Yearly Archives: 2024

Album review : BROTHERS OF METAL – Fimbulvinter

Posted on October 26, 2024 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date : 01.11.24] Fimbulvinter (the great winter) is the third album from Swedish eight man band, Brothers Of Metal, arriving hot on the heels of the very well received Emblas Saga. The Nordic countries have their own, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Brothers Of Metal, Dawid Grahn, Fimbulvinter, heavy metal, Nordic, Norse Mythology, Sweden, The Great Winter, Viking, Ylva Eriksson | Leave a comment

Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Time Machine

Posted on October 25, 2024 by jason

Esoteric Antenna [Release date 25.10.24] Studio album number six for Cats In Space, their third with vocalist Damien Edwards and first for new label Esoteric Antenna, part of the Cherry Red Records empire. Opening with the title track, we have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 10CC, 70's rock, album review, AOR, Cats In Space, classic rock, melodic rock, Queen, rock, Sweet, THE WHO, Time Machine | Leave a comment

Single review: GYPSY PISTOLEROS – Welcome to the Church of the Pistoleros

Posted on October 25, 2024 by jason

Earache Records [Release date 25.10.24] Gypsy Pistoleros are on an upward trajectory and one that is well deserved as they have certainly put their heart and soul into both many live shows, but also this new single and album of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album review, Earache Records, glam, Gypsy Pistoleros, Latino, punk, punk pop, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, single, Welcome to the Church of the Pistoleros | Leave a comment

Gig review: SCARLET REBELS- The Garage, London, 8 October 2024

Posted on October 20, 2024 by andynathan

In our healthy British rock scene Scarlet Rebels are one of our shining lights. The Llanelli quartet now have two top 20 albums under their belt with the result that this extensive UK tour featured a London show at a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Carl Oag, Chris Jones, Gary Doyle, gig, Morganway, New Wave of Classic Rock, Scarlet Rebels, The Hot One Two, Wayne Doyle | Leave a comment

Album review : MOUNTAIN – Leslie West and Corky Laing, Live In The UK

Posted on October 18, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 25.10.24] Highly influential New York rock band, Mountain, formed by equally influential guitarist, Leslie West in 1969, never seemed to enjoy the public profile they deserved. Yet, the uniformly enthusiastic response they got from sellout crowds … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged BB King, Biloxi, Corky Laing, Cream, Felix Pappalardi, Gail Collins, Jack Bruce, Leslie West, Mississippi Queen, Mountain, review, Woodstock | Leave a comment

Album review : CASANDRA’s CROSSING – Garden Of Earthly Delights

Posted on October 17, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 25.10.24] George is back. Has he ever been away? George Lynch, ex-too many to mention, returns in tandem with up and coming vocalist/songwriter, Casandra Carson. Their debut is called Garden Of Earthly Delights … the cover art … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Casandra's Crossing, Cassandra Carson, End Machine, Frontiers, George Lynch, hard rock, Lynch Mob, review, The Banishment | Leave a comment

Book review: THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE ROCK SOUND SYSTEMS, VOLUME 4 by Chris Hewitt

Posted on October 17, 2024 by petefeenstra

Chris Hewitt -The Development Of Large Rock Sound Systems,Volume 4

Dandelion Books [Publication date 23.10.24] You might imagine that this being Volume 4 of ‘The Development of Large Rock Sound Systems’, that there would be a natural chronology at play. Not so, for having dealt with the history of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Bill Kelsey, book, Charlie Watkins, Chris Hewitt, David Bowie, ELP, Grateful Dead, Jim Marshal, Nick Mason, Pete Watts, Pink Floyd, review, Ricthcie Blackmore, The Developement of Large Rock Sound Systems, THE WHO, Volume 4 | Leave a comment

Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – The Wilde Theatre, Bracknell, 16 October 2024

Posted on October 17, 2024 by jason

CATS IN SPACE- Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell, 20 July 2023

First time in the Wilde Theatre, part of the South Hill Park complex that includes a small cinema and cellar bar (where on my first visit to South Hill Park enjoyed a gig by folk duo Ninebarrow). Despite being all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 70's rock, Bracknell, Cats In Space, classic rock, gig, piano, pop rock, review, rock, the Wilde Theatre, Time Machine, Wednesday 16 October 2024, Willie Dowling | Leave a comment

Book review: GET YER ‘AIR CUT by Alan Clayson

Posted on October 16, 2024 by petefeenstra

Oldcastle Books [Publication date 17.09.24] They say you should always try and start a book with a bang, or at least a significant event. Alan Clayson’s ‘Get Yer Air Cut’ most certainly does that, opening with a 15 year old’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Ace Keffor, Alan Clayson, Black Sabbath, book, Dave Berry, Dick Taylor, Frank Zappa, Get Yer 'Air Cut, Jim Simpson, John Lennon, Lennart Wrigholm, Mick Pini, Phil May, PJ Proby, review, Screaming Lord Such, The Beatles, The Move, The Pretty Things, The Rolling Stones, The Walker Brothers | Leave a comment

Album review: LAYLA ZOE – Into The Blue, Live In Concert

Posted on October 15, 2024 by petefeenstra

Layla Zoe Music [Release date: 13.09.24] To say Layla Zoe warms to the notion of being an independent artist, is to understate her willingness to both dig deep for her emotions in a concert situation, and fly in the face … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bob Dylan, Elizabeth Cotten, Felix Dehmel, Janis Joplin, Josh Rigal, Krissy Matthews, Layla Zoe, live, Lowell George, review | Leave a comment

Album review: RUBY DAWN – Blood On Water

Posted on October 14, 2024 by alanjones

Self-released [Release date 01.11.24] Hailing from Wokingham in the UK, Ruby Dawn are a rather fine progressive/art-rock band consolidating their progressive credentials with this follow-up to 2023’s ‘Beyond Tomorrow’, which, from all accounts, was an excellent debut in itself. Fronted … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Blood On Water, Progressive Rock, review, Ruby Dawn | Leave a comment

Album review: ARIES DESCENDANT – The Ashes Of Deceit

Posted on October 14, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 18.10.24] An amazing sense of musical ambition can often be found among European Rock and Metal bands. Often that ambition is rooted in the classics, or at least how the classics have been interpreted by contemporary musicians. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Aries Descendant, Frontiers The Ashes Of Deceit, John Weingarten, Niklas Sonne, review, symphonic rock | Leave a comment

Album review : STEVE HOWE – Guitarscape

Posted on October 14, 2024 by jason

HoweSound [Release date: 27.09.24] With more than one hundred albums featuring his name in the recording credits, to offer guitarist Steve Howe the title of a truly accomplished musician should come as no surprise to anyone – still, it does … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Asia, Dylan Howe, guitarist, Guitarscape, instrumental, progressive, review, rock, Solo, Steve Howe, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review : FATE – Reconnect ‘N Ignite

Posted on October 13, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 18.10.24] As Frontiers Records powers up its fourth quarter release schedule for 2024, it’ll be interesting to see if the label can maintain the quality we have become used to. Already with good stuff from Fans Of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Cruisin For A Bruisin, Fate, Frontiers, Hard Melodic Rock, Per Johansson, Reconnect 'N' Ignite, review, Torben Enevoldsen | Leave a comment

Album review: WILLIE DOWLING – The Simpleton

Posted on October 13, 2024 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 01.11.24] A new Willie Dowling album, whether it be under his own name or as part of one of his many fine groups like the Grip, Honeycrack, the Dowling Poole et al, is always a treat. On … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, review, The Simpleton, Willie Dowling | Leave a comment

Album review: BOBBY ‘BORIS’ PICKETT – The Monster Mash

Posted on October 13, 2024 by jason

Decca [Release date 11.10.24] Bobby Pickett, a comedian and singer/songwriter, recorded this track after fronting a band called the Cordials by night, while attending auditions by day. Part of his act would include a monologue imitating Boris Karloff (probably best … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett, classic pop, Decca, HaLLoween, pop, review, The Monster Mash | Leave a comment

Gig review: SAMANTHA FISH – Koko, London, 6 October 2024

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Davoski

The splendid Koko was brimming full for the return of Samantha Fish to these shores with her own band, following last year’s shows with Jesse Dayton. And great to see the crowd that welcomed The Zac Schulze Gang’s support slot … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 6 October 2024, band, blues, gig, guitarist, Koko, review, rock, Samantha Fish, Zac Schulze | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE KNIGHTLEY – The Winter Yards

Posted on October 12, 2024 by jason

Website [Release date 04.10.24] With Show of Hands on ‘an indefinite break’, Steve Knightley releases this, his first solo studio album in 17 years. Guest artists on the album include his Show of Hands partner-in-crime Phil Beer, Phillip Henry (Edgelarks), Madrid-based Track … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, contemporary music, folk, melodic, review, Show Of Hands, songwriter, Steve Knightley, The Winter Yards | Leave a comment

Gig review: APOCALYPTICA – SWG3, Glasgow, 3 October 2024

Posted on October 11, 2024 by david.wilson

Many years ago I attended a guitar masterclass with the legendary singer/songwriter Gordon Giltrap. It was just one man with an acoustic guitar, but the sound and sheer ferocity of riffage he managed to extract from his poor, tortured acoustic … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 3rd Oct 2024, Apocalyptica, cello, Eicca Toppinen, gig, Glasgow, James Hetfield, live, Master Of Puppets, Metallica, One, Perttu Kivilaakso, Plays Metallica Vol 2, Rob Trujillo, Sad But True, SWG 3 | Leave a comment

Album review : NIGHTMARE – Waiting For The Power, The Early Years (3 CD Set)

Posted on October 10, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 11.10.24] French cult Metal band, Nightmare, released the album, Encrypted, last year. Their 12th since forming in 1979. We reviewed it in GRTR! a few months ago. In another scoop for Cherry Red, remasters of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Cherry Red, French, Grenoble, Heavy Metal. NWOBHM, Nightmare, review, The Early Years, Waiting For The Power | Leave a comment

Gig review: MARTIN TURNER – 100 Club, London, 3 October 2024

Posted on October 9, 2024 by andynathan

2024 has seen Wishbone Ash founder member Martin Turner tour a set based around the Live Dates Volume Two album: perhaps less heralded than its predecessor, this 1980 release shows the ‘Mark 2’ phase of the band at their finest … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 100 Club, Danny Willson, gig, Live Dates Volume Two, Martin Turner, Misha Nikolic, Sonny Flint, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Album review: CLEANBREAK – We Are The Fire

Posted on October 8, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] We Are The Fire is the second album from Cleanbreak, Mike (Riot/Riot V) Flyntz and Frontiers’ wunderkind, James Durbin. While Mark Reale and Rhett Forester were getting all the headlines with Riot and Riot V, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alessandro Delvecchio, Cleanbreak, Frontiers, hard rock, James Durbin, metal, Mike Flyntz, review, Riot V, Stryper, We Are The Fire | Leave a comment

Album review: SMASH ATOMS

Posted on October 8, 2024 by jason

M-Theory Audio [Release date 11.10.24] This year SMASH ATOMS have been bubbling under, mainly from the overwhelming and surprising response the Swedish quartet have received from commercial/active rock radio. Servicing their first single/video “Down” inspired a dozen stations to immediately … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, debut, grunge, review, rock, self-titled, Smash Atoms | Leave a comment

Album review : THUNDER – The Complete EMI Recordings 1989-95 (7 CD boxset)

Posted on October 8, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 27.08.24] Thunder rose from the ashes of Terraplane, a two album English band who never escaped from label interference. Singer Danny Bowes and guitarist, Luke Morley, along with Gary “Harry” James, Ben Matthews and Mark “Snake” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Backstreet Symphony, Behind Closed Doors, Danny Bowes, EMI, hard rock, Laughing On Judgement Day, Luke Morley, review, Thunder | Leave a comment

Gig review: VINCENT FLATTS FINAL DRIVE – Slim Jim’s Liquor Store, Islington, London 4 October 2024

Posted on October 7, 2024 by petefeenstra

Tonight is the sort of gig that restates the true staples of rock and roll, namely the holy trinity of a great band, a welcoming venue and receptive audience. Birmingham’s Vincent Flatts Final Drive is the kind kick ass band … Continue reading →