Author Archives: jason

Album review: SERENADE THE STARS – Astronomy

Posted on April 4, 2021 by jason

Facebook Serenade the Stars are a Buckinghamshire based band consisting of vocalists Matthew Harman and Coral Smith, guitarist Damian Carruthers (who is also the band’s main songwriter), bassist James Wrigley and drummer James Burton. They formed back in 2017 and … Continue reading →

Album review: ONE THOUSAND MOTELS – Get In Where You Fit In

Posted on April 2, 2021 by jason

Universal Music [Release date 30.04.21] One Thousand Motels is a bit of a punk supergroup if you will, consisting of the Damned drummer Rat Scabies, and bassist/multi-instrumentalist Chris Constantinou, who has worked with Adam Ant, Sinead O’Connor, Bow Wow Wow … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chris Constantinou, Get In Where You Fit In, gospel, One Thousand Motels, pop, punk, Rat Scabies, review, rock, The Damned | Leave a comment

EP review: SINKA – Take Me To The Skies

Posted on April 1, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 16.04.21] Sinka are Shaun Sewell-Sears (vocals & guitar), Matt Smith (bass) and Jack Wright (drums), who released a self-produced debut EP, ‘F.W.Y.K’ in April 2020 (which is well worth a listen and owning). For their new EP … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alt pop, alt rock, EP, Muse, pop rock, review, Sinka, Take Me To The Skies | Leave a comment

News: POWERWOLF, TONY IOMMI, OPETH, TRIFECTA (April 2021)

Posted on April 1, 2021 by jason

Lee Aaron (pictured) will release her latest album, ‘Radio On!’, on July 23. Bellowhead release a live album, ‘Reassembled’, on June 18. This was recorded at the band’s one-off online reunion show last December. The Black Keys release a blues … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged classic rock, folk, fusion, gigs, jazz, metal, news, OPETH, pop, powerwolf, prog, rock, Staind, tour dates, Trifecta | Leave a comment

Album review: THE FLEUR DE LYS – Circles: The Ultimate

Posted on March 29, 2021 by jason

Countdown Records / Acid Jazz [Release date 26.3.21] Formed in Southampton in 1964, The Fleur De Lys had an ever-changing line up during their short lifetime, the mainstay being drummer Keith Guster who has assisted with this new 25 track … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Circles, Fleur de Lys, Keith Guster, pop, R&B, review, soul, The Ultimate' | Leave a comment

Album review: UNDERKING – At Hell’s Gate

Posted on March 28, 2021 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 23.04.21] Underking is in fact a one-man band consisting of Maxwell Jeffries hailing from Nottingham and this is Underking’s third album. Maxwell has been working on this album for over a year, with the songs covering “topics … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged album, At Hell’s Gate, Maxwell Jefferies, metal, Misfits, review, trad metal, Underking | Leave a comment

Album review: REACH – The Promise Of A Life

Posted on March 27, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 23.04.21] Reach was founded in 2012 and settled on a power trio consisting of Ludvig Turner (vocals, guitars), Marcus Johansson (drums) and Soufian Ma´Aoui (bass). Reach have released two albums prior to this one and have played … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, melodic, modern rock, Muse, pomp rock, Queen, quirky, Reach, review, rock, The Promise Of A Life | Leave a comment

Album review: THE OUTLAW ORCHESTRA – Power Cut

Posted on March 27, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 26.03.21] The Outlaw Orchestra, who love southern rock, blues and country, via their hometown of Southampton, follow up last year’s enjoyable ‘Pantomime Villains’ with this mini-album. As singer/guitarist Dave Roux explains “When we’re not on the road, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, country, EP, Outlaw Orchestra, Power Cut, review, rock, southern rock | Leave a comment

Interview: Dolf de Borst of the Datsuns

Posted on March 25, 2021 by jason

The Datsuns new album, ‘Eye To Eye’ – their first since 2014 – is released on May 28 and the band’s new single, ‘Suspicion’ is out now. GRTR! recently caught up with vocalist/bassist Dolf de Borst to discuss the upcoming … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged Dolf de Borst, Eye To Eye, garage rock, interview, rock, rock 'n' roll, the Datsuns | Leave a comment

Quick plays: CITIZEN, NAD SYLVAN, ESCAPE

Posted on March 24, 2021 by jason

CITIZEN Life In Your Glass World Run For Cover Records [Release date 26.03.21] Formed in 2009, Citizen – vocalist Mat Kerekes, guitarist Nick Hamm, and bassist Eric Hamm – return after almost 4 years away with their new album, ‘Life … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alt rock, alternative, Citizen, Escape, Fire In The Sky, Genesis, hard rock, Life In Your Glass World, Nad Sylvan, prog, review, rock, Spiritus Mundi | Leave a comment

Album review: THE BAND – Stage Fright (50th Anniversary Edition)

Posted on March 24, 2021 by jason

Capitol / UMG [Release date 12.2.21] Often regarded as a poor relation to The Band’s peerless first two albums, this 2CD anniversary edition of “Stage Fright” (overseen by Robbie Robertson) invites fresh appraisal with a new mix and revised running … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 50th Anniversary Edition, album, classic album, classic rock, review, Robbie Robertson, Stage Fright, The Band, Todd Rundgren | Leave a comment

Album review: JOEL HOEKSTRA’S 13 – Running Games

Posted on March 20, 2021 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 12.02.21] Joel Hoekstra, best known as the current guitarist for Whitesnake and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (and previously as a member of Night Ranger and the Broadway show Rock of Ages), returns with album number two from his solo … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, guitarist, Jeff Scott Soto, Joel Hoekstra, melodic hard rock, review, rock, Running Games, Russell Allen, Symphony X, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: NICK WATERHOUSE – Promenade Blue

Posted on March 20, 2021 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 09.04.21] Nick Waterhouse has been making music since the early 2000’s, playing a mix of rhythm and blues, soul, jazz, rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll. His new album sees him working alongside producer Paul Butler (the Bees, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, doo wop, jazz, Nick Waterhouse, Promenade Blue, R & B, review, rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Inspirations

Posted on March 19, 2021 by jason

Silver Lining [Release date 19.03.21] Four decades into a career that has seen them conquer the globe, there seems to be no stopping the mighty Saxon, their own brand of Heavy Metal Thunder still ringing out loud and proud. Whilst … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Biff Byford, Black Sabbath, Covers, Inspirations, Motorhead, review, Saxon, The Beatles, Thin Lizzy | Leave a comment

EP review: MEMORY OF A MELODY – Burn Alive

Posted on March 19, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 13.03.20] Memory of a Melody hail from San Antonio, Texas and prior to this EP have released three albums – 2011’s ‘Things That Make You Scream’, 2012’s ‘Mouthful of Razors’, and 2013’s ‘Phantom’s and Shadows’. After that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, Burn Alive, EP, Memory Of A Melody, Nickelback, nu-metal, review, rock | Leave a comment

EP review: SILVER NIGHTMARES – The Wandering Angel

Posted on March 19, 2021 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 31.03.20] Silver Nightmares were formed in Palermo in 2018 by bassist Gabriele Esposito, drummer Alessio Maddaloni, keyboardist Gabriele Taormina with guitarist Mimmo Garofalo joining shortly after. They wrote, composed and orchestrated this, their first EP, which features … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, EP, melodic metal, metal, prog, prog metal, review, Silver Nightmares, The Wandering Angel | Leave a comment

EP review: RINGO STARR – Zoom In

Posted on March 17, 2021 by jason

[Release date 19.03.21] Very few people can generate the goodwill and love that Ringo Starr does globally. Sure, when you’ve been a member of the biggest band ever, you’re bound to have some support, but he just keeps putting out … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Ben Harper, classic rock, Corrine Bailey Ray, Dave Grohl, EP, Joe Walsh, Paul McCartney, pop, review, Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crowe, Steve Lukather, The Beatles, Zoom In | Leave a comment

Album review: THE ALARM – War

Posted on March 16, 2021 by jason

The Alarm [Release date 26.02.21] The Alarm are back with a new album, written and recorded in isolation, which physically arrived with fans six weeks from its inception thanks to a special limited edition blank CD-R they can burn themselves. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, Benji Webbe, Massive Attack, Mike Peters, punk, review, rock, Skindred, The Alarm, War | Leave a comment

Album review: THE EQUALS – Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys

Posted on March 12, 2021 by jason

Cantare [Release date 26.2.21] In the continued absence of the original recordings by The Equals on digital platforms, and with previous CDs long deleted, this collection of tracks recorded for radio broadcast is most welcome. One of the few racially … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 60s music, album, BBC, Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys, Brian Matthew, Covers, Eddy Grant, pop, review, soul, the Equals | Leave a comment

Album review: SUZI QUATRO – The Devil In Me

Posted on March 11, 2021 by jason

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 26.03.21] Suzi Quatro is back with her new album ‘The Devil In Me’, which like 2019’s ‘No Control’ album is a joint effort between her and son Richard Tuckey. As Suzi Quatro explained “Starting spring 2020, almost … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Cherie Currie, classic rock, glam rock, hard rock, review, Richard Tuckey, rock, Suzi Quatro, The Devil In Me | Leave a comment

Album review: JOSEPH PARSONS – At Mercy’s Edge

Posted on March 10, 2021 by jason

Blue Rose Records [Release date 01.01.21] Joseph Parsons is a new name to me, however, he has been playing his musical trade for over thirty years now, including releasing thirteen solo albums prior to this one, and a further ten … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, At Mercy’s Edge, Bruce Springsteen, classic rock, Dire Straits, Joseph Parsons, melodic, review, rock, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Book review: ROY WOOD, KANSAS (On Track…)

Posted on March 8, 2021 by jason

Sonic Bond Publishing Roy Wood: The Move, ELO & Wizzard by James R Turner The ‘On Track…’ series gets to one of my musical heroes, Roy Wood. An interesting musician to cover, as although he still tours, Roy Wood has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, book, classic rock, ELO, glam rock, Jeff Lynne, Kansas, Kerry Livgren, melodic rock, On Track, pomp rock, prog rock, review, rock 'n' roll, Roy Wood, Steve Wlash, The Move, Wizzard | Leave a comment

Album review: LEAGUE OF LIGHTS – Dreamers Don’t Come Down

Posted on March 7, 2021 by jason

Eightspace Records [Release date 12.03.21] League Of Lights, the husband and wife duo of Richard (also a member of prog metal band Threshold) and Farrah West, return with their third album. As Farrah explains, “The album is about the past, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dreamers Don’t Come Down, electronic pop, League Of Lights, melodic, pop, pop rock, progressive pop, review, Threshold | Leave a comment

Album review: THUNDER – All The Right Noises

Posted on March 6, 2021 by jason

BMG [Release date 12.03.21] Thunder have been on something of a purple patch album wise since 2015’s ‘Wonder Days’ and that form continues on this, their thirteenth studio album (if you include 2019’s acoustic led ‘Please Remain Seated’). They have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, All The Right Noises, blues rock, classic rock, Danny Bowes, hard rock, Luke Morley, review, Thunder | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JANET SIMPSON, D’ERCOLE

Posted on March 4, 2021 by jason

JANET SIMPSON Safe Distance Cornelius Chapel Records [Release date 19.03.21] Singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist, Janet Simpson’s latest album covers many human stories and emotions from running away from demons, to retreating from your troubles, and more. It also marks … Continue reading →