Little Angels Big Bad & Back EP Review.

 8 months ago came the news that Little Angels had reformed for the first time since 2013 and with UK and Ireland dates booked for November the next question is would there be new music too?

Never in the plan to make new music but with tickets flying out of the doors the momentum gained has led to the first new music from Little Angels in 32 years.

Little Angels featuring the classic line-up of vocalist Toby Jepson, guitarist Bruce Dickinson, Jim Dickinson on keyboards, Mark Plunkett on bass and drummer Mark Richardson following the band’s reunion and rehearsals in their hometown of Scarborough, the Angels headed to Lincolnshire to record at Chapel Studios. After spending a very hot but magical week tracking the material, the finished recordings made their way across the Atlantic to Vancouver, a place that holds an important place in the band’s history.

Little Angels mixed their number one album Jam at legendary Little Mountain Studios in Vancouver, where Bon Jovi recorded Slippery When Wet and Aerosmith recorded and mixed Permanent Vacation and Pump. Sadly, Little Mountain Studios is no longer there, but Mike Fraser, who recorded and mixed those Aerosmith records, certainly is.

After living with the Big Bad & Back EP for a couple of weeks now I can confirm 100% that Little Angels are back and have never sounded better with 5 tracks of pure joy and all begging to be played on the live stage.

All For One blasts out of the speakers and its like they have never been away with a song that would have fitted perfectly on 1993's number one album Jam. Bruce's guitar riff nears feedback and we are off with the Big Bad Horns alive and  invited back too. A cracking pace from Mark on drums and Toby excels in the big chorus and kudos to Mike Fraser's production as every instrument is lod and proud and vying for your attention. Great Bruce guitar solo and a lengthy outro with Toby add libbing choruses over the horns and Mark's pace increasing and a live favourite for sure.

Fisrt single Hero (That Was Then, This Is Now) was the perfect way to say hi after 32 years and if anyone has seen the lyric video, then the story is told through the lyrics of then and now with accompanying pictures and the do you wanna be famous boy refrain. A chance for the band to reflect on the past but to the future too and all wrapped up in the upbeat drum ryhthm form Mark and the big Bruce guitar riff and of course the huge chorus built for audience participation.

Small Town Boys starts on Bruce's melodic guitar solo before ripping off The Who in Jim's keyboard intro just have a listen and you will hear it. Mark's drum cracks along side Mark's rumbling bass back up and a beautiful build up to another chorus of quality. I love the couple of song slow ups which then means when the full band kick in its hits even harder and Bruce's guitar solo is short but fiery and he adds more melodic guitar soloing whilst battling the horns in the outro.

You Want Love I believe features Doris Brendel on duel vocals with Toby and from the sounds of it recorded in one take live in the studio with again a vibrancy and urgency to it that shows off the bad interplay and Mike's production skills perfectly. Trading line for line in the verse and pre chorus before joining seamlessly in the chorus and add to that Jim's honky tonk keys under Bruce's guitar soloing mid song. It rattles along breathlessly and more trading of vocals in the outro with Bruce soloing and horns too and a big ending from everyone. Wow !!

Raised To The Ground has a stop start guitar riff and more pace and rock n roll at its finest as the horns fill in the gaps in the chorus cleverly and before you know it the ep is done.

Littel Angels have across 5 tracks managed to pull off the task of being themselves like the single said That Was Then This Is Now across the 32 year gap and make the music they were known for but also pushing onto new ears and eyes like they have never been away. 

Superb and the live dates listed below can't come quick enough.

Big Bad & Back EP is released on 9th November 2026 and is available to 

Pre-Save EP HERE
Pre-order CD & Vinyl HERE

Picture used with thanks and credited to Ray Burmiston. 

Big Bad & Back Tour – November 2026

Mon 09 Nov – Dublin – Opium
 Tue 10 Nov – Belfast – Limelight
 Thu 12 Nov – Glasgow – O2 Academy
 Fri 13 Nov – Manchester – O2 Ritz (Sold Out)
 Sat 14 Nov – Leeds – O2 Academy (Sold Out)
 Mon 16 Nov – Norwich – UEA
 Tue 17 Nov – Newcastle – O2 City Hall
 Thu 19 Nov – Oxford – O2 Academy
 Fri 20 Nov – Nottingham – Rock City (Sold Out)
 Sat 21 Nov – Wolverhampton – KK’s Steel Mill (Sold Out)
 Mon 23 Nov – Cardiff – Depot
 Tue 24 Nov – Liverpool – O2 Academy
 Thu 26 Nov – Bristol – O2 Academy
 Fri 27 Nov – Bournemouth – O2 Academy
 Sat 28 Nov – London – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (Sold Out)
 Sun 29 Nov – London – O2 Forum Kentish Town

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