“Phoenix” is the first album to be released by Swedish melodic power metal band Nocturnal Rites since “The 8th Sin” ten years previously. This will be the band’s ninth studio album and it was released on 29th September through AFM Records. The previous eight albums were released between 1995 and 2007. I played the track “Repent My Sins” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 22nd September.
Swedish band Debbie Ray released their second album “Slave To The System” through Metalapolis Records on 29th September; eight years after their debut in 2009. Labelled as a ‘modern hard rock’ band, they are clearly influenced by 80’s bands such as Guns n Roses and Skid Row; but the inspiration goes a bit wider than that. I included the opening track “American Nightmare” on the Friday NI Rocks Show this week (29th Sept).
Read more: NI ROCKS Recommends "Slave To The System" by DEBBIE RAY
Normally I’d refuse to make any mention of Christmas until we’ve had Halloween – and even then not until December if possible. However, I was rather intrigued with the press release from Duff Press about a Christmas album from Tarja. The album is called “From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas)” and it will be released via earMusic on November 17. The press release is provided below.
“Aerial” is the 11th studio album from Newman, the band fronted by singer song-writer Steve Newman since 1997. The albums are generally at the mellower end of the melodic rock / AOR spectrum, but well within my boundaries and I’ve always found them to be a great listen. The latest album was released on 22nd September on the AOR Heaven label. I included the track “High Tonight (Aerial)” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 29th September.