Single reviews: STORMZONE, BRANTLEY GILBERT, GIRL SKIN, LUCA BASELE

June 7th, 2020 by jason

STORMZONE Tolling Of The Bell Metalapolis Records [Release date 05.06.20]

Blimey, album number seven ‘Ignite The Machine’ from StormZone is released by Metalapolis Records on July 31. Before that we have this new single, a six minute trad metal feast featuring the powerful and distinctive vocals from John “Harv” Harbinson, plus cracking guitar playing from Steve Moore and Dave Shields.

StormZone have been around since 2007 and based on this song their upcoming album should be an aural treat.

BRANTLEY GILBERT Hard Days

The current coronavirus pandemic is producing two types of song, those which express the anger and fear, whilst others, such as ‘Hard Days’, take a more uplifting route. As Gilbert himself says – “‘Hard Days’ is about finding and acknowledging hope in the midst of turmoil and taking the good with the bad. I look back on some of the harder times in my life and think about where things are now, and I’m thankful for the bad that led to the good.”

He has that authentic country drawl in his singing and this a darn good tune. You can see why he has had such success, including number one country albums, in the US.

GIRL SKIN Forever & Always

Lifted from Girl Skin’s debut album ‘Shade Is On The Other Side’, this is a lovely mix of dreamy pop a la the Thorns and the Beatles. The vocal arrangements on the final part of the song are simply divine. What a great song and certainly succeeds in wanting you to hear more from the band.

THE NYCHILLHARMONIC Mean [Release date 08.06.20]

The NYChillharmonic is a female fronted, 18-piece, progressive-rock orchestra based in Brooklyn, NY. Their music covers multiple genres including rock, pop, and jazz. It is certainly an eclectic mix, one minute jazzing it up, then switching to a heavy guitar part and all through there are the melodic female vocals. One for prog fans and imagine the NYChillharmonic working with Dev Townsend – nice!

LUCA BASELE Gea [Release date 25.05.20]

Luca Basile is an Italian cellist, arranger and composer who plays with the symphonic metal band Elegy of Madness. He also plays and tours with symphony orchestras, with a passion for cinematic and classical based music, which led to him recording and releasing this single. GEA is Mother Nature and this piece is inspired by the current pandemic and lockdown. Do watch the video as you listen to the music as both complement each other. Impressive.

Reviews by Jason Ritchie

THE ANGELS Under The Stone

The original Aussie hellraisers are back and it’s a very welcome return with this slice of slamming boogie. Built for the sort of rough edged bars that the band and fellow scrappers AC/DC and Rose Tattoo cut (and broke) their teeth in, ‘Under the Stone’ gives off a heads down, lager-fuelled party vibe that will have you grinning from ear to ear from the opening riff. Melody perfectly balances with power and points to just why the band are so revered not just in their homeland but globally.

If you’ve not heard them before then this is a great excuse to catch up with one of the best Australian exports since the full length motion picture (‘The Story of the Kelly Gang’ in 1906 trivia fans) and a chance to delight in their Guns ‘n’ Roses inspiring down and dirty rock ‘n’ roll. As hungry as ever, The Angels are most definitely leaders of the pack.

Review by Paul Monkhouse

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 20 October 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 22 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”
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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 28 October 2024

THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 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)