These reissues will include the enhanced edition of the band’s first EP Mad Hatters (2006) as well as debut full length album Discordant Dreams (2007) and Wintercoast (2009), will contain rare and previously unreleased live bonus tracks recorded at 2010’s High Voltage Festival in, as well as additional never-seen-before artwork from guitarist Adam Hodgson.

The band have also lined up the following live dates:

March

Fri. 30: York Duchess (with Heather Findlay and Chris Johnson)

Sat. 31: Kingston Peel (with Haken)

April

Sun. 1: Bristol Tunnels (with Shadow Of The Sun)

Find out more at www.touchstonemusic.co.uk

Like the album this will be called Clockwork Angels, and is to be written by sci fi author Kevin J. Anderson. This is what he says about the project on his Facebook page:

“Most of you are aware of my long-standing friendship with Neil Peart, the drummer and lyricist from the legendary rock band Rush, as well as how much Rush has influenced my work. My first novel, Resurrection, Inc., was closely inspired by the Rush album Grace Under Pressure, and I can point to dozens of other novels and stories that bear a clear Rush influence.

“For morethan 20 years, Neil and I have wanted to collaborate on something MAJOR, a way we could tie together our imaginations, and at last that’s happening.

“I’m writing the novelization of Rush’s forthcoming album, Clockwork Angels, their first new CD in five years. Imagine if someone had written the novel of The Wall, Tommy, or Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band when those classic albums were released. For Rush fans, Clockwork Angels is that project.

“I worked together with Neil to flesh out the epic story told over the course of the music, as well as the artist Hugh Syme, whose paintings fill the CD booklet. In a young man’s quest to follow his dreams, he is caught between the grandiose forces of order and chaos. He travels across a lavish and colourful world of steampunk and alchemy, with lost cities, pirates, anarchists, exotic carnivals, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life.

“To whet your appetite, Rush released the first two tracks, Caravan and BU2B. Listen to those songs to get an idea of the story’s beginning.
“I’m writing the chapters now, incorporating the lyrics into the narrative, and having a fantastic time. More details to come, but for now-to quote a line from Caravan: ‘I can’t stop thinking big’.”

Find out more at www.rush.com

Words: Malcolm Dome

Ah, the Van Halen album. Something that’s certainly proven to be a talking point. Opinions range from calling it excellent to utter rubbish. So, just where to put A Different Kind Of Truth (Interscope)? Well, it’s OK, but no more. Some of Eddie Van Halen’s playing is brilliant. However, the best that can be said about the songs is that they imitate some of the finest moments from the original David Lee Roth era. However, these 2012 versions really are a shadow of what went before. As is also the case with Diamond Dave. He doesn’t have the spark or sparkle of old. If you’re satisfied with a once great band attempting to recreate what made them so remarkable yet falling well short of previously high standard,, then you’ll enjoy this. Otherwise…avoid.

Much more palatable is the new Orange Goblin album A Eulogy For The Damned (Candelight). Their first release in five years, this is arguably their best album yet. It has drive, power, passion, sheer edginess, some excellent songs and thunderous, titanic performances from the foursome. Essential.

The Tubes have never let anyone down, in a career that now goes over 40 years. Love Bomb (Cherry Red) was their last charting album in America, when originally released in 1985. Now reissued, it’s very much of its time. It mixes rock, funk, dance and humour, but with a production that really belongs to a bygone era. Still, there’s enough quality and fun here to make it worthwhile.

Procol Harum’s place among the early prog pioneers is obvious as soon as you hear their self-titled, 1967 debut, now reissued by Union Square. The combination of talents draws on a blues background, but has an English eccentricity that’s born out by Matthew Fisher’s organ playing and Gary Brooker’s almost spoken approach to the vocals. In some respects now rather quaint, nonetheless the band’s visionary appeal remains clear. And there are loads of bonus tracks, including the evergreen A Whiter Shade Of Pale, which wasn’t on the original album.

Norwegians Ribozyme have an interesting approach, as the trio prove on Presenting The Problem (Indie Recordings). There’s a touch of progressive metal, an additive of grunge and a coating of alt. rock. all presented with melodic depth and significant musicianship. This lot are certainly capable of massive deeds.

Philip Sayce is a Welshman now living in Canada, and his approach to the blues is individual and enticing. On Steamroller (Provogue) he shows some deft touches and a depth of emotion that makes him stand out as a really fresh talent on the scene. You feel that, while it’s all been heard before, this man does it like it is totally new and vibrant. No mean feat. You can get the title song for nothing here.

Red Lamb are a trio led by one-time Anthrax guitarist Dan Spitz. Their self-titled  and self-released debut album, co-produced by Dave Mustaine (who also wrote some of the lyrics), is a firmly individual effort that offers only occasional glimpses of Anthrax influence. It’s more about Rage Against The Machine and Soundgarden, actually. And surprisingly powerful. The songs are tight and the music is hard, even occasionally harsh. Spitz proves here he has a future away from the ‘Thrax.

The Dutch band started in 1989, quickly establishing themselves as alt. rockers with darkly psychedelic undertones. They released eight studio albums with original singer Anneke van Giersbergen, before she left in late 2007. She was by Norwegian Silje Wergeland in time for 2009’s The West Pole. She joins Rene Rutten (guitar/flute), Frank Boeijen (keyboards), Marjolein Kooijman (bass) and Hans Rutten (drums).

Now you can hear how The Gathering’s sound has developed by downloading the epic Heroes For Ghosts for free right here.

Find out more at www.gathering.nl

Called The Art Of Metal, it was produced by Pontus Norgren and Marcus Jidell, and has the following track listing:

1. Breaking The Walls
   2. Fighters Of The Century
   3. Live Or Die
   4. Spirit Of The Age
   5. Message
   6. Fear Of The Light
   7. Force Of Metal
   8. Heels Of Steel
   9. Hysterica
   10. Daughters Of The Night

You can hear clips from all the songs here.

Find out more at www.hysterica.se

Laithwaites Wine have teamed up with the band and Aussie winery Warburn Estate to make it available over here.

There are two wines on offer:

Back in Black Shiraz 2011 – Barossa (from £9.99 a bottle)
Hells Bells Sauvignon Blanc 2011 – Marlborough (from £9.99 a bottle)

Find out more at www.laithwaites.co.uk

The veteran vocalist, who is currently on a solo tour of America, says that no such approach has been made.

This rumour might have started because current Yes vocalist Benoit David will miss the band’s upcoming tour of Australasia due to illness. He’s being temporarily replaced by John Davison of Glass Hammer.

Anderson has also responded to comments from Yes bassist Chris Squire that the pair are in regular contact.

“I haven’t spoken with Chris in four years, and the only e-mail I have received from him in the last 3 years was him asking for free tickets to my show in Mesa, AZ last week – very sad, but true.”

Find out more at http://jonanderson.com/

Following Ward’s statement last week that he is still waiting for a fair and reasonable contract to sign, there have been internet stories that she had dismissed the drummer from the Sabbath reunion, But writing on Twitter, Sharon had this to say: “I am not in any position to hire or fire anyone in Black Sabbath. I don’t manage the band, I manage my husband”.

Right now, the rest of the band are getting in with writing and recording a new album. Whether Ward ends up being involved remains to be seen.

Meantime, Ozzy has been talking about Tony Iommi’s ongoing cancer battle. This is what he had to say in an interview on Ozzy’s Boneyard, the new classic rock radio station:

“He needs more and more support, man. He doesn’t have a brother, he doesn’t have a sister — it’s just him and his wife and the members of Black Sabbath. So any encouragement, any support [is appreciated]. He’s gonna beat it. What it’s down to is determination and believe me, this guy’s got more determination than anybody I’ve ever met. It’s gonna be fine. It’s just one of those trials in life that happen. When the bombshell hit about Tony’s cancer problem, I came to England. It would’ve been pretty bad if I would’ve stayed in L.A. When (producer) Rick Rubin found out, he said, ‘I will accommodate wherever they are’. Which was very cool of him, actually. . .

“He’s gonna beat it. He’s got so much support, not only from each one of us in the band, but the fan base; it’s unbelievable. It’s one of them problems you have in life. . . He ain’t gonna die, I’m telling you. I told him if he dies, I’m gonna kill him.”

The foursome are al alt. rock band from London. However, they began in Norwich in 2002, before relocating.A seven-track mini album titled Widows was released 2005, introducing Sennen to the world. Debut album Where The Light Gets In followed in 08, with Age Of Denial coming out two years later.

Now they’re back with Lost Harmony, which is due out through Indelabel in April. This is preceded by the single Vultures, out on March 5. The quartet – Larry Holmes (guitar/keyboards/vocals), Rich Kelleway (guitar/vocals), James Brown (drums/keyboards) and Tim Kelleway (bass) – play The Barfly in London on March 8.

Now you can download the song I Watched The End With You for free right here.

Find out more at the same website.

Originally released in 1971, the new version not only has the original album, but also has four bonus tracks. There’s also a second CD in the deluxe edition which has previously unreleased demos and outtakes. Here’s the full track listing:

CD One

1 Mambo Sun

2 Cosmic Dancer

3 Jeepster

4 Monolith

5 Lean Woman Blues

6 Get It On

7 Planet Queen

8 Girl

9 The Motivator

10 Life’s A Gas

11 Rip Off

12 There Was A Time/Raw Ramp

13 Hot Love

14 King Of The Mountain Cometh

15 Woodland Rock

CD Two

1 Electric Warrior Poem – Rare US Radio Promo

2 Mambo Sun – Instrumental Edit

3 Cosmic Dancer – Single-Vocal Version

4 Jeepster – Single-Vocal Version

5 Monolith – No Backing Vocals Version

6 Lean Woman Blues – Single-Guitar Track – Work in Progress

7 Get It On – Full Length Version

8 Planet Queen – Acoustic Version

9 Girl – New York Demo

10: The Motivator – Work In Progress

11 Life’s A Gas – Studio Out-Take

12 Rip Off – Instrumental *

13 Raw Ramp – London Demo Version

14 Electric Boogie – London Demo Version

15 Honey Don’t – Studio Out-Take / Work In Progress

16 Planet Queen – Acoustic Solo / London Demo Version

17 Girl – Acoustic Solo / London Demo Version

18 Jeepster – Electric Home Demo Version

19 Get It On – Acoustic Home Demo Version

20 Untitled Instrumental – Studio Out-Take

21 Electric Warrior Poem and radio advert. US Radio promo

There will also be a super deluxe version with a DVD.

In addition, on April 21, a vinyl box set called Electric Sevens will be put out. This will have four seven inch singles. Pre-order this here.

Find out more at www.facebook.com/T.RexBolan