CD Reviews

Albums Of The Year...

Rory Sullivan — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:39:14 +0000

Twenty years ago, I never thought (although hoped) that the music scene would be so healthy, vibrant and varied as it is today. People like to knock the 80’s, but in that one decade, the pop music scene peaked in pretty much all genres of music (well apart from Chamber music and Punk maybe).

Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone

Rory Sullivan — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:46:08 +0000

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What better way to test out my new eleven speaker, pro-logic surround sound car stereo, than with the fourth studio album from Iowa’s finest, Slipknot. ‘All Hope Is Gone’ certainly makes for a suitable lyrical template for Slipknot and it proves that they themselves, have plenty of hope musically speaking.

The first thing that my new stereo emphasised to dramatic effect, is the crystal sonic splendour achieved by Slipknot’s acute technical excellence, captured perfectly by producer Dave Fortman and in Colin Richardson’s final mix.

Joe Bonamassa - Sloe Gin

Mike Blackburn — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:34:30 +0000

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With each new release, Joe Bonamassa demonstrates an ever increasing maturity in his music, and 'Sloe Gin' is no exception: this is easily Joe’s finest release to date!

Gwyn Ashton - Prohibition

Owen Edwards — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:52:33 +0000

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Welsh born Aussie slide guitarist Gwyn Ashton has played hundreds of gigs all over Europe and built a strong career since basing himself in the UK. 'Prohibition' is his fourth solo album release and features the venerable Sensational Alex Harvey Band and Michael Schenker rhythm section comprising Chris Glen (Bass) and Ted McKenna (drums), as well as current Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey.

Chris Francis - Studs n' Sisters

Owen Edwards — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 10:41:43 +0000

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Chris Francis is a man who should need no introduction to ardent regulars at AOG, as both a contributor to the lessons and as an impassioned performer at the London Guitar Shows and the two Allout Guitarfests.

Aynsley Lister - Upside Down

Owen Edwards — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:41:40 +0000

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British Blues ace Ansley Lister has been steadily building a successful career for several years now, and is one of the key members of a new generation of UK blues guitarists. With hundreds of live shows under his belt and five previous albums to his name, the advance publicity on this album was that Ashley was making a real stylistic departure from the more straight ahead blues of his earlier albums.

Alter Bridge - Blackbird

Rory Sullivan — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:39:31 +0000

I have looked forward to Alter Bridge’s second release ‘Blackbird’ with some relish and on first listen I was not disappointed. Whether the content was actually any good or not didn’t really matter on first listen, all that mattered was that I got to hear a first class four piece Rock band – such a rare commodity these days. Off the top of your head, think of ten such bands that are present and fresh… so you’re stuck on three then!

Orson - Culture Vultures

Rory Sullivan — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:38:12 +0000

Yeah Yeah, I know they’re not the typical guitar orientated stuff that we normally have at AOG, but hear me out. I have mentioned this before and I will again, but if there ain’t no song, it’s all for shit. Twiddle away with as many tri-biphonic semi-inverted plu-morphic mode-shift derivatives as you like, but that is just sport.

Symphony X - Paradise Lost

Rory Sullivan — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 11:25:30 +0000

Symphony X – Paradise Lost

Myself and Owen from AOG have always maintained that Symphony X were a ‘Fully Evolved’ band right from their conception. They sat around a table and agreed that their musical vision shall be just like it still is today – fully evolved, over dramatic, brutally sonic, technically perfect, mythically enlightened, progressive metal leaning towards an epic battle scenario. I imagine that if Zeus owns an i-pod, then Symphony X will command his ‘My Favourites’ playlist.

Andy James - In the Wake of Chaos

Mark Robinson — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:54:56 +0000

I’ve been eagerly anticipating this album along with many other fans of the instrumental metal genre. Those who have seen Andy at music shows will know that his ability to play technically extreme material with an incredible tone and superior authority can be somewhat mind-boggling. Judging by the gathering crowds around any stand Andy was playing at during the LGS, it would seem that I’m not alone in being impressed.