Author: Mark Ellis

Mark has had a long association with all things rock and metal. Back in the 80's and 90's he was a rock DJ in and around clubs in West Yorkshire. Since then he has taken up with his "other" passion Photography and gig going. He can now be found in the photo pit at many of the North of England's concert venues.

TESLA ‘Shock”

Tesla are fully charged and have released an electrifying new LP. Clearly influenced by their producer, Phil Collen (DEF LEPPARD) this release is somewhat more polished in its sound than their earlier LP’s, but that’s not to say it’s a bad thing. There are still the trademark vocals from Jeff Keith and of course Frank […]

THE LAZYS ‘Tropical Hazards’

Formed in 2006, the Lazys have been paying their dues in true rock and roll style all over Australia for many years now. Having relocated to Canada they have released an LP which follows up on their 2015 Canadian Top 10 singles ‘Shake It Like You Mean It’ and ‘Black Rebel’. In the words of their press […]

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH ‘And Justice For None’

The multi-platinum hard rock band Five Finger Death Punch, have announced that they will be releasing their highly anticipated seventh full-length studio album, And Justice For None, on May 18 via Eleven Seven / Sony Music Australia. Fans can expect two additional songs to be revealed on April 20 and May 4 before the official album release of And Justice For None on May 18. Previously […]

THE DEAD DAISIES “Burn It Down”

We are used to high production perfect albums these days, so it comes as a refreshing change to listen to this new LP from The Dead Daisies. It’s a raw, balls to the wall, kick ass slice, of good old-fashioned, blues-based hard rock. Got you tempted? Well, you should be … It is clear that this […]

THUNDER ‘The Stage’

On March 23, Thunder will release a brand new live set ‘Stage’ through earMUSIC.   ‘Stage’ features hits from right across the band’s career and includes fan-favourite classics like ‘Backstreet Symphony’, ‘Low Life In High Places’ and ‘Love Walked In’ and brings things right up to date with tracks from the 2017 Top 3 UK […]

SAXON ‘Thunderbolt’

Will they ever give up .. not a chance Saxon are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Their latest release ‘Thunderbolt’ see them move away from the more harder offerings of ‘Sacrifice’ (2013) and ‘Battering Ram’ (2015) and back to the NWOBHM roots that we all know and love. Age seems to have no […]

Live Review & Photos: GEOFF TATE at Rebellion, Manchester on 21/01/18

Its a cold and miserable night in January and the UK weather is doing its best to put everyone off from going outside, but still the Queensryche faithful were not deterred and Rebellion is packed to the rafters in anticipation. Geoff Tate’s bringing the 30 year anniversary tour of this seminal album to the UK […]

MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST “Resurrection”

Michael Schenker is back and this time he means business, whilst tipping his hat to the past, he is also showcasing his new found confidence and desire to move forward. He has put together a band that brings together some of the finest musicians he has ever worked with, alongside vocalists Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, […]

EXTREME at O2 Academy Leeds on 16/12/17

Extreme is back in the UK on tour with Dan Reed Network, and it’s a tour you certainly didn’t want to miss. Dan Reed Network may have been the support band tonight, but they played like headliners. Dan Reed took over the stage tonight completely owning it with his dancing and charm. With such a […]

Live Review + Photos: LEPROUS and AlithiA at The Dome, London

Tonight saw the dawning of a new age for this reviewer. Having only ever heard about Leprous, Agent Fresco and AlithiA after being asked to cover the one-off London show, I went along with an open mind and a brief listen through of the Malina LP from Leprous. Opening the show were Norwegian three-piece Astrosaur, […]

KEE OF HEARTS “Kee of Hearts”

Formed around two true melodic rock superstars: Tommy Heart, singer of Fair Warning and Kee Marcello (former Europe guitarist), Frontiers SRL have done it again. Kee of Hearts rock your socks off from the outset, add in Ken Sandin (ex-Alien) on bass and Italian drummer Marco Di Salvia (Pino Scotto), and you have one hell of […]

Amplified Festival 2018

Amplified Festival announces 2018 dates, band applications and Early Bird Ticket sales. Gloucestershire based Amplified Open Air Festival will return in 2018 on a slightly earlier date than the 2017 edition and the organisers couldn’t be happier. Festival founder Gary Paterson said about the Festival: “2017… Did it go according to the plan? Well if […]

[LIVE REVIEW] EVANESCENCE and Arcane Roots at Eventim Apollo, London on 14th June 2017

It has been a while since the Arkansas, Grammy award winning phenomenon, hereby known as Evanescence, have been here in the UK. Slotting in 2 sold out shows during their European festival run, the British audience were privileged to see the new re-rejuvenated band at their finest. Opening the show were Arcane Roots, a three-piece alternative rock band from Kingston […]

[ALBUM REVIEW] CHEAP TRICK ‘We’re All Alright’

There are very few bands that can hold the claim that they are continually working and touring with the same lineup that started “back in the day”. Cheap Trick is one of those exceptions. True, they do have a new live and recording drummer in Daxx Nielsen, son of guitarist Rick Nielsen; however, they still count founder member […]

[ALBUM REVIEW] LOVE ZOMBIES ‘Passion Fruit’

First discovered by many at Download 2015, Love Zombies, formed by songwriters Hollis Mahady and Davey Fitzsimon create a distinctive brand of pop, punk and new wave with a strong 60’s/70’s influence channelling the likes of Blondie and The Ramones. Their debut album highlights that fact that this band are dedicated to their craft and […]

[ALBUM REVIEW] MICHAEL MONROE ‘The Best’

In the leather-bound history of heartfelt rock ‘n’ roll, not only will Michael Monroe have at least one chapter all to himself, but his name will be colourfully threaded throughout, such has been his impact, his appeal and his ongoing never-surrender story; a powerful, inspirational tale told in detail on ‘The Best’ – the first […]

[ALBUM REVIEW] DIAMOND HEAD ‘Death and Progress’ / ‘Evil Live’

Formed during 1976 in Stourbridge, West Midlands, Diamond Head are often heralded as one of the founding members of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). Whilst achieving a good deal of success in their former years, the band, unfortunately, for many, never really achieved the potential that had promised so much in the […]

[ALBUM REVIEW] FATES WARNING: Awaken The Guardian Live

Band: Fates Warning Album Title: “Awaken The Guardian Live” Record Lable: Metal Blade Release Date: 28th April 2017 In November 1986 Fates Warning released their seminal LP “Awaken The Guardian”. Cited by many bands including, Dream Theatre, as the founders of the Progressive Metal Genre, they have gone on to produce some truly outstanding albums […]

[LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS] SNAKECHARMER and Rebecca Downes at The Bingley Arts Centre. 7th May 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_masonry_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1494512537343-7d95270c-af84-9″ include=”54316,54315,54320,54317,54319,54324,54325,54326,54327,54329,54331,54332,54333,54339,54341,54342,54343,54344″][/vc_column][/vc_row] On the second date of their latest UK tour, Snakecharmer played the intimate venue of Bingley Little Theater. The venue may have been small but the band played like they were in an arena! Opening the show tonight was Rebecca Downes. Here is a woman with a powerful voice and a blues-rock […]

[ALBUM REVIEW] KOBRA AND THE LOTUS: Prevail I

Three years have passed since Kobra and The Lotus released their last studio album “High Priestess”. This time has been extensively used and so the Canadians with three albums in the bag already and worldwide tours with artists such as Kamelot, Sonata Arctica, Delain and Demon Hunter. Kobra and The Lotus have now reached the most important […]

[ALBUM REVIEW] ROYAL HUNT: 2016

Join the celebration of Royal Hunt‘s 25th Anniversary! Following the tradition of two successful DVD releases – “1996” and “2006” – it´s time for a third one: “2016”. Recorded with 9 HD cameras and top-notch audio equipment in Moscow´s “Izvestiya Hall” during the band´s last year´s world tour the video shows “all-fab-things-Royal”: high energy show […]

[ALBUM REVIEW] SNAKECHARMER: Second Skin

The supergroup Snakecharmer was originally founded in 2011 by former Whitesnake members Micky Moody and Neil Murray along with the perfect mix of high calibre musicians including Laurie Wisefield (Wishbone Ash), Harry James (Thunder, Magnum), Adam Wakeman (Ozzy Osbourne), and Chris Ousey (Heartland). The band’s debut self-titled album was released in 2013 and musically the […]

[ALBUM REVIEW] THE DEAD DAISIES: Live and Louder

THE DEAD DAISIES Live and Louder album cover

“Anyone want to review the new Dead Daisies live album?” Hell yeah, I was straight onto this sucker. To say that “The Daisies”, as they are affectionately known to their fans, are a supergroup is an understatement. Brian Tichy (Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner) – drums, David Lowy (Red Phoenix, Mink) – guitars, John Corabi (Mötley Crüe, The Scream) […]

[LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS] THE MAGPIE SALUTE at Under The Bridge, London

The Magpie Salute London

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Magpie Salute Under The Bridge London 12th April 2017 The Magpie Salute have set-up in residency at Under The Bridge for 4 nights, bringing their unique style of good old-fashioned rock and roll swagger to the UK. Formed from the ashes of The Black Crowes, Rich Robinson, Marc Ford and Sven Pipien have put […]

[ALBUM REVIEW] WHILE SHE SLEEPS: You Are We

Hailing from Sheffield, England, While She Sleeps have worked hard to live up to the legacy of some of the great artists that have emerged from the “Steel City”. Releasing their first EP in 2010 and with subsequent LP releases in 2012 and 2015 they have become one of the UK’s leading forces in Metalcore. […]