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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2025
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2026
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Upcoming: Festivals UK & Europe (2026)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Latest Album Reviews
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Album review : KEITH WEST – Cross That Bridge, The Anthology 1965-99 (2 CDs)
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Album review : COUSINS & WILLOUGHBY – The Bridge
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Album review : WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS – Covers of The Beatles 1967-70
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Feature: All Boxed Up for Christmas (December 2025)
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Album review : LYNCH MOB – Dancing With The Devil
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Album review: CYTRUS – Duality
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Latest Gig Reviews
GRTR! Greats
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Single & EP Reviews
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Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS
Album review : HANOI ROCKS – The Days We Spent Underground (1981-84)
Esoteric Records/Cherry Red [Release date: 26.05.23] CD1 Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks (1981) CD2 Oriental Beat (1982) CD3 Destruction Blues (1982) CD4 Back To Mystery City (1983) CD5 All Those Wasted Years (1984) In the 4 short years from … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Andy McCoy, Bowie, boxset, Buzzcocks, Dale Griffin, glam rock, Gyp Casina, Hanoi Rocks, Kerrang!, LA Rock, Michael Monroe, Mott, Nasty Suicide, Overend Watts, punk, Sam Yaffa, Sounds, The Days We Spent Underground (1981-84), Undertones
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Album review: MIKE ROSS – Third Eye Open
Taller Records [Release date 28.04.23] This latest album Mike Ross certainly hits the listener like the proverbial musical freight train. Joining Mike Ross (vocals, guitar, organ) on engine’s footplate are Derek Randall (vocals, bass) and Darren Lee (drums). Jack Hutchinson adds … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, guitarist, hard rock, Jack Hutchinson, Mike Ross, review, rock, Third Eye Open
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Album review: GNOSS – Stretching Skyward
Bandcamp [Release date 12.05.23] Gnoss – Aidan Moodie (vocals, guitar), Graham Rorie (fiddle, mandolin), Connor Sinclair (flute, whistles) and Craig Baxter (bodhrán, percussion) – released their last album ‘The Light of the Moon’ in 2021. On the subsequent tour supporting … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, folk, Gnoss, instrumental, review, Stretching Skyward, traditional
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Album review : HOUSE OF SHAKIRA – XIT
Frontiers [Release date: 19.05.23] Those melodic rock fans who mainline the uncut version of the brand might not have time for artists who add their own distinctive musical seasoning. But they might just find that this shiny new album from … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Eagles, Frontiers, funk, Glenn Frey, House Of Shakira, melodic rock, New Wave, review, Valensia, Valentine, XIT
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Album review: STEVE LUKATHER – Bridges
The Player’s Club/Mascot [Release date 16.06.23] Early despatches suggested that Steve Lukather’s latest solo album might merely be a continuation of Toto especially with the contributions of several band members. Sure, we have writing and vocal back up contributions from … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bridges, classic rock, David Paich, guitar, guitarist, Joseph Williams, review, Steve Lukather, Toto
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Album review: RAMSEY LEWIS – Legacy/ Ramsey/ Live At The Savoy/Chance Encounter (Remasters)
BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 30.03.18] In the fourth of our series of reviews summarising the Ramsey Lewis reissues (see links below) here are four late-1970s/early 1980s Ramsey Lewis albums on two CDs. Once again reproducing the original credits and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Chance Encounter, classical, Grover Washington Jr., jazz funk, Legacy, Live At The Savoy, Ramsey, Ramsey Lewis, reissue, review, soul jazz, Wayne Henderson
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Album review: IVY GOLD – Broken Silence
A1 Records [Release date 26.05.23] Ivy Gold’s ‘Broken Silence’ is a step up from their debut ‘Six Dusty Winds’ album. It’s built round the same muscular rock antecedents, but features stronger songs which are unafraid to let the funk, blues … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Anders Olinder, blues, Broken Silence, funk, gospel, Ivy Gold, Kevin Moore, Manou, review, rock, Sebastian Eder, soul, sprechgesang, Tal Bergman
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Album review: REDBONE – A’s And B’s
BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 17.03.23] For most readers of a certain age (i.e. ancient, this writer included) Redbone may be best known for their one big hit single ‘Witch Queen Of New Orleans’ which made No.2 in the UK … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 1970-1977, A's and B's, album, compilation, funk, pop, Redbone, review, rock, singles, soul, swamp rock
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Album review: RICHIE RAMONE – Live To Tell
Cargo/Livewire [Release date 21.04.23] If you think of the famed Ramones logo, amongst the four names around the outside you wouldn’t find Richie, however, a Ramone he was, on drumming duty between 1983 and 1987. In fact, the story is … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Live To Tell, pop rock, punk pop, punk rock, review, Richie Ramone, rock 'n' roll, The Ramones
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Album review: THE BALLADMONGRELS – Trouble
Cargo/Livewire [Release date 12.05.23] Whether it be his work with the Dogs D’Amour, his solo albums or here in new project The Balladmongrels, there is a warmth and familiarity to the vocals of Tyla J Pallas, a man whose lyrics … Continue reading
Album review: JIM KIRKPATRICK – Dead Man Walking
US One Records [Release date 21.04.23] Second solo album from FM guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick, who is joined by fellow FM band member Jem Davis on keyboards and Status Quo’s rhythm section of bassist John ‘Rhino’ Edwards and drummer Leon Cave. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Dead Man Walking, FM, guitarist, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, review, rock, Solo
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Album review: KORITNI – Long Overdue
Verycords [Release date 14.04.23] Koritni, the band formed around vocalist & guitarist Lex Koritni, are now on their seventh studio album (and first in five years) since first appearing back in 2006. Lex Koritni is joined by guitarist Tom Fremont and drummer Daniel … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AC/DC, album, blues rock, hard rock, Koritni, Lex Koritni, Long Overdue, review, rock, rock 'n' roll
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Album review: THE 69 EYES – Death Of Darkness
Atomic Fire Records [Release date 21.04.23] There’s an element of “Eurovision” in this album, and I reckon The 69 Eyes should ready themselves for Australia 2024. Australia? Yes, I have high hopes for Voyager this year. There is a definite … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Death Of Darkness, glam, glam metal, hard rock, review, The 69 Eyes
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Album review : MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND – The Love Goes On
Frontiers [Release date 12.05.23] Michael Thompson may be one of the most gifted, sought after rock guitarists in the business – his pedigree must run to several volumes – but the Michael Thompson Band, known as MTB, will forever be … Continue reading
Album review: SCREAMACHINE – Church Of The Scream
Frontiers [Release date 12.05.23] While not immediately lovable, Italy’s Metal monsters, Screamachine’s second album, Church Of The Scream inexorably works its way under your skin. And remains there. So, get your headphones on and say a prayer. They band hit … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged Accept, album, Alice Cooper, Church Of The Scream, Edoardo Taddei, KROKUS, Motley Crue, Paulo Campitelli, review, Savatage, Screamachine, speed metal, Valerio Carrichio
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Album review: ANGEL – Once Upon A Time
Cleopatra Records [Release date 21.04.23] Whilst it is good to see a seventies band re-appear (in white suits) to capture former glories ‘Once Upon A Time’ isn’t the album to achieve modern notoriety. The problem is the inconsistent production. Maybe … Continue reading
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Tagged album review, Angel, glam, metal, Once Upon A Time, pop
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Album review : HEAVEN’S EDGE – Get It Right
Frontiers [Release date 12.05.23] Allmusic describes Heaven’s Edge as “an obscure Glam Metal band from the early nineties”. It’s a reasonable observation on the basis of one (self titled) album released in 1990 (just about clinging on to the glam … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, David Rath, Get It Right, glam rock, Heaven's Edge, Jared Gulino, Mark Evans, melodic rock, Motley Crue, MTV, Poison, Ratt, Reggie Wu, review, Steve Parry
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Album review: L.A. EDWARDS – Out Of The Heart Of Darkness
Bitchin’ Music Group [Release date 06.01.23] Everything about L.A. (aka Luke Andrew) Edwards from his initials and his West Coast tinged Americana, to his use of jangly pop and the fact his PR references the cultural sway of Laurel Canyon, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, Dawes, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Jerry Edwards, Jesse Daniel Edwards, L.A. Edwards, Laurel Canyon, Luke Andrew Edwards, Michael Stipe, New Wave, Out Of The Heart Of Darkness, pop, REM, review, singer, songwriter
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Album review: ARIELLE – ’73
ww.iamarielle.com [Release date 20.04.23] Arielle has had a stop-start career which has involved record label issues and rehab. Now an independent artist, the new album ’73 is her true second coming. It’s suitably titled because (whilst referencing her classic VW … Continue reading
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Tagged '73, album, Arielle, blues, guitar, guitarist, review, rock, roots
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Album review: PAUL GILBERT – The Dio Album
Music Theories Recordings/Mascot [Release date 07.04.23] Six string wizard Paul Gilbert reinterprets some of RJD’s finest moments from his time with Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio, substituting the master’s vocals with his own guitar lines. It’s a hugely brave move … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, guitar, guitarist, Paul Gilbert, review, Ronnie James Dio, The Dio Album
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Album review: L.A.GUNS – Black Diamonds
Frontiers [Release date 14.04.23] Since Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis buried the hatchet back in 2016 they have released four studio and two live albums in what can only be described as somewhat of a purple patch. The latest, ‘Black … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Black Diamonds, hard rock, L.A. Guns, review, sleaze
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Album review: BALDASSARRE – Grand Boulevard
Carl Baldassarre Music [Release date 28.04.23] The first thing this over-stressed reviewer thought when opening up the promo package was “what the hell will I play it on?” But it turns out that the album is on a USB stick … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Carl Baldassarre, classic rock, Grand Boulevard, pop, review
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Album review: RAMSEY LEWIS – Hang On Ramsey!/Wade In The Water/Don’t It Feel Good/Salongo/Tequila Mockingbird/Love Notes (Remasters)
BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date: various] Many readers’ first experience of Ramsey Lewis would have been the 1965 hit ‘The In Crowd’. This evokes happy times, stretched out with a transistor radio in the summer sunshine tuned in to a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Don't It Feel Good, Earth Wind & Fire, Hang On Ramsey!, jazz funk, jazz fusion, Love Notes, Maurice White, Ramsey Lewis, review, Salongo, soul jazz, Stevie Wonder, Tequila Mockingbird, Wade In The Water
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Album review: IAN HUNTER- Defiance Part 1
Sun Records (Release Date 21.04.23) Ian Hunter has taken into unchartered territory the concept of what rock n rollers are like when they reach a great age. Having celebrated his 80th birthday in 2019 with a Mott the Hoople 74 … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Andy York, Ian Hunter, Jeff Beck, Johnny Depp, Mike Campbell, Mott the Hoople, Ringo Starr, Slash, Taylor Hawkins
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Album review : KING’S X – In The New Age, The Atlantic Recordings 1988-95 (6 CD boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date 28.04.23] Anyone who got truly tuned into King’s X will be familiar with words like “memorable”, “original”, “intoxicating”. These and other such qualifiers being liberally used in reviews of the band’s albums down through the years. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Arnold Lanni, boxset, Brendan O'Brien, Cherry Red, Dug Pinnick, Frozen Ghost, In The New Age, Jerry Gaskill, King's X, Our Lady Peace, Progressive Rock, Revolver, Sam Taylor, Sheriff, The Atlantic Recordings 1988-95, The Beatles
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