Stephen Dalton

Stephen Dalton has been writing about all things rock for more than 30 years, starting in the late Eighties at the New Musical Express (RIP) when it was still an annoyingly pompous analogue weekly paper printed on dead trees and sold in actual physical shops. For the last decade or so he has been a regular contributor to Classic Rock magazine. He has also written about music and film for Uncut, Vox, Prog, The Quietus, Electronic Sound, Rolling Stone, The Times, The London Evening Standard, Wallpaper, The Film Verdict, Sight and Sound, The Hollywood Reporter and others, including some even more disreputable publications.

Articles by: Stephen Dalton

Toyah explores unexpected sonic territory on Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!

By Stephen Dalton published 13 May 22

Expanded 1981 live album Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! captures the end of Toyah’s punk-lite phase

Halestorm - Back From The Dead cover art

Halestorm are Back From The Dead and into unashamedly maximalist territory

By Stephen Dalton published 6 May 22

Pennsylvania pop-rockers Halestorm bounce back from lockdown with huge-sounding fifth album Back From The Dead

Cult Of Luna's clobbering drums and shuddering riffs thrill on The Long Road North

By Stephen Dalton published 12 February 22

The Long Road North features more majestic Scandi Noir anthems from the doom-metal ABBA, Cult Of Luna

Lawnmower Deth: the kings of knob-gag thrash-parody are back

By Stephen Dalton published 28 January 22

Nottinghamshire stupidcore veterans Lawnmower Deth return after 28-year tea break with Blunt Cutters

Roger Taylor interview: Bowie, Sun City, flying solo and the joy of Adam Lambert

By Stephen Dalton published 12 January 22

Having just released his highest charting solo album and toured it, Queen's Roger Taylor is enjoying life away from his ‘day job’

Jim Morrison's boozy, bluesy finale reloaded with outtakes and unreleased tracks.

The Doors celebrate L.A. Woman's 50th birthday via the medium of diminishing returns

By Stephen Dalton published 8 December 21

Jim Morrison's boozy, bluesy Doors finale L.A. Woman reloaded with outtakes and unreleased tracks

A shot of the new Black Album reissue, picturing the artwork inside the gatefold record sleeve

Metallica's Black Album reissue reinforces its place as one of rock's greatest albums

By Stephen Dalton published 9 September 21

Metallica's The Black Album reissue goes from landmark to landmass in mammoth collection of over 24 hours' studio outtakes and a 53-track covers record

Deep States by Tropical F**k Storm is an unpredictable and thrilling mess

By Stephen Dalton published 20 August 21

Deep States contains more filthy, hilarious, freeform ramblings from Australian avant-punks Tropical F**k Storm

Black Honey's Written & Directed: sugar-coated badass swagger with a problem

By Stephen Dalton published 19 March 21

Sassy Brighton pop-punks Black Honey make a familiar but fun racket on second album Written & Directed

Art-rock fops Japan predict the future on deluxe version of third album Quiet Life

By Stephen Dalton published 5 March 21

Japan's post-glam synth-rock classic Quiet Life, now remastered and expanded into three-disc set

The Cure: a guide to their best albums

By Stephen Dalton published 9 February 21

The Cure's albums have gone from sullen outsider anthems to stadium-sized riff monsters and all points in between. All hail the ‘goth Led Zeppelin’

The Besnard Lakes: The Besnard Lakes Are The Last Of The Great Thunderstorm Warnings

The Besnard Lakes thrill on gorgeous baroque psych-prog collection

By Stephen Dalton published 29 January 21

Canada's answer to the Flaming Lips, The Besnard Lakes, commit to beauty and scale on sixth album The Besnard Lakes Are The Last Of The Great Thunderstorm Warnings