Is real rock maintaining potential? I'm not talking about the horseshit promoted as "rock" by the mainstream. No. Hell no! Seven out of the ten titles rounding up my 2nd quarter Top 10 Rock Albums are debut releases! I keep hearing daft statements: this or that is bringing rock back ... Breakingnews: rock music was always around, in the present! Unfortunately, for the last 3 decades, the people responsible for promoting music managed to dilute the term "rock" to cover music t

Prog has continued to rise to the occasion during the 2nd quarter of 2021. Whereas Q1 was inclined more towards the prog-roots, Q2 was rather more varied stylistically, with distinct experimental focus and more somber vibes. The quality of the music output was equally divided between veterans and debutants alike, which is in itself a measure of growth (within the genre) and expansion. Without further ado, these are my ten favorite progressive rock/metal releases of Q2 2021. O

Prog rock is riding high this year! Its longevity surpassing any other contemporary rock or metal genres, prog, luring not only new fans (while maintaining a healthy fanbase) but also keeps adding new talent to its ever-growing roster! ... and since I'm feeling a bit mischievous today, I've decided to add an additional album to the initial 10. Not an anomaly ;) It is said that number 11 is known as the number of balance, equality, duality, and kindness. We're talking prog aft

Rock is also being well represented so far this year. Still not quite at the same volume of releases as its more aggressive counterparts, but quite varied stylistically. Europe continues to fly the hard rock flag high. The obvious 1980s influences still have an immense impact on the genre, and not only on the veterans, but encouragingly so on the new talent! Please support the acts you love! They need us during these trying times. I know I'm not alone looking ahead at a not t

Hard Rock, Prog Rock, AOR & Glam Metal Thirty years ago the styles and sub-genres clearly exemplified by the following fifty titles were an integral part of the music mainstream. The assault against proper Rock music intensified in the coming years. Many so-called music experts deemed rock and roll to be dead and buried. Failed efforts to replace it with, for the lack of a better word, garbage, were many. Surviving the dim years of the 1990s and crawling into the new millenni

Digital Age Rock 'N Roll Heavily Rooted In The Past! Due to this year's tidal wave of quality releases, I've decided to expend not only the number of titles (from 5 in the previous year, to 10) but also the scope, daring to include albums that would otherwise be veiled by more aggressive offerings, in a one-size-fit-all setting. Mainly, the common denominator here is the undeniable influence that the 1970s rock music had not only on the compositions, but also on the featured

Rocking Electric Blues & Blues/Rock Kicking off 2020 year's end festivities with a top ten of the most exciting electric blues and blues/rock albums released in the past twelve months. An over 150 years old genre, the blues, has managed to maintain its relevance despite past and present struggles and obstacles. With the blues remaining a core influence to quite a few metal genres, sub-genres and styles for the past five decades, and even longer in the world of rock, publishin

There are many elements that excite me when it comes to quality music. One of them is the velvety overdriven sound of an electric guitar thru a valve loaded amp head! A fine common denominator of the rock music of the late 1960s and beyond. Leaping over five decades of rock music, the current wave of retro rock is leaving it's mark in the music patrimonium! Honorable Mention: HOT BREATH Hot Breath EP Released on October 18, 2019 Spotify link Top 5: DEWOLFF Live & Outta Sight

Rock ‘n’ roll will never die - at least, not if it’s in the hands of Hot Suede. The Kansas City quintet come hurtling out of the gate with an updated take on a classic style that drips with confidence. Their self-titled is a twelve-song romp that works regardless of where it’s played - via speakers, in intimate clubs or on bigger stages. The first wave that hits is of that good ol’ American feel, the timeless classic rock of the 70s & 80s as heard in the Queen-inspired

EMIL'S DEEP UNDERGROUND RECOS (part V) HARD'n'HEAVY Edition Well, well, well ... what do you know ... a HARD'n'HEAVY edition of Straight Outta Catacombs! Unfortunately, nowadays the softer side of metal and hard rock doesn't seem to be very underground popular, for lack of a better word. In fact, after I started researching Bandcamp for new and excited bands and releases that fitted the style, it became rather evident. So after digging, no, scratch that, excavating for a whil

Band: Heavy Feather Title: Débris & Rubble Label: The Sign Records Release date: April 5, 2019 Country: Sweden Format reviewed: high-rate mp3 promo In case you didn’t notice … there is a massive wave of retro rock coming out of Sweden in the most recent years! Massive. Heavy rock, progressive rock, acid rock, psychedelic rock, hard rock, blues rock … even proto heavy-metal. As most recently, we, the fans and music enthusiasts were spoiled with illustrious releases such as: H

Here we go again ... Denim & Leather is a personal opinion eZine dedicated to the ever evolving world of Rock and Metal.  Underground or mainstream, established or debutant, tamed or extreme - all have a place among these virtual pages. A simple format eZine with a broader scope rooted and developed in the Rock and Metal online global community. An eZine for ALL Rock and Metal enthusiasts across our planet. My nine month stint with Blessed Altar Zine (to it's founder a