Tag Archives: classic rock

Single reviews: BAD TOUCH, DEEP PURPLE, VEGA

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jason
BAD TOUCH - Strut

BAD TOUCH – Strut Norfolk’s favourite retro rockers are back with this delicious little slab of bluesy classic rock. Perfectly titled, the track rolls along, boasting some really great little classic 70’s and 80’s touches and is the most mature … Continue reading →

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News: QUEEN, MARILLION, HELLOWEEN, DEVIN TOWNSEND (April 2020)

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jason
MARILLION - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 4 November 2019

Hawklords release a new live album ‘Hawklords Alive’ on May 29. Marillion have started work on a new album during the current lockdown and are posting regular updates on their social media. Pattern-Seeking Animals (who feature current and former members … Continue reading →

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Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to BLUE OYSTER CULT

Posted on March 31, 2020 by jason

Jason Ritchie picks out some of the key albums from the heavy metal masters Formed from the late 60’s band Soft White Underbelly, Blue Oyster Cult (BOC) are often dubbed ‘the thinking man’s heavy metal band’. But for me they … Continue reading →

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Album review: LIAR – Sunset Plaza Drive

Posted on March 29, 2020 by jason
LIAR - Sunset Plaza Drive

Escape Music [Release date 20.03.20] Liar originally formed in 1975 and recorded two albums prior to this one, with extensive UK and European tours. Now after 42 years, the long-lost Liar album from 1978 finally gets its debut appearance on … Continue reading →

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Album review: TESLA – Five Man London Jam

Posted on March 27, 2020 by jason
TESLA - Five Man London Jam

Universal [Release date 27.03.20] Tesla are a band who write songs so good that they can be played in any style and still sound great. The world of rock music discovered this way back in 1990 when the band released … Continue reading →

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DVD review: ZZ TOP – That Little Ol’ Band From Texas

Posted on March 27, 2020 by jason
ZZ TOP - That Little Ol’ Band From Texas

Eagle Vision [Release date 29.02.20] Brilliant. Buy/Stream right now. Nikk Gunns. 5 out of 5. Now that would be the quickest review I have ever written, and yet how true that simple statement is. Newly released ZZ Top documentary “That … Continue reading →

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Album review: KEN HENSLEY – Tales Of Live Fire & Other Mysteries

Posted on March 21, 2020 by jason
KEN HENSLEY - Tales Of Live Fire & Other Mysteries

Cherry Red Records/HNE [Release date 27.03.20] Most will know keyboard player/songwriter, Ken Hensley from his ten year (1970-80) stint as a key component of Uriah Heep. This 5 CD package revisits Hensley’s work much later in his career. It focuses … Continue reading →

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Album review: JOHN MAYALL & THE BLUES BREAKERS – Road Dogs

Posted on March 19, 2020 by jason
JOHN MAYALL & THE BLUES BREAKERS – Road Dogs

EAR Music [Released 20.03.20] The first thing I wrote as I heard the title track “Road Dogs” coming through the speakers was “authentic”. Then I had to chuckle. If ANY British man playing the blues is authentic! Mind you, along … Continue reading →

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Album review: JETHRO TULL & IAN ANDERSON

Posted on March 15, 2020 by jason
JETHRO TULL - Living With The Past

JETHRO TULL – Living With The Past (CD&DVD Collector’s Edition Gatefold Digipac) EarMUSIC/Edel [Release date 20.03.20] Germany’s Edel/Ear Music continue their ambitious “Classics Range” with a double Jethro Tull whammy. These two boxsets add up to several hours of high … Continue reading →

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Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Agents Of Fortune, 40th Anniversary

Posted on March 14, 2020 by jason
BLUE OYSTER CULT - Agents Of Fortune, 40th Anniversary

Frontiers [Release date 06.03.20] CD/DVD As any fan knows, the key to a band’s longevity is an enduring ability to write great songs. That and the talent to leave more out than they put in. Once they get into the … Continue reading →

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Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Heaven Forbid

Posted on March 9, 2020 by jason
BLUE OYSTER CULT - Heaven Forbid

Frontiers [Release date 06.03.20] Blue Oyster Cult originally released ‘Heaven Forbid’ in 1998 on the CMC label, so it never got a widespread release and the band had left the label by their next album. Although there are no bonus … Continue reading →

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News: KANSAS, FISH, HEATHEN, OZZY, BRIAN WILSON (March 2020)

Posted on March 2, 2020 by jason
HEART - O2 Apollo, Manchester, 30 June 2016

Ozzy Osbourne’s latest album ‘Ordinary Man’ debuted at number 3 in both the US Billboard and UK album charts. Fish is now hoping to release his long-awaited final studio album ‘Weltschmerz’ in July. Carcass have named their new album ‘Torn … Continue reading →

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Album review: STATUS QUO – Rock Till You Drop & Thirsty Work

Posted on March 1, 2020 by jason
STATUS QUO - Rock

UMC [Release date 06.03.20] “Rock Till You Drop” was something of a love/hate album for the band. Rossi loved it, Parfitt hated it. It was a look back in the band’s rear view mirror. It was never uncomfortably reverential, but … Continue reading →

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Album review: STATUS QUO – Perfect Remedy

Posted on February 29, 2020 by jason
STATUS QUO - Perfect Remedy

UMC [Release date 06.03.20] Albums nineteen, twenty and twenty one. How many bands can say that? Each one now reissued, and expanded to within an inch of its life. With added liner notes and pics. “Perfect Remedy” (1989), “Rock Till … Continue reading →

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Album review: STEVE HARLEY – Uncovered

Posted on February 24, 2020 by GRTR! HQ
STEVE HARLEY - Uncovered

Absolute [Release date 21.02.20] While Cockney Rebel never really made the A grade, The Psychomodo – an album that languished amongst my 1970s LP collection – has always been one that I’ve always felt a strange affinity for, even if … Continue reading →

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Book review: ON TRACK…Toto/The Solo Beatles/Steely Dan (“Every album, every song”)

Posted on February 19, 2020 by GRTR! HQ
ON TRACK...Toto

Sonicbond Pubishing [Publication date January/February 2020] Liked and loathed in equal measures by the music press in the 1970s and 1980s, ultimately the band may have had the last laugh.  As author Jacob Holm-Lupp reiterates, their latest offering – XIV … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BLACK SABBATH 50TH ANNIVERSARY PLAYBACK – Number 10, Hackney, 11 February 2020

Posted on February 13, 2020 by jason
Black Sabbath 50th

Most of us listen to music while distracted by other things. Commute to work, at home or live venue. But what if there were no other distractions around you? Just you and the music, in the dark – would you … Continue reading →

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Album review: BIFF BYFORD – School Of Hard Knocks

Posted on February 9, 2020 by jason
BIFF BYFORD - School Of Hard Knocks

Silver Lining Music [Release date 21.02.20] One of British heavy metal’s finest icons, vocalist (and occasional bassist) Biff Byford has fronted Saxon since the mid 70s, when they were called Son Of A Bitch. And after talk of a solo … Continue reading →

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Album review: ROBERT HART – Pure

Posted on February 6, 2020 by jason
ROBERT HART - Pure

Escape Music [Release date 20.02.20] Vocalist Robert Hart sang on one of my all-time favourite albums, ‘Under The One Sky’ by The Distance, added to his solo album ‘Cries & Whispers’ is still revered in AOR circles. He has also … Continue reading →

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EP review: STONE THIEVES – Church Of The Medicine Man

Posted on February 5, 2020 by jason
STONE THIEVES - Church Of The Medicine Man

3MS Music [Release date 14.02.20] Stone Thieves are a London band who have been building a solid reputation with their Americana repertoire. One might argue that the music is American rock or even Southern Rock, rather than pure Americana, but … Continue reading →

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