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The Western Front 'Eureka' album review: A lost classic finally sees the light of day
Some albums arrive right on time. Others have to wait over forty years to finally be heard. Eureka, the long-lost debut from The Western Front, falls firmly into the latter category, and thankfully it's been worth the wait. Originally recorded between 1983 and 1984, the album captures everything that made melodic rock so exciting during that era. It was set for release through Atlantic Records before label upheaval saw the project shelved. Four decades later, it's finally get


Deep Purple 'Splat!' album review: Classic Purple, new twists
SPLAT! proves that Deep Purple have no intention of slowing down. Rather than simply revisiting past glories, the band continue to push themselves creatively, delivering an album that feels both classic and refreshingly modern. While the songs explore themes of transformation, mortality and the future of humanity, they never lose the sense of fun and musical adventure that has always made Deep Purple unique. Opening track Arrogant Boy has the same relentless bite and drive as


Rolling Stones 'Foreign Tongues' album review: No nostalgia here - Foreign Tongues shows the Stones still mean business
With Foreign Tongues, The Rolling Stones have achieved something few bands could ever hope for this late in their career: they have delivered an album that feels fresh, inspired and unmistakably like themselves. Critics have been unanimous in their praise, with Rolling Stone suggesting it could be a fitting final chapter to their legendary career, while The Guardian and Uncut have hailed it as some of the band's strongest work in decades. Listening to the album, it's easy to


Madonna Confessions II album review: More than twenty years after reinventing the dancefloor, Madonna returns with an album that isn't interested in reliving the past, but finally making peace with it
Back in 2005, Confessions on a Dance Floor was groundbreaking. Madonna embraced '70s disco at a time when dance music wasn't dominating the charts, teaming up with then-rising British producer Stuart Price in his London flat to create one of the defining pop albums of the decade. More than twenty years later, the pair reunite for Confessions II, but this isn't an attempt to recreate lightning in a bottle. It's a very different album from a very different era, built not on nos


When Rivers Meet 'Rhythm, Rust & Static' album review: Less polished, more daring. When Rivers Meet embrace experimentation without losing their identity.
After the bigger, shinier production of Addicted To You, Rhythm, Rust & Static feels like When Rivers Meet kicking open the studio door, dragging the amps into a dusty warehouse and seeing what happens. It's rawer, heavier and, perhaps most importantly, more adventurous. The opening couple of tracks don't quite hint at where the album is heading. 'The Tide Is Turning' plays things relatively safe, delivering everything fans have come to expect: gritty riffs, walls of fuzz and


Hollie Rogers 'Everything’s Fine' review: Nothing’s Fine. Everything’s Fine. Hollie Rogers Gets It.
After her acclaimed album Criminal Heart, Hollie Rogers returns with a record that treats the daily grind with vignettes of fantasy, hope and humour. Album opener ‘Bad Woman’ arrives on deliciously dark chords before exploding into a snazzy, jazzy chorus — sexy, energetic, and delivered with the kind of witty turn of phrase that has been Rogers’ calling card across more than a decade of independent music-making. Rogers is a proud independent artist, and it shows — not in any


Evanescence 'Sanctuary' album review: 'Sanctuary' earns its place in Evanescence’s catalogue not by repeating history, but by having the confidence to continue it.
There are bands that evolve by reinventing themselves, and there are bands that evolve by delving deeper into what they already are. With Sanctuary, Evanescence firmly belong to the latter camp—and the result is one of the most compelling records of their career. From the opening moments of "Who Will You Follow", dark strings and haunting synths announce themselves with quiet authority, layered beneath ethereal harmonies that feel both familiar and newly purposeful. This is n


Ayreon 30th Anniversary live album review: Welcome aboard Ayreon’s amazing flight through time
Welcome aboard Ayreon’s amazing flight through time! In September 2025, Tilburg in the Netherlands was once again transformed into Ayreon City, as six spectacular shows took over the 013 venue along with Ayreonauts from around the world to celebrate 30 years of Ayreon. For one unforgettable week, Tilburg lived and breathed Ayreon. The city center became a playground of Ayreon beer and themed dinners, streets flying Ayreon flags, Ayreon Camping, Ayreon Karaoke and legions of f


Robben Ford 'Two Shades of Blue' album review: From tribute to transformation - Robben Ford’s 'Two Shades of Blue' is a testament to musical evolution
Ever-evolving and shapeshifting, with no two albums sounding the same, the latest release from Robben Ford is a slick, sophisticated slide into the blues. His first solo album in five years, it was originally planned as a tribute to Jeff Beck. But things took an interesting turn. Time spent developing his own Guitar Dojo gave Ford the space to dig deeper into his instrument, reinvigorating both his playing and musicianship. Armed with a Stratocaster and a custom pedalboard fr


Tyketto 'Closer to the Sun' album review: Windows Down, Volume Up Tyketto deliver old-school rock
New York rockers Tyketto return with their sixth album, 'Closer To The Sun' a blast of floor-stomping, retro-flavoured rock that feels as lively as ever. No fuss, no overthinking, just big riffs, bigger choruses, and a band clearly still loving every minute of it. This isn’t just a nostalgia trip; it’s loud, hooky, and built for blasting with the windows down. 'Higher Than High' opens with a bluesy, 70s swagger straight out of the Deep Purple playbook, while 'Starts with a Fe


“With a Little Help From My Friends" A Tribute to Matt Long album review: The Blues Community celebrates the songs of Matt Long.
"With a Little Help from My Friends" is more than a tribute album. It’s a celebration of the songs and spirit of Matt Long, brought to life by the musicians who knew him, played alongside him, and were inspired by his work. Long, the guitarist, singer and songwriter behind Catfish, passed away in 2024 after an 18-month battle with bowel cancer. He was only 29, but in that short time, he built a formidable reputation on the UK blues circuit, winning Instrumentalist of the Year


Wille and the Bandits 'Salt Roots' album review: "Roots-rock with weight, purpose and plenty of Cornish soul"
Wille and the Bandits return with 'Salt Roots', a record that plays straight to their strengths: Big, weighty riffs that hit like a rogue wave in Mount’s Bay . And don't forget that unmistakable slide guitar. It’s beefy roots-rock with an emotional pull, but it’s a record that feels purposeful and beautifully rough-edged Opener ‘Wheal Jane’ is a claustrophobic blast inspired by Cornwall’s tin mines. It growls and smoulders, with a slide guitar that cries like metal under str
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