Tell us about your latest album release Our latest album, The Book of Pain , was released on October 1, 2024; the LP version is in production now and will hopefully be ready by the end of this year. With album we intend to delve into the human experience of emotional and existential suffering, exploring grief, longing, and resilience. Each song reflects deeply personal experiences, aiming to connect with listeners on a profound level. The album captures a wide spectrum of (painful) personal emotions, offering a cathartic journey for anyone navigating similar struggles. With themes ranging from the raw pain of loss to moments of hope and transcendence, The Book of Pain is, at least to us, more than just music - it’s a narrative, an exploration of how we endure and grow through adversity. What was the recording process like? Was it in a studio or do you do it all yourselves? The recording process for The Book of Pain was carried out using my mobile studio equipment and later mixed and mastered in my home studio. This setup allowed us the flexibility to record in various locations while maintaining a high standard of audio quality. Unlike some of our previous projects, which featured entirely improvised tracks, this album followed a more structured and deliberate approach. Each song was carefully composed and arranged before recording, ensuring every element served the overall vision of the album. Our philosophy during this process was to balance artistic precision with an emotional rawness that could still feel authentic to listeners. While spontaneity influenced the creative atmosphere, for this album, it was always channelled within the framework of pre-written material. Also, the mobile studio setup provided the opportunity to capture the musicians’ performances in comfortable, familiar environments, fostering a sense of ease and creativity throughout the recording sessions. How do you guys write the songs? Our songwriting process is intuitive and organic, often beginning with improvisation. For example, when the time feels right, I typically pick up my guitar and start playing, allowing chords, melodies, and lyrics to emerge naturally. This is not a process I can initiate at will, so I am always grateful when it happens. This initial creative spark evolves as I write down ideas for the lyrics and refine them over time. Collaborative improvisation also plays a key role in our process; for instance, some projects, like the Mondstein Chronicles, were created entirely through group improvisation sessions. With this fluid, exploratory approach, we aim to capture the emotional essence of a moment, ensuring each track becomes a genuine reflection of our inspiration and emotion. What were your main influences while writing? The primary inspiration for The Book of Pain came from my personal experiences and the emotional weight of navigating love, loss, and existential reflection. Musically, we were influenced by a range of genres, including rock, classical, and new age, creating a rich and varied soundscape. Specific themes in the album draw from mythological and literary sources, such as the legend of Prometheus.. Additionally, the loss of loved ones, including my late friends Michael Görig and Jörg Horner, shaped the deeply introspective and emotional tone of the album. What is your favourite song on the new release and why? If I had to choose, the first track, A Spark of Darkness holds a special place for me. It was inspired by the passing of my dear friend Michael Görig, and the song captures the profound grief and existential questions that his loss evoked. This track serves as both a tribute and a cathartic outlet, embodying the album’s overarching theme of finding meaning amidst suffering. Its personal significance and emotional intensity make it one of the most powerful pieces on the album​. Apart from that, I personally enjoy the positive, hopeful atmosphere of the last track, We Shall Rise, which serves as a counterpart to A Spark of Darkness, pointing out that eventually we will rise above pain, as it is not meant to last. How did you come up with the name of the release? The title The Book of Pain encapsulates the album’s exploration of suffering, longing, and resilience. It’s a metaphorical representation of an emotional journey chronicled (not necessarily chronologically) within its 17 tracks. Each song contributes a “chapter” to this book, reflecting different facets of pain, whether it’s the loss of a loved one, the struggles of love and desire, or the existential crises that come with self-reflection. The name also aligns with the album’s literary and philosophical influences, emphasizing the idea of pain as a universal yet deeply personal narrative. So in summary, when I wrote the song “the book of pain”, it became kind of obvious that this would be the title track. Have you got any gigs or a tour coming up where people can hear the songs live? At the moment, we’re focused on studio work and recording new projects, so there are no tours or live performances scheduled for The Book of Pain. However, many of our band members are active in other musical endeavours, performing live in various contexts. For example, our guitarist, Orion Roos, regularly tours with his other bands, Maestro (together with our bass guitar player Peter Douwenga) and Metalbats, and our jazz singer, Lila Herderberg, performs frequently in Austria with LiLa y Geckos. While ELOAĦ as a whole isn’t touring currently, these individual performances offer fans a chance to experience the artistry and passion of our musicians in a live setting.

The Thinkers are a rock duo from Manila in the Philippines and they are going places!! I had no idea about these guys until I got an email from them asking me to check out their song Let's Go, and I am so glad that they got in touch as this is an awesome song. Let's Go starts off quite mellow and chilled, I liked the beat because it got me moving in my seat, I was really getting into it when all of sudden, an electric guitar comes in and changes up the mood. The song is about being one with your fate. It's all about your mindset, how you react in a moment and deal with it what comes afterwards. It's only the 2 of them, Troy on guitar and Tonyo on drums, but they have such an amazing sound that it's hard to believe that there isn't a full band playing. It's out now so give it a listen now .

HEADSWIM has long held a special place in the hearts of fans, and the issue of their classic album, "Despite Yourself" on vinyl serves as a powerful reminder of their impact on the music scene. Originally released in 1997, this album showcased the band’s unique Alternative Rock.  The reissue breathes new life into the album, featuring remastered sound that enhances the clarity and depth of the original recordings.  Overall, this reissue of "Despite Yourself" is not just a cash grab, it’s a celebration of HEADSWIM’s enduring influence. It invites both new listeners and die-hard fans to rediscover the magic that made this album a classic. Whether you’re revisiting it or hearing it for the first time, it’s an essential addition to any music collection. To pre-order your copy of Despite Yourself Deluxe before it's release on the 6th of December, click this link . And to celebrate the release, the singer from Headswim, Dan, will be performing songs from the bands back catalogue on Saturday the 7th of December at The Lexington with his friends as Blackcar. The track list is:- Side A (1 / 4): Tourniquet Hype Years On Me Clinging To The Wreckage Better Made Side B (2 / 4): Wishing I Was Naive Old Angel Midnight Holy Ghost Burnt Out Shell Of Bliss Devil In My Palm Side C (3 / 4): Moving On Brother Black Car Last Subway Coma Recovery Position Side D (4 / 4): The Seed Plagued No Ticket Torniquet W/ Strings

If you like your rock in a hard place, check this band out . This four piece hail from deep in the Gwent Valleys South Wales. Nowhere To Run To Nowhere To Hide is their fifth single to date, and all singles including this one are available on November 29th on an EP titled Death Valley, which is maybe where they come from, appropriate r eally for Black Vultures. Anyway this is a fifty mile an hour full on rock song inspired by somebody’s infatuation with a dancer at a strip club, who has addiction issues. So fairly dark subject matter, but delivered well by Huw Williams in his great rock voice. Huw also plays the rhythm guitar, and spars well with Aled Owen Jones on Lead guitar, the rhythm section taken up by Lewis Watkins on bass and BV’s and Jason Tatton on powerhouse drums. These boys have played a fair few festivals over the summer, so you may have caught up with them already, but if not, I highly recommend you try and catch them at a show near you in the near future. If not, check out their various videos on You Tube. For lovers of The Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Velvet Revolver, and Motley Crue, and toward the end of this song I heard a riffola very reminiscent of early Black Sabbath. So as Steve Miller would say Fly Like An Eagle, or in this case like a Black Vulture, personally I think they will soar.

Hush Money won't be paying me no hush money, as I’m going to shout about this band wherever I can. From the second Go Back Home started it was like meeting an old buddy who you knew well but hadn’t seen for a while. If you like you’re Alt.Country a little on the rocky side then this is the band for you. It certainly is the band for me. At first I’m thinking Steve Earle, Mavericks, Hank Williams Jr and then a little Stones crept in mixed in with a little Georgia Satellites, which is funny because this four piece hail from Georgia. So many influences all worn on their sleeves, but every song sounding fresh as daisy. This band carries three vocalists and all of them great, but the main one is I think Seth Weaver, who looks about twenty but sounds about fifty with a booming country baritone voice. His brother Greg also shares vocals and is one of those rare creatures, a singing drummer. Caleb Logan is the third vocalist and second guitarist. Before I read they were brothers I was thinking the harmonies sounded like sibling harmonies, there is something about siblings singing together which is unbeatable, think Everly Brothers, or recently Larkin Poe. I was thinking halfway through first listening, with Bad Side bursting though the speakers that they sound like they could have met in a drunk tank after a wild night out in a one horse town. Obviously they didn’t as two of them are brothers, but the attitude and sass just shine through. Some great guitar interplay between Seth and Caleb too, they just have a feel which tells you they have been trading licks for a good while. Before I forget the line up is completed by Nathaniel Newberry who, with Greg makes up a solid rhythm section Outstanding track for me was Copperhill, a slower track, but telling the story of a mining town in Tennessee which got shafted and poisoned by the mining company. An all too familiar story, put across with a different angle , but plenty of emotion, with some tasty mandolin work creeping in too. I say outstanding, but there is not much in it, I just love a good story. The rest of the tracks, Steve McQueen, San Antonia Dream, Sellout City, No Questions, El Paso Serenade, Need A Little Rain, Think Back To Mama, Cold Bars, Adios Chinatown and finishing with a Steve Earlesque, It Aint Love, are all rollicking southern country rock tunes and they couldn’t pay me enough to keep quiet about that. What a great discovery. Please come back to the UK soon guys, I missed you first time round.

I have had the pleasure of seeing Spyder Byte twice now but both times it was at a festival, this time it was their headlining gig the Poco Loco in Chatham and it was one hell of a gig. The Poco Loco is a small venue so the burst of energy that the boys gave off was like an explosion from the first beat. I loved that they played “Black Velvet Love” as that is my favourite SB song. Dan, the singer, makes me laugh. He has such a wonderful way of interacting with the crowd, keeping them on their feet and dancing for the whole set. As well as occasionally running into the crowd to sing into people’s faces or trying to get them to start a mosh pit hahaha. No one wanted them to leave the stage so they did the shortest rendition of Slayer’s Rain In Blood (which is when Connor’s legs became blur which how fast he was playing) and then Guns N Roses Paradise City before ending the set. Nathan made the sad announcement that he has leaving Into The Pit Promotions so he won't been booking or promoting gigs for them anymore. I can’t wait for the next gig I can get to, which will be at The Red Lion in Gravesend, it will be their last gig on the year so make sure you get down to see them!!! Set List On Time Nocturnal Beauty Black Velvet Love Crash 22 In Your Face Front Of The Pack Spark Home Is Where The Heart Don't Hurt Double Dose Hooked Rain In Blood (mini version haha) Paradise City

The Rattlebacks have bitten me, sinking their hard rock venom into my veins. Hailing from Brighton and formed in 2021 it seems these boys can do no wrong. Previous to this release they have released an EP called Kink, which features the very infectious Rattleback, and Amon, which has a great video to accompany it. In fact it was these two songs, backed by their videos, which made me realise what a great band they are – They look great, loads of hair flailing all over the place and attitude to die for, energy in abundance, and. there is no doubt about their playing. All top ingredients for an ambitious new rock band, carrying on the tradition of UK Metal and hard rock, first forged by Black Sabbath, through to Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. The album is just Riff City, with the guitarists Coxy and Max Horn, trading licks like their lives depended on it, locked down by the disciplined drumming of Seth Marks and the fluid but solid bass playing of Max “The Hell” Hollamby. Sidewinder consists of 11 tracks in all, eight of them full on in your face rockers, and three of them slower, slightly grungy type offerings, all of them adding up to a great assault on the aural senses, the last song Lazy Brian featuring a great Ron Asheton type wah wah solo. The slightly operatic vocals are taken care of by Josh Clarke, (sporting an impressive Daliesque moustache) who I am guessing is the lyric writer too. He, or whoever wrote the lyrics, seem to touch on mental health issues a fair bit, on both this album and the EP. I like this as it shows a depth of perception, away from liking a girls charms. I must admit when I first played the whole album, I wasn’t immediately bowled over, but add in the other ingredients of video, live footage, image, attitude and the EP, I realized that this was a band on their way somewhere. It’s gratifying to see new bands like this carrying the torch for good hard rocking and hopefully making some young converts on the way. They say it took them a lifetime to put this album together, please guys don’t take another lifetime to come up with the next one. Sidewinder is out on the 15th of November so make sure you pre-order it now .

Loz Campbell is releasing her second single this year on the 24th of November. ‘Hittin The Free Road’ is packed with passion, catchy lyrics and those ever-strong guitar hooks which solidify that ‘Loz Campbell’ sound. Loz first hit the road at the tender age of 15, and now 10 years on she is very much going back to her roots with this track and has stripped herself of the ‘Bad Girl’ look, donning on a cowgirl hat and boots. This single was recorded at Monochrome Productions, produced/mixed/mastered by Tom Gittins. This is now the 6th single Loz and Gittins have worked on together. Loz was just 19 when she first stepped through the doors of Monochrome. Loz and the band (Tom Kirby Drums and Steve Pickles Bass) have worked hard with Gittins to craft the big sound that is now coming out of your speakers. The video was filmed by Paul Samuel, with some extraordinary ‘Hollywoodesque’ drone shots by Colin Samuel. Shot in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside, Loz a proud Northern ‘lass’ and was at home here shooting in Hope Valley. Loz will head into the studio early 2025 to complete the long awaited second album which has been part crowdfunded by her loyal fans. After that she will inevitably be ‘Hittin’ The Free Road’ once again!

This is the second single from The LKG Trio, which is made up of Bex, Leo and Ben. They are a fun loving band who are really entertaining to watch, I got to see them at the East Malling Beer Festival back in September and had a brilliant time watching them. Their single "There For You" is a great song about being there for someone no matter what. It's a nice easy listening sort of song but it will still have your toes tapping and a bit of bum wiggling. What I really love about this song is that you could sing it to anyone, your mum, dad, siblings, best friend, your dog, even the band and while you are singing the lyrics, you really mean them to the person you are singing to. The single is out in a few days on the 1st of November so make sure you click this link to pre-save it now!

By Design I thought this was just going to be an instrumental at first with some awesome synths, it starts to speed up a bit, then this beautiful voice starts to sing so I'm really drawn in and all of a sudden he let's out a few growls. It is such a mixed bag but I love it because it's like the song evolves as it goes on haha. Why? I'm being very serious right now, I need to hear this song live because it has some big rocking out vibes to it! I can really see myself dancing away from start to finish of this song. LOVE IT!! You can definitely feel the Alter Bridge influenced in this song, especially in the guitar solo when the guitar parts are frigging amazing!!! Some serious face melting going on in this song. Ode (I See You) I like the bouncy vibe in this song, really makes me want to dance around and have a boogie. It has some great lyrics it, my favourite is "I want you to know you matter, you complete me". The Killing Fields Love the guitars and the singer's voice on this one, he sounds very theatrical, I could imagine him being in a big West End show belting songs out in a play. All Good Things Awesome song to finish the EP with, as the lyrics say "all good things come to an end" and thats definitely the case with this EP. It is a bit slower than the other songs but it is also a bit dramatic with an emotional heartbreak sort of vibe. You all definetly need to get over to Spotify to check it out now !!

Southbound is the first single off of Ryder 's upcoming album Menagerie. It was recorded at Phantom Studio and is the first release to be self produced by the band. What I really love about this track is that it is my sort of rock song, lots of face melting guitars, loud drums and a singer with a killer voice. I get so many awesome classic rock vibes from this song that you don't hear too often now-a-days, if I close my eyes while listening to it, I can see a crowd jumping around from start to finish, I can see lots of high energy and hair getting whipped around. The guitars from start to finish are fantastically raunchy, James and Max sound like they are so in tune with each other that the guitars are just seamless. I would love to hear this live as I just know there would be such an amazing atmosphere. Make sure you check these guys out now!!

Morton Valence – sounds like a solo artist doesn’t it, but no, it’s a four piece, at least it was at this gig, because I do believe it fluctuates. Featuring Robert ‘Hacker’ Jessett on classical acoustic guitar and vocals, and sharing the vocals was Anne Gilpin who also played a marxofone, which is like a zither. With these two were a drummer and a bass player, sorry guys I didn’t catch your names, but the attention is drawn to Hacker and Anne. They were extremely laid back, think Cowboy Junkies meets Leonard Cohen, I don’t know if they are always like this this, but I am so intrigued to know that I am going to check out some of their eight, yes eight albums. That’s what’s great about going to gigs, you get turned on to people you otherwise might miss completely. Stand out song for me was Black Eyed Susan. The room filled up in the interval and by the time The Long Ryders hit the stage it was pretty rammed. They had the audience in the palm of their hand from the first chord. This tour is a celebration of their first album Native Sons, which was held off the number one spot of the European Indie Charts by none other than Mancunians The Smyths Meat Is Murder. Which they did mention, in fact they seemed to have a little love affair going on with Manchester and its rock n roll history. So they did a few more recent songs then launched into the full Native Sons in sequential order, Sid Griffin commenting that he never thought he would be singing Run Dusty Run again. Standout songs for me were Ivory Tower, which Gene Clark from The Byrds guested on, on the album version, and single from the album Tell It To The Judge. I’m always a sucker for a great rocker Sid Griffin picked up a mandolin for the Everly Brothers inspired Fair Game, and you hear the inspiration in the harmonies, and then it was back to rocking. They started to wind up the set with a single which wasn’t a hit for them, Dan Baird of The Georgia Satellites or our very own Dave Edmunds, called I Want You Bad. It really should have been a hit for all three artistes as it is a great little country rocker. Called back for an encore, they started with a curious number sang by Murry Hammond on bass, Jefferson Airplanes White Rabbit, which personally I think should only be sung by Grace Slick, but a brave attempt by Murry who was on loan from The Old 97s. All in all a great show, which delivered what the audience wanted, and left them wanting more Sid Griffins parting shot was – “there is a song called We Built This City On Rock And Roll and this city really was.” This was after him telling us that the band had spent the day listening to Manchester bands, on Spotify I guess. I think he likes Manchester. And Manchester liked him.