hutchie224RockMetal&Roll

Let’s get straight to it. This is crossover thrash done with as little fuss as possible. A blasting four songs that bludgeon and smash the skull. There’s nothing remotely new about this but to be honest, this is genre where originality is not the key issue. It’s driving power, aggression and energy, and Leeds outfit Sidewinder bring it in spades.  Four tracks from a band only just over a year into their journey, and they have smashed it with four slabs of bruising crossover. It’s fast, frenetic, and oh so punishing. From opener Two Zero One which hits like a hammer, the addictive groove of the title track, or the ferocity of From Beneath They Shall Rise , it’s addictive stuff.  There’s a decent bit of dive-bombing guitar work, whilst the engine room is tight and focused. It also has a decent production which ensures that things are clear in the ears. Yes, the raw energy is here, but ain’t nothing wrong with a crispy bit of clarity.  Vocalist Damo sits in the right ballpa...

With their roots deep in the 1970s, Germans Bonfire are an institution whose discography stretches back way beyond the debut Bonfire album Don’t Touch the Light. But let’s not dwell on the past, for it’s the latest album Higher Ground that grabs the attention now and it’s with both hands that Hans Ziller and his band do indeed grasp it. 11 tracks spread over 45-minutes sees the band in prime form.  There are thick riffs that should please those who like their rock with big noise, whilst the band haven’t let their trademark melodies slip for one minute. It’s a glorious combination of melody and hard rock driven forward by the band’s founder member Hans Ziller, who at 66 is still cranking out memorable tunes that linger long in the memory. This is the first album to feature new singer Dyan Mair and drummer Fabio Alessandrini, the latter having a list of bands he’s featured in which is longer than your arm. Alongside these are bassist Ronnie Parkes and guitarist Frank Pané, both wi...

‘ Marching In Time is a vibrant, powerful record which demonstrates not only the guitar excellence of Tremonti, or the power of his skilful band, but his ability to write a song that lingers long in the memory’. Words I wrote back in 2021 when the fifth album from the Grammy award winning guitarist arrived.  It’s fair to say that I rarely listen to Mark Tremonti or his other bands, although I have a sneaking admiration for the first two Alter Bridge albums. However, whenever he releases new music, it’s always a joy to spend time with the release. In the main, that’s because his unstoppable drive isn’t blighted by a lack of quality. Live, the man and his team are a powerful proposition, and here, on album number six, we have another album that is sure to make further ripples in the hard rock pool.  One of the things I always like about a Tremonti release is the riff heavy nature of the songs. Yes, he retains the glorious melodies that are a trademark of his entire career (19 a...

There are few bands who wear the progressive badge with more passion and pride than Riverside. Formed in 2001, the Polish outfit is without doubt a must-see band when they pass anywhere near me. Live ID captures them in their full majesty at COS Torwar in Warsaw on June 1st, 2024, on the tour to promote the 2023 album I.D. Entity . I was fortunate enough to see the band in Bristol mere days before this recording and it resonates deeply. If you caught the band on this tour, then you’ll be aware that they were in great spirits.  The cloud that had shrouded their movements for the past few years since the passing of Piotr Grudziński in 2016 Has lifted, the band has moved forward, and with the release of I.D. Entity, Riverside released a career defining album. Listening to this live release takes me right back to SWX on that May night, although this is obviously recorded in their homeland. It’s a definitive recording of a band in their prime.  Up front is the lynchpin of the ba...

When the band name is a combination of Sarcófago and Kreator, you know that you aren’t in for an easy ride. Thus, the third album by Swedes Sarcator promises much. And it delivers with a ferocity that is difficult to label. “If anyone has ever wondered how our intensity playing live would sound captured on a record, this is the one, ” states singer/guitarist Mateo Tervonen. “There is no question that it’s our most intense, brutal and rawest creation yet, so those who enjoy those elements of our sound will not be disappointed! We worked a lot on the dynamics, so we are sure that this album will have something for everyone. It's not really a genre album and we like to keep it that way”.  Opening track Burning Choir is the soundtrack to chaos, all delivered with the sound of a band who are veering rapidly out of control. This is what a car crash sounds like. Roaring, vitriolic vocals, savage riffs and maniacal drumming. All delivered in a maelstrom of blackened thrash that is unrelen...

It’s become something of a tradition in recent years for January to feature a new album by Magnum. Their last four studio albums have all arrived in the first month of the year. This one, like 2024’s Here Comes the Rain , is tinged with sadness. Of course, we all know that five days before that album arrived, the band’s founding member, sole composer and songwriter Tony Clarkin passed away. Live at KK’s Steel Mill sees the band in imperious form. Recorded on 10th December 2022 at the end of their European tour promoting The Monster Roars, it’s an album that is in many ways a fitting tribute to a man who was the life and soul of the band.  A solid performance highlighting because, even in their twilight years, Clarkin and co-founder Bob Catley, along with drummer Lee Morris, keyboard player Rick Benton and bassist Dennis Ward, were so well regarded. In fact, as a band, Magnum were filling bigger venues than they had for decades at the time of Clarkin’s death. Whether that is in par...