Monthly Archives: May 2022

Album review: SEVENTH WONDER – The Testament

Posted on May 31, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 10.06.22] Sixth album from Swedish Prog Metal band Seventh Wonder, for whom life began at the turn of the century. The band is full of virtuoso musicians. Guitarist Johan Liefvendal and bassist, Andreas Blomqvist are the driving … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Andreas Blomqvist, AOR, Harem Scarem, Johan Liefvendal, Kamelot, Progmetal, progressive metal, review, Tommy Karevik, Toto, Unruly Child | Leave a comment

Book review: BRITPOP, BLUR

Posted on May 31, 2022 by jason

Britpop – Decades by Peter Richard & Matt Pooler SonicBond Publishing The 1990’s in the UK in pop terms, and indeed charts, were dominated for the most part by Britpop, which these two authors (themselves in a 90s band) provide … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Blur, book, Britpop, classic pop, Matt Bishop, Matt Pooler, Oasis, On Track, Peter Richard, pop, Pulp, review, Suede | Leave a comment

Album review: CHUCK WRIGHT – Chuck Wright’s Sheltering Sky

Posted on May 31, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

On Sunday 5 June, David Randall chatted to Chuck Wright about the new album. On Sunday 12 June – as part of ‘The Eclectic Mix’ – there was a more in-depth look at Chuck’s career based on the recent interview … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Chuck Wright, Chuck Wright's Sheltering Sky, Derek Sherinian, Eric Martin, fusion, interview, Jeff Scott Soto, Lanny Cordoba, prog, Progressive Rock, Quiet Riot, review | Leave a comment

Album review: DEF LEPPARD – Diamond Star Halos

Posted on May 30, 2022 by jason

UMC {Release date 27.05.22] Def Leppard are back after a seven year gap (pretty fast by their standards!) since 2015′s self-titled album, which was rather good. ‘Take What You Want’ starts the album off with all the things you love … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alison Krauss, classic rock, Def Leppard, Diamond Star Halos, glam rock, hard rock, Joe Elliott, melodic, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: BROOKS WILLIAMS & AARON CATLOW – Ready For The Times

Posted on May 29, 2022 by jason

Red Guitar Blue Music [Release date 24.06.22] A chance meeting a few years ago while on tour in The Netherlands led to collaboration of acoustic guitarist Brooks Williams (Boo Hewerdine, Rab Noakes) and violinist Aaron Catlow (Hawes and Catlow, Mad … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Aaron Catlow, album, blues, Brooks Williams, folk, Ready For The Times, review, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: BRAVE RIVAL – Life’s Machine

Posted on May 28, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

www.braverival.com [Release date 06.05.22] The debut album from Portsmouth rockers Brave Rival places them in a trajectory from Abba via Heart and Fleetwood Mac to Zeppelin. This should mean at least that the band will appeal to a wide age … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2022 | Tagged album, blues rock, Brave Rival, classic rock, Life's Machine, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ART GRIFFIN’S SOUND CHASER – The Seven Ages Of Starlight

Posted on May 27, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Artsounds Music [Release date 08.04.22] A self-confessed sucker for a bit of jazz rock/fusion, I couldn’t really resist the latest offering from Canadian bassist Art Griffin. Ably assisted by his band including violinist Victoria Veh and Saga drummer Steve Negus, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Art Griffin's Sound Chaser, instrumental, Jamie Glaser, jazz fusion, Jazz rock, Michael Sadler, review, The Seven Ages Of Starlight, Todd Sucherman | Leave a comment

Album review: LIV KRISTINE – Enter My Religion (bonus tracks)

Posted on May 26, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Liv Kristine chatted to David Randall for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in June 2022. This hour special includes a track from each of her solo albums. First broadcast 10 July 2022. Allegro Talent Media [Release date 19.08.22] There … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, Reissues | Tagged album, Enter My Religion, interview, Leaves' Eyes, Liv Kristine, pop rock, review, Theatre Of Tragedy | Leave a comment

News: CORNBURY FESTIVAL 8-10 July, 2022

Posted on May 25, 2022 by jason

To celebrate, the majority of acts on the 2022 bill are returning festival favourites. Joining the heavy weight line up of headliners James Blunt & The Darkness (Friday), Bryan Adams & The Waterboys (Saturday), Ronan Keating & Jools Holland (Sunday) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, NEWS | Tagged 8-10 July 2022, Altered Images, Bryan Adams, Cornbury Festival, Great Tew Park, Hugh Phillimore, interview, James Blunt, Jools Holland, Mica Paris, near Chipping Norton, news, Ronan Keating, Steve Winwood, the Christians, The Darkness, The Magic Numbers, The Waterboys | Leave a comment

Gig review: BRYAN ADAMS – Royal Albert Hall, London, 9-11 May 2022

Posted on May 25, 2022 by andynathan

Of all those gigs I’d already booked when the pandemic started, it was the trio of Bryan Adams shows at the Royal Albert Hall, playing an album in its entirety each night, that I’d most looked forward to seeing and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged Bryan Adams, Cuts Like A Knife, Gary Breit, gig, Into The Fire, Keith Scott, melodic rock, Pat Steward, residency, Royal Albert Hall, Sol Walker, Waking Up The Neighbours | Leave a comment

Album review: RAVEN – Rock Until You Drop (the 4CD Over The Top Edition)

Posted on May 24, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red/Sanctuary [release date : 27.05.22] Raven, the legendary heavy metal band from England’s industrial North East, have the perfect resume. They have recorded for six different labels (and never been without one) including major and major-ish imprints like Atlantic, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged 4 CDs, albums, Atlantic Records, boxset, Brute Force, John Gallagher, John Tucker, Lead Weight, Mark Gallagher, Megadeath, Megaforce, Metallica, Motorhead, Neat Records, NWOBHM, Proto Thrash, Sasso Marconi, SPV | Leave a comment

Gig review: MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE – Stadium MK, Milton Keynes, Saturday 21 May 2022

Posted on May 23, 2022 by jason

So, my daughter aged 14 likes My Chemical Romance (MCR) and I wanted to introduce her to the sort of things the world has to offer. I managed to get tickets to Stadium MK to see MCR and support on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged alt rock, Barnes Courtney, Charlotte Sands, emo, gig, MCR, melodic, Milton Keynes, MK Stadium, My Chemical Romance, Placebo, review, rock, Saturday 21 May 2022 | Leave a comment

Album review: STRANGEWAYS – Complete Recordings Volume 1, 1985-1994

Posted on May 22, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red/HNE [Release date: 27.05.22] The clamour for reissues of the first 3 Strangeways albums rose to fever pitch in the late 90s, as AOR made an attempt to get back on its feet. All 3 had been received with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, And The Horse, AOR, Bonaire, Complete Recordings Volume 1 1985-1994, Hangdog Records, Hard RoxX, Ian Stewart, John Lee, John Punter, Kevin Elson, melodic rock, Mike Shipley, Native Sons, review, Strangeways, Terry Brock, Walk Into The Fire | Leave a comment

Album review: LAZARUS DREAM – Lifeline

Posted on May 22, 2022 by jason

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 17.06.22] Second album from Lazarus Dream, which was put together by vocalist Carsten “Lizard” Shulz (Evidence One, Domain, Devoid) and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Markus Pfeffer (Scarlett, Winterland). Drummer Markus Kullmann (Sinner, Glenn Hughes), percussionist Thomas Rieder, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Carsten Lizard Shulz, Derek Sherinian, hard rock, Lazarus Dream, Lifeline, Markus Pfeffer, melodic hard rock, Pride & Joy Music, review, rock | Leave a comment

Book review: MOTORHEAD (Duncan Harris), BLACK SABBATH (Chris Sutton)

Posted on May 22, 2022 by jason

MOTORHEAD – On Track … every album, every song by Duncan Harris Sonic Bond Publishing [Publication date 15.04.22] Two more books that give an insight into these legendary classic rock bands, and like others in the series they act as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Bill Ward, Black Sabbath, book, Classic Albums, Doom Metal, Geezer Butler, heavy metal, metal, Motorhead, On Track, Ozzy Osbourne, review, rock n roll. Lemmy, Sonic Bond Publishing, Tony Iommi | Leave a comment

Album review: JAMES LABRIE – Beautiful Shade Of Grey

Posted on May 22, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

InsideOut Music [Release date 20.05.22] The latest solo offering from James LaBrie stems from his involvement on the Eden’s Curse track “No Holy Man’ (a real highlight on their 2011 album ‘Trinity’) and a subsequent support slot for the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Beautiful Shade Of Grey, classic rock, Dream Theater, Eden's Curse, James LaBrie, Marco Sfogli, Paul Logue, review | Leave a comment

Gig review – ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – The Garage, London, 15 May 2022

Posted on May 21, 2022 by andynathan

One of my most special London gigs of last year was Robert Jon & The Wreck’s show at the 100 Club, for a number of reasons- they were one of the very first American acts to make it over after … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues rock, gig, Henry James, Laura Evans, Robert Jon & The Wreck, Robert Jon Burrison, southern rock, Steve Maggiora | Leave a comment

Album review: LEE ROGERS – Gameblood

Posted on May 21, 2022 by jason

Zenith Café/Membran [Release date 13.05.22] This is Carrickfergus based Lee Rogers long awaited second album (his debut album, ‘Clocks’, was released way back in 2006). Produced by Gareth Dunlop (who also plays guitar, piano, synth and percussion on the album), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Foy Vance, Gameblood, Lee Rogers, pop, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: PAUL WALKER & KAREN PFEIFFER – Auf Wiedersehen, Me Duck

Posted on May 19, 2022 by jason

Crazy Moose Records [Release date 30.04.22] Paul Walker and Karen Pfeiffer are a folk duo who have been writing and performing since 2012. Karen is originally from Stuttgart, however, her southern German accent is already tinged with a ‘Staffordshire oatcake … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Auf Wiedersehen Me Duck, folk, Joan Baez, Karen Pfeiffer, Paul Walker, Potteries, review, traditional | Leave a comment

Single review: JESSIE DIPPER – Where Do I Go

Posted on May 18, 2022 by jason

Website [Release date 20.05.22] ‘Where Do I Go’ is taken from Jessie Dipper’s forthcoming new album ‘Sticky Floors’. Jessie Dipper has successfully self-released five singles, two EPs and an album over the last five years. Sehe describes her music as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged folk, grunge, Jessie Dipper, pop, review, Scouting For Girls, single, Where Do I Go | Leave a comment

Gig review: WHITESNAKE, Foreigner, Europe – Hydro, Glasgow, 2 May 2022

Posted on May 17, 2022 by david.wilson

For any rock fan old enough to remember the 70’s and 80’s the music of Whitesnake has been a constant soundtrack. The band may have had a revolving door installed in their tour bus for ease of access as members … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12th May 2022, 80s, AOR, ballads, blues, David Coverdale, Europe, Foreigner, gig, Glasgow, Glasgow Apollo, Here I Go Again, Hydro, I Want To Know What Love Is, Ian Haugland, Is This Love, Joel Hoekstra, Joey Tempest, John Norum, Juke Box Hero, Kelly Hansen, live, Mick Jones, Reb Beach, rock, Rock The Night, Slide It In, Still Of The Night, The Final Countdown, Tommy Aldridge, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: WINTER IN EDEN – Social Fake

Posted on May 17, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Firestreak Media [Release date 25.03.22] This is Winter In Eden’s fourth studio album and you may well be thinking: “I’ve never heard of them before”. You’re not alone. Although to be fair we were aware of their previous release ‘Court … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, progressive, review, rock, Social Fake, symphonic metal, symphonic rock, Winter In Eden | Leave a comment

Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET- The Garage, London, 12 May 2022

Posted on May 16, 2022 by andynathan

Not many can say this about themselves, but When Rivers Meet arguably had a good ‘lockdown’. The husband and wife team of Grace and Aaron Bond suffered the rotten timing of giving up their jobs to pursue music full-time just … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Aaron Bond, blues rock, gig, Grace Bond, Jamie Fox, Roger Inniss, Troy Redfern, When Rivers Meet | Leave a comment

Album review: BRIDEAR – Aegis Of Athena

Posted on May 16, 2022 by brianmc

Setsuzoku Records [Release date 13.05.22] All girl band, Bridear, from Fukuoka, Japan has created a global fanbase since its inception in 2014. Aegis of Athena is its third album. The band’s skilful merge of Melodic Metal and J-Pop might not … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Amaranthe. Operatic, Epica, Evanescence, heavy metal, J-Pop, melodic metal, progrock, review, rock, symphonic metal, Within Temptation | Leave a comment

EP review: THE LICKERISH QUARTET – Threesome Vol. 3

Posted on May 15, 2022 by jason

Lojinx [Release date 20.05.22] The Lickerish Quartet – ex-Jellyfish members Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Beck, Imperial Drag), Tim Smith (Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Finn Brothers) and Eric Dover (Imperial Drag, Slash’s Snakepit, Alice Cooper) – release their third … Continue reading →