Mick Birchall Reviews

I’ll tell you what. Ever since I saw them live at the tail-end of last year ( full blog here ), I have become a pretty fan of Robert Jon and The Wreck . Their Southern rock style is something that spoke to me on a personal level. Growing up loving country and rock music and developing a love for any band that mixes the two genres, it’s no wonder that the Californian rockers have grabbed my imagination as much as they have. It’s honestly a wonder why I didn’t know about them until late 2023. Anyway, I’ve had the opportunity to listen to their new album Red Moon Rising and, well, it’s damn good. It has fantastic production, stellar songwriting, poetic lyrics and an overall joy to listen to. This album is a slight departure from their normal sound, though it is still recognisably theirs. I would say this is more of an evolution of their sound than an actual deviation. Their blues-infused rock ‘n’ roll styling still shines through on this one and has a healthy dose of countrified energy t...

It’s funny how far the Japanese metal band Bridear have come in the last few years. Ever since they exploded onto the scene in 2016 they have been by far one of the most consistent and electrifying bands that I've had the pleasure of listening to. Granted, I didn’t get on this hype train until their 2021 album Bloody Bride , yet ever since I have been a firm fan of their work. Their mix of power metal and classic metal stylings has gripped me so intensely. As a British metal fan, I’ve grown up with many of the classic standards for heavy metal. So I can tell you that Bridear fits quite well into the category of bands that remind me of; older metal bands but somehow are a new take on the genre at the same time! This album Born Again is their follow-up to the highly acclaimed Age of Athena and this one is another notch in the proverbial bed-post. It's a rip-roaring album that hits all its high points with energy and commands the metal world’s attention.  The album opens with th...