We don’t post album “reviews” but we do play a lot of new releases on the Friday NI Rocks Show each week. These are some of the albums released this month that we’ve featured tracks from over the past few months; or are likely to feature over the next few weeks. This month we focus on releases from Sevendust, Kissing Kaos, The Karma Effect, Dan Byrne and Shinedown.

 

SEVENDUST – “One” – Napalm Records 1^st May

American band Sevendust formed over thirty years ago and they released their fifteenth album on 1^st May. They had just completed a lengthy tour with Alter Bridge and they have announced a UK tour in December that brings them to Belfast on 8^th December.

 

There was a special promo feature for the new album on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 1^st May that featured the tracks “One” and “Construct”. In addition the track “Is This The Real You” featured in January and on 10^th April, “Unbreakable” on 6^th March and 10^th April and “Threshold” on 3^rd April and 5^th June.

 

Website - https://sevendust.com/

 

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KISSING KAOS – “To Your Limit” - Mighty Music 1^st May

This is the debut album from American band Kissing Kaos and it caught my attention initially because of the involvement of Kickin Valentina bass player Chris Taylor. The track “Chaos Inside” was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show in January, followed by “Yesterday’s Kids” in February and “Hey Sugar” on 20^th March.

 

Website - https://kissingkaos.com/

 

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THE KARMA EFFECT – “Cruel Intentions” – Earache 15^th May

The third album from British band The Karma Effect was released on 15^th May and went to number one on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart and on the UK Physical Albums Chart. I’d preordered the signed red and white vinyl version

 

There was a promo feature for the new album on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 22^nd May along with the track “Long Gone”. Previously, the track “Dangerous Love” had been included on the Show in January, followed by “Ride or Die” on 20^th March and “Raised on Rock n Roll” on 15^th May

 

Website - https://thekarmaeffect.co.uk/

 

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DAN BYRNE – “This Is Where The Show Begins” – Frontiers 22^nd May

The debut album from English artist Dan Byrne. There was a promo feature with Dan talking about the new album on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 22^nd May along with the track “Putting Me Under”. I’ve actually been playing tracks that are included on the album on the Show since 2024; including “Hard to Breathe”, “Death of Me”, “Sentimental” and “Saviour”. Tracks featured this year include “She’s The Devil” and “Praise Hell”

 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/danbyrneofficial

 

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SHINEDOWN – “EI8HT” – Atlantic 29^th May

The eighth album from Shinedown since they formed in 2001 – released by Atlantic Records on 29^th May. I’d preordered the evergreen double vinyl version with signed print. The band will be playing two nights in Dublin in November as part of their European tour.

 

There was a promo feature with Zach Myers talking about the new album on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 5^th June; along with the tracks “Killing Fields”, “Young Again” and “Searchlight”. Tracks featured previously were “Dance Kid Dance” in Jan 2025, “Killing Fields” in July, “Safe and Sound” in February, “Outlaw” on 3^rd April and “Three Six Five” on 1^st May.

 

Website https://www.shinedown.com/