Champions in blending classic Heavy Metal, Hard Rock and 80’s Hair Metal, Canadian shredders Striker's sixth studio album, 'Play To Win', including today's Video Of The Day, 'Head First', has won Canada's 2020 Juno Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of The Year. As the most prestigious music award an artist can be given in the country, the 49th Juno Awards were originally scheduled to be held at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but due to Covid-19 it was forced to reschedule as a live stream on Monday. This was Striker's second Juno Award nomination and first win for this album released via their independent label Record Breaking Records, featuring 10 fist-pounding shredtacular anthems. 'Play To Win' was nominated alongside Kobra and The Lotus - 'Evolution', Lindsay Schoolcraft - 'Martyr', Single Mothers - 'Through A Wall' and The Agonist - 'Orphans'.

Tom Gee has announced the release of his new single, ‘Say You Do’, which will be available on all major streaming sites from Friday 31st July. It's the first release in six years from the effortlessly brilliant Gee who has now returned to music after a break to focus on getting married and songwriting. ‘Say You Do’, featuring Tom on guitar/vocals, Jim Moore - bass, Tom Pattinson - drums, David Levi - keys, Matthew Newby - saxophone and Joe Roughton - trumpet, is an accomplished, cleverly written track which is sure to have a wide appeal and will doubtless attract attention for its sophisticated arrangement.

Fueled and driven by their core fan base, Fierce Heart is back and have created what is looking like a career milestone - the fantastic new album 'War For The World', of which 'Built For Speed' is today's Track Of The Day. Not only did nine brand new tracks composed for the album come out of writing sessions conducted in Canyon West Studio near Los Angeles, but there's also a fresh take from their 1985 sessions - an all new recording bonus track of one of their classic live staples, 'Out For Blood'! Slamming drums courtesy of the inimitable Nick Forchione and thundering bass by way of Antonio Acevedo, complement the soaring and soulful vocals of Robert Reynolds, plus a brand new guitar inspiration from maestro Rex Carroll to round out the package. Fierce Heart is back, and ready to Rock your world!

Phil X & The Drills recently released their new single 'Right On The Money' on Golden Robot Records, and their quarantine video is today's Track Of The Day. Indeed, Phil, along with  Daniel Spree (bass/backing vocals) and Brent Fitz  (drums/ backing vocals), managed to put together a video for the single, with fans sending in videos of themselves singing the chorus! Phil X himself, needs no introduction, having been an integral full-time member of Bon Jovi since 2016, after also filling in for Richie Sambora on their 2011, 2013 and 2015 Bon Jovi tours.

Watch out in July for more CD reviews for Joe Payne (pictured), The Sleep Eazys, Haken, The Outlaw Orchestra, ED Brayshaw, Creature Creature, Richard Townend, Kansas, Robert Jon & The Wreck, Walter Trout and Joe Satriani. And despite us still missing out on the irreplaceable thrill and buzz of live music, we hope that you managed, like us, to catch some great live streams in June plus that you also checked out some of our lockdown album reviews, namely Bad Touch, Haxan, Lonely Robot, Black Orchid Empire and Rews. Indeed if you are still kicking your heels and you fancy doing a self-isolation CD review of one of the albums above, then don't be shy, just e-mail us at wrinklyrockers11@aol.com In the meantime, take care and keep safe.

Sons of Liberty are to release a limited-edition re-issue on Monday 10th August of last year's debut album, 'Animism', of which their track 'Up Shit Creek' is today's Video Of The Day. So don't miss out on this collector's orange vinyl, gatefold sleeved, numbered 1-100 and signed by the band LP, as when it's sold out it will be available in black vinyl only. The Bristol/South Wales based band consisting of Rob Cooksley (vocals), Fred Hale (guitar), Andy Muse (guitar), Mark Thomas (bass) and Steve Byrne (drums), supported last year's debut with a steady string of gigs including PlanetRockStock and Giants of Rock. Indeed, the band had a full diary of gigs and festivals planned for 2020, but due to Covid-19 this has been put on hold. However, the good news is that during lockdown the band have been writing their next album and planning their 2021 gig schedule!

Born of a passion to create dark and melodic music, Milton Keynes based British Metal outfit Chasing Ghosts are resurging with the recent release of their EP 'Bring Me Suffering', and the title track/single is today's Video Of The Day. Brooding, atmospheric and full of emotion, it features the sorrowful melodies of Meghan Pettitt (ex The Eden House). The EP is no doubt their biggest and most ambitious record yet, a union of haunting female harmonies and natural sombre strings, resulting in an evolution of all the darker elements in their already present sound since the release of their critically acclaimed debut album in 2018.

Acclaimed American guitarist Geoff Tyson (born in Berkeley, California) releases his first instrumental guitar album, 'Drinks With Infinity', on CD, vinyl and digital on Friday 31st July, distributed by Cargo Records. Geoff’s story is an interesting one. In 1983, at the age of 13, Geoff studied guitar with Joe Satriani, and refined his skills jamming with high school mates Alex Skolnick, Charlie Hunter, Jude Gold, Joshua Redmond and Third Eye Blind’s Kevin Cadogan. Geoff is one of two students Satriani has said 'Graduated' from his lessons (the other being Steve Vai). In 1994, Geoff recorded and toured with T-Ride and released an album on Hollywood Records. In 1999 he appeared on Snake River Conspiracy’s debut album (Reprise Records) and toured with Monster Magnet and Queens of the Stone Age. In 2003, he formed Stimulator with singer Susan Hyatt, and in 2005 they signed a record deal with Universal Music. Stimulator toured the world with Duran Duran, The Go-Go’s and featured on the Van’s Warped Tour.

Today's latest Blues On The Radio Track Of The Day takes leave of all the new releases and delves back into the past - revisiting their 'go to' albums from the 1930's through to the noughties, including John Lee Hooker & Jimmie Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and more.

Today's Video Of The Day is Empyre's new single 'Cut To The Core', taken from their latest album. 'Self Aware'. Last November we had the pleasure of attending the band's 'Self Aware' album party gig held at London's Water Rats, with support from Jack J Hutchinson. Indeed, 2019 had been the band's most significant year so far, with the likes of Planet Rock and Classic Rock Magazine sitting up and paying attention to 'Self Aware', released earlier in July. In the meantime, Empyre are trying to get out as many tracks and videos online as they can, during Covid-19 times, for your watching and listening pleasure!

Joe Bonamassa has always talked with an incredible fondness for the late great legendary producer Tom Dowd, who has a stellar discography, a veritable who's who of Soul, Rock and Blues superstars. Joe was obviously thrilled when Tom signed on to produce his first solo album, 'A New Day Yesterday', twenty years ago. However, as time has gone by, Joe's vocal style, particularly, has changed enormously. He's grown from an adolescent shouter to a very mature and soulful singer. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of 'A New Day Yesterday', Joe wanted to re-do all vocals without losing the original feel of the record. This re-release on Friday 7th August, comes with 3 bonus tracks, produced and written with Steven Van Zandt, the legendary guitarist from Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band. To complete the new package, the album has been remastered and remixed by producer Kevin Shirley, and rebranded with an appropriate title: 'A New Day Now - 20th Anniversary Edition'.

Today's Track Of The Day is Hellripper's debut single and animated lyric video for 'Spectres Of The Blood Moon Sabbath' from their upcoming new studio album 'The Affair Of The Poisons' scheduled for release on 9th October 2020 through Peaceville. The single sets the scene for the new album as its themes primarily revolve around the dark and insidious underworld witchcraft and the occult, with some tracks being based on historical events. The single unfurls in an infernal storm of heavy blackened Thrash, given the band has been fast gaining a reputation for whipping up an infectious storm of blackened speed Metal greatness in the spirit of old and are one of the most electrifying young, up and coming Metal acts in the scene today. Inspired by the likes of the old-school legends including Venom, Kreator, Sabbat [JPN] and Metallica, mainman James McBain formed Hellripper in 2014, and with the release of their debut EP 'The Manifestation of Evil' shortly after, the band were already making a very clear mission statement... total fucking mayhem! The band has also announced that they will be touring later in the year to coincide with the album’s release, with some UK headline shows, including London's The Black Heart on Thursday 22nd October, plus further European shows as special guests to Cleveland based Black Rock 'n' Roll/Thrash legends Midnight.