ALBUM REVIEW: Children of Bodom – A Chapter Called Children of Bodom (Final Show in Helsinki Ice Hall 2019) 


On December 15, 2019, Children of Bodom played their final show in the Helsinki Ice Hall. A fitting venue for the Finnish band who had been plying their trade of Melodic Death Metal with a distinct influence of Classic Hard Rock for over twenty years. 

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REVIEWS ROUND-UP: ft. Magnolia Park – Atreyu – In This Moment – Hollow Front 


 

 

Magnolia Park – Halloween Mixtape II  (Epitaph Records)

Less is more, right? It’s a mantra I’ve often referred to in reviews, even if Yngwie would never agree. Nor, so it seems, would Magnolia Park. Seventeen tracks, nine collabs, six hundred and sixty six musical deviations taking in emo, pop-punk, nu-metal, hip-hop, cartoon horror pop and more is testament to the fact that the quintet may be on to something with their embracing of musical diversity. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Royal Thunder – Rebuilding The Mountain


 

This band from Atlanta transcended the vest metal tag assigned to them early on, to become one of the most underrated new acts to coast under the radar of mainstream rock. The lengthy seven-year break since their last album did not help this, but Rebuilding The Mountain (Spinefarm Records) finds the band taking inventory of their demons before returning, reconfigured, with drummer Evan Diprima back in the fold. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Anti-Flag – Lies They Tell Our Children


 

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Having stuck around since the late 1980s, Anti-Flag has become old enough to address the same young, impressionable people they once were when they formed so long ago. Ever ambitious and straight to the point, the Pittsburgh-based punk rock foursome is as approachable as at any other time in their storied career with Lies They Tell Our Children (Spinefarm Records). Rife with on-brand “fuck the system” anthems and guest appearances by like-minded rabble-rousers, the songs pack such an easily consumable punch. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Soen – Atlantis


 

It is hard to believe that the Swedish supergroup, Soen, has only been making music together for ten years. Their first full-length, Cognitive procured high praise for its progressive proficiency and emotional maturity. They have stood out for their Tool-like compelling intensity and wide range of sentiment. They have remarkably managed to expand on these ripened abilities with each album they release. Now this quintet is getting ready to celebrate their tin anniversary by releasing a concert film of their classic numbers and a cover with live orchestral accompaniment. 

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Ville Valo (VV) of HIM Releases a New Single “The Foreverlost”


 

Finnish Gothic Metal pioneer, Ville Valo (VV) of HIM, will release his debut solo album, Neon Noir, on January 13th via Heartagram Records, distributed by UMG/ Spinefarm. Pre-orders are, at last, live at the link below. The previously announced world tour is quickly selling out. Now he has released a new single, “Ville Valo (VV) of HIM Releases a New Single “The Foreverlost” – which you can stream now!   

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ALBUM REVIEW: Stone Broken – Revelation


Formed in 2013, Stone Broken are a quartet who, despite their transatlantic sound, hail from Walsall. Revelation, on Spinefarm, is the British four piece’s third album and it is a polished slab of commercial hard rock.

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Tyler Bryant and The Shakedown Announces Livestream Event, New Album Out This Week


Nashville rockers Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown will release their new album, Pressure, this week via Snakefarm Records (Spinefarm) and it promises to be strong. To celebrate the new release the band has announced an EXCLUSIVE livestream event on release day, October 16th, 2020.  This one-of-a-kind concert will take place in Nashville and will feature the band tearing through songs from Pressure, alongside additional behind-the-scenes footage. Tickets and VIP passes can be purchased below! 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Protest the Hero – Palimpsest


It appears that Protest the Hero have got some thoughts on today’s, let us say shit, political climate. When your opening track is called ‘The Migrant Mother’ it’s a bit of a tell that Palimpsest (Spinefarm Records) has some issues it wants to address. I mean, regardless of subject matter I’d still be all for Palimpsest. Come on, it’s Protest the Hero, I could listen to songs about cooking bacon as long as it’s a new album.

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The Dead Daisies Shares Unplugged Self-Isolation Version of New Single – “Unspoken”


Rock supergroup The Dead Daisies (Deep Purple, Journey, Whitesnake) just dropped their new single ‘Unspoken’ from their upcoming new album Holy Ground coming soon via Spinefarm Records! The band just shared a brand new unplugged version of the track, recorded during self-isolation due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Watch it now!Continue reading