I’ve always had a strange relationship with Kamelot . They’ve always been one of those bands on my periphery. I love power metal and symphonic metal; it’s a core part of my identity. However, for whatever reason, Kamelot has always just been one of those bands that don’t click in my head. Which makes no sense, since I am a fan of the overall genre and many of their contemporaries. However, I can never truly say that I’m a fan. I’ve seen them perform live many times over the years, and I’ll admit, they are impressive. I can’t truly fault them as musicians or songwriters. It’s so difficult to put my finger on it. So, with their fourteenth studio record, Dark Asylum coming out, I thought I would take an opportunity to listen to it and really try to engage with the material. Their longtime producer Sascha Paeth returns to helm the album, also contributing additional guitars, alongside Jacob Hansen, who oversees mixing and mastering. So the band are well within their realm of stability and...
Wille And The Bandits are one of those bands I always feel the need to keep up with. The songwriting genius of frontman Wille Edwards can not be overlooked and, in my opinion, they’re the most exciting rock band to break out of the UK’s illustrious southern rock scene. Their mix of southern boogie, hard rock, blues and country, all brought together in that jam-band style, makes them a specific delight to my ears; a boy who grew up on rock, blues and country music. I knew that the guys were working on new music after speaking with Wille last year , and I promised myself that I’d talk about the album when it came out. I’m a little behind that promise to myself, but I’m getting around to it now. I have been listening to this album quite a bit, and I’ve been enjoying myself. The new album, Salt Roots , is an ideal example of why this style of music will just never die out. The production is fun, the songwriting is intriguing to take in, and it’s just one of those albums you need to ...