Top 10 Rock Albums of 2015

Its hard to do a list when Rock covers such a broad spectrum of music types. Here goes for my faves of 2015....

1. Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls
If it wasn't enough for Bruce Dickinson to be struck down with cancer, Iron Maiden produced their most extravagant album in their history. Theres good reason it sits at the top of many a poll this December, its a great album

 

2. Eclipse - Armageddonize

Erik Martensson's Eclipse are at the other end of the melodic rock spectrum to Blood Red Saints. More raw power and edge to their music, they are the 2015 Oxford Dictionary meaning of 'anthemic rock'. Not a shit song on the album, its slayed me from the off. A HUGE album!

3. Clutch - Psychic Warfare
If you thought that 2013s Earth Rocker was a belter then Psychic Warfare continued where it left off and then some. Full of huge riffs, Clutch do it without much fuss and make it seem oh so easy.

 

4. Thunder - Wonder Days
Theres probably good reason why they broke up a few years back. Their return has been a great one. Wonder Days is their best since their debut. Wonder Days (the song) is one of THE BEST songs in its own right in 2015. 

 

5. Steven Wilson - Hand.Cannot.Erase
Wilson is probably Britain's finest export of Prog Rock. Scrap that, just rock in general. He has been positively scintillating since the demise of Porcupine Tree, and Hand.Cannot.Erase goes from Prog to metal and back (in just one song). Its bleak, broody, moving, heavy, industrial and most of all immersive. 

6. Amadeus Awads Eon - Death Is Just A Feeling
Awad continues his great journey, this time bringing in stalwarts Arjen Lucassen and Anneke Van Giersbergen on top of Ostura's Elia Monsef. Its a complicated concept piece, telling a compelling story. An enlightening piece of work  

7. Blood Red Saints - Speedway
Its a contrast to the joint winner of my 2015 list, but BRS are more 'classic' 80s AOR than anyone else on this list and they are a brand new band. Thanks to the dulcet tones of Pete Godfrey, and the superb songs (no fillers here folks) they deserve all the plaudits. Superb 80s slice of AOR

8. Romeos Daughter - Spin
OK its not exactly an AOR album as such, its a defining album for Romeos Daughter. They could have given up the ghost since reforming , but like their friends FM, they choose to plough through the field and make new music that is probably their most consistent and best work to date. They should be the darlings of Radio 2, but for some reason are overlooked, and that is a huge travesty.

9. FM - Heroes And Villains
  I am a tad biased when it comes to my beloved FM, but they wouldn't be in here if it wasn't any good (my proof - the disappointing Overland Ousey album). FM are in a very rich vein of form and this is one of their best pieces of work and sits close behind Indiscreet and Tough It Out, its that good!

10. Screaming Eagles - Stand Up And Be Counted
Looking for an AC/DC size hole to fill in 2016 (which is most likely thir last year) then Screaming Eagles are ready and waiting like a rock Polyfilla waiting to fill that hole for ya! Huge riffs, great songs, great singer.







Others worth a definite mention and JUST missing out on a Top 10 place are....
Age Sten Nielsens Ammunition - Shanghaied
V0id -  Keep Fighting
Tremonti - Cauterize
  

Blood Red Saints Live Review - Railway Venue Bolton 4.12.15

Blood Red Saints are one of the many melodic rock bands on Perugino Serafino’s Frontiers Label. It's where most of the decent melodic rock bands are gathered nowadays. Some are greats, some not so, and there’s also some indifferents, with the odd turkey thrown in for good measure! Hey you cant be 100% consistent in your approach.  I would like to predict that Blood Red Saints, on the basis of their new album, and this gig, could soon be up there with the ‘greats’.

The album review can be read here – http://rocklandreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/blood-red-saints-speedway-album-review.html

Although other reviews are available, terms and conditions apply.

It wasn’t exactly a sold out show as it was a ‘free’ ticketed event. I suppose it was a ‘free-out’ show!

I learned three things from last nights gig….

1.   The bloke working the controls is a Catholic (I’ve seen less smoke when a Pope is being elected!). At various points, Pete Newdeck disappeared.

2. Pete Godfrey is funny as fuck!

3. Blood Red Saints were on fire, and are definitely going places (OK it should be 4 points)

Anywho, by the time they took the stage, the room, and adjoining rooms were packed to the gills. The Railway is a cracking little set up, but for a short-arse like me, you have 2 options. Either get great sound near the middle to back and see bugger all, or get down the front and sacrifice some of the sound quality. I went for the latter and chose well.

Immediately you can tell that Godfrey is a good singer and also a funny frontman, engaging, and I imagine a top bloke. They have also dragged a keyboard player off the streets of Lancashire - one Invin Parratt (Arabia / Rage of Angels).

BRS kicked off with the opener from Speedway , in the very powerful ‘Kicking Up Dust‘. Its part Dokken, thanks to Lee  Revill’s Lynch-esque guitar playing. I suppose in a way, its ‘In Faith Mk2’ (but new and improved).  That is purely down to the sounds of Godfreys vocals. That aside, its not just about Pete!

Right from the off, they look as if they are a band that are professional but are not taking life seriously which immediately rubs off on their audience. The songs are tight, with lots of in-between banter. ‘Mercy’ live is what makes BRS stand out from the crowd of AOR wannabees. Led by Godfrey, the other 4 guys all weigh in with a heavy wall of sound. FFS they even have a singer in his own right playing the drums (Pete Newdeck, he of many, many bands).  Its 5 part harmonies on a huge scale. ‘Best Of Me’ is one of the best ballads that you will here this side of Xmas, smooth as velvet, it also has the now patented ‘BRS 5xH’ sound!    

A curve-ball is thrown into the mix where they play one of their fave bands songs. That is Signal’s ‘Does It Feel Like Love’ which is setting up their show for later on. Not all the songs from ‘Speedway are played tonight which is a little strange, but the highlight for me is my fave from the album, and that is the menacing ‘Dangerous’.

More of the BRS influences come to the fore for the last quarter of their blistering set. First, Godfrey called this guy a ‘God’, and he is spot-on, certainly in ref to his or should I say, THE voice, and its FMs ‘Face To Face’. A song that FM have dropped the last couple of years, it makes a surprise and welcome return here. Pete Godfrey does a great job. Barrie Jackson (he of Rob Naylors last outfit, Angels Or Kings) jumps up to the stage, all be it with a certain apprehension to sing Bon Jovi's ‘Runaway'. Considering both bands have the same approach to their music, both singers couldn’t be further apart in their sound. For the finale, BRS also call upon Steve Kenny (AoK) for Whitesnakes version of the classic ‘Here I Go Again’, the proper Hobo version!

‘Twas all soon over, and everyone in attendance witnessed a band in the ascendency. Those who attend HRH AOR in March will witness one of the bands of the festival, of that I’m very certain.

(Pics courtesy of Jeff Price)