind platters almost every year… seriously! There is No Space for Us marks the ninth new Hawkwind album since 2016, with no sign of calling it a day anytime soon, and with continued admiration from the fanbase, who give consistently solid ratings to each new entry in the Hawkwind universe.

Hawkwind's remarkable dependability pays off again in delivering their satisfying brand of the comfort food we call space rock... If ever I was to meet Dave

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