"A rugged sense of musicality that doesn’t skimp on texture": Gorilla Riot make the right noises but ultimately fall short on second album Salvation By Chris Lord published 11 October 24 Southern-fried blues by way of Manchester, in need of more stardust
"A case of what might have been": The Dead Daisies revert to meat-and-potatoes type on Light Em Up By Chris Lord published 6 September 24 After inspired work with Glenn Hughes on board, Dead Daisies album seven is a step backwards
"The first thing you notice is a glaring issue with its pacing": Georgia Thunderbolts fail to rise above it all on second album Rise Above It All By Chris Lord published 23 August 24 Georgia Thunderbolts' inconsistent second album sounds like different bands battling for space
"Everything here has a distinctly box-office feel": The Warning sound bound for the big time on Keep Me Fed By Chris Lord published 1 July 24 Rising Mexican all-sister trio The Warning's fouth album is taut and assured with ample shit-kicking swagger
"It's something of a miracle that they're still plugging away in 2024": Five decades in, the metal is still good for Anvil By Chris Lord published 1 July 24 Veteran metal maniacs Anvil don’t switch things up on album 20
"I felt that if I didn't open myself up, then it might limit or hurt the songs": The Cold Stares look back on one of 2023's best albums, Voices By Chris Lord published 15 January 24 Having delivered a career highlight with Voices, The Cold Stares aren’t resting on their laurels, having already returned to the studio to work on their seventh album
The 50 best rock albums of 2023 By Fraser Lewry published 15 December 23 The past 12 months may go down in history as a period of tumult and turmoil, but on the positive side, rock'n'roll is very much alive and well – as the best 50 albums of 2023 reflect
The Myles Kennedy albums you should definitely own By Chris Lord published 19 September 23 With Alter Bridge, Slash’s Conspirators, solo and more, vocalist/guitarist Myles Kennedy has an impressive and still-growing catalogue - and these are his best albums
Every The Darkness album ranked from worst to best By Chris Lord published 31 July 23 Few bands do OTT rock’n’roll quite like The Darkness - and here’s where to start with their back catalogue
Warning: Joe Bonamassa's Tales Of Time guarantees serious gig envy By Chris Lord published 14 April 23 Recorded at Colorado’s famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the songs on Tales Of Time radiate with bluesy majesty
The Dio Album by Paul Gilbert reduces the originals to a jarring, overplayed jumbles By Chris Lord published 14 April 23 Paul Gilbert's misguided Ronnie James Dio tribute is more hell than heaven
Måneskin: "It's not our goal to convince rock’n’roll fans that we're real rock" By Chris Lord published 24 January 23 Winners of Eurovision 2021 and runners-up on the Italian X Factor in 2017, glam hard rockers Måneskin have gone from hopefuls to arena-filling stars. Here’s why they’re the real deal
October Drift grew up on Queen and Bowie: now they're climbing trees and having Anvil moments By Chris Lord published 5 December 22 UK alt.rockers October Drift hope to prove they belong somewhere with latest album I Don’t Belong Anywhere
Cardinal Black: debut albums seldom sound so impeccably assured By Chris Lord last updated 2 November 22 Compelling Cardiff collective Cardinal Black have lift-off with sublime debut LP January Come Close
Mike Tramp on singing in Danish, the demise of White Lion, and how to spoil a dinner party By Chris Lord published 5 October 22 Singing in his mother tongue for the first time, Mike Tramp shows that an old dog can learn new tricks - just don't get him started on 9/11
The Dead Daisies: taut, vibrant rock that ticks every box By Chris Lord published 30 September 22 Glenn Hughes and co shine bright with more hefty, sun-soaked rock on sixth Dead Daisies album Radiance
Jeff Scott Soto: solid but frustrating on Complicated solo album By Chris Lord published 6 May 22 AOR talisman Jeff Scott Soto keeps the hooks coming on solo album number eight, Complicated
Hardcore Superstar thrust more crotch as Abrakadabra veers toward pastiche By Chris Lord published 25 March 22 Sleazy Swedes Hardcore Superstar take the road well travelled on 12th album Abrakadabra
Is Rock Star really the worst film ever made about rock? By Chris Lord published 7 September 21 Inspired by the story of Tim 'Ripper' Owens, Rock Star featured Hollywood A-listers and a stellar cast of supporting musicians. So why was it so crushingly banal?
