Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: BLACKLIST UNION – Letters From The Psych Ward

Posted on October 6, 2023 by jason

BLACLIST UNION - Letters From The Psych Ward

Cargo Records [Release date 15.09.23] Big, slick, dark and dirty, “Letters From The Psych Ward” is the latest album from Blacklist Union, the band’s sixth, and first for eight years. The album embraces decades of musical influences and therefore sounds modern … Continue reading →

Album review: WARD KNUTUR TOWNES – Unanswered

Posted on October 5, 2023 by jason

Betty Beetroot Records [Release date 06.10.23] Ward Knutur Townes found their sound when the world fell silent in 2020. These three singer-songwriters, (Lucy Ward, Svavar Knutur and Adyn Townes) were selected to take part in a virtual global music sharing experiment … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adyn Townes, album, alt folk, folk, Lucy Ward, melodic, review, Svavar Knutur, Unanswered, Ward Knutur Townes | Leave a comment

Album review: IMPELLITTERI – The Complete Beast 1987-2009 (6 CD Boxset)

Posted on October 2, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 06.10.23] Every Impellitteri album from 1988 to 2009. Nine in all, and the band’s 2 EPs. Plus a score of bonus tracks. All shoehorned into 6 jampacked CDs. (Such was the weight of heavy metal contained … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Reissues | Tagged album, boxset, Chris Impellitteri, Graham Bonnet, Impellitteri, Michael Wagener, review, Rob Rock, The Complete Beast | Leave a comment

Album review: IRON SAVIOR – Firestar

Posted on October 1, 2023 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 06.10.23] Iron Savior’s 2020 album, Skycrest, signalled a new era of Power Metal. Three years later, the voyage of the mothership has apparently been sidelined temporarily, to allow a celebration of Teutonic and indeed, in places, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Firestar, Iron Maiden, IRON SAVIOR, Judas Priest, Piet Sielck, power metal, review, Saxon, Viking metal | Leave a comment

Album review: SKAGARACK- Heart and Soul

Posted on September 30, 2023 by andynathan

Thunderstruck Records (Release date 25.08.23) Skagarack were, alongside Fate, the Danish standard bearers in the original Scandinavian melodic rock explosion of the late eighties. I was a big fan, seeing them at the old Marquee and even picking up albums … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Jan Petersen, melodic rock, Skagarack, TORBEN SCHMIDT | Leave a comment

Album review: WINGER – Chapter One Atlantic Years 1988-1993

Posted on September 30, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Atlantic/BMG [Release date: 17.11.23] It had to happen. The boxed Winger story from 1988 to 1993 and “the only remasters approved by Kip Winger.” As ever, it doesn’t help those who have already indulged in previous vinyl or CD although … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, Reissues | Tagged album, box set, Chapter One Atlantic Years 1988-1993, hard rock, Kip Winger, melodic, Reb Beach, review, Winger | Leave a comment

Album review: CLIVE CARROLL – The Abbot – Clive Carroll plays the music of John Renbourn

Posted on September 28, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

CLIVE CARROLL - The Abbot - plays the music of John Renbourn

www.clivecarroll.co.uk [Release date 02.10.23] I have a confession to make. In the early 1970s I was heavily into “early music” and for a time performed in a duo recreating the dance music of the medieval minstrels. That band’s demise was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Clive Carroll, Elizabethan, folk, Jacqui McShee, jazz, medieval, Pentangle, review, The Abbot - Clive Carroll plays the music of John Renbourn | Leave a comment

Album review: SCREAMING EAGLES – High Class Rock ‘N’ Roll

Posted on September 27, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

FTF Records [Release date 06.10.23] Screaming Eagles hail from Northern Ireland and this is their sophomore album. The debut came out in 2013 which begs the question what have they been doing since? Notwithstanding the two year hiatus that is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, heavy rock, High Class Rock 'N' Roll, review, Screaming Eagles | Leave a comment

Album review : THE RUNAWAYS – Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin (5 CD boxset)

Posted on September 27, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 29.09.23] An all female rock band is rare. A successful all female rock band is even rarer. US band, The Runaways, Cherie Currie, Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Sandy West and Jackie Fox, broke through the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, box set, Cherrie Currie, Jackie Fox, Joan Jett, John Alcock, Kim Fowley, Lita Ford, Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin, review, Sandy West, Sharon Osborne, The Runaways | Leave a comment

Album review: GREGG WRIGHT – Big Dawg Barkin’

Posted on September 25, 2023 by petefeenstra

Left Hook Music [Release date 01.12.22] It’s 45 years since Gregg Wright the self proclaimed ‘King of the rockin Blues’ cut his debut solo album back in Louisiana called ‘Khamsin’. Since then he’s established himself as an international rock blues … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Albert King, album, Aynsley Dunbar, Berlin, Big Dawg Barkin, Billy Gibbons, blues, Cheyenne Wright, Freddie King, funk, gospel, Gregg Wright, guitar, Guns 'N' Roses, Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, Leslie West, Michael Jackson, Mick Fleetwood, Oogie Brown, Peter Green, psychedelia, review, rock, soul, Spencer Davis, The Gap Band | Leave a comment

Album review: 38 SPECIAL – Special Forces and Wild Eyed Southern Boys (Remasters)

Posted on September 24, 2023 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [Release date: 08.09.23] In 2008, a major fire in Universal Studios’ Hollywood Warehouse devastated the company’s music archives. 38 Special were one of the bands to suffer a significant loss…and if nothing else, that gives these remasters … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged .38 Special, album, Allmans, Don Barnes, Donnie Van Zant, Doobie Bros, Jim Peterik, Lynyrd Skynyrd, remasters, review, Rodney Mills, southern rock, Special Forces, Survivor, Wild Eyed Southern Boys | Leave a comment

Album review: DIO – The Studio Albums 1996–2004

Posted on September 23, 2023 by jason

BMG [Release date 22.09.23] Ronnie James Dio’s eponymous band have quite a legacy, released a long string of solid and well received metal albums, from their formation in 1982 (following Dio’s departure from Black Sabbath) until his death in 2010. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Angry Machines, box set, classic metal, Dio, heavy metal, Killing the Dragon, Magica, Master of the Moon, metal, review, Ronnie James Dio, The Studio Albums 1996–2004 | Leave a comment

Album review : SHAKE THAT THING ! The Blues In Britain 1963-73

Posted on September 23, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 22.09.23] Without the blues, there would be no rock’n’roll. That’s the history. This 73 track, 3 CD package is an extensive collection of recordings by British bands and solo artists, all heavily influenced by American Blues. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 1963, 1973, Alex Harvey, Alexis Korner, Bert Jansch, blues, boxset, Britain, Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac, Gene Vincent, Humble Pie, Jethro Tull, John Martyn, John Mayall, John McAuley, Judy Dyble, Leadbelly, Lindsay Buckingham, Long John Baldry, Mungo Jerry, Pete Green, review, Robert Johnson, Rory Gallagher, Savoy Brown, TASTE, Ten Years After, The Animals, The Climax Chicago Blues Band, Trader Horne | Leave a comment

Album review: UNCLE FRANK – Diablo

Posted on September 23, 2023 by jason

Last Man Media [Release date 06.10.23] Uncle Frank were formed in 2003 by Fun Lovin’ Criminals’ drummer (and vocalist with Uncle Frank) Frank Benbini and guitarist Naim Cortazzi and ‘Diablo’ is the band’s fourth album. They are joined by Darryl … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Diablo, Fun Lovin' Criminals, funk, pop rock, review, rock, soul, Uncle Frank | Leave a comment

Album review : BONFIRE – MMMXXIII

Posted on September 22, 2023 by brianmc

AFM [Release date : 22.09.23] MMMXXIII is a suite of three albums re-recorded by German Rock giants, Bonfire. The band’s continued popularity and success through the decades confounds critics, of the genre at least, if not the band. That of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Don't Touch The Light, Dyan Mair, eview, Fabio Allessandrini, Fireworks, Frank Pane, Hans Ziller, melodic rock, Point Blank, Ronnie Parks, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE HACKETT – Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights: Live In Brighton

Posted on September 22, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Steve Hackett in September 2023 as part of the GRTR!@20 promotion when Steve was the September “Grotto of Greatness” inductee. This is an edited version of the radio show that will be broadcast in its entirety … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, concert, Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights: Live In Brighton, Genesis, guitar, guitarist, interview, live, prog, Progressive Rock, radio, review, Steve Hackett | Leave a comment

Album review: RENAISSANCE – The Legacy Tour 2022

Posted on September 22, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Symphonic Rock Recordings [Release date 15.08.23] Back in 2015 we saw Renaissance performing at a small venue in North-West England, The Citadel, which remains something of a mecca for prog bands. Since that time they have played several tours in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Annie Haslam, concert, live, October 2022, Progressive Rock, Renaissance, review, symphonic rock, The Legacy Tour 2022 | Leave a comment

Album review: ROBIN TROWER Featuring SARI SCHORR – Joyful Sky

Posted on September 18, 2023 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Robin Trower for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 30 June 2024. Provogue Records [Release date 27.10.23] The Robin Trower and Sari Schorr pairing looks great on paper, while in real time it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, blues, Davey Pattison, grooves, guitar, interview, Jack Bruce, James Dewar, Jimi Hendrix, Joyful Sky, Maxie Priest, Peter Green, Procol Harum, review, Robin Trower, rock, Sari Schorr, tone | Leave a comment

Album review : RONNIE ROMERO – Too Many Lies Too Many Masters

Posted on September 15, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date : 15.09.23] Ronnie Romero’s third “solo” album is delivered by a pretty cool hard rock trio rounded out by guitarist Jose Rubio and drummer, Andy C. The label make a point of telling us that this is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy C, Delta blues, hard rock, Jose Rubio, review, Ronnie Romero | Leave a comment

Album review : SEVENTH WONDER – Become, Waiting In The Wings, Mercy Falls, Great Escape

Posted on September 14, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 15.09.23] Unsurprisingly, after the commercial and critical success of Seventh Wonder’s most recent album, The Testament, released May 2022, the band’s previous, much lower profile albums have been given a new lease of life. Frontiers Music … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Become, Graham Bonnet, Great Escape, Kamelot, Mario Parga, melodic hard rock, Mercy Falls, progrock, review, Seventh Wonder, Tommy Karevik, Waiting In The Wings | Leave a comment

Album review: PARDON THE INTERRUPTION – Hot N’ Fresh

Posted on September 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

ptimusic.com [Release date 14.04.23] It would be easier, some months following release, to pass over this album and regret a missed review opportunity. But not here at GRTR! The truth is that this album may have provided a soundtrack at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, funk, Hot N' Fresh, Pardon The Interruption, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: HEADCAT – Reissues

Posted on September 11, 2023 by jason

Walk The Walk …Talk The Talk, Live In Berlin, Dreamcatcher BMG [Release date 15.09.23] Motorhead did not play rock ’n’ roll, but The Head Cat certainly did. Bassist/vocalist Lemmy’s side project, with drummer Slim Jim Phantom (The Stray Cats) and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged albums, Dreamcatcher, Headcat, Lemmy, Live In Berlin, Motorhead, re-issued, review, rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, Slim Jim Phantom, The Stray Cats, Walk The Walk …Talk The Talk | Leave a comment

Album review : JACK STARR’S BURNING STARR – Metal Generation 1985-2017

Posted on September 8, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [release date 08/09/23] It seems like Jack Starr’s bands have been playing gigs and cranking out albums ever since Heavy Metal became a thing. And yet, from his beginnings with Virgin Steele in 1982, to his primary music … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Bruno Ravel, Frank Vestry, heavy metal, Jack Starr, Mike Tirelli, Ned Meloni, power metal, review, Rhett Forrester, Shmoulik Avigal | Leave a comment

Album review: ALBANY DOWN – Born In The Ashes

Posted on September 8, 2023 by Davoski

AD Recordings [Release date: 01.09.23] Back after too long away and with a changed band membership, Paul Turley’s Albany Down hit the racks with a fourth album, ‘Born In The Ashes’. And very fine it is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Albany Down, band, blues, Born in the Ashes, hard rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: LAURENCE JONES – Bad Luck & The Blues

Posted on September 4, 2023 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Laurence Jones for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 17 September 2023. Marshall Records [Release date 25.08.23] ‘Bad Luck & The Blues’ is Laurence Jones’s ninth release in all and it’s a cracking hard … Continue reading →