Blogcritics Author: Stuart A Hamilton

Music Review: Alice Cooper - Along Came A Spider

Stuart A Hamilton — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:50:56 EDT

It's back to the seventies as Alice Cooper returns with a concept album.
Well, it looks like the garage rock years are over, as Alice returns to his old stomping ground - the concept album! This time it tells the charming tale of a serial killer named Spider, whose trademark is wrapping his victims in silk. Hurrah! But don't worry, this is cuddly 21st century Alice, so he gets his comeuppance when he goes all girly...

Music Review: KKB - 1974

Stuart A Hamilton — Wed, 9 Jul 2008 19:41:33 EDT

Ex-Kiss guitarist revisits surprisingly good childhood memories.
Well, here's a blast from someone's past! Because one of the Ks in KKB is for Bruce Kulick, erstwhile guitarist with the mighty Kiss! Fair enough that it was the denuded Kiss years, but Bruce Kulick was their guitarist of choice for 12 years. Before that he'd toured with Meat Loaf, where he was a member of the Bat Out Of Hell touring band, and...

Music Review: Izzie Voodoo - The Push

Stuart A Hamilton — Tue, 1 Jul 2008 05:21:19 EDT

Slap on the pancake, it's a goth you can dance to!
Hmm, experimental dark electronica? Smells like a goth on acid to me. And, as usual, I'm convinced that I'm right. It's certainly an interesting experience, which is more than you can say for most of the pap that gets foisted upon you, the record buying public. I'm always amazed how something even a little bit out of the ordinary can capture...

Music Review: History Of Guns - Acedia

Stuart A Hamilton — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:12:55 EDT

Goths discover bleeps and swooshes, world cheers.
Goths, eh? Did you know that in Dumfries & Galloway, an ancient ordinance permits the public burning of Goths, as long as you bring your own kindling, and make sure the fire is upstream from any public washing lines. S'true.Which roundabout way brings me to Acedia, album number three from electro-gothers History of Guns. They're a right...

Music Review: John 5 - Requiem

Stuart A Hamilton — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:28:50 EDT

The newly crowned King Widdler attempts to keep his crown.
And so it comes to pass that the former Marilyn Manson, Rob Halford, Paul Stanley, David Lee Roth, and Rob Zombie sideman releases his fourth solo album, following on from the not that long ago The Devil Knows My Name. And it's alright.I'm working on the principle that Mr. 5 must use up all his melodic instincts as a writer / muso for hire,...

Music Review Review: Seether - Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces

Stuart A Hamilton — Sun, 1 Jun 2008 07:36:24 EDT

Post grunge survivors return with bleak and angry outburst.
I was mildly surprised to find that Seether were still on the go. After all, most of the other big rock, post-grunge bands have long gone the way of the dodo and the pig-footed bandicoot , with the honourable exception of Nickelback who seemed to have evolved some kind of immune system / defense shield that repels all comers.But here come the...

Music Review: Venom - Hell

Stuart A Hamilton — Wed, 21 May 2008 06:57:59 EDT

Lay down your soul to the gods rock and roll? Nearly but not quite.
Venom! Where to begin? After all, they are one of the most important heavy metal bands of all time. No question. Not many bands can claim to have invented an entire genre, but that was happened with their debut album Welcome To Hell. In the space of half an hour they invented black metal and thrash metal. They even gave the former a name with the...

Concert Review: Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert At Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 05/14/08

Stuart A Hamilton — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:13:32 EDT

Guitar wizards go head to head in flash! bang! wallop! fret frenzy.
It's a strange old world, this world of instrumental rock guitar. It's a world where the pre-show entertainment consists of fans heading down to the stage to take pictures of the amps, pedals and effects racks. And the roadies tuning up. And pictures of other fans taking pictures of pedals. Yes, really. Which would explain why there were a...

Music Review: Todd Grubbs - Time, Space and The Electric

Stuart A Hamilton — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:06:21 EDT

Guitar shredder in moments of restraint and melody shocker!
It's time for album number four from Berklee College of Music educated guitarist Todd Grubbs, following on from Toddities, Combination, and Beautiful Device. Now, I know what some of you were thinking when you saw the phrase "Berklee College of Music educated guitarist." You're thinking fretboard fornication, a tuneless squall...

Music Review: Animal Alpha - You Pay For The Whole Seat But You'll Only Need The Edge

Stuart A Hamilton — Fri, 9 May 2008 03:07:25 EDT

Dramatic, exotic, Norwegian punk goth glam metal with vim and vigor.
Very often, when someone says that a band can't be categorised, it's because they are equally rubbish at every type of music they attempt to play. In the case of Animal Alpha, the words 'Dramatic,' 'Exotic,' and 'Metallic' have been waved in their direction, which means "help, I don't know what to call...