Ark Storm are challenging fellow Japanese neo-classical exponents Concerto Moon for the title of Japan's best metal export. Ark Storm are led by guitarist ace Katsu Ohta who is probably Japan's answer to Yngwie Malmsteen and comes with an excellent reputation. Fortunately Ohta also knows how to write a very decent track and The Everlasting Wheel is testament to his writing skills. As I mentioned in my review for the bands last album (Beginining Of The New Legend) the band have a good vocalist in Yasau Sasai who sounds like a Japanese Doogie White (Rainbow/Malmsteen).

Musically The Everlasting Wheel continues where the bands last album left off with strong hooks, potent riffs, empassioned guitar work and dynamic rhythmic interplay. This is all polished off by the majestic keyboard work from Yuhki. Its difficult to pick out individual tracks as the album works well as a collective cohesive unit, but Promised Land stands out thanks to its potent hook and pompish chorus ( which possesses a certain 'Odyssey' era Malmsteen aura) whilst the pulsating attack of Symphony On Wings will leave you feeling exhausted.

Katsu Ohta is in fine form throughout and his lead work seems to be moving beyong the obvious Yngwie influences heard on the bands debut, now three albums on he is starting to find his own voice, and has the guitar tone to match - thick yet clean and clear.

The production of the album is very good with a good amout on energy coming across to the listener and a clear mix for all involved. If you like quality neo-classical metal then Ark Storm serve it up in abundance - well worth the import price tag.

Rating - 85%

You want blues? You got them and you also have probably THE best blues album for some years (or at least since the last Bonamassa release). For the uneducated this Bonamassa is in his early 20's yet has the vocabulary of a player that has absorbed all the blues has to offer and then turns into his own recognisable style. Forget Kenny Wayne Shepher, Johnny Lang, heck Stevie Ray Vaughan, this is the new voice in blues and boy can the kid play.

If you have a penchant for Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck (rough and ready era), the blues side of Led Zeppelin mixed with hints of Allman Brothers then Had To Cry Today is an essential purchase. Had To Cry Today sees a collection of new Bonamassa originals and covers. Opener Never Make Your Move Too Soon opens the album is fine style with its upbeat rocking pulse before the delta blues slide of Travellin South is perfect for cruising in the car. Every track has merit yet the title track and cover of the Blind Faith track Had To Cry Today takes pick of the bunch. Here Bonamassa makes the song his own and the 2 solos here are so full of taste, agression and plain exhuberace that any guitar fan will lap this up.

Had To Cry Today is a must have purchase for anyone with a liking for blues rock guitar.

Rating - 90%

After almost a year of songwriting, arranging, pre-production, recording, mixing and mastering, the Brazilian metallers Angra's fifth full length studio album is finally ready. Temple Of Shadows is definitely the band's most mature, creative and daring effort to date.

That said Angra are a band I have tried ever so hard to get into since Fireworks. Yes, the band are very technical and proficient on their instruments, but I would not call them class leaders. The guitar work of Kiko Loureiro and Rafael Bittencourt is tight as hell, but I don't really hear any individual voices in their guitar work, the solos pass me by as there, they don't really stand out which is not necessarily a bad thing, but the amount of exposure these guys get in the Japanese guitar press would lead you to think they were in league with Yngwie etc.

However despite the hype, Temple Of Shadows shows the band at their best form to date, but still short of the mark.

Rating - 70%

Kreator have been around for years! They were probably Germanys best known thrash metal export, and like many german metal bands the precision with which these guys play is immense. When Enemy Of God landed on my doormat I was expecting some out date piece of work with a thin production that quite simply was gonna do nothing....boy was I wrong!

Fans of Slayer (still thrash metals leaders IMO) are gonna love this and to use the US legends as a point of reference is the best way to desribe Enemy Of God. Combining elements of the beat you black and blue approach of Reign In Blood and the more constructed and atmospheric feel of Seasons In The Abyss, Kreator have come up with their own masterpiece. Its certainly gonna prove the new kids on the scene a thing or two and still goes to show that bands in this genre from the 80's still have a lot to offer almost 20 years later.

With Enemy Of God the band have produced the album that has the potential to give the band a bigger fanbase that at any time in their career. The band now need to get on a high profile tour, if they can reproduce the class shown here in the live arena then the future is very bright.

Highly recommended.

Rating - 88%

Michael Schenker finally releases his first commercially available DVD. Recorded earlier this year at a festival in Poland the intitial impressions look good. Cover art and inlay is good, track listing is very good and the inclusion of a free limited live CD is a nice touch. Visually the concert is good with a sharp picture and good close-ups, though there is an annoying tendency for the producer to cut away from close ups of Schenker to concentrate on the drummer or bassist. Still you do get to see the bulk of the solos from UFO classics such as Lights Out and Rock Bottom close up.

The audio of the DVD is not bad, the actual levels on the disc seem quite low (compared to other DVD's) and their is not much bottom end present in the mix. I was finding myself having to use headphones to get the most enjoyment from the sound and in this environment there is a good mix. The sound did hamper my enjoyment of the DVD slightly but anyone that has been waiting for an MSG DVD should not let this put them off as its a lot better than other stuff currently available on the market.

The band Schenker has around him is good and solid. Vocalist Chris Logan (incidentally just departed) does a good job covering Phil Mogg's, Gary Barden and Graham Bonnett's vocals on classic slices of UFO and MSG, whilst the two tracks from the recent MSG album Arachnaphobiac stand up well alongside heavy weights such as Assault Attack. Schenker is in good form here, not the best I have heard him live (that award goes to the UFO album 'Werewolves In Wolverhamton' but for the most part he is spot on. A pleasant suprise was the opener Ready To Rock which is a great fired up opener.

Overall World Wide Live 2004 was not the classic I was hoping it would be. It does show what an excellent player and composer Schenker is and any fan of Mad Mickey shouldn't hesitate to pick it up.

Rating - 78%

2004 saw a year of renewed energy and vigour for Dream Theater. Fresh from the late 2003 release of the excellent Train Of Thought album the band embarked on another mammoth world tour. This DVD comes from one of the bands most prestigious dates on that tour when they played Japan's mammoth Budokan Arena for the first time in their history.

This DVD tends to focus on material from the aforementioned Train Of Thought and the prior album Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence. With the odd selection from Scenes From A Memory, Falling Into Infinity and only Pull Me Under representing Images & Words. Awake has no representation at all which was a suprise. I guess as the older albums had been featured on previous dvd releases you may as well give fans something new.

As with most DT releases the quality control is high. The audio and visual quality is excellent with a superb balance between all instruments. What is apparent is that the huge Budokan stage does seem a little empty despite all the video backdrops on stage and excellent light show. Perhaps the price to pay when concentration is required on the instrument over anything else. This is by no means boring to watch, just don't expect to see anyone running around like Yngwie does. The camera work is very good with nice close ups for solos and again shows the high production values the band have on all aspects of their work. The gig itself is good with a element of fun being present in the bands delivery - they are clearly enjoying their debut at the Budokan.

The extras on the DVD are for me better than the main presentation. The second disc is full of insights into John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess' rigs, Mike Portnoy's drum solo as well as a Japanese tour documentary which is an excellent watch and shows how tiresome touring actually. Also included is the short video the band used to open their set (shows the history of the band from the early Majesty days - where incidentally they are much more stage animated than they are now) as well as a multi angle option for Instrumedly - which as the name suggests is a medley of instrumental sections from all albums - this is excellent.

Hardcore DT fans are bound to have this by now, but for those that have a passing interest in the band and have been on the fence then get it - its a very good watch.

Rating - 88%

Anand Mahangoe created one of the finest instrumental albums of 2003 with A Dirty Mind Is.. Now Anand is back with a re-recorded version of his debut album A Man's Mind which until now was only available on a small indie label. Thankfully Lion Music have seen sense to make this recording available to a wider audience. and thanks to the improved sound this will be a must have purchase for anyone that enjoyed the album first time round.

Stylistically A Man's Mind is not a million miles away from the Satriani vibe displayed on A Dirty Mind Is... The album if full of top notch technical wizadry but thankfully also home to a strong melody on each track to give non guitar addicts something to grasp onto. The album is more accessible than any of Satriani's recent works and in a sense shows what Satch has lost over the last few years.