Rambling Man's Reviews

  Words by Anselm Anderson Rob Dukes returns for this twelfth outing for Exodus . The shaven headed vocalist returns following a ten year hiatus from the band. ' Goliath marks his first appearance since 2010's Exhibit B:The Human Condition . Dukes returned to the fold last year, following the departure of vocalist Steve Souza , and this release also marks the first on Napalm Records for the band. Produced by Exodus,  and mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis , known for his work with Whitechapel , Nile and Undeath , this ten track release feels like a return to form for the Bay Area Thrashers . The music is intense and authentic, with  each riff cutting though  precision like a butcher's knife. Dukes sounds like an insane man, whose making up for lost time. The album features guest appearances by Peter Tägtgren ( Hypocrisy , Pain ) and violinist Katie Jacoby .  Photo Credit: Jim Lovau The album begins with the dissonant chords on " 3111 ", a track that sets the ...

The Dead Daisies are set to releases a live performance album, following their latest Covers album. Live Plus Five on CD and Vinyl on Friday May 1st in Europe and the UK,  and May 15th in the USA & Canada. This release captures their blistering Live At Stonedead performance at the UK’s Stonedead Festival along with an additional five  bonus tracks from shows across Europe and the US. Live Plus Five includes songs from shows at La Rayonne (Lyon), Picturedrome & Rock City (UK), and the legendary Whisky A Go Go in (Los Angeles) during 2024/25. Guitarist  Doug Aldrich  commented on the release, “We had such a fantastic run during the last tour in the UK! Stonedead Festival was one of the highlights featuring the latest setlist and songs from the history of the band including our last album Lookin' For Trouble . Now, we've gone next level and added 5 extra tracks from epic shows in the UK, France and LA! Hope you enjoy LIVE PLUS FIVE!” - The limited run of p...

Today, Nashville’s country rockers Cody Parks and the Dirty South officially signed with Frontiers Label Group via BLKIIBLK . To mark the occasion, the band dropped their new single “Snake Shaker.” This continues a streak of impressive signings by the label since its inception last year, following the acquisitions of Megadeth , Cro-Mags, and Biohazard. Cody Parks shared his enthusiasm over the news : "I'm beyond excited and blessed to be a part of the BLKIIBLK/Frontiers family. The opportunity to work with industry veterans Jeff Stevenson, Tom Lipsky, and Bob Chiappardi was a no-brainer. Having a team that is aligned with my vision for Country Metal makes this the perfect home for my music, and I can't wait for the world to hear what we have cookin." On the new single, he continues: "‘Snake Shaker’ is a textbook example of our brand. When I started making Country Metal years ago, I wanted to make heavy metal music and tell stories about some of the more unh...

Photo Credit: Tom "da bomb" Corso Edited by Anselm Anderson Lethal Limits is the solo project of Jeff Corso , a Bay Area punk veteran raised in the East Bay . Based in Oakland and originally from Half Moon Bay , Corso has spent decades immersed in the region’s punk and hardcore underground. This past Friday, March 13, 2026, he dropped his latest EP, Elevate . The four-tracker blends 90's punk with power pop . The tracks are melodic with plenty of punchy choruses. For fans  of bands like Hüsker Dü and The Pixies . All tracks were written and produced by Corso himself. Arriving nearly four years after Lethal Limits’ self-titled debut, Elevate shows improvements with shades of Thin Lizzy-style guitar swagger and heavier 90s grunge , all while keeping focus on the  choruses. The sound is reminiscent of a musician who grew up on punk music and skate videos, continuing to draw inspiration from those influences and experiences in their writing. Recorded between February and ...

[Photo Credit: VD Pictures] Edited by Anselm Anderson Popular Hamburg-based band Lord of the Lost are gearing up for the final chapter of their trilogy with the release of their latest single, " My Funeral ". The concluding part of their OPVS NOIR album series, OPVS NOIR Vol. 3 , is set to drop on April 10, 2026. The band has experienced a steady rise over the past couple of years, with nearly half a million listeners on Spotify, a standout appearance at the Eurovision final in 2023, a number-one album, and international tours with Iron Maiden . LORD OF THE LOST are proving themselves to be one of the most exciting and successful acts around today. OPVS NOIR Vol. 3 represents the creative peak of a band at the top. The year started with shows in the USA, Canada, and Australia, and now continues with the upcoming headline tour across Europe. The tour kicks off on Thursday, 12 March, in Oslo, Norway . Chris Harms  adds cheerfully on “My Funeral”: “The message of the song – ...

Today, Dead Daisies' Vocalist JOHN CORABI   unveils his new single " That Memory ," taken from his upcoming debut full-length solo album 'New Day,' set for release on April 24, 2026 via Frontiers Music Srl . The new track arrived alongside an official music video, available to view below.  JOHN comments on the excitement behind the track: "'That Memory' is a great tune that my good pal Charlie Starr sent me a rough idea on. I played it for Marti Frederiksen (my producer) and he loved it. We changed the key to fit my voice and recorded it!! It’s a great tune, and without being too emasculated…It’s my wife’s favorite from the record!!!! Thank you Charlie Starr!!!!" Watch the Music Video for "That Memory" HERE ‘New Day’marks an exciting chapter in the singer's storied career. This is  JOHN CORABI’s first full-length solo album of original material. Recorded in Nashville during the summer of 2025 and produced by multi-platinum songwrit...

  Cover artwork by Ingo Spörl / OSM | Tomorrow, the German symphonic act Leaves' Eyes will release a new Viking saga . This time, they are launching a four-track EP through Reigning Phoenix Music Records . The band offers another dose of cinematic music , blending symphonic scores with metal to reach a new audience. Rambling Man has been following the band since the beginning of the decade, covering their previous two releases: 2021's The Last Viking and 2024's Myths of Fate . I have always been a sucker for symphonic metal , even though it does feel obsolete these days.  Leaves' Eyes brings a unique flair compared to bands like Within Temptation and Nightwish , focusing on tales of myths, magic, and Nordic stories of Vikings .  They achieve this through the rich, soprano voice of lead singer Elina Siirala , along with her accompanying band of classically trained musicians. The band was formed in 2023 by vocalist and producer Alexander Krull , along with origina...

  Photo Courtesy of Wild Kingdom Records Words Written by Anselm Anderson Phillip Shouse , the renowned session musician , released his debut EP ' Vol 1 ' last week through Wild Kingdom Records. After more than two decades of supporting his contemporaries, Shouse emerges as the lead vocalist and songwriter of his unique hard rock style .  The current guitarist of Accept  has appeared on four albums and has toured internationally with the legendary Teutonic metal band . Shouse's CV highlights his collaborations with notable artists, including Kiss alumni Gene Simmons and the late Ace Frehley , as well as country musician Rodney Atkins and former Mötley Crüe frontman John Corabi . Additionally, Shouse hosts his own jam session nights in Nashville and is a co-founder and co-owner of Rock N Röll , a Swedish non-alcoholic beer company. I initially approached this EP expecting it to be a heavy metal release filled with guitar-heavy tracks. However, I found the opposite...

------------------- Edited by Anselm Anderson Vancouver's power trio, The Slip-Ons   released their sophomore EP Overtime, released last week via Scamindy Records . The seven-track EP is 90's alternative rock mixed with power pop and draws influences from records by Bob Mould, Hüsker Dü, and The Replacements, with flashes of Ash and Dinosaur Jr. in the guitar tones.  Fronted by Brock Pytel of Montreal pop-punk staples Doughboys and longtime bassist for Sarah McLachlan ,  Brian Minato. T he Vancouver four-piece is completed by Rob “Shockk” Matharu of The Spitfires on guitar and Shane Wilson on drums. Overtime takes its name from the sudden-death hockey period, used as an extended metaphor for pressure and consequence. The EP leans heavier and more focused than the band’s debut, pairing Pytel’s gravel-edged vocals with punchy, direct arrangements. The lyrics widen their scope, too. Politics surface naturally, filtered through experience rather than slogans. As Pytel...