Rockstar Reviewer

  Words by Anselm Anderson The blog continues to discover incredible new bands on British shores, and none are more impressive than the latest LP from the Welsh blues rock trio, Cry For Mercy. The band is set to release "This Machine" on Friday, April 4th. Cry For Mercy also self-funded this 12-track album on their path to recognition. The release showcases the drive and determination of the group through raw emotion and thought-provoking storytelling. They have been described as "Classic 70's fused blues rock" with a modern sound. I  agree with that sentiment as the trio blend soul, blues, and 70s rock with a strong guitar-driven edge. Their warm and compelling vocals are soulful and evoke comparisons to Paul Rodgers and David Coverdale. Formed in 2008, the trio consisting of vocalist Kev Plant, his son and drummer Aled, and guitarist Andy Cutty has emerged as a significant force in the UK underground rock scene. They have captivated audiences with their live...

  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 The French rock group Last Temptation has returned with a new sound and lineup. In their latest album, "Heart Starter," they transition from their grunge rock guitar roots to a more traditional modern rock style. Lead by the talented guitarist Peter Scheithauer, Last Temptation has had a makeover with the addition of charismatic vocalist Loup Malevi, ex-Annihilator drummer Fabio Alessandri and long-time touring partner, bassist Franz OA Wise, Last Temptation delivers a fresh new approach to their music. "Heart Starter" is a commercial rock album in the guise of eighties rock acts like Van Halen and Aerosmith, emphasising groove-orientated riffs and huge choruses to reach a new audience, as they evolve as a unit. They recently made inroads with an appearance at Hellfest!, and supporting German Rock icons Scorpions on tour. The French band hopes to capitalise on that success with a new album, hoping to gain a bigger following from a main...

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 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...

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 ...

  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...

  The Rambling Man's playlist returns with a look at the best tracks from the past few weeks. This week's playlist features tracks from Moggs Motel and The Dead Daisies, which the blog recently reviewed. Also, there are great tracks from British artists like DeadLetter and Crooked Revival, plus country songs by Lour Ridley and Jenna De Vries. Click below to listen to the player. Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following  https://follow.it/anselm-s-rambling-man-s-reviews?pub Copyright: Anselm Anderson ©

 Words by Anselm Anderson Rock Trio Krooked Tongue returned last week with their latest single "Nothing Ever Grows", an ode to the tortured artist with a lack of creative bliss. The band first entered the rock sphere with its debut EP " No Vacancy Hotel" in 2022, before following up with last year's "Deathproof". The feedback and extensive coverage of these two previous releases have heightened the band's profile, which concluded with August's tour in support of Kid Brunswick  on his Dead Forever UK Tour. "Nothing Ever Grows" was recorded and produced by Josh Gallop at Stage 2 Studios in their hometown of Bristol, England. The song blends grungy riffs with energetic, distorted vocals, I feel the track is influenced by bands like Muse and Royal Blood. The track begins with energetic, dissonant electric guitar chords followed by sombre vocals. The rhythms create tension over a frenetic, jagged grunge sound, while the uplifting, melodic...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Singer/songwriter Thadeus Gonzalez recently released his fourth album Street Fights Are Starting to Hurt. The artist is a critically acclaimed genre-defying artist with an album about the human complexities and emotional conflicts experienced through life. Gonzalez hails from Oakland, California in The States, and has built his reputation on his subject matters, emotional songwriting and exploration of several genres such as folk, punk, blues and soul. 'Street Fights..' is another album that examines these genres through poignancy and raw emotion. Precision and dynamism bring each track to life to create a touching release of ten pop-tinged, rock tracks. All tracks are recorded, engineered, produced and mastered by Kyle Homme.   Tim Narducci  offers additional production values to the album. The anthemic "Street Fights" kicks off the release with its upbeat riffs, catchy chorus, and a blend of pop sensibilities and soft rock. This song sets...

WORDS BY ANSELM  Upcoming British Rockers The Black Vultures return with a follow-up song to last year’s “Treat Me Like An Animal”. I remember being fond of the track so was excited to receive this. “Never Say” is released this Friday, February 2nd and is a more blues-infused addition to the heavier first track. If you are unaware of The Black Vultures, please let me indulge you. Hailing from the Welsh Valleys, they are described as “an energetic four-piece”. The band had a great 2023 with the release of the popular “Treat Me Like An Animal” achieving critical acclaim and extensive airplay. ( You can find the review below). They aim to grow their fanbase with more gigs across Wales and the UK. They play guitar-driven rock with a blues influence and their songs focus on personal encounters and emotions. “Never Say” is no exception to this rule—the track centres around the topic of ending a relationship on amicable turns. The track’s silky blues riff and well-timed rhythms remind m...

  Words by Anselm Cambridge is best known in England for boat races and universities but you can now add The Treatment to that list. The quintet returns with their highly-anticipated sixth studio effort entitled Wake Up the Neighbourhood  via Frontiers Music SRL. I have been a fan of this group for a while, ever since the release of their album 'Power Crazy' in 2019. They are part of the NWOCR genre, which includes other bands such as Thundermother, Massive Wagons, The Lazys, and many more. These bands typically produce defiant and anthemic rock tracks with influences from legendary bands like AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, and Led Zeppelin. If you're familiar with this genre, you can expect more of the same from The Treatment's newest release. The group was formed in 2008 and has released five albums so far. Their debut album 'Running With the Dogs' in 2014 served as a prelude to their future music. They have cited Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy , and AC/DC as their influences...

  WORDS BY ANSELM One of the best things about writing reviews is you get to cover your favourite artists. Ian Hunter has been one of my favourite vocalists for the past decade, ever since I discovered Mott The Hoople. 'Defiance: Part Two-Fiction' is released today (April 19th) via Sun Records. This is the follow-up to last year's much appreciated ' Defiance: Part One ', which features the usual plethora of distinguished guests from the world of rock. The guest list runs like a who's who of the music industry with notable names including such close friends and lifelong fans as Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, and Tom Petersson (members of Cheap Trick), Brian May (Queen), Lucinda Williams, Dean DeLeo, Robert De Leo, & Eric Kretz (Stone Temple Pilots), Joe Elliott and Phil Collen (Def Leppard), Johnny Depp, Billy Bob Thornton and J.D. Andrew (The Boxmasters), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan), Waddy Wachtel (Stevie Nicks, Jackson Browne),...

Canadian Alt-Rock Act Digital Opium released the highly addictive “Make Ya’ Dance” last December. The track is the debut of the newly formed band from London, Ontario, Canada. The song is written to get you in the groove and to start those hips swinging. The band, led by the bluesy vocals of Craig Jamieson, are known for their “infectious melodies and energetic performances”. They had full creative control over “Make Ya’ Dance”, making the song even more enjoyable. The band cite The Black Keys and The Beatles as influences. I can understand how these bands have had an impact on their music. The groovy guitar play and soft vocal melodies remind me of these bands once upon a time. The track makes me feel Digital Opium aim to break into the mainstream. As for the single, The band wrote this with a strong desire for people to enjoy it. I think they would be proud of the final product. The production is sharp and clear enough to listen to the instruments and vocals to be heard. “Make Ya’ D...

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...