_{We’ve got to that point of the year where there seems to be an over-powering urge to list our favourite albums from the past 12 months and rave about how many gigs we’ve been to and which were the best. To be honest, I tend not to read other people’s lists or reviews and I’m not going to be presumptuous enough to think you want to read mine! If you’ve started reading this to find out my top ten anything then you have my apologies! What you do have are my brief reflections on the past year and a few words of thanks.}

_{Symphonic metal is one of those rock genres that I sometimes struggle with; however I found enough to like in the latest album from Italian band Rhapsody of Fire to warrant putting pen to paper / fingers to keyboard. “Into The Legend” is released through AFM Records on 15th January. The album’s title track is the lead-off single and a video was released for it in November. “Into The Legend” is included on the Friday NI Rocks Show broadcast on 1st January.}

BORN the son of a 'preacher man', he grew up to play loud, proud, fierce rock 'n' roll, Ian 'Lemmy' Kilmister epitomised the hard living stars of yesteryear, but never wavered from his chosen musical career.

While tabloids and the news channels play the song Motörhead were most recognised for ('Ace of Spades') Lemmy and the band had more depth than many could imagine.

Increasingly looking frail over recent years, Lemmy still managed to complete a final European tour