Rambling Man's Reviews

Fast emerging post-hardcore act ICANTDIE has delivered a new video for the single, "Counter", featuring Sean Smith. The early seeds of ICANTDIE were sown in Bridgend, South Wales, in 2016 when Kyle David Smith (Lead Vocals and Guitar) confined himself to his room to work on a project that would align itself with his creative exuberance. Kyle endeavoured to create heavy music akin to Billy Talent, Every Time I Die, and Dillinger Escape Plan, and devoured Muse, Reuben and Biffy Clyro, working on the right recipe for an accessible, yet colossal sound. Aiming to shift into a trio, Kyle wrote a series of songs and refined the tracks whilst seeking suitable band members. With Gav Burrough (Funeral For a Friend, Hondo Mclean) on board to assist production and also provide guitar, bass and vocals, a killer debut EP entitled Transition/Merger was created. The release was met with strong acclaim, helping to secure the services of Adam Kerslake on drums and bassist Sam Bennet as per

Velvet Insane frontman Jesper Lindgren returns with another charity project in the guise of Carr Jam-21, a tribute to the legacy of the late KISS drummer Eric Carr . Lindgren returns with another all-star cast to release their first single "Can You Feel It"  Carr Jam – 21 is a project to celebrate the legacy of the late Eric Carr (KISS 1980-1991). Eric tragically passed away 30 years ago, and the group wanted to do something special. Together with some of the most well-known and KISS inspired musicians, The band have recorded two songs written by Eric Carr + two KISS related bonus songs.  The people behind the project is Dregen (The Hellacopters, Backyard Babies), Gustav Kronfelt (video producer), Jolle Atlagic (Electric Boys, The Quill), Jesper Lindgren (Velvet Insane), Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper/Slash's Snakepit) Åge Sten Nielsen (WigWam), Philip Shouse (Accept, Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons), Jesper Binzer (D-A-D) and Martin Ekelund (Bonafide). The first single ‘Can You

 The uprising French melodic metal quintet DISCONNECTED  has unveiled a new single "Life Will Always Find Its Way". Drawing influences from modern metal icons such as Alter Bridge, Gojira and Deftones, The song comes out after the success of ‘Unstoppable’, topping 1.5 million streams, the first single of the band’s anticipated upcoming album “We are Disconnected”, expected to be out in April 2022 .  Already playlisted today in 17 countries (Breaking Hard Metal on Apple Music, TOP OF THE CORE on Spotify …), “Life will always find its way” is a statement to raise ecological awareness, and the urgency to act. Mixed and mastered by Jelly Cardarelli and Symheris, “Life will always find its way” comes along with an official music video, directed by Laurent Hart. DISCONNECTED played numerous shows in Europe, opened for Tremonti on his 2018 European tour (24 shows across 17 countries), for Judas Priest in January 2019 (Zenith of Paris), as well as Mass Hysteria in March and November

'Save the Noize 2' is released today together with a music video! Artists that guested on this modern and socially relevant track was to name but a few, Tony Harnell (TNT), Jesper Binzer (D.A.D), Åge Sten Nilsen & Trond Holter (WIG WAM), Pontus Norgren (Hammerfall) and Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper). A total of 30 something musicians and artists came together for this common cause. Now after this fantastically successful project, Rasmus Harnesk Wiklund and Jesper Lindgren present: “Save The Noize 2”. Save The Noize version 2 is a pure follow up to the first track. It's the same track but in a totally new and different take. Fewer artists are guesting on the second track but bigger names get to take place, with the focus on the international market. With this version and with the accompanying music video, These musicians want to show that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Musicians can slowly, but surely come out and play, travel on the roads and come back to their job

  The rising NYC-based band Momma have announced today the news that they've signed to tastemakers Lucky Numbe r (Dream Wife, HMLTD, Sunflower Bean, Jay Som), and have released the dynamic, energising new single “Medicine” to celebrate. "Medicine" presents some of Momma’s best work yet and arrives alongside a Hailey Heaton -directed video shot on VHS-C.  WATCH "MEDICINE" HERE  Produced and mixed by bassist Aron Kobayashi Ritch , it also marks Momma’s first song demoed and written in New York as a 4-piece of singers/guitarists Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten , bassist Kobayashi Ritch, and drummer Zach CapittiFenton. The band explained: “The two guitar riffs were written by Etta and Allegra about a year before we actually brought it to the full band. When we wrote the first verse, we realised it was one of the first times we couldn’t write about heartbreak - we were both in very loving relationships. We wanted to write about that feeling of just being addic

Country artists The Justin Kemp Band return with a track for all those lonely men and women striving to find that special someone. 'Borrow A Kiss' is a traditional country track with an atypically touching subject in the form of love. The legendary Larry Baird helped produce the track in Nashville, Tennesee. 'Borrow A Kiss' starts with a pleasant fiddle playing in the background, accompanied by the steady strums of the steel-string acoustic guitar. Kemp bursts into song in an affable and warm fashion, which makes this track even more relatable to the topic. The tempo builds in the bridge to a melodic and pleasing chorus that results in a satisfying climax. New Mexico-born Kemp was brought up along the Texas border. Growing up in a musical family, he began to pick up the guitar at the age of eleven years old. He began songwriting in High School and pursued music at South Plains College in Levelland, Tx. Kemp has received much support in his career from his father David

Exciting Brit alternative foursome FOXHAUNT release new EP, Mindset, out Friday 4th February. The tuneful rock crew have also just released their thunderous new single, 'Monster'. Watch the video here,  Coming at you from York, England, FOXHAUNT is comprised of Ollie Swift (Vocals), Thom Clayton (Guitar), Nick Dawson (Bass), and Jamie Scott (Drums). Marking comparisons with heavyweights like Alexisonfire , Architects, Linkin Park, Don Broco , Anberlin, and Story of the Year . With a hatful of hugely successful singles under their belts and support garnered from BBC Introducing, Punktastic, Alt Corner, Dead Press , and Maximum Volume Music , the electrifying alt-rockers will strike even higher with the release of their breath-taking new EP, 'Mindset'.  The band remark about the EP and how it has developed their outlook:  “Mindset had us rethink how we approach music: sonically, mentally and what kind of message we wanted to voice. We delved deeper into what sou

Multi-instrumental songwriter Hani Abadi has now released his latest single  "Distance." from his upcoming solo project album that is coming in Spring 2022. Abadi is an original member of the Jordanian metal group, formed in 2001. He was born in the former Yugoslavia and raised in Jordan in the Middle East. His band have toured Europe and his home continent, as well as received wide coverage in Terrorizer and Decibel Magazines. 'Distance' is a melodic track that evokes images of the grim realities of our planet. Abadi croons over simply strummed chords and a rhythm section that sounds intimate and personal to the listener. The beautifully arranged flamenco influenced outro is evocative of the message behind the track. The song was recorded in the North Bay of California – USA and mixed and mastered by Tom MacLean in his studio twelve-tone in the UK. Tom Commented on the song: "If Pete Steele had been the frontman of Opeth on Still Life."  Hani further  Com

  This week The Rambling Man grabbed an opportunity to speak with Firewind Guitarist Gus G about his fourth solo album Quantum Leap,  released last month via AFM Records.   The release is a follow up to 2018's Fearless record and is the guitarist's first instrumental solo album. I spoke to the guitarist about the album, his history performing with acts like Arch Enemy and Ozzy Osbourne,  and how the pandemic shaped this impromptu album. Scroll down to read the full interview below. I am here today to talk about your latest album ' Quantum Leap', which came out last month. What can you tell me about it, and what has been the reception to it so far? Yeah, um. Well, this is my fourth solo album overall, and my first all-instrumental album for the first time, so it was quite the task for me personally. It was like, um, overcoming a lot of insecurities that I had about doing this all-instrumental project I kinda' thought about for years. And, um, yeah, it was written d

UK Progressive Metal Act Apollo Stands have released their highly expected album Interstellar . Formed in Norwich, England five years ago, the band first gave insight into their unusual blend of modern drum and bass, progressive metalcore, and contemporary metal with debut LP 'Join Us', which ensured the band's place on regular slots supporting acts like Sertraline , and Fingers Crossed  , as well as festival appearances at Rockstock , Trick Bag festival and Volume 19 As of 2019, The band consists of Alexei Swatman - guitars, vox, keys, lead vocalist Ry Hase, lead guitarist Olly Smith, bassist Matt Heyward and drummer Edgar Taljaard. This seven-track follow up to 2019's  EP 'Minds' combines classical elements with film scores to create something far-reaching to a rock product. One such piece of evidence comes in the intro "Void", which sounds like an eerie theme tune to some Sci-Fi Netflix show segues nicely into "Insolarus", a track st

  Young, stereotype-smashing Muslim metal band from West Java, Voice Of Baceprot , are gearing up for their upcoming "Fight Dream Believe" European tour, to take place this Autumn in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and France.   Voice Of Baceprot – often abbreviated as VOB – is an Indonesian all-girl rock band hailing from a small and rather conservative village just outside Garut, a town in West Java. Consisting of Firdda Marsya Kurnia (vocals and guitar), Widi Rahmawati (bass), and Euis Sitti Aisyah (drums), the word “baceprot” from their band name comes from the Sundanese language meaning “noisy”. This young hijab-wearing trio has been making waves since its formation in 2014, by breaking the mould of a typical metal band and delivering high-energy covers of modern metal classics.  Voice Of Bacepro t has become a point of discussion for a host of renowned global media such as The New York Times, NPR, BBC, The Guardian and Metal Hammer , who deemed them as “the m

  After the highly successful charity project “Save The Noize”, started by Rasmus Harnesk Wiklund ( Hårdrock - För Fan! - Podcast) Corey Duvette , (Veritas ) and Jesper Lindgren ( Velvet Insane ), A project featuring 30 musicians from around the globe, in benefit of “ Musikerförbundets Crisis Foundation ” are now proud to present Save The Noize V2 .  The song and accompanying music video is scheduled for release on the 19th of November 2021 by Sound Pollution Distribution. The song is produced once again by Roger Bergsten ( Nevo Studios ) and mastered by Thomas Plec . The music video is made by Martin Sweet ( Crashdie t) and the album cover is made by Michelle Rudolfsson . Song and lyrics were written by Erik Modin (Wildness) as well by Martin Sweet (Crashdiet).  Here is the full lineup for mighty Save The Noize V2: Dee Snider - (Twisted Sister, Solo) Michael Starr - (Steel Panther) Johnny Gieoli  - (Hardline) Howie Simon - (Jeff Scott Soto, Stryper) Kee Marcello - (Ex Europe, O

  The Rambling Man's playlist of the week looks at the best new releases to grace the blogs ears this past week, including Victory, Kavrila, Skatenigs and so much more

Highly-rated alt-rock foursome NIGHTBLAD E stride onwards with the release of their new video, "Feeding The Reel", which is plucked from their present album, Unknown Territories, out now.  Born in 2010, the band have steadily acquired new friends and fans for their appealing blend of alternative rock. Their much-revered debut album , Servant To Your Lair, provoked extensive touring and solid support from Metal Hammer magazine. NIGHTBLADE followed the release with 2013’s, Closer To The Threshold. The album garnered the backing of Powerplay, and also introduced the band to the Japanese market with the country’s largest rock magazine, Burn , recommending the Brit rockers. During 2014 and 2015, the quartet focused efforts on live shows, sharing stages with distinguished international acts such as Snakecharmer, Wolfsbane and Diamond Head , before dropping their popular EP, Crisis Has No Prejudice, to much praise once again. In 2016, the foursome went into a hiatus, but the

  UK heavy hitters APOLLO STANDS will finally release their eagerly anticipated new album, Interstella r, on Friday 5th November. The acclaimed riff slingers have also set loose their powerful new single, "Pick Up", out now.   APOLLO STANDS ’ genre-bending sound has biting metal at its heart, but as you strip back the layers you can see a slew of influences spanning from modern drum, bass and electronica to film scores. By taking from a strong stream of areas, both classic and contemporary, the progressive quintet has crafted its very own identity and styling. Formed in Norwich, UK, in 2016, APOLLO STANDS soon released their full-length, Join Us , and the record greatly helped in placing the ambitious newcomers on the map. Regular live performances supporting high profile artists and festival slots ensued with the band playing alongside Megalomatic, Sertraline, Eveline’s Dust and Fingers Crossed , as well as gracing the stage at Rockstock Festival, Trick Bag Festival, Vo