Steve Hackett has released a new single/video from his forthcoming album The Circus and the Nightwhale which will be released on 16th February.
Steve says of the track: “People of the Smoke spins us all back in time to 1950, when bustling post-war London was stifled with smog from trains, chimneys, industry and smokers. I was born into that world! This song kicks off an album following my life’s journey both literally and metaphorically…”
The new album is available to pre-order on several different formats, including a Limited CD+Blu-ray mediabook (including 5.1 Surround Sound & 24bit high resolution stereo mixes), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 180g Vinyl LP & as Digital Album. All feature the stunning cover painting by Denise Marsh. Pre-order now here: https://stevehackett.lnk.to/TheCircusAndTheNightwhale
Steve will celebrate the release of his new album with two HMV instore events in London & Birmingham, where he will be taking part in a Q&A and signing albums. Find out more details on those here: https://ow.ly/HUaT50Q7paJ
Just in time for the season and with a nod to Friday the 13th’s mystical charm, British blues-rock prodigy Joanne Shaw Taylor unveils her spellbinding new single “Black Magic,” a blues gem perfect for whimsical nights. Crafted alongside Kevin Shirley, the iconic producer, at the legendary RCA Studio A in Nashville, this new track is the fruit of a collaboration with stellar artists such as Rob McNelly, Doug Lancio, Alison Prestwood, Jimmy Wallace, and Anton Fig.
“I originally wrote the music for my album ‘Nobody’s Fool’ and intended for it to be an instrumental called ‘Butterbeer Blues,’” Joanne recalls. “But then, I decided to give it lyrics and transform it into a fun, traditional acoustic blues song. Hopefully I succeeded and you’ll enjoy the rootsy vibe!” The lyrics unfold a tale of entrancement, spellbinding love, and the mystique of attraction, all delicately wrapped in Joanne’s signature guitar brilliance.
For more information and to purchase tickets for Joanne’s upcoming tour, visitjoanneshawtaylor.com/tour.
Tour Dates Friday, October 13 – The Castle Theatre – Bloomington, IL Sunday, October 15 – Memorial Hall – Cincinnati, OH Tuesday, October 17 – Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA Wednesday, October 18 – District Live at Plant Riverside – Savannah, GA Friday, October 20 – Arts Bonita, Center for Performing Arts – Bonita Springs, FL Saturday, October 21 – Kravis Center – West Palm Beach, FL Sunday, October 22 – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Friday, November 10 – Davidson Theatre at the Riffe Center – Columbus, OH Saturday, November 11 – The Kentucky Center – Louisville, KY Sunday, November 12 – Playhouse Square – Cleveland, OH Tuesday, November 14 – Riviera Theatre – North Tonawanda, NY Thursday, November 16 – The Flynn – Burlington, VT Saturday, November 18 – Smith Opera House – Geneva, NY Sunday, November 19 – The Egg – Albany, NY Tuesday, November 21 – Keswick Theatre – Glenside, PA Wednesday, November 22 – The Cabot – Beverly, MA Friday, November 24 – Capitol Center for the Arts – Concord, NH Saturday, November 25 – Capital One Hall – Tysons, VA Sunday, November 26 – The Beacon Theatre – Hopewell, VA Tuesday, November 28 – Carolina Theatre of Durham – Durham, NC Wednesday, November 29 – Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA
Canada’s CATEGORY VI are releasing their 3rd album Firecry this week. For those who like heavy metal produced with big sounding guitars up front , solid production, powerful vocals, melodies, and songs that are lyrically and musically interesting – think Judas Priest, Saxon, Dio, and some NWOBHM influences. Best tracks include “Valkyrie”, “Heavy Is The Crown”, “The Cradle Will Fall”, and the title track . There’s also a lively version of Heart’s classic “Barracuda” to end this 9 track set, which rocks aggressively full-on from beginning to end, with only a few brief intros that let up on the gas. Aside from the band’s official videos (below), also check out the band’s track by track promo videos, hosted by singer Amanda Jackman. Cool cover art by Ivan Radnic
*For more info, check out the press release, bio, and links below!
“Firecry” is their third album and most accomplished release to date “Firecry”. From the initial flickering flame of “Firecry” to the final cinders of the absolutely combustible cover of HEART’s classic “Barracuda”, CATEGORY VI delivers true and classic 80’s heavy metal with utter perfection. “Firecry” boasts a crisp, clear, and scorching modern production that does not distract from the band’s true 80’s metal sound.
Lyrically crafted around themes of personal pride and triumph (Valkyrie, Heavy is the Crown), witchcraft persecution (Firecry), women’s strength (She Runs With Wolves) & their excellent live performances (Coven), these concepts are boldly and powerfully delivered by the soaring vocal excellence of Amanda Jackman. Bolstered and fueled by the powerful stainless steel riffs and catchy melodies of guitarist Geoff Waye, the pounding anvil bass of Keith Jackman, and the thunderous steadfast drumming of Brian Downton, CATEGORY VI brings classy and classic 1980s power – Traditional Heavy Metal into the 21st century with blazing glory.
To close out one of the best heavy metal albums of the decade, CATEGORY VI delivers an immaculate true metal, yet the radio-friendly cover of the chart-topping Heart classic “Barracuda”. With “Firecry”, CATEGORY VI unleashes a global scale climate-changing metal cyclone that just may melt the North American frozen tundra with its blazing power metal.
Track Listing: 1. Firecry 2. Valkyrie 3. The Vultures Never Came 4. She Runs With Wolves 5. Heavy is the Crown 6. Coven 7. The Cradle Will Fall 8. Burning Bridges 9. Barracuda (Heart)
Band Line Up (album): Amanda Marie Jackman: vocals Geoff Waye: guitar Keith Jackman: bass Brian Downton: Additional drums Jason Williams: session drums
Band Bio:
Hailing from the misty shores of the northeast Avalon, Category VI formed in early 2010. The band brings something new to the local Newfoundland metal scene as they are the only female-fronted melodic metal band in the province! Category VI has performed live in St. John’s actively since 2010 with other local hard rock and metal bands as well as with touring bands Including NAIL and ANVIL and to date has released two full-length albums.
The band self-released their first full album “Fireborn“ in January 2014. The album received plenty of praise and great reviews on both the local and international levels. Two music videos (“Reborn“ and “Silence befalls the crowd“) were produced for the album. “Silence befalls the crowd“ has been released 4/28/2017 on the DVD “Kill For Metal Vol. I“, a compilation of videos of label-mates on the KILLER METAL RECORDS label. The band has performed regularly for over 7 years at many venues.
Not long after the release of “Fireborn“, CATEGORY VI signed to Killer Metal Records. The band spent most of 2015 writing and perfecting material for their second album “War is Hell”. Recordings for the album took place throughout 2016 and wrapped up in June 2016 at Redhouse Recording in St. John’s, NL. Album mixing was done in the summer/fall of 2016 and mastering was completed in early January 2017 by Lacquer Channel Mastering in Toronto, Ontario. “War is hell” has been released globally as of June 9, 2017. The album was nominated for hard album of the year for Music NL and was favourably reviewed by several press outlets.
The band played several shows in 2017-2018 until pausing to write the 3rd album. Then, without a permanent drummer, and with the pandemic, the band was in hibernation. The band has now emerged from the shadows with a new drummer and with the third album FIRECRY ready to be released in 2023 via Moribund Records.
Bill Squier, who released such classic ’80s albums as Don’t Say No, Emotions In Motion and Signs Of Life, is returning with a new record after years of being out of the music business. Following 1993’s Tell The Truth, Squier was done with Capitol Records, and would record just one more album – 1998’s Happy Blue, an acoustic album on J-Bird Records, before seemingly disappearing.
But in the past months there’s been signs of a return and finally a confirmation. Longtime friend and bass player Mark Clarke posted on his facebook page (accompanied by a new photo) back in November that he’d been in the studio with Billy, recoding a new song. They’ve also posted brief snippets of new music titled “Give Her A Kiss”. (Now on youtube)
A few days ago, an announcement came from Eddie Trunk – “Psyched to announce I will be world premiering the first new full band / electric Billy Squier song in about 20 years! March 7th 3:30P ET on #TrunkNationSiriusXM 103 Faction Talk or SXM app. And Billy will join me for an exclusive live interview to discuss it! Do not miss it! As a lifelong fan excited for this and honored Billy is breaking it on my show. Billy Squier“
So, finally new music from Billy Squier will come out! Now, if someone would reissue a few of the later albums on vinyl!
Outsider Rock 