Rambling Man's Reviews

Photo Credit:Rick McGinnis The Discarded, the father-and-son trio, released their sixth full-length studio album, 'The Green Door', last week. Following their explosive first two singles, “Testify!” and “Going Down to the Beach,” they now present the anthemic  “Ooh Yeah!". frontman JP Wasson wrote “Ooh Yeah!” on his living room couch, a space often used for jamming and songwriting. ” Bassist Jared Wasson lays down a steady foundation with Drop D tuning, driving the song through its various dynamic shifts. The release of “Ooh Yeah!” alongside The Green Door represents a significant breakthrough for the band. It showcases their evolution by merging the raw grit of garage rock with the energy of punk, while also drawing from classic rock influences. The single and the album highlight the band's growth, offering listeners a cohesive, high-energy experience that reflects their signature style.   Produced by John Critchley, known for his work with artists like Elliott B...

Metal giants IN FLAMES have announced a European tour for Spring and Summer 2025, which follows directly after their extensive US tour with Machine Head in April and May. The band will play some of the biggest festivals in Europe like Rock am Ring, Mystic, Novarock, Greenfield, Copenhell, Graspop and Tuska, alongside exclusive headline shows with support bands such as Jinjer, Heaven Shall Burn, Lacuna Coil and Orbit Culture. Anders Fridén commented: "We haven’t forgotten Europe in 2025. We are excited to return to festival stages next summer and we have some special headlining shows with amazing support like Jinjer, Heaven Shall Burn and Orbit Culture! See you soon!!" Scroll down for all confirmed dates! IN FLAMES - EUROPE 2025 02.06. EE Tallinn, Noblessner Foundry * 03.06. LT Vilnius, Compensa Concert Hall * 05.06. PL Gdansk, Mystic Festival 06.06. DE Nuremberg, Rock im Park 07.06. DE Nuerburg, Rock am Ring 08.06. NL Maastricht, South Of Heaven 10.06. SI Ljubl...

Words by Anselm Anderson Independent Label Banana Recor ds presents the veterans of pop-punk , Healthy Junkies, the popular quartet from London, cordially invite you to ' Listen to the Mad' , their latest LP released last week. The fourteen-track album fuses '90s pop-punk choruses with grunge-era riffs, incorporating psychedelic rock and goth elements. Established in 2010, the band was created by French vocalist Nina Courson and guitarist Phil Honey-Jones to promote greater awareness of mental health, which is reflected in their name. The duo soon added bassist Dave Whitmore and drummer Dave Gaut to build a nationwide fanbase, which included supporting some of punk's notable names, as well as festival appearances and in print publications. They even appeared in a Sky Arts documentary entitled " The United Kingdom of Pop" It wasn't long before American DJ Rodney Bingenheimer took notice, propelling them to new levels of exposure. Photo Credit: Svenja Bloc...

Saxon is extremely excited to announce a ful l Hell, Fire, and Steel UK & Ireland Tour, which will see the band perform songs from their new album Hell, Fire, and Damnation and play their classic album Wheels of Steel in full, from start to finish, for the last time. The tour will also include all the other hits and fan favourites. Also, to make it even more special, Saxon has invited their great friend the legend that is former Accept vocalist, Dirkschneider to perform his classic album Balls to the Wal l in its entirety too which should make for one memorable evening. Saxon’s Biff Byford says, “We first toured with UDO and Accept in the U.S.A on our Crusader tour and have done lots of stuff together since, but we have never toured the UK together so this is gonna be epic. Balls to the Wall and Wheels of Steel under the same roof… it’ going to be something really special to witness. Bring it on!” Saxon’s groundbreaking album Wheels of Steel has been heavily cited by numero...

Photo Credit: Nuclear Blast Records Today, the mighty KREATOR have released a digital album and full video stream of their monumental live performance at Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile, which was held and recorded on April 23rd, 2023. Fans can relive the mayhem and massive circle pits that erupted throughout the night, showcasing the raw energy that only KREATOR and their Chilean Hordes can command. With Live In Chile you can experience one of the world's most renowned extreme metal bands rip through a breathtaking, career-spanning set full of fan favourites and songs from their most recent album, Hate Über Alles, proving that they're still at the very top of their game. Almost coinciding with the release, KREATOR's European co-headline tour with US thrash legends ANTHRAX and guests, TESTAMENT, kicks off Thursday, November 21st. Tickets are still available for some of the shows. Scroll down for all dates. LISTEN TO KREATOR - LIVE IN CHILE: https://kreator.bfan.link/lic...

Photo Credit: BJF PR Media Interview by Anselm Anderson The Rambling Man always ventures to promote new bands, as a means to educate the readers. Today, I grabbed an opportunity to speak with the lead vocalist of the newly formed Sirensong, who recently released their latest single "March Into The Sun". Please scroll down to read the full transcript with Alice Freya, in which she discussed the inception of the band, their new single, and their upcoming album. Hello, how are you? Could you introduce yourself to the readers? We are SIRENSONG, a five-piece hard rock/ metal band from South Wales. Alice Freya - Vocals Jon Evans & Ryan Barnard - Guitars Billy George - Bass Daz Joseph - Drums Sirensong are a relatively new band. Could you explain how the band got together? Most of us have been in bands together before, with four of us previously playing in a prog band called Last Flight To Pluto). We were feeling an urge to concentrate on a different sound and direction, which w...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Symphonic Death Metal act Genus Ordinis Dei celebrates their upcoming  European tour with Xandria and Sirenia by releasing "Eternal Cycle," featuring Xandria lead vocalist Ambre Vourvahis. The track reimagined the myth of Hades and Persephone, focusing on the eternal cycles of life, death and rebirth. The Italians blend their string arrangements and classical music prowess with the haunting melodies of Ambre, putting a contemporary spin on a mythical legend. The song's eerie quality foreshadows death through a powerful combination of a large horn section and orchestra. The dynamics intensify with the rapid string movements and shifting melodies.Genus Ordinis Dei's vocalist, Nick.K, enters with his intense, harsh screams  as the tempo escalates, accompanied by a robust sound of guitars and drums.Ambre Vourvahis soon joins as a counterbalance, providing soaring melodies that lend emotional and romantic support to the track. The tension escalat...

Earlier this week, Bay Area icons MACHINE HEAD announced they will kick off the new year with a  North American tour alongside labelmates and Swedish melodic death metal icons IN FLAMES , Italian metal titans LACUNA COIL , and American metalcore outfit UNEARTH. The 24-date trek will kick off on April 5th with a “hometown” show for MACHINE HEAD at the legendary Fox Theater. Then, it will head South for a stop at the Sick New World Festival before heading East and making its way across Canada. Fans can enjoy a sneak peek of what is in store for the upcoming North American tour via the MACHINE HEAD single, 'These Scars Won't Define Us,' featuring all four bands on the tour adding vocals for a WU-TANG CLAN-level thrash collaboration. Listen/purchase 'These Scars Won't Define Us' digitally, here: https://machinehead.bfan.link/these-scars-wont-define-us Watch the lyric video for These Scars Won't Define Us' digitally, here: https://youtu.be/bmqf2YZDpEc ...

Two years after the release of their last offering Black & Gold , the Swedish rock quartet Thundermother is gearing up for their much-awaited, forthcoming studio album, Dirty & Divine, due out on February 7, 2025, via AFM Records! The album pre-sale is available at this location: https://thundermother.bfan.link/dirty-divine Following a series of previously-released tracks, heavy rockers "Speaking of the Devil", "I Left My License in the Future" as well as the catchy album opening track "So Close", today, Thundermother are premiering a spine-chilling music video for their latest single, the anthemic rock juggernaut "Dead or Alive"! The band comments: "With Dead or Alive, we're exploring the feeling of emptiness that sometimes comes after a warm summer and into the fall. We're asking the question of "what do I do with my life, now that the darkness is upon me for eight months?" We don't have any answers, but ...

  Words by Anselm Anderson British Rock group Oswald Slain released their debut single "Happiness is Overrated" last week. The band, previously known as Little Thief, hails from Bristol, England. It blends classic Americana with grooves and driving rhythms, reminiscent of bands like Neil Young and Tom Waits. The band has previously toured the UK and appeared at festivals like Glastonbury and Isle of Wight. The founding members of Oswald Slain, Charlie Fitzgerald and Rhii Williams, decided to change the band name and take it in a different musical direction. Oswald Slain has been described as "Born from the creative cocoon of a home studio". The band's sounds reflect personal growth and musical evolution. band member Ryan Rogers produced the track in his back garden. Jason Mitchell mastered the record at Loud Mastering. "Happiness is Overrated" is described as a "rise above misery and a rebellion against the pressure of being happy". The track...

Upcoming guitarist Mario Vayne will release his debut single in the UK on November 22, 2024. “Rock N Roll Day” introduces Mario’s blend of driving rock and infectious melodies. The track has a familiar feel that echoes the glory days of classic pop-rock from the 1970s and 1980s yet feels fresh and contemporary. Mario Vayne, a remarkable talent from Queensland, Australia, is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He began playing music at the young age of seven, influenced by his musically inclined Italian parents. The sounds of ‘70s vinyl records filled his home, shaping his early musical influences. Artists like Cheap Trick, The Sweet, Little River Band, The Babys, and Status Quo became the soundtracks of his childhood. Mario started writing at the age of eleven, driven by his passion for playing guitar. His shy nature often concealed his talents from the world. Mario impressed audiences with his vocal range at local clubs in Australia and the UK. Mario Vayne now embarks on the ne...

Words by Anselm Anderson Acclaimed English singer-songwriter Toby Jepson returns with his first solo album in over a decade, "Look Out: Volume One." This is the first trilogy of records set for release with Toby and The Whole Trut h via Jepsong Records. The band is the latest chapter in a long, illustrious career spanning over forty years. Jepson is best known as the jovial lead singer of Gun, Little Angels, and Wayward Sons, which led to chart success and a slew of successful tours. Jepson produced "Look Out," which, as he explains in the introduction, centres on recovering from mental health issues. The six songs are the first of twenty recorded over three records. It is a cathartic collection of tracks full of wisdom and advice told through the usual charm and enthusiasm of Toby Jepson. The tracks blend hard rock, blues, and pop rock, designed to give a different perspective on a disorder affecting us all.   This is apparent on the opening track "Alone with ...

Photo Credit: Tim Nagle Chicago psych-rock band Spun Out released their second LP Dream Noise , last week via Shuga Records , and shared the lead single/video “Paranoia.”Comprising former NE-HI members Michael Wells (guitar, vocals) and James Weir (keys), along with newcomers Sean Page (synths), Joshua Wells (drums, recording, mixing), and Chris Sutter (bass), Spun Out crafts melancholic psych-pop that's rich in lush, captivating grooves and marked by a dedication to studio experimentation. Their lead single "Paranoia" is a testament to this. The song draws inspiration from an incident where Wells was swept away by a rip tide in the Pacific.  “Lyrically, I was trying to convey how dreams overlap into real life and vice versa,” explains Wells. “I got taken out by a rip tide in the Pacific a few years back and that feeling of trying to remain calm physically while not being in control of your surroundings definitely informed the psychology of the tune, as well as the tw...

  WORDS BY ANSELM ANDERSON Progressive Rock Duo T he Chronicles of Manimal and Samara returns with their latest EP, Origins, released last Friday, November 1st. The duo comprises Singapore-born vocalist Daphne Ang and Italian Bassist and guitarist Andrea Papi. Formed in 2020, the two musicians met in Camden, London, UK, and quickly developed a brand of progressive rock that blends poetry, electronica, and metal music. Ang also contributes piano and keyboards to the record, whilst Papi lends his unique vocals to two tracks on the release "Bite the Bullet" and "It Goes". The duo commented how they want "Origins" to widen their reach with new listeners. The follow-up to the hugely successful 2022 release "Trust No Leaders" pushes the boundaries with its fresh production and merger of several genres. The EP opens with the seven-minute "Feed the Beast". an atmospheric number with an opening poetic monologue, accompanied by industrial rock,...