_{Eric Martin, the frontman for Mr Big, returns to Belfast on 26th October to play a solo acoustic show in The Empire Music Hall. I’d posted an e-mail interview with Eric back in 2013 ahead of a previous appearance in Belfast, but was keen to chat to him to talk about recent events and future plans. I eventually managed to catch up with Eric for a quick phone chat just before sound-check at his show in Birmingham on 21st October. You can hear that interview on the Friday NI Rocks Show for 26th October which is available on our MixCloud page - https://www.mixcloud.com/NIRocks/interview-with-eric-martin-on-the-friday-ni-rocks-show-on-26th-oct-2018/}

_{We talk about the solo tour, the late Pat Torpey, the recent Mr Big live album, a new Mr Big release and tour in 2019, a potential solo album, recording with Avantasia and more.}

_{“Helltown” is the third album from Cincinnati band Electric Citizen and it was released on 28th September by RidingEasy Records. Electric Citizen are a rock outfit built around a husband and wife team and features the amazing vocals of Laura Dolan. They’ve been labelled as stoner, psychedelic or doom metal. I’d posted a recommendation for their previous album in 2016 and I should have a track from the new album on the Friday NI Rocks Show next week!}

_{“Begin” is the self-released debut album from English rock band Emperors of the Wasteland. It was released on 21st September 2018. The album was sent to us by our friends at BJF PR but you can find a link to purchase it on the band’s website. The track “See You Again” was featured on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 3rd August, followed by the track “Mickey Finn” on 31st August.}

_{“Firesign” is the sixth studio album from Swedish band Dynazty and it was released by AFM Records on 28th September. The band has been around for more than ten years, expanding their fan base and working with a number of record labels. This is their first album with AFM Records and it also signals a change in direction musically. Dynazty have stated that the album is their “most creative, dynamic and inspired album yet” and their “strongest effort so far”. Three tracks have been featured on the Friday NI Rocks Show so far – “Breathe With Me” (3rd Aug), “The Grey (7th Sept) and “Ascension” (5th Oct).}

_{“Atomic Highway” is the latest album from American band DC4 and it was released on 21st September via HighVol Music. The Californian based band features three brothers and the four musicians are, or have previously been, members of bands such as Armored Saint, Dio and Odin. This is the band’s fourth full length studio album. The track “Something In My Head” was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 19th October.}

_{Swiss band Maxxwell self-released their fourth album, “Metalized”, on 21st September. The band has been around for about 12 years, but this new album marks a change of direction with the guys aiming to shift more towards metal than rock. The album came to us through our friends at Rock n Growl Promotion and so far we’ve included the track “Back Again” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 28th September and “Hurricane” on the NI Rocks A-Z Show on 16th October.}

_{“Life On Ares” is the second album from German stoner rock band Plainride and it was released on 21st September by Ripple Music. The names of the band members are a good indication that they have a sense of humour and the album itself provides plenty of entertainment. The single “El Coyote” was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 28th September.}

_{Chris Impellitteri is widely considered to be one of the best guitarists on the rock scene, but it would probably be fair to say that he doesn’t have the same high profile as many others. Last week the band Impellitteri released their eleventh full length album since forming in 1987 and once again it is full of great solos and riffs from Chris as well as powerful vocals from Rob Rock. I spoke to Chris on the phone for about thirty minutes on 17th October and chatted about the new album, future plans, his custom made Charvel guitar, musical influences, working with the late Pat Torpey and much more. You can hear that interview and four tracks from the new album “The Nature of The Beast” on the Friday NI Rocks Show from 19th October that is now on our MixCloud page - https://www.mixcloud.com/NIRocks/interview-with-chris-impellitteri-on-the-friday-ni-rocks-show-on-19th-oct-2018/}

_{Australia’s leading international independent record label, Golden Robot Records continues to grow at an unprecedented pace. The label is absolutely thrilled to announce that globally revered, Billboard-charting rock icons KING’S X are now part of their ever-growing international roster. KING’S X recently signed a global deal with Golden Robot Records which will see their long-awaited forthcoming new album released worldwide in 2019 via Golden Robot Records’ partners in the U.S., Europe and Japan.}

_{“Phantoms of the Past” is the debut album from Dream Patrol, a Slovakia based band that features a multi-national line-up with members from Austria, the USA, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The album was released on 21st September via Mighty Music. The single “Get Back Home” was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 3rd August and the track “Dream Patrol” is included on the Show on 12th October.}