_{Sometimes you just know you’re going to love a band’s new album even before your hear it, and Shakra is one of those bands. From about ten seconds into their latest album “Snakes & Ladders” I knew I wasn’t going to be disappointed. The eleventh studio album from the Swiss rockers was released through AFM Records on 10th November. “Snakes & Ladders” is the band’s second album since the return of lead vocalist Mark Fox in 2015. I included the single “Cassandra’s Curse” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 10th November and “The End of Days” is on the Show this week.}

_{The Dark Element is the new band featuring former Nightwish vocalist Anette Olzon and they released their self-titled debut album through Frontiers Music on 10th November. Anette has teamed up with Finnish guitarist Jani Liimatainen who was formerly with Sonata Arctica. With that artistic backbone, you get what you’d anticipate – a great symphonic metal album! I played the track “Dead To Me” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 3rd November.}

_{You never really know where you’re going to hear Jeff Scott Soto singing next – on a solo album, with his band SOTO, in W.E.T., Sons of Apollo, Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) or guesting on someone else’s album. Regardless of where though, you’re always guaranteed a fantastic vocal performance. “Retribution” is his latest solo album and it was released via Frontiers Music on 10th November. I included the first single “Inside, Outside” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 22nd September and the follow-up “Feels Like Forever” on the Show on 3rd November.}