NI Rocks Recommends

I'm not a reviewer but wanted to acknowledge some of the great music being submitted to Rock Radio NI by artists, promoters and labels both within and outside of N Ireland. That was the idea behind “NI Rocks Recommends”. I'm not giving marks or ratings, trying to categorise bands or compare artists. To be honest I’m not really a big fan of most reviews as they’re simply one person’s opinion!! Therefore “NI Rocks Recommends” is just my personal recommendation. Let's just say that if I've went to the bother of writing this, I think it's worth taking a listen to and you’ll be hearing it played on my shows on Rock Radio NI!!

October Rage  – “Outrage”

This isn’t a new album, having been initially released in September 2011, however it was sent through to Rock Radio NI this week by Head First Entertainment. The band are from Australia and are currently focusing on breaking the N American market, touring extensively for the past few months; most recently with Saliva. The band formed in 2008, recording their first single in 2009 and winning a support slot with Bon Jovi in Sydney in 2010.

I hadn’t heard the band before but I had quick listen to “Set You Free” before downloading the album from Head First Entertainment and was instantly sold. If you like your rock in the “Classic” vein this band and this album is for you. There is an infectious head shaking, foot tapping rhythm to the tracks that can’t be escaped. One of my favourites is “Reign of Fire” – a six minute epic that builds to a great guitar driven finale. The closing track of the album, the ballad “Under The Wind” also rates a particular mention.

The biography on the band’s website states that “the invasion of Europe begins” after the tour of N America. That sounds fine to me!!

Find out more at www.octoberrage.com

or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/octoberrage