Tag Archives: melodic rock

Album review: LUNDEN REIGN – American Stranger

Posted on May 4, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [06.04.15] OK, let’s get the name out of the way first. It’s pretty naff. And unimaginative. Isn’t it about time that this purposeful phonetic misspelling malarkey faded into obscurity? It may be my 11+/grammar school education, but it … Continue reading →

Album review: PETERIK-SCHERER – Risk Everything

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [Release date 17.04.15] Founding Survivor member Jim Peterik returns with his latest project featuring his latest vocal find in Marc Scherer. “Risk Everything” was written specifically to suite the vocal talents of Scherer who he first met during … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alex Ligertwood, AOR, Bill Syniar, Bob Lizik, Ed Breckenfield, Frontiers, Jim Peterik, Klem Hayes, Marc Scherer, melodic rock, Mike Aquino, Nick Rich, Peterik-Scherer, review, Risk Everything, Shoshana Bean, Survivor, Toby Hitchcock | Leave a comment

Album review: FM – Heroes and Villains

Posted on April 10, 2015 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 17.04.15] FM may have spent last autumn on a 30th anniversary tour, but they are neither a nostalgia band nor one to let the grass grow under their feet. Two years after a pair of new … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, FM, Heroes and Villains, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, review, Steve Overland | 1 Comment

Album review: KISKE SOMERVILLE – City of Heroes

Posted on April 9, 2015 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 17.04.15] Despite the rather unimaginative name, some of rock’s most respected names are behind this project. The singers are former Helloween and more recently Place Vendome singer Michael Kiske and Trillium singer and vocal coach Amanda … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Amanda Somerville, AOR, city of heroes, Helloween, Kiske Somerville, Magnus Karlsson, Mat Sinner, melodic rock, Michael Kiske, power metal, review, symphonic rock, Trillium | Leave a comment

Gig review: DAN REED AND DANNY VAUGHN – Camden Underworld, London, 31 March 2015

Posted on April 6, 2015 by andynathan

Danny Vaughn and Dan Reed share a lot in common. Leaders of critically acclaimed bands at the turn of the decade (Tyketto and Dan Reed Network) who never quite had the mainstream success they deserved. People who quit the music … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged acoustic, Bordello Rose, Dan Reed, Dan Reed Network, Danny Vaughn, gig, melodic rock, Tyketto | Leave a comment

Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, 14 March 2015 (Day 2)

Posted on March 21, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Nightranger - HRH AOR - Pwllheli, Wales, 14 March 2015 (Day 2)

Day 2 After a paltry 5 hours sleep and searching the little town of Criccieth for match sticks to keep my eyes open, and copious amounts of Pro Plus, I made my way back to the arenas where I like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 14 March 2015, Eclipse, festival, FM, gig, Houston, HRH AOR, melodic rock, Night Ranger, Pwllheli, review, Romeo's Daughter, Wales, White Widdow | Leave a comment

Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, 13 March 2015 (Day 1)

Posted on March 21, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Dare - HRH AOR - Pwllheli, Wales, 13 March 2015

After an early start and a four and a half hour drive, I arrived at Hard Rock Hell and was immediately struck by how well organised the event was. The site was immaculate and the staff were friendly and helpful. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 13 March 2015, Dare, gig, H.E.A.T., HRH AOR, melodic rock, Pwllheli, review, Tainted Nation, The Poodles, Vega, Wales | Leave a comment

Gig review: WHITE WIDDOW, NIGHT BY NIGHT, DEGREED – Underworld, Camden, 7 March 2015

Posted on March 9, 2015 by andynathan

March is now an even busier month in the gig calendar with bands fitting mini tours around the Hard Rock Hell United extravaganza in North Wales, and this was a welcome London showcase for three of the current generation of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 7 March 2015, AOR, Camden, Degreed, gig, London, melodic rock, night by night, review, Underworld, White Widdow | Leave a comment

Album review: KRIS POHLMANN – Taylor Road

Posted on March 4, 2015 by petefeenstra

CD Baby [Released 16.01.15] Kris Pohlmann is an English guitarist who has established himself in Germany and Holland. He’s made his name with over ten years of roadwork and a couple of albums, which culminated in a spectacular year in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Gary Moore, guitar, Kris Pohlmann, melodic rock, review, Taylor Road, Ten Years After, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Album review: LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM – Level Eleven

Posted on February 15, 2015 by jason

AOR Heaven [Released 23.02.15] Last Autumn’s Dream are back with a new album and this is their eleventh. Vocalist Mikael Erlandsson is the last original member as in 2014 guitarist Andy Malecek decided to leave the band because of personal … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, AOR, AOR Heaven, Last Autumn’s Dream, Level Eleven, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Interview: RON PERRY of CHINA SKY

Posted on February 5, 2015 by jason

China Sky’s debut came out back in 1988 and is one of those ‘must have’ classic melodic rock albums of the 1980′s. Sadly though due to various issues band never made that second album until now, some 25 years later! … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged AOR, Bruce Crump, China Sky, China Sky II, Classic Albums, Escape Music, Greg Allman, interview, melodic rock, Molly Hatchet, Ron Perry | Leave a comment

Album review: AMMUNITION – Shanghaied

Posted on January 1, 2015 by jason

AOR Heaven [Released 26.01.15] Wig Wam may sadly be no more, but the band’s ex-members are certainly busy with guitarist Trond Holter teaming up with Jorn Lande on their rather good ‘Dracula’ themed album and now vocalist Åge Sten Nilsen … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Age Sten Nilsen, album, Ammunition, AOR Heaven, debut, Eclipse, Erik Martensson, hard rock, melodic rock, review, Shanghaied, WET, Wig Wam | Leave a comment

Album review: REVOLUTION SAINTS – S/t

Posted on December 23, 2014 by jason

Frontiers Records [Released 20.02.15] Another project put together by Frontiers, this time featuring Journey’s drummer Deen Castronova, Night Ranger’s Jack Blades and former Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich. Add to this superstar trio Frontiers ‘go to’ man for melodic rock projects … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, AOR, Arnel Pineda, Dean Castronova, debut, Doug Aldrich, Jack Blades, Journet, melodic rock, Neal Schon, Night Ranger, review, Revolution Saints, rock, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: THE VAL – Heading For The Surface

Posted on December 20, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Soundarella Records [Release date 21.11.14] www.theval.es Here’s a band who are genuinely thankful for the promotion of their debut album, judging by the massive list of media credits in this package. It is quite heart-warming when you receive a second … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Gabrielle de Val, Heading For The Surface, melodic rock, review, The Val | Leave a comment

Gig review: RECKLESS LOVE – The Garage, Highbury, London, 11 December 2014

Posted on December 15, 2014 by andynathan

Colourful Finnish glam metal revivalists Reckless Love have built quite a following in England despite a paucity of mainstream rock media coverage, and indeed the house full signs were up as I arrived at the Garage for the last stop of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Finland, gig, glam rock, Hessu Maxx, Jerne Valle, melodic rock, Olli Herman, Pepe, Reckless Love | Comments Off

Gig review: H.E.A.T., Islington Academy London, 10 December 2014

Posted on December 13, 2014 by andynathan

Photo: Jim Templeton-Cross 2014 will go down for H.E.A.T. as the year when the young Swedes made their most significant breakthrough yet since exploding onto the scene with their debut album in 2008. For proof, look no further than GRTR! … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 10 December 2014, gig, H.E.A.T., hard rock, Islington Academy London, melodic rock, review | Comments Off

Gig review: JOE ELLIOTT’s DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ/VEGA – The Garage, Highbury, London, 8 December 2014

Posted on December 10, 2014 by andynathan

Fan worship is the bedrock of music industry economics, but it is rare to see it coming from the other side of the monitors. However Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott has for many years openly sung the praises of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 8 December 2014, Def Leppard, gig, Highbury, Joe Elliott's Down 'N' Outz, London, melodic rock, Mott the Hoople, Quireboys, review, The Garage, Vega, Vixen | Comments Off

Gig review: FM – The Globe, Cardiff, 22 November 2014

Posted on November 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

A packed house in the Globe for this much loved band and huge respect should be given to the promoter at Major Minor Productions for delivering a sold out show with a fantastic sound quality in a city that is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 22 November 2014, AOR, Cardiff, FM, gig, Hand of Dimes, Kooga, melodic rock, Nev MacDonald, review, Skin, Steve Overland, The Globe | Leave a comment

Gig review: FM – The Brook, Southampton, 21 November 2014

Posted on November 25, 2014 by andynathan

Can it really be 30 years since the Overland brothers from Wildlife and former members of Samson and Diamond Head formed a new band, inspired by the then fashionable radio-friendly AOR sounds of the likes of Journey, Foreigner and Survivor, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 21 November 2014, AOR, FM, gig, Hand of Dimes, melodic rock, Neville Macdonald, review, Southampton, Steve Overland, Summers, The Brook | Comments Off

Album review: VEGA – Stereo Messiah

Posted on November 20, 2014 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 17.10.14] As one of the great hopes of British melodic rock Vega have not left the grass grow under their feet, this being their third album in under four years. It sees only minor tweaks to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Def Leppard, Joe Elliot, melodic rock, review, Stereo Messiah, Vega | Comments Off

Album Review: NEWMAN – S/T

Posted on November 13, 2014 by andynathan

[Release Date 22.10.14] After over 15 years of hard graft and a series of quality albums, Steve Newman has established himself as a respected name among the AOR cognoscenti, now happily getting the message out through more regular gigging. A lot of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, melodic rock, NEWMAN, review, Steve Newman | Comments Off

News: Interviews on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 9 November – GERRY McAVOY (Rory Gallagher) and CARL DIXON (Coney Hatch)

Posted on November 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Photo: Noel Buckley Gerry McAvoy picks his favourite tracks Long-serving Rory Gallagher bass player Gerry McAvoy chooses the music in the ‘Favourite Tracks from Favourite Artists’ sequence on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 9 November at 17:00 GMT. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged 9 November 2014, April Wine, Band Of Friends, blues rock, Carl Dixon, Coney Hatch, Gerry McAvoy, interview, melodic rock, radio, Rory Gallagher, The Guess Who | 1 Comment

Album review: WICKED SENSATION – Adrenaline Rush

Posted on November 5, 2014 by jason

AOR Heaven [Released 28.11.14] New album “Adrenaline Rush” is the first to find ex-Accept/Bangalore Choir vocalist David Reece at the helm and with it Wicked Sensation have released an album jam packed with melodic greatness – guitarist and chief songwriter … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Accept, Adrenaline Rush, album, AOR Heaven, Bangalore Choir, David Reece, Dennis Ward, Eric Ragno, hard rock, Harem Scarem, Harry Hess, melodic rock, review, Wicked Sensation | Leave a comment

Gig review: ASIA, Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 2 November 2014

Posted on November 4, 2014 by andynathan

For a so-called supergroup Asia have shown remarkable longevity, but their profile is now much lower than it was in the heady days when their 1982 debut went multi-platinum, judging by a disappointing turnout at their first headline London show … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 November 2014, AOR, Asia, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, gig, John Wetton, London, melodic rock, review, Sam Coulson, Shepherd's Bush Empire | Comments Off

Album review: NIGHTINGALE – Retribution

Posted on November 2, 2014 by jason

Inside Out [Released 10.11.14] Nightingale is centred around Dan Swano, who has worked with many artists including Opeth. This is the band’s seventh album and their first since 2007 and I must admit to not having heard anything by them … Continue reading →