Powerplay 281 May/June 2025
INTERVIEWS & SPECIAL FEATURES
With a massive UK tour and a very surprising new album to talk about, The Dead Daisies frontman John Corabi had lots to tell us about – so much in fact that we’ll be running a second part of his interview next time. Welsh wonders Those Damn Crows earn promotion to the top table with their stunning new album, Simon McBride takes time out from Deep Purple to release a solo album, Candice Night puts out her first solo album in a decade, Herman Rarebell brings ‘Ze German’ to some of his favourite 80s songs, and Tarja releases her incredible ‘Circus Life’ live performance. Also in this issue are chats with Pop Evil, Liv Kristine, Samantha Fish, Ancient Bards, The Haunted, Rivers Of Nihil, Imperatore, Nightsteel, Nebula Nine, Big Canyon, Chontaraz, Root Zero, and Tooth Gore, plus our annual in-depth festival preview
REGULARS
AOR Underground, Tygerman’s Viewpoint, The New Power Files, Editorial.
POWERED UP
Papa Roach, Dream Theater, Queensryche, Motionless In White, H.E.A.T, Ace Frehley, Slaughter, Art Nation, Lynch Mob, Delain, Xandria, Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons, IQ, Adrian Vandenberg, Wage War, Night Demon, Fit For A King, Final Coil, Hanabie, Chez Kane, Edge Of Paradise, Lodestar, Fury, Brand Of Sacrifice, Teiger, Kim Dracula, The River.
POWER PLAYS
Those Damn Crows, Samantha Fish, Epica, Francesco Marras, Worlds Beyond, Alien Weaponry, Defender, Adamantis, Luna Kills, Ye Banished Privateers, Caliban, Cirkus Prutz, Waltari, Wednesday 13, Trick Or Treat, The Flower Kings, Dunkle Zukunft, Phase Transition, Gypsy Pistoleros, Game Over.
POWER CUTS
Candice Night, Robin Trower, Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate, Heart Line, Simon McBride, Liv Kristine, Baron Von Bieski Orchestra, Dark Driven, Raven, Jizzy Pearl’s Love/Hate, Stygian Path, Mark Morton, W.E.T, Ally Venable, Caboose, Deathless Legacy, Mentalist, Midnight Vice, The Birthday Massacre, Obsydian, Last Leaf Down, Death SS, W.A.S.P., Love Is Noise, After Us All, Phear, Storm Orchestra, Allegaeon, Streetlight, Katla, Laurenne/Louhimo, D’or, Vigilhunter, The Devils, Sick N’ Beautiful, H.E.R.O., Messa, Masters Of Reality, Rick Pierce Group, Hangman’s Chair, Anyone, Kyles Tolone, Vallorch, Alliance, Circle Of Origin, Rotting Christ, Supersonic Deuces, Royalty Capes, Herman Rarebell & Friends, Bottlebelt, Stinky, Neverfade, Symetria, The Astoria, Crematory, Heaven’s Reign, Himmelkraft, Xiii Doors, O.R.K, Braveride, Marble Ghosts, Tower, Honeybombs, David Judson Clemmons, Blood Cult, Blended Brew, Confess, Alien, Black And Damned, Blacksun, Beholder, Awaiting Abigail, Predator, Primrose Path, Angel, Sykofant, Big Canyon, Skull Revenge, Night Dream, Highway Queen, Diamantide, Pattern-Seeking Animals, Sculforge, Disarmonia Mundi, Strategy, Nightstalker, Sijjin, Drew Cagle And The Reputation, Black Moon June, March Of Scylla, Asasara, Belle Morte, All For Jolly, Teaser Sweet, Wasted, Art Nation, Legado De Una Tragedia, Chemicide, Serpentyne, Rioghan, Mastord, Luponero, Throne Of Iron, Sweetbeast, Walnut Grove DC, Tarja, Gyasi, Winona Fighter, Kerberos, Ladykiller, Final Gravity, Captain Black Beard, Pale Epiphany, Sidewinder, Radiant Moon, Dirty Talons, Stud, Beyond Frequencies, The Summit Fever, Blue Ambition, The Feelgood McLouds, Sign Of The Wolf, H-C≡N, Santù, Air Drawn Dagger, Under Ruins, Bourbon Kings, Maestrick, The Haunted, Godslave, Fat Bastard, Sacred Season, Katharein, Imperatore, IQ, Alex Carpani, Cosmic Cathedral, Harem Scarem, Ryosi Shinomoto, Voidchaser, Magnolia Park, The Quill, Russ Ballard, Hans & Valter, Dark Horizon, When Rivers Meet, Machine Head, Prost, Raging Speedhorn, Powerhill, The Man-Eating Tree, Hangfire, Power Surge, Within Destruction, The Lord Weird Slough Feg, Root Zero, Skunk Anansie, Don Felder, Stacy Crowne, The Speaker Wars, The Storyteller, Chontaraz, Leave, Kal-El, Luke Spiller, Nebula Nine, Vulvarine, Derev, Niviane, Insult, Hanging Garden, Himalayas, Böllverk, Obscure Obsession, Afterlove, Myth Carver, Santonegro, One OK Rock, Rivers Of Nihil, Care Of Night, Rokets, Severed Angel, Giant, Double Experience, Black Sword Thunder Attack, Flor De Loto, Will Wilde, Tumble, Ancient Bards, Detroit Run, Cruzeiro, Nightsteel, Anti-Clone, Status Quo, Revenant, Hands Like Houses, Roxxcalibur, Lycanthro, The Dead Daisies, Volbeat, Big Canyon.
APPEARING IN THE NEW POWER FILES CHAPTER 42
Mario Rossi Band, Formosa, White Tygër, El Cuero, Oldhands, Silver Nightmares, STUD, Becoming Wolves, Cyphen, Anbaric, Robin Brock, Tiberius, Hush, Disharmonium, Raffaello Indri, Plasticdrop, Copen, Pale Epiphany, Fuzz Evil, Final Siege, The Madrigal Project, Lucid Dream, Grackle, Twenty Four Hours, Flame Drop, Big Canyon, Imperatore, Nebula Nine, Chontaraz, Francesco Marras, Alex Carpani.
INTERVIEWS & SPECIAL FEATURES
With a massive UK tour and a very surprising new album to talk about, The Dead Daisies frontman John Corabi had lots to tell us about – so much in fact that we’ll be running a second part of his interview next time. Welsh wonders Those Damn Crows earn promotion to the top table with their stunning new album, Simon McBride takes time out from Deep Purple to release a solo album, Candice Night puts out her first solo album in a decade, Herman Rarebell brings ‘Ze German’ to some of his favourite 80s songs, and Tarja releases her incredible ‘Circus Life’ live performance. Also in this issue are chats with Pop Evil, Liv Kristine, Samantha Fish, Ancient Bards, The Haunted, Rivers Of Nihil, Imperatore, Nightsteel, Nebula Nine, Big Canyon, Chontaraz, Root Zero, and Tooth Gore, plus our annual in-depth festival preview
REGULARS
AOR Underground, Tygerman’s Viewpoint, The New Power Files, Editorial.
POWERED UP
Papa Roach, Dream Theater, Queensryche, Motionless In White, H.E.A.T, Ace Frehley, Slaughter, Art Nation, Lynch Mob, Delain, Xandria, Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons, IQ, Adrian Vandenberg, Wage War, Night Demon, Fit For A King, Final Coil, Hanabie, Chez Kane, Edge Of Paradise, Lodestar, Fury, Brand Of Sacrifice, Teiger, Kim Dracula, The River.
POWER PLAYS
Those Damn Crows, Samantha Fish, Epica, Francesco Marras, Worlds Beyond, Alien Weaponry, Defender, Adamantis, Luna Kills, Ye Banished Privateers, Caliban, Cirkus Prutz, Waltari, Wednesday 13, Trick Or Treat, The Flower Kings, Dunkle Zukunft, Phase Transition, Gypsy Pistoleros, Game Over.
POWER CUTS
Candice Night, Robin Trower, Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate, Heart Line, Simon McBride, Liv Kristine, Baron Von Bieski Orchestra, Dark Driven, Raven, Jizzy Pearl’s Love/Hate, Stygian Path, Mark Morton, W.E.T, Ally Venable, Caboose, Deathless Legacy, Mentalist, Midnight Vice, The Birthday Massacre, Obsydian, Last Leaf Down, Death SS, W.A.S.P., Love Is Noise, After Us All, Phear, Storm Orchestra, Allegaeon, Streetlight, Katla, Laurenne/Louhimo, D’or, Vigilhunter, The Devils, Sick N’ Beautiful, H.E.R.O., Messa, Masters Of Reality, Rick Pierce Group, Hangman’s Chair, Anyone, Kyles Tolone, Vallorch, Alliance, Circle Of Origin, Rotting Christ, Supersonic Deuces, Royalty Capes, Herman Rarebell & Friends, Bottlebelt, Stinky, Neverfade, Symetria, The Astoria, Crematory, Heaven’s Reign, Himmelkraft, Xiii Doors, O.R.K, Braveride, Marble Ghosts, Tower, Honeybombs, David Judson Clemmons, Blood Cult, Blended Brew, Confess, Alien, Black And Damned, Blacksun, Beholder, Awaiting Abigail, Predator, Primrose Path, Angel, Sykofant, Big Canyon, Skull Revenge, Night Dream, Highway Queen, Diamantide, Pattern-Seeking Animals, Sculforge, Disarmonia Mundi, Strategy, Nightstalker, Sijjin, Drew Cagle And The Reputation, Black Moon June, March Of Scylla, Asasara, Belle Morte, All For Jolly, Teaser Sweet, Wasted, Art Nation, Legado De Una Tragedia, Chemicide, Serpentyne, Rioghan, Mastord, Luponero, Throne Of Iron, Sweetbeast, Walnut Grove DC, Tarja, Gyasi, Winona Fighter, Kerberos, Ladykiller, Final Gravity, Captain Black Beard, Pale Epiphany, Sidewinder, Radiant Moon, Dirty Talons, Stud, Beyond Frequencies, The Summit Fever, Blue Ambition, The Feelgood McLouds, Sign Of The Wolf, H-C≡N, Santù, Air Drawn Dagger, Under Ruins, Bourbon Kings, Maestrick, The Haunted, Godslave, Fat Bastard, Sacred Season, Katharein, Imperatore, IQ, Alex Carpani, Cosmic Cathedral, Harem Scarem, Ryosi Shinomoto, Voidchaser, Magnolia Park, The Quill, Russ Ballard, Hans & Valter, Dark Horizon, When Rivers Meet, Machine Head, Prost, Raging Speedhorn, Powerhill, The Man-Eating Tree, Hangfire, Power Surge, Within Destruction, The Lord Weird Slough Feg, Root Zero, Skunk Anansie, Don Felder, Stacy Crowne, The Speaker Wars, The Storyteller, Chontaraz, Leave, Kal-El, Luke Spiller, Nebula Nine, Vulvarine, Derev, Niviane, Insult, Hanging Garden, Himalayas, Böllverk, Obscure Obsession, Afterlove, Myth Carver, Santonegro, One OK Rock, Rivers Of Nihil, Care Of Night, Rokets, Severed Angel, Giant, Double Experience, Black Sword Thunder Attack, Flor De Loto, Will Wilde, Tumble, Ancient Bards, Detroit Run, Cruzeiro, Nightsteel, Anti-Clone, Status Quo, Revenant, Hands Like Houses, Roxxcalibur, Lycanthro, The Dead Daisies, Volbeat, Big Canyon.
APPEARING IN THE NEW POWER FILES CHAPTER 42
Mario Rossi Band, Formosa, White Tygër, El Cuero, Oldhands, Silver Nightmares, STUD, Becoming Wolves, Cyphen, Anbaric, Robin Brock, Tiberius, Hush, Disharmonium, Raffaello Indri, Plasticdrop, Copen, Pale Epiphany, Fuzz Evil, Final Siege, The Madrigal Project, Lucid Dream, Grackle, Twenty Four Hours, Flame Drop, Big Canyon, Imperatore, Nebula Nine, Chontaraz, Francesco Marras, Alex Carpani.
INTERVIEWS & SPECIAL FEATURES
With a massive UK tour and a very surprising new album to talk about, The Dead Daisies frontman John Corabi had lots to tell us about – so much in fact that we’ll be running a second part of his interview next time. Welsh wonders Those Damn Crows earn promotion to the top table with their stunning new album, Simon McBride takes time out from Deep Purple to release a solo album, Candice Night puts out her first solo album in a decade, Herman Rarebell brings ‘Ze German’ to some of his favourite 80s songs, and Tarja releases her incredible ‘Circus Life’ live performance. Also in this issue are chats with Pop Evil, Liv Kristine, Samantha Fish, Ancient Bards, The Haunted, Rivers Of Nihil, Imperatore, Nightsteel, Nebula Nine, Big Canyon, Chontaraz, Root Zero, and Tooth Gore, plus our annual in-depth festival preview
REGULARS
AOR Underground, Tygerman’s Viewpoint, The New Power Files, Editorial.
POWERED UP
Papa Roach, Dream Theater, Queensryche, Motionless In White, H.E.A.T, Ace Frehley, Slaughter, Art Nation, Lynch Mob, Delain, Xandria, Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons, IQ, Adrian Vandenberg, Wage War, Night Demon, Fit For A King, Final Coil, Hanabie, Chez Kane, Edge Of Paradise, Lodestar, Fury, Brand Of Sacrifice, Teiger, Kim Dracula, The River.
POWER PLAYS
Those Damn Crows, Samantha Fish, Epica, Francesco Marras, Worlds Beyond, Alien Weaponry, Defender, Adamantis, Luna Kills, Ye Banished Privateers, Caliban, Cirkus Prutz, Waltari, Wednesday 13, Trick Or Treat, The Flower Kings, Dunkle Zukunft, Phase Transition, Gypsy Pistoleros, Game Over.
POWER CUTS
Candice Night, Robin Trower, Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate, Heart Line, Simon McBride, Liv Kristine, Baron Von Bieski Orchestra, Dark Driven, Raven, Jizzy Pearl’s Love/Hate, Stygian Path, Mark Morton, W.E.T, Ally Venable, Caboose, Deathless Legacy, Mentalist, Midnight Vice, The Birthday Massacre, Obsydian, Last Leaf Down, Death SS, W.A.S.P., Love Is Noise, After Us All, Phear, Storm Orchestra, Allegaeon, Streetlight, Katla, Laurenne/Louhimo, D’or, Vigilhunter, The Devils, Sick N’ Beautiful, H.E.R.O., Messa, Masters Of Reality, Rick Pierce Group, Hangman’s Chair, Anyone, Kyles Tolone, Vallorch, Alliance, Circle Of Origin, Rotting Christ, Supersonic Deuces, Royalty Capes, Herman Rarebell & Friends, Bottlebelt, Stinky, Neverfade, Symetria, The Astoria, Crematory, Heaven’s Reign, Himmelkraft, Xiii Doors, O.R.K, Braveride, Marble Ghosts, Tower, Honeybombs, David Judson Clemmons, Blood Cult, Blended Brew, Confess, Alien, Black And Damned, Blacksun, Beholder, Awaiting Abigail, Predator, Primrose Path, Angel, Sykofant, Big Canyon, Skull Revenge, Night Dream, Highway Queen, Diamantide, Pattern-Seeking Animals, Sculforge, Disarmonia Mundi, Strategy, Nightstalker, Sijjin, Drew Cagle And The Reputation, Black Moon June, March Of Scylla, Asasara, Belle Morte, All For Jolly, Teaser Sweet, Wasted, Art Nation, Legado De Una Tragedia, Chemicide, Serpentyne, Rioghan, Mastord, Luponero, Throne Of Iron, Sweetbeast, Walnut Grove DC, Tarja, Gyasi, Winona Fighter, Kerberos, Ladykiller, Final Gravity, Captain Black Beard, Pale Epiphany, Sidewinder, Radiant Moon, Dirty Talons, Stud, Beyond Frequencies, The Summit Fever, Blue Ambition, The Feelgood McLouds, Sign Of The Wolf, H-C≡N, Santù, Air Drawn Dagger, Under Ruins, Bourbon Kings, Maestrick, The Haunted, Godslave, Fat Bastard, Sacred Season, Katharein, Imperatore, IQ, Alex Carpani, Cosmic Cathedral, Harem Scarem, Ryosi Shinomoto, Voidchaser, Magnolia Park, The Quill, Russ Ballard, Hans & Valter, Dark Horizon, When Rivers Meet, Machine Head, Prost, Raging Speedhorn, Powerhill, The Man-Eating Tree, Hangfire, Power Surge, Within Destruction, The Lord Weird Slough Feg, Root Zero, Skunk Anansie, Don Felder, Stacy Crowne, The Speaker Wars, The Storyteller, Chontaraz, Leave, Kal-El, Luke Spiller, Nebula Nine, Vulvarine, Derev, Niviane, Insult, Hanging Garden, Himalayas, Böllverk, Obscure Obsession, Afterlove, Myth Carver, Santonegro, One OK Rock, Rivers Of Nihil, Care Of Night, Rokets, Severed Angel, Giant, Double Experience, Black Sword Thunder Attack, Flor De Loto, Will Wilde, Tumble, Ancient Bards, Detroit Run, Cruzeiro, Nightsteel, Anti-Clone, Status Quo, Revenant, Hands Like Houses, Roxxcalibur, Lycanthro, The Dead Daisies, Volbeat, Big Canyon.
APPEARING IN THE NEW POWER FILES CHAPTER 42
Mario Rossi Band, Formosa, White Tygër, El Cuero, Oldhands, Silver Nightmares, STUD, Becoming Wolves, Cyphen, Anbaric, Robin Brock, Tiberius, Hush, Disharmonium, Raffaello Indri, Plasticdrop, Copen, Pale Epiphany, Fuzz Evil, Final Siege, The Madrigal Project, Lucid Dream, Grackle, Twenty Four Hours, Flame Drop, Big Canyon, Imperatore, Nebula Nine, Chontaraz, Francesco Marras, Alex Carpani.