"We were promised their biggest ever production plus their most eclectic set list - and boy did Iron Maiden deliver on the penultimate night of their sold out 'Legacy Of The Beast' UK Tour at London's O2 Arena last night. Launching the show with crowd favourite, 'Aces High', with a Spitfire propelling above the stage, this was not the only show-stopping effect in this theatrical performance with the band then proceeding to race through a spectacular two hours of music, pyrotechnics, special effects and ever-evolving stage sets, including new incarnations of mascot Eddie, and showcasing many of the most beloved songs in their revered career alongside rarely-played classics from their extensive back catalogue." That was our take on Iron Maiden's gig back in August, and Bruce and his troopers have consequently carried off our 'Best Rock Performance' award in our 2018 WRC Awards.

'Rainier Fog', Alice In Chains first album in five years, not only became the band’s first Top 10 UK album, No. 1 on Billboard’s Rock, Alternative and Hard Music Charts and No. 1 on the iTunes Rock Album Chart, but also earned them a much-deserved Grammy nomination for ‘Best Rock Album’. It’s the band’s 9th Grammy nod and the band recently announced a special 'Rainier Fog' movie project titled ‘Black Antenna’, produced and directed by filmmaker Adam Mason. Inspired by the sound of 'Rainier Fog', Mason has created a stunning 90-minute sci-fi film which will be rolled out in ten episodic segments/videos this year, with each episode set to a different song from the album. The band also celebrated the album’s release with a sold-out international tour that saw them playing to packed houses in over 20 countries around the world and the band return to Europe in May for a run of major headline dates and festivals including London's Wembley Arena on Saturday 25th.

"So for the last time, we head back to our accommodation with the bands of the day still ringing in our head. Mainly the Daisies 'Last Time I Saw The Sun' which seemed to sum up the weather. And the Daisies 'Long Way To Go' when i thought about the journey home again. But it has been worth it. It has been another triumph for the HRH team. So goodbye Pwllhelli, and thanks for all the great memories over the last six years. Now lets see what Great Yarmouth has to offer. With Dee Snider, Michael Monroe, Buckcherry, Gun and Toseland already named, amongst others, it looks like it will be a blast." That was part of our take on this year's Hard Rock Hell XII, and suffice to say that in our 2018 WRC Awards, HRH has walked away with our 'Best Festival' award. Also check out our Myke Gray Video Of The Day.

Today's Track Of The Day is a new Blues On The Radio Podcast featuring an hour of fabulous music from artists who are playing at The Tuesday Night Music Club, The Comrades Club, Coulsdon CR5 2N this year, including Giles Robson, Hitman Blues Band, Del Bromham, Paul Lamb, Steve Bailey and Mississippi MacDonald and more.

In a music scene that has threatened to become increasingly trivial and contourless for a number of years, Evergrey are the (exceedingly ambitioned) silver lining on the horizon. Since 1993, the Swedish group surrounding frontman/songwriter Tom S. Englund has been synonymous with technically and compositionally outstanding standards, combined with lyrics and messages which go way beyond pure Rock ’n’ Roll prose. Their latest album 'The Atlantic', due to be released on Friday 25th January, sees the five band members: Englund, Henrik Danhage (guitar), Johan Niemann (bass), Jonas Ekdahl (drums) and Rikard Zander (keyboards), manifest their excellent reputation as one of the most unusual and innovative Progressive Metal acts worldwide, presenting the third part of their 'Hymns For The Broken' trilogy about the adventure of life, part one having been launched in 2014. In line with the programmatic album title and its expressive cover artwork (designed by Greek artist Giannis Nakos, renowned for his work for Oceans Of Slumber and Hades Rising, among others), Evergrey take their fans on a tempestuous expedition across the rough (Prog Metal) seas.

Today's January 2019 WRC Bulletin also announces the first of our winners in our 2018 WRC Awards, with the remaining category winners being announced over the next ten days. We also look forward to our January gigs including Chantel McGregor, Sari Schorr, Frances Dunnery, Born Healer, CDMC, Atomic Rooster, Vega and Aynsley Lister. Meanwhile, we also look back at our December gigs including Dan Patlansky (November), Geoff Tate, Molly Hatchet, Wrinklystock VII (pictured), The Slow Readers Club, Ben Poole, The Pretty Things and Uriah Heep, plus our Buckets Rebel Heart and Collateral CD reviews. Don't forget that if you ever want to contribute a gig or CD review to our website then please get in touch!

Our very first Track Of The Day of the New Year is the smoky-voiced Elles Bailey and the darkly magical video for her single ‘Medicine Man’, the first track released from her second album ‘Road I Call Home’ which will be released on Friday 8th March next year. ‘Medicine Man’ dropped in November, charting at Number 1 in the iTunes Blues Charts, as well as being added to the Nu Blue playlist on Spotify! The single also peaked at Number 7 in the Amazon Blues Charts and Number 2 on their Hot New Releases, as well as getting Radio 2 support from Cerys Matthews! Shot in glorious widescreen, with echoes of Twin Peaks, the tricksy, colourful video (directed by Jamie Luke Milligan) brings Elles’ song to life with images of a wicked ringmaster, gangster gambler, a mystic and everybody’s favourite: a clown! Inevitably, Bailey will be back on the road she calls home in 2019 including The Lexington in London on Tuesday 12th March - a chance to experience her unique voice and amazing new material, in Elles’ natural habitat!

"A five piece Blues-tinged Rock band from Derbyshire, featuring Phil Poole (lead vocals), Stephen Broughton (guitar), Gavin Mills (guitar), Indy (bass and backing vocals) and John Ironfoot Willis (drums). They are a tight, well-honed band that deliver monumental chunky riffs and groove-laden tunes, with a nod towards Zeppelin, Trapeze and Black Stone Cherry. The band's performance was flawless, engaging and connecting with the audience at every opportunity. I believe the full set list included the songs 'Over And Over', 'Tale Of A Broken Man', 'Bring It On Home', 'Hard Times', 'All That I Have' and 'Bring Your Pain'. I am fairly certain these guys are destined for great things." That was part of our review from the Graham Bonnet Band gig at The Underworld in Camden in August, and Doomsday Outlaw (Video Of The Day) are the first winners in our 2018 WRC Awards - voted 'Best Support' band by our members!

Whatever you have planned for tonight - have a good one. Walkway still have a few tickets left for their New Year's Eve party at Diss Cue Club. It's going to be one hell of a night, however, entry is by ticket only and tickets cannot be purchased on the door on the night, so go to their website (pictured) for details. Meanwhile, if you are staying in, the Abbagirls, who performed at Carlton Road Adult Training Centre's Christmas Party recently, thanks to money we raised from Wrinklystock VII, are on the New Year's Eve episode of BBC1's Eastenders! Anyway, a peaceful and a prosperous New Year to you all!

Yes, today we finally squeeze in our last category - Best Unplugged nominees in our 2018 WRC Awards before voting closes at midnight tonight! First up is Kris Barras (Track Of The Day), who supported Beth Hart earlier this year, and then secondly The Quireboys, who also celebrated a decade since the release of their album, 'Homewreckers & Heartbreakers' with a gig at London's The Forum in September. The two other nominees are Alter Bridge's Myles Kennedy (pictured) who played Ramblin' Man Fair at the end of June, plus Blues Pills' Dorian Sorriaux (Video Of The Day) who coincidentally supported Myles on his tour earlier this year. Remember this is your last chance to cast your vote for all eleven categories by simply going here! The winners of our first category will be announced tomorrow!

British Rock band Aaron Buchanan And The Cult Classics have recently signed to Listenable Records. To celebrate, the band and the label are releasing a Special Edition of the album ‘The Man With Stars On His Knees’ on Friday 22nd February featuring five brand new bonus tracks, consisting two brand-new studio tracks ‘Undertow’ and ‘Fire In The Fields Of Mayhem’ and of three live tracks on the CD version. In 2015, having toured the globe for four years fronting Heaven’s Basement, Buchanan walked out of one band and immediately into a studio just out of London with producer James Curtis-Thomas, guitarist Ryan Woods and sister and guitarist Laurie Buchanan. In the years prior, Curtis-Thomas and Buchanan had spoken many times about producing a record with deep, mature, and colourful content; just a few months later and a stint for Buchanan in Australia where many of the vocals were tracked in a shed just outside Brisbane, the now critically acclaimed and award winning record ‘The Man With Stars On His Knees’ was born out of a tiny studio just outside London with no hot water or central heating. A true testament to the belief in the music and vision Buchanan had brought to the table.

In 1988 Lypswitch moved from Orlando, Florida, to Hollywood, California, to follow the Rock 'n' Roll dream. In three years the band played over 100 shows and was almost signed. After 30 years the Sunset Strip veterans featuring Danny Whaley - vocals, Mick O'Brien - guitars, David Love - bass and K.A. - drums, has regrouped and has finally released '30 Years', consisting of six songs from the 80's, five re-recordings from the 80's and three new songs recorded in 2018!