Well I mentioned the Mari Hamada compilation CD a few days ago on the blog and here we have her latest studio album “Soar” (2023). This is a really good rock album and Mari is a great singer. Way above average. Excellent sound, superb playing (Akira Takasaki, Gregg Bissonette, Leland Sklar, Billy Sheehan, Boh and Isao are among the players). This is the European edition of said album. Top score on the old Cool-o-meter for sure.
(My shot of said album)
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Having some time off work and I am currently updating the old Deep Purple Family collection. Just added some Gillan stuff and here is the first spread of a nice eight page John Sykes tribute from the pages of Sweden Rock Magazine (2 2025). Written by Jörgen Holmstedt, whom got to know Sykes back in the Thin Lizzy days. Good stuff.
(My shot of said magazine, Sykes image by Jörgen Holmstedt – now go and buy the magazine)
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Japanese guitarist Ryoji Shinomoto has recorded a tribute album to celebrate Alexi Laiho and Children Of Bodom. Titled “Children Of Bushido”, it will be released on Napalm Records on April 8.
(Cover is from official platforms, my background shot)
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I showcased the Swedish comic book Western on the blog last week and here is one of the final issues, 3 1993. I love that they printed comics by Stan Lynde, in this case Latigo. Good times, bad times.
(My shot of said comic, cover art by Stan Lynde)
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Ben Thompson´s “Badass” (Harper, 2009) is a modern age classic. With three Badass books out there by now, Thompson has also started a new franchise called Guts & Glory. Nothing but badassery.
(My shot of said book)
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The Actors School Hiroshima will celebrate its first 25 years with a book that features interviews and memorabilia with students that has been part of the history and many of todays stars in Japan (like Suzuka Nakamoto, Perfume, Riho Sayashi, Mikiko and others) has contributed to it. The book will be published on March 31 in Japan.
(My shot of Babymetal, book cover inserted)
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Added the 1987 Vow Wow album “V” to the old collection yesterday. This album was recorded in the UK with John Wetton producing. Former Whitesnake bass player Neil Murray had joined this Japanese outfit and they got quite a lot of attention out of that. LP sized print of the band inside. This is a UK edition of said album. Should have bought this back in the day.
(My shot of said LP)
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We have some good news regarding Japanese rockers Lonesome Blue today. They are set to release a new six track EP in Japan titled “The Three In One” on March 25. There will be five different editions/covers. I have to assume (or hope) that they are still signed to JPU Records in Europe, so we should see movement over here a little bit later.
(Cover seen here is from official platforms, my background shot)
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Added this rare Donald Duck book (Swedish) to the old collection a few weeks ago. Published in 1973 (by Förlaget Kärnan) it is only eight pages thick, but it is printed on heavy duty paper so it has aged well. I like the way they cut it on the top, makes it a bit special. Hard not to like anyway.
(My shot of said book, many thanks Kalle/Joakim)
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Well I have mentioned this earlier on the blog but now I have got a copy of it. Everything here is fake, but it is executed with so much love and passion that one simply has to surrender (oh, and Tony Iommi loved it too). The joke here is that Black Sabbath stole all their early songs from an unknown jazz outfit called Jazz Sabbath, and these are “the unreleased tapes”. Rick Wakeman´s son Adam created this, and ofcourse his father did some work with Sabbath many moons ago. It is all in good fun, and I just love the LP cover (and the fact that we get the CD as well). Album number two will be part of Record Store Day this year, so keep your eyes open. Lovely.
(My shots of said release, thank you Kalle for securing a copy of this)
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trinkelbonker