Rocktopia: Roger Glover - 'If Life Was Easy' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by James Gaden: Roger Glover has had a sporadic solo career during his time as a celebrated bassist for Rainbow and Deep Purple, two of rock's greatest and most influential bands. Now, following the example set by Ian Gillan's 'One Eye To Morocco' and Don Airey's 'All Out', Glover gives us a brand new solo record himself. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/N38z4

Rocktopia: Consortium Project V - 'Species' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ian Johnson: It's 1999 and Ian Parry (Elegy/solo) puts together the band known as the Consortium Project, their first album 'Criminals & Kings' came out later on that same year. The band played/play a mixture of sophisticated progressive metal and hard rock with some gothic elements thrown in for good measure. Since the release of the debut there have been four more albums with 'Species' being number five. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/tkgbj

Rocktopia: Falconer - 'Armod' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ian Johnson: Swedish folk metal merchants Falconer are back with album number seven and it's as good as many of their best works, yet this CD also differs from everything they have done before. Differs because on this release the band have decided to let the folk metal elements that they utilise in their music, come to the fore and dominate the sound of 'Armod', and this album also differs because this time they have decided to sing the album in their own language. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/Khlmm

Rocktopia: Human Zoo - 'Eyes Of The Stranger' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ian Johnson: German melodic rock band Human Zoo are back with their third album 'Eyes Of A Stranger', and if you like your rock with great melodies and a generous dose of saxophone then you should look no further than this album. With album number three the band have toned down the heavier elements that they used on their last album 'Over The Horizon', and have gone back to the more AOR friendly sound they had on their debut release. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/EdXnc

Rocktopia: Salim Ghazi Saeedi - 'Iconophobic' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ian Johnson: Whilst reading through some posts on a music forum I frequent, I noticed a message from a guy that posted a topic that said Music has no boundaries. Intrigued I read his post a couple of times then contacted him. It turned out the man Salim Ghazi Saeedi was a musician from Iran of all places, who had recorded an album of instrumental prog rock music, that he was keen to tell the world all about. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/kyqZj

Rocktopia: Sahara Rain - 'Eternity' - CD Review

A Fireworks Magazine / Rocktopia album review by Ian Johnson: The debut album from Sahara Rain, whilst being an excellent slab of melodic hard rock, had a few problems for me.Most of these problems (which may be too strong a word) were down to the involvement of former Jaded Heart vocalist Michael Bormann. His presence on the album could be felt on nearly every aspect of the recording, production and song writing that occurred on 'Sand In Your Hands' (an album which I did enjoy a lot). Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/UQsca

Rocktopia: John Wetton - 'Raised In Captivity' - CD Review

A Rocktopia / Fireworks Magazine album review by Ant Heeks: This is the sixth solo album from John Wetton, and the first since 2003's 'Rock Of Faith.' In that time, Wetton has released three 'Icon' collaboration albums with his Asia colleague Geoff Downes, and has also seen a full blown reunion of the band which brought him the most commercial success of his career. Read the full review on Rocktopia. http://ping.fm/96H2f