KENS DOJO (Norwegian guitarist/songwriter/producer – Ken Ingwersen) has a new single out – “Symphony Of Life”. It’s an instantly likeable hard rocker, with a memorable chorus & title, and comes with a cool video (below). Aside from writing it and performing guitar on the track, Ingwersen also handles bass And does a fine job on lead vocals. The drums were handled heavily by Bjørn Olav Lauvdal (ex STREET LEGAL).
British rockers FM have a new single out today from their upcoming album Old Habits Die Hard, which will be released May 3.
“Heartache draws influences from the bands love for bands like free and Bad Company,” says FM’s lead singer Steve Overland. “It’s a straight-to-the-point, classic blues rock track.” ‘This song will probably be in the live set for the 40th anniversary tour as it’s one of our favourites from the album,” explains drummer and founder FM member, Pete Jupp.
Check out the new video for “Don’t Need Another Heartache” below, as well as links, lyrics and ordering in the video description.
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION have a new single/video from their forthcoming album ‘BCC V’ due out June 14. The song features Glenn Hughes on lead vocals. Check out the video below. BCC V can be pre-ordered at – https://joeb.me/StreamRedSun
German guitarist AXEL RUDI PELL and his band have released the first single/video from their forthcoming album ‘Risen Symbol‘, due out in June. Check out the clip for “Guardian Angel”, as well as links and info in the video description.
Swedish rockers NESTOR were an instant success a few years ago with their debut single “On The Run” – which featured a classic 80s theatrical video; this was followed up with another great song and video for “1989”, and a 3rd dramatic video for the ballad “Tomorrow” (featuring Samantha Fox). The full album – ‘Kids in A Ghost Town‘ came sometime later and was an awesome set of 80s influenced & inspired hard-rock and AOR. So, we finally get a new song, new video, and announcement of the band’s 2nd album – ‘Teenage Rebel‘. Check out the press info below, as well as the new video, album tracklisting,pre-ordering link, tour dates, and band links!
Get ready to embark on a journey through time as rising 80s rock purveyors NESTOR announce their electrifying, long-awaited new album, ‘Teenage Rebel’, via Napalm Records on May 31, 2024. Hailing from the vibrant music scene in Sweden,NESTOR takes you straight back to the golden age of rock music, wearing influences ranging from Bon Jovi and Aerosmith to Journey and Foreigner on their denim sleeves. NESTOR turns back time and reigns supreme as one of the hottest newcomers of modern rock music, with millions of streams on Spotify and hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube to boot. They’ve shared stages with the almighty Alice Cooper, greats like Def Leppard or Europe, and were even supporting the legendary KISS in Stockholm on their 2022 stadium tour. Now, NESTOR returns in full force with their newest single “Victorious” – an anthemic masterpiece combining powerful vocals with dynamic instrumentals, promising to creep into the listener’s head and lead as a fan favorite at their energetic live shows. The track is accompanied by one of the band’s trademark high-quality official videos, which occurs as a cinematic short film of incredible production value – so crank up the volume to pure nostalgia levels!
NESTOR about “Victorious”: “’Victorious’ is about following your heart and refusing to give up! This device has been a guideline since we started back in the late 80’s and it feels great to sum it up in a song like ‘Victorious’.”
Having formed in 1989 only to fall into hibernation over three long decades, NESTOR emerged stronger than ever in 2021 with their debut album, ‘Kids in a ghost town’, marking the band’s triumphant return to the spotlight and captivating fans with their timeless sound and unmatched energy. The new album, ‘Teenage Rebel’, sets off with a captivating intro-monologue spoken by Danish voice actress Freya Miller, creating a retro, rebellious atmosphere that sets the mood for the album and prepares the stage for the opening track “We Come Alive” – a true blast of an opener. Rhythmic guitars create an exciting backdrop for the gripping vocals of frontman Tobias Gustavsson, leading towards an incredible guitar solo by guitar hero Jonny Wemmenstedt. The album’s title track, “Teenage Rebel”, convinces with tight riffing and an anthem-like chorus honoring the tradition of 80s hard rock. “21” is a wild ride celebrating the ease of youth. NESTOR also proves their ability to shift from big stadium anthems to their emotional side on tracks like “Caroline”, convincing with a catchy melody and passionate vocals, while Wemmenstedt demonstrates his insane skills once again as he tops the song with another stunning solo. Touching ballads like “Last To Know”, “Daughter” and “The One That Got Away” present an even more vulnerable facet, reaching straight for the listener’s heart with yearning lyrics, while tracks like “Addicted To Your Love” and “Unchain My Heart” celebrate love, youth and the joy of being naïve. NESTOR on their new masterpiece: “The album ‘Teenage Rebel’ takes place in the glory days when we were young, confident and the future was filled with endless possibilities but also how we reflect on these days today. In many ways, it’s the sequel to ‘Kids in a ghost town’ and we can’t wait for you to hear it.”
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
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.”
Troy Redfern releases “The Calling” single ahead of Headline UK Tour
Troy Redfern’s rockin’ new single was released March 1. It is taken from the upcoming album Invocation, to be released May 17. Check it out! STREAM SINGLE (or watch the video).
“Redfern has written excellent new songs that define his unique style as one of the most exciting blues artists in Britain.” – Raw Ramp
“Troy Redfern is dynamic, powerful and one of the best slide guitarists around today.” – Music News Invocation is the title of the highly anticipated new 11-track album from slide guitar virtuoso Troy Redfern. The album, released by RED7 Records on Friday 17th May 2024, is now available in limited edition colored vinyl, black vinyl, plus two different CD cover artwork designs. All formats are available to pre-order from www.troyredfern.com.
The fourth single “The Calling” is available on Spotify HERE. The IRSC code for the single is UKHDU1600077.
Says Troy, “‘I’ve always wanted to write a slow motion, epic kind of a tune. The Calling was a song that was born out of that desire. This song is about escaping the technological net we all live in, and to get out into the wilderness to reset and get perspective on what’s important in life.”
Troy has proved time and time again that his cup of inspiration is not only full, but runneth over, writing and release albums at an unprecedented pace and judging by the strength of “The Calling” and the three previous singles “The Strange,” “Getaway” and “The Fever,” the forthcoming album Invocation, promises to be his best yet. Over the course of last two albums The Fire Cosmic (2021) and Wings of Salvation (2022) Troy found his true voice stylistically in terms of writing and playing, but with Invocation he created a collection of outstanding new songs that carves out his own identity as to who he really is an artist.
Troy head to the west Wales coast with his trusty 1929 National Triolian resonator guitar for a week of solitude in a remote Sheppard’s hut to sketch the initial song ideas for the new album.
“It was important for me to clear my mind of all distractions so I could really focus on what I wanted to write on this album and the direction I wanted to take it in,” says Troy.
“I tried some unorthodox approaches to song writing that included meditation where I would imagine hearing a song in my mind, as complete as possible including visualizing the performance live. Next, I would pick up the guitar and capture the idea on my phone. That way I wasn’t led by what I would usually do when I pick up the guitar. It was a very freeing, powerful experience, and a discipline that I’ll use again to write more songs in the future.“
With Invocation Troy explores fresh musical territory, from the heavy, bone crushing slide riffs and big sing along choruses on “Van Helsing” and “Getaway” to the evocative, wind-swept western landscapes of “The Native” and “Blind Me.” After three albums in three years Troy continues to expand his musical horizons and keep his creative fire burning.
Outsider Rock 