“Mind Over Matter” is the latest album from Swiss band Felskinn and it was released by Rock of Angels Records (ROAR) on 16th March. This is the first album released since the band went back to the original name Felskinn, having released the previous album as Download and two earlier albums as Felskinn. The band may not be as well-known as other Swiss rock bands such as Krokus, Gotthard or Shakra, but “Mind Over Matter” is definitely an album you’ll want to check out if you’re a fan of any of those bands. The track “Close Your Eyes” was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 2nd March.
Read more: NI ROCKS Recommends "Mind Over Matter" by FELSKINN
Finnish band Shiraz Lane recently released their second album, “Carnival Days” through Frontiers Music. The band features Hannes Kelt on vocals, Jani Laine on lead guitar, Miki Kalske on rhythm guitar, Joel Alex on bass and Ana Willman on drums. I’d posted a recommendation for the band’s first album back in April 2016 and the second album is definitely worth checking out – http://www.rockradioni.co.uk/back-stage/music-reviews/3317-ni-rocks-recommends-qcarnival-daysq-by-shiraz-lane.html . To find out a little more about the band and the album I arranged to get some questions answered via e-mail. My thanks to Ana for taking the time to respond and to Gary for organising things.
Read more: NI ROCKS Interview with ANA WILLMAN from SHIRAZ LANE
Frontiers Music has an excellent reputation for releasing albums from some of the big names of rock from the 80’s and 90’s. However, they also have an ever growing collection of great young bands on their roster. One of those bands is Animal Drive from Croatia. The band released their debut album “Bite!” through Frontiers on 23rd February and I posted a recommendation for it recently – http://www.rockradioni.co.uk/back-stage/music-reviews/3315-ni-rocks-recommends-qbiteq-by-animal-drive.html . The lead singer of the band is Dino Jelusic, a former Junior Eurovision Song Contest winner who recently joined the ranks of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I was really impressed with the band’s debut album, and as I didn’t know too much about them, I arranged an interview with Dino via e-mail to answer a few questions and find out more about him and the band. These questions and answers can be read below.
Read more: NI ROCKS Interview with DINO JELUSIC from ANIMAL DRIVE
Blaze Bayley was my guest on the Friday NI Rocks Show in March 2017 when he talked in depth about the album “Endure and Survive”; the second part of the “Infinite Entanglement” trilogy - http://www.rockradioni.co.uk/interviews/3074-ni-rocks-interview-with-blaze-bayley.html . A year later, the final part of that trilogy, “The Redemption of William Black”, was released through Blaze’s own label on 2nd March. Once again, Blaze will be touring to support the release of his new album and he’ll be returning to the Diamond Rock Club in Ahoghill on 29th September. I included the track “Are You Here” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 16th March.
Read more: NI ROCKS Recommends "The Redemption of William Black" by BLAZE BAYLEY