Rocktopia: Black Country Communion - 'Live Over Europe' - DVD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine DVD review by James Gaden: If you've spent any time reading this magazine recently, going to High Voltage, liking good old-fashioned classic rock music or generally living on Planet Earth, chances are you'll have heard of Black Country Communion somewhere. The supergroup, boasting guitar hero Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham and Derek Sherinian, shook the rock world up with their debut self-titled album, which appeared in the business end of the UK album charts. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/KCuGy

Rocktopia: Deep Purple with Orchestra - 'Live In Montreux 2011' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by James Gaden: There can't be many bands that have put out as many live recordings as Deep Purple. Here we are, 2011, with yet another Deep Purple release on DVD (as well as double CD). The current line of of Ian Gillan, Steve Morse, Roger Glover, Don Airey and Ian Paice are this time captured live in Montreux. The big difference about this tour is the legendary five-piece is touring with an orchestra. Deep Purple has had plenty of experience working with orchestras, but here they are tasked with meshing with the band for a full Deep Purple set, as opposed to Purple meshing with an orchestral score. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/EbyGh

Rocktopia: Neil Taylor - 'No Self Control' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Rob McKenzie: Neil Taylor has been in the music industry since the 80´s, playing guitar for a number of famous acts ranging from Tears For Fears through to Tina Turner. This side of the millennium, Neil has most notably been part of Robbie Williams´ touring and recording band. So after this lengthy period as part of a band or act, Neil has created his first solo album entitled No Self Control. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/K1nvi

Rocktopia: Jack Starr's Burning Starr - 'Land Of The Dead' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Dean Pedley: Some thirty years since he first made an impression on the US metal scene with Virgin Steele, Jack Starr has resurrected the Burning Starr moniker for new album 'Land Of The Dead'. A rallying cry for uncompromising old school power metal from start to finish the album is bursting with galloping riffs, melodic vocals and Starr's trademark shredding solos. Adding the finishing touch is some Conan the Barbarian / Manowar inspired artwork and to provide even more authenticity there are guest appearances from Manowar alumni Ross the Boss and David Shankle. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/YD8mT

Rocktopia: J21 - 'Beyond The Holographic Veil' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review: J21 is a guitarist from Barcelona who has been influenced by the work of Frank Zappa. He clearly has the knack of persuading luminaries from the world of Rock and particularly those who played with Zappa or his son, Dweezil, to appear on his albums. That said the names I recognised were Reeves Gabrels and Mike Garson who have both played with David Bowie plus Marco Minnemann, one of the front runners for the Dream Theater drum stool. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/uVkyT

Rocktopia News: Firefest 2012 line-up revealed

Rocktopia News: Firefest and Fireworks Magazine are pleased to announce the line-up for the 2012 festival. It's the usual mix of surprises, cult classics and established favourites, with four bands on the Friday evening and seven each on Saturday and Sunday. Read the full story on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/e92eu

Rocktopia: Ozzy Osbourne - 'God Bless Ozzy Osbourne' - DVD & Blu-ray review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine DVD review by James Gaden: This DVD is an official 'rockumentary' masterminded by Ozzy's son Jack, covering Ozzy's entire career to date in the form of new interviews, contributions from those in the know and archive footage and photos, interspersed with footage of what it's currently like for Ozzy on tour. Ozzy is naturally entertaining and amusing and therefore I expected it to be an engaging documentary, and it is. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/THizh

Rocktopia: Rush - 'Time Machine Live In Cleveland 2011' - DVD & Blu-ray review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine DVD & Blu-ray review by Phil Ashcroft: It's a matter of opinion, of course, but anyone accusing Rush of milking the market with this latest DVD, live CD and vinyl from this tour, would certainly have a point. I'm sure some will have to draw the line somewhere, but hopefully not before picking up this top quality set from this year's 'Time Machine' tour. Beautifully filmed and recorded, the setlist this time varies greatly from the other three live Rush DVD's of recent years. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/KWpYy

Rocktopia: Slash - 'Live: Made In Stoke' - DVD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine DVD review by James Gaden: I need to hold my hands up here and make a confession. I own the Guns 'N Roses 'Appetite For Destruction' album. It's amazing, one of the best rock albums ever made. I also have their 'Lies' EP. I heard both 'Use Your Illusion' albums but decided there was one decent album between them to make a very credible follow up to 'Appetite...' I can sense some people disagreeing, but that's my view. The less said about 'The Spaghetti Incident' the better. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/ksqFI

Gary Wilkinson - 'We Sold Our Soul For Rock 'N' Roll' - Film review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine DVD review by John Tucker: Gary Wilkinson is an established Tyne & Wear-based filmmaker whose works over the last twenty years or so have documented the social and economic history of the region. He's also a big music fan; the first band he saw live was Black Sabbath on the 1980 'Heaven & Hell' tour, the reason he gives for naming his latest film 'We Sold Our Soul For Rock 'N' Roll'. The documentary gives the chance for musicians, writers and collectors to tell their own stories about the South Shields music scene of the Seventies and Eighties. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/LatRG

Rocktopia: Solstice - 'Kindred Spirits' - DVD review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine DVD review by Paul Jerome Smith: Solstice are as unfashionable as Plus Four trousers and cravats and yet, 31 years after their original formation these demi-gods of Britprog (see what I did there?) are still going strong, to which their recent studio album 'Spirit' (reviewed in Fireworks 44) duly attests. That review concluded as follows: I would ask them to try and replicate more of the spirit of their live performance in the studio next time around. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/fu9nA

Rocktopia: Paul Rodgers - 'Live At Montreux 1994' - DVD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine DVD review by James Gaden: In 1994, the legendary Paul Rodgers of Free and Bad Company performed in Montreux, with a set list spanning classic songs by both bands, as well as exploring Paul's blues influences with tracks from his Muddy Waters tribute album. What also makes this well worth checking out is the band backing Paul here - Jason Bonham is on drums, underpinning the work of rhythm guitarist Ian Hatton and bassist John Smithson who were Bonham's own band. Better still, lead guitar duties are fulfilled by Journey superstar Neal Schon, and it's Schon's presence here that really sells it for me. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/rjP2U

Rocktopia: Funeral For A Friend - 'See You All In Hell' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Neil Daniels: Funeral For A Friend have been moving along quite steadily for the past few years but they have still yet to break into the mainstream consciousness. Perhaps much of that has to do with their association with the emo youth culture of today where many bands of their ilk are enveloped together and mocked by more elitist, seasoned rock fans. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/9ImjV

Rocktopia: The Fletchers - 'Heroes Of Gravity' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by James Gaden: The Fletchers is a band under the leadership of Gary Kaplan, the writer of all the music and lyrics on this record, as well as being the lead vocalist and one of the guitarists. This, their third album since they debuted in 2008 with 'Bright Blue Lights', finds the four-piece in prolific form, releasing this record just a year after their sophomore 'Lights Out Loud' effort. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/KyXAq

Rocktopia: Dyslexic Love - 'Closet Rock' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Dave Bott: It seems 'Closet Rock' is the second release from Canadian singer/songwriter Tim Bertulli under the Dyslexic Love banner but if this CD is anything to go by then I was lucky enough to miss the debut. The band's biog mentions such legends as Ritchie Blackmore, Keith Richards, Joe Satriani and Edward Van Halen so I'm just wondering if Bertulli is blowing his own trumpet as those artists bear no resemblance to anything I've just been listening to. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/wu2pS

Rocktopia: Dec Burke - 'Paradigms And Storylines' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Gary Marshall: For the uninitiated Dec Burke is a former member of the tragically under-rated Darwin's Radio and the most recent incarnation of Frost*. This is his second solo album after 2010's 'Destroy All Monsters' which was an extremely good set of songs but let me tell you that this album blows that one out the water and is absolutely superb. I will get one small critical observation out of the way and it's that most of the songs follow the same format of quiet opening before suddenly going bombastic. This is a minor niggle because the songs are that good you can forgive this trait. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/S50v1

Rocktopia: 3rDegree - 'Narrow-Caster' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Steven Reid: Released back in 2008, 'Narrow-Caster' was the third album from US based Progressive's 3rDegree and seeing as this little gem of an album has evaded the pages of Fireworks during the last three years, the upcoming release of the band's fourth album early next year is as good an excuse as any to highlight a band capable of blending angular Prog with Pop sensibilities and intelligently thought provoking lyrics. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/QOgyF

Rocktopia: Myrath - 'Tales Of The Sands' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Myrath really is one of the most original and inventive bands to have appeared over the past few years and in fact along with Orphaned Land are one of only two purveyors of what has become known as Oriental Metal (although 'Middle Eastern Metal' might seem more appropriate -- Reviews Ed). 'Tales Of The Sands' is the band's third album, following on from the Symphony X inspired 'Hope' debut and the altogether more distinctively styled 'Desert Call' and considering just what a mighty release it was I am ecstatic to announce that album number three picks up where its predecessor left off, blending blistering Power/Prog Metal with traditional Tunisian music, vocal styles and lyrics. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/bFdXT

Rocktopia: Electric Mary - 'III' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: The more astute amongst you will have realised that 'III' is the third effort from this Aussie rabble of bluesy riff mongrels known as Electric Mary, following on as it does from 2004's 'Four Hands Down' and 2008's excellent 'Down To The Bone'. I haven't heard the band's debut effort, however 'DTTB' was a grooving delight of machine-gun drums, bourbon soaked vocals and dirty, dirty, dirty riffs and I'm glad to say that 'III' continues in the same vein. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/bG5JG

Rocktopia: Eldritch - 'Gaia's Legacy' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ray Paul: Italy's Eldritch have put together a conceptual album based on Al Gore's global warming end of the world prophecy 'An Inconvenient Truth'. To be honest the concept of this sounds a little overblown to really grab the listener's attention, so the music really has to hit the mark to carry the message, I believe. The standard is set with the opening track 'Deviation' which is a progressive soup of double bass drum kicks, chugging bass lines and noodling guitars. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/8EQr6

Rocktopia: Interview with rock writer Jeff Wagner

Rocktopia Interviews: Jeff Wagner. Jeff Wagner is the author of the critically acclaimed history of progressive metal, Mean Deviation. He is also a former editor of Metal Maniacs magazine and veteran employee with record labels such as Relapse, The End, and Century Media. Read the full interview on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/ERtaK

Rocktopia News: Mark Reale R.I.P - founder member of RIOT

Mark Reale, the founding guitarist of the legendary metal band RIOT, passed away earlier today (Wednesday, January 25) in a San Antonio hospital due to complications of Crohn's disease — an ailment he has battled for most of his life. He was 56 years old. Read the full story on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/cZUjI

Rocktopia News: Tango Down Guitarist Scott Miller gives us the lowdown on the new album 'Identity Crisis'

Hey All!!! The Kid here giving you the 411 on our upcoming album with a song by song break down. Enjoy the read! Read the full article on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/hnkgC

Rocktopia News: New album from Tom Galley's Phenomena due in March

People should learn to expect a little awe and mystery. Phenomena takes us upon a journey where there is nothing pretty about the protagonists of the story that we shall meet along the way. The subject is good against evil. The story began in the year 1983, when Tom Galley wrote a couple of short stories with a transcendental background. Read the full news on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/545ek

Rocktopia: Toxic Federation - 'Distance' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Carl Buxton: Well, this is a pleasant surprise I must say. A young English band with an average age of twenty that has the looks, attitude and chops to make it in the crazy world of rock'n'roll. To think that this is their third album already gives you an insight into how ahead of the years this bunch of Derbyshire guys are. You know, it's so, so easy to become jaded in this industry both as a musician and a fan and sometimes taking a break from music refreshes your inner demon, but every so often a band wafts in like a breath of fresh air and reminds you just why, if you have serious music in your soul, it's impossible to break away. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/sxI0S

Rocktopia: Stormzone - 'Zero To Rage' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Evans: Belfast Metallers Stormzone have certainly crammed a lot into the last 6 years. To date: 3 albums, and countless European tours, that have seen them supporting the likes of Y&T, White Lion, Tesla, Cinderella and the list goes on. They have also graced some of the biggest stages, including the Wacken Festival. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/klZuN

Rocktopia: Cold - 'Superfiction' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Dave Bott: Cold return after a 6 year absence and to be honest I wasn't expecting any more studio output from the band so the appearance of 'Superfiction' was a pleasant surprise. The 2005 'Different Kind Of Pain' release was something of a laid back affair compared to anything that had come before suggesting vocalist and lyricist Scooter Ward was going through a period of reflection. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/2cAGs

Rocktopia: Boguslaw Balcerak's Crylord - 'Blood Of The Prophets' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ian Johnson: Boguslaw Balcerak is another new name for me to contend with! He hails from Warsaw, where he took up the guitar at the age of 16, and devoted himself to rock music. Playing in a few local bands growing up Boguslaw felt frustrated at not being able to find either the right musicians or singer to help get his music to a wider audience. So he decided to record his own album 'Blood Of The Prophets', then later on to try and find a singer to complete the recordings. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/7htuq

Rocktopia: Angels And Airwaves - 'Love Part II' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Mike Newdeck: For the uninitiated Angels & Airwaves is Tom Delonge's other band. For those who've been on another planet for the last five or so years Delonge is the guitarist for Blink 182. Love Part II is the band's fourth album following hot on the heels of the 2010's Love Part I which was released free of charge, consequently becoming the most downloaded album ever. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/KDicv

Rocktopia: Morton - 'Come Read The Words Forbidden' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ian Johnson: Max Morton Pasechnik? Anyone? No me neither but apparently the man is a famous record musician and producer from the Ukraine who has worked with many European metal bands over the years, none of which I'd ever heard of (to my shame). Max then decided that after working with all these different acts, it was high time he tried his hand at writing and recording his own album of power metal anthems. 'Come Read The Words Forbidden' is the fruit of this dream and if you have a hankering for bands who sound like Firewind, Astral Doors, Sonata Arctica, Hammerfall, Dream Evil and Bloodbound then this new album by Morton will be a very, very nice surprise for you indeed. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/XvP6r

Rocktopia: Earthprayer - 'Nine Days' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by James Gaden: Another band that fell in my lap to review was Earthprayer. Never heard of them? No, me neither. But trust me, I'm going to keep my eye on this London based outfit, so delighted was I with what I heard. Earthprayer is a four piece heavily influenced by acts like The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Deep Purple and other 70's luminaries. They have an excellent female singer in the form of Anglo-American Heidi Jo Hines, who instigated the start of the band with guitarist Ian Montlake when they met at an open mic night in Camden. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/eB9r9

Rocktopia: Eagleheart - 'Dreamtherapy' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Scott: Eagleheart is a power metal band from the Czech Republic founded by guitarist Michal Kus back in 2003. They went through several line up changes before recording their demo 'Black Sun' in 2005. In 2007 they won a competition to record in a fully equipped studio and the end result was the band's debut album 'Moment Of Life'. Heavy promotion on the tour circuit followed with the likes of Blaze Bailey, WASP and House Of Lords. Eagleheart currently consists of Vojta Simonik (vocals), Kus (guitars), Michal Jankuliak (guitars), Jiri Fiala (bass) and Zdenek Vemola (drums). Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/i0R0t

Rocktopia: The Dreaming - 'Puppet' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Mike Newdeck: After a disappointing debut album in 2008's 'Etched In Blood' , Christopher Hall's outfit return with a much classier follow up. With a sound encompassing a smorgasbord of different genres of music, including Glam, new wave, hard rock and inevitably the sound of Hall's ex band Stabbing Westward, The Dreaming has finally reached a high point in their recording career. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/545lb

Rocktopia: Dirty Passion - 'Different Tomorrow' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Faye Coulman: In a genre that's notoriously big on style but sparse in substance, these Swedish glamsters are a painstaking rarity, having nurtured their now-expert musicianship over the course of the past half-decade. But as an unmistakable product of today's deeply derivative eighties revival scene, this nostalgic retread is riddled with the symptoms of a band still some distance off discovering their own sound. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/DIilt

Rocktopia: Dama - 'Eirwen' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Gary Marshall: Dama is a new name to me and another in the burgeoning field of female fronted bands from Italy. It's rather amusing that the band photo has the guys out of focus in the background and the broodingly attractive Barbara Schera Vanoli front and centre looking lovely. This is an ambitious album with two CDs, the first sung in their native tongue and the second in English making 15 tracks in total. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/GoGFy

Rocktopia: Motherlode - 'Tomorrow Never Comes' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by John Tucker: Knowing the square-rot of sod-all about Motherlode, and always liking to play review albums blind for the first couple of spins, early impressions were of a band reminiscent of the tidal wave of MTV friendly acts that flooded the metal scene in the later Eighties like Sweet FA USA, Roxy Blue, Roxx Gang etc etc -- all good in their own way but all highly generic and rather faceless. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/gi0A6

Rocktopia: Pain Of Salvation - 'Road Salt Two' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Paul Jerome Smith: Daniel Gildenlow's band (POS) is one that has increasingly vexed their initially growing throng of prog metal advocates. The rot started to set in after 'BE' with the release of the quite uncompromising 'Scarsick' which I described as a threatening and disturbing album in issue 27. This was followed by 'Road Salt One (Ivory)' last year and although planned for review, I could not give it the time and attention needed for a dispassionate assessment. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/JVz7B

Rocktopia: Daylight Robbery - 'Cross Your Heart' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Rob McKenzie: Daylight Robbery is a Birmingham-based rock band comprising Tony Nicholl (vocals), Mark Carleton (guitars), Murdoch (bass), Ben Dixon (drums) and Duncan Cook (keyboards). The band is new but these players are experienced and have paid their dues in the rock world. Noting the claim that Daylight Robbery are The New Kings of Heavy Melodic Rock, this magazine is clearly their target demographic. This vision is already starting to take shape and following radio airplay they are poised to support Uriah Heap on their upcoming tour. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/Qj4dh

Rocktopia: Chris Duarte Group - 'Blues In The Afterburner' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: With Joe Bonamassa not only bringing heavy blues guitar music to a wider audience, but making it a cool genre to be involved with again, there suddenly appears to be a whole host of axe-slingers following in his wake. To be fair to Chris Duarte though, his star has long been on the rise and with Bonamassa seemingly moving more and more into rock territory, maybe the time is right for someone like him to begin to receive wider acclaim. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/4h2vj

Rocktopia: Black Widow - 'Sleeping With Demons' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by John Tucker: Somewhat bizarrely, the band that courted controversy with 'Come To The Sabbat' from their 1970 debut album, ritually sacrificed a nude virgin at the climax of their stage show (sorry, Blackie; they were doing it first) and wore out whole dictionaries looking for words to rhyme with Satan started life in Leicester in the Sixties under the name Pesky Gee before going over to the dark side and attracting comparison with, but sounding nothing like, Black Sabbath. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/X9Ya0

Rocktopia: Medicine Head - 'Fiddlersophical' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Steven Reid: Thirty five years is a long time between albums for any band, so it was with no little surprise that 'Fiddlersophical' was announced as the first new album from John Fiddler and Medicine Head since 1976 -- a year in which the band released two albums! Best remembered for their hits such as 'Pictures In The Sky', and 'One And One Is One', Medicine Head released seven albums between 1970 and 1976, before disbanding, with Fiddler moving on to join the post-Mott The Hoople outfit British Lions, before fronting the altogether more chart friendly, if eclectic, Box Of Frogs. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/iW54O

Rocktopia: Anubis Gate - 'Anubis Gate' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: This self titled album is the fifth in the arsenal of Anubis Gate, a band who all things considered, should be right up their with the prog metal giants. Why they are not is a mystery because since their debut album 'Purification' in 2004 the band have written what can only be described as a plethora of amazing prog metal CD's, 'The Detached', 'A Perfect Forever' and 'Andromeda Unchained' are albums that all self-respecting fans of the genre should own. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/D1GEp

Rocktopia: Ancient Bards - 'Soulless Child' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Dave Scott: Ancient Bards is an Italian epic metal band that was founded by Daniele Mazza back in 2007. The bands first output was a 5 track trailer in 2008. This received excellent reviews and after some extensive touring the band set about recording their debut. 'The Alliance Of The Kings' was released in 2010 and was given even more rave reviews. Ancient Bards consists of Sara Squadrani (vocals), Fabio Balducci (guitar), Claudio Pietronik (guitar), Martiino Garattoni (bass), Mazza (keys) and Federico Gatti (drums) and 'Soulless Child' is the sextet's follow up. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/gQ8Cr

Rocktopia: Doogie White - 'As Yet Untitled' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Gary Marshall: Rather disingenuously of me when this promo arrived I had it in my head that Doogie White had a vocalists for hire reputation, which was soon dispelled checking his CV. I suspect that my view had more to do with the people he's worked with (including Yngwie Malmsteen and Ritchie Blackmore) than himself. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/tNo4S

Rocktopia: The Anabasis - 'Back From Being Gone' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Steve Reid: Any project featuring members of Spock's Beard, Galahad, and the Lee Abraham Band (among others) really has to be of interest to anyone with a progressive bent, something which a few spins of the band's debut release 'Back From Being Gone' only reinforces. The brainchild of American multi-instrumentalist Barry Thompson and respected author George Andrade, who between them split all of the music and lyric writing on this album. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/S6J1C

Rocktopia: The Anabasis - 'Back From Being Gone' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Steve Reid: Any project featuring members of Spock's Beard, Galahad, and the Lee Abraham Band (among others) really has to be of interest to anyone with a progressive bent, something which a few spins of the band's debut release 'Back From Being Gone' only reinforces. The brainchild of American multi-instrumentalist Barry Thompson and respected author George Andrade, who between them split all of the music and lyric writing on this album. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/w7Q1G

Rocktopia: Mollo / Martin - 'Third Cage' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by James Gaden: This one was a pleasant surprise -- I'd been a fan of Dario Mollo's output for a while... for those who may not recognize the name, Mollo is a skilled Italian guitarist, songwriter and producer who came to prominence with the debut album by The Cage, a collection of blistering hard rock tracks. Written by Dario, with lyrics, melodies and vocals added by former Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin, the pair found they had a good chemistry, and received a good response from fans and critics alike upon its release in 1999. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/20MWP

Rocktopia: Lone Star - 'Firing On All Six' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: By 1977 things hadn't gone exactly to plan for the young Welsh band, but CBS were still behind Lone Star and sent them into the studio with fledgling producer Gary Lyons -- Roy Thomas Baker's engineer and protégé who had mixed their debut and would go on to produce albums for Aerosmith, UFO and Trillion, amongst others. Singer Kenny Driscoll had left the band to care for his girlfriend, who had been paralysed in a car accident, and had picked up a 20 year old upstart from the local Cardiff scene called John Sloman. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/Vh8Cy

Rocktopia: Lone Star - 'Lone Star' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: Not to be confused with the Country/Pop act of the same name, this Lone Star were formed in Cardiff in 1975, recorded some sessions with Radio 1 producer Tony Wilson, and after being championed by both John Peel and Alan 'Fluff' Freeman, they picked up a lucrative record deal with CBS -- all before playing their first proper live gig. Probably best known for being the first recording band of erstwhile UFO/Waysted guitarist Paul 'Tonka' Chapman, Lone Star peddled a hard rock/progressive rock crossover sound that was both hugely original and highly exciting. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/0MjXY

Rocktopia: Diamond Head - 'Lightning To The Nations' (Deluxe Edition) - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by John Tucker: Everyone knows the story by now: unable to get a deal, Diamond Head's management at the time suggested they record an album and present interested labels with a finished product to market. When no-one bit they went ahead and sold it themselves. From such inauspicious beginnings the legend that is 'Lightning To The Nations' or the 'White' album was born. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/1rjtO

Rocktopia: After The Fire - 'Signs Of Change' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Steven Reid: Now as somebody who has considerably more than a passing interest in Progressive Rock, I have to start this review by putting my cards on the table and admitting that I'd never heard of After The Fire until this Angel Air reissue of the band's self financed debut from 1978. As anyone who has come into contact with this band will undoubtedly know, my record collection has been a poorer place for that omission for all these years! Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/S6cHg

Rocktopia News: Y&T celebrate 30 years of 'Black Tiger'

This year Y&T will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Black Tiger record by performing the full album at many shows in 2012. Watch for a commemorative Black Tiger shirt coming to the web site soon. The band look forward to a busy year, and to hopefully finding some songwriting time between touring the world. Read the full news on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/q0Hhi

Rocktopia News: Lita Ford set to release new album 'Living Like A Runaway' this summer

Legendary female metal icon LITA FORD has signed a worldwide deal with SPV/Steamhammer. Her new album entitled “Living Like A Runaway” is tentatively set for a May 2012 release. Best known for her work with The Runaways and her solo career, featuring hit singles “Kiss Me Deadly” and the Billboard charting duet “Close My Eyes Forever” with Ozzy Osbourne, Lita is ready to make a return to the throne as the queen of metal. Read the news on Rocktopia.

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Rocktopia: Isis Child - 'Strange Days' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Dave Bott: Apparently guitarist and song-writer Freddy Mazzucco spent 12 years playing in the U.S. before returning to the French Riviera to form his own band. Together with vocalist Nathalie Pellissier, bass player Christophe Canto and drummer Rob Hirons he founded Isis Child and, though their debut album 'Allieurs' was recorded in 2008, 'Strange Days' is the first to be created in English. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

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Rocktopia: Five Finger Death Punch - 'American Capitalist' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Faye Coulman: Fine testament to the immortal adage, If it ain't broke, don't fix it, California's catchiest modern aggressors weigh in for another round of prime, all-American metal. Picking up where the award-winning trademarks of 2009's 'War Is The Answer' left off, this instant crowd-pleaser peddles much of the same Slipknot-flavoured grooves and rock 'n' roll theatrics for which Five Finger Death Punch are now famed. As such, this winning repertoire treads inevitably predictable territory, with each track boasting a stock selection of sing-along choruses, solos and arena-ready gang vocals. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

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Rocktopia: Cheerleader - 'Vegas Or Bust' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Rob McKenzie: Cheerleader is a new band hailing from Sweden comprising guitarist Joan Vieru, brothers Joel Ek (vocals and bass) and Niklas Ek (guitar) and drummer Andreas Westerlund. Having spent most of 2010 writing the material, their debut album Vegas Or Bust was recorded this Spring and has just been released by Angry Shark Records. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

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Rocktopia: Nightwish - 'Imaginaerum' - CD Review

A Rocktopia album review by Carl Buxton: Any Nightwish album these days is treated like the second coming. The proliferation of copyists on the Internet is vindication of that. Ever since 'Once' propelled them to Superstardom not a day goes by without someone in the world talking or writing about them on the Internet. They have become a phenomenon and are rightly regarded as pioneers and the leading light in Symphonic Metal, a term band leader Tuomas Holopainen is happy to use to describe his band. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

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Rocktopia: Greg X - 'Dream' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ian Johnson: While I was working on the front desk at Firefest 2011, a young fella came over to say hello and we got talking about music (like you do). He told me his name was Greg X and he turned out to be a Polish born guitar teacher now living and working in London. He said that he had an album out and would I listen to it and tell him what I thought of it? Sure I replied and he handed over the CD. After the Firefest weekend I finally got around to listening to it, and low and behold if it isn't a blast from the past, the 80's to be more precise. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

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Rocktopia: Chris Ousey - 'Rhyme And Reason' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Cockett: Arguably one of the finest bluesy hard rock singers of his generation, since he was first enticed away from the clutches of Monroe to work with Nick Bold and Jason Bonham in Virginia Wolf back in the mid 80's, Chris Ousey has never failed to deliver. Perhaps not the most prolific of singers (on album at any rate), over the last two decades he has nevertheless produced ten excellent studio releases with Heartland, each embodying the spirit of everything that's great about sophisticated MHR/AOR. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/6uo2m

Rocktopia: Cage - 'Supremacy Of Steel' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Alexandra Mrzowska: San Diego-based band Cage is back -- just to prove that a traditional approach towards heavy/power metal never becomes outdated. From the perfectly clichéd cover and a fine-looking booklet (hats off to album artwork from Marc Sasso) to the skull-crushing sound the album delivers, this record is everything metal. And while this headbanging, fist-pumping madness is certainly nothing original or innovative, on the other hand Cage have once again proven themselves to be the excellent craftsmen in their genre. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/l9Ac7

Rocktopia: Aesthesia - 'Shattered Idols' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Neil Daniels: Aesthesia return with their second full-length studio album and what a corker it is! The album features Hardcore Superstar guitarist Thomas Silver who cooks up some excellent riffs in the vein of Guns N' Roses circa 1987 while Nico Marlyn's vocals have a Klaus Meine thing going on. It's an effective combo. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/yXPf1

Rocktopia: YES - 'In The Present - Live From Lyon' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Gary Marshall: I have to admit to being a little non-plussed by and cynical about this release because, as good as it is, there's nothing really new on offer and therefore it can only be seen as an exercise in getting the band's fans to buy the same thing one more time. Like Journey, Yes have found themselves a replacement vocalist from a tribute band, consequently Benoît David sounds, for the most part, uncannily like Jon Anderson throughout this two CD collection and therefore doesn't bring any of his own personality to the songs. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/qcZP4

Rocktopia: Domain Of Dreams - 'Domain Of Dreams' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Dean Pedley: Domain Of Dreams is a progressive metal band from Bulgaria, a country that is not highly renowned for its musical exports. They have, however, supported both W.A.S.P and Heaven And Hell. Established for more than two decades and formerly known as Solaris, this self-titled album is their third full length release and follows on from 'Oligotime' in 1997 and 'I Want' ten years later. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/qbRjO

Rocktopia: Beyond The Bridge - 'The Old Man And The Spirit' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Scott: Beyond The Bridge is a progressive metal band from Germany, originally called Fallout. In 2005 guitarist Peter Degenfeld decided to revive the band and got together with original keyboardist Christopher Tamow. Producer Simon Oberender, (Kamelot, Avantasia), was also bought in. With a line up of professionally trained musicians the band set to work on this album in 2008. This conceptual album is about the polarity of human sensuousness and superhuman awareness. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/hwPvc

Rocktopia: Awake - 'Forever More' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / fireworks Magazine album review by Paul Jerome Smith: Awake is a band that I had expected to be a household name (at least in those liking a certain type of music) following the release of their simply wonderful, progressively tinged power metal opus 'Illumination' (reviewed by me in Fireworks 29) four years ago. However, this has not exactly happened. Guitarist Richard Hall departed from the band and was replaced by lead guitar playing brothers Andy and Steven Coles. More live dates have been played, but their visibility has not increased greatly at the European level. Perhaps an appearance in May at the second 'Fused' Progressive & Symphonic Rock Festival will help, and I certainly look forward to seeing them then. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/f9Ele

Rocktopia: Andromeda - 'Manifest Tyranny' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Alister Strachan: Despite this being the Swedish quintet's fifth release since forming back in 1999, this is the first time I've come across the music of Andromeda. And if the contents of 'Manifest Tyranny' are anything to go by then I've been missing out big time because this album is a master class in progressive metal. The material on this album may have its feet planted in the here and now with its contemporary almost power metal sound. But its heart and soul recalls the golden age of progressive rock. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/HCKRu

Rocktopia: Paradise Inc - 'Time' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Pilar Sánchez: Samba, cahipirinias, cachaça ... and Rock´n´Roll. These are, among other wonderful things, what Brazil is all about. If you guys were not aware of this other rocking facet of this South American country, I'm going to help you discover what's really going on in the Rock scene in Brazil, as the releases coming from that country are usually pretty good stuff. Do you remember Auras, Highest Dream or Joey Summer? I bet you do. Well, let me introduce you to another Brazilian combo, Paradise Inc. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/FdwvE

Fireworks Magazine Online 49 - Interview with Guy Manning

Fireworks Magazine Official Website: Issue 49. Interview with Guy Manning. Over the last five albums released by the band, named for its creative genius, songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist GUY MANNING, PAUL JEROME SMITH has become a firm adherent of the sometimes quirky but always intriguing narrative 'Britprog' they produce. Read the interview on Rocktopia.

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Rocktopia: Vain - 'Enough Rope' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: Anyone who knows me will be surprised that I'm reviewing this new album by the band Vain, why? Well it's because if you were to look through my record collection, you would find a wide range of genres from AOR right through to prog, but what you would not find would be many (by this I mean less than ten) glam rock albums. This is because glam has always been a style of music I just could not get my head around with it being too raw and basic for my tastes. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/WVoLy

Rocktopia: Agents Of Mercy - 'The Black Forest' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Gary Marshall: I was shocked when I discovered that The Flower Kings (TFK), had entered hibernation for an unspecified period of time, as seemingly certain members had become jaded by their prodigious album and touring routine. Fortunately, this means that Roine Stolt (guitar & vocals) and Jonas Reingold (bass) could devote more time to other musical outlets such as Transatlantic, Karmakanic and in this case Agents of Mercy (AOM), the latter of which seemed destined to be an occasional side project. read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/LVQwv

Rocktopia: Mass - 'New Birth' - CD Review

"A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ray Paul: This is an anniversary edition of the original 1985 release of 'New Birth' and to anyone who picked up a copy of the recently released ''Fighter' some of these songs will be familiar. For example, 'Too Far Gone' and 'Voyager (Look For The Edge)' were both on that release, though here on 'New Birth' they sit more comfortably with the accompanying songs all written at the time. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/wFpOO

Rocktopia: Strangeways - 'Walk In The Fire' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: So, on to Strangeways' third classic album, 'Walk In The Fire' that was released in December 1989 and was recorded by the same line-up and at the same Swiss studio as 'Native Sons'. This time Ian Stewart co-produced the album himself with the engineer from the previous one, John Lee, but at the time it was met with some lukewarm reviews on account of it not being as immediate as its predecessor, even though today many people prefer it. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/jjj88

Rocktopia: Strangeways - 'Native Sons' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Phil Ashcroft: After the short tenure of vocalist Tony Liddle, the Stewart brothers and Jim Drummond went back to the drawing board and decided to have another shot at convincing their first choice singer to come over and join the band, with American vocalist Terry Brock finally doing just that. So perfect was the fit that Brock ended up co-writing a majority of the record with the previously autocratic Ian Stewart, and with new keyboard player David 'Munch' Moore replacing Alan Thomson they went back to the familiar surroundings of Powerplay Studios in Zurich with producer John Punter and proceeded to take the melodic rock world by storm, or at least the section of it that were in the know. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/DruFh

Rocktopia: Red White And Blues - 'Shine' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by James Gaden: An act that has been on my radar since inception, this is a new group comprising two former colleagues - Skin guitarist Myke Gray and Swedish vocalist Matti Alfonzetti, who worked together in Myke's pre-Skin act Jagged Edge. They made a solid EP and a terrific album 'Fuel For Your Soul' together, before going their separate ways. Myke forged ahead with the successful and beloved Skin, while Matti continued to record with acts like Skin Trade, as well as issuing solo albums (the latest of which is out this very month) and making a name for himself as a producer. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/kXXnl

Rocktopia: Riot - 'Immortal Soul' - CD Review http://ping.fm/rpMuj

Rocktopia: Voyager - 'The Meaning Of I' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by John Tucker: I've always had a soft spot for Voyager, ever since I saw them at ProgPower Europe playing to what started off as a rather empty hall and taking their bows an hour later to a venue jammed to the rafters. The problem is that they've never really captured their essence on CD - before now, that is. Read the full review on Rocktopia.

From: http://ping.fm/BQqcQ