Rambling Man's Reviews

  Words from Anselm Anderson Metal Supergroups are always a testy subject, for me. They are an opportunity for our favourite musicians to form a band with other musicians from another band to try to create something different from what we know.  Some go on to flourish, while others disappear without a trace. My question is: Which category does Category 7 fall under? Last Friday, the newly formed metal supergroup released their self-titled debut album through Metal Blade Records . The band includes well-known figures in metal, not just a mix of session musicians. John Bush, formerly of Anthrax and currently with Armored Saint, leads with his powerful vocals, along with the skilled guitarist Phil Demmel, formerly of Machine Head. Mike Orlando, a guitarist and producer known for his work with Adrenaline Mob and Sonic Universe, Jack Gibson from Overkill on bass, and Jason Bittner from Shadows Fall on drums round out this ambitious project.  The band combines the sound of th...

  Show Hosted by Anselm Anderson Welcome back to another edition of the Rambling Man podcast - Rockstar Classics hosted by Anselm Anderson. Each week, I delve into the stories behind iconic classic rock tracks and showcase new tracks from the world of rock and metal. Press play to enjoy some great music, including tracks from Australian hard rockers Airbourne, German Sleaze rockers A Gun Called Britney, and iconic tracks by UFO and The Rolling Stones. Also, listen to new music from British rockers The Rattlebacks and the Phil Mogg-led Mogg's Motel. Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following  https://follow.it/anselm-s-rambling-man-s-reviews?pub

  Words by Anselm Anderson Blues-based rock quartet RJ Archer and The Painful Memories recently released "Got to Leave," their latest track from their upcoming third studio album, scheduled for release this summer. The track is perfect for enjoying blazing sunshine and cool breezes, as it is a throwback to the Delta Blues era. Lead vocalist Richard Archer's buoyant and warm vocals attain a calmness over a steady rhythm. Formed in 2019, RJ Archer and The Painful Memories began as a trio of Archer, bassist Richard James and fellow guitarist Ben Kingsbury, after the former won a a prize in a singing competition. The band's love of the 1960s and 70's blues-based rock can be clearly heard within the first few bars of 'Got to Leave'. The opening blues shuffle between James's bass and Archer's slide guitar gives a slick edge to the music. Archer's powerful vocals resonate with the listener as the steady rhythm builds towards the chorus. The laid-back ...

  Words from Anselm Anderson Nu-Metal is making a return with a bang. The latest band to embrace the genre that mixed down-tuned guitars with mixing desks and aggressive vocals about personal struggles and social anxieties is Virginia-based sextet,  Saint Diablo. Today, the Latin Americans release their latest four-track EP 'The Reckoning' via Eclipse Records.  The band consists of lead vocalist Tito Quinones, guitarist Justin Adams, bassist Zach San Pietro, drummer Anthony San Pietro, and percussionist Awesome Ray Ray. It has released two full releases to date, including 2015's critically -acclaimed Devils, Horns and Halos. The Reckoning  is no exception as the band delivers four sizzling tracks of apoplectic rage, thunderous riffs and catchy choruses to set themselves loose on the metal world. Upon first listening, I felt the band reminded me of the 2000's Latin Nu-metal group Il Nino. Ironically, this EP  was mixed, mastered, and recorded by the band's prod...

The Blog's Rockcast returns with another look through some classic tracks and newbies for your enjoyment. On Today's edition, I look at the stories behind great tracks by AC/DC, Black Label Society and The Georgia Thunderbolts, plus play the latest from British metal act Voltstorm and Sludge metal act Gods and Punks. Click below to listen to the show. Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following  https://follow.it/anselm-s-rambling-man-s-reviews?pub

  UK-based Kay Iris has already released singles like ‘A Tale Of Fate’ and ‘Dead Man Walking’ with their distinctive sound, aiming to inspire and empower their listeners. The young singer-songwriter is accompanied by fellow instrumentalist Matt Patmore to present their unique blend of folk, country and Americana. The duo's heartwarming compositions intertwine with thought-provoking lyrics and sweet vocal melodies, influenced by songwriters such as Joni Mitchell and Fleetwood Mac. Kay Iris is an activist helping to promote sustainability and a fairer ecosystem for the world. Their past projects include their ‘One Tank One Tree’ tour, in which they partnered with ‘Tree Nation’ to donate trees to reforestation projects, based on how far they travelled.  Their future aspirations include a line of sustainable and ethically sourced merchandise, to perform at eco-friendly festivals such as 'The Vegan Campout', 'Into The Wild' and 'Black Deer Festival' , as well as ...

 Words by Anselm Anderson Prog metal act ElevenWire has released their debut effort Blood Red Sun  via OOB Records. The album has nine prog-rock fusion tracks with jazz, metal and beautiful atmospheric soundscapes. The album follows a dystopian concept based on the emergence of AI (Artificial Intelligence) ruling the planet. The trio of brothers, John and Robert Hughes, along with long-time buddy Jim Armstrong, capture the tone of this nightmarish scenario through subliminal guitar interplay, string arrangements, and soaring keyboards reminiscent of the late Jon Lord. In modern times, it is rare to hear a progressive rock release that sounds like the luminaries of the 1970s, such as Rush and Genesis. The release was mixed by guest drummer Eric Gillette at his studio in Tulsa, OK, USA. This further assists in the development of an immaculate work full of quality songwriting, thought-provoking lyrics, and harmonic vocals. The album opens with the melancholic string arrangements...

   Photo Credit: Rob Blackham/Blackham Images Blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Bex Marshall has announced dates for her upcoming  2024/2025 UK Tour following the release of her latest critically acclaimed album 'Fortuna' out now on Dixiefrog Records.  Marshall will be joined by a band of talented musicians: Tony Baker on keyboards, Richie Stevens on drums and Rudyard Burley on bass. Bex Marshall will perform a mixture of intimate headline club shows and festival appearances commencing with Friday,13th September 2024 at Cleveland Bay, Stockton on Tees, United Kingdom.  During the run of live dates, Bex Marshall will also take part in a BBC Radio 2 Live Session With Cerys Matthews on Monday 16th September 2024.  More UK tour dates are TBA.  Speaking about the tour, Bex enthused "AT LAST! THE FIRST HEADLINE BEX MARSHALL UK TOUR...WERE READY TO BLOW THE ROOF OFF!" Bex Marshall has earned recognition for her powerful vocals and skilful resonator...

 Interview by Anselm Anderson The Rambling Man grabbed an opportunity to speak with veteran metal vocalist John Bush, best known for his stint with Anthrax and Armored Saint, who discusses his new band Category 7 , and their upcoming debut album, due out on July 26th via Metal Blade Records. Category 7   is a supergroup, which features ex-members of Machine Head , Adrenaline Mob and Anthrax. Click below to read the full article. Congratulations on your upcoming self-titled debut album, due on July 26th.  How are preparations going for the release?  Great! Doing interviews. two videos were released. Good buzz out there. Category 7 is a relatively new band featuring ex-members of Anthrax, Machine Head, Adrenaline Mob and Overkill. That is an impressive C.V. for a new band. What can you tell me about how you formed?  Phil contacted me about this project he was working on. He asked if I would be interested in working on it, so I said send some stuff to me....

  Words from Anselm Anderson English Rockers  Shiva May Care bursts onto the scene with the high-octane, no-frills new single "Falling Down", taken from the upcoming EP   Sound System Kaliyuga!, due out later this year. Formed in 2017, the band hails from Manchester, England. It consists of vocalist Molly Q (Vocals), J3t L4g (Guitars, Backing Vocals), Jake Trendall (Bass, Backing Vocals,) and Ilias Nikolaidis (Drums), The multi-cultural line up draws influences from punk, shoegaze, and stoner to create an infectious and energetic new track. Molly Q explained the meaning of the track is about a person of power abusing that position and reeling destruction "like a movie villain" The opening chords immediately capture a sense of destruction with a powerful, fuzzy riff that hooks the listener in. The distinctive, soulful vocals of Molly Q then enter the fray. Her captivating, distorted voice sways over an abrasive guitar sound and pounding drums. The chorus then transit...