“Battle of Leningrad” released by Frontiers Records on 24th January is the fourth album from Californian neo-classical rockers Ring of Fire, although it has been nine years since the last album as band members have been involved with other projects. Singer Mark Boals started the project in 2000 and the band released three albums between then and 2004.
Military history has been a rich creative ground for rock song writers for many years – listen to the Iron Maiden back catalogue and you’re instantly an expert on the subject! Ring of Fire have taken the next step and released an album that tells the story of the Battle of Leningrad during World War 2 when the German army besieged the city of Leningrad for 900 days before being forced to retreat.
Read more: NI ROCKS recommends "Battle of Leningrad" by RING OF FIRE
“Delivering The Black” is the latest album from German band Primal Fear and is released by Frontiers Records on 27th January. Primal Fear have been delivering solid, riff-laden, powerful metal since 1997 and with this latest offering the band have raised the bar even higher. “Delivering The Black” could just have easily have been called “Delivering The Goods” but that would have been way too corny and clichéd! Singer Ralf Scheepers has stated that the band set out to create their best album ever and that he is extremely proud of the result. It took me just one listen to understand why.
Read more: NI ROCKS Recommends "Delivering The Black" by PRIMAL FEAR
Kataklysm (Canada), Krisiun (Brazil) and Fleshgod Apocalypse (Italy)
“Riding A Black Swan” is the second album from Sweden based rockers Casablanca. It gets an official launch in the UK on 3rd February, having previously being released internationally in September of last year. The album is the follow-up to their 2012 debut “Apocalyptic Youth” which earned the band a nomination from Classic Rock Magazine for Best New Band of the Year. Casablanca have opened for Kiss in Malmo and supported Crashdiet on tour.
“Riding A Black Swan” was one of those albums that I knew I was going to like after only a few minutes and it certainly ticks all the boxes from my perspective! Powerful vocals and fantastic guitar riffs are always a winner in my book!
Read more: NI ROCKS recommends "Riding A Black Swan" by CASABLANCA