Rock legends Blue Oyster Cult released their 16th studio album, Ghost Stories, on April 12 of 2024.

This album consists of songs that were recorded between 1978-1983 and one in 2016, but were never released or not completely done at the time.

Some parts were added, but the parts that were recorded at the time were not changed, but just spruced up, if you will.

This album is very good.  Sounds like classic BOC.

Classic members Eric Bloom (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboards) and Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser (Vocals/Guitar) are still going strong.

If you are a fan, or have not checked them out and want to, I recommend this one and all their huge discography.

Rock out!!

New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) legends Saxon released their 26th (counting two cover albums) studio album Hell, Fire And Damnation on January 19 of 2024.

Saxon, consisting of singer Biff Byford, guitarists Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler (Brian replacing long time guitarist Paul Quinn, who also plays on two songs on this album), bassist Nibbs Carter, and drummer Nigel Glockler, have been quite consistent over the decades with album releases and tours.

They put out an album every few years and most of them, I think, are very good.

They have their style of hard driving, hard rocking, heavy songs, but also incorporate melody and anthemic lyrics.

This album sounds modern and fresh, but also like classic Saxon to me.

Lots of great rocking, heavy riffs with Biff’s great vocals, but also some really good melody too.  In fact, more melody than I remember from most recent Saxon albums.

This band is really good on album and really good in concert.

I’m seeing them for the 3rd time, May 17, in Cincinnati, OH, co-headlining with the legendary band Uriah Heep, and I cannot wait.

Keep on rocking Saxon!!!!!

Scott Stapp, the singer of Creed, released his 4th solo album, Higher Power, on March 15 of 2024.

I received it in the mail on March 17 and have listened to it 3 times already.

I really like this album a lot.

Lots of rocking songs, but also some very heartfelt and emotionally uplifting songs.

These songs really speak to me.

The song, If These Walls Could Talk (Featuring Dorothy singing with Scott) is PHENOMENAL and should be a HUGE hit single.

If you are only aware of Scott’s work with Creed, you should check out his solo albums.

This one, again called Higher Power, The Great Divide, Proof of Life, and The Space Between the Shadows.

All very good albums.

The classic Heavy Metal band Judas Priest released their 19th studio album March 8 of 2024 called Invincible Shield.

Priest have been a favorite of mine since I was 15 or 16.

I consider them the second ever Heavy Metal Band after Black Sabbath.

The band still consists of classic members Rob Halford (Vocals), Glenn Tipton (Guitar), and Ian Hill (Bass), along with Scott Travis (Drums-who has been there since 1990), and Richie Faulkner (Guitar-replacing KK Downing in 2011).

This album, in a word, is PHENOMENAL!!

All 14 songs are amazing.

You have to hear the whole album.

No song is worth skipping.

It has everything you want in a Priest album.

Phenomenal vocals, phenomenal musicianship, great production/mix.

It’s got it all.

I cannot recommend this album enough.

Thank you guys for making another Heavy Metal masterpiece!!

Rock on!!

The classic rock band Foghat released their latest album, Sonic Mojo, on November 10 of 2023.

I had heard a few of the songs, via their videos they made of some singles, and really liked them, so I bought the album.

I really like this album.

Lots of rock, blues, and even a little punk rock actually on one song.

Drummer Roger Earl is the only original member left in the band, but he has a great group around him that includes Scott Holt (Vocals and Guitar), Bryan Bassett (Lead Guitar/Slide Guitar/Vocals/Engineering/Mixing/Production/Mastering), Rodney O’Quinn (Bass/Vocals), and Eddie Lefebvre (Percussion).

Check out this album.

It rocks!!

Mick Mars, guitarist of Motley Crue, FINALLY released his first solo album, The Other Side Of Mars, on February 23 of 2024.

Mick had worked on this album for many years, but had never put out a solo album before because he was totally committed to Motley Crue.

He unfortunately had a very bad falling out with the band in 2023.

Now, he has released this album, and like a solo album should be, it does not sound like his work with Motley Crue.

It’s actually much heavier and darker.

He has Paul Taylor of Winger/Alice Cooper fame on keyboards and additional guitar and Paul co-wrote a lot of the songs (especially the lyrics).  He has two singers on this album (Jacob Bunton on eight songs, who also did the string parts, and Brion Gamboa on two songs) and has KORN drummer Ray Luzier on all songs.  Chris Collier plays bass and did the mixing and mastering of the album.

Again, quite a heavy, dark, and moody album.

I like this album for sure, but I think you may need to be in a certain mood to listen to it.

But if you’re a Mick fan and a fan of hard rock and metal, you need to check it out.

I’m happy Mick has finally released this album because it has been a long time coming.

Oh and when I preordered it, Mick signed it too.

Thank you Mick!!  Rock on!!

I have been a fan of Ace Frehley, original guitarist and co-singer/co-songwriter of KISS, since 1998.

I love all of his solo albums and everything he did with KISS, so I figured I would love 10,000 Volts, Ace’s latest solo album released on February 23 of 2024.

I preordered it and received it on release day.

I’ve listened to it several times and even though it’s definitely not my favorite of his, I do really like it a lot.

It’s classic Ace.

Lots of rocking tunes, lots of melody, and lots of guitars.

I think this is definitely Ace’s most catchy solo album.

I really like every song.

I’ve read a lot of different reviews of this album and some people really love it and some really hate it.

But that’s with anything really.

I think if you are an Ace Frehley fan, you will enjoy this album.

Many have said this is his best solo album since his first one, released in 1978.

While I don’t agree with that, I do really like it, more with each listen, and I think Ace has done a great job with this album.

Well produced and mixed, and the songs rock but yet again are catchy at the same time.

Rock on Ace!!

Frist off, I LOVE this album.

Now, long story.

This album was released November 13 of 2020 as L.A. Guns, but since there was a lawsuit between Drummer Steve Riley (of this band) and other members Phil Lewis (vocals) and Tracii Guns (guitarist), Steve ended up changing the name of the band to Riley’s L.A. Guns (hence why I put Riley’s in parenthesis in the title of this review) so Phil and Tracii could be L.A. Guns.

Confusing I know.

Anyway, I did not give this album the time of day at first because even though I love everybody, especially Steve, I was all about Phil and Tracii having the name and they were putting out phenomenal L.A. Guns albums (and still are) without Steve. 

And in the last several years, it has unfortunately become a thing of bands splitting but members using the same name for their version of the band.

It’s happened with L.A. Guns, Queensryche, RATT, just to name a few.

I wish everyone could just get along and/or use different names, but that’s not how life works.

Anyway, long story dragged on longer, it took me awhile to give this album a listen.

But once I did, I LOVED it.

Steve, along with classic L.A. Guns bassist and songwriter Kelly Nickels (writer of their biggest hit The Ballad of Jayne) got together with singer/guitarist Kurt Frohlich and guitarist Scott Griffin (who actually was L.A. Guns’ bassist for awhile when Phil and Steve were still in the band together while Tracii was out) and made this AWESOME rock album called Renegades.

I cannot say enough about this album.

Since buying it on CD, I have played it SEVERAL times.

I love it every time.

Great songs.

I am sooooooooooo glad I gave this album a chance.

I’m sorry the lawsuit happened and the band name got split into two bands, but I support both and love both.

So regardless of the band name, I see it as two great bands and I am allowed to love both.

And I do.

Thank you guys for making this AMAZING album.

When I saw them live in 2023 (review here) and was lucky enough to meet them (sadly Kelly was not there), I told them how much I loved this album and they greatly appreciated it and signed it for me.

Thank you so much!!!!

Sadly, a few months after I saw the band, Steve passed away.

They made another PHENOMENAL album before Steve passed called The Dark Horse (review here), and it was released January 22 of 2024 on Steve’s birthday.

Again, I’m sorry that all the bad things happened, most especially Steve passing away, but thank goodness we have the music.

And this music is great!!!

Give it a listen.

The second album by Riley’s L.A. Guns was released on Monday January 22 of 2024.

Drummer Steve Riley’s (RIP) birthday.

This album was recorded awhile ago while Steve was still with us.

Like their first album called Renegades as this lineup (Steve on drums, bassist Kelly Nickels, singer/guitarist Kurt Frohlich, and guitarist Scott Griffin), the band again made a very ROCKING album.

I preordered the CD but went ahead and bought it on ITunes so I could go ahead and start playing it.

I’m glad I did because I cannot stop listening to it.

All the songs are great.

It’s a perfect album.

Sadly, though, I’m guessing this is the last album as this band, since Steve is now gone, and I’m guessing they are not carrying on without him.

But I am glad they got to be together while they were and made two AMAZING albums and were a great live band too.

Check out this album and Renegades.

You won’t regret it.

Rest In Peace Steve!!!!  I love you and thank you for the music and your kindness!!!!

Here is my first album review for 2024.

Jack Russell (Lead Singer of Great White/Jack Russell’s Great White) and Tracii Guns (Guitarist of L.A. Guns) collaborated on an album called Medusa.

It was released on Friday, January 12 of 2024.

If you are a fan of both their work in their other bands, you will love this.

Jack’s great vocals and Tracii’s great playing, backed by very good musicians, make up a very rocking album.

This was released by Frontiers Records, who release a lot of albums, and often put musicians together that usually don’t or have ever worked together in a situation where they do work together.

Check out this album.  Every song is very good and the album Rocks!!