Album review: NIGHTINGALE – Retribution

November 2nd, 2014 by jason

Inside Out [Released 10.11.14]

Nightingale is centred around Dan Swano, who has worked with many artists including Opeth. This is the band’s seventh album and their first since 2007 and I must admit to not having heard anything by them before hearing this album.

The music is a grand mix of melodic rock, classic 70’s rock, prog metal and neo-classical prog beloved of bands like IQ and Credo. It is an interesting mix, take opener ‘On Stolen Wings’ where Dan Swano’s vocal has the gruff edge of say Russell Allen on the verses before a much more softer vocal on the choruses. The song is one of the best I have heard this year and I am sure it would prove a hit with fellow melodic rock lovers if they got to hear it.

Elsewhere we have the gentle refrains of ‘Divided I Fall’ and ‘Forevermore’, a song that cleverly mixes prog synths and a hard rock backing. Dan Swano certainly has the voice ideally suited to the music on the album. The lyrical subjects covered are also a rare old mix from a tale of a vampire through to a religious cult and the mystery of rock stars passing away aged 27.

Having no pre-conceived ideas of what to expect I really enjoyed this album and like last year’s albums by Sound of Contact and Haken, this album has the appeal not only to prog rock fans but to a wide rock audience. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)