SiX By SiX, the progressive power trio comprising Ian Crichton (Saga), Nigel Glockler (Saxon) and Robert Berry (3.2), recently announced the release of their sophomore album ‘Beyond Shadowland’ on InsideOutMusic on April 26th, 2024. The band reconvened in Berry’s own Soundtek Studios in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2023 to bend, shape, hammer and caress their diverse musical talents into 11 impressive new tracks. With this album, they continue to define and build upon their unique melodic space, welding guitar-driven rock, metal and prog into a unique and powerful sonic setting.
*Check out the band’s new video for the song “Obiliex”:
”‘Beyond Shadowland’ will be available as a Limited CD Digipak, Gatefold 180g Black 2-LP (featuring 4 exclusive bonus tracks) & as a Digital Album. The artwork was once again created by Rob Fowler.
*Check out the video for the first single “The Arms Of A Word” –
1.Wren 2.The Arms of a Word 3.Can’t Live Like This 4.Obiliex 5.Only You Can Decide 6.Titans 7.Outside Looking In 8.Spectre 9.Sympathise 10.One Step 11.The Mission
*Vinyl-only bonus tracks: 1. SiX By SiX Orchestra Medley 2. The Arms of a Word (Instrumental) 3. Honor Bridge 4. The Mission (Instrumental)
American rockets ANGEL have released a new video for the title track to their latest album. The album ‘Once Upon A Time‘ came out last year, but the band has just put out a video for the title track while they are preparing to tour (starting) in April. Angel is also being rejoined by bass player Felix Robinson, who been with the band for the later 70s (playing on 3 studio albums + Live Without a Net) *Check out the video for track “Once Upon A Time An Angel Fell in Love”, and check out the tour dates & links below.
ANGEL on Tour: APRIL- PUNKY- FRANK- FELIX (April Only) TOGETHER AGAIN. April 5th – Wildey Theatre April 6th – SOLD OUT! – Wildey Theatre – April 10th – Sellersville Theater PA. April 12th – Rome Capital Theatre NY with Ace Frehley. April 13th – Carteret Performing Arts Center NJ with Ace Frehley. MAY ANGEL DATES May 12th King Of Clubs – OH May 14th The Vogue – Indianapolis IN May 16th Shank Hall- WI May 17th The Back Bar – Janesville WI May 18th Arcada – Chicago IL May 19th The Token Lounge – Westland MI. May 21st – The Winchester Music Tavern – Lakewood Ohio. Angel – Japan Dates July 12th &13th – Daikanyama UNIT, Tokyo July 14th – Legend Hall, Nagoya July 15th – Am Hall, Osak Get Tickets and Meet and Greet at www.angelbandofficial.com/tour
British band PRAYING MANTIS have a new album coming and a great new song out now. I got into this band around the time of 2000’s ‘Nowhere To Hide‘ album, and each studio release since then has been enjoyable. These guys may have been part of the NWOBHM, but they’re really more of a classic melodic-rock band/AOR with great songs, backing vocals and productions over the years. Praying Mantis has also had a cool history featuring bandmembers that went on to other well-known bands and those that have come from other classic bands, with alumni with ties to Iron Maiden, Uriah Heep, Rainbow, and more. The band has been lead since the beginning by brothers Tino & Chris Troy, and Defiance is the 4th PM studio record to feature the strong vocals of Jaycee Cuijpers, who also featured on Arjen Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution awesome ‘Golden Age Of Music‘ from last year. Aso in PM is longtime guitarist Andy Burgess (Paddy Goes To Holyhead), and drummer Hans in’t Zandt (Vengeance, Chinawhite). As always Praying Mantis’ album art awesome, looking forward to seeing the entire package. *For more info check out the press release below, as well as track-listing, tour dates, links – And the video for “Defiance”!
Praying Mantis, the iconic trailblazers of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), are delighted to announce the release of their first single, “Defiance” in conjunction with the unveiling of their highly anticipated 13th studio album.
The Album “Defiance” is set to drop on April 19, 2024 via Frontiers Music, marking a monumental milestone as the band commemorates its 50th Anniversary. Building on the success of their previous release, “Katharsis,” Praying Mantis continues to evolve their sound while staying true to their roots. Led by founding members and brothers Chris and Tino Troy, alongside vocalist Jaycee Cuijpers, drummer Hans in’t Zandt, and guitarist Andy Burgess, the band promises a collection of tracks that capture the essence of their legendary career.
“We’re thrilled to share the first single, ‘Defiance,’ with our fans,” says Chris Troy. “It sets the tone for what’s to come on the album—a perfect blend of classic Praying Mantis with a contemporary twist”.
The release of “Defiance” not only marks a new chapter for Praying Mantis but also serves as a testament to their enduring influence on the rock music scene. From powerful vocals to mesmerizing guitar riffs, the single encapsulates the band’s signature sound and unwavering spirit.
Originally named ‘Junction’, the band was formed in 1973 by brothers Tino (vocals/guitar) and Chris Troy (bass/vocals), later adding Steve Carroll (guitar/vocals) and Dave Potts (drums). Renamed ‘Praying Mantis’ in 1974, the band is a pioneering force in the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement. With a career spanning five decades, the band has remained at the forefront of the rock music scene, influencing generations of musicians with their unique sound and unwavering dedication to their craft.
As Praying Mantis continues to push boundaries and defy expectations, “Defiance” stands as a testament to their enduring legacy in the world of rock music.
“Defiance” Tracklist:
1 From The Start
2 Defiance
3 Feelin’ Lucky
4 I Surrender
5 Forever In My Heart
6 Never Can Say Goodbye
7 One Heart
8 Give It Up
9 Nightswim
10 Standing Tall
11 Let’s See
Praying Mantis:
Chris Troy
Tino Troy
Jaycee Cuijpers
Hans in’t Zandt
Andy Burgess
Tour Dates:
19th-21st April – Silja Rock Cruise, Stockholm, Sweden
Legendary Rockers BLUE ÖYSTER CULT Share New Single “Don’t Come Running To Me”+ Music Video New Studio Album ‘Ghost Stories‘ due Out April 12th via Frontiers Music Srl. Pre-Order HERE
Legendary rockers BLUE ÖYSTER CULT share the second single from their upcoming release, ‘Ghost Stories,’ out April 12th on Frontiers Music Srl. The track, entitled “Don’t Come Running To Me,” is accompanied by a new music video.
After the resounding success of their 50th Anniversary celebration, ‘Ghost Stories‘ sees the band eagerly gearing up for an exciting new chapter in their storied career. This highly anticipated album marks a fitting finale to the recording legacy of one of rock’s most iconic fixtures from the past 50 years.
In partnership with Frontiers Music Srl, ‘Ghost Stories‘ will captivate fans with a collection of reimagined and completed songs that span from 1978-2016. These musical treasures, long considered the ‘lost gems’ by BLUE ÖYSTER CULT enthusiasts, were originally recorded between 1978 and 1983, except for one track from 2016, “If I Fell.” Also included is the only known recorded performance of their concert classic “Kick Out the Jams” (MC5 cover). Some of the material is from workshopping albums, some from performance rehearsals, and all were recorded once in the hopes that someday they’d see the light of day.
As BLUE ÖYSTER CULT embraces its ‘classic rock’ phenomenon status, the anticipation for this album is reaching a crescendo. Fans are eager to experience the culmination of the band’s artistic vision and witness the completion of songs that have become part of their folklore. The band will also add some of the songs in their up-and-coming 2024 shows.
With a legacy spanning over five decades, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT continues to be a formidable force in the classic rock scene. The exciting partnership with Frontiers Music Srl and the visionary leadership of Serafino Perugino add an extra layer of anticipation to the release of ‘Ghost Stories.’ As the band bids farewell to their recording career, they do so with a flourish, offering fans a musical odyssey that is sure to leave a lasting imprint on rock history. Truly, a remarkable journey.
Work in the studio for the album was completed by Richie Castellano along with remaining original members Eric Bloom and Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and both Albert Bouchard and Rick Downey appear on drums with additional overdubs recorded by Joe Bouchard. All these original lineup members appearing on ‘Ghost Stories,’ create a musical journey that traverses decades and promises easter eggs for days.
George Geranios, the band’s original audio engineer and an integral part of the band’s golden years produced the tracks along with BÖC and all were originally recorded on reel-to-reel analog tape. He transferred them to digital audio which is when modern AI and magical musical talents meet and the collection of vintage multi-track recordings was de-mixed, re-mixed, and produced by Steve Schenck and Richie Castellano to become ‘Ghost Stories.’ The two explain the album’s amazing process HERE
Band Members & Credits:
Eric Bloom – Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Albert Bouchard – Drums, Vocals
Joe Bouchard – Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals
Old Habits Die Hard is the fourteenth studio album from the legendary British AOR rock band, FM. The album is released by Frontiers Records on Friday May 3, 2024, and available to pre-order from https://orcd.co/oldhabitsdiehard.
The first single “Out of The Blue” is now available and is available on all streaming platforms from https://orcd.co/fmoutoftheblue.
Released to coincide with the band’s 40th Anniversary (1984 – 2024), vocalist, guitarist and founding member Steve Overland says, “the new album encompasses the best melodic elements of the band’s illustrious 40-year spanning career.
‘We really looked at what made the most popular FM albums great and tried to focus on that,” says Steve about the new album Old Habits Die Hard.
FM are known by many for their big choruses, twin lead guitars and Steve Overland’s intimate, yet powerful vocals, and clean guitar sound. Following 2022’s Thirteen album, Old Habits Die Hard was delayed slightly by keyboard player Jem Davis’ cancer diagnosis (thankfully he’s now received the all-clear) and then by the sudden passing of FM’s founding guitarist Chris Overland (Steve’s brother), which hit the band hard.
“Chris’s passing came out of the blue and it was devastating,” says Steve. To add insult to injury, close friend of the band and long-time collaborator of Jim Kirkpatrick, guitarist Bernie Marsden passed away just two days after Chris.
The tragedies that plagued the band through the recording process only reinforced FM’s resolve and desire to make the best album that they could to represent their 40 years in the business. The new album is also a fitting tribute to Chris Overland.
Over the past 12 months, during their extensive touring schedule, FM produced the album themselves and recorded the bulk of it at their own Dale View and Electric Pepperland recording studios.
Opening track and first single “Out of The Blue” was a song that originated from keyboard player Jem Davis. Says Jem, “the band love the music of Toto and Foreigner and so I tried to put those influences into one track. ‘Once Steve got involved and started singing it, I knew that we were onto something special.”
“Out Of the Blue is a song that old school FM fans will really latch on to,” says Steve. “So far, the reaction to the track has been amazing.”
The album continues with the rocker “Don’t Need Another Heartache” an AC/DC meets Foreigner anthem with an infectious chorus. ‘This song will probably be in the live set for the 40th anniversary tour as it’s one of our favorites from the album,” explains drummer and founder FM member, Pete Jupp.
“Whatever It Takes” and “No Easy Way Out” are typical FM melodic tracks and could fit seamlessly on to one of the bands earlier classic albums. Bass player and founder member Merv Goldsworthy explains, “No Easy way Out has the big typical FM chorus. It’s a massive hook. The kind of thing that we’ve become known for. It’s one of my favorites on the album.”
The heavier side of the album is represented by “Lost,” “Another Day in My World,” and “Leap of Faith.” Whilst more hard hitting, these songs embody the catchy melodic choruses that FM are known for.
“Cut Me Loose,” “California,” and “Blue Sky Mind” are poppier, more feelgood tracks. “Blue Sky Mind” was conceived again by keyboard player Jem Davis who originally wrote the song about his experience with his cancer diagnosis. ‘That song really was therapy for me. It was important that I got it out of my system and into music,” says Jem.
“Black Water” is a brooding, bluesy track that grows and grows. ‘This is a real favorite of mine,” says FM guitarist,Jim Kirkpatrick. “I could hear Brian May playing the guitar solo, so I pulled out my Brian May signature guitar and tried to do my best impersonation of him. Hopefully I got somewhere close.”
Track Listing 1. Out of the Blue 2. Don’t Need Another Heartache 3. No Easy Way Out 4. Lost 5. Whatever It Takes 6. Black Water 7. Cut Me Loose 8. Leap of Faith 9. California 10. Another Day in My World 11. Blue Sky Mind Production Credits Old Habits Die Hard Produced by FM, Mixed by Jeff Knowler, Mastered by Jim Griffiths at Principal Audio Photography by Paul Stuart Hollingsworth
Recorded at West3 Productions, Tremelo, Electric Pepperland, Morsecode Studios, JK Studios *All songs written by – Overland/Goldsworthy/Jupp/Davis/Kirkpatrick
SAXON have put out a new video for the track “Madame Guillotine”, taken from Hell, Fire And Damnation. The song is the 3rd single from the new album, and was co-written by Biff Byford and new guitarist Brian Tatler (Diamond Head) and it’s penned about the infamous torturing device, best known for its use in the French Revolution between 1789 and 1799.
“Both this and the title track songs are written by me and Brian actually, and this is very ‘Saxon’, so much as I don’t think anybody else could pull that off,” comments Byford. “I sung it as if the guillotine is a person, that the actual guillotine has a bit of a conscience. I love the groove, it’s got a great groove!”
Saxon are currently touring in support of the new album, with a co-headlining tour of the US (with Uriah Heep), starting next month.
Welsh singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist John Sloman has a new single out from his forthcoming album Vaudeville. This is the 2nd single from Vaudeville, check out “Ice Cream Man” (bottom). A video and (album) release date are coming soon, but check out the title track here…
The artwork for Vaudeville, is once again done by designer, photographer and videographer Callum Fernandes Clarke, and using photography by Jeff Moh (RIP). Callum did the cover art for John’s excellent 2022 album Two Rivers, as well as doing covers for Walter Egan, Osibisa, and others.
John is also getting ready to release his 2nd book. According to John it will be a continuation of his first one, and there will be a 3rd book as well! If you did not read “Lost On Planet Artifice” you need to! One of the best rock autobiographies out there! Tons of stories, ups and downs, and honest recollections of a guy who’s had a long and most interesting career, having played with and connected with many legendary acts. John shares an update on his upcoming book below:
“I’m still editing the book which is called ‘Kontradamus’. But I plan to release it sometime in the next few months. It’s a dystopian satire set in the future (with some autobiographical threads running through it). I began working on it while waiting for my album Vaudeville to be released (which was delayed throughout last year and is still yet to be released), and eventually ended up with a follow up to ‘Lost on Planet Artifice’. This new book is a more ambitious venture as it’s my first attempt at a novel format but with some reality sewn into it.”
Internationally acclaimed guitarist, and singer songwriter Erja Lyytinen has released a live video of “Black Ocean” to dovetail her Diamonds On The Road 10-date UK tour in April 2024. Tickets are available fromhttps://erjalyytinen.com/tour.
The forthcoming UK tour is named after Erja’s live album Diamonds On The Road, that was originally released by Tuohi Records in October 2023. The album is available on Double CD, vinyl and digital HERE.
“I can’t wait to tour the UK in April,” says Erja. “2024 has kicked off at full speed. We’ve been doing shows on Finnish National TV and then we began our full Diamonds on The Road tour across Finland. We have performed at numerous rock clubs and theatres.”
“Right now, we are rehearsing for my first Symphony Orchestra gigs that will be held in a concert hall in Lohja, Finland. I’ve always loved The Moody Blues album “The Days of Future Passed” which was recorded together with the London Symphony Orchestra, so it’s very cool to get my own compositions arranged for a full orchestra.
Continues Erja, “This Spring will be an interesting ride! We will be visiting Australia and performing at the world-famous Byron Bay Blues Festival, which I am very much looking forward to, as I have never played there before.
“Finally heading to my favorite country, the UK for a 10-date tour with my band. We will be also playing in Scotland, where we haven’t played since 2019. It will also be wonderful to return to the HRH Blues festival after many years. I can’t wait to enjoy a pint in the local pubs during these two weeks and pop in to all the tea rooms I can possibly find!”
Some may argue that music is born in the studio, but it comes to life and evolves when performed live on stage. With a live album, there is no safety net. You get one shot at capturing those perfect moments and preserving them forever. Erja Lyytinen’s live album Diamonds On The Road is evident of this.
“When playing live, you’ve got one moment to get it right, and then the moment is gone,” says Erja. “There is no correcting stuff later. It is very raw and exciting to play and sing at the same time. The adrenaline runs through your body, and everything around you affects your performance. Diamonds On The Road marks Erja Lyytinen’s fourth live album, and follows on from Songs from the Road, Live in London, and Lockdown Live. The new album is the first concert release from the gifted guitarist to capture the post-Covid live experience. Diamonds On The Road is available to purchase HERE.
“Diamonds on the Road was recorded towards the end of our Spring tour in March 2023,” says Erja. “We played ten shows in a row, of which eight were sold out. The band had a good flow going, and the songs were rolling nicely.”
photo- Elsa Wellamo
Diamonds on The Road showcases Erja and the band doing what they do best, playing concerts for their fans. “I have always loved performing live, but now, I enjoy playing even more and saying this on behalf of my band; I think they do, too. Performing live is stronger, more relaxed, and empowering. I´m grateful to be a guitarist and singer who is giving her best for the audience each night. It is the best thing you can do with your pants on,” concludes Erja.
ERJA LYYTINEN – DIAMONDS ON THE ROAD, APRIL 2024 UK TOUR
AXEL RUDI PELL’s New Album ‘Risen Symbol’ to be released June 14, 2024, via Steamhammer/SPV
No doubt about it: The world would be a much poorer place without AXEL RUDI PELL! On his 22nd (!) studio album ‘Risen Symbol’, the Bochum-based guitarist and songwriter continues to fly the melodic hard rock flag without watering down his style with pseudo-modern stylistic variations or expendable studio gimmicks. At the same time, he is constantly looking for new influences, exciting inspirations, and catchy hooks. One of the best things about ARP’s anthems is that they are perfectly tailored to the charismatic voice of frontman Johnny Gioeli. The American vocalist is one of the most eminent rock singers worldwide and, together with PELL, former Rainbow drummer Bobby Rondinelli, and the two longstanding ARP members Ferdy Doernberg (keyboards) and Volker Krawczak (bass), has been an integral part of a perfectly oiled machine for more than ten years, wowing fans and media alike.
‘Risen Symbol’ will be available on Steamhammer/SPV from June 14, 2024. For all those who can’t wait, 3 April 2024 will see the arrival of the lead single “Guardian Angel” followed on May 22, 2024, by “Darkest Hour”.
Track List:
1. The Resurrection (Intro)
2. Forever Strong
3. Guardian Angel
4. Immigrant Song
5. Darkest Hour
6. Ankhaia
7. Hell’s On Fire
8. Crying In Pain
9. Right On Track
10. Taken By Storm
‘Risen Symbol‘ will be released on June 14th, 2024
via Steamhammer/SPV in the following configurations:
Band: Johnny Gioeli – Lead and Backing Vocals, Axel Rudi Pell – Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Ferdy Doernberg – Keyboards, Volker Krawczak – Bass, Bobby Rondinelli – Drums
Outsider Rock 