Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: STEVE HACKETT – Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights: Live In Brighton

Posted on September 22, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Steve Hackett in September 2023 as part of the GRTR!@20 promotion when Steve was the September “Grotto of Greatness” inductee. This is an edited version of the radio show that will be broadcast in its entirety … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, concert, Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights: Live In Brighton, Genesis, guitar, guitarist, interview, live, prog, Progressive Rock, radio, review, Steve Hackett | Leave a comment

Album review: RENAISSANCE – The Legacy Tour 2022

Posted on September 22, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Symphonic Rock Recordings [Release date 15.08.23] Back in 2015 we saw Renaissance performing at a small venue in North-West England, The Citadel, which remains something of a mecca for prog bands. Since that time they have played several tours in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Annie Haslam, concert, live, October 2022, Progressive Rock, Renaissance, review, symphonic rock, The Legacy Tour 2022 | Leave a comment

Album review: PARDON THE INTERRUPTION – Hot N’ Fresh

Posted on September 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

ptimusic.com [Release date 14.04.23] It would be easier, some months following release, to pass over this album and regret a missed review opportunity. But not here at GRTR! The truth is that this album may have provided a soundtrack at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, funk, Hot N' Fresh, Pardon The Interruption, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – STEVE HACKETT (September 2023)

Posted on September 1, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

With the Genesis genie well and truly out of the bottle, Steve Hackett continues the legacy whilst topping up his own illustrious back catalogue. Prog-tastic! Photo: Simon Dunkerley The ascent of GRTR! since 2003 coincides with the rise and rise … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness | Tagged feature, Genesis, guitar, guitarist, interview, prog, Progressive Rock, radio, retrospective, Steve Hackett | Leave a comment

Album review: TRANCEND – Lilac

Posted on August 31, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

www.trancend.band [Release date 07.08.23] No matter what you might say, some good things did come out of Lockdown. And whilst you scratch your head let me give you one positive: Trancend. The musicians behind this album (the three Maurus brothers) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, art rock, Lilac, prog, Progressive Rock, review, TrancEnd, trip hop | Leave a comment

Album review: HANFORD FLYOVER – Source

Posted on August 31, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Fruits de Mer Records [Release date 11.10.23] We first came across Hanford Flyover on a sampler from the Fruits de Mer label who specialise in psych, prog and anything slightly leftfield. Much of the label output harks back to the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, electronica, folk, Hanford Flyover, prog, Progressive Rock, psych, psychedelic, review, Source | Leave a comment

News: STEVE HACKETT is the latest entrant in The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness (September 2023)

Posted on August 28, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

The latest entrant in the ongoing 20th anniversary promotion – “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness” – is progmeister guitarist Steve Hackett. Hackett’s refashioning of classic Genesis seventies material coincides with the development of the website Get Ready to ROCK! (www.getreadytorock.com) … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged feature, Genesis, guitar, prog, Progressive Rock, retrospective, Steve Hackett | Leave a comment

Album review: AOR – Bewitched In L.A.

Posted on August 21, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Bewitched In L.A. Perris Records [Release date 08.09.23] The advent of AI in music is the subject of much discussion. Listening to this latest offering from melodic rock plagiarist Frederic Slama you could be forgiven for thinking that everything – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bewitched In L.A., Frederic Slama, melodic rock, Paul Sabu, review, Tommy Denander | Leave a comment

Album review: RUFFYUNZ – Ruffyunz III

Posted on August 20, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Hyperspace Records [Release date 11.08.23] It’s safe to say that the third album offering from Ruffyunz takes up where II left off. The major change is Carmine Appice replacing Bobby Rondinelli’s drums and, at least on the cover, taking centre … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Billy 'Spaceman' Patterson, Bumblefoot, Carmine Appice, Dave Meniketti, Derek Sherinian, Ed Terry, hard rock, III, Jim McCarty, Pat Thrall, Pat Travers, Randy Platt, review, Ruffyunz, Tony Franklin, Tracy G, Vinnie Moore | Leave a comment

Album review: BOB HOLZ – Holz-Stathis Collaborative

Posted on August 9, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

MVD Audio [Release date 08.09.23] This album, by veteran drummer Bob Holz, takes me back to the mid-late 1970s when there was a profusion of fusion. In the form of Return To Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra and less prominent bands like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bob Holz, fusion, Holz-Stathis Collaborative, jazz funk, jazz fusion, Jean Luc Ponty, John McLaughlin, Randy Brecker, review | Leave a comment

Album review: KARNEY – Creatures In The Garden

Posted on August 8, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

www.karney.org [Release date 18.08.23] Who is Karney? Well she obviously feels the need to protect her intellectual property as her name is trade marked. Say hello to Anna Karney® who at various times has been a games music composer, a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Creatures In The Garden, Karney, review, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

EP review: /SIN’DOGS/ – Renascence EP

Posted on July 27, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

www.facebook.com/Sindogs [Release date 01.08.23] When I was compiling my “Best of” two decades in terms of ‘Live Acts’ for GRTR!@20 it would have been very tempting to include Zal Cleminson and /sin’dogs/ appearance at the 2019 ‘Giants Of Rock’. My … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Alex Harvey, classic rock, EP, hard rock, Renascence, review, Sin’Dogs, Zal Cleminson | Leave a comment

Album review: ROBBIE CUMMING – Choons Vol.1 & 2

Posted on July 27, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Absolute [Release date 12.05.23] I’ve often wondered about a canal boat holiday, traversing the criss-cross network hopefully in the sunshine, away from congested roads, and with regular stops for refreshment. And, maybe, if I took the plunge as it were … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Canal Boat Diaries, Choons Vol.1 & 2, instrumental, review, Robbie Cumming, TV | Leave a comment

Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – CATS IN SPACE (August 2023)

Posted on July 18, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Pop rock revivalists whose rise and rise has been almost purr-fect… damn that pandemic… Cats in Space are a unique proposition among the new generation of classic rock bands that have emerged in recent years (writes Andy Nathan). Acts that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness | Tagged August 2023, Cats In Space, classic rock, feature, Grotto, pop rock, retrospective | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE WHO, O2 Arena, London, 12 July 2023

Posted on July 17, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

On the verge of their sixth decade as a band and The Who really have nothing to prove but still don’t care about what they’re being told by others. This is The Who and they’ll do exactly as they want. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 July 2023, classic rock, gig, London, O2 Arena, orchestra, Pete Townshend, review, Roger Daltrey, THE WHO | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE WHO – Badminton Estate, Gloucestershire, 16 July 2023

Posted on July 17, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

So how refined that The Who, along with the Heart of England Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Keith Levenson, are playing at the renowned Badminton Estate, to promote a new live album, in an open-air concert arena with a capacity of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 16 July 2023, Badminton Estate, classic rock, gig, Gloucestershire, orchestra, Pete Townshend, review, Roger Daltrey, THE WHO | Leave a comment

News: CATS IN SPACE are the latest entrants in The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness (August 2023)

Posted on July 17, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Rock website Get Ready to ROCK!’s 20th anniversary celebration continues with the latest entrants in “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness”. Pop rockers Cats In Space will be honoured in August ahead of UK tour dates in September. Jason Ritchie, News … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Leave a comment

Album review: THE MAGPIE ARC – Glamour In The Grey

Posted on July 14, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Collective Perspective [Release date 07.07.23] Now here’s a listen. I didn’t quite know what to expect from this band. From the name, it could be an alt-rock band couldn’t it? From the opening track ‘All I Planted’ it is immediately … Continue reading →

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

News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2023)

Posted on July 10, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

WINGER Seven (Frontiers) Winger are a great group of musicians and they write great songs. And ‘Seven’ matches up to their very best work. ***** Review by David Randall HOUSE OF SHAKIRA XIT (Frontiers) No question, XIT is a perfect pop … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, Albums of the Year...to date, NEWS | Tagged albums, April 2023, classic rock, hard rock, heavy rock, instrumental, June 2023, May 2023, melodic rock, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: FIREBORN – Reflections

Posted on July 7, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Deko Entertainment [Release date 16.06.23] Some readers might say if an album is potentially sub-three stars why bother reviewing it? Well, in truth, at GRTR! we don’t shy away in giving an album our honest appraisal and if nothing else … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Fireborn, heavy metal, heavy rock, metal, Reflections, review | Leave a comment

Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) January 2023 – June 2023

Posted on July 5, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BLACK STAR RIDERS- Wrong Side of Paradise

Compiled by Jason Ritchie July – December 2023 To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on a Mac) on the keyboard. The “F” stands for “Find,” and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS | Tagged 2023, album, blues rock, Bluray, CD, classic rock, DVD, hard rock, heavy rock, melodic rock, metal, New releases, Progressive Rock, reissue, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: TIZANE – Forever Is Nothing

Posted on July 3, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Burning Girl Records [Release date 23.06.23] This is the second album from Tizane following 2021′s ‘Cherry’ which I have to say completely escaped our attention. Described as dark pop-rock the album starts almost invisibly with ‘Off The Edge’ and it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Forever Is Nothing, pop rock, review, Tizane | Leave a comment

Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – MARILLION (July 2023)

Posted on July 1, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Photo: David Randall Self sufficient free spirits who keep getting better, and in spite of “Sugar Mice”… Marillion’s entry into our hallowed portal coincides with the period that they have been self-sufficient. By 1998 ostracised by the likes of EMI … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness | Tagged classic rock, feature, Ian Mosley, Marillion, Mark Kelly, Pete Trewavas, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Steve Hogarth, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

Album review: LEAH WAYBRIGHT – Dreamed

Posted on June 22, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Invasion Merch [Release date 17.07.23] One of the great things about GRTR! as we reflect on our twenty year lifespan is the eclectic nature of our brief. We don’t ever feel compelled to review the latest Jethro Tull or Yes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classical, Dreamed, Gary Blu, Happy The Man, instrumental, jazz, Leah Waybright, Mark Wood, review, Rick Kennell, Stanley Whitaker | Leave a comment

Album review: MVI (Mark Vickness Interconnected) – In The Rain Shadow

Posted on June 22, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

www.markvickness.com [Release date 17.05.23] “Sit back, pour a glass of your favourite tipple, and let this album wash over you.” That’s what I wrote about ‘Interconnected’ in 2020 making it one of my “best ofs” that year. And it could … Continue reading →