Initially born as a one-off musical extravaganza between two Norwegian Metal and Hard Rock giants, Trond Holter (ex-Wig Wam) and vocalist Jorn Lande, the duo's Dracula Rock Opera has now morphed into a full-time musical project with guitarist, producer and songwriter Holter at the helm. With an outstanding line-up featuring singers Nils K Rue (Pagan’s Mind) and Eva Iselin Erichsen, Bernt Jansen on bass, Per Morten Bergseth on drums and Erling Henanger on keyboards, ‘Vlad The Impaler’ (see today's 'I'll Die For You' Video Of The Day) starts where 2015's ‘Swing Of Death’ left off. It is an album that gets straight to the point while simultaneously utilising diverse musical landscapes and it includes memorable melodic songs in a similar style to its predecessor. Think Savatage meets Meat Loaf meets Queen meets Alice Cooper with contemporary Hard Rock in the mix. The album will be released on Friday 9th November, with a special release show the following night in Halden, Norway, with more shows planned that include an appearance in May 2019 at the Karmøygeddon Festival.

Brainstorm’s new album, 'Midnight Ghost', released yesterday, is a veritable milestone. All the cogs have meshed and produced a result that’s bound to delight all Melodic Power Metal fans and delivers in no uncertain terms the full range of their typical trademarks: awesome melodies, dynamic grooves and extremely heavy guitar riffs. With Andy B. Franck (vocals), Torsten Ihlenfeld, Milan Loncaric (both guitars), Antonio Ieva (bass) and Dieter Bernert (drums), check out their Track Of The Day - the powerful ‘Ravenous Minds’.

American Rock musician, Kip Winger, returns to London for his 6th Annual concert tonight for an intimate set at The Borderline. The multi-platinum recording artist, may be known best for his success with Winger and his early days as a bass player with Alice Cooper. However, the range and scope of his musical journey can be more fully experienced in his solo albums, namely 'This Conversation Seems Like A Dream', 'Songs From The Ocean Floor', 'From The Moon To The Sun', 'Ghosts' and most recently his 'Solo Box Set Collection'.

"The crowd lapped it up, as the mastermind behind the drums, Brian Downey; counted in the songs keeping the rhythms tight, with Wilson on bass. With his big curly hair and engaging smile Matt Wilson certainly looks the part, but he very much has his own powerful stage persona and completely owns the stage. The energy of the band went from strength to strength, 'Still In Love With You' soared with Grace and Edgar's guitar playing feeding off each other in dual guitar harmonies with high octane solos sweeping every head banger into the sleaze driven funky mood of 'Johnny The Fox'." That was part of our take on Alive And Dangerous at Nell's Jazz And Blues in February and indeed the boys are back in London tonight at Camden's The Underworld.

Super-duo Geoff Downes and Chris Braide, known as the Downes Braide Association (DBA), perform their first ever live show at a sold out Trading Boundaries in the heart of the Sussex countryside tonight. Musicians joining them are bass player Andy Hodge, who worked on their 'Skyscraper Souls' album (see today's Video Of The Day) released last November, David Longdon (Big Big Train) and David Colquhoun (Francis Dunnery, Go West). Barney Ashton Bullock (poet, songwriter; Andy Bell; Marc Almond) will be doing the narrative on the night. DBA also release a total remix of their acclaimed album 'Suburban Ghosts' on Friday 30th November. The remix features a plethora of additional musicians performing on the album.

The Blues Club Podcast Track Of The Day returns today with another two hours of non-stop Best in Blues with More Music and Less Chat featuring New Releases, Classic Tracks, UK Independent Blues Broadcasters Association Presenters' Picks and much more. Music this week Includes tracks from Billy F Gibbons, Buddy Guy, The Proven Ones, Sari Schorr, Sister Suzie, Reloaded Norway, Trudy Lynn, Ana Popovic, Ruzz Guitar's Blues Revue, Gary U.S. Bonds, Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective, Connor Selby (pictured), Ben Poole, Robert Connely Farr, Dennis Herrera, Whitney Shay, Johnny And The Headhunters, Saverio Maccne, Jonathon Boogie Long, Gina Sicilia, Booker T & The MGs, Kris Barras Band, The Weight Band, Amanda Fish, Marcus Lazarus Band, Anthony Gomes, St. Paul And The Broken Bones, Malaya Blue, Elles Bailey, Malcolm Holcombe, Rachelle Coba Band, B. B. & The Blues Shacks and many more.

Kaleb McKane’s spellbinding musical sojourns are explored in detail on his fresh 3-track EP titled 'Universe In Reverse' (today's Video Of The Day) that was released at the end of July. The tracks on the crowd-funded EP summarise Kaleb's perpetual state of nervous existence. The multi-instrumentalist singer (he plays a long-necked Stratocaster, a tailored Les Paul 1968 and his favourite: an acoustic Kinkade 1978 on the disc) is aided by drummer Dean Pearson, aka Denzel and Toshi Ogawa on bass (The Wildhearts). This EP absorbs and assimilates the most satisfying examples of Alt, Psychedelic and Prog Rock: the voodoo electric-energy of Hendrix, the genial sexuality of D'Angelo, the colourful extravagance of Prince and the guitar horniness of Mick Ronson. All this is velvet-wrapped in the type of flamboyant narcissism that Freddie Mercury would never be afraid to exploit.

"Halfway through their current 'Pills' UK tour - Big Boy Bloater and The LiMiTs certainly delivered their meds at a packed and appreciative Black Heart in London's Camden last Wednesday night. Supported by his old mucker Jack J. Hutchinson, Bloater's trio, including Matt Cowley (drums) and Steven Oates (bass), are on the road from September to October, following the release of their latest critically acclaimed album ‘Pills’ in June." That was part of our Big Boy Bloater and The LiMiTs review here and we were also lucky enough to grab a few words with the big man before his set here which is also today's Track Of The Day. Don't forget that band's tour continues at The Frog And Fiddle in Cheltenham tonight.

If indeed Greta Van Fleet were heralded as the second coming of Led Zeppelin, then what we didn't expect at the O2 Academy, Islington, earlier in April this year, was the second coming of The Rolling Stones in the guise of London's very own, and aptly named, The Second Sons. It was all a thoroughably enjoyable night of great live retro music and you can check them out at London's historic Troubadour in Earls Court tonight supported by Tangerine Rye.

Vicious Rumors, who stand as one of the longest running, most prolific US Power Metal Bands in history, are touring Europe in April 2019. With their latest line-up of Geoff Thorpe - guitar, Gunnar Dügrey - guitar, Cody Green - bass, Nick Courtney - lead vocals and Larry Howe - drums, the band is halfway through a massive 45 date US/Canadian Tour in support of the 30th Anniversary of 'Digital Dictator'. The band have also just released a special edition DVD titled '40th Anniversary-Live in Germany' - the DVD of last year's crushing show at the Bang Your Head Festival in Germany.

Today's Blues On The Radio Podcast Track Of The Day is definitely not to be missed, with music from Billy F. Gibbons, Main Street Blues, Colin James, Ruby & The Revelators, Detonics, Half Deaf Clatch, Rainbreakers (pictured and who are playing The Half Moon, Putney, tonight), Kirk Fletcher, The Juke Joint Kings, Jawbone, Jim Allchin and (following their appearance at The Tuesday Night Music Club last night) The Voodoo Sheiks!

"Three more newbies followed from 'Pills' - 'Unnaturally Charming', with a great opening riff and its slide guitar, all about a seriously disturbed individual - think "Dexter", said the American lady standing to the left of me, and then from psychopath to sociopath, the equally disturbing lyrics, but brilliant Rock n' Roll of 'Oops Sorry', and then finally, to complete the morbid trio, the brilliant guitar shuffle of 'The Saturday Night Desperation Shuffle’ - "for all the over 40's in the audience". As we said at Ramblin' Man - it’s nice when you are made to feel special, although if it's any consolation, at least this time he didn't dedicate it to all the ugly ones in the audience! Anyway, it was now time to feel 'Insanely Happy', and this Reggae track from his 2012 album 'The World Explained' certainly did what it said on the tin!" Today read the whole of AJ's Big Boy Bloater & The LiMiTs (Video Of The Day) and Jack J. Hutchinson The Black Heart, Camden, review from last Wednesday night here plus check out our Photo Gallery here.