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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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Tag Archives: melodic rock
Gig review: THE DARKER MY HORIZON – Acoustic Couch, Bracknell, 31 May 2025
Coming out of gig retirement (well apart from the excellent folk gigs at Harwell Village Hall) for a rather fine night for hard rock. Second time at The Acoustic Couch, which sadly is nearing its end as a live venue due … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 31 May 2025, Acoustic Couch, Bracknell, gig, melodic rock, Revenant, review, rock. hard rock, southern rock, the Darker My Horizon
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News: STYX, JOHN FOGERTY, RISE AGAINST (June 2025)
Airbourne released a new song, ‘Gutsy’, on June 6 – their first new music in six years. Amorphis their new studio album ‘Borderland’ on September 26 via Reigning Phoenix. Asia have signed with Frontiers and plan to release a live … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, Listening Post, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, AOR, blues, folk, gigs, John Fogerty, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, Rise Against, special editions, Styx, tour dates
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Album review: TRAGIK – Crescendo
Rock Company [Release date 28.05.25] Tragik are back with album number thirteen and their first in two years, which is some gap for them, although Phil Vincent has been busy with his other musical projects. Joining him are Vince O’Regan, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, BTO, Crescendo, hard rock, melodic rock, Phil Vincent, review, rock, Tragik
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Gig review: MAYHEM ROCK FESTIVAL- 229 Club, London, 16 May 2025
The first ever Mayhem Festival was a showcase for the 21st century generation of Swedish glam bands, both new and with a longer pedigree. The format was that the three co- headliners would all play sets of equal length, though … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Crashdiet, Crazy Lixx, gig, glam rock, melodic rock, sleaze rock, Smoking Snakes, Sweden, The Cruel Intentions, Toxic Rose
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Gig review: BRYAN ADAMS – 02 Arena, London, 15 May 2025
After last year’s second set of Albert Hall residencies, it was back to a more conventional tour for Bryan Adams. Considering he hasn’t had a hit in years and it has been his photography if anything that has kept him … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Bryan Adams, Gary Breit, gig, Keith Scott, melodic rock, Pat Steward, Roll With the Punches
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Album review : GIANT – Stand And Deliver
Frontiers Music [Release date: 16.05.24] This is the Kent Hilli, Jimmy (One Desire) Westerlund version of Giant, along with original members, David Huff and Mike Brignardello. The signature sound of any band is provided by its vocalist, closely followed by … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Coverdale, Dann Huff, Giant, Jimmy Westerlund, Kent Hilli, melodic rock, One Nation, review
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Feature: THE DARKER MY HORIZON’s Bakers Dozen
The Darker My Horizon recently release their fifth album, ‘From Out Of The Ashes’ on March 23 – ten years to the day of the release of their debut album ‘Acquiesce’. Baker’s Dozen, in which various musicians choose 13 songs – … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES
Tagged Bakers Dozen, Europe, Extreme, feature, hard rock, John Sykes, melodic rock, playlist, Spotify, the Darker My Horizon, Whitesnake
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Gig review: HAREM SCAREM – Camden Underworld, London, 28 April 2025
In the melodic rock world few bands enjoy as high a reputation as Canadians Harem Scarem for a consistent career of high quality releases- 16 albums at the last count. Hardly surprising then that they have been a big draw … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Cassidy Paris, Darren Smith, gig, Harem Scarem, Harry Hess, melodic rock, Mike Vassos, Pete Lesperance, Seventh Crystal
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Album review: H.E.A.T. – Welcome To The Future
EarMusic [Release Date 25.04.25] H.E.A.T’s new album shows the benefits of a stable line up. 2022’s ‘Force Majeure’, which marked the return of original singer Kenny Leckremo surprised many with its heaviness given that the first two albums with him … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Dave Dalone, Don Crash, H.E.A.T., Jona Tee, Kenny Leckremo, melodic rock
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News: ACCEPT, SAVATAGE, JOE BONAMASSA (May 2025)
Accept plan to record a new album next year – the band’s 50th anniversary – with producer Chris ‘Zeuss’ Harris. Bryan Adams releases his new album ‘Roll with the Punches’ on August 29. Alcatrazz have signed with Bravewords Records with … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged Accept, albums, AOR, blues, folk, gigs, Joe Bonamassa, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, Savatage, special editions, tour dates
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Gig review: ROMEO’S DAUGHTER – The Garage, London, 28 March 2025
They may not have the most prolific touring schedule, but within the first three months of the year, Romeo’s Daughter have already played London twice. The first was a rare acoustic gig in January at the Jazz Cafe (which, with … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Andy Wells, Angelo Tristan, AOR, Collateral, Craig Joiner, gig, Leigh Matty, melodic rock, Romeo's Daughter, Steve Drennan
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News: Albums of the Month (January – March 2025)
A quarterly feature highlighting album releases rated highly by the GRTR! review team and worthy of your investigation. We try and pick out a cross-section of albums that reflect the range of genres reviewed at the website. PERFECT PLAN Heart … Continue reading
Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS
Tagged 2025, albums of the month, classic rock, February, hard rock, January, March, melodic rock, R&B, singer songwriter, soul
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News: HOLLOW SOULS, BTO, LEMMY (April 2025)
A-Z release their second album ‘A2Z2′ on June 6 via Metal Blade Records. The band features drummer Mark Zonder (Fates Warning) and former Fates Warning vocalist Ray Alder. Babymetal have signed to Capitol Records, which will release the group’s new album, ‘Metal Forth’, … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, AOR, blues, BTO, folk, gigs, Hollow Souls, Lemmy, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates
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Album review : CARE OF NIGHT – Live At The Sweden Rock Festival
Frontiers Music [Release date: 28.03.25] With three highly rated Melodic Rock albums under their belt, Sweden’s Care Of Night were a welcome act at their home country’s annual Rock Festival last year. Along with others on Frontiers melodic rock roster, … Continue reading
Album review : W.E.T. – Apex
Frontiers Music [Release date : 28.03.25] Fourth album from WET, whose ranks have swollen from three members to six. What was once Robert Sall (Work Of Art), Erik Martensson (Eclipse) and Jeff Scott Soto (Talisman), is now those three plus … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile)
Tagged Apex, Eclipse, Frontiers Music, melodic rock, review, Talisman, W.E.T., Work Of Art
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Album review : STREETLIGHT – Night Vision
Frontiers Music [Release date : 14.03.25] After an artfully conceived AOR debut in 2024, Streetlight’s trajectory remains on an upward curve. And, to no one’s surprise, pretty well everywhere you scratch the paint on Night Vision, you’ll find the 1980s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Brian Wilson, Johnny Hates Jazz, melodic rock, Night Vision, review, Steely Dan, Streetlight, Toto
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News: BILLY IDOL, RUSS BALLARD, PINK FLOYD (March 2025)
Russ Ballard releases a double album entitled ‘Songs From The Warehouse/The Hits Rewired’, out on April 18 via Frontiers. The first CD contains new songs, while the second CD includes brand new recordings of famous hits he either penned or … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, AOR, Billy Idol, blues, folk, gigs, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, Russ Ballard, special editions, tour dates
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Gig review: FM- Chelmsford Social Club, Chelmsford, Essex, 21 February 2025
FM’s busy touring schedule took on a fresh twist when they announced an acoustic tour for the first part of 2025. it was not a totally new venture for them, indeed in the early nineties they released a successful live … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged acoustic, AOR, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Merv Goldsworthy, Pete Jupp, Steve Overland
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Album review : PERFECT PLAN – Heart Of A Lion
Frontiers Music [Release date : 28.02.25] With his fourth Perfect Plan album, Kent Hilli has truly deciphered the AOR code. Heart Of A Lion is a superb, beautifully crafted melodic rock recording, mixing keys and guitars in varying measures, creating … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, Brother Firetribe, Frontiers, Kent Hilli, melodic rock, Perfect Plan, review, Survivor
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Album review: ANGELINE – Rhythm of One
Blow Your Fez Off Music [Release date 03.03.25] Angeline is not a band this reviewer has heard much from prior to this new album, their fifth since reuniting in 2010 (Angeline first started back in 1987). Fellow GRTR! reviewer Nikk … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Angeline, hard rock, melodic rock, review, Rhythm of One
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Quick plays: JENN BUTTERWORTH, PHIL VINCENT
JENN BUTTERWORTH Her By Design Self-released [Release date 28.02.25] Debut album from Scottish musician Jenn Butterworth where the lyrical themes focus on women’s stories and their strength and struggles. Mention must be made of the beautifully illustrated CD booklet with blueprint technical … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Backstabber, folk, hard rock, Her By Design, Jenn Butterworth, melodic rock, Phil Vincent, review, rock, singer songwriter
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Gig review: H.E.A.T- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 31 January 2025
Photo: Les Linyard Nights like this do not come often enough in the UK for us lovers of melodic rock, with a touring triple bill of a newer generation of acts creating a fresh take on those sounds of the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Art Nation, Chez Kane, Dave Dalone, gig, H.E.A.T., Jona Tee, Kenny Leckremo, melodic rock
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News: RUSH, IQ, CANDICE NIGHT (February 2025)
Bryan Adams released the title track of his forthcoming album ‘Roll With The Punches’ on February 7. The album is due later this year and was co-written with Robert John “Mutt” Lange. Deko Entertainment release a 50th anniversary edition of Angel’s … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Candice Night, folk, gigs, IQ, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, Rush, special editions, tour dates
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Gig review: MAGNUM – The O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London, 21 January 2025
It is just over a year since the sad passing of Tony Clarkin, Magnum’s songwriter, guitarist and inspiration. And now the rest of the band have reformed to celebrate his glorious words and music. Titled ‘A Passage Through Time’ this … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 21 January 2025, Bob Catley, classic rock, Forum, gig, live, Magnum, melodic rock, pomp rock, review, Tony Clarkin
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Album review: TIMSON AOR – Next Level
Website [Release date 28.02.24] Timson AOR are back with their second album, released almost a year after their enjoyable debut ‘Forever’s Not Enough’. Timson AOR consists of Mark Timson (guitars, bass, keys, synths, drum programming) and Lukky S (vocals, lead … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, hard rock, Mark Timson, melodic rock, Next Level, review, Timson AOR
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