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Tag Archives: hard rock
Album review: Ritchie Blackmore’s RAINBOW – Live In Dusseldorf (3-LP vinyl)

Demon/Edsel [Release date 26.06.26] The second (after Cologne) of three live albums recorded in Germany 1976, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow were promoting their Rainbow Rising LP to huge acclaim. The three albums were originally issued as double CDs a few years … Continue reading
Album review : LYNCH MOB – The Final Ride (Live)

Frontiers Music [Release date : 29.05.26] George Lynch was always known for his incendiary axework in a live setting. Never straying too much from the album the song came from, but adding enough to make it seem fresh and new. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Frontiers Music, Gabriel Colon, George Lynch, hard rock, Jimmy Danda, live, Lynch Mob, review
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Album review : SPREAD EAGLE – The Brutal Divine

Frontiers Music [Release date : 12.06.26] This is US rock band, Spread Eagle’s fourth album in 25 years, and second album on the Frontiers’ label, not very hard on the heels of 2019’s rather good Subway To The Stars. Ray … Continue reading
Single review: BLACKLIST UNION – Jackson

Website/BLU Records This is exactly what you need for the summer, a great punked up reimagination of the Johnny Cash classic “Jackson”, and what a great version this is. With Blacklist Union frontman Tony West and Femme Fatale’s Lorraine Lewis … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Blacklist Union, country, Femme Fatale, hard rock, Jackson, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Lorraine Lewis, punk, review, rock, single, Tony West
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Album review : BRIAN ROBERTSON – Diamonds And Dirt (2 CD Reissue)

Cherry Red [Release date 29.05.26] Scottish guitarist/ songwriter Brian Robertson played on what were arguably Thin Lizzy’s top 5 studio albums. Over a four year period, 1974-78, he contributed as guitarist and co-writer with Phil Lynott on Nightlife, Fighting, Jailbreak, … Continue reading
Album review: BEGGARS BLISS – S/t

Website [Release date 22.05.26] Derby based Beggars Bliss formed in 2024, with a mantra of – “if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing.” Their line-up is Henry John (vocals, guitar), Milly Ayesha (keyboards, vocals), Dan Griffiths (bass, vocals) and Chris … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Beggars Bliss, blues rock, classic rock, debut, hard rock, review, self-titled
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Album review : DEGREED – Curtain Calls

Frontiers [Release date 24.04.26] Eighth full length album from respected Swedish Hard Rock band, Degreed…Robin Eriksson, Mats Eriksson, Mikael Blanc and Daniel Johansson. Their sound is impossible to categorise. Is it toughened up AOR, melodic hard rock, metallised hard rock … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, Curtain Calls, Degreed, Frontiers Music, hard rock, Mats Eriksson, review, Robin Eriksson, Swedish
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Album review : URIAH HEEP – Beautiful Dream, The Recordings 1975-77 (4CDs)

Cherry Red [Release date 24.04.26] Return To Fantasy (1975) High And Mighty (1976) Firefly (1977) Innocent Victim (1977) Cherry Red’s latest Uriah Heep boxset, Beautiful Dream, is essentially a follow up to their Shadow And The Wind set released last … Continue reading
Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Live & Ready 1980-1984

Chrysalis Records [Release date 03.04.26] Guitar legend Michael Schenker has had a largely wonderful career, with his own band as well as with both Scorpions and UFO. And of his eponymous band, the 1980 to 1984 period is widely considered … Continue reading
Feature: GRTR! Greats – BETH HART

Photo: Manuela Langotsch Beth Hart’s place in the GRTR! Greats series was sealed a long time ago by her heartfelt songwriting, emotionally charged voice and musical excellence spanning a 18 plus album career backed by non stop touring. Her vibrato … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR! GREATS, GRTR! Greats (All Posts), INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
Tagged album, beth Hart, blues, blues rock, classic rock, feature, hard rock, interview, retrospective, review, singer, songwriter
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Album review: WARRANT – Belly To Belly Vol.1

Deko Entertainment [Release date 15.04.26] Warrant’s fifth album ‘Belly to Belly, Vol. 1′ has been remastered and repackaged and is being re-released in April, and for the first time will also be released on vinyl. Originally released in 1996 it … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Belly To Belly Vol.1, hard rock, melodic rock, review, Warrant
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Album review: CASEY MAUNDER – Smash Down Jericho

Website [Release date 20.03.26] Album number three from Casey Maunder and pleased to report that he carries on with his high standards of penning catchy, melodic hard rock. Of the ten songs on here, only ‘Paint’ has been released ahead … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Casey Maunder, hard rock, melodic rock, review, rock, Smash Down Jericho
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Album review: RAINBOW – Temple Of The King 1975/76

Edsel/Demon Music Group [Release date 27.03.26] Originally touted as Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow were formed by Deep Purple guitarist Blackmore. In late 1974, Blackmore had wanted to record a cover of Quatermass’ Black Sheep Of The Family, and did so as … Continue reading
Album review: ROBIN TROWER – Live!

Chrysalis [Release date: 03.04.26] Guitarist Robin Trower made himself as a guitarist, originally with Procol Harum, before forging a successful solo career. Most will (or should) know his classic second album, Bridge Of Sighs, which was remastered and expanded last … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, classic rock, guitarist, hard rock, live, Procul Harum, review, Robin Trower, rock
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Gig review: SMITH KOTZEN – Bristol Academy, 20 February 2026

It’s a band and promoters nightmare. Towards the end of a relatively short UK tour the special guests Kris Barras Band had to pull out due to Kris’ throat infection. Shame as I was looking forward to seeing Barras live … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 20 February 2026, Adrian Smith, Bristol Academy, classic rock, gig, hard rock, Iron Maiden, review, Richie Kotzen, Smith Kotzen, Winery Dogs
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Album review : BLACK SWAN – Paralyzed

Frontiers Music [Release date : 27.02.26] Four years after Black Swan’s second album, Generation Mind, comes Paralyzed, with the four horsemen, Robin McAuley, Reb Beach, Jeff Pilson and Matt Starr riding quickly into view. So called “supergroups”, of which this … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Black Swan, Frontiers Music, hard rock, Jeff Pilson, Matt Starr, Paralyzed, Reb Beach, review, Robin McAuley
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Album review : WILD HORSES – Standing Our Ground (6 CD Boxset)

Cherry Red [Release date 13.02.26] The two Wild Horses’ studio albums were arguably the last gasp of seventies’ hard rock before it went under. Glaswegian forces of nature, Brian Robertson and Jimmy Bain, guitar and bass (and vocals), had jumped … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged boxset, Brian Robertson, hard rock, Jimmy Bain, Phil Lynott, Rainbow, review, Thin Lizzie, Wild Horses
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Album review: DENNIS CHURCHILL-DRIES – Crazy Is This Life

AOR Blvd Records [Release date 30.01.26] Former White Sister and Tattoo Rodeo vocalist Dennis Churchill-Dries is back with another album packed full of classy melodic rock. He’s joined by Steve Newman on guitar and keys, along with Newman drummer Rob … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, AOR Blvd Records, Dennis Churchill Dries, hard rock, melodic rock, review, rock, Steve Newman, Tattoo Rodeo, White Sister
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Album review: GOTTHARD – More Stereo Crush

Reigning Pheonix Music [Release date 13.03.26] Gotthard released ‘Stereo Crush’ last year and now have a follow on eight-track EP. Five songs are previously unreleased from the ‘Stereo Crush’ sessions, ‘Mayday’ had only been available as a video, and there … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Gotthard, hard rock, KROKUS, Marc Storace, melodic hard rock, More Stereo Crush, review
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