Albums - What's Coming in 2025?

[Zzzptm]

While still stoked about the SVM, there is other new music to plumb and explore...

Don Airey's new album disappointingly *not* on digital release as yet. I shall have to speak to management about that! But that's after I do some other shopping for my ears...

https://savagemagicrecords.bandcamp.com/album/second-to-none



Stacy Crowne goes for the energy, even when they're playing slow. I've popped this into my shopping cart. Now for Mr. Airey's album to come out on digital...

[Charger]

Listening to the new Sky Valley Mistress now....

I'm quite not fully on board with this one...it's bit too drum machine-y for my liking. And the vibe of awesomeness that was present on the first album isn't there anymore. The main riff is good though.

Short track though. I am still looking forward to the rest of the album. Most certainly not giving up on them yet.

[Zzzptm]

Trying out the new Don Airey before I buy. Opening track, as we all heard, is a total face-ripper.

Second track isn't as fast, but it is a heavy tune, for sure. Singer is like a high-pitched Ian Gillan doing a Uriah Heep impersonation. I find it good, by the time I got to the 3rd song, I was into it.

Oh yeah, the third song is another strong tune. Speaking of Uriah Heep... this one's got plenty of crunch and melody in it. We can tell that Mr. Airey's played in a LOT of bands, and he's been having a heavy history made manifest here. It gets a strong groove in the middle. "Moon Rising" is a fun tune for jammin, yes it is. The fun continues through the proggy finish. Which reminds me, Don's also done a good deal of prog work.

"Rock the Melody" covers much ground in its first 2 minutes, but it's only 4 minutes long. Iron Maiden take note - there can be lots of complication in a composition, but it doesn't have to last all day long!

"Flame in the Water" - also good. Sorry, I'm trying to do an album review while adding my bank info to my company's payroll system so I can get on autopay...

Overall sound is very close to DP's Purpendicular-Abandon period. Speaking of DP, that guitarist chap is shining out here along Mr. Airey. I like that pairing, they're strong together. "Out of Focus" is a good song. I need to get back to that payroll app, just a sec...

7 songs in and I got more work piling up. These are good songs. I will buy this album. It is good. It rocks. Good variety. Old dudes know how to rock it out, for sure!

[Ted Sallis]

For the first time in over 50 years, Alice Cooper and the original band reunite to bring rock ‘n’ roll back from the shadows! The Revenge of Alice Cooper is a high-voltage journey into vintage horror and classic ’70s shock rock. Together, they’ve created an album packed with the sound, energy, and mischief that made them legendary.

This album throws you straight into the golden era of Killer, Billion Dollar Babies, School’s Out, and Love It To Death—packed with electrifying riffs, raw energy, and Alice’s signature storytelling. From the venomous bite of Black Mamba to the rebellious charge of Wild Ones, and the soft, haunting melodies of See You on the Other Side, every track feels like a lost rock ‘n’ roll classic.

Tracklist
1. Black Mamba
2. Wild Ones
3. Up All Night
4. Kill The Flies
5. One Night Stand
6. Blood On The Sun
7. Crap That Gets In The Way Of Your Dreams
8. Famous Face
9. Money Screams
10. What A Syd
11. Inter Galactic Vagabond Blues
12. What Happened To You
13. I Ain’t Done Wrong
14. See You On The Other Side

Release date: July 25, 2025

Ted

[Vyn]

I''m looking forward to that AC release! Hot damn!

[Charger]

Holy mackerel!!!

Was not expecting that!

Awesome news indeed!

[Charger]

New single BLACK MAMBA is out now!

It's got a nice groove and classic style lyrics but I'm not completely sold on the track though...lacks some grit I think...

[Vyn]

Mr. Cooper sure pulled out the nostalgia singing on that one - amazing how good he sounds. The video was odd, not in a good way, and I can do without the ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya bit, seems like it doesnt fit with the rest of the song. I bet they had a blast putting it together.

[Ted Sallis]

Thanks for posting the video, Charger; although Black Mamba was released a couple of days ago, I just watched the vid. and listened to the song for my 1st time here and now.  My initial reaction? The into. kind of reminds me of their 'esoteric' material on their 1st 2 albums at times; the balance of the song sounds more like an Alice-solo tune to me, but noticeably better in terms of overall quality.  As for the 'ya-ya's', I don't mind the melody so much.  The 'lyric' doesn't exactly epitomize creativity - perhaps actually words should have been written or guitar utilized playing the same melodic notes instead.   I agree w/Vyn's appraisal above re. Alice's singing on the rest of the song.

Based on my initial reaction to BM - it's fairly good - my hopes for the rest of the album have improved somewhat.

Ted

[Zzzptm]

Miss Lava has a new album out to-day:

https://smallstone.bandcamp.com/album/under-a-black-sun

Playing it now, the single "Woe Warrior". It's dark and has that doomy minor key stuff working for it. Now to try the rest of it out with a little preview...

Opening track is strong, heavy stuff with a slow pace and a steady heartbeat. Next track flows nicely off the first, a little faster, still very heavy. I'm gonna let things play as I do my expense reports and stuff...

... well, it's very much that way through the whole album. No fast bangers and the one song goes into the next almost unnoticeably. I'm not happy with that, so this one's a pass for me. But, if you're looking for about 50 mins of consistent heavy rock for playing in the background, this could be OK. But I can find similar background music for a lower price - already have a few albums that have become that after the initial spark wore off - so I gotta pass on this one.

[Charger]

NOW THIS IS MORE LIKE IT!!

The new ALICE COOPER track WILD ONES is out and it's a proper rock 'n roll tune!

Now this I like! A LOT!

[Ted Sallis]

Thanks for posting the video Charger.  I've only watched it and heard the song once; I think it's somewhat better than Black Mamba as my opinion re. the latter song has diminished somewhat after hearing it a couple more times.

Ted

[Vyn]

A definite step up from BM! It's not, "Under My Wheels," and recapturing something like, "Ballad of Dwight Fry," or even, "Black JuJu," is not something I am expecting. With that in mind, those guys are doing a great job with the tunes and Cooper's voice is astounding! Looking forward to the album even more!