Mighty classic Metal newcomers Night Demon released their storming second album 'Darkness Remains’' last week on Steamhammer/SPV. ‘Packed with exuberant, hard driving ‘New Wave Of British Heavy Metal’ inspired thrills and chills, it's a much more mature, accomplished offering than its acclaimed predecessor 'Curse Of The Damned’'. Jarvis Leatherby (vocals/bass), Armand John Anthony (guitar), and Dusty Squires (drums), have truly honed their songwriting chops significantly down. Not only has the band’s overall sound matured, but the individual members have carved out their own niches, sharpened their attack, and even taken some chances along the way. Boasting a full, powerful, and clear production that retains a raw edginess, ‘'Darkness Remains'’ sets the gold standard for how a traditional Metal record should sound in 2017. Following their March/April special guest shows on Anvil’'s 2017 US tour, Night Demon have lined up an extensive headline tour of Europe, culminating with a string of major festival appearances.

The Blues Club Podcast Track Of The Day returns this week 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 Samantha Fish, Michael McConnell, Hurricane Ruth, Bobby Messano, Mick Simpson, Vin Mott's Rhythm & Blues Band, Greasy Gravy, Bob Seger, Delta Moon, Ina Forsman with Helge Tallqvist Band, Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Earl Music, LaVendore Rogue, Richard Townend & The Mighty Bosscats, At Last - The Etta James Story, David Bray, Jason Mcniff, John Mayall, The King's Parade, Sean Webster Band, Malaya Blue, Erja Lyytinen (pictured), Sari Schorr, Micke Bjorklof & BlueStrip, Big Wolf Band, Toriah Fontaine, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Chris Antonik, Saturday Night Fish Fry, B. B. & The Blues Shacks and more.

On 23rd April 2016, Treat (VIdeo Of The Day) played a highly anticipated set at the Frontiers Rock Festival, the annual concert event organized by the band’s label, Frontiers Records. Held close to Milano, Italy, this was the third annual edition of the festival and saw Treat playing hot on the heels of the release of their latest studio album, “'Ghost Of Graceland'”. The band took the stage by storm, opening the show with the title track from the new album and showcasing a very special lineup, which featured H.E.A.T. keyboardist Jona Tee taking the place of Patrik Appelgren for this exclusive performance. Treat offered a show with a great mixture of new and recent songs taken from their latest album, the highly regarded 2010 release “'Coup De Grace”' and classic songs from the good ol’ days including “'World Of Promises'”, “'Get You On The Run”' and “'Ready For The Taking”'. Treat’'s performance was truly a unique and special one and their new DVD documents a great moment in the band’'s history as well as serving as a celebration of one of Sweden’'s finest Hard Rock bands ever! The Treat line up was Robert Ernlund: lead vocals, Anders Wikström: lead Guitars and vocals, Pontus Egberg: electric bass and vocals, Jamie Borger: drums with Jona Tee: Keyboards. Watch out for Treat at the Hair Metal Heaven Festival in Hull on Friday 25th August!

Global Rock icons Iron Maiden embarked on the final leg of 'The Book of Souls' world tour last weekend, simultaneously launching a synergistic player-vs-player battle arena for their mobile game, Legacy of the Beast. The game offers players a unique way to interact with the band’s real world activities, by introducing not only a replica of one of the tour stage productions, but also the debut of 'The Book of Souls' Shaman Eddie into the game, in his Mayan themed incarnation as featured on the band’s most recent studio album. Other characters from 'The Book of Souls' are set to follow.

Last week (18/4/17) in the heart of London, the WRC had the pleasure of interviewing South African Blues Rock guitarist Dan Patlansky and despite a few technical gremlins on our part – the banter flowed and we would like to thank Dan for his time. So read below if you want to find out more about Dan's current tour, his new single and album, problems with his '62 Fender Strat and why Father John Misty is today's Vid Of The Day! WRC: Welcome back to London Dan. You’re headlining London’s O2 Islington Academy on Tuesday 2nd May - how did the first 2 gigs of your current UK tour go? DP: They went really well. First off we played Mr. Kyps in Poole followed by HRH in Sheffield where I managed to jam with my friend Laurence Jones who I have toured the UK with before. We’re off to Germany next, and as you say return to London on the 2nd with a further four UK gigs in Manchester, Cardiff, Bristol and Barnstaple. WRC: Your last two UK tours have seen you supporting both Joe Satriani and King King – what was that like and how did that impact your fan base? DP: Ha ha – both tours were amazing. Joe and I used to tune up playing the Blues together before each gig and I used to think how cool is that? King King are also big favourites of mine and are such nice guys as well, so it was really pleasing that the KK fans took me on board and are now following both my music and my tours. WRC: In Johnannesburg 2014 you opened for Bruce Springsteen in front of 64,000 people – how popular is Blues Rock in South Africa and how does it compare to here? DP: It was really weird. The vastness of the stadium and the vicinity of the crowd made it feel a bit like a rehearsal until I looked around and saw Bruce standing in the wings – that’s when I got really nervous! Despite the fact that the venues I play in South Africa are much larger, there is a far stronger Blues Rock base in the UK although the fan base is growing at home. WRC: Is there any truth in the rumour that you have problems taking your ’62 Fender Strat on tour? DP: Yeah that’s right! It’s because of the rare Brazilian rainforest wood on the neck - although the neck is detachable! WRC: Touring obviously has an overall physical impact but does it affect your guitar playing? DP: Good question! Yes my hands do definitely get stronger on tour so there is a tendency to overplay sometimes but there’s no danger of me turning into a shredder! WRC: Can you tell us a bit about your band? DP: Yes I’m really lucky. The guys are all from Germany and they are all great session musicians. Unfortunately it’s a fact of life that it’s too expensive to bring your own band over from South Africa, WRC: We recently saw the very impressive Ash Wilson supporting Sari Schorr & The Engine Room at London’s Borderline and Ash is supporting you on your tour? DP: Yes Ash and I hit it off straight away at our very first UK gig at Mr. Kyps. Our musical styles definitely complement each other, which is so important as I well know from past experience supporting bands like King King. WRC: Your UK tour ends in Barnstaple on Saturday 6th May - do you have any plans for any Summer Festivals? DP: No plans for Festivals but I will be returning to Europe mid-Summer and will be back in the UK in November. WRC: Your last album ‘Introvertigo’ was voted number 1 Blues Rock album of 2016 by Blues Rock Review USA – how cool was that? DP: Very chuffed. But it’s not so much the award, it’s more the avenues that are opened up because of an award. For example, there’s no doubt that on the strength of that particular award, it put the wheels in motion for this follow-up tour to take place. WRC: Would you agree that ‘Introvertigo’ has a more raw Blues Rock feel to it compared to your previous award winning album ‘Dear Silence Thieves’? DP: Yes – it’s a bit more in your in your face and has ten strong tracks that really translate well live which is a big deal to me. WRC: And can we detect a bit of Dave Gilmour on your ‘Introvertigo’ track ‘Still Want To Be Your Man’? DP: Yes you did! I’m a big fan of Dave Gilmour, and Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ was a major influence on my formative musical education, although strangely enough it was the album cover that first grabbed my attention! As they say, the rest is history as I then went back in time listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Freddie King and Albert King – all still major influences in my songwriting. WRC: Following ‘Stop The Messin’ - you’ve just released your second single from ‘Introvertigo’- ‘Sonnova Faith’ – what was the story behind that release? DP: As well as the single itself having a very important political message, the song has actually proven to be the most popular on the album, such as on platforms like Spotify. Consequently, on the radio edit we also topped and tailed it with a preacher talking! WRC: ‘Introvertigo’ was two years in the making - is there a new album in the pipeline and will you be playing any new material on this tour? DP: Yes we’re going into the studio in June with twenty or so songs aiming to release a new album in April next year. We’re experimenting with production and sounds on the new album. For example, we’ve actually utilized an 18th century Church in Cape Town for its distinctive drum sound. It’s also very refreshing to have new songs on your setlist although we won’t be playing any of our new material on this tour. WRC: Given ‘Wish You Were Here’ was your very first album – what’s your favourite current album DP: Father John Misty (who consequently since this interview will be at London's Hammersmith Apollo on Tuesday 7th November) WRC: … and the very first live gig you went to? DP: Def Leppard (pause) … ha ha (interview quickly curtailed) WRC: We look forward to seeing you in Islington Dan on 2nd May. Thanks once again!

Following the recent release of their sophomore album 'Peace In Our Time', UK extreme Metal band Krysthla (Track Of The Day) has broken into Amazon UK's official chart. The new album hit the number two spot, sandwiched between Deep Purple and Mastodon, alongside other new releases by Kreator, While She Sleeps, Bodycount and more. Krysthla's stunning new album has also cracked Amazon's mainstream chart, sitting high in the ranks alongside popular Top 40 artists Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, James Blunt and Rag'N'Bone Man. 'Peace In Our Time' is the second album to be released by the Northamptonshire Metal group and follows on from the success of their 2015 debut record 'A War Of Souls And Desires'. Krysthla continue their UK tour at Cardiff's Fuel tomorrow night which concludes with an appearance at Gloucester's Amplified Festival on Saturday 22nd July.

2017 is certainly a special year for Wilko Johnson. Not only does it mark the 30th anniversary of the Wilko Johnson Band, but this year sees the guitarist celebrating his 70th birthday, which he celebrates with a concert at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday 26th September. Given the events of recent years, this celebration at the Royal Albert Hall is all the more meaningful: the death-defying Johnson leading his own party with partners in crime Norman Watt-Roy (bass), Dylan Howe (drums), family, friends and special guests.

"The musicianship was exemplary, as we have come to expect, and it was time to slow things down a bit. John Myung is the quiet man of the band but is up there with the best in terms of his bass playing. This was now showcased in his rendition of a bass composition by Jaco Pastorius called 'Portait of Tracy'. The quiet didn't last too long though as he finished off by launching into 'As I Am'. This is from their most Metal of albums 'Train of Thought' and they never sounded more like Metallica than they did on that album. Just to reinforce that opinion, they even inserted a chorus from 'Enter Sandman' before the end of the song! The conclusion of Act 1 was 'Breaking All Illusions' from drummer Mike Mangini's debut album 'A Dramatic Turn of Events'. Time for a breather!" Read the whole of Steve P's Dream Theater Hammersmith Apollo gig review from Sunday here.

On today's Route 66 Track Of The Day, host Rory Auskerry chats to Dan Patlansky (pictured) ahead of his UK tour in May. Indeed the WRC will be at Islington's O2 Academy next Tuesday 2nd May to see Dan and watch out tomorrow for our own recent interview with Dan. Also on the show there are new tracks from Dave Hunt, Roger Waters and Brothers Osbourne.

Multi-award winning threepiece Triggerfinger (Video Of The Day) has signed with Mascot Records. One of Belgium’s finest guitar bands, Triggerfinger is currently finalizing the successor of their successful album ‘By Absence Of The Sun’, due for worldwide release after the Summer. The band will then start a European tour following the release of their fifth studio album, from September onwards. Imagine three sharp dressed man, in suits, with the boldness of Motörhead, Marc Bolan’s grooves and Chuck Berry’s relentlessness. The result? Triggerfinger, a well maintained riff-machine but also Europe’s very best kept secret - a band that has developed the hard way; years of touring clubs, pubs and festivals and dives of Europe have bred a fierce, unique and raw sound.

"The band and Joe are exceptional on a number of the songs such as 'How Deep This River Runs’, where to single out the backing singers are in such fine voice. And also with ‘Love Ain’t A Love Song’, where Joe’s ability to build a song into a crescendo of sheer noise and fun is exactly what we love about him. Half of the songs were covers of Joe's guitar heroes such as B.B. King and Eric Clapton (obviously!) and I particularly enjoyed his faultless cover of EC's sleek ‘Pretending’ which becomes the launch pad for an incomprehensible six string showcase while drummer Anton Fig and the cheerleading brass section lead the audience in keeping time." Read the whole of Wrinkly The Silver's Joe Bonamassa Royal Albert Hall gig review from last Thursday here (picture Laurence Harvey) plus check out our updated photo gallery here.

Today's 2016 WRC Award winning Rock On The Ridge Track Of The Day features tracks from Mount Holly, We Three Kings, The Black Jackals, 42 Decibe, Crobot (pictured), Godsmack, Shaman's Harvest, JacksonHewitt, Kingcrow, Roving Crows, Florence Black, Pearl Handled Revolver, IronPig, CrowBlackChicken, Will Wilde, Troy Redfern, Molly Hatchet, The Irontown Diehards, Praying Mantis and on their introducing stage, two in a row from local band StoneWire.