CITIZEN Life In Your Glass World Run For Cover Records [Release date 26.03.21]

Formed in 2009, Citizen – vocalist Mat Kerekes, guitarist Nick Hamm, and bassist Eric Hamm – return after almost 4 years away with their new album, ‘Life In Your Glass World’. The reaction to news of the album gained over 14,000 likes on Instagram and 1,300 Retweets in the first day alone.

The band say they wanted the record to feel like an exorcism of pent-up negative feelings, something even more prevalent in the world currently.

Citizen hit the mark when they show their alt pop side like on ‘Blue Sunday’ or the dance beat driven ‘Fight Beat’. ‘Winter Buds’ is another fine tune, slow and introspective. A tune perfect for that mid-set comedown.

Their fans will welcome their return as already witnessed on the reaction on social media. Also there are a few stand outs on here for the casual listener to get into. ***

Review by Jason Ritchie

NAD SYLVAN Spiritus Mundi Inside Out [Release date 09.04.21]

After concluding work on a series of solo albums known as the Vampirate trilogy, Nad Sylvan’s latest album is based on the poems of WB Yeats, setting the poems to music and adpating the featured poems themes.

The album sees him collaborating extensively again with Andrew Laitres who worked on Nad’s 2019 album, ‘The Regal Bastard’.

Marking a shift from previous outings, the album focuses primarily on the lyrics and vocals, which are accompanied by orchestrations. There are still a series of top names from the progressive music world including Tony Levin, Jonas Reingold, Mirkko DeMaio (The Flower Kings), and Steve Hackett.

The lead single ‘The Second Coming’ is a good indicator of the lyrics and vocals taking the spotlight, as is the beautiful vocal arrangements on ‘The Hawk’. The latter possibly a strong contender for a future single release.

‘The Witch and the Mermaid’ and ‘The Fisherman’ both have folk elements, again marking a shift away from the sound on previous albums.

An album that will grow after repeated plays, from an artist who does live up to the prog tag, in that he pushes himself musically and lyrically on each album he makes. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

ESCAPE Fire In The Sky AOR Heaven [Release date 30.04.21]

UK AOR/melodic rock band Escape are back with their third studio album, after a lengthy break. All of the tracks on the album are taken from previous Vince O’Regan (Bob Catley, Legion, Arabia) releases, however, all of these songs have been reworked and refreshed.

The Escape line-up is also new, bar founding member Vince O’Regan, who is joined by Graham Beales (vocals) Irvin Parratt (keyboards, vocals), Pete Betts (bass, vocals) and Bob Pears (drums). Parratt has worked with O’Regan previously in Legion, Arabia and as part of Bob Catley’s band. Indeed, all of the band form part of a Magnum tribute band, Storyteller’s Night, something that comes through on the music, especially a song like ‘Restless Heart’ with its distinctive Magnum feel.

The epic ‘Fire In The Sky’ does slightly outstay its welcome, which is a shame as the first half of the song is very strong – acoustic guitars, gentle keys/rhythm and an emphasis on the vocals. The extended guitar soloing on the second half distracts from the song’s overall appeal.

Two tracks on this album are from Bob Catley’s 2006 solo album ‘Spirit Of Man’ album. They are ‘Blinded By A Lie’ and ‘Walk On Water’, both of which still sound good all these years later. Graham Beales would make a good stand in for Bob Catley should he ever fancy a night off Magnum!

Nicely played and produced, just lacks those killer songs to make it a ‘must listen/have’. Still, be interesting to see how this line-up develops once they start to write their own songs together. ***

Review by Jason Ritchie

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.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

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 7 April 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 2 April 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)

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