Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: CHRIS ROSANDER – King Of Hearts

Posted on May 10, 2020 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 26.06.20] Christian Rosander is a 22-year-old musician and songwriter from Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Since he was 14 years old, he’d been writing songs in the AOR/Melodic and Westcoast genre. To be fair you’d been pretty certain the … Continue reading →

Album review: STEVE THORNE – Emotional Creatures Part 3

Posted on May 9, 2020 by jason

Own label [Release date 02.02.20] Part 3 of the ‘Emotional Creatures’ trilogy he started back in 2005, which was also his debut album. Less name guests this time around as Steve Thorne plays all the instruments, bar the drums which … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: DELAIN, JESSICA WOLFF, BEFORE SUNDAY

Posted on May 7, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

DELAIN Apocalypse & Chill (Napalm Records) [Release date 07.02.20] There was a time – around 10 years ago – when I was rather taken with Delain, and for that matter, Within Temptation. Both brought a slightly more commercial edge to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Anticipation, Apocalypse & Chill, Before Sunday, Delain, Jessica Wolff, Para Dice, pop rock, review, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL McDERMOTT – What In The World

Posted on May 7, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 06.05.20] I’ve been reasonably positive about previous releases by Chicago based Americana singer songwriter Michael McDermott. And if you’re looking for a singer songwriter in the great American troubadour mould, look no further. That is, so long as … Continue reading →

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Album review: LUCIFER – Lucifer III

Posted on May 7, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Century Media [Release date 20.03.20] It says a lot, when you can’t immediately recall that you reviewed a band’s last release only 2 years ago! In the case of Lucifer = a Stockholm based outfit owing much to the likes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, heavy rock, Lucifer, Lucifer III, progressive, psychedelic, review, Stoner | Leave a comment

Album review: TIGER MOTH TALES – A Visit To Zoetermeer (CD/DVD)

Posted on May 7, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

White Knight Records [Release date 21.02.20] Peter Jones was something of a revelation when fellow scribe Dave Randall and I saw Camel on their 2018 Moonmadness tour. Had it not been for the sheer brilliance of Andy Latimer, Jones’ keyboard … Continue reading →

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Album review: MIKE BATT – The Penultimate Collection

Posted on May 6, 2020 by jason

Dramatico [Release date digital 08.05.20; physical 26.06.20] Mike Batt’s long and varied career is celebrated on this double album, which highlights his work as performer, composer and arranger. This collection features Mike Batt’s original solo material, along with his own … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Art Garfunkel, best of, Bonnie Tyler, Colin Blunstone, composer, George Harrison, melodic, Mike Batt, pop, review, Roger Chapman, singer songwriter, the Wombles | Leave a comment

Album review: FOGHAT – Family Joules

Posted on May 6, 2020 by jason

Metalville [Eelease date 22.05.20] Released originally in 2003, this was always going to be a tough gig for Foghat. Slide guitar wizard Rod Price had recently left, and then they were knocked for six by the untimely death of their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, boogie, classic rock, Family Joules, Foghat, Humble Pie, re-issue, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: CHAMPLIN WILLIAMS FRIESTEDT – 2

Posted on May 5, 2020 by andynathan

Black Lodge [Release Date 15.05.20] In that genre of the softest and smoothest AOR given the shorthand ‘West coast’, CWF are something of a superstar collaboration. Former Chicago singer and keyboard player Bill Champlin and Joseph Williams, singer with Toto … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Champlin Williams Friestedt, Chicago, CWF, Michael McDonald, soft rock, Toto, West Coast | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MILAN POLAK, EVERYDAY HEROES

Posted on May 4, 2020 by jason

MILAN POLAK Can’t Please Everyone Lion Music (Release date 10.05.20) Guitar wizard Milan Polak is back with his fourth album to feature vocals. All the songs were composed by him, along with him playing most of the instruments. Plus there … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Billy Sheehan, Everyday Heroes, guitarist, Lion Music, melodic rock, Milan Polak, New Wave of Classic Rock, review, rock, southern rock | Leave a comment

Album review: MYRATH – Live In Carthage

Posted on April 30, 2020 by david.wilson

earMusic [Release date 17.04.20] Carthage has a lot of history, not all good unfortunately. It was one of the richest cities in the ancient world and was the centre of the Punic empire which proved to be a thorn in … Continue reading →

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Album review: CRYPTEX – Once Upon A Time

Posted on April 30, 2020 by jason

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 08.05.20] Cryptex are the trio of Simon Moskon (lead vocals, keys), Marc Andrejkovits (bass, backing vocals) and Andre Jean Henri Mertens (guitars, backing vocals), with drums being handled by Simon Schröder. Cryptex have been around since 2011 … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE BLOODY MALLARD – Realm

Posted on April 28, 2020 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 08.05.20] The Bloody Mallard came into being from another worldly place it could be said, as the musical ideas formed were reminiscent of many mushroom trips in rural Kent by guitarist and main man Tom Walding. Production … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, instrumental, melodic, progressive, psych rock, Real, review, rock, the Bloody Mallard | Leave a comment

Album review: KIP MOORE – Wild World

Posted on April 28, 2020 by jason

Snakefarm Records [Release date 29.05.20] Country rock singer/songwriter, Kip Moore is now on his fourth studio album in ten years. Each of the previous three were US Billboard Top Ten entries, so like many country artists, he knows how to … Continue reading →

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Album review: LITTLE RED KINGS – The Magic Show Part One

Posted on April 27, 2020 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 29.05.20] Little Red Kings last album ‘Callous’ was a veritable delight of blues, rock and gentler acoustic moments. Expectorations are high with this fan on any new music from the band. As vocalist Jason Wick explains about … Continue reading →

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Album review: TRIVIUM – What The Dead Men Say

Posted on April 26, 2020 by david.wilson

Roadrunner Records [Release date 24.04.20] In the uncertain world of virus and lockdown that we are currently facing it can be a joyless existence. Tours postponed, album releases delayed and little in the way of light at the end of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alex Bent, Catastrophist, CD, Conor Beaulieu, Matt Heafy, metal, Paulo Gregoletti, review, Roadrunner Records, rock, Silence In The Snow, Trivium, What The Dead Men Say | Leave a comment

Album review: SKINTRADE – The Show Must Go On

Posted on April 26, 2020 by david.wilson

Ninetone Records [Release date 17.04.20] A few years back I went along to see The Quireboys playing in Glasgow, an excellent night as it always is with Spike and the guys. What made that night extra special was the support … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, CD, Led Zeppelin, Matt Alfonzetti, Myke Gray, Red White and Blues, review, rock, Skintrade, The Show Must Go On | Leave a comment

Album review: THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE – Diamonds

Posted on April 26, 2020 by jason

Metropolis Records [Release date 27.03.20] Diamonds is the eighth studio album from Canadian gothic rock outfit The Birthday Massacre. That genre embraces a whole range of musical styles, of course, and the influences here lean heavily towards the electro-pop end … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Diamonds, electro, gothic, pop, review, rock, synth pop, the Birthday Massacre | 1 Comment

Album review: INDIA ELECTRIC CO – The Gap

Posted on April 24, 2020 by jason

Pre-order here [Release date 01.05.20] India Electric Co. – the duo comprising of vocalist Cole Stacey and multi-instrumentalist Joseph O’Keefe – are back with their second album, five years on since their debut, ‘The Girl I Left Behind Me’ was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, folk, India Electic Co, indie, instrumental, melodic, Midge Ure, review, roots music, the Gap | Leave a comment

Album review: THE OUTLAW ORCHESTRA – Pantomime Villains

Posted on April 23, 2020 by jason

Voodoo Queen Records [Release date 29.05.20] Hot on the tail of the southern rock/country flavoured EP from the Bootyard Bandits comes another UK based band, the Outlaw Orchestra, who play what they term ‘heavy grass’. The Outlaw Orchestra formed in … Continue reading →

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Album review: AMY BIRKS – All That I Am And All That I Was

Posted on April 23, 2020 by jason

Website [Release date 03.04.20] The world needs beauty and this can mean many different things to different people. To some it is a glorious vista, to others the innocent laugh of a small child, to others still it is the … Continue reading →

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Album review: KATATONIA – City Burials

Posted on April 22, 2020 by jason

Peaceville Records [Release date 24.04.20] When, on the 28th of February 2020, I visited the “Gagarin 205” club for the purpose of attending what can only be described as an outstanding performance by the Prog Metal quintet Katatonia, never in … Continue reading →

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Album review: PATTERN SEEKING ANIMALS – Prehensile Tales

Posted on April 19, 2020 by jason

PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS - Prehensile Tails

Inside Out [Release date 15.05.20] Pattern-Seeking Animals were formed by producer and writer John Boegehold (synths, keyboards) teaming up with current members of Spock’s Beard – Ted Leonard (vocals, guitar) and Dave Meros (bass) – plus former Spock’s Beard member … Continue reading →

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Album review: SASS JORDAN – Rebel Moon Blues

Posted on April 14, 2020 by petefeenstra

Stony Plain [Release date 31.01.20] Canadian blues -rock vocalist Sass Jordan’s ‘Rebel Moon Blues’ is a relatively speaking short album which despite some rather obvious song choices still rocks on several levels. She transforms 7 blues covers and one original … Continue reading →

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Album review: GOTTHARD – #13

Posted on April 14, 2020 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 13.03.20] Back in the early 90’s I went to see a new local band whilst in Switzerland, and very good they were too. That band was Gotthard, and here we are nearly thirty years later and … Continue reading →