Review: Gabrielle De Val – Time To Die EP Pride & Joy Music (February 6th, 2026) Reviewer – Jason Hopper I was not familiar with Gabrielle De Val before I came across her excellent cover of Magnum’s ‘Midnight (You Won’t Be Sleeping)‘ in 2024. I then checked out her solo debut album and found some […]
Review: Mason – Seconds to Impact Eonian Records (September 1st 2025) Reviewer – Jason Hopper The band Mason are back with their sophomore release Seconds to Impact. I had heard positive word of mouth regarding their debut, but had not heard any tracks. Prior to this review, I checked out their first single, ‘All I […]
Review: Wild Rose – Too Dangerous Lion’s Pride Music (August 29th 2025) Reviewer: Jason Hopper The AOR-based band Wild Rose has recently delved into their back catalog to re-release their first two albums. Their debut, ‘Half Past Midnight‘, was re-recorded, remixed, and remastered. It featured two bonus tracks and was released in 2018. With high […]
Review: First Light – Elemental Pride & Joy Music (July 25th 2025) Reviewer – Chris O’Connor If you love polished AOR, then ‘Elemental’ should be right at the top of your shopping list. At first listen, I was convinced the band had to be Scandinavian – but to my surprise, First Light is built around […]
Long time former ASIA front man John Payne (1990 to 2006), and from 2006 to present, the lead vocalist of ASIA featuring John Payne, would like to welcome guitarist and singer Francis Dunnery to the band. Francis’ pedigree spans from fronting the mighty It Bites, to recording and touring with Robert Plant. He has collaborated […]
Review: Alien – When Yesterday Comes Around Pride & Joy Music (March 21st, 2025) Reviewer: Chris O’Connor Sweden’s Alien has long stood as one of the finest torchbearers of AOR, delivering anthemic, emotionally charged melodic rock with unwavering finesse. With ‘When Yesterday Comes Around’, the band proves once again why they are revered within the […]
Review: Captain Black Beard – Chasing Danger Mighty Music (April 4th, 2025) Reviewer: Jason Hopper Captain Black Beard has returned, having found themselves at a crossroads recently when the thought of disbanding was on the table after vocalist Martin Holsner left in 2023 following two of their most successful albums. As luck would have it, […]
Review: H.E.A.T, Art Nation, Chez Kane Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (January 29th, 2025) Reviewer / Photographer: Dan Mann With a three band bill there was a decent crowd wedged into Nottingham’s Rescue Rooms to watch some Scandi rock, with a side order of British! First to take to the stage was Chez Kane and her band. […]
Review: The Night Flight Orchestra – Give Us The Moon Napalm Records Handels GmbH (January 31st 2025) Reviewer: Chris O’Connor “The time has come,” the Walrus said, “to talk of many things.” This well-known quote from Lewis Carroll’s ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’ perfectly encapsulates my thoughts as I reflect on what The Night Flight […]
Review: Nightblaze – Nightblaze Art Of Melody Music/Burning Minds Music Group (March 22nd 2024) Reviewer: Jason Hopper The Italian based band Nightblaze is the brainchild of composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Dario Grillo, who handles guitars and keyboards in the band. Starting in 2021, he pulled together a bunch of musicians who also shared his vision […]
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