Monthly Archives: May 2015

News: JOHN LODGE interview and Part 2 of SONJA KRISTINA feature, Sunday 31 May 2015

John Lodge

Photo: Ricky Redman Get Ready to ROCK! Radio features two recent interviews on Sunday 31 May. Moody Blues bassist and songwriter John Lodge has recently released his first solo album for 38 years. “10,000 Light Years Ago’ was released on … Continue reading

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Album review: KLOGR – Make Your Stand

KLOGR – Make Your Stand EP

Zeta Factory [Release date 27.05.15] When is an EP not an EP? In the case of this one it’s the addition of a 10 track live album that pushes it into album territory and makes this release a good value … Continue reading

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Album review: NELSON – Peace Out

NELSON - Peace Out

Frontiers Records [Release Date 15.05.15] I was beginning to wonder if Nelson’s excellent comeback album Lightning Strikes Twice was also to be their swansong as a recording entity, but nearly five years on the immaculately coiffed twins are back with … Continue reading

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Album review: RICHARD THOMPSON – Still

RICHARD THOMPSON - Still

Proper Records [Release date 29.06.15] Following on from last year’s enjoyable ‘Acoustic Classics’ album Richard Thompson is back with another set of new songs. This time he has Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy handling production, who Thompson recruited to shake-up his creative … Continue reading

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Gig review: COAL CHAMBER – ABC, Glasgow, 24 May 2015

COAL CHAMBER – ABC, Glasgow, 24 May 2015

When Coal Chamber announced their reformation back in 2011 after eight years apart I did wonder at the time if there was any value in reanimating this particular rock corpse? Back in the day they were one of the bands … Continue reading

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Rock stars: ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN (The Gentle Storm) – interview, April 2015

ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN

Polite, talkative, pleasant, full of positive energy…Anneke van Giersbergen is what most music journalists would describe as the perfect interviewee. Her passion for the music she’s involved in is such that getting her to talk about “The Diary”, her latest … Continue reading

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Gig review: VOIVOD – The Underworld, Camden, London, 20 May 2015

VOIVOD – The Underworld, Camden, London 20 May 2015

Support Acts: Krokodil, Desert Storm There are two types of bands in this world; those that you can do without and those that you cannot have enough of. Canadian Prog Thrashers Voivod do not simply fall onto the latter category … Continue reading

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Gig review: FLOTSAM & JETSAM – The Underworld, Camden, London, 18 May 2015

Support Acts: Bliksem, Desolator Monday evening gigs are events that I normally like the plague but, then again, it is not very often that you have a band like Flotsam and Jetsam visiting London for a show – especially one … Continue reading

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Album review: TARJA – Luna Park Ride

TARJA - Lune Park Ride

earMUSIC [Released 01.06.15] Earmusic certainly keep Tarja Turunen’s name in the limelight, even if she is between new albums, releasing the live ‘Beauty and the Beast’ last year and now this new live album, recorded at  Buenos Aires’ Luna Park … Continue reading

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News: KINGDOM COME, HRH AOR, QUEEN – Friday 22nd May 2015

Nightranger - HRH AOR - Pwllheli, Wales, 14 March 2015 (Day 2)

Kingdom Come’s planned reunion of the original line-up failed to materialize, however original members Lenny Wolf (vocals), Danny Stag (guitar) and Johnny B. Frank (bass) are back. They are joined by drummer Hendrik Thiesbrummel. First live dates have been announced … Continue reading

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News: CHRIS SQUIRE, WARREN HAYNES, SEPULTURA – Tuesday 19th May 2015

Royal Hunt have launched a Pledge music campaign for their next album. They also have a new drummer Andreas “Habo” Johansson. Bullet For My Valentine release their new album ‘Venom’ on August 14th. Warren Haynes (Govt. Mule) releases his new … Continue reading

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Album review: LIFEHOUSE – Out Of The Wasteland plus interview

LIFEHOUSE - Out Of The Wasteland

Ironworks [Release date 22.06.15] Lifehouse have sold over 15m. albums worldwide with considerable success in their native US, yet they remain relatively unknown here in the UK.  This album sees the band on a new record label and back after … Continue reading

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Gig review: INGLORIOUS – The Hippodrome, London, 13 May 2015

INGLORIOUS- The Hippodrome, London, 13 May 2015

Singer Nathan James has been building a big reputation for himself on the quiet-  he was a contestant in reality TV show Superstar, which I am sure GRTR readers had better things to do than to watch, but rock is … Continue reading

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DVD review: LEVELLERS – A Curious Life

LEVELLERS - A Curious Life

OTF Recordings [Release date 27.04.15] This film tells the story of the Levellers through the perspective of the band’s bass player Jeremy Cunningham. The film is directed by Dunstan Bunce, former frontman of Chumbawamba. His parents are the unlikely stars … Continue reading

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Album review: EMERALD SUN – Metal Dome

EMERALD SUN – Metal Dome

Fastball Music [Release date 22.05.15] Emerald Sun hail from Thessaloniki in Greece and I can’t help but think that if the Greek economy was as healthy as their metal scene then the Eurozone might be getting handouts from Athens! Melodic … Continue reading

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News: JEAN MICHEL JARRE, KOBRA & THE LOTUS, ERIC CLAPTON – Sunday 18th May 2015

Thea Gilmore - Telford

Eric Clapton charts at no.8 in the UK album charts this week. Leonard Cohen debuts at no.18, Thea Gilmore at no.39 and Magnum’s live album charts at no.91. Jean Michel Jarre and Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream) have been working on … Continue reading

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Album review: DENDERA – Pillars Of Creation

DENDERA – Pillars Of Creation

Metalbox Recordings [Release date 18.06.15] Dendera are a band I first encountered as support to Gloryhammer in Glasgow and I came away from that night highly impressed at the band’s energy and musicianship. After that night I sought out the … Continue reading

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Quick plays: THE GRISWOLDS, MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY, THE UGLY GUYS, LOTTA LENE

THE GRISWOLDS - Be Impressive

THE GRISWOLDS – Be Impressive Wind Up Records www.wearethegriswolds.com [Release date 25.05.15] Australian four piece the Griswolds (named after the family in National Lampoon’s Family Vacation) are one for those who like a little bit of synth led indie pop. … Continue reading

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Album review: GRAHAM PARKER AND THE RUMOUR – Mystery Glue

GRAHAM PARKER AND THE RUMOUR – Mystery Glue

Cadet Concept [Release date 18.05.15] You wait 30 years for a Graham Parker and The Rumour album and then two come along together. Well almost.  Reforming the original line up a couple of years ago for ‘Three Chords Good’ after … Continue reading

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Album review: CAIN’S OFFERING – Stormcrow

CAIN’S OFFERING – Stormcrow

Frontiers Records [Release date 15.05.15] Cain’s Offering are a Finnish power metal super-group of sorts and “Stormcrow” is actually their second studio album following on from “Gather The Faithful” that was released back in 2009. The brains behind the band … Continue reading

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Album review: A LIGHT DIVIDED – Mirrors

A LIGHT DIVIDED - Mirrors

A Light Divided is a band out of Winston-Salem, NC and hopefully will (and rightfully should) be a name that will become synonymous with their incredible music. Typically speaking, this isn’t a band that I would stylistically jive with. Not … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLUES PILLS – Islington Academy, London, 22 April 2015

BLUES PILLS - Islington Academy, London, 22 April 2015

The latest in the seemingly endless line of classic rock revivalists, a big buzz has emerged around Blues Pills. In their short career they have topped many end of year polls, including being GRTR!’s own tip for 2015. Then on … Continue reading

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Album review: AGNOSTIC FRONT – The American Dream Died

Nuclear Blast – Out Now. Passion, power, honesty, integrity…these are all words which have characterised the attitude and ethos of the New York based Hardcore quintet Agnostic Front since that fateful day in early 1980, when guitarist Vinnie Stigma decided … Continue reading

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Gig review: URIAH HEEP – Old Market, Brighton, 8 May 2015

Uriah Heep - The Old Market, Brighton, 10 May 2015

An incredible 45 years after their debut album, Uriah Heep could be gently coasting towards retirement, but on this evidence the band who on their debut professed to be ‘very ‘eavy and very humble’ are rocking harder than ever. This … Continue reading

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Album review: JOSH TAERK – Here’s To Change

Josh Taerk

Misty Creek Records [Release date 20.07.15] Josh Taerk is back with his second album, after good reviews for his 2013 debut album. This time he has upped the ante by recording in Nashville, joined by bassist Park Chisholm and drummer … Continue reading

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