01. Decay 02. I’m No Good at Name Calling 03. Just to Let You Know 04. Forfeit

This Broken Sky (available in it’s entirety for free from their website http://www.fireproofmatch.com) is the band’s first release. It comprises of four superbly crafted, intelligent, melodic rock songs.

Opener ‘Decay’ sets the scene for the rest of the EP; soaring, melodic and a hell-of-a-lot of noise from just three people. Kirsty (lead vocals and guitar), Euan (vocals and bass) and Ali (vocals and drums) all sing to create rich harmonies and counter melodies throughout.

Second track ‘I’m No Good At Name Calling’ is my personal favorite; it features vocals from all three. Kirsty’s female vocals, while not necessarily possessing the widest range, more than compensate the listener with a huge amount of power and personality. She is more than ably backed up by brothers Ali and Euan who both have great tone and, if circumstances were different could easily front bands in their own right.
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01. Stand for Something 04:06 02. You Can’t Stop It 03:53 03. Electric Avenue 03:10 04. Calling All Stations 03:34 05. Corrupted 03:36 06. Who Are You 05:04 07. Days Like These 03:36 08. Invincible 03:58

Firstly before we start I’m a huge Skindred fan, they were one of the first bands that got me into metal. I first heard of Skindred when I played on Need for Speed Underground 2 and I was completely blown away by the idea of Reggae mixed with metal. It’s something that’d never really been tried before and actually sounded amazing, so ever since hearing that song I’ve stuck with the band.

‘Shark Bites and Dog fights’ is Skindred’s third proper album and in my eyes this is the band taking a Golden ticket into the big league. It’s my favorite Skindred album for a few reasons; number one is the catchy choruses which after one listen of the album any person can pick up. Number two is the fun energetic feeling that the band put into the music - you can dance to Skindred, mosh to Skindred, fall asleep to Skindred and even have sex to Skindred, They’re the ideal band for every occasion. Another thing I like about this album is the heaviness, believe me when I say tracks like ‘Calling all stations’ and ‘Stand for something’ are 2 of the heaviest tracks I have ever heard. Sure it may have techno influences like Pendulum and The Prodigy but some of Skindred’s material is harder than… Slayer in my opinion!
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01. In the Midnights 05:34 02. Whitewater 03:21 03. Mercy and Grace 03:50 04. Death Renames the Light 03:34 05. Anchors 05:40 06. Long Road to Late Nights 01:46 07. Trenches 03:36 08. Reviver 03:42 09. Caving in Spirals 04:21 10. The Deserter 04:22 11. Waterhaul II 05:04

36 Crazyfists are one of the wonders of the metal world to me. I don’t understand how this band isn’t huge; they have everything you could possibly want from a metal band. Aggression, melody, variety, clean and screamed vocals, hooks, riffs to make your head explode and loads of technical ability. Every 36CF album had been at least a solid 8/10 with no filler at all and this album is no exception. It is clear to me that 36CF could hit the big time with this album and head to the big league among bands like: Slipknot, Lamb of God and KoRn.
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01. Wake Up 04:33 02. The Battle Of Hatin 05:40 03. Revolution On My Mind 04:25 04. Insects 06:04 05. Who I Am 05:15 06. New Disease 04:19 07. One More Time 04:02 08. In The Temple Of Ram: Rise Of The Bugs 05:41 09. Forever 04:38 10. Guerra Del Sol 06:22 11. Zombie 05:30

Breed 77 have just released their 5th studio album entitled ‘Insects’ and I have to say it took me a couple of listens to really sink my teeth into it. The band calls their music a “fusion of alternative metal and flamenco” which in some ways best sums up the band. The band originated from Gibraltar but moved over to England under a band name called the ‘Gibraltarian Mafia’. They were well known for their fast paced guitar solos mixed with rough vocals and flamenco style acoustic riffs on some of their songs.

When I first thought of Flamenco metal I was expecting the likes of Brazilian groups Soulfly, Nailbomb and Sepeltura but buy was I wrong. When opening track ‘Wake up’ kicks in with its demented clock chiming effects it sends shivers down your spine before all hell breaks loose with a very distorted and doomy guitar. The Lyrics are mesmerising, the mind-blowing stop/start whaling at the beginning that kicks into a fast paced chant sounds like something you would find at a sacrificial meeting.
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01. Apple Tree 04:16 02. Left Behind 03:56 03. Picture Perfect 03:19 04. Memory Skyscraper 03:36

Barely six months old and Altered Sky are fast becoming a known name around the Edinburgh and Glasgow area with their lively gigs and professional outlook to producing music.

Professionalism is one of the many words that comes to mind upon first listening to the Scottish Alt-Rock band’s first EP; We Can’t Stand the Silence. For a band still in its infancy this EP sounds great; the sound quality is very high, the music is full of energy and it’s already clear that each member is exceptionally talented.

The band’s sound can probably be best described as alternative rock, but on each song there is a subtle yet definite progressive influence, especially on the EPs finale, ‘Memory Skyscraper,’ which to me is the most impressive track.
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01. It’s Not You 02:55 02. I Get Off 03:04 03. Bet U Wish U Had Me Back 03:43 04. Innocence 03:16 05. Familiar Taste of Poison 04:04 06. I’m Not An Angel 03:15 07. What Were You Expecting 03:34 08. Love/Hate Heartbreak 03:19 09. Better Sorry Than Safe 03:12 10. Dirty Work 03:17 11. Nothing to Do with Love 03:30

When it comes to female fronted rock Halestorm are the newbies in the cherry bush. Theyre heavy, melodic, musical and the singer is fitter than any woman in metal and rock I have ever seen. Chill. Its a contributing factor.

Anyway Halestorm have juet released their debut self titled album, which I woud use this sentence to sum it up: “The shining example in Female Fronted Metal”. Halestorm are in their own Leauge when it comes to releasing unique albums. They do far better than bands like Paramore, Evanesecene, Epica and and Delain who in general are just disappointing compared to the mighty Halestorm.

To start, Halestorm combine your heavy side of music with your smooth and melodic type vocals. It’s no shitty choir backing or cello based band its pure fucking metal. You’ve got crushing distorted guitar riffs, amazing pounding drum hooks, you can hear the bass coming through in most of the songs and you have one of the best front men/women singing over these amazing tunes. What else can you ask for? This album just goes to show that metal musicians can write, play and record music just as well as any pop shit that out there at the moment.
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01. Let it Die 06:05 02. Let Me Hear You Scream 03:25 03. Soul Sucker 04:34 04. Life Won’t Wait 05:06 05. Diggin’ Me Down 06:03 06. Crucify 03:29 07. Fearless 03:41 08. Time 05:31 09. I Want More 05:36 10. Latimer’s Mercy 04:27 11. I Love You All 01:04

The Prince of Darkness is back once more with an album which blows the previous one out of the water. Yet another hard rocking, ball breaking, classic Ozzy album to add to the top of the heavy metal pile. With every album Ozzy brings out comes something new and unique, what better way to carry on the tradition by introducing a new guitarist to the band. Lady’s and gentlemen please may I introduce you to Gus G. The man, who made ‘Scream’ so heavy and shredding, it puts this album into a league of its own. Prepare for a blast from the past as Ozzy is back with a fast paced, crushing album that takes us back to early Randy Rhoads era material. Hell yeah!

Firstly a bit about Mr G, well he is part of our editor’s favourite band ‘Firewind’. We haven’t seen a lot from that band for the past 2 years as he has been touring with Ozzy and writing material with him. He took over from Zakk Wylde, who wasn’t a very happy bunny when he knew Gus G was replacing him. He also has his own signature ESP model of guitar and directs music videos. Well what do you know; he does a hell of a lot of stuff. Now, on with the album.
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01. Feel My Heat 04:46 02. One More Time 03:36 03. Badass 04:04 04. Love Machine 03:44 05. Beautiful Bomb 03:12 06. Romance 03:16 07. Sex 04:02 08. Back To Paradise 03:56 09. So Yeah!! 03:26 10. Wild Touch 04:08 11. Born To Rock 03:29

Ready, steady, go. Thats what ran through my mind as I pressed the play button on my iPod. I’d been told from ‘that other magazine’ that Reckless Love were a bit of a joke. A bit like them really dirty jokes which your Granddad tries to tell about tits and sex but they never seem to be funny. But being the opened minded guy I am, I decided to check them out, and I have to say I am pleased with the final product. Finland’s motley crue wannabe quartet have delivered an album that, to quote one of the songs, is ‘A Badass Baby and is Hotter than fire’. Hell yeah!

We fly off to an Epic start with one of the best opening tracks I’ve ever heard. ‘Feel My Heat’ is a party anthem if anything. From its sing along stadium choruses to its fast energetic guitar solo you are guaranteed a fun time when this tune hits the stereo. We then move swiftly on through the album hitting amazing tunes like: ‘One more time’ ‘Badass’ ‘Beautiful bomb’ and ‘Romance’ which up the party vibe just like seeing a smashed toddler chugging down a can of relentless. It takes you back to the good old days when house parties ruled and nobody gave a dam about STD’s. How I wish I lived back then.
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01. Voices 04:33 02. Falling Free 04:43 03. Start Again 05:31 04. Pieces Of Puzzles 03:57 05. Bittersweet 05:24 06. She Sleeps In Madness 04:59 07. In This Moment 03:22 08. Give In To This Love 04:09 09. Before This 03:54 10. Hole In My Head 05:37 11. Leaving The End Open 05:46

In 1992, a band named Hardline released their debut album ‘Double Eclipse’. It was a stunning piece of work consisting of twelve well-crafted, polished hard rock songs reminiscent of the big boys of the time such as Skid Row and Van Halen. Not only that, but their personnel consisted of what would be described as a supergroup; the rhythm section was comprised of Journey’s Neal Schon, as well as bassist Todd Jensen and drummer Deen Castronovo, whose impressive CVs list performing and recording with Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Vai, Marty Friedman and Alice Cooper among others. The core of the band, however, was in the Gioeli brothers; frontman Johnny and guitarist Joey. The duo’s previous bands had achieved underground success on America’s West Coast before – with the help of Poison’s Bret Michaels – breaking attendance records on the Sunset Strip. From the ashes of these acts came Hardline, and their first offering. With such achievements already under their belts, what stopped this troupe of long-haired musos from taking over the world? The answer is simple and one-worded: Nevermind.

After Sir Cobain had slain the dragons of hair metal, the group inevitably dissolved (despite never exactly being part of such a movement). Its members went on to find pastures new, Johnny becoming vocalist for German metal maestro Axel Rudi Pell as well as SEGA-endorsed band Crush 40, creating soundtracks for Sonic the Hedgehog games on the Dreamcast. In 2002, the brothers – the only original members – created a new Hardline album, ‘II’. Mixed in with not-as-memorable-as-their-first-record hooks were what the singer called ‘natural progressions’ – progressions into sub-Disturbed nu-metal thumpers. It wasn’t really what Hardline were all about, but it showed they could still capture some of the magic that blessed their killer debut and weren’t afraid to take risks either.
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01. There she goes again 03:28 02. Devil of a man 03:15 03. Love to love 03:59 04. Mona Lisa smiled 04:29 05. Halfpenny dancer 04:07 06. I can’t stop loving you 04:23 07. Roses & Rings 04:56 08. Baby its you 03:15 09. Hello 04:38 10. Pretty girls 03:56 11. He’ll have to go 02:57 12. Long time comin’ 03:01 13. Have a drink with me 03:35 14. Hates to please 05:15 15. King of New York 06:08

Where to start with The Quireboys, well firstly ‘Halfpenny Dancer’ is definitely a well-deserved album title. From a band who has brought us great albums in the past like ‘A Bit of What You Fancy’ and ‘Bitter Sweet and Twisted’, it’s very hard for me to say this, but I’m really disappointed. There’s just no balls and style to the music anymore. They’ve taken songs that could be good if plugged into an amp and played loud, and turned it into simple acoustic songs, which is a departure from their usual style and may put off some fans.

It doesn’t take a clever person to see that The Quireboys have gone safe with this album. The songs are simple, the lyrical themes have no depth or inner meaning to them and worst of all The Quireboy’s songs have lost their fun edge. I’m not joking when I say this. Who plays a bloody fiddle and violin in a good old fashion Rock ‘n Roll band? Well looks like The Quireboys have tried this method, and it’s added to the failure of this album. Is the band getting to old for this job or is Halfpenny just a blemish in The Quireboy timeline?
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