The final 10 must-have releases of the last 6 months. Check out the other 4 parts here!
Doro
Fear No Evil (AFM)
“Let’s cut straight to the quick: Fear No Evil is a great old-fashioned heavy metal album. It’s full of blood and thunder, with a generous side-order of bombast. Stuff like this might have been ten-a-penny 20 years ago, but today it sounds like a breath of fresh air.”
(Geoff Barton)
Visit Doro’s website: http://www.doropesch.com/

The J Evans Band
Survivor (Evans)
“Hard-edged boogie-blues that gets men drinking ands nodding offset by stunning Springsteen-esque ballads. Evans hasn’t just survived, he’s flourishing.”
(Henry Yates)
Hear clips here: http://www.thejevansband.co.uk/album1_002.htm

The Decemberists
The Hazards Of Love (Rough Trade)
“Imagine if Yes, Zeppelin and Fairport got together to design a concept album, and you have some idea of the fertile and fascinating area this record occupies. Outstanding.”
(Gavin Martin)
Go here and click on ‘Jukebox’ to listen: http://www.decemberists.com/news.aspx

Alias
Never Say Never (Angelmilk)
“18 years after the US band’s mega-selling debut and Angelmilk Records has exhumed this long-lost second disc from the vaults. Very much a product of its gestation era, this is fabulous stuff.”
(Dave Ling)
Hear it here: http://www.myspace.com/theofficialalias

Shinedown
The Sound Of Madness (Atlantic)
“There’s little doubt that Shinedown are among the most exciting (relatively) new bands around, blurring the boundaries between rock and pop without a hint of blandness implied by such a mix… Call Me ends things on such a high, leaving you wanting to press the ‘play’ button and hear it all over again.”
(Dave Ling)
Hear it here: http://www.shinedown.com/music

New York Dolls
Cause I Sez So (Atco)
“Urgent, frenetic and entirely malevolent. You can’t teach an old Doll new tricks it seems. And thank heaven for that.”
(Rob Hughes)
Hear it here: http://www.myspace.com/newyorkdolls

Zamarro
Dirty Power (LC)
“Like a Satan-powered Fu Manchu, Zamarro play grimy, head-banging dope-rock better than just about anybody. This is their comeback record. And it smokes.” (Sleazegrinder)
Listen and watch videos here: http://www.zamarro.com/zamarro.html

Heaven & Hell
The Devil You Know (Roadrunner)
“First, the name: yes, this really is Black Sabbath. That is, the line-up fronted by Ronnie James Dio that first convened in the wake of Ozzy Osbourne’s sacking in 1979… Tracks like Double The Pain (featuring Butler’s trademark belly-rumbling bass), Rock ‘N’ Roll Angel (built on the kind of choppy riff Metallica turned into a career) and set finale Breaking Into Heaven (the ultimate in fallen angels attacking paradise-type songs) make you realise what we’ve been missing all these Sabbath-less years. Pure unadulterated evil. Heed my warning.”
(Mick Wall)
Listen here: http://www.myspace.com/heavenandhellmusic

Duff McKagan’s Loaded
Sick (Century Media)
“Loaded may well be a temporary distraction for the blond-haired, creasy-faced bassist-turned-guitarist… but that doesn’t prevent it from being pretty damn good while it lasts.”
(Geoff Barton)
Watch the video for Flatline here: http://www.duff-loaded.com/Loaded/media.html

Praying Mantis
Sanctuary (Frontiers)
“Sanctuary is big on hooks and drama, befitting a hugely underrated group of musicians… a fine album that ticks many boxes.”
(Dave Ling)
Visit their website here: http://www.praying-mantis.com/mantis/