AEONIAN DOG "2012AD"

SELF RELEASED (2012) - ALBUM Review

If you like your classic rock riffs and driving rhythms combined with an often catchy, melodic chorus and plenty of tongue-in-cheek, then look no further than Herefordshire’s Aeonian Dog (pronounced ee-oh-nee-un). This is unrefined and dirty, hard ’n heavy rock ‘n roll. It’s a sound that embodies the carefree, fun-time American hard rock attitude of the 80’s and mixes it with the less showy, grittier, solid restrain of classic British rock... (more)

iBURN "iBurn"

SELF RELEASED (2010) - ALBUM Review

A thousand elephants rumble over the horizon, the ground shakes violently as iBurn drowned out the large mammal's pathetic effort to get noticed. The crushing riffs of bass heavy, downtuned metal combines with the tuneful singing, gravely roars and a sprinkling of rap influence. Reminiscent of a stripped down and re-energised Korn and carrying a pronounced signature from producer Kallaghan (Sikh), anyone listening to this band had better get themselves firmly strapped in... (more)

THE ELECTRIC BLUES REACTION "Ain't No Hidin' From The Blues"

SELF RELEASED (2009) - ALBUM Review

Winning the prize for being one of the UK’s best kept secrets, this skilful three-piece blues rock band has somehow remained undiscovered outside of their native homeland along the Herefordshire border with Wales. Taking their inspiration from blues legends like Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Otis Spann and Freddy King, the band reintroduce you to an evocative and familiar sound yet it’s one that’s injected with passion, modernism and served as raw as a blue steak... (more)

THE RADIATOR,  THE HYSTERICAL INJURY and  FETUS CHRIST

The Victory, Hereford, England - LIVE Review

What’s looking like a irregularly reoccurring event is the Friday night gigs at the Victory in Hereford presented by The Groove Merchants – this time showcasing four bands for the entrance fee of just £2.  Tonight the night opened with a band made up of two members of local band Eaglebeef plus a couple of others.  They called themselves the PHAT JAM ALL STARS and took us through a short set of improvised blues based songs, including a few covers. It was all a bit rough and ready and maybe seemed a little like watching them practice, but it did have the odd moment of magic and more than anything showed great enthusiasm and spirit... (more)

ADMIRAL ANGRY “Buster”

SHELSMUSIC (2009) - ALBUM Review

Be prepared to have your conceptions of a musical style recalibrated. These guys take everything you have ever experienced and push it past the end of the scale; they bludgeon any forgone judgments into a state of incredulity and leave you twitching in abhorrent disbelief. Be warned, when you muster up enough courage to listen to this you will never be quite the same again.... (more)

ALL HAIL THE RUIN “Vultures”

GLASSTONE RECORDS (2009) - digital only - EP Review

There are many exciting bands around the UK currently playing a more technical form of metalcore and All Hail The Ruin who are based around the Birmingham/Solihull area are laying claim to their space on every discerning fans playlist. This recording is a follow-up to their debut EP "A Theme For Murder", however this time it has only been released in digital form (downloadable from itunes, etc) and so sadly there’s no artwork (a consequential casualty of this media format)... (more)

BROTHERHOOD OF THE LAKE “Brotherhood Of The Lake" EP

GLASSTONE RECORDS (2009) - EP Review

Plymouth based band Brotherhood Of The Lake have been together since 2006 and sound as tight as fuck, yet astoundingly this recording is their debut - you’ll find it incredible to believe. It’s further enhanced by the trusted technical abilities of It Bites’ John Mitchell (Enter Shikari, Architects), with independent industry backing from the excellent Glasstone Records and released in a tidy gatefold sleeve... (more)

TALONS "Buff Orpington Demo"

SELF RELEASED (2009) - DEMO Review

Talons are experimental Post-Rock instrumentalists from Hereford. They spent some time previously as Kites but after significant personnel shuffling and once the line-up had settled, it was time to become Talons... (more)