Back in the mid 90s when melodic rock was going through a bit of a purple patch with regards to independent releases, Scandinavian Whitesnake obsessives Snakes In Paradise released two excellent records in the classic rock mould; albums which owed so much to David Coverdale and company, yet came with their own European charm largely thanks to vocalist Stefan Berggren, one of the best voices in the business at that time. After the demise of Snakes In Paradise, Berggren made a very logical move and joined Company of Snakes, a band featuring ex-Whitesnake members Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody and Neil Murray which, as you’d expect, drew more heavily from the ‘Snake’s enduring legacy.
Author Archives: Real Gone
GOODBYE BLUE MONDAY – Misery-Punk Ruined My Life EP
Glasgow’s Goodbye Blue Monday make no attempt to disguise their geographic origins. Even though a good proportion of the vocals on their 2018 EP ‘Misery-Punk Ruined My Life’ are of the group/gang shouty variety, there are lots of times where a heavy accent can still be heard. Although their brand of street punk – or “misery punk” as they bill themselves – already attempts to be of a forthright nature, this only gives the material an extra feeling of urgency. This, their third release, features three songs that despite the misery punk tag are actually really rousing.
Skindred confirms Halloween show in Coventry with Ballsdeep & Last Hounds
This October, Skindred’s annual Halloween party will take place at the Coventry Empire. Support will be provided by Ballsdeep and Last Hounds. All details regarding ‘Night of The Living Dred’ are in the below press release.
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New Mott The Hoople box set to be released in November
Mott The Hoople were one of the great bands of the 1970s. Whilst principally known for their mega hits ‘All The Young Dudes’, ‘Roll Away The Stone’ and ‘All The Way From Memphis’, the Mott story started a few years earlier. Between 1969 and 1971, the band recorded four albums for Island Records of a far more experimental nature.
Those albums and various associated extras have been compiled on a lavish six disc box set entitled ‘Mental Train: The Island Years 1969-1971. A very comprehensive set, there’s never been a better way to experience a run of often overlooked albums.
A full press release can be read below.
A review of Ian Hunter’s ‘Fingers Crossed’ can be found here.
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BLACKLAB – Under The Strawberry Moon 2.0
BlackLab are a sludge, doom and fuzz metal duo from Japan. Their album ‘Under The Strawberry Moon’ was released in 2017 in a very limited pressing. Recognising their potential to appeal to an overseas audience, UK indie label New Heavy Sounds remixed the album, beefing up the overall sound and subsequently gave it a broader distribution. The resulting ‘Under The Strawberry Moon 2.0’ isn’t just heavy. It isn’t just doomy. It’s positively devastating.