_{“Raised on Rock” is the fifth album from German band Voodoo Circle and it is released on 9th February by AFM Music. This is the first album from the band to feature new vocalist Herbie Langhans from Avantasia following the departure of David Readman (Pink Cream 69) in 2016. The previous Voodoo Circle albums were always a great listen, and that certainly hasn’t changed. The classic rock influences remain, making “Raised on Rock” an album well worth checking out. I played the track “Running Away From Love” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 19th January and “Higher Love” on the Show on 9th February.}

_{It’s always great to find ‘new’ (or at least new to me) bands and this week an excellent discovery was Australia band Lillye. American label Eclipse Records have announced that they’d signed the band and that they’d be releasing their debut album in May. Along with the press release I received there was a link to a video for the track “Who I’m Meant To Be” from the band’s self-titled and self-released EP from 2014. After a visit to iTunes, this track is included on the Friday NI Rocks Show this week.}

_{The full press release can be read below -}

_{I’ve been a fan of Canadian band Kobra and the Lotus for a number of years and it was great to see them play Belfast for the first time last November. In 2017 they released “Prevail I”, the first part of what initially was planned as a double-album, through Napalm Records. I recorded an interview with vocalist Kobra Paige last August to talk about the new album and more - http://www.rockradioni.co.uk/interviews/3178-ni-rocks-interview-with-kobra-paige-from-kobra-and-the-lotus.html}

_{This month Napalm have announced the release date for “Prevail II” and revealed the artwork and track listing. See the full press release below –}