Glyder is a great band and this CD just adds to that opinion. If you don't have the first CD then get it and if you do then make sure you add this one to your collection. Glyder are one of the best kept secrets of the European rock scene. Seek their CDs out... you really won't regret it.

Helloween: Gambling with the Devil

Helloween are back with another album. As with every Helloween CD, there is a one catchy as stink track with "As Long As I Fall". You can get this as a video bonus with the special edition with two bonus tracks. Is this up there with the band's best? Well no, not really. It's a fairly average release from this band that can produce cracking stuff. I suspect that as with many of their CDs this will take many listens to get into. The tracks on here just don't leap out at you other than the video/single.

Tarja: My Winter Storm

I have heard Tarja-sans Nightwish and given my opinion on it... so I had to see what her solo CD was going to be like. Let me warn you that the first single; the catchy "I walk alone" is not typical of the rest of the CD. In fact, you could argue that it's a bit self-indulgent overall. One has to wonder why she covered Alice Cooper's "Poison." However, it is not too self-indulgent like say Amy Lee's latest.

All the songs on the CD are great examples of Tarja's vocal talent and are bloody good to listen to. However this is not very similar to Nightwish or similar bands so caveat emptor. I'm not saying this isn't far better than the new CD from her former band.

Anyway, I predict that Nightwish and Tarja will do one or two CDs without each other and then reunite. It is clear they both need each other. There is nothing on here that comes close to anything she did, especially on the last CD, with Nightwish. And you all know the last Nightwish CD isn't anything special either.

Alright, that is your lot for this column. I have a deceptively tall pile of review CDs in their thin sleeves. I hope you have a good holiday season and hope this column will help you with your purchases.

Stay safe, stay rocking, and check out all the live music you can.