The Celtic metal warriors who are Darkest Era
Read more: LIVE REVIEW: Amon Amarth Darkest Era - From The Viking Pit
“Worlds Entwined” is the fourth studio album from Scar For Life, the band founded by guitarist Alexandre Santos in 2008 and it is released through Escape Music on 29th August. The band also released a compilation album last year. There have been numerous line-up changes during the lifespan of Scar For Life and the most recent brings a local interest in the form of Rob Mancini, the new vocalist who also wrote all the lyrics for the tracks on the album. Mancini took up residence here some time ago after fronting German bands Hotwire and Crush. He has remained busy recording and producing and released his solo album “Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus” in 2011.
Read more: NI ROCKS Recommends "Worlds Entwined" by SCAR FOR LIFE
Few people are likely to have heard of X-Drive ahead of the release of their debut album “Get Your Rock On” by Frontiers Records on 22nd August. The band were brought together to record the album in 2013 and got signed to a worldwide deal in the process. What caught my eye in the press release was the involvement of Burning Rain (and Montrose) frontman Keith St John on vocals. Anything involving St John is always worth checking out, and that proved to be particularly true with X-Drive. “Get Your Rock On” is a fantastic debut and hopefully it’ll be followed up by live performances and more albums.
Read more: NI ROCKS Recommends "Get Your Rock On" By X-DRIVE
Sometimes you know just what to expect from an album and you’re relieved that it delivers exactly that expectation when you play it. From the opening seconds of the first track through to the last, “Space Invader” delivers what you expect from Ace Frehley. And in my humble opinion that can only be a good thing. Regardless of their position on the debate about the strengths of the various Kiss line-ups, the Hall of Fame and the on-going war of words most Kiss fans (or at least those of my generation) will acknowledge the strength and timelessness of the Kiss albums from the 1970s. When I listen to Ace Frehley’s solo albums I always get that 70’s Kiss vibe, perhaps with a more modern twist, but undeniable never the less.
Read more: NI ROCKS Recommends "Space Invader" By ACE FREHLEY