Rockstar Reviewer

  Words by Anselm Anderson 1980s drummer Jimmy Katone returned with his first EP since signing with the German record label NRT  last Friday.  "Flesh and Fire" is the name of the   new three-track EP  released under the moniker "Katone". The blend of gothic-infused poetry and rock riffs, tinged with blues, tells the tale of unrequited love and deep emotions. Jimmy Katone has been a vital part of the melodic rock scene for over forty years. He began his career in the 1980s with the AOR rock band Hittin' The Ground Runnin', before featuring on the latest album from Canadian Melodic rock band , Mason, last year. Produced by Katone, "Flesh and Fire" features fellow Hit The Ground Runnin' members, Igor Mueller and Al Agunas, on guitar, alongside Katone, an accomplished pianist and guitarist. The EP runs for over ten minutes, providing listeners with a glimpse into the talents of this multi-instrumentalist. Photo courtesy of Golden Shutter Photograp...

Photo courtesy of Memphia Music Management Words by Anselm Anderson  Today, Bristol's rock trio Oswald Slain released their highly anticipated debut EP "Kiss Me on the Mouth" as an independent record. Rambling Man's Reviews has supported this band over the last several months with positive outlooks of their singles 'UGLY' and 'Happiness is Overrated'. The evocative songwriting and tongue-in-cheek humour piqued my interest as I prepared for this release. Recorded by Jason Mitchell in their home studio, Kiss Me on the Mouth is five tracks of firebrand indie rock and self-proclaimed Americana. The EP captures the raw energy and personality of the group as they prepare for a mini tour of the British Isles next week, in support of the EP. The lascivious 'UGLY' kicks off things with a take on the 1997 American film Boogie Nights, a critique of the 1970's porn industry. The dirty blues riff supplements the seedy vocals, reminiscent of the American...

  Words by Anselm Anderson  Decrepit Youths  is the latest band to gain popularity in the UK. This Newcastle-based quartet of rap metal musicians released their three-track debut EP, "Love Psycho Kill Machine", last week as an independent project. Formed in 2023, they quickly gained widespread airplay on BBC Radio One as part of the channel's Introducing series. The band features a dynamic vocal partnership between David Stoker and Connor Pattison, accompanied by bassist Tim Gambles and drummer Thomas Lee. They now offer a preview of their high-octane, aggressive sound. The group isn’t shy about tackling themes such as drug and alcohol use, as highlighted in the opening track "Love Psycho Kill Machine." This song is a burst of rapid rap verses layered over gritty guitars and distorted monologues, evoking the chaos of a very messy night out. Photo courtesy of San PR The chaotic and dysfunctional sound continues with "Black Dove," which features a combi...

  Photo Credit courtesy of Sound of Silence.  Words by Anselm Anderson French Quintet Pledge The Silence emerges on the metal scene with the tenacious EP"Guilty as Charged", released via Sound of Silence. Formed in 2005, The Parisians blend thrash metal with raw hardcore elements and aggressive metal. The "Guilty as Charged" production values highlight these styles through emotion and intensity. Each riff culminates in a volatile climax, featuring harsh vocals and poetic monologues interspersed throughout the 23-minute duration. The songs combine deeply emotional subjects like social anxieties and depression with politically motivated ones, enhancing the aggressive nature of the release. The monologues bring stability to an otherwise hectic mini-album. "Guilty as Charged" opens with an intro that transitions into the intense track "Burn the Flag," featuring powerful lyrics and sharp riffs that hit the listener like a sledgehammer to the stomach...

  Words by Anselm Anderson  You can enjoy not many things in ten minutes, but "Borderland" might be one of them. That is the name of the mini EP from the British Metal act SYPHA. The three tracker is released today to an international audience via all major streaming platforms. The female-fronted band cites Avenged Sevenfold, Deftones, Halestorm, and Marmozets as influences, but their sound is grittier and darker. SYPHA was formed about two and a half years ago in the beachside resort of Brighton, England. Alicia Pilling, whose haunting vocals lead the band, first came to prominence with the video for "World's End," which became a YouTube hit. Since then, they have captivated audiences with their live performances. The quartet combines blistering riffs, dark lyrical content, and pop stylings that resonate with the listeners. "Dirty Floor"  opens with dark, dissonant chords clouded by Pilling's unsettling multi-layered vocals. The juxtaposition betw...

  Words by Anselm Anderson OOB Records invites the listener onto the magical and mysterious journey o f Beyond The Green Realm from the ancient forests of Northern Portugal. Drusuna released their highly anticipated follow-up to their 2016 debut 'Kaytos Kon' last November, promising to reconnect humans with the planet Earth through the traditions of Ritual Pagan Folk music. Drusuna was formed in 2009 by brothers Sephirus and Alvahagal. They initially wanted to tell their stories through organic sounds, using stones, wood, and various other elements to replicate the natural sounds of the planet. However, these plans changed with the release of their debut album. They have since changed their musical direction through a series of appearances across Portugal. Beyond The Green Realm embraces the signatures of Pagan folk music through poetry and instruments like acoustic guitar, flute, percussion, and various other non-folk sounds to captivate the listener into this enchanting wor...

  Words by Anselm Anderson England's Extreme heavyweights KillerKorp may sound like a horror movie, but their sound is brutal and uncompromising. Last week, they released "Vices", their latest four-track EP. The follow-up to the 2019 debut "Pain"  The quintet produces extreme metal at breakneck speed, blending modern death metal with blackened hardcore elements to create a headache-inducing experience. The savage riffery and guttural screams are some of the main attributes for fans of Cannibal Corpse and Machine Head. They combine the latter's songwriting for lengthy guitar intros and brutal breakdowns with ex-Cannibal Corpse singer Chris Barnes's vocal ferocity. KillerKorp have used this tenacity and aggression to evolve on the live circuit with notable appearances alongside contemporaries Raised By Owls, Celestial Sanctuary and Beyond Extinction . Photo courtesy of San Pr KillerKorp was formed in 2018 by the Lydiatt brothers: Ben (vocals) & Dani...

Pre-order Can’t Take Away The Fire here NWOBHM icons Raven are celebrating their fiftieth anniversary with the recent announcement of their new EP, "Can't Take Away the Fire," which features five brand new tracks for die-hard fans. The band will release this gift on February 14th. Raven was formed in 1974 by the Gallagher brothers (not the Oasis clan), Mark and John. They are joined by drummer Mike Heller, and together they deliver speed metal on tracks like "Black and Blue" and the old-school anthem "Power Hungry." the heavy metal tracks 'Can't Take Away the Fire' and 'Gimme a Lie' before settling on the Sabbath inspired 'The Wreckage'. John Gallagher comments on the reasons behind this release in a press release below “With the incredible reaction to our last album ‘All Hell’s Breaking Loose’ it spurred us to slave even harder in the songwriting salt mines”  “As an indication of where we are headed, we’ve put together f...

  There seems an upsurge in Southern Rock acts these days, but they don't capture the true essence of their American roots. Revenant is a Southern Rock band from Basingstoke, England, and they capture the essence of those roots from across the pond. I hear the influences of southern rock giants like Lynryd Skynryd in their music, which I fail to hear from today's so-called southern rock bands. The Quartet unleashed their new five-track EP, released last Friday. Lead singer Sugarman Sam has led a storied musical adventure. He began his journey with The   Voodoo Men , before forming Dead Jackals with fellow guitarist and bandmate Matthew Hudson. They soon joined drummer Carl D and bassist Robin Nutley to form Revenant. The result is a surprisingly straight-out rock release with plenty of riffs and hook-laden choruses to please the average rock listener. The lively song "Coming Back To Life" has a sound reminiscent of the debut album "Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd...

  WORDS BY ANSELM The Rambling Man has showcased another wave of British rock. This week's spotlight is on Edit The Tide , hailing from Swansea, Wales. This new band, formed last year, has released their debut EP, ' Reflections in Sound.' The five-track EP narrates their foray into the music industry with a progressive metal style, with vocal melodies and hooks that echo bands such as Biffy Clyro and Funeral For A Friend. They have graced the stage alongside notables such as the previously mentioned acts, as well as  Skindred and Bring Me The Horizon. The EP was produced by a newcomer producer   Sam Kilby at Unit 13 Music Studio  Abe Fihema  helped master the record at Luna Crown Audio. It is quite an accomplishment for a new band to achieve so much before their debut release. I am always eager to introduce new acts to the readers of this blog, but they often don't gain much traction before their release. Currently, Edit The Tide appears to be riding a cre...

  WORDS BY ANSELM The UK consistently rides a rising wave in producing new metal acts. Leeds is the city where the band Godeth has emerged. The quintet blends death metal with modern metal stylings in their latest EP, "The Path of Destruction." This album encapsulates all the frustration and rage in a six-track EP filled with chaos and melee.  Established in 2018, the band, fronted by vocalist Miles Case-Watson, features guitarists Dylan Walters and Luke Dyde, bassist Jimmy Johnstone, and drummer Danny Campey. The band has propelled their career to new heights despite numerous challenges and setbacks. They have been featured on BBC Radio 1 and have received extensive coverage on Total Rock and Primordial Radio. This exposure helps build a band's confidence within the music industry and community. This has certainly helped with the development of these Yorkshire men's sounds. They have crafted an intense edge with strong grooves and fiery vocals, which reminds me of...

Photo Credit: Pearl Cook Words by Anselm Anderson London-based alt-rock ban d Night Thieves adds to a list of talented British bands. It’s hard to deny that some of these bands have the potential to reach a wider audience, and Night Thieves is one of them. You may be wondering who they are – they are a quartet from London, England, and their members include lead vocalist Jess Moyles, guitarist Paul Andrew, bassist Rick Hunter-Burns and temporary drummer for this recording, Tom Connolly. In addition, Ryan Delgyn has since joined on drums permanently. The band have won many plaudits through established magazines and radio stations like HRH Magazine , Planet Rock, BBC Radio One and Kerrang! to name but a few. Polarity will be the band’s third EP and promises a formidable use of engaging dynamics and punishing rhythms. This is the reason I chose to write this review. I was struck by the lead vocalists’ use of vocal lines, complemented by the pull-and-stop tension of the guitar harmonie...

Words by Anselm Anderson T he second EP review of the week is a look at the upcoming four-tracker , Coda Revival by  British hard rock act  Lords of Ruin  due  for release this Friday, November 24th. The band combines alternative metal with contemporary rock to satisfy the cravings of enthusiastic rock fans. Lords Of Ruin reminds me of a younger version of Avenged Sevenfold and a heavier alternative to Shinedown with their powerful and captivating lyrics, sharp riffs, and blistering drumming. The band explores a variety of styles on the four songs that are available here. Lords of Ruin were conceived in Northern England seven years ago, but it wasn't until 2019 that they released their first single. The band consists of "Lords" with vocalist Lord Dox, Lord Stev-O on drums, bassist Lord Liam and guitarists Lords Kev and Stones. They first gained notoriety with an appearance at the Hard Rock Hell Festiva l before the turgid pandemic struck Britain, Thankfully. The Lo...

Words by Anselm Anderson The Energy of The Rattlebacks is a force to behold. The quintet combines the attitude of classic rock with the punch of grunge to create a unique sound only known to themselves as Rattlebacks sound! They recently released their debut EP Kink  via a GoFundMe Campaign,  to which their fanbase kindly donated over £5,000 towards being made. The four-track EP was produced and recorded by  Dave Holmes at Lighthouse 95. The producer's impact can be heard over four stunning tracks of bally rock 'n' roll that is reminiscent of Guns 'n' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots.  Lead vocalist Josh Clarke's highly contagious soulful voice blends perfectly with lead guitarist Max Horn's groove-oriented riffs and the rhythmic guitar work of Cox, creating a strong dynamic with the powerful drumming of Seth Markes and the intoxicating basslines of Jack Holland. Formed in 2021, the band hails from Brighton in the South of England. They have attracted fans ...

Words by Anselm Anderson English Songwriter Chris Riley of The False Poets has been busy this year with two lengthy releases from his side project entitled The Support Band.  I have chosen to review the shortest of the two Oceans of the Moon , released in May via Nice Mind Records. The Five-Track EP clocks in at One hour and three minutes and sees Riley team up with experimental noise maker Whitevanperil . The spacey release is an appetiser for the debut LP Imitations, released in June. Oceans of the Moon  is a giant step away from the '60s-influenced folk of The False Poets. Instead, it takes the listener on a crescendo of instrumental melodies entwined with blues, folk, and ambience, which will delight fans of Pink Floyd and Tangerine Dream. The echoes of washed-up waves awaken our senses on the opener 'Oceans of the Moon (Remix), which excites in evoking the sounds of early Pink Floyd. The guitar interplays with excellent production to create a sense of longing. Next...

Words by Anselm Anderson Ghost Dance Collective are a band this blog first covered during the summer as part of a compilation for NHS workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read     I was instantly struck by their ability to intertwine beautiful harmonies with experimental instrumentation. And now they have finally released an EP, entitled "Getting BY" four songs of oddities and rarities that may feature in the future. The band's unique blend of Psychedelia and folk combine to create a sense of harmony and art to lift a few moods this winter. Getting By is the self-titled opener is an enchanting start with a 60's vibe. Soothing vocals play over multi-layered melodies. The warm timbre was matched by the tender keyboards. Rainy Night in Tolix is an acoustic track adequate for this time of year. Those aforementioned harmonies easily fit into intricate guitar patterns. A song that certainly warms up the cobbles. Next up is an alternate mix of Clouds  a ps...