Monthly Archives: February 2019

Album review: TOBY HITCHCOCK – Reckoning

Posted on February 28, 2019 by andynathan
TOBY HITCHCOCK - Reckoning

Frontiers [Release Date 25.01.19] Best known as the man who brings Jim Peterik’s songs to life in Pride of Lions, this is Toby Hitchcock’s second solo album. His first way back in 2013 was written by the prolific Erik Martensson … Continue reading →

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Album review: APE SHIFTER – II

Posted on February 28, 2019 by GRTR! HQ
APE SHIFTER - II

Brainstorm Records [Release date 29.03.19] This trio from Germany released their debut in 2017 .  ‘II’ continues the guitar driven hard rock instrumental vibe.  Opener ‘Gravity’ gives a fair impression of the album as a whole, decidedly retro with classic … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, 22 February 2019

Posted on February 26, 2019 by andynathan
BLUE OYSTER CULT - Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, 22 February 2019

After a lull of a decade or so, Blue Oyster Cult have resumed their love affair with the UK in a big way in the past four years. Show stealing supporting appearances at Ramblin’ Man and Stone Free were sandwiched … Continue reading →

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Album review: KINETIC ELEMENT – The Face Of Life

Posted on February 25, 2019 by GRTR! HQ
KINETIC ELEMENT - The Face Of Life

Melodic Revolution Records Great, just what we need – another bunch of old buffers, sorry, I mean proggers, flogging early Genesis/Yes inspired symphonic prog.  The latter, in particular. To be fair, the Richmond, Virginia based band – formed by veteran … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: KRISTINA STYKOS, DANNI NICHOLLS

Posted on February 25, 2019 by GRTR! HQ
KRISTINA STYKOS River Of Light

KRISTINA STYKOS River Of Light Thunder Ridge Records [Release date 05.04.19] With many of the songs delivered in an enforced semi-spoken style (in 2017, she was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a disorder that makes speaking and singing difficult or even … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: MICHAEL McDERMOTT, DANNY SCHMIDT

Posted on February 25, 2019 by GRTR! HQ
MICHAEL McDERMOTT Orphans

MICHAEL McDERMOTT Orphans Pauper Sky Records [Release date 12.04.19] In Orphans, a set of songs that while not making earlier records refused to be left to collect dust, Michael McDermott has come up with perhaps his best album yet – … Continue reading →

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Album review: RUTH NOTMAN & SAM KELLY – Changeable Heart

Posted on February 25, 2019 by jason
RUTH NOTMAN & SAM KELLY – Changeable Heart

Pure Records [Release date 15.03.19] In young folk terms this is a bit of a star studded collaboration, with former BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award finalist Ruth Notman making a return to making music (she took time out to … Continue reading →

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Album review: JEREMY & THE HARLEQUINS – Remember This

Posted on February 25, 2019 by jason
JEREMY & THE HARLEQUINS – Remember This

Yep Roc Records [Release date 01.03.19] Jeremy Fury is the singer and main songwriter in the band, which is completed by guitarists Craig Bon and Patrick Meyer, bassist Bobby Ever and Jeremy’s brother Stevie Fury on drums. They have released … Continue reading →

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Album review: JETBOY – Born To Fly

Posted on February 24, 2019 by jason
JETBOY - Born To Fly

Frontiers [Release date 25.01.19] With their first full album of new material since 1990, “Born To Fly” is a welcome return for Jetboy. The band includes original members Micky Finn on vocals alongside guitarists, and founder members, Fernie Rod and … Continue reading →

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Gig review: THE SHARPEEZ/Deep Blue Sea/Spinout UK – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 22 February 2019

Posted on February 23, 2019 by petefeenstra
The Sharpeez

The 3rd Boom Boom Rocking R&B Festival might not win many prizes for it’s strap  line, but The Sharpeez, Deep Blue Sea and Spinout UK more than make up for that with three engagingly varied and well received sets. All … Continue reading →

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Gig review: STEELY DAN/Steve Winwood – Manchester Arena, 21 February 2019

Posted on February 22, 2019 by GRTR! HQ
STEELY DAN - Manchester Arena, 21 February 2019

Could it be that for the past six years, Steve Winwood has been resting on laurels?  When we last reviewed him – in June 2013 – he was playing pretty much the same set.  With no new album since 2008, … Continue reading →

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Album review: QUIET RIOT – One Night In Milan

Posted on February 21, 2019 by jason
QUIET RIOT - One Night In Milan

Frontiers [Release date 25.01.19] Veteran rock band Quiet Riot are the latest live offering from the Frontiers “One Night In Milan” series. Recorded at the 2018 edition of the annual festival in Milan, hence the title, highlighting the labels roster … Continue reading →

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Single review: GOYA – Prophecie

Posted on February 19, 2019 by jason

  Facebook [Release date 08.03.19] Instrumental progressive rock, eh ? It’s not for everyone and typically not for the Mad Dog. However, having set aside my traditional aversion to both “prog” and “instrumentals” and opened my mind wide enough to … Continue reading →

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Album review: PETER H. NILSSON – Little American Dream

Posted on February 18, 2019 by jason
PETER H. NILSSON – Little American Dream

AOR Heaven [Release date 29.03.19] Swedish guitar player Peter H. Nilsson has been in the music business for many years in different bands in and extensive touring in his native Sweden. He hooked-up with singer Chris Biano (a Nashville based … Continue reading →

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Album review: REESE WYNANS AND FRIENDS – Sweet Release

Posted on February 18, 2019 by petefeenstra
Reese Wynans - Sweet Release

Provogue [Release date 01.03.19] It’s hard to dislike a guest filled covers album that beats with a southern heart, be it Texas rocking blues, white boy soul meets Muscle Shoals, or out and out Southern Rock. But it takes the … Continue reading →

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Album review: AVANTASIA – Moonglow

Posted on February 17, 2019 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 15.02.19] ‘Moonglow’ is the eighth full-length album by Tobias Sammet’s metal opera project Avantasia. As with previous Avantasia’s albums he calls upon an impressive list of guest vocalists including returns for Magnum’s Bob Catley, former Queensryche and … Continue reading →

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Gig review: KING KING/Sari Schorr – Manchester Academy, 15 February 2019

Posted on February 16, 2019 by GRTR! HQ
KING KING - Manchester Academy, 15 February 2019

Is it really 10 years?  King King’s progress over the last decade has been fully chronicled by Get Ready to ROCK! from their tentative blues rock debut album in 2011 to the more mainstream rocking ‘Exile & Grace’.  And, in … Continue reading →

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Album review: TIM BOWNESS – Flowers At The Scene

Posted on February 14, 2019 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 01.03.19] ‘Flowers At The Scene’ is Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson’s first joint production in over a decade – they have been working as a duo under the no-man name since 1987 – although it is … Continue reading →

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Album review: TRAGEDY: ALL METAL TRIBUTE TO THE BEE GEES & BEYOND – Goes To The Movies

Posted on February 14, 2019 by jason

[Release date 11.02.19] Do you remember the Disco/Metal Peace accord of 1977? No me neither, however from this momentous event came the seeds for the founding of Tragedy: All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees & Beyond. Looking like the … Continue reading →

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News: KINGDOM OF MADNESS – Classic Magnum dates in March and radio special

Posted on February 14, 2019 by GRTR! HQ
Mark Stanway

In this extended, exclusive edit Mark Stanway chats about Magnum and Kingdom of Madness (15:45)  A two-part special is broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in February 2019 prior to the tour (see news item for details) The band … Continue reading →

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Album review: TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND – Signs

Posted on February 13, 2019 by petefeenstra
Tedeschi Trucks - Signs

Concord [Release date 15.02.19] ‘Signs’ is the Tedeschi Trucks Band’s 6th album and it finds them unwittingly embracing middle age with mature songs, deep emotion and intricate playing. What it lacks is a sense of equilibrium, as there’s surfeit of … Continue reading →

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EP review: ALEX JAMES BRIERLEY – Home Sweet Home

Posted on February 12, 2019 by jason

Facebook [Release date 22.02.19] Alex James Brierley released his debut EP ‘Listen’ last year to positive reviews, including a four star review from this reviewer. Fast forward a year and we have a new EP, four songs recorded over the … Continue reading →

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Album review: SIMON TODD – Half Empty/Half Full

Posted on February 11, 2019 by petefeenstra
Simon Todd - Half Empty/Half Full

Ginger Tom Music [Release date 21.09.18] Produced by the esteemed songwriter Boo Hewerdine, Northumberland singer/songwriter Simon Todd’s ‘Half Empty/Half Full’ is an aptly titled album that keeps the listener guessing until very end.  The title might be interpreted as a … Continue reading →

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EP review: MIKE DEKLEVA – Psychedelia

Posted on February 9, 2019 by GRTR! HQ
MIKE DEKLEVA - Psychedelia

www. mikedeklevamusic.com [Release date 09.11.18] There are many guitar hero wannabees out there but frequently they fall down due to lack of production values, guitar tone, or craftsmanship.  Mike Dekleva has all these qualities in spades.  Mike who?  Well to … Continue reading →

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Album review: DESIGN – Children Of The Mist – The Best Of

Posted on February 9, 2019 by GRTR! HQ
DESIGN - Children Of The Mist - The Best Of

Market Square Music [Release date 05.04.19] You may well ask: was there a Design flaw?  This six-piece pop harmony group had great exposure in the early-1970s via several major TV shows but they never had a hit single.  Their ultimate … Continue reading →

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