Frontiers [release date 09.07.21]
Laurenne/Louhimo’s The Reckoning is an interesting new release from Frontiers. A musical “lockdown made me do it” marriage of Smackbound’s Netta Laurenne and Battle Beast’s Noora Louhimo.
They’ve written a dozen or so Symphonic Rock songs with Netta’s husband, Nino (Thunderstone supremo/ guitarist/ songwriter), who’s also produced. He’s a musician who emphasises rhythm and propulsion in his music. And that’s the perfect setting for Netta and Noora’s lacerating lyrics.
Much of the material moves away from the kind of auditory spectacle you expect from the genre, and moves closer to a more thematic sense of rock . . . many of the tracks here are fierce expressions of feminism. ‘Tongue Of Dirt’ is harder, grittier than the surrounding material. “That’s how sweet revenge is to me” wails Laurenne as her scorched vocals breathe fire on the man (or perhaps woman) who did her wrong. She further ramps up the rhetoric with ‘Bitch Fire’s scalding hot lyrics, “life belongs to those who burn with pain”. Phew… best check yourself for bruises when these two are over.
L/L go on to surround the hardcore narrative of these key songs with aurally adhesive hooks and vertiginous choruses. Some have slick veneer of grandeur, (Striking Like Thunder, Vipers Kiss), and many aspire to symphonic metal/stadium rock greatness, (The Reckoning, Time To Kill The Night). But one in particular stands out because it cuts hard against the grain of the material on either side.
You could accuse ‘Hurricane Love’ of being an Alicia Keys or a Norah Jones pocket piano concerto, but you could never accuse it of being symphonic metal. Lyrical, lush and sentimental, it’s an absolute peach that should be released to radio. Success in the straight world beckons. ****
Review by Brian McGowan
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 6 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 8 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”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
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
IZZY REIGN Spooky Scary Skeletons (FiXT)
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)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
