Author Archives: andynathan

Album review: ECLIPSE – Viva La Victouria (CD/DVD)

Posted on November 24, 2020 by andynathan
ECLIPSE- Viva La Victouria (CD/DVD)

Frontiers Records [Release Date 6.11.20] This package of goodies from Eclipse is very timely, as their last album ‘Paradigm’ rather got swamped in the rush of autumn 2019 releases, then after gearing up for a huge tour, it never reached … Continue reading →

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Book Review: ON TRACK (every album, every song…) – IRON MAIDEN (by Steve Pilkington) and THIN LIZZY (by Graeme Stroud)

Posted on November 20, 2020 by andynathan
ON TRACK (every album, every song...)- IRON MAIDEN (by Steve Pilkington) and THIN LIZZY (by Graeme Stroud)

Sonic Bond Publishing The ‘On Track’ series is a new one to me, but glancing at GRTR!’s recent book reviews it seems to be a rapidly growing collection. While more critically acclaimed artists such as the Beatles and Bruce Springsteen … Continue reading →

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Album review: ALIEN – Into the Future

Posted on November 9, 2020 by andynathan
ALIEN- Into the Future

AOR Heaven [Release Date 27.11.20] One of the original wave of Scandi AOR bands at the end of the eighties, Alien’s return with their original line up was one of the stories of the early 2010’s. They followed up two … Continue reading →

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Album review: PRIDE OF LIONS – Lion Heart

Posted on October 28, 2020 by andynathan
Pride Of Lions- Lionheart

Frontiers Records [Release Date 09.10.20] Approaching 70, maestro songwriter and Survivor founder member Jim Peterik is showing no signs of slowing down. After last year’s World Stage release with a star studded casts of guest vocalists, and co-writing much of … Continue reading →

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Film review: PHIL LYNOTT – Songs For While I’m Away

Posted on October 15, 2020 by andynathan
PHIL LYNOTT- SONGS FOR WHILE I’M AWAY

Break Out/ Eagle Rock Productions [Release Date 30.10.20] Autumn 2020 is one of those times when the Thin Lizzy legacy is getting one of its periodic dusting downs.  Alongside a bumper budget compilation and a 6 CD box set of … Continue reading →

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Gig review: MARK MORRISS- Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 3 October 2020

Posted on October 10, 2020 by andynathan
P1180757 - Copy

Perhaps it wasn’t quite squarely in GRTR’s ballpark, but the last time bands with guitars dominated the charts, possibly forever, was when Britpop ruled. Led by the likes of Blur, Oasis and Pulp, the movement defined the sound and style … Continue reading →

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Gig review: GARY FLETCHER AND NICK RITCHIE – Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 2 October 2020

Posted on October 8, 2020 by andynathan
GARY FLETCHER AND NICK RITCHIE - Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 2 October 2020

Of course it’s trivial compared to those who have lost loved ones or their own livelihoods, but one of the biggest effects of the Coronavirus pandemic has been cutting live music dead in its tracks. Having been to over 80 … Continue reading →

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Album review: BROTHER FIRETRIBE – Feel The Burn

Posted on October 7, 2020 by andynathan
BROTHER FIRETRIBE- Feel the Burn

Odyssey Music (Release Date 18.09.20) With the release of their first album back in 2006, Brother Firetribe (alongside the Poodles and WigWam)  kick started the Scandinavian-led revival of melodic rock that is thriving to this day. Since then the only … Continue reading →

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Album review: PERFECT PLAN- Time For A Miracle

Posted on September 27, 2020 by andynathan
PERFECT PLAN-Time for a Miracle

Frontiers Records [Release Date 04.09.20] Perfect Plan’s self titled debut was one of the revelations of 2018, these seasoned Swedes emerging from nowhere with a high quality mix of hard rock and AOR. After keeping the pot boiling nicely with … Continue reading →

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Album review: HELL IN THE CLUB – Hell of Fame

Posted on September 27, 2020 by andynathan
HELL IN THE CLUB- Hell of Fame

Frontiers Records [Release Date 04.09.20] Hell in the Club, whose latest album is remarkably their fifth,  are one of the few bands on Frontiers Records huge roster that are actually from their native Italy- even if band members have adopted … Continue reading →

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Album review: TWISTER- Cursed and Corrected

Posted on September 5, 2020 by andynathan
TWISTER- Cursed and Corrected

Off Yer Rocka Recordings: Release Date 13.11.20 Young North-Easterners Twister looked to have been building a name for themselves prior to lockdown with some high profile support slots and winning a Hard Rock Hell Battle of the Bands competition, so … Continue reading →

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Album review: FORTUNE- The Gun’s Still Smoking Live (CD/DVD)

Posted on August 24, 2020 by andynathan
FORTUNE- The Gun's Still Smokin' Live

Frontiers Records (Release Date 07.08.20) One of the most heart-warming and unexpected comebacks of the last few years has been that of cult eighties AOR sters Fortune. It’s fair to say their comeback in 2016 at Rockingham Festival stole the … Continue reading →

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Feature: Gigs of the Millennium – ROCK FEST 2003, Wisconsin, USA

Posted on July 30, 2020 by andynathan
Gigs of the Millennium- ROCK FEST 2003, Wisconsin, USA

Andy Nathan has caused much teeth-gnashing and fist-clenching amongst the GRTR! team with his enviable sorties to the States sometimes taking in a couple of festivals in one visit.  These include Summerfest and Moondance Jam.  Here he recounts a particularly … Continue reading →

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Album review: TOKYO MOTOR FIST – Lions

Posted on July 22, 2020 by andynathan
TOKYO MOTOR FIST - Lions

Frontiers Records (Release Date 10.07.20) Tokyo Motor Fist’s second album is one of the most hotly anticipated melodic rock releases of the year. The 2017 debut of this East Coast supergroup was among the best of the year, while the … Continue reading →

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Album review: MARK SPIRO- 2+2=5: Best of + Rarities

Posted on July 21, 2020 by andynathan
MARK SPIRO - Best of and Rarities

Frontiers Records (Release Date 10.07.20) Mark Spiro is probably best known as one of those outside collaborators who in the late eighties and early nineties sprinkled their songwriting gold dust to give the added touches that turned potential singles into … Continue reading →

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Album review: KANSAS – The Absence of Presence

Posted on June 30, 2020 by andynathan
KANSAS- The Absence of Presence

Inside Out Records [Release Date 17.07.20] Kansas are an object lesson in regeneration and renewal for veteran bands. Having been around since 1974, many feared for their future when lead singer Steve Walsh retired in 2014, but continuing with a … Continue reading →

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Feature: Albums that time forgot – RANSOM – Trouble In Paradise

Posted on June 12, 2020 by andynathan
Ransom-Trouble in Paradise

MTM (1997) As alternative sounds ruled the roost in the nineties, musical styles that had ruled the previous decade were out of fashion and none more so than the melodic rock/AOR scene which was driven completely underground. In pre-Facebook, YouTube … Continue reading →

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Album review: BAD TOUCH – Kiss The Sky

Posted on May 29, 2020 by andynathan
BAD TOUCH- Kiss the Sky

Marshall Records [Release Date 19.06.20] For Norfolk classic rockers Bad Touch, a fourth album in five years, not to mention incessant touring, is testament to their hard work. It deserves to pay off, being their most accomplished to date. They … Continue reading →

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Album review: VANDENBERG – 2020

Posted on May 25, 2020 by andynathan
VANDENBERG- 2020

Mascot Records [Release Date 29.05.20] Best known for a long if chequered stint in Whitesnake, before that guitarist Adrian Vandenberg led his own band through three albums in the eighties. Now he has revived the name and iconic logo, though … Continue reading →

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Album review: ONE DESIRE – Midnight Empire

Posted on May 20, 2020 by andynathan
One Desire-Midnight Empire

Frontiers Records (Release date 22.05.20) Three years ago young Finns One Desire suddenly emerged with a very impressive first album which made many people’s end of year melodic rock lists.  It has taken a long time but they hope to … Continue reading →

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Album review: DENNIS DE YOUNG – 26 East, Volume 1

Posted on May 19, 2020 by andynathan
Dennis De Young- 26 East, Volume 1

Frontiers Records (Release Date 22.05.20) This album marks a welcome rock comeback for former Styx singer Dennis De Young. For much of the time either side of his departure from the band  he seemed more interested in Broadway inspired or … Continue reading →

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Album review: FM – Synchronized

Posted on May 18, 2020 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 22.05.20] It’s now a whole decade since FM returned to stay with their comeback album ‘Metropolis’. Though from time to time they look back, rerecording ‘Indiscreet’ and most recently celebrating ‘Tough It Out’s anniversary on the … Continue reading →

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Album review: VEGA – Grit Your Teeth

Posted on May 11, 2020 by andynathan
VEGA- Grit Your Teeth

Frontiers [Release date 12.06.20] Vega have made a series of quality albums in the 2010’s, deserving full credit for perseverance as,  despite dynamic live shows,  they have yet to break into the big time for reasons unknown. Their sixth album … Continue reading →

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Album review: CHAMPLIN WILLIAMS FRIESTEDT – 2

Posted on May 5, 2020 by andynathan
CHAMPLIN WILLIAMS FRIESTEDT-2

Black Lodge [Release Date 15.05.20] In that genre of the softest and smoothest AOR given the shorthand ‘West coast’, CWF are something of a superstar collaboration. Former Chicago singer and keyboard player Bill Champlin and Joseph Williams, singer with Toto … Continue reading →

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Album review: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – Last Light On The Highway

Posted on March 29, 2020 by andynathan
ROBERT JON & THE WRECK- Last Light on the Highway

Release Date 08.05.20 Robert Jon and the Wreck were an entirely unknown name to me until last year’s Ramblin’ Man Fair. I didn’t actually see their performance but a pair of writing Daves, Classic Rock’s Ling and my GRTR! reviewing … Continue reading →

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