Yearly Archives: 2015

Gig review: LORDI – Manchester Club Academy, 26 March 2015

Posted on April 7, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
LORDI - Manchester Club Academy, 26 March 2015

When I heard that the mighty Lordi were to play Manchester Academy I was expecting it to be in room 1 or 2 due to their extravagant stage show of theatrical props and pyrotechnics and not in the Club Academy … Continue reading →

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Gig review: HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, BONAFIDE – Live Rooms, Chester, 19 March 2015

Posted on April 7, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
Hardcore Superstar - Live Rooms, Chester, 19 March 2015

By the time Oceans Black hit the rather cramped stage there is a reasonable crowd to see what turns out to be an excellent set from this relatively new band.  Although only formed back in 2014 they have been honing … Continue reading →

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Quick Plays: NINE BLACK ALPS, EDENIAL

Posted on April 6, 2015 by david.wilson

Album review: NINE BLACK ALPS – Live From The Wishing Well         Hatch Records (Release date 04.05.15) After 12 years and 5 studio albums, UK Grunge rock exponents Nine Black Alps are about to release their first … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: 23 ACEZ, LEFT FOR RED

Posted on April 6, 2015 by david.wilson

Album review: 23 ACEZ – Redemption Wave         Mighty Music (Release date 12.01.15) A bit of Belgian rock in the shape of 23 Acez who have been together since 2010. Formed by Benny Willaert the four piece … Continue reading →

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News: FRANK ZAPPA, FFS, YES – Monday 6 April 2015

Posted on April 6, 2015 by jason

The Radio Sun have titled their upcoming album ‘Heaven Or Heartbreak’ and it is produced by Paul Laine of Danger Danger fame. Johnny Solinger has left Skid Row and former TNT vocalist Tony Harnell has replaced him. Mike Oldfield releases … Continue reading →

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Gig review: DAN REED AND DANNY VAUGHN – Camden Underworld, London, 31 March 2015

Posted on April 6, 2015 by andynathan
DAN REED AND DANNY VAUGHN - Camden Underworld, London, 31 March 2015

Danny Vaughn and Dan Reed share a lot in common. Leaders of critically acclaimed bands at the turn of the decade (Tyketto and Dan Reed Network) who never quite had the mainstream success they deserved. People who quit the music … Continue reading →

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Album review: JOHN POWER – The Complete Studio Recordings 2002-2015 (Box set)

Posted on April 5, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
JOHN POWER - The Complete Studio Recordings 2002-2015 (Box set)

Edsel Records [Release date 27.04.15] Having released all four Cast albums in ‘deluxe’ format, Edsel have now turned to the solo work of The La’s and Cast frontman John Power.  The Complete Sessions brigdes his 3 releases between 2003 and … Continue reading →

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Album review: NIGHTWISH – Endless Forms Most Beautiful

Posted on April 5, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
NIGHTWISH - Endless Forms Most Beautiful

Nuclear Blast [Release date 30.01.15] Delain’s April Rain (2009) was my introduction to symphonic rock/metal, and Within Temptation The Unforgiving (2011) completed my education.  I’ve subsequently discovered that a little ‘symph’ goes a long, long way.  Metal meets Eurovision is … Continue reading →

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Album review: KARNATAKA – Secrets Of Angels

Posted on April 5, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
KARNATAKA - Secrets Of Angels

Immrama [Release date 30.03.15] To be blunt, the first impressions of Secrets Of Angels – played live at Bury Met in February – weren’t great.  The band blamed the venue and the lack of an adequate sound check, but as … Continue reading →

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Gig review: PAT MCMANUS BAND – The Rock Den, Hatfield, 28 March 2015

Posted on April 5, 2015 by andynathan

It takes a brave man to promote live gigs in the current climate with so many other demands on people’s time, and particularly so within commuting distance of the bright lights of London and its established scene. So hats off … Continue reading →

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Album review: TODD RUNDGREN – Global

Posted on April 4, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
TODD RUNDGREN - Global

Esoteric Antenna [Release date 13.04.15] I think it’s fair to say that with the release of a new Todd Rundgren album no-one – not even his hardcore fans – quite know what to expect. In the case of ‘Global’ Rundgren … Continue reading →

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Gig review: THE ENID – Union Chapel, London, 31 March 2015

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Davoski

Union chapel is already brim full of fans sat on the lines of wooden pews, making polite conversation when I arrive half an hour before the gig. Such is the anticipation of The Enid’s dedicated crowd of followers. I only … Continue reading →

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News: DEBORAH BONHAM and KIKI DEE interview features – Sunday 5 April 2015

Posted on April 2, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
Deborah Bonham - Giants Of Rock, February 2015

Kiki Dee, The Eclectic Mix, Sunday 5 April, 16:00 GMT Deborah Bonham, Favourite Tracks from Favourite Artists, Sunday 5 April, 22:00 GMT Two ladies of pop/rock are featured on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 5 April. David Randall … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: CHITRAL SOMAPALA, MARK SLAUGHTER

Posted on April 2, 2015 by jason

CHITRAL SOMAPALA – Sinhabumi [Release date 23.01.15] Chitral Somapala is a big name in his home nation of Sri Lanka and on this album he sings in his native language. Rock fans will know him from his time in Power … Continue reading →

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Album review: LAURENCE JONES – What’s It Gonna Be

Posted on April 1, 2015 by petefeenstra
LAURENCE JONES – What

Ruf  [Release date 13.04.15] Laurence answers his own question on ‘What’s It Gonna Be’ by filling his own blank canvas with heartfelt, meaningful songs fleshed out with an impressive variety of harmony vocals, burning solos and tight ensemble playing that … Continue reading →

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Album review: KARIBOW – Addicted

Posted on April 1, 2015 by alanjones
Karibow - Addicted

Rock Werk Records   [Release date: 26 October 2014] Hailing from Germany, Karibow is the brainchild – and, as far as I can make out, the sole preserve of – Oliver Rüsing, an exceptional multi-instrumentalist – who, again as far … Continue reading →

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Album review: ANNABELLE CHVOSTEK – Be The Media

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
ANABELLE CHVOSTEK - Be The Media

Those expecting a folk roots album from former Wailin’ Jenny singer songwriter Annabelle Chvostek can think again. After releasing two albums on Canada’s most foremost folk label Chvostek has gone back to her independent roots, picking up a 1957 Kay … Continue reading →

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Album review: PISTOLS & VULTURES – Seven

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
PISTOLS & VULTURES - Seven

It’s rare that a PR blurb says so little, and it takes some digging to discover that Pistols & Vultures are an Ipswich/Colchester based ‘alternative’ rock band formed in 2009 whilst Carnell Cook: (vocals), Alex Green (guitars, bass, percussion and … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE PRETENDERS – Reissues (Box set)

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
Pretenders

Edsel [Release date 16.02.15] ‘Icon’ is an overused word in the entertainment industry.  But not so in the case of Chrissie Hynde the driving force behind, and in all but name, The Pretenders – one of the most successful bands … Continue reading →

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Interview: TOMMY DENANDER

Posted on March 31, 2015 by jason

Guitarist/songwriter/producer Tommy Denander is a busy man with Radioactive about to release their first new album in over ten years ‘F4ur’ on Escape Music. This features a stellar cast of melodic rock vocalists including the late, great Jimi Jamison, Jeff … Continue reading →

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Album review: LESOIR – Luctor Et Emergo

Posted on March 30, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
LESOIR - Luctor Et Emergo

The PR blurb for their latest release would have you believe Transience received rave reviews beyond their homeland.  If that’s true, they’re well hidden from Google’s search engine. The sessions for Luctor Et Emergo sees the band (Maartje Meessen – … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY, DANNY SCHMIDT

Posted on March 30, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY One

NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY One You might well ask why GRTR! is reviewing a Celtic / Breton fiddle album? And it would be a reasonable question to ask.  But there are ‘rock’ connections.  Firstly, one half of the main … Continue reading →

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Gig review – THE BLACKOUT – The Garage, Glasgow, 26 March 2015

Posted on March 30, 2015 by david.wilson
THE BLACKOUT – The Garage, Glasgow, 26 March 2015

The music business is a fickle world. A couple of years ago I had a chat pre-gig in Edinburgh with Gavin Butler about the band’s then new release, the album ‘Start The Party’, and the band’s upcoming festival dates at … Continue reading →

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Gig review: THE WHO – 02 Arena, London, 22 March 2015

Posted on March 30, 2015 by andynathan
THE WHO - 02 Arena, London, 22 March 2015

The Who may have at least half failed in their mission statement to die before they got old, but a 50th anniversary is an extraordinary achievement. So it is a good moment to reflect on what a seminal band they … Continue reading →

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Gig review: EUROPE, BLACK STAR RIDERS – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 20 March 2015

Posted on March 30, 2015 by andynathan
BLACK STAR RIDERS - Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 20 March 2015

A co-headlining double bill of two of classic rock’s most currently prolific touring bands, both with new albums to promote, sounds like a value package made in heaven. However there were grumbles earlier on the Black Star Riders and Europe … Continue reading →

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