Rocktopia: 3 Doors Down - 'Time Of My Life' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Mike Newdeck: Following the trend for using Howard Benson as producer, Mississippi rockers have come out with perhaps their best album to date. Their fifth album features better songs and a commercial edge that follows a period of stagnation on the previous two albums. Seemingly going through the motions and cleverly rewriting previous hits in a new form to satisfy their fans, 3 Doors Down has finally grasped the mettle and decided to get outside help producing a new album. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/ul5k7

Rocktopia: Weeping Silence - 'Theatre Of Life' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Dave Scott: Weeping Silence is a symphonic metal band coming from Malta. They formed back in the mid nineties and their debut album was let loose back in 2000, entitled 'Deprived From Silence'. The follow up album called 'End Of An Era' was completed in 2003 but was not released until 2008. By the time it was out the band had already started working on their third album. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/x6OgF

Rocktopia: The Kordz - 'Beauty And The East' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Graham Hatton: Hailing from the Middle East, a part of the world one would not normally associate with the rock and metal scene, comes the very intriging band The Kordz and if you like your rock very dark and mysterious, thoughtful, full of Eastern promise and with more than a leaning to prog rock, then you should lend your ear to this surprisingly good new release from the band. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/c7yqo

Rocktopia: Better Tomorrow - 'Home Is Where Your Heart Is' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Graham Hatton: Of all rock/metal music genres, I tend to struggle most with progressive rock. Depending on my mood I can either love or loathe an album, there never seems to be a grey area with me. That was until this album arrived through my letterbox. I decided it was only fair that I gave it several spins before I picked up a pen and put my words down onto paper. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/uruCf

Rocktopia: Chickenfoot - 'III' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by James Gaden: I'm sure by now everybody knows that the supergroup of Sammy Hagar, Chad Smith, Joe Satriani and Michael Anthony weren't messing about when they formed their band Chickenfoot. The name raised eyebrows, and their self titled album and subsequent live shows dropped jaws. The band jammed their way through a powerhouse rock album which charted all over the place and went gold in the US and Canada. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/eVswJ

Rocktopia: Bridger - 'Bridger' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ant Heeks: Sometimes the promotional blurb that accompanies a new album can completely give you the wrong idea of what it is going to sound like. This one in particular features the names Mr. Big, Great White and Journey, so I was expecting some slick, Eighties sounding anthemic Arena Rock. After a few spins it's apparent that's not the case at all, this is raw, rootsy rock'n'roll with two feet firmly planted in both the Seventies and the current contemporary Rock market. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/RoMo6

Rocktopia: XorigiN - 'State Of The Art' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review: For those who are unaware, AOR is being revitalized by a plethora of bands hailing from Scandinavia. Each album released seems to continually raise the bar of excellence, as the music is just so consistent and well crafted. Without exception, the debut from XorigiN upholds this notion. Equal parts Norway and Sweden, founding members Johannes Stole and Daniel Palmqvist are set to release their excellent debut with 'State Of The Art'. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/9GT9J