_{“Icons of the New Days” is the third album from Lords of Black and it was released via Frontiers Music on 11th May. The band has developed a wide support base since its foundation in 2014 not due only to the quality of the music, but as a result of lead singer Ronnie Romero being chosen by Richie Blackmore to front Rainbow. The release of this third album will only serve to enhance that following. I played the track “Icons of the New Days” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 16th March, “World Gone Mad” on 13th April and “When A Hero Takes A Fall” on 18th May.}

_{“Only Human” is the fifth album from British melodic rock band Vega and it was released via Frontiers Music on 11th May; almost 2 years to the day since the release of the previous album “Who We Are”. It’s the third Vega album that I’ve posted a recommendation for (starting with “Stereo Messiah” in 2014) and I’ve also interviewed lead singer Nick Workman on two occasions. The track “Last Man Standing” was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 23rd March and “Go To War” on 25th May.}

_{“Hard Times” is the third album from English band Doomsday Outlaw and their first since signing to Frontiers Music who released the album on 11th May. It’s also the third album recommendation that I’ve posted for Doomsday Outlaw, following their self-released albums in 2015 and 2016. A number of tracks from “Hard Times” were released by Frontiers ahead of the album – “Spirit That Made Me” was included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 16th February, “Over and Over” on 2nd March and again on 27th April (as well as being on the NI Rocks A-Z Show on 10th April) and “Bring It On Home” on 13th April.}