_{“Cheated Death” is the fifth album from American band Against The Grain, but their first with Ripple Music, and it was released on 9th February. As I’ve said before, I’m not a big fan of genre labels being assigned to bands, and it seems Against The Grain might be of the same mind as the music ‘press’ seem to have problems labelling them. I’m sure someone will come up with a label to cover a hybrid of speed-metal, punk, rock, doom and thrash! On their Facebook page the band refer to it as “gear-shifting rock ‘n’ roll”. Whatever you want to call it, I like it! The title track “Cheated Death” was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 2nd February.}

_{“Conqueror’s Oath” is the second album from American metal band Visigoth and it was released on 9th February through Metal Blade Records. The band has a sound that is instantly agreeable – blending influences from the classic NWOBHM scene and the US Power Metal scene. I included the track “Warrior Queen” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 2nd February and then “Steel and Silver” on the Show on 16th February.}

_{A few years ago I posted a succession of recommendations for albums by Chicago-based bands. I can’t recall as many recently, so this one is perhaps overdue. The Outfit hail from Chicago and they released their self-titled debut album through Pavement Music on 2nd February. It came to us via our friends at Palmer Turner Overdrive and I played the lead-off single “Soldier Boy” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 26th January.}