Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: THE WESTERN FRONT – Eureka

Posted on June 22, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 10.07.26] It’s hard to believe that in the early 1980s – following personal hiatus and Thin Lizzy’s final tour – Scott Gorham made a distinctly AOR album. Although we shouldn’t forget that in classic Lizzy … Continue reading →

Single review: ROSS HARDING – Graveyard Blues

Posted on June 15, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Not as immediate as previous output, but carrying on with his blues as devils music, this single is unmistakably Ross Harding. The voice, the sparse arrangements, the atmospherics, Ross has his brand down to a tee. A song about sacrifice … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged blues, Graveyard Blues, review, Ross Harding, single | Leave a comment

Album review: Ritchie Blackmore’s RAINBOW – Live In Dusseldorf (3-LP vinyl)

Posted on June 15, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Demon/Edsel [Release date 26.06.26] The second (after Cologne) of three live albums recorded in Germany 1976, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow were promoting their Rainbow Rising LP to huge acclaim. The three albums were originally issued as double CDs a few years … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Cozy Powell, hard rock, heavy rock, Jimmy Bain, Live In Dusseldorf, Rainbow, review, Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Carey | Leave a comment

Album review: SAMANTHA FISH – Paper Doll Live

Posted on June 15, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Rounder Records [Release date 12.06.26] Move over Live And Dangerous, and Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out there is a new contender for best live album ever, and it comes in the form of a female resident of Kansas City, Samantha … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, guitarist, Paper Doll Live, review, Samantha Fish | Leave a comment

Album review: LEONI JANE KENNEDY – Synthetic

Posted on June 1, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

www.leonijanekennedy.com [Release date 15.06.26] Andy Sharrocks commented, reviewing the fourth single of 2025 ‘Sloe’, “it kind of goes nowhere”. That track is included here on Leoni’s second album ‘Synthetic’ which is essentially a collection of those singles. She has a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

Gig review: CHRISTOPHER CROSS – Bristol Beacon, 20 May 2026

Posted on May 21, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

For some Christopher Cross represents a moment in time, basically 1980, when his debut solo album was a major success. He went on to win five Grammys a year later and his career was established. Of course, since that time, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20 May 2026, AOR, Bristol Beacon, Chris Difford, Christopher Cross, classic rock, gig, melodic rock, review, Squeeze | Leave a comment

Gig review: COLIN BLUNSTONE – The Sub Rooms, Stroud, 14 May 2026

Posted on May 15, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Colin Blunstone represents that rare and sadly dying breed of consummate performer, with six decades of trial and tribulation in the music industry. A real trooper. As Colin recounted tonight his period of chart activity with The Zombies was short … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 14 May 2026, classic rock, Colin Blunstone, gig, review, singer songwriter, Stroud, The Sub Rooms, The Zombies | Leave a comment

Album review: HARDLINE – Shout

Posted on April 27, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 17.04.26] It’s some 34 years since Hardline’s classic album ‘Double Eclipse’ with a line-up that boasted Neal Schon in its ranks. Whilst it might have seemed like a last gasp for hair metal in 1992, Hardline’s frontman … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Hardline, Johnny Gioeli, melodic hard rock, melodic rock, review, shout | Leave a comment

Album review: XTASY – Phoenix

Posted on April 14, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Art of Melody Music / Burning Minds Music Groups [Release date 10.04.26] Now here’s a thing. Melodic rock that’s not from Scandinavia! Spain’s Xtasy formed in 2011 and have been building a following in their home country and in Continental … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, melodic rock, metal, Phoenix, review, Xtasy | Leave a comment

Album review: HOKKA – Via Miseria IV

Posted on April 14, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Nuclear Blast Records [Release date 24.04.26] There is a lot of good stuff coming out of Finland at the moment, always underpinned by the Nordic/Scandi talent for melody (and a fair helping of darkness). Lovers of The Rasmus are going … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Hokka, melodic rock, nu-metal, review, The Rasmus, Via Miseria IV | Leave a comment

Album review: ARGOVIA – Primal Repetition

Posted on April 14, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Presagio Records [Release date 10.04.26] One of the enlightening features of our “New to GRTR!” radio show is the range of music from all four corners of the planet. Colombia doesn’t feature that regularly but when it does. Wow! Argovia … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Argovia, Haken, Primal Repetition, prog rock, Progressive Rock, review, Ross Jennings | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (January – March 2026)

Posted on April 6, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Get Ready to ROCK! - Albums of the Month (January-March 2026)

A quarterly feature highlighting album releases rated highly by the GRTR! review team and worthy of your investigation. We try and pick out a cross-section of albums that reflect the range of genres reviewed at the website. The star rating … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Leave a comment

Feature: GRTR! Greats – COLIN BLUNSTONE

Posted on March 30, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Photo: David Randall/GRTR! And then there’s Colin Blunstone with his ethereal, timeless voice Pete Feenstra, 2011 Colin Blunstone has enjoyed a long and fruitful career both as a member of The Zombies and as a solo artist. He has also … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR! GREATS, GRTR! Greats (All Posts), INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged classic rock, Colin Blunstone, feature, interview, radio, review, rock, singer, songwriter, The Zombies | Leave a comment

Feature: GRTR! Greats – BETH HART

Posted on March 30, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Photo: Manuela Langotsch Beth Hart’s place in the GRTR! Greats series was sealed a long time ago by her heartfelt songwriting, emotionally charged voice and musical excellence spanning a 18 plus album career backed by non stop touring. Her vibrato … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR! GREATS, GRTR! Greats (All Posts), INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, beth Hart, blues, blues rock, classic rock, feature, hard rock, interview, retrospective, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

News: COLIN BLUNSTONE and BETH HART added to GRTR! Greats (March 2026)

Posted on March 22, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

The latest additions to our GRTR! Greats series were announced on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 22 March 2026. Photo: Manuela Langotsch The latest additions to the ongoing GRTR! Greats series are singer songwriters Colin Blunstone and Beth … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, Special features | Tagged beth Hart, blues rock, classic rock, Colin Blunstone, feature, GRTR! Greats (All Posts), March 2026, news, retrospective, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: WARRANT – Belly To Belly Vol.1

Posted on March 22, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Deko Entertainment [Release date 15.04.26] Warrant’s fifth album ‘Belly to Belly, Vol. 1′ has been remastered and repackaged and is being re-released in April, and for the first time will also be released on vinyl. Originally released in 1996 it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Belly To Belly Vol.1, hard rock, melodic rock, review, Warrant | Leave a comment

Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – The Stables, Milton Keynes, 14 March 2026

Posted on March 22, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

As double headers go this promises to be a quite a night. Two great bands at the top of their game, covering all aspects of the Blues Rock genre, at a sold out Stables, who could ask for more? Will … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 14 March 2026, blues rock, Brave Rival, classic rock, gig, Milton Keynes, review, The Stables | Leave a comment

Album review: TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND – Future Soul

Posted on March 15, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Fantasy Records/ Swamp Family Music [Release date 20.03.26] When your debut album wins a Grammy, the sense of overachievement could be something hard to deal with. Fortunately, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks seemingly saw this as an indication that they … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues rock, classic rock, Derek Trucks, Future Soul, review, southern rock, Susan Tedeschi, Tesdeschi Trucks Band | Leave a comment

Album review: AEROSMITH (Deluxe expanded edition)

Posted on March 15, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Universal Music Group [Release date 20.03.26] One of the USA’s rock bands, Aerosmith have released 15 studio albums, and sold 150 million records world-wide. And their blend of rock, blues, glam and pop has been very influential too. With roots … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 3-CD, Aerosmith, album, blues rock, delux, expanded, hard rock, Joe Perry, live, remix, review, Steven Tyler | Leave a comment

Album review: LIGHTNING THREADS – Trinkets

Posted on March 13, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

https://www.lightningthreads.com/ [Release date 28.01.26/Streaming 01.05.26] The follow up to their 2023 debut album, ‘Off That Lonely Road’ the Threads new record, ‘Trinkets’ sees the band following much the same Blues rooted path but there’s a growing maturity, evident in both … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Lightning Threads, review, soul, Trinkets | Leave a comment

News: PHIL LYNOTT Musical Tribute hits London stage on 29 March

Posted on March 7, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

In January 2026 Pete Feenstra chatted to show creators John and Danielle Merrigan from Fatdan Productions. This hour special gives background to the production along with classic tracks. First broadcast on Get Ready To ROCK! Radio, 1 February 2026. In … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, NEWS, Radio interview, Special Events | Tagged Hammersmith Odeon, March 2026, Moonlight, musical, news, show, The Philip Lynott Enigma, Thin Lizzy | Leave a comment

Gig review: SMITH KOTZEN – Bristol Academy, 20 February 2026

Posted on February 26, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

It’s a band and promoters nightmare. Towards the end of a relatively short UK tour the special guests Kris Barras Band had to pull out due to Kris’ throat infection. Shame as I was looking forward to seeing Barras live … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20 February 2026, Adrian Smith, Bristol Academy, classic rock, gig, hard rock, Iron Maiden, review, Richie Kotzen, Smith Kotzen, Winery Dogs | Leave a comment

Gig review: SOLSTICE – Kidderminster Town Hall, 19 February 2026

Posted on February 26, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

There are a few bands I’ve seen over the years in fairly quick succession: Hawkwind in the early seventies. Magnum in the early 1990s. I’m getting that way with Solstice. I last saw the band barely six months ago at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 19 February 2026, Andy Glass, gig, Kidderminster Town hall, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Solstice | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…THE BEATLES, THE PRETENDERS, THE CURE, JOURNEY, DEEP PURPLE (2025)

Posted on February 12, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Various publication dates 02-11.25] www.sonicbondpublishing.com Here’s our traditional annual round-up of books published by Sonicbond, this time in 2025. The publisher specialises in music books written by enthusiasts and usually dissecting the output of a particular artist. This … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Deep Purple, Every Album, Every Song, Iggy And The Stooges, Journey, Leonard Cohen, On Track, review, The Beatles, The Cure, The Pretenders, The Yardbirds | Leave a comment

Album review: THE NEUTRINOS – Last Haus On Earth

Posted on February 11, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Wet Nurse Records [Release date 01.05.26] I don’t quite get Norwich’s “The Neutrinos”. Probably far too clever for their own good. This, their sixth album, is contemporary art-rock/post-punk but where it falls down is the lack of consistency. In amongst … Continue reading →