Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: DIRTY HONEY – EP/LP

Posted on June 4, 2022 by jason

Dirt Records [Release date 20.05.22] Dirty Honey release this fourteen song album which sees them add 2019’s self-titled EP with their self-titled album released in 2021. It is a timely release to coincide with the band’s summer UK and European … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged AC/DC, album, Dirty Honey, EP/LP, hard rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, review, rock, southern rock, The Black Crowes | Leave a comment

Album review: GODLEY and CREME – Frabjous Days, The Secret World Of, 1967-69

Posted on June 3, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red/Grapefruit [Release date: 10.06.22] Kevin Godley and Lol Creme didn’t know what they were doing. Well, that’s not strictly true. To be accurate : There’s a thrill in not knowing what you’re doing but aiming high anyway and that, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 10CC, album, classic pop, Eric Stewart, Gallagher and Lyle, Giorgio Gomelsky, Graham Gouldman, Kevin Godley, Lol Creme, Ray Davis, review, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Yardbirds | Leave a comment

Album review: HANNAH RARITY – To Have You Near

Posted on June 2, 2022 by jason

www.hannahrarity.com [Release date 03.06.22] Three years on from her debut album, ’Neath the Gloaming Star’, Scottish singer songwriter Hannah Rarity releases the follow-up. Hannah won BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year in 2018, along with touring with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Boo Hewerdine, folk, Hannah Rarity, jazz, melodic, review, To Have You Near, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: GRACE – Hope

Posted on June 2, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date 10.06.22] Under the Grace moniker, Hope is an album put together by twenty year music biz veteran, Isra Ramos, and it’s a genre hopping blast. Ramos has toured to support Europe, Nightwish, The Scorpions, Angra and … Continue reading →

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Album review: NICK FLETCHER – The Cloud Of Unknowing

Posted on June 2, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Rough Draft Audio [Release date 02.09.22] Nick Fletcher’s latest album is a departure from the previously reviewed ‘Cycles Of Behaviour’ It gives free rein to his jazz rock tendencies whereas its predecessor added a bit more prog in the mix, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dave Bainbridge, guitar, instrumental, Jazz rock, John Hackett Band, Nick Fletcher, review, The Cloud Of Unknowing | Leave a comment

Album review: SEVENTH WONDER – The Testament

Posted on May 31, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 10.06.22] Sixth album from Swedish Prog Metal band Seventh Wonder, for whom life began at the turn of the century. The band is full of virtuoso musicians. Guitarist Johan Liefvendal and bassist, Andreas Blomqvist are the driving … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Andreas Blomqvist, AOR, Harem Scarem, Johan Liefvendal, Kamelot, Progmetal, progressive metal, review, Tommy Karevik, Toto, Unruly Child | Leave a comment

Album review: CHUCK WRIGHT – Chuck Wright’s Sheltering Sky

Posted on May 31, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

On Sunday 5 June, David Randall chatted to Chuck Wright about the new album. On Sunday 12 June – as part of ‘The Eclectic Mix’ – there was a more in-depth look at Chuck’s career based on the recent interview … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Chuck Wright, Chuck Wright's Sheltering Sky, Derek Sherinian, Eric Martin, fusion, interview, Jeff Scott Soto, Lanny Cordoba, prog, Progressive Rock, Quiet Riot, review | Leave a comment

Album review: DEF LEPPARD – Diamond Star Halos

Posted on May 30, 2022 by jason

UMC {Release date 27.05.22] Def Leppard are back after a seven year gap (pretty fast by their standards!) since 2015′s self-titled album, which was rather good. ‘Take What You Want’ starts the album off with all the things you love … Continue reading →

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Album review: BROOKS WILLIAMS & AARON CATLOW – Ready For The Times

Posted on May 29, 2022 by jason

Red Guitar Blue Music [Release date 24.06.22] A chance meeting a few years ago while on tour in The Netherlands led to collaboration of acoustic guitarist Brooks Williams (Boo Hewerdine, Rab Noakes) and violinist Aaron Catlow (Hawes and Catlow, Mad … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Aaron Catlow, album, blues, Brooks Williams, folk, Ready For The Times, review, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: BRAVE RIVAL – Life’s Machine

Posted on May 28, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

www.braverival.com [Release date 06.05.22] The debut album from Portsmouth rockers Brave Rival places them in a trajectory from Abba via Heart and Fleetwood Mac to Zeppelin. This should mean at least that the band will appeal to a wide age … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2022 | Tagged album, blues rock, Brave Rival, classic rock, Life's Machine, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ART GRIFFIN’S SOUND CHASER – The Seven Ages Of Starlight

Posted on May 27, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Artsounds Music [Release date 08.04.22] A self-confessed sucker for a bit of jazz rock/fusion, I couldn’t really resist the latest offering from Canadian bassist Art Griffin. Ably assisted by his band including violinist Victoria Veh and Saga drummer Steve Negus, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Art Griffin's Sound Chaser, instrumental, Jamie Glaser, jazz fusion, Jazz rock, Michael Sadler, review, The Seven Ages Of Starlight, Todd Sucherman | Leave a comment

Album review: LIV KRISTINE – Enter My Religion (bonus tracks)

Posted on May 26, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Liv Kristine chatted to David Randall for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in June 2022. This hour special includes a track from each of her solo albums. First broadcast 10 July 2022. Allegro Talent Media [Release date 19.08.22] There … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, Reissues | Tagged album, Enter My Religion, interview, Leaves' Eyes, Liv Kristine, pop rock, review, Theatre Of Tragedy | Leave a comment

Album review: RAVEN – Rock Until You Drop (the 4CD Over The Top Edition)

Posted on May 24, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red/Sanctuary [release date : 27.05.22] Raven, the legendary heavy metal band from England’s industrial North East, have the perfect resume. They have recorded for six different labels (and never been without one) including major and major-ish imprints like Atlantic, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged 4 CDs, albums, Atlantic Records, boxset, Brute Force, John Gallagher, John Tucker, Lead Weight, Mark Gallagher, Megadeath, Megaforce, Metallica, Motorhead, Neat Records, NWOBHM, Proto Thrash, Sasso Marconi, SPV | Leave a comment

Album review: STRANGEWAYS – Complete Recordings Volume 1, 1985-1994

Posted on May 22, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red/HNE [Release date: 27.05.22] The clamour for reissues of the first 3 Strangeways albums rose to fever pitch in the late 90s, as AOR made an attempt to get back on its feet. All 3 had been received with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, And The Horse, AOR, Bonaire, Complete Recordings Volume 1 1985-1994, Hangdog Records, Hard RoxX, Ian Stewart, John Lee, John Punter, Kevin Elson, melodic rock, Mike Shipley, Native Sons, review, Strangeways, Terry Brock, Walk Into The Fire | Leave a comment

Album review: LAZARUS DREAM – Lifeline

Posted on May 22, 2022 by jason

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 17.06.22] Second album from Lazarus Dream, which was put together by vocalist Carsten “Lizard” Shulz (Evidence One, Domain, Devoid) and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Markus Pfeffer (Scarlett, Winterland). Drummer Markus Kullmann (Sinner, Glenn Hughes), percussionist Thomas Rieder, … Continue reading →

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Album review: JAMES LABRIE – Beautiful Shade Of Grey

Posted on May 22, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

InsideOut Music [Release date 20.05.22] The latest solo offering from James LaBrie stems from his involvement on the Eden’s Curse track “No Holy Man’ (a real highlight on their 2011 album ‘Trinity’) and a subsequent support slot for the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Beautiful Shade Of Grey, classic rock, Dream Theater, Eden's Curse, James LaBrie, Marco Sfogli, Paul Logue, review | Leave a comment

Album review: LEE ROGERS – Gameblood

Posted on May 21, 2022 by jason

Zenith Café/Membran [Release date 13.05.22] This is Carrickfergus based Lee Rogers long awaited second album (his debut album, ‘Clocks’, was released way back in 2006). Produced by Gareth Dunlop (who also plays guitar, piano, synth and percussion on the album), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Foy Vance, Gameblood, Lee Rogers, pop, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: PAUL WALKER & KAREN PFEIFFER – Auf Wiedersehen, Me Duck

Posted on May 19, 2022 by jason

Crazy Moose Records [Release date 30.04.22] Paul Walker and Karen Pfeiffer are a folk duo who have been writing and performing since 2012. Karen is originally from Stuttgart, however, her southern German accent is already tinged with a ‘Staffordshire oatcake … Continue reading →

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Album review: WINTER IN EDEN – Social Fake

Posted on May 17, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Firestreak Media [Release date 25.03.22] This is Winter In Eden’s fourth studio album and you may well be thinking: “I’ve never heard of them before”. You’re not alone. Although to be fair we were aware of their previous release ‘Court … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, progressive, review, rock, Social Fake, symphonic metal, symphonic rock, Winter In Eden | Leave a comment

Album review: BRIDEAR – Aegis Of Athena

Posted on May 16, 2022 by brianmc

Setsuzoku Records [Release date 13.05.22] All girl band, Bridear, from Fukuoka, Japan has created a global fanbase since its inception in 2014. Aegis of Athena is its third album. The band’s skilful merge of Melodic Metal and J-Pop might not … Continue reading →

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Album review : SKILLS – Different Worlds

Posted on May 14, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date: 13.05.22] Skills … “Supergroups” often deflate our expectations pretty quickly. Good to to be able to say that this bunch of seasoned professionals – Brad (Night Ranger) Gillis, David (Giant) Huff, Billy (Mr Big) Sheehan plus … Continue reading →

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Album review: KENTUCKY RUCKUS – Space Is A Place

Posted on May 13, 2022 by jason

Website [Release date 29.04.22] Kentucky Ruckus, as their name suggests, hail from Kentucky featuring the Reed brothers – guitarist Kelly and drummer – vocalist Matt Red Moore and bassist Mack Keiffer. The album was recorded and engineered by Tom Tapley … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, Kentucky Ruckus, review, rock, southern rock, Space Is A Place | Leave a comment

Album review: LETTUCE – Unify

Posted on May 13, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Round Hill Records [Release date 03.06.22] I have to again confess a weakness for jazz funk and fusion. And when I sometimes wrestle with the possible ignominy of such a statement on a rock-oriented website I recognise that it probably … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bootsy Collins, funk, fusion, intsrumental, jazz funk, Lettuce, review, Unify | Leave a comment

Album review: GRAHAM BONNET BAND – Day Out In Nowhere

Posted on May 12, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date 13.05.22] Bonnet’s back catalogue gets frequent outings via the world’s ever popular reissue/ remaster labels. So it’s good to hear some new material from him and this “elegant, late career outfit”, The Graham Bonnet Band. He’s … Continue reading →

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Album review: JEFF SCOTT SOTO – Complicated

Posted on May 11, 2022 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 06.05.22] Like his last solo album, 2020′s ‘Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)’, Jeff Scott Soto has teamed up with Frontiers ‘go to’ songwriter/musician Alessandro Del Vecchio. Del Vecchio also adds keys, bass and backing vocals, being joined … Continue reading →