_{“Machination” is the second album from Italian band Secret Rule and it was released by Scarlet Records on 24th June. The band formed in 2014 and released their debut album “Transposed Emotions” through Rocksector Records in February 2015. I posted a recommendation for that album last year and played tracks from it on quite a few occasions. It was good therefore to get an e-mail about the new album. I played the track “The Image” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 19th June.}

_{Departed released their self-titled EP on 18th June and it’s one that is well worth checking out. The press release that accompanied the e-mail we received immediately grabbed my interest as it revealed that the band included Empire of Fools singer Mark Pascall and former Treatment guitarist Ben Brookland. I’ve played Empire of Fools tracks on Rock Radio NI quite a bit and the Brookland era Treatment (up to late 2013) probably produced their best material. A quick listen to the EP confirmed that it was indeed something special.}

WHEN you sit down to consider what to call your album, it can be a laborious chore; writer's block can cripple all thoughts, a wrenching agony trying to decide what best encapsulates your sound, your vision and the passion you put into the platter you are about to unleash into the public realm.

Then it must only be 'Like A Combine Harvester In A Field Of Crippled Rabbits' if your band is Acid Age'. No other choice really.

Of course it's full throttle thrash metal