_{Off the back of the extremely successful album “Heavy Fire” and UK/European tour, Black Star Riders are pleased to announce a new worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Formed in 2012, Black Star Riders signed their first contract with Nuclear Blast Entertainment in the same year. Under the banner of the independent label, the band released three critically acclaimed albums: “All Hell Breaks Loose”, “The Killer Instinct” and “Heavy Fire”.}

_{Italian power metal band Secret Sphere celebrates the 20th anniversary of their foundation this year with the release of a new album called “The Nature of Time”. It was released via Frontiers Music on 2nd June and is the band’s first studio album of new material since 2012.  The track “The Calling” was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show this week.}

_{The description given to me by our friend Doug at New Ocean Media was “acoustic rock”, so I wasn’t too sure what I’d make of the self-titled debut album from Nashville based Edge of Free. As this is a recommendation, clearly I really liked what I heard! Acoustic rock is probably the best way of describing it – you’ll not be head-banging to it, but you’ll not dozing off listening to it either! Edge of Free are definitely worth checking out. The album was released on 19th May and I included the track “Blood Eagle” on the Friday NI Rocks Show uploaded this week.}