Friday 23rd March sees the release of the long awaited self-titled debut album by Northern Ireland based band No Hot Ashes on Frontiers Music Srl. Originally formed in 1983, NHA were influenced by UFO, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Journey, Foreigner, Thin Lizzy and other Classic Rock/AOR acts of that era. They released their first single, ‘She Drives Me Crazy’, in 1986 and supported bands such as Mama’s Boys, Magnum, Girlschool and Steve Marriott’s Packet of Three. NHA are currently preparing to hit the road in support of what is now a very eagerly anticipated debut album, with shows already planned for late Spring and Summer. Unfortunately for the group, the pleasure of releasing the album is also tinged with great sadness as founding member, bass player and close friend Paul Boyd tragically lost a brave battle with cancer in 2017. Paul appears on the album and the band are respectfully dedicating its release to his memory.

Voting is now open in The UK Blues Awards, so this weeks Blues On The Radio Track Of The Day looks at some of the finalists including Ian Siegal, Richard Townend & The Mighty Bosscats, Marcus Malone, Rebecca Downes, Red Butler, King King (pictured), Half Deaf Clatch, Tom C Walker, LaVendore Rogue, Dave Ferra, Elles Bailey, Catfish, Benjamin Bassford and Dan Burnett, who coincidentally is appearing tonight at Tuesday Night Music Club at The Comrades Club in Coulsdon CR5 2NF.

It was good to hear recently from our mate Geoff Carne with the news that Geoff Carne & The Hatz are due to release their '4 Play' EP on Friday 23rd February and you can take a sneak preview with today's Video Of The Day. Consisting of vocal/guitarist Geoff and drummer/percussionist Mick Armstrong, they formed in late 2013 with the recording of Geoff Carne's solo album 'One to One' and then together on 2016's 'Get Close' with their brand of Blues Rock influenced by the likes of Free, Bad Company and Whitesnake.

Today's Black On Blues Track Of The Day is another Blues women special featuring Pam Taylor, Shemekia Copeland, Ruth Brown, Zoe Schwarz & Blue Commotion, Anna Gutmanis and Carolyn Gaines.

We first bumped into Esprit D'Air vocalist/guitarist Kai (pictured second right) at Iron Maiden's London O2 Arena gig in May last year. Despite us being at Camden Rocks a week later, unfortunately we missed Esprit D'Air's set at Dingwalls but will make up for that as we catch the Space Metal band also featuring Ellis (bass) and Daishi (drums) as they return tonight to London at Camden's Underworld.

Mascot Label Group have recently announced the signing of P.O.D. (Payable On Death), the San Diego, California based Rockers, who, since their formation in 1992 have sold over 10 million records, embarked on hugely successful international tours, and had a series of chart-topping radio hits. Over the span of two decades, P.O.D. have released ten studio albums, including the triple-platinum 'Satellite'. They have had several hit songs, including 'Southtown', 'Alive', 'Youth of the Nation' and 'Boom', and most recently with their Active Rock singles 'Higher', 'Beautiful' and 'Lost In Forever' which reached #1. The band have been nominated for three Grammy Awards, racked up four #1 music videos and contributed songs to numerous major motion picture soundtracks. Sonny Sandoval ~ vocals, Marcos Curiel ~ guitar, Traa Daniels ~ bass and Wuv Bernardo ~ drums are also active members of a tight-knit music community, having collaborated with a diverse list of artists including Katy Perry, H.R. (Bad Brains), Mike Muir (Suicidal Tendencies), Sen Dog (Cypress Hill) and more. The band's tenth studio album, 'The Awakening', was released in 2015.

Industrial noise-Punk duo Black Futures have released their new single ‘Riches’ (today's Track Of The Day), their first release since signing to Music For Nations on Sony, and the latest to be taken from their upcoming debut album, out later this year. ‘Riches’ combines crystalline synths and harmonic vocal melodies with a brutal descent into a powerful blast of chaotic sonic brilliance. It follows the success of both their debut single ‘KARMA YA DIG!?’ and its successor ‘Love’ which have variously seen the band championed by the likes of Annie Mac & Huw Stephens at Radio 1, Apple Music’s A-List Rock playlist and Breaking Rock playlist, as well as getting regular plays on Radio X. The band have been hotly tipped at press with the likes of Upset, Kerrang, Metal Hammer, BBC Music, Team Rock and more hailing them as one of the most exciting propositions for 2018.

Doomsday Outlaw is a ten-legged Hard Rock, Blues tinged juggernaut based in darkest Derbyshire. Coupling huge riffs and killer grooves with soaring, soulful vocals to deliver timeless tales of heartbreak and redemption, the group is set to show off its distinctive sound to the legions of Hard Rock faithful around the globe via a new album, 'Hard Times’, which is set for worldwide release via Frontiers in May 2018. Self-released in May 2016, the band's debut album, 'Suffer More’, received glowing notices and mounting critical acclaim plus a burgeoning reputation as a killer live act, which brought the band to the attention of Frontiers Music srl. With their new album and a ton of live gigs locked in, including a string of Summer festival appearances, check out today's Video Of The Day ‘Spirit That Made Me’ taken from their new album.

"The new Michael Schenker album 'A Decade Of The Mad Axeman', released in January 2018 on the Inakustik label, is a thirty one track 2 CD retrospective collection that documents his studio and live output between 2007 and 2016, covering his return to the roots of the Michael Schenker Group (MSG) through to Temple of Rock and the current Michael Schenker Fest. The last ten years has seen Schenker's creativity continue to escalate exponentially and his performance strengthen. This collection exemplifies and solidifies his reputation as a great band leader and guitarist of exceptional note, it also goes a long way to cementing his legendary status." Read Steven C. Gilbert's complete and insightful review of Michael Schenker's 'A Decade Of The Mad Axeman' CD here.

Explosive Brighton based Heavy Rock trio The Rocket Dolls' first song ‘None Of This Is Right’, from their hotly anticipated new studio album, is today's Video Of The Day. They release their full length new studio album 'DeadHead' on Friday 6th April and take it on the road for UK live dates including London's Dublin Castle on Saturday 21st April. Featuring just the right amount of melody with straight up hook laden driven riffs combined with curveballs when you least expect them, 'DeadHead' is a must hear album for 2018. Relentless in their approach, The Rocket Dolls have taken the Rock mould, smashed it, and then meticulously pieced it back together again to deliver a fresh contemporary collection of music that combines the best bits of Heavy Rock, Grunge, Punk and Pop smart sensibilities. It's clear the band have spent time wisely crafting their second album, as it's a monster!

Today's 2017 WRC Award winning Rock On The Ridge Track Of The Day includes music from Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons, Audrey Horne, Red Sun Rising, Tax The Heat, Mystic Prophecy, Bigfoot, Judas Priest, Whitesnake/David Coverdale, Inglorious, Blacktop Mojo, Bad Wolves, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Brew, StoneWire, Fire Red Empress, Pearl Handled Revolver, Last Bullet, The Underground Thieves, Black Rose Cadillac, Phoenix (a tribute to Jim Rodford pictured left with fellow Argent guitarist John Grimaldi on the right) and on their Introducing Stage two in a row from Lucky Monkey Band.

Talking of Yes, new acts have been added to this year's Stone Free Festival on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June at The O2, London. Joining legendary German rockers Scorpions and thrash titans Megadeth in the main arena on Saturday will be sleazy Californian good-time Rockers Buckcherry, while headlining indigo at The O2 will be British Stoner Rock icons Orange Goblin. Also in the Indigo on Saturday will be fast-rising British Rock band Stone Broken, Belgian Blues-Rockers Triggerfinger and German Heavy Rock biker-duo The Picturebooks. The Big Entrance Stage will have sets from British Hard Rock bands Daxx & Roxanne, Dirty Thrills, Anchor Lane and Aaron Buchanan & The Cult Classics. On the Sunday, joining Prog-Rock royalty Yes and former Supertramp frontman Roger Hodgson in the main arena will be Anathema and Joanne Shaw Taylor. In the Indigo on Sunday, Richie Kotzen will be closing the stage plus NYC 80’s Hard Rockers Tyketto and Ginger Wildheart. Meanwhile, The Big Entrance Stage will be featuring thunderous Black Country natives The Bad Flowers and the dynamic soulful Scots The Rising Souls.