The Temperance Movement – A Deeper Cut


It has been a tumultuous few years for Scottish rockers The Temperance Movement. Founding member and guitarist Lucas Potashnick quit before the release of 2016’s White Bear, with drummer Damon Wilson following his lead soon after. Not to mention lead singer Phil Campbell nearly succumbing to his alcohol and drugs problems again during their American tour. So with replacement members secured, Matt White and Simon Lea on guitar and drums respectively, and long-term producer Sam Miller in place comes their third album A Deeper Cut (Earache) – a genuinely cathartic release of energetic, blues-based rock.Continue reading


Audrey Horne – Blackout


Named after a character from David Lynch’s hit TV show Twin Peaks and hailing from Bergen, Norway are Audrey Horne. Blackout (Nuclear Blast), their first album in four years, follows on from the previous record Pure Heavy (Napalm) in its happy embracing of classic rock and metal influences, much like contemporaries Black Star Riders and Deadlord. A far cry from the Marilyn Manson and Alice in Chains friendly, jagged grunge of their 2005 debut No Hay Banda (Candlelight); Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy and Pat Benatar are now the primary reference points.Continue reading


Royal Thunder – Red Fire Empress: Live at Boston Music Rooms (London)


There must be something in the water in Georgia. Baroness, Black Tusk, Mastodon, Kylesa (Editor’s note: RIP), and Whores. all hail from the Peach State. As do tonight’s headliners, Royal Thunder, who are playing the Boston Music Rooms in London. And like fellow Atlantans, Mastodon, they’re a band that should be a on a major label and breaking through into mainstream consciousness.Continue reading


Broken Witt Rebels – Broken Witt Rebels


Despite their transatlantic fusion of blues, soul and rock n roll, Broken Witt Rebels are a new guitar driven band hailing from Birmingham, England. Songs from their two previous EPs (Howlin and Georgia Pine) plus a smattering of brand new material makes up their debut album Broken Witt Rebels (Snakefarm). It is a soulful yet gritty blend of the new and the old, Kings of Leon-esque arena rock; an Alabama Shakes-like vintage feel with the boozy swagger of The Cadillac Three, who they toured with this month.Continue reading


Demon Eye – Prophecies & Lies


Taking their name from a Deep Purple song from the 1971 classic Fireball (Warner Bros.) are Demon Eye. Arising from North Carolina, Demon Eye started out life as a ‘70s rock covers band called Corvette Summer before transforming into a fully-fledged band in 2012. As their origins suggest, their sound is an amalgamation of 70s hard rock and metal – with Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, early Judas Priest and Iron Maiden the major influences. Their third album Prophecies and Lies (Soulseller) was produced by Corrosion of Conformity’s Mike Dean and continues down this old school path. Continue reading


Bloody Hammers – The Horrific Case of Bloody Hammers EP


Following on from the wonderfully sinister, synth-laden Gothic overtures of last year’s Lovely Sort of Death, husband and wife outfit from North Carolina Bloody Hammers are back with The Horrific Case of Bloody Hammers (both Napalm) – a six-track EP with a delightfully kitsch 70’s B-list horror film-inspired artwork.Continue reading


Dead Heavens – Whatever Witch You Are


It’s always interesting to see when musicians jump from project to project and do a complete musical 180 in the process. But from hardcore punk to psych blues is novel one.Continue reading


Circle – Terminal


Terminal (Southern Lord) is Circle’s thirty-second album, not counting sixteen live albums and three soundtracks (!). To say they are constantly putting out new material is an understatement.Continue reading