_{In a few of the album recommendations that I’ve posted recently, I’ve noted that the band was celebrating the 20th anniversary of their formation. German band Pink Cream 69 actually celebrate their 30th anniversary this year, and they do so with a great album called “Headstrong” which was released through Frontiers Music on 10th November. I included the tracks “Man of Sorrow” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 20th October and “We Bow To None” on 17th November.}

_{Primal Fear has marked the twentieth anniversary of their formation this year with the release of two compilations. Back in June they released “Angels of Mercy – Live in Germany”. On 10th November, once again through Frontiers Music, they released “Best of Fear”, a double album featuring 23 tracks from the last ten years and a few new recordings. I don’t always write recommendations for live albums or ‘best of’ albums, but with this post I’ll now have done so for both Primal Fear albums this year! That’s a fair indication of how much I like the band! I included the new track “Predator” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 17th November.}

_{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.}