Biff & the boys in their finest hour, well 98 minutes actually. One of the finest Live DVD’s ever made with a fantastic sound quality, complete wild Wacken crowd and SAXON - delivering an awesome show! (10/10)
KROKUS - Rock The Block (BMG Import)
Swiss 'old school' rockers KROKUS - come storming back after 12 years with definitely, one of the best rock albums for 2003 - chock full of 'classic' sounding hard rock! Absolutely lovely! The 'headhunters' are back! (9/10)
IRON MAIDEN - Dance Of Death (EMI)
More dirt under the fingernails - than their last but basically the formula’s the same ,you know what you’re getting for your money with these UK metal 'legends' delivering another slice of metal heaven! (9/10)
TYRANT - Thunder Down Under (Tyrantula)
Excellent, new CD and worthy follow up to their 2000, "Freaks Of Nature" release by this Australian metal band, with more of the same obnoxious - ass-kicking, dirty rock & roll! The title cut is a 'classic'! (9/10)
JANE’S ADDICTION - Strays (EMI)
One of the surprises of the year?! A decade since their last effort, the band have reinvented themselves with an album that delivers a wondrous collection of modern day rock music. Thoroughly enjoyable! (9/10)
KISS - Alive 4 Symphony (Universal 2 CD/DVD set)
Capturing the comic book crusaders of rock in their finest element - this time we have the addition of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - and boy what a show! A great viewing experience! (9/10)
DANGER DANGER - Prime Time (Independent Import)
Back with an album that features all their best elements - that is, good songs, good production and perfectly crafted pop/metal of the highest calibre – the way they used to do! (8/10)
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - Blessed Hellride (Spitfire)
The man doesn't usually disappoint - with an album of great rock songs that follows on where last years, “1919 Eternal” - left off. Zakk knows how to please his loyal followers! A good album! (9/10)
SLAYER - War At The Warfield (American DVD)
Brutal, intense, aggressive, totally in-your-face – this DVD captures the US 'legend' Thrash Metal Kings, SLAYER - at their mind numbing best! (9/10)
POWDERFINGER - Vulture Street (Sony)
Easily the best Australian rock release of the year, Powderfinger deliver the kind of album that is devoured by the masses. It's good formula, safe rock that's loved the world over! (8/10)
QUEENSRYCHE - Tribe (Sanctuary)
Ex-guitarist Chris De Garmo rejoins his former band mates for this project and it’s actually far better than their last few releases. Definitely more bite than usual but still not back to 'hey day' era! (6/10)
MIKE TRAMP - More To Life Than This (Ulftone)
3rd time lucky? Not really - Tramp’s latest offering is good but doesn't have the substance of last year’s fairly good model. The title track is the best song on offer, the rest are rather bland by comparison. (6/10)
TED NUGENT - Full Bluntal Nugeity (Spitfire DVD import)
Ted has blazed a trail across the rock & roll wilderness for nearly 3 decades and he still hasn’t lost his passion for in-ya-face rock or hunting defenceless animals. Not bad! (6/10)
AUDIOSLAVE - Self Titled (Sony)
The band loved by a lot of people with a fairly good debut. Not brilliant but lovers of alternative rock will lap this up with some pretty good tunes. At least it's not nu-metal! (5/10)
HARDCORE SUPERSTAR - No Regrets (Music For Nations)
This highly underrated bands’ third release is as good as their previous 2 efforts. HC still deliver some great infectious pop, flavoured up tempo rock and some damn cool songs too! (6/10)
HANOI ROCKS - 12 Shots On The Rocks (Indie)
Possibly the most cohesive, consistent product this band has ever released! A great come-back by Mike Munroe & Andy McCoy with plenty of scintillating, sleazy, dirty rock songs delivered the way they were supposed to be delivered! Good to hear 'em back! (7/10)
BACKYARD BABIES - Stockholm Syndrome (Indie)
As usual the boys deliver another fine CD that seems to of been ignored by most of the rock press. If ya like ya rock without the bullshit - then grab a copy and enjoy this good little record. (7/10)
LYNCH/PILSON - Wicked Underground (Spitfire)
Ex-Dokken guitarist & bass player - show they don’t need old singer Don Dokken - to come up with a good effective and satisfying product. The claytons Dokken CD it may be but it's fairly satisfying! (7/10)
SKID ROW - Thick Skin (Independent)
Long gone are the days of Youth Gone Wild and Slave to the Grind etc. With a new singer onboard who does a credible job – it's the music that is nothing like the old band, with a more alternative rock groove. Good but an entirely different sound - If you’re open minded then check it out?! (7/10)
METALLICA - St. Anger (Universal)
Selling out to Nu-Metal (the Dark Side) is not the way to go – and countless long time fans have deserted the band like lemmings! The lowest point in their career reflects the sad product produced. Probably, the most disappointing album of the year - by far! (2/10)
BRITNY FOX - Springhead Motorshark (Indie)
Talk about getting it all wrong! After a decade in hibernation, you would think that the boys would come back with their old formula that worked so well before?! Instead - we get no killer riffs, no killer songs and in all honesty - a total waste of time! Disgraceful! (1/10)
BON JOVI - This Left Feels Right (Universal)
The question really should be – why bother? The original versions of these tunes are imprinted in a whole generation of loyal fans who made Bon Jovi what they are today. Must be down to their last million?! (4/10)
JET - Get Born (EMI)
Sorry but average and I’m being very kind here best describes this record. A couple of songs have an O.K. groove but the next AC/DC or Stones?! I can think of half a dozen better bands in Australia - who given the same push would out sell these bozos in an instant…Next! (4/10)
DEEP PURPLE - Bananas (EMI)
They may have the Name but they certainly don’t produce great music like they used to. Honestly, they should hang up there guitars and retire gracefully. So very, very sad. (3/10)