WMS

Swedish high energy rockers THE HELLACOPTERS have been celebrating their 30th anniversary recently and after releasing something new - the much-lauded "Overdriver" album on January 31, 2025, which reached No. 1 in the Swedish charts for the second time in the group's career - it is time to offer their dedicated fanbase something truly nostalgic. "Cream Of The Crap! Collected Non-Album Works o Volume 3" is the long-overdue follow-up in a series of rarities collections started in 2002 combining material from a myriad of singles, EPs, and compilations. The 24 tracks featured in this set have originally been released between 1995 and 2004, and include originals like 'Disappointment Blues', 'Freeway To Hell', 'Doggone Your Bad-Luck Soul' and 'Long Gone Losers' as well as many cover versions of songs by Motörhead, Wilson Pickett, MC5, Smokey Robsinson, Alice Cooper, the Ramones, the Nomads, and Adam West - whose singer Jake Starr penned liner notes for this release - and many, many more. Meticulously compiled by Robert Eriksson, transferred from master tapes and vinyl by Henke Jonsson, and remastered for maximum audio fidelity by Magnus Lindberg, THE HELLACOPTERS proudly present a stunning collection of incredible, high-octane rock'n'roll on this over 75 minutes long double vinyl.

Testament: Para bellum (Transparent Orange) [Gatefold / 2 Vinyl LP]

Sabaton: Carolus Rex (Swedish/Blue/Yellow) [Gatefold / Vinyl LP]

The fourth installment in Neil Young's Official Release Series (ORS): a box set that includes his classic '80s records Hawks & Doves, Reoacotor, and This Note's for You, as well as his Eldorado EP, previously released only in Japan and Australia. <br/><br/>The ORS Vol 4 collects an eclectic set of decade-spanning sounds. Hawks & Doves (1980) revisits his folk roots and explores some of his most country-leaning offerings; the blistering Reoacotor (1981) showcases a stomping set of heavy, overdriven rock with Crazy Horse; and This Note's for You (1988) casts Young as a big band leader, belting out intricately arranged blues. The Eldorado EP (1989) is full of feral distortion and earthy crunch featuring Young backed by The Restless (Chad Cromwell and Rick Rosas). It includes two thundering tracks - "Cocaine Eyes" and "Heavy Love"- not available on any other album.

Duran Duran: Duran Duran [2 Vinyl LP]

Before his death in January, legendary guitarist Jeff Beck revisited concert recordings made by Beck, Bogert & Appice, the power trio he formed in 1972 with drummer/singer Carmine Appice and bassist/singer Tim Bogert. The live music captures the band at the beginning and end of its short-but-influential partnership, with two shows in Japan in 1973 and one of the group's final performances in London a year later.<br/><br/>All three band members were involved in creating LIVE IN JAPAN 1973, LIVE IN LONDON 1974, and the collection is dedicated to Beck and Bogert, who died in 2023 and 2021, respectively. The set includes an expansive booklet with extended liner notes detailing the group's history by music journalist/manager Bruce Pilato, along with memorabilia, archival photos, and a replica poster.<br/><br/>Beck and Appice mixed all the concerts in this set from the original multi-tracks that had been in Beck's archive for almost 50 years, thus knocking the many bootleg quality releases, that Beck hated, out of the park! The two performances at Koseinenkin Hall in Osaka, Japan (recorded May 18 and 19, 1973) were released exclusively in Japan a few months after the shows, but never in the U.S. The complete concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London, England (recorded January 26, 1974) has never been released anywhere. <br/><br/>In the booklet, Pilato explores the short existence and lasting legacy of Beck, Bogert & Appice, a supergroup that critics once hailed as "the first successor to Cream" (Melody Maker) and an "ensemble of virtually unparalleled magnificence" (NME). <br/><br/>LIVE IN JAPAN 1973 was recorded only a few weeks after Beck, Bogert & Appice's self-titled debut came out. The music ripples with raw energy as the group delivers exhilarating live versions of nearly every song on the album, including "Superstition," "Lady," and "Livin' Alone." The trio also played songs by the Yardbirds ("Jeff's Boogie") and the Jeff Beck Group ("Morning Dew" and "Going Down.")

Last year, Clapton hosted and curated the seventh installment of his Crossroads Guitar Festival on September 23 and 24 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. It notably marked the event's return after a four-year break, selling out the iconic arena on both days. Once again, Clapton carefully assembled a powerhouse cohort of influential guitarists representing various eras and styles. The impressive lineup boasted Joe Bonamassa, Clapton, Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, Eric Gales, H.E.R., Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Los Lobos, John Mayer, The Marcus King Band, Roger McGuinn, John McLaughlin, Santana, The Wallflowers, and many more. Not to forget, Bill Murray served as the evening's "Master of Ceremonies." <br/> <br/>Coming together, the set rotated between blues staples, American Songbook classics, and generational rock 'n' roll anthems shocked to life by this elite six-string consortium.