Author Archives: jason

Album review: MARK ‘PORKCHOP’ HOLDER – Let It Slide

Posted on January 29, 2017 by jason

[Release date 10.02.17] So, Eric Sardinas walks into a grubby, smoky, barrelhouse bar where the soles of your shoes stick to the carpet like glue, starts pounding shots of Mississippi moonshine with George Thorogood and talking about putting a band together – when the group walks on stage. After an hour of gritty, foot-stomping Porkchop blues, … Continue reading →

Album review: EMPIRE – Hypnotica (+3)

Posted on January 27, 2017 by jason

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 24.02.17] Pride & Joy Music are set to re-release Empire’s four albums throughout 2017 and start off with the band’s debut album ‘Hypnotica’, originally released back in 2001. Empire were formed by guitarist Rolf Munkes (Majesty/Razorback/Crematory) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Don Airey, Empire, guitars, Hypnotica, Lance King, Mark Boals, metal, Neil Murray, Pride and Joy, re-issue, review, rock, Rolf Munkes | Leave a comment

News: LISBEE STAINTON to release first album in three years ahead of a UK tour

Posted on January 26, 2017 by jason

Highly acclaimed singer-songwriter Lisbee Stainton will release her fifth studio album ‘Then Up’ on 21st April 2017 on Marionet Music, ahead of a nine-date headline UK tour throughout May. The release of ‘Then Up’ will be preceded by the release … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged album, folk, Lisbee Stainton, Marionet Music, news, pop, singer, songwriter, Then Up, UK tour | Leave a comment

Album review: TIM BOWNESS – Lost In The Ghostlight

Posted on January 24, 2017 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 17.02.17] To my shame I have never really listened to any of the music by Tim Bowness prior to this album. The album’s theme revolves around the contemporary musings of Moonshot leader Jeff Harrison, though the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Inside Out, Lost In The Ghostlight, melodic, No-Man, progressive, review, Steven Wilson, Tim Bowness | Leave a comment

Album review: T.S.O.L. – The Trigger Complex

Posted on January 19, 2017 by jason

Rise Records [Release date 27.01.17] T.S.O.L. (True Sounds Of Liberty) have been around since 1978 and still feature original members Jack Grisham (vocals), Ron Emory (guitar) and Mike Roche (bass), who are joined by Greg Kuehn (piano/synths) and new drummer … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, pop punk, review, rock, T.S.O.L., the Trigger Complex | Leave a comment

Album review: ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO – Burn Something Beautiful

Posted on January 17, 2017 by jason

Fantasy/Concord Music Group [Release date 20.01.17] Despite this being Alejandro Escovedo’s twelfth studio album I had not heard of him before, something I am glad has been rectified as this a wonderful album and has me wanting to explore his back … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alejandro Escovedo, Burn Something Beautiful, Peter Buck, REM, review, rock, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: GALACTIC EMPIRE – S/T

Posted on January 17, 2017 by jason

Rise Records [Release date 03.02.17] Galactic Empire caused a stir last year on YouTube with their version of the ‘Main Theme’ from ‘Star Wars’ – currently over 3m views and counting. Now they unleash a full album of their versions of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, debut, Galactic Empire, George Lucas, instrumental, John Williams, metal, review, Rise Records, rock, Star Wars | Leave a comment

EP review: PROWESS, BACKBONE CAST

Posted on January 17, 2017 by jason

BACKBONE CAST Power Within Ourselves EP Scandinavian blues rock anyone? Based around the Hannah’s soulful vocals and Hata Salmi’s evocative guitar work, with the sound filled out by Jony Oittinen (drums), Sami Vataja (bass) and Jani Kemppinen (Hammond and piano), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Single and EP reviews | Tagged Backbone Cast, blues rock, EP, Headfirst, metal, Power Within Ourselves, Prowess, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: ACCEPT – Restless And Wild

Posted on January 17, 2017 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 13.01.17] Legendary German metal band Accept has been a dominant force in the genre for a few decades now. Fewer bands have been as heralded and influential as Accept. Years ago original vocalist Udo Dirckschneider parted … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Accept, album, classic, live, metal, Restless and Wild, review, rock, Wolf Hoffmann | Leave a comment

Interview: STEVE GRIMMETT

Posted on January 11, 2017 by jason

We catch-up with Steve Grimmett ahead of some South American dates and find out that there will be more from Grimmstine and the wonders of tea for singers… What can fans expect from the new album ‘Walking In The Shadows’? … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged calssic rock, Grimmstine, interview, metal, Steve Grimmett, Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SAVIOUR, JIMI ANDERSON GROUP, GARY ‘GUITAR’ LAMMIN

Posted on January 10, 2017 by jason

SAVIOUR Let Me Leave UNFD [Release date 13.01.17] Saviour hail from Perth, Australia having started out in 2011, releasing their debut album in 2013 and then they went on hiatus until October 2015. This is the band’s second album and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, Before Beyond, Dave Goodman, Gary 'Guitar' Lammin, Hardcore, Jimi Anderson Group, Let Me Leave, Long Time Comin', melodic, metal, Quick Play, reviews, rock, Saviour, Sctratches, The Bermondsey Joyriders | Leave a comment

Album review: QUEEN – On Air

Posted on January 9, 2017 by jason

Virgin EMI [Release date 04.11.16] Queen have always given the fans a treat around Christmas time in recent years with live releases and now we have the complete BBC radio sessions. There is this, the standard 2CD version and a 6CD … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, BBC, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, John Deacon, On Air, Queen, radio, review, Roger Taylor, Virgin EMI | Leave a comment

Album review: LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM – In Disguise

Posted on January 9, 2017 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 20.01.17] Last Autumn’s Dream are not strangers to the odd cover having covering songs by Wizzard and REO Speedwagon on past albums. This time around they opted to do a whole album of covers of songs … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Abba, album, City Boy, classic rock, Covers, Escape Music, In Disguise, Kiss, Last Autumn’s Dream, Loverboy, melodic, Mie Slammer, review, Streets, The Sweet | Leave a comment

Album review: HEAT – Overnight

Posted on January 6, 2017 by jason

Topshelf Records [Release date 20.01.17] https://heatband.bandcamp.com/album/overnight We all have bands that we love. Sometimes we even love bands enough to wish that there were more bands that sound like the one we love. However, as soon as a new band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, HEAT, indie, Overnight, review, shoegaze | Leave a comment

Album review: PAIN OF SALVATION – In The Passing Light Of Day

Posted on January 5, 2017 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 13.01.17] Breakneck, technically demanding and maybe even pretentious to some – a clear fusion between metal, folk and progressive rock that has introduced the genre to a contemporary audience. Swedish progressive rock and metal band Pain … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Daniel Gildenlow, In The Passing Light Of Day, Inside Out, Pain of Salvation, progrerssive, review, rock | Leave a comment

EP review: THE DOWLING POOLE – EP’s

Posted on January 4, 2017 by jason

Willie Dowling said in an interview with GRTR! last April that the Dowling Poole would look to release EP’s/new songs as opposed to a full album and possibly collate these on an album for release at a later date. To date the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Bandcamp, Bright Spark, Deep Breath, EP, Jon Poole, Miles Checks Out, pop, review, rock, THE DOWLING POOLE, Willie Dowling | Leave a comment

Quick plays: D’ERCOLE, JIM JIDHED, BEACHEADS

Posted on January 3, 2017 by jason

D’ERCOLE No Place Like Home This is the fourth album from melodic hard rock band D’Ercole and they have released it themselves having left Z Records. The album features Phil Vincent as the main songwriter and producer (does this man never … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, Alien, AOR, AOR Heaven, Beacheads, D'Ercole, indie pop, Jim Jidhed, melodic, Phil Vincent, pop rock, Quick Play, reviews, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THE MOLOCHS – America’s Velvet Glory

Posted on January 2, 2017 by jason

Innovative Leisure Records Release date 13.01.17] Let’s say you are relaxing on your back porch in your favourite soft chair. Overlooking the shimmering ocean. Bathed in warm afternoon sunshine. Probably in Southern California. The sky is starting to turn a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged America’s Velvet Glory. album, indie, review, rock, the Molochs | Leave a comment

Album review: BRYAN COLE – Sands Of Time

Posted on December 19, 2016 by jason

Melodic Rock Records Bryan Cole is a new name in melodic rock circles and hopefully this debut release will establish him as a name to watch out for from now on. Bryan sings and plays all the instruments on here, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged album, Brett Walker, Bryan Cole, Jim Peterik, melodic rock, Melodic Rock Records, Pride of Lions, review, Sands Of Time | Leave a comment

Album review: AMON AMARTH – Jomsviking

Posted on December 16, 2016 by jason

Metal Blade [release date 25.03.16] You wouldn’t think prog rock legends Pink Floyd would have a lot in common with Swedish death metal gods Amon Amarth, however, there you’d be wrong – both bands have broken the boundaries with their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Amon Amarth, Doro, Johan Hegg, Jomsviking, metal, Metal Blade, review | Leave a comment

Interview: DAVE HILL of DEMON

Posted on December 15, 2016 by jason

We caught up with Demon vocalist Dave Hill to talk about the new album, ‘Cemetery Gates’, the band’s recent live shows and the plans for 2017 and beyond… How did the recent album launch gig go at the new venue … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged Cemetery Junction, classic rock, Dave Hill, DEMON, interviews, Mal Spooner, metal, Mike Stone, NWOBHM, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: MIKKO JOENSUU – Amen 2

Posted on December 13, 2016 by jason

Svart Records [Release date 16.12.16] Mikko Joensuu is in the middle of releasing a trilogy based on hos own experiences of dealing with depression and loneliness, along with coming to terms with the idea that God did not exist in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Amen 2, melodic, Mikko Joensuu, pop, review, Svart Records | Leave a comment

Interview: TILT (Steve Vantsis)

Posted on December 10, 2016 by jason

We caught up with Steve Vantsis of Tilt to find out more about their excellent debut album ‘Hinterland’ the band’s upcoming plans and how work is progressing on Fish’s new album… Have you been pleased with the reviews and reaction … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged Fish, Hinterland, interview, modern, PledgeMusic, progressive, rock, Steve Vantsis, Tilt | Leave a comment

Album review: DARIO MOLLO’S CROSSBONES – Rock The Cradle

Posted on December 9, 2016 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 02.12.16] Italian guitarist Dario Mollo, who started his career in 1981 with the everlasting Crossbones, has re-established his musical career with the band on his new album ‘Rock the Cradle’. Mollo, who has worked with Tony Martin … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Black Sabbath, Carl Sentance, classic rock, Dario Mollo, Dario Mollo's Crossbones, Frontiers, metal, Nazareth, review, rock, Rock The Cradle, Tony Martin | Leave a comment

Album review: NIGHT RANGER – 35 Years and A Night In Chicago

Posted on December 8, 2016 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 02.12.16] Night Ranger celebrate 35 years together with this double live CD and DVD set, recorded back in May this year at the House Of Blues in Chicago. Having been lucky enough to have seen them live … Continue reading →