Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: ACELSIA – Don’t Go Where I Can’t Follow

Posted on February 13, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

The debut from Norwegian three piece Acelsia, has a sound far bigger than its component parts. With all songs written by vocalist / pianist Marlene Markussen and guitar, bass and synth player Odd Henning, and with Bjorn Tore Erlendsen (of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS | Tagged Alcelsia, Don't Go Where I Can't Follow, melodic, Norway, Norwegian, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: LARKIN POE & THOM HELL – The Sound Of The Ocean Sound

Posted on February 13, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Edvins Records [Release date 04.03.13] 5 extended EPs and a live DVD over their two year career to date, and sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell have elected to share their first long playing outing with Norwegian songwriter Thom Hell. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Americana, country, Larkin Poe, Lovell, Megan, pop, Rebecca, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, The Sound Of The Ocean Sound, Thom Hell | Leave a comment

Album review: ROBERT PALMER – Heavy Nova,Don’t Explain,Ridin’ High,Honey – Reissues

Posted on February 13, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Edsel Deluxe Editions [Release date 14.01.13] Edsel Records have done a neat job with these 2 in 1 packages, brigading together Palmer’s 1988 – 1994 output in slip case outers, extensive artwork and bonus tracks. But never mind the packaging, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Don't Explain, funk, Heavy Nova, Honey, jazz, R&B, reissue, Ridin' High, Robert Palmer, rock, Vinegar Joe | Leave a comment

Quick Plays: The Val,Juruda,Chris While & Julie Matthews,Carrie Rodriguez,Annabelle Chvostek

Posted on February 13, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

The Val – Back The Val, named after vocalist Gabrielle de Val, are a truly European band. De Val herself, is German, but writes in English (although I wonder whether lyrics that refer to Humpty Dumpty and petticoats has perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Annabelle Chvostek, Back, CARRIE RODRIGUEZ, Chris While & Julie Matthews, folk, Give Me All You Got, Infinite Sky, Juruda, Juruda Music, melodic rock, Rise, singer, songwriter, The Val | Leave a comment

Album review: 10cc – Tenology

Posted on February 13, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Universal/Mercury [Release date 19.11.12] It’s about time 10cc’s excellent back catalogue got a decent airing. Up to now all we’ve really had is a set of distinctly average re-masters. That is, with the exception of the release of their classic … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 10CC, boxed set, compilation, Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman, Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, pop, review, rock, Tenology | Leave a comment

Album Review: ERIC JOHNSON – Up Close Another Look

Posted on February 9, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Mascot Records [Release date 01.04.13] Whilst I have always been aware of Eric Johnson and his influence on a whole raft of modern guitarists I have never really investigated his music. ‘Up Close – Another Look’ should change all that. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Another Look, blues, Eric Johnson, fusion, guitar, guitarist, review, rock, Up Close | Leave a comment

Gig Review: Great British Rock & Blues Festival,Skegness 25-27 January 2013

Posted on February 9, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Skegness hosts the first big rock festival of the year and it’s always an interesting mix of new and old. And that’s just the audience. Three days of rock and ruin, well maybe if you take excess to all areas. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Leave a comment

Gig review: FAMILY – Shepherds Bush Empire, London – 2 February 2013

Posted on February 8, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Not just a reunion, more a polishing of the Family’s silver, ‘An Evening With Family’ proved what all die-hard fans always knew, Family made some timeless music. And if the underlying question to this two night stand at the Shepherds … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 1 & 2 February, Family, gig, Jim Cregan, London, reunion, Roger Chapman, Shepherd's Bush Empire | Leave a comment

Album review: PAUL RAYMOND PROJECT – Terms & Conditions Apply

Posted on February 7, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Hear No Evil Recordings [Release date 28.01.13] Paul Raymond may be best known as the quiet one in UFO and perhaps surprisingly this is his sixth solo outing. ’Terms & Conditions Apply’ will appeal to UFO fans, but more broadly … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Michael Schenker, Paul Raymond, Project, Reuben Archer, review, rock, Stampede, Terms & Conditions Apply, UFO | 1 Comment

Album review: CODE OF SILENCE – Dark Skies Over Babylon

Posted on January 27, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Mausoleum [Release date 25.02.13] Put together by Eden’s Curse bassist Paul Logue, Code Of Silence - if this debut album is anything to go by - is surely a band on the cusp of great things. Fronted by Brazilian vocalist Gus Monsanto … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, The Best Of 2013 | Tagged Adagio, Ben Randall, Code Of Silence, Dark Skies Over Babylon, Eden's Curse, Gus Monsanto, hard rock, melodic, metal, Paul Logue, Power Quest, prog, progressive, review | 1 Comment

Rock Stars – DENNIS DUNAWAY (ALICE COOPER) Interview

Posted on January 22, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

DENNIS DUNAWAY TALKS ABOUT BLUE COUPE…AND ALICE By Patrick BRZEZINSKI with the help of Serge NADEAU Promo photo (above) : Bleacher & Everard Other photos : Patrick BRZEZINSKI Translation : Caroline Stephenson The news of the beginning of this new … Continue reading →

Posted in INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged Albert Bouchard, Alice Cooper, Blue Coupe, Blue Oyster Cult, Dennis Dunaway, interview, January 2013, Joe Bouchard, rock, Tour, uk | Leave a comment

News: CODE OF SILENCE RELEASE DEBUT VIDEO

Posted on January 21, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

British Melodic Metal band CODE OF SILENCE, fronted by Brazilian vocalist Gus Monsanto (Timo Tolkki’s Revolution Renaissance, Adagio, Symbolica, Lord Of Mushrooms), and young virtuoso guitar player Ben Randall (Power Quest), have released their debut promo video for the track … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, NEWS, Video | Tagged album, Ben Randall, Code Of Silence, Dark Skies Over Babylon, Gus Monsanto, hard rock, James Murrary, John Clelland, melodic, metal, Scott McLean, video | Leave a comment

Gig review: CARAVAN – The Lowry, Salford – 14 January 2013

Posted on January 19, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Pye Hastings, Caravan - photo by Simon Dunkerley

The night was to start with a support slot from Garron Frith, A local Manchester singer songwriter who is building up a steady following. To describe a style is not always easy but he has been likened to Stephen Stills … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 14 January 2013, Canterbury Scene, Caravan, Geoffrey Richardson, gig, Jan Schelhaas, Lowry, prog, progressive, Pye Hastings, review, rock, Salford | 1 Comment

ROBBEN FORD – Bringing It Back Home

Posted on January 5, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Provogue [Release date: 18.02.13] When it comes to feel, taste and tone, Robben Ford has to be your man. A guitarist for all seasons, Ford’s career has moved from his blues roots to, jazz fusion, new age, funk and back again … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged blues, blues rock, Bringing It Back Home, guitar, guitarist, Robben Ford | Leave a comment

LOGIC MESS – Element Of The Grid

Posted on January 5, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Another band from the modern home of Progressive Rock Nirvana – Poland - Logic Mess have previously released an album under the name of Crystal Lake. Just why they felt Logic Mess was a better name I’ve no idea. Actually, ‘Element … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Element Of The Grid, Logic Mess, Poland, prog, progressive | Leave a comment

TOYZ – The Infinite Road

Posted on January 5, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Every so often a disc shows up that looks just the same as a million others – classic prog-rock cover, picture of the band looking completely normal, track-list titles that would sit on any other album; ‘Departure’, ‘Face The Mirror’, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dutch, Holland, instrumental, prog, progressive, rock, The Infinite Road, Toyz | Leave a comment

HENRIK FREISCHLADER – House In The Woods

Posted on January 2, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Cable Car CCR0311-39 If ‘House in The Woods’ isn’t quite a fully conceptualised album title, then Henrik Freischlader’s sense of introspection and ongoing search for a retreat offers a resonant statement of his current mindset. The funky, smoking grooves and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, guitar, guitarist, Henrik Freischlader, House In The Woods, rock | Leave a comment

Gig Review: SQUEEZE, HMV Forum, London, 12 December 2012

Posted on December 24, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

Squeeze belong squarely in a distinguished tradition of bands, from the Kinks to Madness, who have added a distinctively english dimension to popular music, particularly with their acute, socially observant lyrics. While their hit making days may be long gone, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 December 2012, Chris Difford, gig, Glen Tilbrook, HMV Forum, Housemartins, London, Paul Heaton, pop, review, Squeeze, The Beautiful South | Leave a comment

STEVE LUKATHER – Transition

Posted on December 22, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

Mascot Records (Release date 21.01.13) There is a lot to like about ‘Transition’ from the production quality, the sincerity, to the musicianship. The lyrical themes are again based on Luke’s recent musical and personal rejuvenation and in truth the album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, fusion, guitar, guitarist, Steve Lukather, Toto, Transition | 1 Comment

DBA (Geoff Downes/Chris Braide) – Pictures Of You

Posted on December 22, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

X2X Records DBA is a collaboration of Geoff Downes (Asia, Yes) and Chris Braide (producer for Lana Del Rey and David Guetta amongst others). If it owes something to the duo’s overt pop sensibilites as evidenced by Downes with The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Asia, Buggles, Chris Braide, DBA, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Pictures Of You, pop, rock, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVE KILMINSTER – Scarlet – The Director’s Cut

Posted on December 17, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

www.davidkilminster.com Dave Kilminster is perhaps best known as a session guy – the one who answers Keith Emerson’s and Roger Waters’ call, and who has also appeared in Heather Findlay’s band more recently. ‘Scarlet’ is Dave’s first solo album, perhaps … Continue reading →

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SNAKECHARMER – Snakecharmer

Posted on December 9, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

(Frontiers Records) Release date 21.01.13 It’s unusual when a ‘superband’ is greater than its constituent parts. But, if anything, Micky Moody and Neil Murray have created a wonderful vehicle – at last – for Chris Ousey (Heartland, Virginia Wolf ). His … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adam Wakeman, album, blues, Chris Ousey, Harry James, Heartland, Home, Laurie Wisefield, Magnum, Micky Moody, Neil Murray, review, rock, Snakecharmer, Thunder, Whitesnake, Wishbone Ash | 1 Comment

FM – Only Foolin’ – EP

Posted on December 9, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

(Riff City Records) www.fmofficial.com FM were the nearly-men of AOR in the mid- to late-1980s. The past few years has witnessed their comeback, attempting to make up for lost ground and the intervening years which have never been particularly kind … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged AOR, EP, FM, melodic, Only Foolin, review, rock, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

DEACON BLUE – Reissues – CD and DVD

Posted on November 28, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

(Edsel) The first thing to say about these reissues: this is how it should be done. Reissuing the original albums with just a handful of bonus tracks wouldn’t suit Edsel and they have really come up trumps. In some cases, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged bonus tracks, CD, Deacon Blue, DVD, Edsel, Fellow Hoodlums, Homesick, Raintown, reissue, Ricky Ross, The Rest, Whatever You Say Say Nothing, When The World Knows Your Name | Leave a comment

LEVELLERS – Reissues

Posted on November 26, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

(Edsel Records) The Levellers are one of the most enduring and, it must be said, likeable bands to have been around for the past twenty-five years. Their blend of anarchic punk anthems aligned to touching folk sensitivity has been a … Continue reading →