legion

more reviews catch up

age of aquarius - out there phil vincent - stigmata Legion - Redemption D'Ercole - Hard Core frontStill lots of catching up to do, so here another batch of reviews that our releases received. Click the links to read the full review:

  • no less than 18/20 points for Phil Vincent’s Stigmata opus on French site Metal Integral.
  • also a whopping 8/10 for Age of Aquarius album Out There on Swiss site Metal Factory
  • 4/5 stars for Vincent’s Stigmata album on Get Ready To Rock
  • according to White Room Reviews Legion’s Redemption album proves that they are back for good and are worthy to add to your collection
  • Clair & Obscure wrote quite a long piece on D’Ercole’s Hard Core album and even contacted Phil with some questions.
  • both Stigmata and Hard Core come recommended from Dutch site Rockportaal who applaud the quality on offer
  • more praise for AoA’s Out There CD comes from DMME: “a highly entertaining, and intelligent, opus”, resulting in 4,25 / 5 stars
  • almost the highest possible score (4,8 / 5) from DMME for Phils Stigmata album “Going from strength to strength”
  • crossing many (prog) genres and incorporating many nuances is what Prog Critique says about AoA album Out There
  • and somewhere on this Strutter zine page you can find Gabor’s thoughts on D’Ercole, Age Of Aquarius and Phil Vincent!
  • another Recommended from Made In Metal (Spain) for D’Ercole
  • and according to ViriAOR “This new album from D’Ercole will satisfy even the most demanding listener”

reviews catch up

Legion - Redemptiontragik - faith healerphil vincent - today tomorrow yesterdayD'Ercole - Hard Core frontage of aquarius - out there

 

 

 

The past year(s) have been pretty crazy, so it is way beyond time to reflect on the many great reviews our releases received. It will take a couple of posts, so here we go! (hit the links for full details)

  • The Rocker describes the latest Legion album as “another excellent release”
  • White Room Reviews says Tragik’s Faith Healer is a fine album which will please any lover of melodic hard rock
  • Tragik is also # 16 in the Top 20 of 2020 by Janne Stark.
  • White Room Reviews writes about Phil Vincent’s Today Tomorrow Yesterday: “a CD that celebrates the diversity of PHil Vincent within the hard rock domain”
  • The Rocker, a self proclaimed child of the Eighties says about Tragik’s Faith Healer: “It’s the sound of rock the way it used to be. And the way it should be. A gem.”
  • Janne Stark writes about Phil’s TTY album: “a really good album. I must also point out that Phil is a kick-ass singer who deserves to be heard! “
  • Metal Integral from France describe D’Ercole’s HArd Core album as “Hard US rock the way I like it” and rewards it with 17.5 / 20 points!
  • An extensive review of the second Age Of Aquarius album Out There kan be found on Muzikman: “Out There offers a combination of action-packed, comic book imagery, along with surprise hints of pop-up styles inside the effects of progressive-rock. “
  • Woody’s praises the D’Ercole album as “A top notch melodic hard rock album, get it, enjoy it, smile and Crank it Up!”
  • the 4.5 / 5 stars for Tragik’s Faith Healer from DMME tells you everything. At least it should 🙂
  • rockerhead wastes few words on the Age Of Aquarius album: “great piece of work”
  • For DMME, Phil’s TTY album is “impressive: arguably, the best Vincent’s album to date.”

Legion seek Redemption

Legion - RedemptionFrom the minds of Vince O’Regan and Phil Vincent comes the next chapter in the LEGION story. “REDEMPTION” is the brand new metal masterpiece by these melodic rock titans. Following on last year’s stellar album “RISING”, “REDEMPTION” takes things a step further into melodic metal. Heavy riffs, massive hooks, thundering backline, and pristine production vaults “REDEMPTION” to the top of the heap. Listen to O’Regan’s shredding solos, Vincent’s multilayered vocals, Gav Cooper’s throbbing bass, Andy Pierce’s kit abuse and last but not least, Irv Parratt on keyboards …….and more keyboards!!! Sit back and crank it up!! Rock Company presents for your listening pleasure……LEGION “REDEMPTION”. Enjoy this first track; RUN!

Reviews 2019-12

legion - risingforest field - seasons battersea - arguments & sentiments

On the brink of the new year a last view at some reviews our releases received:

  • Your Music Blog on Legion – Rising ” I know some people are afraid Phil is saturating his fan base with all these releases. But when the outcome is this good, who cares… Bring it on! Well, we already know there is no stopping Phil”
  • DPRP wrote lots of (very positive) things about Forest Field – Seasons: “the music is actually quite enjoyable and definitely worth checking out if you like smooth melodic AOR with an occasional heavy touch.” But they do acknowledge some tracks being more progressive 😉
  • Sea Of Tranquility gives Battersea – Arguments & Sentiments 3 / 5 stars. Not bad considering this release is a bit out of their normal scope. They say ” there’s no denying that Battersea know how to snag a hook and construct a chorus”
  • They also write about Legion and hand it 3.5 / 5 stars. It’s metal you know… “For me Legion finds Phil Vincent at his strongest and I personally wish he’d temper all the other musical activity he’s involved in to really focus his energies here”
  • Next Background Magazine on Forest Field – Seasons: “a step forward for me, more power and not afraid of an experiment” 3/5 stars
  • Then we have Festival Info handing 4/5 stars to Legion – Rising. They recommend checking the album if you are into quality hard rock.
  • On to France where MusicWaves give Forest Field – Seasons 3/5. Despite some strange mistakes and assumptions from the writer, still lots of good things from them.
  • We continue with a 3.75 / 5 from another French magazine, Highlands. This is a very extensive one but my French lacks adequate translation skills.
    FOREST FIELD – SEASONS review in Highlands Mag 99
  • And last but not least a 75/100 from BURRN Japan for Forest Field!
    burrn - forest fieldIf someone would be so kind to translate…

 

 

 

 

Stay Safe and enjoy the festive season!

Reviews 2019-11

forest field - seasonsbattersea - arguments & sentimentsThe Essential Claudio DelgiftCranston IIPhil Vincent - Hypocritelegion - rising

Time to show you another batch of reviews we are very happy to share!

  • first is Dutch site Rockportaal. Writer Hans says “with this fifth Forest Field album, Peter Cox proves our country has a lot to offer musically. This album surprised me in a positive way”
  • Next the feature of Battersea on Your Music Blog: “This is high calibre melodic power pop / pop rock with a slight alternative touch and catchy as the flu in kindergarten”
  • another Dutch one for Forest Field; White Room Reviews writer Ralf says: “The beauty of quality studio work is that one never hears only a few people were involved. Because Peter Cox has everything well organised, Seasons sounds as the result of a well rehearsed progressive rock band”
  • next are a couple from Rock Hard Slovakia. First one concerns Claudio Delgift and his the Essential release: 4/5 stars from Erik who says “”The Essential” is a quality album, where fans of not only progressive and instrumental rock come to their taste and at the same time taste the fruits of the remote fireland of Argentina”
  • Second one is for the second Cranston album who also gets a 4/5 star rating: “The second album is simply labelled with sequential number II and features eleven fresh, crunchy and striking songs”
  • last one from them is from writer Eduard and for Seasons from Forest Field. Another 4/5 stars “If you have met this project in the past and you liked their previous material, you will also like this one. “Seasons” is an aesthetically pleasing piece of music that positively surprised”
  • Also about Forest Field is Jason Ritchie and Get Ready To Rock (UK). 3 1/2 / 5 stars “Forest Field are progressing nicely with their own brand of melodic prog rock. The most rounded and enjoyable to date by them”.  The page also features an interview with Phil Vincent.
  • On the Mayfair Mall homepage you can find links to reviews for Legion, Cranston and Phil Vincent as well as reviews for distribution titles D’Ercole and Tragik. Let’s just say they love them 🙂
  • and the last ones are from The Rocker (UK) and Powerplay Magazine (UK) (wait, 4 instrumentals??) and are also for Forest Field:

the rocker - forest fieldpowerplay - forest field

 

Reviews 2019-10

souls of deaf - fortune favors the boldstamina live forest field - seasons battersea - arguments & sentimentslegion - rising

Time to give you another overview of the great reviews our releases are getting around the globe.

  • let’s start with Erik from Rock Hard SK, who gives the Souls Of Deaf debut 3.9 / 5 “strong hard rock that occasionally, but thoughtfully and enthusiastically bursts like rice pudding into the punk rock air”
  • next a very enthusiast review of Stamina‘s live album from Progressivamenteblog “a live album that can be a good calling card to start appreciating this worthy band”
  • the first review for Forest Field‘s latest opus Seasons came from DMME, a 4/5! and “this is the very nature of change, to let things run organically; this is what fuels “Seasons” and warrants its repeated spins”
  • more compliments for Stamina coming from DPRP: “a great collection of melodic prog-power metal, that will entertain existing fans and should tempt any newcomers to dig into the Stamina back catalogue”
  • Italian metallers metal.it were quite happy to explore the Battersea album “an enjoyable disk capable of citing with a certain dexterity and good taste “
  • even more positives for Battersea come from Erik at Rock Hard Sk with 4/5 stars and “The album is well recorded, it contains strong moments, it sounds good and it is very pleasant to listen to”
  • Erik also writes about Legion – Rising (3.7/5) “the album is really good, it has different moods, it has a more massive sound, louder and thick sounding guitars and fans of classical, hard metal cut American metal will surely come into its own after its first playback”
  • Dangerdog writer Craig gives Forest Field a 3.5/5 stars saying “with Forest Field’s Seasons, Peter Cox continues his consistent production of synth and guitar heavy melodic progressive rock. If you liked his previous material, you enjoy this one as well”
  • from ProgCritique Forest Field receive 4/5 stars “On the whole ” Seasons ” always presents the concern to do well and each title offers a well structured music, with sufficient developments to mobilize the attention of the listener!
  • and the last one for today also concerns Forest Field. ViriAor hands it a whopping 5/5! “Seasons repeats the band’s musical formula, although it includes heavy doses of metal, which makes it a more dynamic and appealing album. If you like records that make you leave your comfort zone as a listener, Seasons is for you. Recommended”

Thanks to all the writers!

Reviews 2019-9

Slug Comparison - When You Were Living HereThe Essential Claudio Delgift stamina livesky empire - the dark towerbattersea - arguments & sentimentslegion - risingPhil Vincent - Hypocrite

High time to give you another overview of reviews for our releases!

  • the famous Progressor site wrote 2 reviews. First one is for Slug Comparison. A 5/6 rating “it is an album that merits a check if you want to hear how much this genre have influenced music in general and what I’d choose to describe as alternative rock in particular. A prog-tinged rather than a progressive rock album if you like, but a really well made one at that”
  • Second one is for Claudio Delgift. A 5 star rating “I had never heard of Claudio Delgift until this CD arrived, which to me indicates that this is an artist that have gone under most people’s radar. I commend Rock Company for sticking their neck out for this artists, as this is music that deserves to be heard by a broader audience. Those with a particular fancy for mid to late 80’s Rush at their most accessible should probably be the first ones to track down this music for a listen”
  • Then we have Background Magazine who give Stamina a 3+ rating “Live In The City Of Power is an honest live album and shows where Stamina is now. A solid powerful progressive band, who should have gotten more attention in the past. The compositions are solid and interesting, and the instrumentalists are perfectly capable to deliver a great show. Vocalist Alessandro remains a solid voice. I would recommend buying the CD including the DVD, I guess the visual part adds something special to the music”
  • CGCM podcast have written an extensive review of Sky Empire‘s The Dark Tower: “Overall with The Dark Tower, the musicianship is just simply amazing, and very strong in all the elements this band has to offer. The songs are intelligently written, and very well composed. The band manages to change directions flawlessly throughout the album without confusing the listener. So if you’re looking for something that is new, and fresh to your ears, but still in its own way stays true to the Progressive/Metal sound that many love, then this album is definitely what you may be seeking! Take a chance, and take a journey to The Dark Tower. You won’t regret the trip!”
  • Then on to White Room Reviews! First they serve us with a Battersea review “The Netherlands have several appealing rock bands with accessible music. Battersea prove with this album they are dying to win over that public. Arguments & Sentiments shows they have the quality to achieve that”
  • Second is Phil Vincent‘s Hypocrite album “Hypocrite clearly shows that Vincent is a scene veteran. Especially the guitar playing will convince the listener”
  • And last but not least a very positive review for Stamina‘s Live In The City Of Power “Not every live album is a success. Often that depends on the quality of the recordings and with how the band performed. In Stamina’s case both aspects are top level! Add to that the wonderful music and you will understand this is a great release”
  • Dutch site Metalfan is also very positive about the Stamina release: “the playing is tight, and all instruments are well balanced and easy to hear. A big plus with this type of music, which blossoms when all instrumental details are clearly presented. That applies to the either jazzy and then neoclassical guitar solo’s, but also to the virtuoso keyboard parts. the band sounds solid. Live In The City Of Power is a fine showpiece for Stamina. And if this is your first acquaintance with the band, that is sure whets the appetite to track down their studio albums”
  • Your Music Blog on Phil Vincent: “in my book the man can do no wrong, great album!”
  • And next a couple of reviews from The Rocker:

phil vincent stamina legion

Reviews 2019-8

The Essential Claudio DelgiftPhil Vincent - Hypocritebattersea - arguments & sentimentslegion - risingstamina liveSlug Comparison - When You Were Living Here

Time is long overdue to bring you the next overview of all the great reviews that have reached us the last weeks/ months. So here we go:

  • first one is for Claudio Delgift‘s The Essential, coming from French website Prog Critique. In their words: Claudio Delgift demonstrates a great technical mastery combining power and quality. Twelve tracks never run out of energy or inspiration, the musician splits a classic and melodic progressive that allows his guitar playing to flourish. (3.5 / 5)
  • Next one is ViriAOR discussing Phil Vincent‘s Hypocrite album: “An album that handles all musical styles in brush strokes, and that personally, is what I liked most about him lately. Highlight guitar solos by experts Vince O’Regan and Peter Cox. A compact, entertaining and interesting album.” (5/5)
  • an amazing 4/5 stars for Battersea and Arguments & Sentiments from Dmitry at DMME
  • and an even more wonderful 5/5 at ViriAOR for Battersea
  • also a 5 stars for Legion and Rising from ViriAOR
  • next up Metal Integral reward the Live In The City Of Power album from Stamina with 15/20, no wonder they call them “unjustly unknown”!
  • Back to DMME and Phil Vincent. Another 4/5 stars, with Dmitry stating “quite an unexpected move for Phil, but the contemporary sonics show how valid such an approach is in an appropriate context”
  • Italian website Aristocrazia had lots of good things to say about Stamina; “trust me, you will not be disappointed. Grit, tenacity and passion: this is fed by the music of Campania and this is the only one you will find inside Live In The City Of Power , energy in abundance!”
  • Over to Germany now, where PowerMetal.de has a lot of good things to say about Rising from Legion with qualifications like “flawless”, “no shortage of hooks”, or “still a long way from old-timers and still lots to say” (7.5/10)
  • back to Italy and Stamina, where Hardsounds rewards the live album with 77 points calling it a “significant live testimony”
  • Strutter and Gabor had a bit of catching up to do. On this page you can find reviews for:
    – D’Ercole – Made to Burn (8.1/10)
    – Slug Comparison – When You Were Living Here (8.5/10)
    – Legion – Rising (7.7/10)
    – Stamina – Live In The City Of Power (7.3/10)
    – Phil Vincent – Hypocrite (8.1/10)
  • and the last one for today is from Belgium’s Concrete Web, talking about Rising from Legion with lots of positives. The songwriting, the sound, the execution. Resulting in a warm Recommended.

Thanks to all the writers!

Reviews 2019-7

legion - risingD'Ercole - Made To Burn Slug Comparison - When You Were Living HereCranston IIThe Essential Claudio DelgiftPhil Vincent - Hypocrite battersea - arguments & sentimentsstamina live

Since reviews keep coming hard and fast, time is long overdue to update the site with the best ones from recent weeks:

  • Whiteroom reviews Legion “Rising shows that Legion can still rock. Good thing they are back”
  • Sea Of Tranquility appreciate D’Ercole‘s Made To Burn with 3.5 / 5 stars: “If you enjoy melodic hard rock and AOR with strong lead vocals there should be a lot to love here” and
  • Slug Comparison they rate with 4/5 stars! “an excellent modern rock album that might be light on prog but for me that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. Well played, well sung and certainly sophisticated enough for the more discerning fan. Recommended”
  • the same site and the same rating, 4/5 stars for Cranston – II; “CranstoN proves to be an excellent venture with a professional production and melodies all over the place. A highly recommended release”
  • last but not least, another 3.5 / 5 stars for Claudio Delgift: “Claudio is an excellent guitarist, his fills and rhythms, both acoustic and electric highlight every track”
  • Then on to Dutch site Lords Of METAL: a 72 / 100  for Phil Vincent‘s Hypocrite album: “another very enjoyable album”
  • a very thrilling 77 / 100 for Battersea: “a fine album with beautiful songs”
  • an even more thrilling 80 / 100 for Stamina’s Live In The city Of Power:  “besides an excellent choice in songs, a very good sound for a live album with a great mix”
  • and finally a 75 / 100 for Legion and Rising: ” interesting from start to finish, I like Rising so maybe I should start tracking down their back catalogue”
  • now over to France and a stunning 5 / 5 stars for Slug Comparison on Progcritique:  “by proposing a colorful content, sometimes rock, sometimes progressive, realizes here a warm and endearing album!”
  • from Canada a 3.8 / 5 stars for Stamina from the pen of Dmitry Epstein: ” if they’re willing to projecting such balance onto the future, it wouldn’t take a lot of stamina to reach the higher echelons of heavy champions”
  • Phil Vincent did an extensive interview with Swedish site Rock United which you can read in full here
  • Musipedia of Metal rate Legion with a 7 / 10: “on the basis of this album I’d happily hear a lot more of this rock band”
  • and the last ones of this post; thoughts from Your Music Blog on Slug Comparison and Claudio Delgift

More to come!

Reviews 2019-6

Cranston II

stamina live

Slug Comparison - When You Were Living Herelegion - risingbattersea - arguments & sentimentsPhil Vincent - Hypocrite

And now time for the next round of reviews, as well as an extensive interview. So let’s start quickly with all the reviews:

  • first is Dutch site Rockportaal writing about the Legion Album. Writer Maurice calls it a tasty album, playable on every moment of every day.
  • The next is also from Maurice on Rockportaal, but this time it concerns the Stamina live album Live In The City Of Power. He thinks it is a great way to get to know the band and surely worth listening to. Also compliments for us for continuously delivering quality releases. Thanks man!
  • next another Dutch site, Progwereld. They write about Slug Comparison‘s WhenYou Were Living Here. they regard Doug as one of those talents roaming the world that deserve a much bigger audience.  Great voice, extensive musical skills and strong songs. Reviews like this will surely help attract more interest in this awesome release.
  • Then the inimitable Dmitry Epstein delivers another one of his fine reviews on DMME. He hands Legion‘s Rising a whopping 4.2 / 5 stars! With describing it as alluring and hitting the mark, who needs more recommendation?
  • Maybe the first time we hear back from Poland, and it are MLWZ writing about the Battersea release Arguments & Sentiments. Lots of compliments too, highlighting the catchy choruses and many tracks suspected of being able to become a summer hit. Well, fingers crossed then!
  • On to Italy then, where MetalItalia write about the just as Italian Stamina.  “A good opportunity to get to know and appreciate the band”. We couldn’t have said it better.
  • On to France now, and another amazing 17/20 for Phil Vincent and his latest album Hypocrite! No wonder writer Laudrome ends with “a very very good album”…
  • And it seems this sentiment is shared by Rockportaal. They conclude their review of Hypocrite  with “even when this album will not turn the world of rock upside down, it is a great album that is at least as good as many of the more well known names”. Thank you very much!
  • fireworks-SC interview is what it says, the full 2 pages of the interview that Doug from Slug Comparison did with Nicky Baldrian of Fireworks.
  • battersea - rock tribune some very kind words for Battersea in metal magazine Rock Tribune.
  • And last but not least, below more cracking words for Cranston, reviewer Paul Woodward from Fireworks calls it one of the best albums in the whole of Phil’s career!

cranston - fireworks

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