Yearly Archives: 2020

Album review: BONFIRE – Fistful Of Fire

Posted on April 7, 2020 by jason

AFM Records (Released 03/04/20) Worried that we’ve grown weary of the ten rock songs and a ballad format, Bonfire throw in a few (3 in fact) short instrumentals to punctuate the band’s well established sonic signature, on this, their 17th … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged AFM Records, album, Bonfire, Fistful Of Fire, hard rock, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE LOVETONES, JOE EDWARDS, PATSY THOMPSON

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

THE LOVETONES Myriad Cleopatra Records [Release date 28.02.20] I can’t say I’m familiar with The Lovetones – an Aussie indie psychedelic rock band previously active between 2002 and 2010. But main man Matthew J Tow’s song writing has been compared … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, country, Fabulous Day, Joe Edwards, Keep On Running, Myriad, Patsy Thompson, pop rock, psychedelic, review, rock, roots, singer, songwrityer, The Lovetones | Leave a comment

Album review: MISSING PERSONS featuring Dale Bozzio – Dreaming

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 20.03.20] A ‘household name’ back in the early days of MTV – as lead singer of Missing Persons – Dale Bozzio is said to have influenced Lady Gaga via Madonna. Also known for her work with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Dale Bozzio, Dreaming, electronica, Missing Persons, review, synth, synth pop | Leave a comment

Album review: ROB COTTINGHAM – Back Behind The Orchard Tree

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 03.04.19] You have to hand it to Rob Cottingham. He doesn’t like to sit idle, and this re-working of the Touchstone/Cairo founder’s debut solo album has been on his bucket list for some time. Having learnt a shed … Continue reading →

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Album review: COMPASS – Our Time On Earth

Posted on April 6, 2020 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 24.04.20] The Compass story began back in December 2017 when singer songwriter Steve Newman decided to write a few songs that musically would step outside the barriers imposed by many years writing for his own band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Compass, Escape Music, melodic rock, Our Time On Earth, prog rock, review, Steve Newman | Leave a comment

Album review: WOLFHEART – Wolves Of Karelia

Posted on April 6, 2020 by david.wilson

Napalm Records [10.04.20] Finnish metallers Wolfheart master in something called ‘Winter Metal’ which appears to be a cross between fast and furious death metal and the wide soundscapes of Sigur Ros. It is a mix which works amazingly well and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Finland, Finnish, metal, review, rock, SIGUR RÓS, winter metal, Wolfheart, Wolves Of Karelia | Leave a comment

EP Review: BOMBS OF HADES – Phantom Bell

Posted on April 6, 2020 by david.wilson

Black Lodge [Release date 17.04.20] Bombs Of Hades originally formed back in 2002 to party and play Crusty Death Metal (a new genre on me!) and have over the years released several albums and EP’s whilst honing their sound. This … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Bombs Of Hades, Death Metal, EP, Lemmy, metal, Motorhead, Orgasmatron, Phantom Bell, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DICTATOR SHIP – Your Favourites

Posted on April 6, 2020 by david.wilson

The Sign Records [Release date 17.04.20] This is the debut album from Swedish rockers Dictator Ship and over the course of 27 minutes the guys set out to entertain with retro rock from a bygone age. The band have produced … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, CD, Dictator Ship, Elton John, Jimi Hendrix, Kiss, My Favourites, pop, review, rock | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to WISHBONE ASH

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

WISHBONE ASH - The Tivoli, Buckley, 3 November 2018

GRTR!’s melodic rock maestro Andy Nathan charts the progress of Wishbone Ash, currently celebrating their 50th anniversary Wishbone Ash may have a criminally low profile in the wider world, but there aren’t many bands that can boast both a history … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged albums, Andy Powell, classic rock, feature, introduction, Laurie Wisefield, Martin Turner, Steve Upton, Ted Turner, Wishbone Ash | 1 Comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to COZY POWELL

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Joe Geesin recalls Cozy Powell’s long career, the key albums, and a friendship with one of rock’s finest drummers Colin Flooks, better known as Cozy Powell, was a renowned rock drummer who, like many, lived like he played – hard … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Black Sabbath, classic rock, Cozy Powell, discography, drummer, drums, feature, hard rock, introduction, Rainbow, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: ZON – Astral Projector/ORPHAN – Salute

Posted on April 5, 2020 by jason

Rock Candy [Release date 20.03.20] ZON – Astral Projector + 4 The band members’ post Zon experiences are arguably more colourful than their brief, 2 album grab at fame and fortune. And yet, the 1978 debut, “Astral Projector” promised so … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Reissues | Tagged album, AOR, Astral Projector, melodic rock, Orphan, pomp rock, re-issue, review, Rock Candy, Salute, Zon | Leave a comment

News: Singer songwriter JOSH TAERK plays live for Get Ready to ROCK! (Sunday 5 April, 21:00 BST, GMT+1)

Posted on April 3, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Canadian singer songwriter Josh Taerk plays an exclusive live session via Get Ready to ROCK!’s Facebook page on Sunday 5 April at 21:00 BST (GMT+1) Josh was born in Toronto, Canada. He is an official Recording Academy/Grammy Member and his … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS, Video | Tagged acoustic, Facebook, gig, Josh Taerk, live, pop, rock, session, singer, songwriter, Sunday 5 April 2020, video | Leave a comment

Album review: KHYMERA – Master Of Illusions

Posted on April 3, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 06.03.20] Album number five from Khymera, who started out as an alliance between Italian producer & musician Daniele Liverani and then Kansas singer Steve Walsh. Khymera has since developed into a regular musical project when bassist and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Dennis Ward, Eric Ragno, Frontiers, hard rock, Journey, Khymera, Magnum, Master Of Illusion, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: BLAZE BAYLEY – Live In Czech

Posted on April 2, 2020 by david.wilson

Blaze Bayley Recordings [03.04.20] Blaze Bayley is one of rock and metal’s true survivors. Having been plucked from the excellent Wolfsbane to front Iron Maiden following Bruce Dickinson’s departure in 1994, he was then unceremoniously dumped by the band five … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged Absolva, album, Blaze Bayley, Brno, CD, Christopher Appleton, Iron Maiden, Live In Czech, Man On The Edge, metal, rock, Silicon Messiah, The Clansman, Wolfsbane | Leave a comment

Album review: BUFFALO SUMMER – Desolation Blue

Posted on April 2, 2020 by david.wilson

Silver Lining Records [Release date 27.03.20] This is the third album from Buffalo Summer and rather good it is too. The Welsh wonders have been playing up and down the country and every festival they can get with a decent … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Andrew Hunt, blues, Buffalo Summer, Desolation Blue, Jonny Williams, review, rock, Silver lining records, THE DOORS, Wales | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect: An introduction to FOCUS

Posted on April 1, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Focus - GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 27 January 2019

David Randall developed the groundbreaking website Akkernet in 1996 during the Internet’s infancy and went on to manage several UK tours for Jan Akkerman before writing the original biography published in 2003. Here he recalls Focus and the key recordings. … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Bert Ruiter, Dutch, feature, Focus, Holland, introduction, Jan Akkerman, Pierre van der Linden, prog, Progressive Rock, Thijs van Leer | Leave a comment

Album review: JOE SATRIANI – Shapeshifting

Posted on April 1, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Sony Music [Release date 10.04.20] We’ve always commented on the energy displayed by Satriani not least sustained during a two hour live show. Recent albums have been pretty convincing too. That energy permeates this latest offering and will surely translate … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, hard rock, heavy rock, instrumental, Joe Satriani, metal, review, Shapeshifting | Leave a comment

Single reviews: BAD TOUCH, DEEP PURPLE, VEGA

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jason

BAD TOUCH – Strut Norfolk’s favourite retro rockers are back with this delicious little slab of bluesy classic rock. Perfectly titled, the track rolls along, boasting some really great little classic 70’s and 80’s touches and is the most mature … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alternative, Bad Touch, classic rock, Deep Purple, melodic rock, reviews, rock, singles, Vega | Leave a comment

Album review: LEGION – Redemption

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jason

Rock Company [Release date 18.03.20] Amazingly this is Legion’s eleventh studio album since forming back in 2010. The band’s line-up has also stayed pretty consistent with vocalist Phil Vincent and guitarist Vince O’Regan joined by bassist Gavin Cooper, drummer Any … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, hard rock, Legion, melodic metal, metal, Phil Vincent, Redemption, review, Vince O'Regan | Leave a comment

News: QUEEN, MARILLION, HELLOWEEN, DEVIN TOWNSEND (April 2020)

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jason

MARILLION - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 4 November 2019

Hawklords release a new live album ‘Hawklords Alive’ on May 29. Marillion have started work on a new album during the current lockdown and are posting regular updates on their social media. Pattern-Seeking Animals (who feature current and former members … Continue reading →