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 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 Shakra, Ricky Warwick, Stormbringer, Airbourne, Tygers of Pan Tang, Paul Laine, Storm Force, Stryper and Europe.
SHAKRA – “Just Live Loud!” – Frontiers 4th Sept
Shakra are undoubtedly one of my favourite bands and one that I’d love to see perform live, but they unfortunately rarely tour much beyond Switzerland and Germany! The Swiss band released their fourteenth studio album on 4th Sept and it’s another great one!
So far six of the tracks have featured on the Friday NI Rocks Show – the title track “Just Live Loud!” in May and June, “Left Outside Alone” featuring Seraina Telli in June and July, “Wasteland Warriors” in July, “Demon of the Night” on 4th Sept, “When We Were Young” on 819 and “Another Day in the Universe” on 18th Sept
Website - https://www.shakra.ch/en/
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RICKY WARWICK – “Fire & Vengeance” Earache Records 4th Sept
The tenth solo album from local musician Ricky Warwick since 2003. Ricky has also fronted The Almighty, Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders. I had pre-ordered the signed, gold vinyl edition from Earache Records. Ricky Warwick & The Fighting Hearts play The Limelight in Belfast on 8th Nov.
Seven of the ten tracks from the album have been included on the Friday NI Rocks Show since May – starting with the title track in May and June and then “Seek Zen Destroy” in July. There was a special promo feature with Ricky talking about the album on 28th Aug that featured “Seek Zen Destroy”, “Last Chance To Dance” and “Fire & Vengeance” and this was repeated on 4th Sept alongside “Hellbent & Heaven Sent”, “The Angels Share” and “If You think Your Country Need You”. The latest track to be featured was “You Just Lie” on 18th Sept.
Ricky was a guest on the Friday NI Rocks Show back in 2021 when the album When Life Was Hard And Fast” was released - https://www.rockradioni.co.uk/interviews/3801-ni-rocks-interview-with-ricky-warwick
Website - https://www.rickywarwick.com/
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STORMBRINGER – “Transcendence” – Attic Records 4th Sept
English band Stormbringer released their fifth album “Transcendence” on 4th September. The band formed in 2011 and released their debut album in 2013.
The track “Energy” was featured on the Friday NI Rocks Show in July, followed by “Dirt & Bone” on 4th Sept and “Busy Doing Nothing” on 18th Sept.
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Stormbringerrock
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AIRBOURNE – “Airbourne” – 4th Sept
Airbourne make a long overdue return with the release of their first album since 2019. I was rather shocked when I realised that the new self-titled album is actually only their sixth album. The Aussie band formed in 2001 and released their debut album “Runnin’ Wild” in 2007.
The first single “Gutsy” was on the Friday NI Rocks Show back in June 2025, followed by “Christmas Bonus” in December. This year, “Alive After Death (Last Plane Out)” featured in May, followed by “Kid in a Candy Store” in July and “Here She Comes” in August.
I’ve been fortunate enough to see the band play live in Belfast nine times since 2008 and recorded an interview with drummer Ryan O’Keeffe at one of those shows in 2016 - https://www.rockradioni.co.uk/interviews/3139-ni-rocks-interview-with-ryan-okeeffe-from-airbourne
Website - https://airbournerock.com/
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TYGERS OF PAN TANG – “Electrifyed” – Mighty Music 11th Sept
NWOBHM legends Tygers of Pan Tang released their fourteenth studio album, “Electrifyed” through Mighty Music on 11th Sept. Six of those albums were released during the 80’s and the reminder since the band reformed in 2000. I had preordered the orange and blue splatter vinyl from Mighty Music / Target.
The title track was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show in May, followed by “Forevermore” in June, “Dark Divinity” in August, “Rise Up!” in August and “A Shadow on Fire” on 11th Sept.
Website - https://www.tygersofpantang.com/
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PAUL LAINE – “The Long Road Back” – Frontiers 25th Sept
Canadian vocalist Paul Laine has fronted a few bands, but most notable Danger Danger from 1993 to 2003 and The Defiants since 2016. This is his third solo album, but the first since 1996.
The tracks “Love Me Or Leave Me” and “Her Name Is Trouble” were included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 25th Sept, followed by “Bad Habit” on 2nd Oct.
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/paullaineofficial
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STORM FORCE – “Truth” – BraveWords / Eonian Records 25th Sept
“Truth” is the second album from Canadian band Storm Force, following on from the debut album, “Rage of Fear” in 2020. The band notably features guitarist Greg Fraser from Brighton Rock.
The track “Truth” appeared on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 24th July and again on 31st July. More recently, “Anti-Social Media” featured on 11th Sept and “Karma’s A Bitch” on 2nd October.
Website - https://stormforce.ca/
Greg was my guest on the Show in 2020 when the first album was released - https://www.rockradioni.co.uk/interviews/3743-ni-rocks-interview-with-greg-fraser-from-storm-force-a-brighton-rock
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STRYPER – “Throne of Thorns” – Frontiers 25th Sept
Stryper released their sixteenth studio album, “Throne of Thorns” through Frontiers Music on 25th September. The first four albums were released between 1985 and 1990 and the remainder since 2005.
The track “I’m Alright (I’m Okay)” featured on the Friday NI Rocks Show in June, followed by “Throne of Thorns” in July, “Here In Your Heart” on 18th Sept and “Shadowbreaker” on 25th Sept.
Michael Sweet was a guest on the Friday NI Rocks Show back in 2015 - https://www.rockradioni.co.uk/interviews/2282-ni-rocks-interview-with-michael-sweet-from-stryper
Website - https://stryper.com/
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EUROPE – “Come This Madness” – Silver Lining Music 25th Sept
“Come This Madness” is the twelfth studio album from Europe and their first in nine years. Somewhat unusually the band has retained the same line-up for all seven albums released since they reformed. In fact all of them played on the classic “The Final Countdown” in 1986.
The title track, “Come this Madness” and the track “Takin’ It Back” were both included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 2nd October.
Website - https://www.europetheband.com/