We don’t post album “reviews” but we do play a lot of new releases on the Friday NI Rocks Show each week. These are some of the albums / EPs released this month that we’ve featured tracks from over the past few months; or are likely to feature over the next few weeks. This month we focus on releases from Black Stone Cherry, The Gems, Tyketto, Venus 5, Dark Heart and Timeless Rage.

 

 

BLACK STONE CHERRY – “Celebrate” – Mascot Records 6^th March

Black Stone Cherry released a 7-track EP called “Celebrate” on 6^th March. There was a special promo feature with Chris Robertson talking about the EP on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 6^th March. This included the tracks “Caught Up in the Up Down” and “Deep”. Previously, the track “Neon Eyes” featured in Sept and Oct 2025, “Celebrate” in November and December and “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” featuring Tyler Connolly on 16^th Jan. The track “Neon Eyes” also appeared on the NI Rocks A-Z Show on 3^rd March.

 

Black Stone Cherry have released 8 studio albums between 2006 and 2023 and this is their third EP, following on from “Black to Blues” vol 1 and 2 in 2017 and 2019. The band return to Belfast on 29^th October to play the Telegraph Centre.

 

Website - https://www.blackstonecherry.com/

 

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THE GEMS – “Year of the Snake” – Napalm 13^th March

Second album by Swedish trio The Gems. Six tracks have featured on the Friday NI Rocks Show since March 2025 when “Live and Let Go” was included. The others were “Year of the Snake” (Sept), “Hot Bait” (Nov), “Firebird” (Jan), “Gravity” featuring Tommy Johansson (13^th Feb) and “Happy Water” (13^th March)

 

The three band members were all previously in Swedish band Thundermother – vocalist Guernica Mancini, guitarist Mona Lindgren and drummer Emlee Johansson.

 

Website - https://www.thegems.se/

 

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TYKETTO – “Closer to the Sun” – Silver Lining Music 20^th March

“Closer to the Sun” is the sixth studio album from Tyketto and the third from the modern era. I’d pre-ordered the sunburst vinyl with signed print and CD. The track “Higher Than High” was featured on the Friday NI Rocks Show in November and January, “We Ride” on 27^th February and “The Brave” on 10^th April.

 

This is the fifth Tyketto album for founding member, vocalist Danny Vaughn (as he didn’t sing on “Shine” in 1995). Keyboard player Ged Rylands and bass player Chris Childs are also joined by new guitarist Harry Scott Elliott and drummer Johnny Dee.

 

The band play The Empire in Belfast on 27^th November.

 

Website - https://www.tyketto.com/

 

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VENUS 5 – “March of the Venus 5” – Frontiers 20^th March

The second album from Venus 5, a collaboration that involves five different female vocalists from around Europe. They are Tezzi Persson from Sweden who fronts Hell in the Club and Infinite & Divine; Karmen Klinc from Slovenia; Herma from Italy who fronts Sick N’ beautiful; Jelena Milovanoivc from Serbia and Erina Seitllari from Albania.

 

The title track was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 20^th February, followed by “Like A Witch” on 10^th April.

 

Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/Venus5Music

 

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DARK HEART – “Evolution” – Pride & Joy Music 27^th March

The third album from NWOBHM band Dark Heart, following on from their debut “Shadow of the Night” in 1984 and a self-titled album in 2021 when they reformed. The track “Light of the Flame” was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show in January and “Cold Winter” featured on 10^th April.

 

Singer Alan Clark was the guitarist in the original 80s lineup. Guitars and keyboards are provided by Nick Catterick. Guest drummer is Pete Newdeck, who also produced the album and the bass player is Josh ‘Tabbie’ Williams.

 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DARKHEART.ROCK

 

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TIMELESS RAGE – “My Kingdom Come” – Metalapolis 27^th March

Second album from German power metal band Timeless Rage, but the first with new vocalist Nicolaj Ruhnow. The band formed in 2012 and released an album called “Untold” in 2022. The track “A Vampire’s Legacy” was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show in January, followed by “Moonbrite Serenade” on 10^th April.

 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/timelessrageofficial