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November 2023

• High Spirits: Safe On The Other Side
• Signum Regis: Undivided
• DGM: Life
• Soledriver: Return Me To Light
• Care Of Night: Reconnected
• Secret Sphere: Blackened Heartbeat
• Seventh Crystal: Infinity EP
• Angra: Cycles Of Pain
• Hugo's Voyage: Inception
• DMJ: Sophomore
• Temple Balls: Avalanche
• Ignescent: Fight In Me

October 2023

• Pattern-Seeking Animals: Spooky Action At A Distance
• Overland: S.I.X
• Vitalines: Wheels Within Wheels
• Lynch Mob: Babylon
• District 97: Stay For The Ending
• Lalu: The Fish Who Wanted To Be King
• Entierro: The Gates Of Hell
• Nitrate: Feel The Heat
• Kings Crown: Closer To The Truth
• Theocracy: Mosaic
• Edge Of Forever: Ritual
• Ronnie Atkins: Trinity

September 2023

• Rockett Love: Galactic Circus
• Kerrigan: Bloodmoon
• Taz: Shipwrecked, Vol 2
• Taz: Wake Up & Sweat, Vol 1
• Ronnie Romero: Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters
• The Flower Kings: Look At You Now
• Vega: Battlelines
• Blackbird Angels: Solsorte
• Primal Fear: Code Red
• Eclipse: Megalomanium
• Seventh Wonder: Mercy Falls (Reissue 2008/2023)
• Seventh Wonder: The Great Escape (Reissue 2010/2023)

August 2023

• Hurricane: Reconnected
• U.D.O.: Touchdown
• Streetlight: Ignition
• Sarayasign: The Lion's Road
• Neal Morse: The Dreamer - Joseph - Part One
• Rian: Wings
• Icon Of Sin: Legends
• Lancer: Tempest
• King Kobra: We Are Warriors
• Dark Sky: Signs Of The Time
• Hell In The Club: F.U.B.A.R.
• Kent Hilli: Nothing Left To Lose

[ More Music Reviews ]

Gallows Pole: This Is Rock

Melodic Hard Rock

4.0/5.0

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Pure Steel Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 21.08.2019 | Released: 23.08.2019

Enigmatic Austrian band Gallows Pole returns with their ninth album, This Is Rock. The band is essentially the brainchild and product of vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Alois Martin Binder. Gallows Pole is rounded out with Andy Wagner (drums), Harald Prikasky (guitars), and Harry Fischer (guitars/vocals). The new album also introduces new female vocalist Dina Hoblinger.

Gallows Pole

Much like their previous work, Gallows Pole retreats back to classic melodic hard rock with something of a Seventies vibe. Another way to describe the Gallows Pole sound would be simply guitar rock. All the songs revolve around Binder and Prikasky's strong riffs and prominent leads, which are abundant. Additionally, every Gallows Pole song rises with a strong vocal harmony in the arrangement. Pinder has something of solemn and dull vocal style which is quickly brightened by Ms Hoblinger's sweetnees and harmony. This is notable with songs like Heaven Knows, Move On Out, or You Got Me. Alternatively, When I Sleep, Hoblinger leads the anthemic ballad When I Sleep. More vocal equality between Pinder and Hoblinger arrives with the rising ballad When You Love. Some listeners might find the male/female vocal motif giving the band a slight Fleetwood Mac feeling. All in all, This Is Rock finds Gallows Pole doing what they do best, delivering classic and vintage guitar-driven melodic hard rock. Recommended.

Twilight Force: Dawn Of The Dragonstar

Symphonic Power Metal

4.5/5.0

And so the story goes like this. In 2014, I reviewed Twilight Force's debut album Tales Of Ancient Prophecies. I basically described the band as hybrid of Rhapsody ... [ Read More ]

This Is Rock finds Gallows Pole doing what they do best, delivering classic and vintage guitar-driven melodic hard rock. Recommended.

Alphabetical Index

We haven't had a new studio album from Brazil's Angra since prior to the COVID pandemic, 2018's Omni. But the quintet has been busy. In 2021, they released Omni Live in Japan where they have a huge fan base ... [ Read More ]