It doesn’t really seem to matter who is in Accept, everyone knows what they need to do, and off we go with another album. VIAC Accept – Too Mean To Die (2021) Accept – Too Mean To Die (2021)
Too Mean To Die
Heavy Metal
Nuclear Blast Records
2021
CD
11
I clearly remember hearing the debut Unruly Child album nearly 30 years ago and being blown away by their style of melodic hard rock which not only was catchy with great vocals but also kept a definite edge which prevented it from disappearing in a great pile of sugar. VIAC Unruly Child – Our Glass House (2020) Unruly Child – Our Glass House (2020)
Our Glass House
Hard Rock, AOR
Frontiers Music SRL
2020
CD
12
Trevor Bolder was the bass player in Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Wishbone Ash and Uriah Heep, but passed away in 2013. VIAC Trevor Bolder – Sail The Rivers (2020) Trevor Bolder – Sail The Rivers (2020)
Sail The Rivers
Hard Rock
Bolder Records
2020
CD
10
This is one of those reviews which is even more pointless than normal, as if you are a fan of Nirvana then this is an essential purchase, and if not then whatever I say will not convince you to go out and buy a 6-LP set. VIAC Nirvana – Songlife (1967-1972) Nirvana – Songlife (1967-1972)
Songlife
Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock, Folk Rock
Madfish
2021
Box Set - 6xLP
10x12x10x2x9x13
It has been three years since The Valley Of Tears – The Ballads, a compilation that focused on their quiet, more otherworldly and dreamy side, and now they are back with a companion release which focuses on the harder side. VIAC Magnum – Dance Of The Black Tattoo (2021) Magnum – Dance Of The Black Tattoo (2021)
Dance Of The Black Tattoo
Hard Rock, AOR
SPV / Steamhammer
2021
CD
14
Recorded in 1969, this was originally planned to be the third album for The Gods, before being released as being by Head Machine. The Gods were an important band in the late Sixties, less for their releases but who went through their ranks. VIAC Head Machine – Orgasm (1970) Head Machine – Orgasm (1970)
Orgasm
Hard Rock, Prog Rock
Major Minor
1970
LP
7
CD Aurora – AUCD5029 /UK, 2013/
The Flower Kings are back with their second album since their break, which saw long-time keyboard player Tomas Bodin no longer in the band. These days the line-up is Roine Stolt vocals, ukulele, guitars, additional keyboards and Hasse Fröberg (vocals, acoustic guitar), who has also been there since the beginning, bassist Jonas Reingold, who has now celebrated 20 years in the role, plus the new guys, Zach Kamins (keyboards) and Mirko DeMaio (drums). VIAC The Flower Kings – Islands (2020) The Flower Kings – Islands (2020)
Islands
Prog Rock
Inside Out Music
2020
2xCD
21
The year when many of us found ourselves in unexpected isolation, and with their Prague concert cancelled in March 2020, David and Arve decided that if they could not express themselves together onstage then they would do so in the recorded medium. VIAC David Kollar & Arve Henriksen – Unexpected Isolation (2020) David Kollar & Arve Henriksen – Unexpected Isolation (2020)
Unexpected Isolation
Contemporary Jazz
Hevhetia
2020
CD
18
These days most people think of David Kollar as Steven Wilson’s right hand man, but I first came across him in the band Komara which he formed with drummer Pat Mastelotto and Italian trumpeter Paolo Raineri back in 2014. VIAC David Kollar – 10 Poems For Ronroco / Crime On The Bunny (2020) David Kollar – 10 Poems For Ronroco / Crime On The Bunny (2020)
10 Poems For Ronroco / Crime On The Bunny
Jazz Rock, Noise
Hevhetia
2020
2xCD
4x10
Since signing to Frontiers Music there has been a plethora of live releases from Blue Öyster Cult, and this one catches the band at the Rock of Ages Festival in Seebronn, Germany, recorded on July 30th, 2016. VIAC Blue Öyster Cult – Live At Rock Of Ages Festival 2016 (2020) Blue Öyster Cult – Live At Rock Of Ages Festival 2016 (2020)
Live At Rock Of Ages Festival 2016
Hard Rock
Frontiers Music
2020
CD, DVD
11, 10
I have been a fan of Blue Öyster Cult for more years than I care to think about, certainly more than 40, and the very first band shirt I ever owned was theirs. I remember proudly wearing it to my first ever metal gig, Saxon and Tygers of Pan Tang, when I was 17. VIAC Blue Öyster Cult – The Symbol Remains (2020) Blue Öyster Cult – The Symbol Remains (2020)
The Symbol Remains
Hard Rock
Frontiers Records
2020
CD
14
Madrigal were originally formed in 1977 by David Cebert (keyboards) and Kevin Dodson (vocals, drums), since when they have undergone numerous personnel changes. In 1982, there was a change in direction and a change in name, as they became a covers band called UVU to earn some money. This lasted until 1985 when the band broke up, which featured the end of the writing partnership of Cebert and Dodson. VIAC Madrigal – Waiting… (1989) Madrigal – Waiting… (1989)
Waiting...
Prog Rock
Every Third Person Records
1989
CD
8
PTS originally formed in Holland in 1987 as a covers band and released their first demo Camera Life in 1990. A second cassette Welcome To The Real World followed in 1991, and their debut CD Nightlines in 1992. VIAC PTS – Tides (1994) PTS – Tides (1994)
Tides
Prog Rock
SI MUsic
1994
CD
11
There are arguably far too few bands trying to emulate the mighty Hawkwind, so when I saw that this CD was by a band that had completed a full tour with them as long ago as 1992, Iknew I was in for a treat. Then I read that Andy G had been inspired to set up the Dead Ernest label just to release this album and I was quite intrigued. VIAC Krel – Ad Astra (1997) Krel – Ad Astra (1997)
Ad Astra
Space Rock
Dead Earnest
1997
CD
10
Galleon were formed in 1981 as KG 299, in Ljusdal, Sweden. By 1985 the band was a trio with Göran Fors (bass, vocals), Dan Fors (drums) and Micke Varn (guitar). VIAC Galleon – Lynx (1992) Galleon – Lynx (1992)
Lynx
Symphonic Rock, Prog Rock
VF Production
1992
CD
8
