Mick Birchall Reviews

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 ...

So, I have written about Evergrey a few times on this blog now. I don’t think that I’ve ever made it a secret that I really love this band. So, in that case, I don’t know if that puts me in a better or worse position to write about their new albums. As a fan, this might come off a bias. Yet, I think that having a deep love for this band makes me qualified to tell you what works and doesn’t work about their fifteenth album, Architects Of A New Weave . Ever since their 2014 album, Hymns For The Broken , it’s been clear that Evergrey has gone in a little bit of a different direction from their earlier work. They didn’t outright abandon the progressive metal label; however, it does feel that they're chasing that anthemic, stadium rock sound. Big catchy chorus lines and more punchy guitar solos. This isn’t a bad thing per se; it’s just different. The band have been writing for that bigger audience sound. Which certainly fits them, with a sound that hits the rafters and just keeps on g...

Man, has it been a while since I thought about Sevendust ? They used to be one of those bands that were all over my old MP3 players in school. I’ve only kept up with them from afar over the last decade or so. Like, whenever they put out a new single, I would give it a listen and throw it on a YouTube Music playlist. However, when they started putting out new music for this upcoming 2026 album, One , I felt a little different about this one. I wasn’t sure what drew me to this new album, whereas past albums had failed. Now that I’ve had a chance to listen to this new album in full, I think I might have an answer for that question. This new record is their fifteenth studio album and, once again, is produced by Michael “Elvis” Baskette, a staple of this sound for a while now, having worked with acts such as Alter Bridge and Mammoth. The Atlanta rock titans really came out of the gates swinging with this one. The album opens with the title track “One”, and it’s mostly what you would normall...

There’s such a special feeling when you find a record that sticks in your imagination. I remember discovering my music taste and the wider world of rock music. I went through a phase of listening to pure psychedelia and trip-stoner rock. Bands like Kyuss , Monster Magnet , Brant Bjork , Sleep , etc. Going through this little phase, I discovered a band that always lingered in my playlists and mixtapes. This band was today’s subject: the American rock band Masters of Reality . I think their record, Welcome To Western Lodge , will always be up there as a genuine masterpiece. Also, when I’m in the mood, their album, Pine/Cross Dover , is something that keeps my attention through the runtime. It’s been a little while since that last record in 2009, so my genuine shock when I saw that they were returning in 2025 with a new record, The Archer. This complete mindbend of a record hits just a well as the older stuff with a few more tricks up their sleeves. Frontman Chris Goss has put together y...

For a while now, I have been skirting the edge of the heavier aspects of heavy metal. Simply because I don’t feel like I can fully appreciate the full weight of the brutal tones and heavier aspects. However, I’ve been actively trying to understand the parts of the genre that have left a bad taste in my mouth previously. I’ve been digging into the depths of the Greek heavy metal scene and today’s band has something that speaks to me. The music that Euphrosyne play is not my usual cup of tea, but their debut album Morus has fascinated me no end! For a first record they already boast an impressive aptitude for the craft of songwriting and have crafted a concept album that tackles are pretty hefty subject, the death of a loved one. This record not only displays their musical talent but also their understanding of production, making the best listening experience possible. I feel for a debut album, this is such a solid piece of work that has made me deeply invested in them. From a lyrica...

It’s been a while since I took a good long listen to the weird world of Avantasia . Tobias Sammet ’s enchanting symphonic metal powerhouse is always such a pallet cleanser for me. There are always three things you’re guaranteed going into every Avantasia album: Wonderful vocals, epic orchestration and infinitely creative imagination. Their new album Here Be Dragons is yet another notch on the belt of Sammet’s ever-expanding career and I am so here for it. This album is jam-packed with inventive writing and each song has just the right amount of that over-the-top quality that we all love from them. The 10-track offering in its entirety was written and composed by Tobias Sammet himself, produced and recorded by Sammet together with Sascha Paeth , mixed by Paeth and mastered by Michael Rodenberg . This is the tenth record from the band and man it feels like they reinvent themselves with every release, yet somehow they keep that core that makes the Avantasia experience unique.  Like a...

As I dive deeper into my journey of heavy metal from Greece, I’m finding new bands coming out of the woodwork. I think at this point these bands are finding me rather than me seeking them out. It seems like the universe is just gift-wrapping them to me. This brings me to today’s subject, the band known as Countown . Their music was recommended to me by a friend and I was immediately intrigued. Fierce and intense nu-metal that feels like it was transported from the 2000s to the modern day. To formally introduce you to the band, they hail from Athens and their music is 100% sung in Greek, which gave this reviewer an extra challenge when it came to reviewing their music. They’ve been around for a hot minute forming over 12 years ago, and they have become somewhat of a critically acclaimed darling in the Greek metal scene. With fiery lyrics and an in-your-face attitude, they’re not to be slept on. This new album from them Χαιρεκακία (translated to Schadenfreude) is something I’ve been wai...

Well, it’s been a few years since I’ve talked about The Night Flight Orchestra on this blog. In all honesty, it’s been a few years since I paid attention. However, I got this album fly past my desk and I knew I had to listen to it. I’m so glad I did, as this one is an absolute certified banger of an album. Give Us The Moon is an exciting record that glistens with punchy production and sharp songwriting. It’s one of those albums that I’d feel comfortable recommending to anyone who even has a passing interest in music. It’s an album that will grab the attention of any listener, from your hardcore audiophiles to the casual, whose only experience with music is what goes on the car radio. This album will captivate you as instantly as it did for me. All of this is from a group of talented, versatile musicians who understand that the point of music is to invigorate the soul. Led by the charismatic vocalist, Björn Strid (most notably from the band Soilwork ), The Night Flight Orchestra has...

Certain musicians will go down in history as the greatest of all time. Every generation has its superstars. Then you have some that will cross the generational divide. I think Mark Tremonti is one of those stars for sure. Tremonti is one of my music icons. I grew up listening to both Creed and Alter Bridge as a teenager while learning to play the guitar, he was one of the artists that I tried to emulate and learn their songs, to middling success. Also, over the last decade, for those who don’t know, he’s had another project on the go. The aptly named solo project Tremonti . It's a metal-focused project that allows the guitarist to let loose and also is the lead vocalist. This new record, The End Will Show Us How , is the sixth release from this project and is a journey into new styles and lyrical themes. I have to say, I find Tremonti, as a band, explosive and versatile. The way they craft metal-anthem after metal-anthem is inspiring. Their previous album, Marching In Time , wa...

The seriously cool thing about running this blog is that I check out some absolute belting records. We’re only a week into 2025, and I might have just found one of the year's best metal records. You know you’ve found a good record when it just speaks to you on a primal level. Sometimes a band doesn’t need fancy gimmicks or over-the-top theatrics. The Halo Effect has already made quite the name for themselves in the last few years. Not just because they’re industry veterans, but because you can still hear that hunger, that strive to be better and to give their fans something fresh and interesting with each release. Their first album Days of The Lost from 2022 was a good initiation to this new sound. This new record March Of The Unheard is a complete refinement of that style and is a much-needed forward progression. I don’t know about you but when I hear the term melodic death metal, it’s a bit of a weird term. It doesn’t feel like a needed distinction. Where do you draw the line? ...

Legend says there are three pieces to the fabled Triforce: power, wisdom, and courage. It’s time for the third piece to be discovered. A few years back, I got into a band called Master Sword . I’ve interviewed them twice and reviewed their previous two albums on this blog. I’ve been championing them since the day I first heard them. Toying With Time is the third record from the Legend of Zelda -themed progressive metal act. I think my first reaction online was “Holy crap the new album is absolutely mega!!!”. Yes, those were my exact words and I wasn’t lying, this album is amazing. Probably their best record to date. From the writing to the production, this album is such a fantastic listening experience. Like I said, it’s a mega album. Even with eight songs, this album feels like a huge experience with the longest song clocking in at a whopping eleven and a half minutes. I love how they play around with the Zelda lore in their lyrics. The way they blend the source material through thei...

Wow. I never thought we would be here again. A new Linkin Park album. Earlier this year we were introduced to the all new version of the band. Like many of you, I grew up on the original albums, Hybrid Theory , Meteora and Minutes To Midnight . I remember loving their music but I dropped off of them ultimately as I was introduced to more and more music that deviated me from that sound. So it’s been a good 10 years since I really listened to a full Linkin Park record and then with the tragic loss of lead singer, Chester Bennington, I thought that would be it. They were a legacy act and one that would remain as a shining beacon of nostalgia. So yeah, when Mike Shinoda announced that not only would the band be returning with a new line up, there would also be new music coming with it. I was apprehensive but excited all at the same time. The new lineup performing on the record consists of returning members: Shinoda, Dave Farrell, Brad Delson and Joe Hahn. However, this record would have ...

Some bands take a while between releases while others go all-out guns ablaze. The latter applies to the fierce Italian power-metal act, Frozen Crown . Since their inception seven years ago they’ve already pumped out four records and this year 2024 they’re coming out with their fifth album, War Hearts —the sheer work ethic to keep putting out consistent music while on the road on multiple tours. You can just feel their passion for the metal world come through in their music. It also takes a lot to make music within the same genre feel fresh and new, but they’ve certainly found a way. This new record has been an exciting addition to my year with forceful music and passionate, emotive lyrics all simmered down to a tight 41 minutes and 16 seconds. Ten songs that are filled to the brim with epic tones, blistering riffs and captivating performances from all involved. I have to say as someone who has listened to a lot of power metal and has run the gambit of its highs and lows. This is a gre...

Long-time readers of this blog will know that I’m no stranger to the southern rock outfit, The Outlaw Orchestra . I have spoken about them on this blog, from album reviews, to gig reports to interviews . I have always had an affinity for their music. Their unique blend of rock, bluegrass, and country has always caught my ear the right way. You’d think I’d be running out of things to write. Nope, not by a long shot! Their new album La Familia is another stepping stone for them and I’ve had the chance to listen to it, yeah I like it that should be a surprise. I think what makes this band work so well is their sheer insistence on making this concept work. It somehow feels rough and dirty yet clean and polished simultaneously. There’s something so simple and charming about this record. Like all of their music, they managed to have this down-to-earth relatability that lets the listener gravitate to their lyrics, while still enjoying some of the lighter tracks for what they are. There’s a c...

I’ve been in love with the sound of country and southern rock since I was a small boy. So, I’m always on the hunt for that next sound that brings back that sense of nostalgia. There’s like the dulcet tones, the southern drawl and the heartfelt lyrics that just brings that sense of comfort for me. This year has given me some great records and another one to add to the collection is this record. I first came across The Georgia Thunderbolts from a recommendation. Their new single “Rise Above It All” had just dropped and I was immediately in love with this sound. I quickly learned that this single was building up to the release of their new album of the same title, Rise Above It All . This is their sophomore release acting as the follow-up to their 2021 album, Can We Get A Witness . I took a listen to all of their music, including their EPs and fell into a bit of a rabbit hole. They have all of the soul of the outlaw country but beefed up with hard rock elements that would make the most s...

You know, sometimes I find bands in the weirdest of ways. Ways that start month-long obsessions with music. It’s always bands that are nowhere near me here in the UK. For the longest time, I have loved southern rock, country or anything that vaguely reminds me of the style and genre. As far as music goes it was my first love and one that I have never and will never let go. That brings me to this band, Old Heavy Hands . The five-piece rock band hailing from North Carolina has captured my imagination this year. I found them while scrolling through the new “samples” feature on YouTube Music. I quickly looked them up and found they had a new record, Small Fires . It hit me right in my soul, the first few songs played and I completely fell in love with the sound. Imagine the soul of Shooter Jennings mixed with the raw style of Drive-By Truckers and you’re somewhat imagining their sound. This new album ventures more into the rock territory of their sound but certainly has that good ol'...