Yearly Archives: 2021

Gig review: BAD TOUCH – O2 Islington Academy, London, 2 December 2021

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Davoski

The gig was in the upstairs portion of Academy, which is more intimate than the main ground floor venue and provided for a vibrant, enthusiastic atmosphere. Something Piston appeared to thrive on. Their short, powerful set was packed with crowd … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 December 2021, Bad Touch, classic rock, gig, Islington Academy, live, Piston, review | Leave a comment

Book review: On Track…ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA by Barry Delve

Posted on December 5, 2021 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 03.12.21] After a highly readable book on Queen a couple of years ago Sonicbond now publish a book based on my other all-time favourite band the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Wisely Barry Delve focusses solely on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Barry Dalve, Bev Bevan, book, classic rock, Electric Light Orchestra - Every Album, ELO, Every Song, Jeff Lynne, melodic, pop, pop rock, review, Roy Wood, Sonicbond Publishing | Leave a comment

EP review: THIRD LUNG – Dialogues Of The Fatal Few

Posted on December 5, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 26.11.21] We enjoyed Reading four piece Third Lung’s 2019 EP ‘Sooner Or Later’ here at Ritchie towers and I was delighted to read they have a new EP out. The EP is a compilation of singles, plus … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, Dialogues Of The Fatal Few, EP, indie, melodic, review, rock, Third Lung | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVID CROSS & ANDREW KEELING – October Is Marigold

Posted on December 4, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Noisy Records [Release date 03.12.21] David Cross releases fine instrumental music via his own Noisy Records imprint. Cross was with King Crimson in the 1970s whilst Keeling has scored new versions of the band’s repertoire. You’d expect that their music … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andrew Keeling, David Cross, Electric Chamber Music Vol.3, flute, instrumental, King Crimson, October Is Marigold, review, violin | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to Christmas (rock) Music

Posted on December 4, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Christmas comes but once a year, and with it the usual mixed bag of toons. But not for us the familiar stylings of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ or ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’. We like to dig deep, a bit like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Alan Davey, album, carols, Christmas, feature, Hawkestrel, Hawkwind, instrumental, Jethro Tull, playlist, review, Rick Wakeman, Thea Gilmore, Thijs van Leer, Xmas | Leave a comment

Album review : STAHLMANN – Quarz

Posted on December 4, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date: 10.12.21] 7th album from German band, Stahlmann. When Rammstein released their first album, in 1995, the German music press coined a new phrase, Neue Deutsch Harte. NDH became a cutting edge calling card for other bands … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Germany, industrial metal, NDH, Neue Deutsch Harte, Rammstein, review, Stahlmann | Leave a comment

Album review: MERCURY X – Imprisoned

Posted on December 4, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date 10.12.21] In straddling the border between Progmetal and Symphonic Rock, Swedish band, Mercury X have staked out a fertile chunk of territory. This is their debut album (excluding two independent releases). It remains to be seen if … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Frontiers, Marillion. Pink Floyd, Mercury X, prog metal, review, Sweden, symphonic rock, The Flower Kings | Leave a comment

News: The Best of 2021 – Get Ready to ROCK! reviewers choose their Top Albums of the Year

Posted on December 3, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

2021 has been another horrendous year for live music, largely silenced by the coronavirus pandemic. In August, live events in the UK started cautiously with several festivals and, with restrictions lifting for smaller venues, some semblance of live music returned … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, The Best of 2021 | Tagged albums, Best of 2021, blues rock, breakthrough acts, classic rock, hard rock, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, reissues, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

EP review: ROLY WITHEROW – Down By The River

Posted on December 2, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 03.12.21] Roly Witherow is a prolific and acclaimed composer in the world of film, theatre and TV. Roly released his debut album ‘Ballads and Yarns’ in 2020, which he now follows-up with this new five-track EP. Roly … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged acoustic, Down By The River, EP. Singer songwriter, folk, review, Richard Thompson, Roly Witherow | Leave a comment

Gig review: FISH – Cambridge Junction, 18 November 2021

Posted on December 2, 2021 by jason

FISH – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 15 December 2017

After four decades, four studio albums with Marillion and eleven solo albums it’s drawing close to Fish winding down a long and storied musical career that has seen the towering Scotsman touch the hearts of countless thousands around the globe. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18 November 2021, Cambridge Junction, Doris Brendel, Fish, gig, John Mitchell, Marillion, prog rock, review, rock, Weltschmerz | Leave a comment

Album review: JAMES WHITE & THE WILD FIRE – Live at Saffron Hall

Posted on December 1, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 19.11.21] James White & The Wild Fire formed in 2020 and musically are a blend of country, bluegrass, indie and Americana, hailing from Saffron Walden, Essex. The group consists of James White (vocals and guitar), Brooke Bond … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, bluegrass, country, folk, folk rock, James White & the Wild Fire, live album, Live at Saffron Hall, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: KIP WINGER – The Black Heart, Camden, London, 27 November 2021

Posted on December 1, 2021 by andynathan

Kip Winger’s acoustic shows in London at the much missed Borderline became the stuff of legend with their mixture of intimate songs and storytelling and fan participation. They even achieved the ultimate accolade of being a numbered series, so this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 27 November 2021, acoustic, Camden, gig, review Kip Winger, Robby Rothschild, The Black Heart, Winger | Leave a comment

Album review: DEEP PURPLE – Turning To Crime

Posted on December 1, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

earMusic [Release date 26.11.21] The rock legends’ 22nd studio album and it comes only a year after the critically acclaimed Whoosh (one of the band’s best albums in their 50+ years). Clearly at a loose end or two during the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Covers, Deep Purple, Don Airey, hard rock, Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, review, Roger Glover, Steve Morse, Turning To Crime | Leave a comment

Album Review: AFTERLIGHT (Thea Gilmore) – Afterlight

Posted on November 30, 2021 by alanjones

Mighty Village Records - [Release date: 01.10.21] What’s a woman to do when the life that you’ve led for over twenty years reveals itself over time to be a stifling, coercive relationship that’s dominated your life and musical career? The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged acoustic, Afterlight, album, review, singer, songwriter, Thea Gilmore | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE DARKNESS – Reading Hexagon, 26 November 2021

Posted on November 30, 2021 by andynathan

Never mind the hysteria that surrounded them in the early 2000’s, proof of how quickly time marches lies in the fact that it now a full ten years since the Darkness triumphantly reformed at Download. Since then they have surprised … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, gig, Justin Hawkins, Massive Wagons, Rufus Taylor, The Darkness | Leave a comment

Book review: On track – Decades – ERIC CLAPTON, PORCUPINE TREE, LED ZEPPELIN, GENESIS, YES

Posted on November 30, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing The On Track series continues unabated and this – and the companion series ‘Decades’ – to a large extent reflects the enthusiasm of the publisher Stephen Lambe and his band of individual authors. Whilst we are frequently critical … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Cardiacs, Decades, Eric Clapton, Genesis, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zeppelin, MORRISSEY, On Track, Porcupine Tree, Radiohead, review, Sonicbond, Tangerine Dream, The Bee Gees, The Damned, THE DOORS, the Smiths, Tori Amos, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: JULIAN LITTMAN – Goblin Market Music

Posted on November 30, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 01.12.21] Steeleye Span’s Julian Littman has created a concept album based on Christina Rossetti’s famous 19th Century poem ‘Goblin Market’. In addition, author John Matthews set out to adapt the themes in the poem to create a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Christina Rossetti, concept album, folk, Goblin Market, Julian Littman, Maddy Prior, poetry, prog rock, progressive, review, Steeleye Span | Leave a comment

News: ELLES BAILEY, STONEDEAD, URIAH HEEP (December 2021)

Posted on November 30, 2021 by jason

Michael Schenker, photo by Simon Dunkerley

Tim Arnold releases his new album, ‘Maybe Magic’, on January 7 via Bandcamp. Pretty Maids vocalist Ronnie Atkins releases his new solo album ‘Make It Count’ on march 18 via Frontiers. Elles Bailey has opened pre-orders for her next album, ‘Shining in … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged alternative, blues, blues rock, Elles Bailey, festivals, folk, gigs, indie, melodic rock, metal, news, pop, prog, rock, Stonedead, tours | Leave a comment

Album review: THORBJORN RISAGER & THE BLACK TORNADO – Best Of

Posted on November 29, 2021 by petefeenstra

Ruf [Release date 21.09.21] If there’s still a debate about the merits of European blues as opposed to its American antecedents, then Denmark’s Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado have finally kicked the argument into touch with this stellar ‘Best … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, big band, blues, compilation, country, Danish, Emil Balsgaard, funk, Harold Adamson, horns, Joachim Svensmark, Kasper Wagner, Martin Seidelin, Nat King Cole, Peter Kehl, review, rock, ruf records, soul, Søren Bøjgaard, Thorbjorn Risager &The Black Tornado, vocals | Leave a comment

Gig review: MARILLION – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 26 November 2021

Posted on November 29, 2021 by Davoski

Marillion are one of the hardest working live bands around and no surprise that they have wasted little time in getting back on the road after their enforced pandemic hiatus. Tonight was the first of a brace of gigs at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 26 November 2021, gig, Hammersmith Apollo, live, Marillion, prog, review, Steve Hogarth, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

Album review: MANIMAL – Armageddon

Posted on November 29, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 3.12.21] Armageddon is Swedish Power Metal band, Manimal’s 6th release. What it lacks in subtlety, it makes up for in bravado and sheer power, with the rough edges sanded down by a bunch of resilient, tough … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Armageddon, Henrik Stenroos, Manimal, power metal, review, Samuel Nyman, Sweden | Leave a comment

Gig review: SKERRYVORE – Arlington Arts Centre, Friday November 26 2021

Posted on November 28, 2021 by jason

Possibly the most tartan on display south of the border outside of an Edinburgh Woollen Mill shop, Celtic folk rockers Skerryvore were in town for a Friday night to remember. Skerryvore consist of Alec Dalglish (vocals, guitar & the band’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Arlington Arts Centre, Celtic rock, country, folk, folk rock, Friday November 26 2021, gig, melodic, review, Skerryvore | Leave a comment

Album review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Glory For Salvation

Posted on November 28, 2021 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 26.11.21] Italian symphonic metal legends Rhapsody (for that is what they were originally called) return with their 13th studio album and is the second in the The Nephilim’s Empire Saga concept series, and follows on from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Alex Staropoli, Glory For Salvation, metal, power metal, review, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: SKID ROW – The Atlantic Years

Posted on November 28, 2021 by jason

BMG [Release date 03.12.21] American rock band Skid Row, who formed in New Jersey in 1986, found fame in the late 80s and early 90s with their brand of hard rock that included elements of glam and sleaze. Signing to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged box set, classic rock. sleaze rock, hair metal, hard rock, reissues, review, rock, Sebastian Bach, Skid Row, The Atlantic Years | Leave a comment

Gig review: ELLES BAILEY – Cambridge Junction 2, Tuesday 23 November 2021

Posted on November 28, 2021 by jason

A natural born storyteller, Elles Bailey also has the sort of voice that could make angels weep and this combination is like a siren draw into her endlessly colourful and wonderful world. Back on the road now after an extended … Continue reading →