SOTO announced European tour dates
CD review JORN ‘Live on Death Road’
(*/10) Jorn Lande celebrated his 50th birthday in 2018 and the singer released a 12 album box the same year also. Last but not least it was a show he played in 2018, which was another special 12 month ago. Jorn headlined the Frontiers Rock Festival in Milano in April 2018 and this live album... Continue Reading →
CD review TIMO TOLKKI’S AVALON ‘Return to Eden’
(8/10) It took a while until fans of Timo Tolkki's Avalon can welcome the newest album. 'The Land of new Hope' was unveiled in 2013 and already one year later it was 'Angels of the Apocalypse' that marked a second step. Part three of the Metal Opera took a bit longer though. Unfortunately things didn't... Continue Reading →
CD review AXEL RUDI PELL ‘XXX Anniversary Live’
(*/10) Although Axel Rudi Pell's debut 'Wild Obsession' belongs to the highlights in German metal, it wasn't a given at the time that 30 years later we still can enjoy the powerful riffs of the the blonde guitarist from the Ruhrgebiet. Axel Rudi Pell became a very constant factor in a fast changing world. His... Continue Reading →
CD review NIGHTQUEEN ‘Seduction’
(7/10) Nightqueen from Genk, Belgium is a new member on El Puerto Records' roster. 'Seduction' is decisive third longplayer of the sextet from the Benelux and features twelve songs that are rooted on Power Metal. Nightqueen is the brainchild of guitarist Rex Zeco who founded the band in the early 2000s. What started as a... Continue Reading →
CD review BONFIRE ‘Live on Holy Ground – Wacken 2018’
(*/10) German melodic metallers Bonfire have a next live album right in the starting blocks. It’s certainly not the first live album the guys from Bavaria releases and it might not be the last one either. However, it’s the first one that captures a show the band played at the legendary Wacken festival. Bonfire performed... Continue Reading →
CD review PRETTY WILD ‘Interstate 13’
(7/10) 'Interstate 13', that's Pretty Wild's new album. It's their third record and with releasing it this May, a five years wait comes to an end. It was in 2014 when the sophomore longplayer 'Pretty Wild' saw the light of the day and it's 'Interstate 13' that picks it up where the band ended off... Continue Reading →
CD review SOTO ‘Origami’
(9/10) 'Origami', that's the title of Jeff Scott Soto's newest album. Origami, the traditional Chinese paper folding technique demands passion, dexterity and creativity, something Soto's newest album reflects too and in that sense the title couldn't have been chosen much better. Jeff Scott Soto is a restless mind when it comes to music. Sons Of... Continue Reading →
CD review DOGFACE “From the End to the Beginning’
(*/10) Dogface is/was the deliverer of great Hard Rock records without having had the chance to enjoy a big break-through. The band premiered two decades ago after having found with Mats Leven an excellent frontman. With having Leven on board things gained speed, which unfortunately didn't last for too long. A sophomore album has been... Continue Reading →
CD review STORMHAMMER ‘Seven Seals’
(7/10) 'Seven Seals' is Stormhammer's 7th album and it comes with 11 songs. That's the numbers part and now let's have a look into the musical offer. 'Seven Seal' is thematically built on the myth of the Sri-Padmanabhaswamy temple in India and the unopened chamber that's protected by seals. This is the lyrical concept and... Continue Reading →
Live photo report BATTLE BEAST & ARION, Gebr. de Nobel, Leiden – 01.05.2019
Finish bombast metal powerhouse Battle Beast is on the road, playing a tour that leads them through Europe and the UK. One of the shows takes place at Gebr. de Nobel in Leiden, The Netherlands on May 1st. Labour Day is a bank holiday in many countries but not in Holland and also not for... Continue Reading →
Live report VICIOUS RUMORS / AIR RAID / MAGISTARIUM, Gebr. de Nobel, Leiden – 18.04.2019
Power Metal legends Vicious Rumors released with ‚Digital Dictator‘ a milestone album with songs that are still as relevant as they were in 1988 when the sophomore longplayer saw the light of day. Inspired by the 30th anniversary of the album, Vicious Rumors embarked on a tour which includes the entire album as first set... Continue Reading →
CD review ENFORCER ‘Zenith’
(8/10) It's not new era Swedish metallers Enforcer are heading towards, but the new album is a significant change compared to what the guys released previously to 'Zenith'. If you listened to the first single release of the new longplayer you noticed changes. 'Die For the Devil' is throwing a lot of 80's Sunset Stripe... Continue Reading →
CD review ASTRAL DOORS ‘Worship or Die’
(8/10) What comes to your mind if you read about Astral Doors? I guess it's Dio, Black Sabbath and more traditional heavy metal. Frontman Nils Patrik Johansson was often compared with the legendary Ronnie James Dio and the voice do have similarities. However, Astral Doors is more than a clone of the iconic frontman and... Continue Reading →
BEYOND THE BLACK’s Jennifer Haben joins ‘Sing Mein Song’
One thing's certain, marketing activities for Beyond The Black are extremely professional. The band of Jennifer Haben could celebrate some success and chart entries with each of their longplayers. Catchy songs and a professional promotion have been the key to success with 'Heart of the Hurricane' scoring a top 10 position. It's the latest longplayer... Continue Reading →
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