Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album Review: RETURNED TO THE EARTH – Fall Of The Watcher

Posted on January 8, 2023 by alanjones

Giant Electric Pea [Release date: 27.01.23] Written and recorded through lockdown between 2019 and 2021, ‘Fall Of The Watcher’ is Returned To The Earth’s fourth foray into the studio. Originally released in 2022 on BandCamp, Giant Electric Pea, the exemplary … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Fall Of The Watcher, IQ, Martin Orford, Mike Holmes, Progressive Rock, Returned To The Earth, review | Leave a comment

Album review: KING KRAKEN – MCLXXX

Posted on January 4, 2023 by jason

Website [Release date 27.01.23] King Kraken are a 5 five piece from South Wales, formed in September 2018, who are taking the metal scene by storm, festival by festival, gig by gig. Their new album entitled ‘MCLXXX’ is just about … Continue reading →

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Album review: HAMISH HAWK – Angel Numbers

Posted on January 3, 2023 by jason

Post Electric [Release date 03.02.23] Hamish Hawk’s 2021 album ‘Heavy Elevator’ turned this reviewer into a firm fan and expectations are high for this new album. Hamish Hawk again works with Rod Jones of Idlewind on the album. The title … Continue reading →

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Album review: TANGERINE DREAM – The Bootleg Box Set Vol.2 (7 CDs, Remastered)

Posted on December 31, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 13.01.23] As the instigators of sequenced electronica, and pioneers of German ‘Kosmische’ music, Tangerine Dream have no equal. Add to that their 60 plus movie scores – cultural statements as well as music to match the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, boxset, Christopher Franke, Edgar Froese, electronica, Fassbiner, Frankfurt, Komische, live, Near Dark, new age, Newcastle, Nottingham, Peter Baumann, prog, review, Sorcerer, Tangerine Dream, Tatort series, Washington | Leave a comment

Album Review: LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III – 2 Classic Albums on 1 CD

Posted on December 30, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 13.01.23] A musical family where each member is a successful, well known artist in their own right is very rare. That’s the way it is with the Wainwrights… Loudon, daughters Martha and Lucy, son Rufus, and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 2 on 1 CD, Kate McGarrigle, Lucy, Martha, review, Rufus, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: KELLY BAYFIELD – Wave Machine

Posted on December 27, 2022 by jason

Self-released [Release date 27.01.23] ‘Wave Machine’ is the debut album from Kelly Bayfield following on from the release of two singles, ‘Vapour Trails’ and ‘John Mahoney’. The songs gathered on this album arrived at some of the most significant points … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anmericana, country, folk, Kelly Bayfield, Paul Sartin, Phil Beer, pop, review, singer songwriter, Wave Machine | Leave a comment

Album review: AUTUMN’S CHILD – Starflower

Posted on December 23, 2022 by jason

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 20.01.23] Autumn’s Child return with their fourth album ‘Starflower’, the second one released by Pride & Joy Music. The band still features Michael Erlandsson on vocals, keyboards & guitars, Pontus Åkesson on lead guitar, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Autumn's Dream, hard rock, melodic rock, Michael Erlandsson, Queen, review, Starflower, Styx, theatrical | Leave a comment

Album review: DOKKEN – The Elektra Albums 1983-1987

Posted on December 23, 2022 by jason

BMG [Release date 27.01.23] Formed in the late 70s by vocalist and guitarist Don Dokken, the band Dokken shot to fame in the 80s, with their very enjoyable (and successful) blend of hard rock, glam and AOR. BMG continue their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Reissues | Tagged box set, Dokken, Don Dokken, George Lynch, glam metal, hard rock, melodic metal, metal, reissue, review, The Elektra Albums 1983-1987 | Leave a comment

Album review: URIAH HEEP – Sweet Freedom, Return To Fantasy (vinyl reissues)

Posted on December 23, 2022 by jason

BMG [Release date 20.01.23] BMG continue their marvellous reissue campaign, and these heavyweight discs not only feel and look as good as they sound, but fit in perfectly with the current trend for some quality vinyl. Prog legends Uriah Heep … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 70's rock, classic rock, coloured vinyl, David Byron, John Wetton, Mick Box, re-issues, Return To Fantasy, review, rock, Sweet Freedom, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: RINGO STARR & HIS ALL-STAR BAND – Live at the Greek 2019

Posted on December 18, 2022 by jason

BFD [Release date 25.11.22] When you are the most famous drummer on the planet and want to tour, there really is a who’s who of musicians in your little black book to call upon. Having first started playing with his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, Beatlyes, Greg Rolie, Live at the Greek 2019, pop, review, Ringo Starr & his All-Star Band, rock, Steve Lukather | Leave a comment

Album review: BARNABAS SKY – What Comes To Light

Posted on December 18, 2022 by jason

Pride & Glory [Release date 20.01.23] The all-star rock project Barnabas Sky, led by guitarist and songwriter Markus Pfeffer (Lazarus Dream, Winterland), is back a year later with album number two. Tyketto’s Danny Vaughn and Silent Rage’s Jesse Damon are … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Barnabus Sky, Dan Reed, Danny Vaughn, Doogie White, hard rock, Lazarus Dream, Markus Pfeffer, melodic metal, melodic rock, review, What Comes To Light | Leave a comment

Album review: AFTER LAPSE – Face The Storm

Posted on December 15, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 09.12.22] Debut album from Prog Rock classicists, After Lapse. As any aficionado will tell you, Progrock bands need more time than others to tell their story. Credit to After Lapse for holding track lengths to around … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged After Lapse, album, Face The Storm, Frontiers, Mike Portnoy, power metal, progrock, review, Spain | Leave a comment

Album review : NEVENA – Nevena

Posted on December 14, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 09.12.22] After contributing to the Big Deal album earlier this year, with several other female singers, Nevena strikes out now as a solo performer. Her debut walks a high wire between modern pop and melodic rock, as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Big Deal, Contemporary pop, country rock, Frontiers, Heart, melodic rock, Mike Palace, Pat Benatar, review, Serbia | Leave a comment

Album review : GERRY JABLONSKI and THE ELECTRIC BAND – 105

Posted on December 13, 2022 by brianmc

Independent [Release date: 02.12.22] Fifth album from one of the UK’s lesser known Rock’n’Blues outfits, Gerry Jablonski and The Electric Band. (Not their one hundred and fifth). Looking at the band’s incessant touring schedules, it’s a surprise they had time … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 105, album, Blues/Rock, Edinburgh, Gerry Jablonski, Gerry Jablonski And the Electric Band, heavy rock, Hendrix, review, Rory Gallagher, Russia, uk, Ukraine | Leave a comment

Album review: JESS HAYES BAND- On My Own

Posted on December 11, 2022 by andynathan

Independent (Release Date 2021) Jess Hayes has a distinguished musical pedigree as the daughter of Val Cowell and Richard Hayes of long-running blues rockers Bad Influence, and has been making a name with her own band on the South and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Bad Influence, Jess Hayes, Jess Hayes Band, pop rock, Richard Hayes, soul, Val Cowell | Leave a comment

Album review: PERFECT PLAN- Brace for Impact

Posted on December 11, 2022 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (release date 14.10.22) Of the multitude of Scandinavian melodic rock bands to emerge in recent years, Perfect Plan have been one of the best. Indeed their second album ‘Time for a Miracle’ was my album of 2020. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Kent Hilli, melodic rock, Perfect Plan | Leave a comment

Album review : WOLF MOON – How Do You See Yourself

Posted on December 11, 2022 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Kelly Lethbridge and Jimmy Owen for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 6 November 2022. Lethbridge Owen Music [Release date: 21.10.22] Wolf Moon’s ‘How Do You See Yourself’ is a triumph of song craft, intuitive … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Alicia Raitt, Bob Welch, Buckingham Nicks, Christine McVie, Emily Francis, Erik Stams, Fleetwood Mac, folk, harmonies, How Do You See Yourself, interview, Jimmy Owen, Kelly Lethbridge, Noah Nelson, Peter Green, radio, review, rock, rumours, songs, West Coast, Wolf Moon | Leave a comment

Album review : THE WHITE BUFFALO – Year Of The Dark Horse

Posted on December 9, 2022 by brianmc

white-buffalo-year-of-the-dark-horse-Cover-Art

Snakefarm [Release date : 02.12.22] The White Buffalo (aka Jake Smith) is hard to pin down. Aged 49, and hailing from the beautiful state of Oregon, this is his eighth studio album. So sustainability is not a problem. In fact … Continue reading →

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News: Albums of the Month (October – December 2022)

Posted on December 8, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

DYNAZTY Final Advent (AFM Records) What it does is incrementally fine tune the sound that’s now established as their MO. Their epic, keyboard driven symphonic/melodic metal just bursts with energy and invention, pushing them streets ahead of every other band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, ALTER BRIDGE, Austin Gold, classic rock, December 2022, Dynazty, Generation Radio, Gun, hard rock, heavy rock, melodic rock, November 2022, October 2022, Progressive Rock, review, Threshold | Leave a comment

Album review: PURE ASSASSINS – Questions

Posted on December 8, 2022 by brianmc

Independent [release date 25.11.22] What happens when the Pure Assassins’ drum and bass hedonist picks up a guitar and embraces existentialism? It is sometimes suggested that existentialism is just this bygone cultural movement rather than an identifiable philosophical position. But … Continue reading →

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Album review: TOMMY DECARLO – Dancing In The Moonlight

Posted on December 4, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 09.12.22] Tommy DeCarlo, the singer who joined Boston in 2007, after being discovered on MySpace by Tom Scholz, is now on his second “solo” album for Frontiers. The current iteration of his studio band includes, on guitar, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Delvecchio, Black Crowes, Bon Jovi, Boston, Dancing In The Moonlight, David Julien, Denis DeYoung, George Clinton, GooGoo Dolls, Marti Jepsen Andersen, melodic rock, review, Styx, Tom Scholz, Tommy Decarlo, Tommy Shaw | Leave a comment

Album review: ROB MORATTI – Epical

Posted on December 2, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 09.12.22] Quite a line up Rob Moratti’s put together here. Tony (Blue Murder) Franklin, Joel (Whitesnake) Hoekstra, Pete (James Christian/ Robin McAuley) Alpenborg, Fredrik (Bloodbound) Bergh, with Steve (Tyketto/ Journey) Augeri on backing vocals. Moratti has been … Continue reading →

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Album review : EMMA WILSON – Wish Her Well

Posted on December 2, 2022 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Emma Wilson for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, playing tracks from the album ‘Wish Her Well’. First broadcast 4 December 2022. Self release [Release date 13.05.22] Emma Wilson’s ‘Wish Her Well’ is a ground breaking multi-genre … Continue reading →

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Album review: AMBERIAN DAWN – Take a Chance – A Metal Tribute to ABBA

Posted on December 2, 2022 by jason

Napalm Records [Release date 02.12.22] Amberian Dawn go full on ABBA tribute mode on their latest album, after doing a sterling job of ABBA’s ‘Lay All Your Love On Me’ (which is also on here) on their previous album, ‘Looking … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Amberian Dawn, melodic metal, pop, pop metal, power metal, review, Take a Chance - A Metal Tribute to ABBA | Leave a comment

Album review : SCREAM MAKER – Bloodking

Posted on December 1, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date 9.12.22] Third album from Polish Metal band, Scream Maker. Bloodking begins where 2016′s Backs Against The World left off. This is a band who’ve spent much of their pre and post pandemic time on tour (Europe and … Continue reading →