Dee Snider For the Love of Metal Review

Dee Snider has created with the help of modern metals finest, has made one of the best metal records I’ve heard in a long time. For the Love of Metal is a statement, age doesn’t matter talent does. From the opening track “Lies Are a Business” is relentless, heavy, fast paced and powerful. Songs like “Tomorrows No Concern” fit Dee’s voice like a glove, Nicky Bellmore and company brought their A game for this record and nothing less. “I am the Hurricane” is epic and cements the album as a solid metal record; the songs structure is perfectly spaced for Dee’s vocals to roar within a balance of heaviness and grandeur. “I’m ready” features a great middle guitar solos from Joey Concepcion and Nicky Bellmore; so tasty. “Become the Storm” the single of the record, was a great taster for the album. “The Hardest Way” is a great meeting of the old and new guard of metal. “Dead Hearts (Love Thy Enemy)” is an acoustic departure from the heaviness, excellent vocals courtesy of Alissa White Gluz from Arch Enemy. Alissa and Dee’s vocals mix well together. “For the Love of Metal” is easily one of the best metal records I have heard in years. It single handily rekindled my love of metal that had been jaded for so many years. A big thank you to Dee and crew for creating the best metal record of the decade.

Black Cat Bone Get Your Kicks Sessions Review

I was walking along Princess Street huddling into a doorway to avoid the consuming undead when I heard a guitarist playing in the street; he could really play. I noticed he had some CD’s for sale I then thought; why not? I discovered it was a CD of a band Black Cat Bone; a smoky pulsing blues rock act. The Get Your Kicks Sessions is a heavy organic EP. “Morning Light” is when Howlin’ Wolf meets Danzig, its hypnotic pounding driving beat sounds like it was recorded in the early hours of the morning after a few beers to get the feel just right. “Get Your Kicks” has a smoked dusk feel, building to an internal gutsy explosion, the soundtrack to a rusted sun rise. “Bullet” is blues-rock riffage that continues into “Love My Baby” homage to Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble; head cutting blues guitar all round. “Hip Shake” A very catchy song, that is somewhat shamanic, the music puts you into a primal trance. Black Cat Bone makes music for the nighthawks of society.

Stuart Ritchie

Of One Blood Eyes of the Betrayer Review

Of One Blood’s new single Eyes of the Betrayer is curb stomping metal with a shade of early Killswitch Engage in its DNA. Betrayer conjures up the chaos of the mosh pit; the last time I was there a juggernaut slammed me six foot and they were various females biting people. Judging by the aggression of the song, the pit is like now the equivalent of Mad Max. This music is most suited to these increasingly volatile angry times and various other increasing modern problems. At least Of One Blood channel the anger into the music and not stuff that hurts people. Eyes of the Betrayer is a pounding and relentless track. A good start, crack up the intensity.

Stuart Ritchie

Amy Lou Star Wars Tattoo and Other Stories EP Review

Amy Lou is one of the most interesting songwriters I have heard. While everyone is playing follow leader, she proudly marches to the beat of her own drum. Her EP Star Wars Tattoo and Other Stories is condensed goodness. An offbeat hybrid of country and folk music, Amy Lou paints a colourful but real picture of what it’s like to be an outsider in a changing world. Star Wars Tattoo is a strong opener with a short but sweet guitar solo. She Wants to Be a Marine Biologist is just Amy Lou and an acoustic guitar proving without other instruments her songs can stand up on their own. The tracks Chania Twayne, The Girl from Dundee and Drunk Snog have a honesty and purity about them that is missing altogether from modern music. Keep writing more Amy Lou.

Guy Davis and Brook Williams Tolbooth Gig Review November 18th 2016

Guy Davis and Brook Williams is a tasty slice of Americana, tingling with the earthy electricity of delta blues. Guy Davis has a good repartee with the audience; joking his harmonica holder was made from his sister’s retainer, causing her to have buckteeth. 

Standout tracks from Guy’s set were ‘Taking Just a Little Bit of Time’ a casual leisurely-paced acoustic song. ‘My Eyes Keep Me in Trouble’ is a good cover of a classic Muddy Waters song. While ‘Sugar-Belly’ is an original song that Guy hasn’t yet recorded; about a poor girl who, due to circumstances beyond her control, is forced into prostitution and is subsequently murdered by a jealous lover. ‘I Wish I Hadn’t Stayed Away So Long’, written about his mother’s death while he was on tour, is by far the saddest song to be played, this evening. The chorus has a great lyric, ‘Bell rang on the midnight train, carrying the hobos home, I Wish I Hadn’t Stayed Away So Long’. 

Guy’s set finished with ‘Did You See My Baby’, a song featuring him on harmonica; which he dedicated to the late, great blues-man, Sonny Terry – my first experience of genuine virtuoso harmonica playing.   

Brook Williams’ set was excellent; he is a great slide guitar player. His cover of ‘Georgia on My Mind’ was truly moving. Brook was playing a cigar box shaped guitar, which sounded like angry bees. At the close of his set, Brooks finished with Guy joining him on stage, to play a few songs together; displaying an electric chemistry. I would easily recommend seeing both performers; Guy is a wonderful storyteller and Delta blues player. Brooks is a fantastic slide guitarist. Both of them delivered the purest of blues – unaccompanied, unashamed, and without a safety net.

Stuart Ritchie

Yuan Mekong Dead Channel Review

Dead Channel by Yuan Mekong is an album for the oddities among us. The opener “This is the Future of Murder” is a rough visceral electronic song.  It sounds like it is recorded with old rusted electronic instruments, with leaking corrosive batteries; they are old and broken, but have an altered sound. The music can be perceived as horror film music or the soundtrack to a grim dystopia. “Hexbox” for example with its subterranean subway theme, is music to make you paranoid in this overwhelming digital age. “The Last Rave Feat H.M” lifts the mood a bit, cyberpunk noir with fuzzy synth beats. One of the highlights is “We Only Take it For the Comedown” the musical equivalent of being in Cumbernauld after an Ecstasy trip in the neglected concrete labyrinth. Overall, Dead Channel is very experimental, for those who want bit of strange dissonance in their lives and music it’s three-album choices. Dead Channel, Silent Hill 2 Soundtrack, or “the Complete Works of Edgar Varese.”  Take your pick.

Stuart Ritchie