Category Archives: Quick Plays

Quick plays: OFFICER, GILMORE & ROBERTS, HIP HATCHET, SAM LEWIS

Posted on July 20, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

OFFICER Myriads You’d think – in these digital days – if you were going to record under a pseudo name, you’d have the foresight to pick one that might be a little easier to find via Google. But unless you’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, Conflict Tourism, country, folk, Gilmore & Roberts, Hip Hatchet, Hold You Like A Harness, Let It Be, Mark Brown, Myriads, Officer, pop, review, rock, roots, Sam Lewis, Simon Murphy, singer, Skin & Bone, songwriter, Waiting On You | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TONY IOMMI TRIBUTE, MARK MORRISS, GUNSHIP, CEREBELLION

Posted on July 13, 2015 by jason

Great Lefty: Live Forever! (Tony Iommi Tribute)

VARIOUS – Great Lefty: Live Forever! www.tanzanmusic.com [Release date 04.05.15] An interesting double CD this one featuring a collection of Black Sabbath tribute bands, musicians and a couple of ex-Black Sabbath members, all paying tribute the master of the doom … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged 80's music, album, Black Sabbath, Cerebellion, Covers, Great Lefty: Live Forever, guitarist, Gunship, Mark Morriss, metal, review, synths, the Bluetones, The Taste Of Mark Morriss, Tony Iommi, Tony Martin, tribute, vocalist | Leave a comment

Single and EP reviews: TWO BEATS APART, THE STANDARD LAMPS

Posted on June 30, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

THE STANDARD LAMPS – Mono EP www.thestandardlamps.com A frustrating band name if you want people to find you on Google, The Standard Lamps are a three-piece band who have already landed support slots with The Who and in the autumn … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Aim, EP, Fire, mod, Mono, pop, rock, The Standard Lamps, THE WHO, Two Beats Apart | Leave a comment

Quick plays: OSUKARU, DAVID CELIA, ED DUPAS

Posted on June 29, 2015 by jason

OSUKARU Transition www.osukarumusic.com [Release date 01.06.15] A band led by keyboards player/songwriter Oz Osukaru and this album is half new material, with some older songs given a reboot. Must admit not to knowing the name, however the songs on here … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged A Good American Life, album, AOR, David Celia, Double Mind, Ed Dupas, folk, melodic, Osukaru, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter, Transition | Leave a comment

Quick plays: STEVE LOGAN, MRS FRIZZLE, DEADLOCK NCHC

Posted on June 22, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

MRS FRIZZLE Queen German’s can’t do pop. At least not convincingly. Or if they can, I can’t think of a single one that has managed to cross over to the world market. Mrs Frizzle are not likely to be the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Deadlock NCHC, Deliverance, Hardcore, metal, Mrs Frizzle, pop, Queen, review, rock, singer, songwriter, Steve Logan, The Fill-In's | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TOM MORIARTY, WE GHOSTS, SOLEY MOURNING

Posted on June 10, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

TOM MORIARTY The Road Driftwood Records [Release date 03.08.15] London-based singer songwriter Tom Moriarty released his debut album Fire In The Doll’s House (2012) to critical acclaim garnering Radio 2 play listing and 4 star reviews from the mainstream press. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Decade, pop rock, review, singer, songwriter, The Road, Tom Moriarty, We Ghosts | Leave a comment

Quick plays: LOVE/LESS, WES FINCH, LITTLE DEVILS, ANNA LAUBE

Posted on June 3, 2015 by jason

LOVE/LESS Hollow Faith [Release date 22.06.15] Love/Less are a five piece band from London who have recorded this debut EP. They have recorded a very impressive set of tunes and like they say in the press release, they wanted to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Anna Laube, Awena, blues, Hollow Faith, Little Devils, Love/Less, modern, Quick Play, review, rock, singer, songwriter, The Storm Inside, Wes Finch | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE GRISWOLDS, MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY, THE UGLY GUYS, LOTTA LENE

Posted on May 17, 2015 by jason

THE GRISWOLDS – Be Impressive Wind Up Records www.wearethegriswolds.com [Release date 25.05.15] Australian four piece the Griswolds (named after the family in National Lampoon’s Family Vacation) are one for those who like a little bit of synth led indie pop. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged ALBUM REVIEWS, Angel Air, country, Griswolds, indie, instrumental, Lotta Lene, Mutiny On The Bount, pop, progressive, Quick Plays, synth, the Ugly Guys | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TOWN PORTAL, CIVIL WAR

Posted on May 11, 2015 by jason

TOWN PORTAL – The Occident Small Pond Recordings [Released 25.05.15] This is the second album by Danish band Town Portal. They are a three piece instrumental band, with guitarist Christian Henrik Ankerstjerne also handling production. Instrumental albums are sadly a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album review, alternative, Astral Doors, Civil War, instrumentalists, Lion's Sgare, Nils Patrik Johansson, prog, Quick Play, rock, Sabaton, Town Portal | Leave a comment

Quick plays: RED SPEKTOR, MASAMUNE

Posted on May 4, 2015 by david.wilson

EP Review: RED SPEKTOR – Red Spektor Self release (Release date 18.05.15) Red Spektor are a trio from Stoke on Trent who formed in 2012. Red Spektor is a self titled EP with five excellent tracks, if you like psychedelia, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Attica Rage, EP, John Scane, Masamune, metal, Muse, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Red Spektor, review, rock, Sunderland, Texas Flood | Leave a comment

Quick plays: NO POWER NO CROWN, THE FIFTH, DOGBANE

Posted on April 27, 2015 by jason

NO POWER NO CROWN – Be Peace…Or Else Steve Coleman, guitarist/singer/writer for No Power No Crown, has been pursuing me for while to check them out live. NPNC is a band based out of Charlotte NC and since I am … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged ALBUM REVIEWS, alternative, Cold Sweat, DOGBANE, metal, NO POWER NO CROWN, NWOBHM, punk, Quick Play, Roy Cathey, Steve Coleman, The Fifth | Leave a comment

Quick plays: AXEL RUDI PELL, FREEDOM CALL, DANIELZ

Posted on April 25, 2015 by jason

AXEL RUDI PELL & FRIENDS – Magic Moments 25th Anniversary Special Show SPV www.spv.de (3CD/3DVD/Blu-Ray) [Released 27.04.15] This was a special one-off concert filmed and recorded back in July 11th 2014 at the ‘Bang Your Head’ festival to celebrate German … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged 25th Anniversary Concert, album review, Axel Rudi Pell, Danielz, Doogie White, Eternity, Freedom Call, Graham Bonnet, Jeff Scott Soto, Marc Bolan, metal, power metal, Quick Play, Rainbow, re-issue, Tony Carey | Leave a comment

Quick Plays: NINE BLACK ALPS, EDENIAL

Posted on April 6, 2015 by david.wilson

Album review: NINE BLACK ALPS – Live From The Wishing Well Hatch Records (Release date 04.05.15) After 12 years and 5 studio albums, UK Grunge rock exponents Nine Black Alps are about to release their first … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Quick Plays | Tagged album, CD, Chilean, Edenial, grunge, Innerpretations, Live From The Wishing Well, Manchester, Nine Black Alps, Nirvana, prog metal, review, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: 23 ACEZ, LEFT FOR RED

Posted on April 6, 2015 by david.wilson

Album review: 23 ACEZ – Redemption Wave Mighty Music (Release date 12.01.15) A bit of Belgian rock in the shape of 23 Acez who have been together since 2010. Formed by Benny Willaert the four piece … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Quick Plays | Tagged 23 Acez, album, All Things Dead And Buried, Belgium, Black Sabbath, CD, Judas Priest, Left For Red, metal, Redemption Wave, review, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: CHITRAL SOMAPALA, MARK SLAUGHTER

Posted on April 2, 2015 by jason

CHITRAL SOMAPALA – Sinhabumi [Release date 23.01.15] Chitral Somapala is a big name in his home nation of Sri Lanka and on this album he sings in his native language. Rock fans will know him from his time in Power … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged ALBUM REVIEWS, Chitral Somapala, Escape Music, Firewind, Mark Slaughter, melodic, pop, power metal, Power Quest, Quick Play, rock, Sinhabumi | Comments Off

Quick plays: NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY, DANNY SCHMIDT

Posted on March 30, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY One You might well ask why GRTR! is reviewing a Celtic / Breton fiddle album? And it would be a reasonable question to ask. But there are ‘rock’ connections. Firstly, one half of the main … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, Aggravated, country, Danny Schmidt, Decade Dance, Elliot Smith, folk, Grant Langston, Hope You're Happy Now, Irish, Leather Leaf, Natalie Macmaster and Donnell Leahy, One, Owls, Seth Avett & Jessica Lea Mayfield, singer, songwriter, Telesma | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE GENTLE STORM, WINDSOR DRIVE, FINLAY MORTON

Posted on March 29, 2015 by jason

THE GENTLE STORM – The Diary Inside Out www.insideout.de [Released 23.03.15] A new name but a very experienced duo behind the name, namely Arjen Lucassen of Ayreon fame and Anneke van Giersbergen, the former Gathering vocalist and last seen on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Anneke van Giersbergen, AOR Heaven, Arjen Lucassen, Ayreon, Finlay Morton, folk, Inside Out, pop, prog, Quick Plays, review, rock, the Gentle Storm, Windsor Drive | Leave a comment

EP review: BLUEMINDED – Blueminded

Posted on March 28, 2015 by alanjones

Self-released [Release date: April 2014] Blueminded describe themselves as a ‘poprockband’ but really they are doing themselves a disservice as this debut EP definitely has a vein of progressive rock weaving its way through the four tracks on offer here. … Continue reading →

Posted in Quick Plays, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Blueminded, Blueminded EP, Progressive/Pop, review | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SYLVAN, ROB MORATTI, KYSHERA

Posted on March 9, 2015 by jason

SYLVAN – Home Gentle Art Of Music [Released 16.02.15] This is the band’s ninth studio album and their first in three years. It is a concept album based on the human quest for what is home. Those new to Slyvan’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Home, Journey, Kyshera, melodic, prog, progressive, review, Rob Moratti, rock, Sylvan | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TRISTAN MACKAY, THE KENNEDYS, VANESSA PETERS

Posted on March 6, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

TRISTAN MACKAY Wire & Wood The clue, as they say, is in the title – Wire & Wood is a pared back acoustic follow-up to singer songwriter Tiverton, Devon-born Tristan Mackay’s debut release Out Along The Wire (2012). Originally ‘discovered’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, Chris Gray, Diamonds In Your Tree, folk, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, THE KENNEDYS, Tristan Mackay, Vanessa Peters, West, Wire & Wood, With The Sentimentals | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BLACK RAINBOWS, HAWK EYES, FREDDY AND THE PHANTOMS

Posted on March 1, 2015 by jason

BLACK RAINBOWS – Hawkdope Heavy Pysch Records www.theblackrainbows.com [Released 15.03.15] Their ‘Holy Moon’ EP released back in 2013 was a good slab of stoner rock. They are back with their new album and as the part of the title hints, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, BLACK RAINBOWS, Freddy and the Phantoms, HAWK EYES, Hawkdope, Hawkwind, Johnny Thunders, Looking For Johnny, Monster Magnet, reviews, rock, Stoner | Leave a comment

Quick plays: CLIMAX BLUES, THE LUCID DREAM

Posted on February 22, 2015 by jason

LUCY MAY – Whirlwind (EP) www.facebook.com/iamlucymay [Released 06/03/15] The PR sheet says there has been a country music revival in the UK and that certainly bears up given the success of artists like Lady Antebellum and Taylor Swift (although you … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, Angel Air, blues, Broke Heart Blues, classic, Climax Blues, country, EP, Lucy May, Pete Haycock, pop, review, Robin George, rock, Whirlwind | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BUSH, BOSS HOSS

Posted on February 15, 2015 by jason

BUSH – Man On The Run Sony Music [Released 20.10.14] Once touted as the “British Nirvana” album number 6 finds Bush in a mature sounding place, although still maintaining everything that helped them sell in excess of 20 million albums … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alternative, Bush, grunge, Motorhead, Quick Play, review, rock, The Boss Hoss | Leave a comment

Quick plays: GAMMA RAY, CHRIS GRAY, THE BLOW MONKEYS

Posted on February 9, 2015 by jason

GAMMA RAY – The Best (Of) earMusic [Released 02.02.15] Amazingly it has been thirty years since former Helloween guitarist Kai Hansen formed Gamma Ray. This comes as a standard 2CD package along with a 2CD limited edition and for the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, Chris Gray, Diamonds In Your Tree, Dr Robert, EarMusic, Gamma Ray, Hellwoeen, Kai Hansen, melodic, metal, pop, power, review, singer songwriter, the Blow Monkeys | Comments Off

Quick plays: THE BARNUM MESERVE, KINGNALDO

Posted on February 1, 2015 by jason

THE BARNUM MESERVE – S/t www. facebook.com/thebarnummeserve [Released 06.04.15] Three piece from Nottingham consisting of Leon Wiley (vocals/paino), Paul Moss Pearce (drums) and Dylan Griffiths (bass), the PR blurb name checks Nine Inch Nails, Arcade Fire and Soundgarden as musical … Continue reading →