Welcome to the CGCM Podcast/Website. We are a group of music passionate folks from around the world. Although we began in Canada with only the podcast co-hosts, we now realize an entire team of staff from Canada, UK, USA and Sweden! Follow us at our website and/or social media for all our podcasts, album/concert reviews, interviews, photo galleries and more!
Check out all CGCMs BEST OF 2019 lists from each individual contributor. Enjoy listening to the Best of 2019 podcasts, featuring a ton of the music and hopefully you found some things that maybe you missed throughout the year. Feel free to share the lists and/or podcasts around and let us know what you were rocking to in 2019.
Keep an eye on our Upcoming Release page for all the info on the hottest releases throughout 2020. Every article we post has Amazon links (if available) so you can easily buy the album and support the artists. Here’s to 2020 🥂
BEST OF 2019 – Sparky (Writer) 🇬🇧
Contrary to popular belief rock and metal have never been in ruder health. The number of bands, old and new, is huge and their accessibility has reached realms never seen before. What has changed is the inability of most to actually make a living out of it. This is where we all come in. We need to support as many bands as we can, either through album purchases, attending gigs or ideally both. We know that the Meister has done his utmost and has probably spent enough on music to match the GDP of a small South American country. If we can do just 10% of this then our greatest love will go from strength to strength. Anyway, sermon over, here’s my BEST OF 2019 – Sparky.
#10 – ANGEL – Risen 🇺🇸
The rollercoaster that is Angel‘s career is once again back on the rails. For me, whilst not quite hitting the massive highs of Punky Meadows‘ solo effort of 2016 Risen still makes my Top 10 with killer tracks such as “Shot of Your Love”, “Over My Head” and “Don’t Want you To Go”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
CGCM Album Review: Angel – Risen by Trevor “Psychoone” McDougall
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJwhAMEtKKQ[/embedyt]
#09 PHIL LANZON – 48 Seconds 🇬🇧
Uriah Heep keyboardist returned with his second solo album and has produced a melodic rock winner. Heavily keyboard-driven (duh, obvs) this is as good as the genre gets, whilst still squeezing in folk elements (“Road to London”) and the occasional big band sound (“Forty Line”)
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtByD1zq-3E[/embedyt]
#08 KRYPTOS – Afterburner 🇮🇳
Riff after wonderful riff underpin this masterclass in 1980s metal, with a hefty nod to thrash.
The guys from India have certainly delivered the goods.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnwcFnQw8-U[/embedyt]
#07 PRISTINE – Road Back to Ruin 🇳🇴
Heidi Solheim‘s vocals are the highlight of this album, bringing power and emotion in equal measure. There is variety in abundance too as Road Back to Ruin does not stand still for a minute.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOgqCsR7SIQ[/embedyt]
#06 ROYAL REPUBLIC – Club Majesty 🇸🇪
Swearing, funk, disco, rock, metal, this has got it all.
A joyous unfettered ride free from all restrictions.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_YCl7pp7XU[/embedyt]
#05 Mustasch – Killing It For Life 🇸🇪
These Swedish rockers are on form on this hard-as-nails 10th album.
Note the #whatiswrong campaign too regarding men’s mental health.
BUY: AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
CGCM Album Review: Mustasch – Killing It For Life by “Sparky”
Mustasch – What Is Wrong (2019)
Official music video (one-shot!) for the new single “What Is Wrong”. Released on May 3rd 2019. Shot at Gamla Stan in Stockholm Directed by Ted Lindén at Bullsize. http://www.mustasch.net/ https://www.facebook.com/Mustaschofficial https://instagram.com/mustaschofficial https://open.spotify.com/track/3J6OQbSE7EaTgyPGctklzY https://itunes.apple.com/artist/mustasch/id14839336 http://bullsize.se/
#04 Axe Crazy – Hexbreaker 🇵🇱
Reviewed here this is a fine example of the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal.
Power, pace a melody dominate this sophomore full-length effort from the Polish outfit.
BUY: Bandcamp
CGCM Album Review: Axe Crazy – Hexbreaker by “Sparky”
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37x02pM8VLY[/embedyt]
#03 Blackmayne – Spat From Hell 🇬🇧
Rejuvenated NWOBHM proponents slay everything before them on this fantastic piece of work. This a fine example of how to create a well balanced, powerful and pacey album.
BUY: AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFoMRdpCYH0[/embedyt]
#02 Sacrilege – The Court of the Insane 🇬🇧
NWOBHM but not as we know it. This has a doomier outlook and is all the better for it. Top class musicianship is weaved into the fabric of this album which is an utter joy.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Yvyo953MI[/embedyt]
#01 Savage Master – Myth, Magic and Steel 🇺🇸
The vocals of scream queen Stacey Savage take this album to new heights. Yes, it might be cheesy and cliched, but who cares? It’s fucking great. Read the full review here
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
CGCM Album Review: Savage Master – Myth, Magic and Steel by “Sparky”
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6btx8W_z1zA[/embedyt]
Cheers,
Sparky
Also, find more of my CGCM reviews here: Sparky
(Best of 2019 – Sparky)