Rambling Man's Reviews

  Words by Anselm Anderson British rock band Arrow Valley aims to make its mark in the rock and metal scene with its latest EP, "Embodiment," which was released last week. The heavy rock band followed up their debut EP, "You Are Not Alone," with a dynamic album featuring five tracks. Their sound is influenced by the soaring melodies of Creed and Alter Bridge and the aggressive metal style of Killswitch Engage. The band combines hard rock with metal elements to create an emotionally charged mini-release. The band, which formed last year, hails from the West Midlands in England. They are led by vocalist Arron Turner and guitarist Luke Hatton and are joined by bassist Abbas Ali, guitarist Nicky Hughes, and drummer Mark Harris Bristow. Hatton produced the album at his home and Vault Studios in Kidderminster. This helps bring an authentic gloss to the album. Photo Credit:Jessica Hughes The band showcases their growth as musicians in "Embodiment" by blending all...

Artwork: Hugh Syme   Words by Anselm Anderson British rockers Gone Savage are returning with a fresh sound and a new label. The duo, consisting of vocalist Will Glover and guitarist Ian Salpekar, is preparing for their debut label release, "Retrograde," which is scheduled for release next Friday, October 25th, through Muzzle Records . Brad Rolling, Peter Maher, and Gary Williams recorded, mixed, and mastered the ten track LP in the UK. Hugh Symes contributed to the excellent artwork as the band plugged in for this hard rock release. The band's sound leans towards an '80s rock style, influenced by bands like Ozzy Osbourne, Ratt, and Def Leppard. They bring together an intimate and personal album focusing on heavy riffs and solid ballads. Glover and Salpekar are complemented by drummer and percussionist Dex Tyler, who brings maturity and a fresh perspective to the production. The album opens with the lead single "Ram Me Down," a fiery rock track that sets the ...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Myles Kenned y released his third solo album, titled "The Art of Letting Go," through Napalm Records last Friday.The follow-up to the critically acclaimed "The Ides of March" in 2021 was a contemplative piece by the rock vocalist, best known for fronting Alter Bridge and teaming with Slash and the Conspirators. This time around, Mr Kennedy seems to be in a reflective mood, as he muses over some key elements of his life thus far. "The Art of Letting Go" is a guitar-driven record that delves into the artist's influences with post-grunge rockers and the man in a hat. Kennedy, along with bandmates drummer Zia Uddin and bassist Tim Tournier, has created a spiritual album filled with wisdom and grace. Producer Michael Baskette oversaw the recording of this release at Studio Barbosa in Florida. Photo Credit: Chuck Bruekmann "The Art of Letting Go" opens the album with a captivating c...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Blues act RJ Archer and The Painful Memories return with their newest single, "Get It Together." The track is the latest from their upcoming album, "The Cost of Loving Crisis."   They continue from their previous release on this enjoyable teaser for the new album. I previously reviewed "Got to Leave," which I described as a throwback to the Delta Blues Era. "Get It Together follows on with a similar charm. The band, which features vocalist Richard Archer, bassist Richard James, guitarist Ben Kingsbury, and drummer Marc Ritchie, formed five years ago due to a shared interest in 60s and 70s rock music. The track is heavily influenced by Chicago Blues, which is evident with the continuous stop-start rhythm throughout the track. The track opens with RJ Archer's unmistakable vocals, conveying warmth and glee, while the bass and guitars combine. The rhythm builds tension, creating a sense of intrigue and mystery, before transi...

    Words by Anselm Anderson Italian dwarf metal band Wind Rose begins a new journey with the release of Trollslayer via Napalm Records today. This album follows their 2022 release War Front , offering another round of modern metal, catchy singalong choruses, and impressive string arrangements with bombastic production. The band greatly impacted the metal scene with their popular song "Diggy Diggy Hole", gaining a strong following on YouTube and TikTok . I gave their last album a 9/10 rating due to the songwriting and enjoyable songs on the album and subsequently entered the T op 10 US Current Hard Rock list. On Trollslayer , the band take a new direction with a sound heavily influenced by battle bands of the past like Turisas and Hammerfall. The tracks have a more serious edge, leaning more towards a sentimental side, rather than relying on writing tracks that will become hits. The production is still as polished as "War Front", giving the sense the listener ...