The Rockstar Reviewer (Rambling Man's Reviews)

A couple of weeks ago on these pages, I reviewed the latest track from UK's Gothic rock act 8-Snake ; a band fronted by multi-instrumentalist and composer Francesco Fonte . Fonte now appears on the debut single 'Worms of the Mind' by fellow Brits Amnesiak. Mastered by Platinum and Gold awarded Sound Engineer Maor Appelbaum, the song talks about a woman that suffers from the mental illness Delusional Parasitosis Disorder. Lead singer, Grace Wilson's towering and haunting vocals relay the true terror of this illness. The slow, seductive basslines build the tension, as Wilson mesmerises, and details the effects this condition has on the woman. The dark, gloomy atmospherics is an eerie reminder of what serious mental disorders take on the mind and body. 'Worms of the Mind' is the debut single, taken from the band's forthcoming self-titled EP. Words by Anselm Anderson. Follow this link  here  to keep updated with all the latest news, Interviews, and reviews from...

  Lo-Fi singer/songwriter Andrew Neil returns with his fifth album, Sunny Side Up,  a follow-up to the 2019 release, Freak . Sunny-Side Up sees the Charlottesville native going back to his "Outsider" roots, a movement inspired by such artists as the late Daniel Johnston. Andrew recorded the album live in his living room, using his chosen nylon string Ovation Classical Guitar. The ten-track LP delivers a semi-biographical perspective on the singer's thoughts and life. The evocative imagery, upbeat tone, and heartfelt muses naturally come from a creative mind. The opener "Gamblin Man" is a bluesy number with a cool vibe. Andrew's nonchalant approach sung over strong percussive beats instantly makes this a pleasant start."Sunny Side" is a wonderful and powerful song that teaches us not to take life for advantage.  Andrew Neil continues to write vibrant music that doesn't rely on studio wizardry or proto tools to make this a good listen. He manage...

  Edinburgh-based Psychedelic/Indie rockers Ghost Dance Collective have released their eagerly-anticipated second studio effort Dream Yourself Into the Real World, the follow up to the self-titled debut sees the band continue to blend 60's psychedelia, indie and pop music to create a retro feel. The Scotsmen achieved the honour of #2 on the top 5 Neo-Psych bands list, voted by judges in the Scottish New Music Chart , due to the success of that aforementioned debut album. Ghost Dance Collective also have the unenviable task of recording all their material in analogue, as a homage to their Summer of Love idols. The magical journey through this real world begins with the mesmerising "Tears In Her Eyes", Vocalist Liam Payne's tender vocals are accompanied by delicate keyboards and electric acoustic guitars. Next up is the slow tempo "Mean That Much To Me", an indie folk song with pop overtones. The jangle- sound is reminiscent of 60's guitar acts. The band...

Words by Anselm Anderson Ghost Dance Collective are a band this blog first covered during the summer as part of a compilation for NHS workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read     I was instantly struck by their ability to intertwine beautiful harmonies with experimental instrumentation. And now they have finally released an EP, entitled "Getting BY" four songs of oddities and rarities that may feature in the future. The band's unique blend of Psychedelia and folk combine to create a sense of harmony and art to lift a few moods this winter. Getting By is the self-titled opener is an enchanting start with a 60's vibe. Soothing vocals play over multi-layered melodies. The warm timbre was matched by the tender keyboards. Rainy Night in Tolix is an acoustic track adequate for this time of year. Those aforementioned harmonies easily fit into intricate guitar patterns. A song that certainly warms up the cobbles. Next up is an alternate mix of Clouds  a ps...

 Photo courtesy of Stefan Heileman Interview by Anselm Anderson I recently reviewed the excellent " The Last Viking", from German symphonic metallers' Leave's Eyes. The album focuses on the last battle of King Harold Hadrada at Stamford Bridge, before succumbing to his fate in England. The album is a beautiful display of orchestration, songwriting, and incredible dual vocals. I got an opportunity to speak with lead singer, songwriter, and true Viking Alexander Krull about "The Last Viking", the orchestration, Viking sagas, and the difficulties of making an album during the pandemic Hello, I hope you are well. Leave’s Eyes has a new album out on Friday called “The Last Viking”, Can you explain a bit about it, and what listeners can expect? Alex: “The Last Viking” is a big, diverse metal album for Leaves' Eyes with probably the most epic Viking saga there is. We are also proud to present the over 90-minute film documentary “Viking Spirit” which was a lot ...

Words by Anselm Anderson. East End Rockers Harriet Comfort introduced themselves into the rock scene with her debut single "Time is Now". The six friends have been gradually growing amongst the elite with appearances on radio stations, and Spotify playlists, and recently shortlisted on the Classic Rock Track of the Week. The band, named after a pile of mysterious mail delivered to their flat, wrote this track about the environment. The band's brand of energetic rock, combined with keys and frenetic guitars to create a fun-loving song with a thought-provoking message. "Time is Now" comes to life with the announcement of the memorable three-chord guitar riff that sticks in the ear for a long time afterwards. Vocalist Amy Church arrives with her commanding voice, alongside the rhythm section of Rick Gold on bass, Brett Mcfarlane on Lead guitar and Anna Peiris also form part of the factor, as their fervent musicianship accentuates Church's sultry voi...

Words by Anselm Anderson The California-based Firebug is an Alternative Rock group,, heavily influenced by 70's rock and New Orleans blues. They have been generating a following amongst festival-goers and concert attendees. The band's groove-orientated rock has enlightened 80,000 fans at Sonisphere in Knebworth, England. The band released Follower ,   the first track from the new album Wandering Soul. The thing that strikes me most about the track is the high-energy riff that is maintained throughout and the soulful timbre of lead singer Juliette Tworsey. The 70's influenced vibes make this an instant favourite with its polished production values and blues-tinged rhythmic patterns. The track begins with the tantalising hook that leads into the vocals of Tworsey, a rich and tender entrance that hypnotises the listener. Her voice blends with the buzz of guitar-driven desert rock with a nice new Orleans solo that fits in with the structure of the music. Wanderi...

London-born Just A Jester AKA Timothy Daniel Whittaker has had an illustrious career in the music industry, having supported established musicians like Van Morrison, played with Stuart Copeland of The Police and performed 7 times at Glastonbury Festival. Whittaker now releases his second solo track Someone Like You , a charming and upbeat acoustic track enthusing full of wisdom.  Someone Like You starts off the subtle taps of cymbals that lead to the uptempo and bright tones of guitar loops that transition into a huge pop chorus. The strumming pattern and reflective lyrics produce a warm song that builds nicely to a satisfactory finish. The bridges are delightful as the vocals are receptive to new listeners. This is a track I feel shares similarities with the rock band Biffy Clyro and is understandable why Just A Jester has been a regular at Festivals. This is certainly a track that could be a successful summer track. You can listen to the track via Spotify or find more informa...