Marty Friedman – Tokyo Jukebox 3 (Album Review)
Marty Friedman may stand alone in rock and heavy metal with the singular distinction as the foremost bridge between western metal and Japanese culture. While…
Author John Kokel
John Kokel
John L. Kokel has lived all over the eastern U.S., and even in Europe. Although he has dabbled in lead guitar wankery for almost 30 years, his real love is the gear itself. He has done plenty of work as a live guitar tech, but spending two years studying guitarcraft under the tutelage of a leading luthier was “instrumental” in taking the game to the next level. John’s lifetime music catalog is a blend of AOR, metal and prog, although 80s pop remains a guilty pleasure. His hobbies include writing, guitars, guns, and motorcycles. His goal is to finish and publish a viable novel someday. He resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his soulmate Jennifer. Both ride motorcycles, and enjoy seeing America and all the live music it has to offer.
Heart Healer – The Metal Opera by Magnus Karlsson (Album Review)
The prodigious and productive powerhouse Magnus Karlsson remains as busy as ever. Perhaps best known as one of the two ferocious axe-slingers in power metal…
W.E.T. – Retransmission (Album Review)
Let’s just cut to the chase; the fourth release from W.E.T. will be one of the most important rock records of 2021. While the first…
Voodoo Circle – Locked & Loaded (Album Review)
Perhaps you have been fortunate enough to see a tribute band live to see them do a better service to their subject matter than the…
Palace – Rock and Roll Radio (Album Review)
Americans fortunate enough to have reached a certain age are familiar with a cherished and yet nigh-endangered lifestyle known as “cruising.” Arising in harmony with…
Reb Beach – A View From The Inside (Album Review)
Richard Earl Beach, better known as “REB” to friends and fans alike, continues to be one of the scariest and most underrated talents in the…
Lords of Black – Alchemy of Souls, Part I (Album Review)
In May 2018, when we reviewed the previous Lords of Black album, “Icons of the New Days,” we were rather stunned by the impressive showing…
DGM – Tragic Separation (Album Review)
More often than not, we find ourselves naturally skeptical of any musical act where only one (or even zero) of the founding members remain in…
Ayreon – Transitus (Album Review)
Insofar as epic double-LP multi-vocalist story-driven progressive rock concept albums are a genre, Arjen Lucassen reigns as the heavyweight champion of the world, at least…
Perfect Plan – Time For A Miracle (Album Review)
Since the release of their debut “All Rise” album in 2018, the boys with the Perfect Plan have enjoyed the waves made by their very…
