New Wave Of British Heavy Metal legends Raven release ‘Metal City’, their first new studio album for five years, on Friday 18th September on Steamhammer/SPV. ‘Metal City’ picks up from where 2015’s hugely acclaimed ‘ExtermiNation’ album left off, packing an even more exuberant musical and creative punch than its mighty predecessor. Not only is the title track homage to John Gallagher (bass, vocals) and his brother Mark (guitars) hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne, but it also marks the arrival of new drummer Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Malignancy), who replaced long-standing drummer Joe Hasselvander after he suffered a heart attack (putting an end to his active music career) immediately prior to Raven’s Spring 2017 US tour.

Make sure you don't miss another chance to listen here at 2pm today, as David Sinclair chats to Richard Sirot on Deal Radio. "In My Life" is a sort of mix between “This is your Life” and “Desert Island Discs” and each week Richard’s special guest will have chosen their tracks to play and explain what they have meant to them in their lives. There will also be a bit of general probing about the guests family and career.

Redemption, one of the leading Progressive Metal bands in the world today, headlined the 2018 edition of the ProgPower USA festival, recording the performance with multiple cameras under the direction of Patric Ullaeus, and now, newly signed to AFM Records, the live package is being released on Friday 28th August as 'Alive In Color', of which, 'Indulge In Color', is today's Track Of The Day. Soon thereafter, the band will return to the studio to begin work on its 8th studio CD, which will come from AFM sometime in 2021. Formed in Los Angeles, California in 2000 by guitarist/ keyboardist/songwriter Nicolas van Dyk, the band features iconic vocalist Tom S. Englund of Evergrey, the phenomenal rhythm section of Chris Quirarte (drums) and Sean Andrews (bass), keyboard phenomenon Vikram Shankar plus additional guitar work from the legendary Chris Poland (Megadeth, OHM) and Simone Mularoni (DGM).

Cult US Melodic/AOR act Fortune travelled to Milan in late April last year to record a rare live set at the annual Frontiers Rock Festival to celebrate the release of their then brand new album, ‘II’, of which 'The Gun's Still Smokin' Live' CD+DVD set was released last Friday and 'Freedom Road' is our Video Of The Day. Fortune released a self-titled album back in 1985 that is still highly regarded by fans of the AOR genre thanks to the soaring vocals of Larry Greene (also featured on the ‘Top Gun’ soundtrack), which were magnificently blended with the keyboards of Roger Scott Craig, the guitar playing of Richard Fortune and the rhythmic drumming of Mick Fortune. Splitting soon after, a full band reunion show eventually took place over thirty years later in Nottingham, followed by their signing to Frontiers.

Steve Hackett releases 'Selling England By The Pound & Spectral Mornings: Live At Hammersmith' on Friday 25th September, and this 2CD + DVD live recording is from his critically acclaimed 2019 UK tour, of which 'Deja Vu' is today's Video Of The Day. The concert was recorded on the final night of the tour at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, with Steve joined by his touring band of Roger King (keyboards), Jonas Reingold (bass), Rob Townsend (saxes/flutes), Craig Blundell (drums and percussion) and Nad Sylvan on vocals. Special guests for this performance were Steve’s brother John Hackett (flute) and Amanda Lehmann (guitar and vocals), which also included tracks from his acclaimed 2019 release 'At The Edge Of Light'.

Today's latest Blues On The Radio Track Of The Day previews The Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival, cancelled this year but raring to go in Colne in 2021, including Robin Bibi, Davy Knowles, Layla Zoe, Keith Thompson, Buck & Evans, Connor Selby, Dom Martin, Mike Farris and Kyla Brox, along with new releases from The Allman Betts Band (pictured), Malaya Blue, Jimmy Regal and the Royals and Chris Corcoran.

Not unsurprisingly, the third edition of Vancouver's Hyperspace, Canada's premier Melodic and Power Metal festival, organised by Journeyman Productions, scheduled for next month, has been rescheduled to 2021 due to the uncertainty of Covid-19 pandemic provincial rules for event gatherings. Over the past two years bands from all over the world have come to play Power, Prog, and Speed Metal, including performances by Crimson Shadows, West of Hell, Judicator, Odinfist, Ravenous, Helion Prime, Iron Kingdom, Apprentice, Tanagra, Scythia and many more.

Don't forget that comedian, DJ and author Pete K Mally, is streaming The Pete K Mally Stand-Up Show Show at 7pm this Friday 14 August, and if you use the limited code PETEK2020, you can get a discount off your ticket here. Pete spent his youth defending his love of Classic Rock and Metal, and he gets the hump when High Street stores are flaunting AC/DC , Iron Maiden and Ramones t-shirts as simple fashion accessories (we've earned these stripes). He is a regular compere at Rock festivals and supported Wayward Sons and The Last Great Dreamersbefore lockdown. Now in his forties he openly listens to Poison and is unashamed in this (a little).

Spellbook joins Today's Zach Moonshine Show Track Of The Day show to talk about the new record 'Magick & Mischief'. Zach also takes questions from the live chat and plays new music from the band, as well as other new releases from Flame, Graves Of Giants, Pale Horseman, Septicflesh, Agon, Korgul The Exterminator, Fumigation, Plague Years, Onirik, plus classics from Orchid!

Self-confident and authentic as usual, Engst is back with their first single, 'Wieder da', from their eagerly awaited second album, 'Schöne neue Welt', due to be released on Friday 30th October via Arising Empire, of which today's Video Of Day premiered yesterday on YouTube. The album consists of a perfect combination of Matthias Engst's gripping voice, overwhelming hooks and tearing guitars. Indeed the Berlin band, also consisting of Ramin Tehrani - guitar, Chris Wendel - bass and Yuri Cernovolov - drums, are ready to continue what they started, not only with their successful debut 'Flächenbrand', but also given their potential as a support act for renowned bands such as Massendefekt, Betontod and Rogers.

Connor Bracken and The Mother Leeds Band release their second studio album 'Nightbird Motel' on Friday 25th September, with their new single 'Dream Of You And Me', due to be released in advance on Friday 21st August. Two years in the making, the album captures the band’s intent to blend their live show energy with the superior sound of the studio. Based in Asbury Park, New Jersey, the same stomping grounds as Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, The Mother Leeds Band is comprised of Connor (lead vocals, guitar), Rich Seyffart (drums, vocals), Chris Dubrow (bass, vocals) and Jeff Linden (guitar, vocals). While staying true to their Blues Rock roots, they have become a permanent fixture in today’s Rock scene, and the band are looking forward to touring the album next year.

Modern Rock 3-piece Firekind self-release ‘What I Have Found Is Already Lost’ Deluxe Edition on Friday 30th October, of which their lead single, ‘Adrenalin’, is today's Track of The Day. Fusing epic, soaring vocal and guitar melodies with driving, powerful drums and bass, the Devon based band consists of brothers Jas Morris (vocals and previous Guitarist Magazine Guitarist of the Year winner), Dan Morris (bass, keys) and Robin Shute (drums), although original drummer and close friend of the band, Dan Collings played on the album. With Hard Rock and Prog roots spiced with an arena sound blent in, it’s hard to pigeon hole them which bodes to a myriad of Rock tastes. This is a theme throughout, augmented by the acoustic bonus tracks which were recorded and produced by Jas and Dan in their home studio during the Covid-19 lockdown.