Following on from the release of his latest double album and the Grammy nominee’s back-to-back Blues Music Awards for Best Guitarist and Best Blues Album for 'Bound by the Blues' - virtuoso slide guitarist and bandleader Sonny Landreth is playing London's 229 The Venue in Great Portland Street tonight. Last June, after a dozen acclaimed albums, Landreth decided the time was right for a career-spanning double-live album. 'Recorded Live in Lafayette' is a 16-song opus that covers more musical ground than any single album ever could, as the singer and songwriter’s work stretches and twists across 93 minutes of full-band acoustic and electric bottleneck lightning. The double CD and vinyl release on Provogue includes the most extensive acoustic set ever recorded by Landreth. Live favorites 'Hell at Home' and 'U.S.S. Zydecoldsmobile' also get the unplugged treatment, alongside a rare rendition of 'Creole Angel' and the evergreen 'Key to the Highway'.

'Nachtblume' is not only the title track of the 8th album by QNTAL, but it's also their third single and is also today's Track Of The Day. The song embodies all the characteristics of Syrah and Co.: piercing, almost sacral vocals, elegiac harmonies and oscillating electronics that alltogether create a solemn aura. The new album 'VIII - Nachtblume' was released last month and QNTAL are also due to make live appearances on 27/4 in Mechelen (BE) - Festival von Vlaanderen, 4/5 München (DE) - Backstage, 20/5 Leipzig (DE) - Wave Gotik Treffen and 7/9 Selb (DE) - Festival Mediaval.

Joe Bonamassa, the two-time Grammy-nominated Blues Rock guitar icon, who completes his UK and European tour at London's Hampton Court Palace on Tuesday 12th June, will release 'British Blues Explosion Live' on Friday 18th May via Mascot Label Group. The DVD and Blu-ray includes amazing bonus content such as Joe performing 'Taxman' Live at the Cavern Club, Joe being honoured with a “Brick In The Wall”, the British Blues Explosion Explained by Mick Wall and a photo gallery of the British Blues Explosion UK Tour. A Salute to the British Blues Explosion, featuring the unbelievable music of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page, sees Joe paying tribute to his British Blues heroes, recorded at Greenwich Music Time at The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London on July 7th 2016 (see today's Video Of The Day). The five-piece band included Michael Rhodes (bass), Reese Wynans (keyboards), Anton Fig (drums) and Russ Irwin (rhythm guitar and backing vocals).

"Rock is dead! Rock is dead! There is no great guitar music being made any more they say. Piffle, tosh and hogwash I say to them. Music has always been a transient art and quality will always survive. It goes in cycles with popular music being guided by the masses. If it’s good, it will be created by those who love it. It’s a bit like the way we listen to music. Vinyl, changed to 8 track, to cassette to minidisc to CD to MP3 and now back again to vinyl. And so it is with the music, it changes with the times and goes in cycles. So much of our current music is based upon, or even covers of, songs of yesteryear. Reports of Rocks death is greatly exaggerated. The life blood of Rock music these days is not the vast record sales of yesteryear. With downloadable music draining the funds from artists, they turn to live touring to make a living. It’s Rock’s ‘live-support’ system if you like. So gigs like tonight’s triumvirate of talented bands is the beating heart of today’s reviving Rock scene with the attending punters the life blood. Time to get donating." Today read Mother's The Dead Daisies/The Treatment/The Amorettes gig review from last Tuesday's gig at London's Koko here, plus check out our Video Of The Day and our Photo Gallery here.

BMG are set to re-issue three Saxon classic albums: 'Denim and Leather', 'Power & The Glory' and 'Crusader' on Friday 25th May. The CDs are 24 page media books containing original lyrics, rare photos and memorabilia, and they will feature bonus tracks including a selection of early demos - some of which that didn't make final track listings; B sides and live recordings. Saxon, over the decades have gone from being pioneers of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, to becoming one of the most successful UK Rock acts of all time. The truth, though, is that Saxon have always transcended trends and eras. From 1979's 'Saxon' album to new album ‘'Thunderbolt’', the band have enjoyed considerable success. Five Top 40 albums in the UK, with four Top 20 singles and they were similarly successful in other parts of the world as well. It's no wonder their influence spread across the globe, and played a crucial role in the way we look at Hard Rock and Heavy Metal today.

Their home town of Hyvinkää is better known as Finland’s hotbed of black Metal. Something of a deviation from the norm, power Metal gunners Thaurorod have one by one felled every obstacle in their way, including a revolving door of members in their formative years. The trio of founders however; Pasi Tanskanen, Joonas Pykälä-aho and Emil Pohjalainen have stuck together through thick and thin. 'Coast Of Gold', their new album, which was released in February this year, takes you seaborne and to lands unknown with unforgettable power Metal shanties such as 'Power' that blows the wax out of your ears like a sea breeze and tickles the sweet spot of your melodic sensibilities, the impossibly catchy 'Cannibal Island' and the inimitable title track (today's Track Of The Day) that will linger in your ears for days on end.

In a world where only the best come out on top, Gus G. is one of the most respected and renowned Rock Metal guitarists of our time. He played the biggest stages worldwide between 2009 and 2017 as a member of superstar Ozzy Osbourne’s band and enhanced Ozzy’s album 'Scream' (2010) with his amazing dexterity. In addition, Gus has been a known quantity on the melodic power Metal scene as the founder and figurehead of his own group Firewind for some twenty years and can look back on eight studio albums and numerous tours so far. The third pillar of his exceptionally fruitful career is his work as a solo artist, having released his two much acclaimed albums 'I Am The Fire' (2014) and 'Brand New Revolution' (2015). Gus is now set to continue this successful series with 'Fearless' (Video Of The Day) - due for release next Friday 20th April on AFM Records. The exceptional Greek-born guitarist's new band features vocalist/bassist Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69/Unisonic) and drummer Will Hunt (Evanescence, Black Label Society), subsequently recording twelve new songs on 'Fearless' - nine vocal numbers and three instrumentals.

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, a quick look at the HRH Blues line up for this weekend at the O2 Academy in Sheffield and much more. Music this week Includes tracks from Ray Charles, Marcia Ball, Kathy Murray & The Kilowatts, Micke Bjorklof & BlueStrip, Myles Goodwyn, Peter V Blues Train, Nick Moss Band, Glas, The Tim Woods Band, John Mayall, Bernie Marsden (pictured), Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps, King King, Victor Wainwright and The WildRoots, Sari Schorr, Danielle Nicole Band, Stevie Nimmo, Dudley Ross, Geoff Achison, Andy Watts, Chris Antonik, Robert Hunter, Sugarman Sam & The Voodoo Men, George Shovlin & The Radars, The BluesBones, Danny Bryant, B. B. & The Blues Shacks and more.

Dutch Symphonic Metal Titans Epica complete their United Principle UK & Ireland headline tour at London's Forum tonight. The sextet released their latest EP, 'The Solace System' in September last year via Nuclear Blast. Made up of six brand-new tracks, 'The Solace System' was recorded, mixed, & mastered by team Joost van den Broek and Jacob Hansen during the sessions for 2016's acclaimed 'The Holographic Principle' album. Epica played a sold-out show at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire early last year bringing 'The Holographic Principle' to life with impressive lighting and staging. Light reflecting glass prisms accompanied the cinematic soundscapes of one of Metal's biggest and most bombastic live bands.

With a review to come, an apt two word summary of The Dead Daisies set at London's Koko in Mornington Crescent on Tuesday night was "awesome stuff!" Brilliantly supported by both The Treatment and The Amorettes, in the meantime check out today's Dead Daisies (pictured) Photo Gallery courtesy of John Bull here plus our Video Of The Day courtesy of Phil Honley!

Guitarist Ross the Boss’ stature in the history of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal has been well-solidified for decades by this point - with a resume including some of the most influential and hardest-hitting bands of all-time, particularly both the Dictators and Manowar. And he continues to Rock - as a member of the group DeathDealer, and also, as the leader of his own solo outfit, which has issued such stellar releases as ‘Hailstorm', 'New Metal Leader' and his latest offering, ‘By Blood Sworn'. Joined by Marc Lopes on vocals and keys, Mike LePond on bass and Lance Barnewold on drums for the sessions (Steve Bolognese will beat the skins on the album’s tour), ‘By Blood Sworn’ was produced by Dean Rispler, and will be released next Friday 20th April via AFM Records as RTB continue their world tour.

Howlin Rain has announced the release of its fifth album, 'The Alligator Bride', due on Friday 8th June via founding member Ethan Miller's artist run label, Silver Current Records. A set of swampy, ragged, and unapologetic Rock 'n' Roll, Miller's merry band of pranksters tracked the record over three days with engineer Eric "King Riff" Bauer at the Mansion in San Francisco, playing live to tape and cutting the material in first and second takes. The first single and title track was released last Friday and is today's Track Of The Day. For 'The Alligator Bride,' Miller and company drew inspiration from classic Rock formations such as The Grateful Dead's 'Europe '72', Mountain Bus' 1974 burner 'Sundance' and Free's masterpiece of atmospheric, minimalist Blues, 1969's 'Fire and Water'.