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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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Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
GRTR! Greats
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Tag Archives: melodic rock
News: EPICA, KATE BUSH, LOVERBOY (March 2024)
Jon Anderson’s 1988 album ‘In The City Of Angels’, is to be reissued on May 3 through the Floating World/Voiceprint. Babylon A.D. release their new studio album ‘Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day’ in May. Sebastian Bach releases his latest solo album, ‘Child Within … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Epica, folk, gigs, Kate Bush, Loverboy, melodic rock, metal, news, prog rock, reissues, RIP, rock, tour dates
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Album review: VEGA – Battlelines
Frontiers Records [Release Date 08.09.23] First of all an apology – Vega’s seventh album was released in Autumn 2023 but dropped under my reviewing radar at the time! It is the first since the departure of the Martin Brothers who … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Battlelines, Billy Taylor, Marcus Thurston, melodic rock, Nick Workman, Pete Newdeck, Vega
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Gig review: JACK J. HUTCHINSON – 02 Academy 2, Islington, London, 8 February 2024
Going somewhat under the radar, except for those in the know, Jack J Hutchinson has just put out his fourth album in the last few years, ‘Battles’, receiving a rave review from Jason Ritchie in the pages of GRTR! For … Continue reading
Album review: REVOLUTION SAINTS – Against The Winds
Frontiers [Release date 09.02.24] Album number five from Revolution Saints, the band led by Journey vocalist/drummer Deen Castronovo who first debuted in 2015. Revolution Saints had a major line-up change back in 2022 with Deen Castronovo joined by Foreigner bassist Jeff … Continue reading
Album review : HONEYMOON SUITE – Alive
Frontiers [Release Date : 16.02.24] They are indeed, performing here in the instantly recognisable melodic style that defined their key albums. There’s none of the artificial complexity that some bands seem to think is necessary as they move into the … Continue reading
Album review: ROBERT HART – Circus Life
Escape Music [Release date 26.01.24] A new solo album by former Bad Company and Distance singer Robert Hart is always a ‘must listen’ for any melodic hard rock fan. On this album he is joined by Heartland’s Steve Morris and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Bad Company, blues rock, Circus Life, FM, hard rock, Harry James, Heartland, Lonerider, melodic rock, review, Robert Hart, Solo, Steve Morris, Steve Overland, Thunder
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News: ELLES BAILEY, HEART, BON JOVI (February 2024)
Lee Aaron will be releasing a covers album ‘Tattoo Me’ via Metalville Records on April 26. Ayreon release ’01011001 – Live Beneath The Waves’ through Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group on May 17. Elles Bailey releases a new EP ‘The Night Owl & the Lark’ on February … 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, Bon Jovi, Elles Bailey, folk, gigs, Heart, melodic rock, metal, news, prog rock, reissues, RIP, rock, tour dates
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Album review : MAMA’S BOYS – Runaway Dreams 1980-92 (5 CD boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date : 26.01.24] CD1: Official Bootleg (1980) CD2: Plug It In (1982) CD3: Turn It Up (1984) CD4: Relativity (1992) CD5: Singles, B Sides and Rarities Three boys from Co. Fermanagh conquer the world. Well no, it … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Belfast, boxset, eighties, Hawkwind, Irish Folk Music, Kerrang!, Mama's Boys, melodic rock, Nazareth, Phil Lynott, review, Slade, Sounds, Thin Lizzy
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Album review: TIMSON AOR – Forever’s Not Enough
Bandcamp [Release date 12.01.24] As the Bandcamp blurb states, Timson AOR are “A band landing 40 years late!! Reviving the classic 1980s Hard Rock, Power Ballad era we all love and miss.” To be fair, many artists have tried to … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR. Forever's Not Enough, melodic rock, review, Timson
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Album review : GRAND – Second To None
Frontiers [Release date: 19.01.24] With the DNA of eighties AOR coursing through its veins, Swedish band, Grand compete with outfits like Wigelius, Eclipse, HEAT and WET in recreating the genre’s past glories in a post Melodic Rock world. On their … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 1927, AOR, Australian Crawl, Eclipse, Frontiers, HEAT, Jakob, Mattias Oloffson, melodic rock, Svensson, WET, Wigelius
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News: Albums Of The Month (October – December 2023)
HANFORD FLYOVER Source (Fruits De Mer Records) There are several bands operating in the psych/blues rock space and female fronted such as Dead Feathers and Blues Pills, and even label mate Crystal Jacqueline. But Hanford Flyover are less late sixties Jefferson … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS
Tagged 2023, albums of the month, Ann Wilson, blues rock, Care of Night, December, Hanford Flyover, instrumental, melodic rock, November, October, prog, progressive, Robin Trower, rock, Sari Schorr, Trevor Rabin, Tripsitter, Will Pike
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News: KREATOR, ARCH ENEMY, DAN PATLANSKY (January 2024)
Art Of Anarchy release their third studio album, ‘Let There Be Anarchy’, on February 16 via Pavement Music. Jon Votta (guitar),Vince Votta (drums) and guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal are joined by vocalist Jeff Scott Soto and bassist Tony Dickinson. The Black Keys new album ‘Ohio Players’ is due … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, 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, Arch Enemy, blues, Dan Patlansky, folk, gigs, Kreator, melodic rock, metal, news, prog rock, reissues, RIP, rock, tour dates
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2024)
Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Updated 16/12/2024 UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2024) To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, … Continue reading
Posted in Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
Tagged 2024, AOR, dates, Europe, gigs, melodic rock, metal, pop, progressive, rock, ROW, Tour, USA
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Album review: AUTUMN’S CHILD – Tellus Timeline
Pride & Joy Music [Release date 19.01.23] Album number five from Autumn’s Dream, and like the band they morphed from, Last Autumn’s Dream, they are regular as clockwork releasing a new album at the start of each year. Mikael Erlandsson … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Autumn’s Child, glam rock, hard rock, Jim Jidhed, melodic rock, Mikael Erlandsson, review, rock, Tellus Timeline
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Gig review: FM – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 1 December 2023
Yet another busy gigging year in FM’s ever hard working calendar ended in the unlikely surroundings of Tunbridge Wells, the genteel Kent town famous for its spa and the mythical disgusted letter-writing retired colonel. Its commutable from both the South … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Ben Christo, Diamond Black, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Merv Goldsworthy, Pete Jupp, Steve Overland
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Album review : FIFTH NOTE – Here We Are
Frontiers [Release date : 08.12.2023] Frontiers world wide scouting system unearthed Fifth Note in Kohima, a town in the north of India. Originally a Christian Rock band (although India is a predominantly a Hinduism/Islamism country, almost 30 million Christians live … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AC/DC, album, Fifth Note, Frontiers, India, Kohima, melodic rock, prog metal, review, Samuel Thapa, Scandinavia Rock
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Album review : CASSIDY PARIS – New Sensation
Frontiers [Release Date : 08.12.23] Check out Cassidy Paris’s album promo, ‘Walking On Fire’ on You Tube. it’s surrounded by like minded videos: from Europe, Gotthard, White Lion and The Warning, among others. You can judge a rock artist by … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Australia, Avril Lavigne, Cassidy Paris, Frontiers, Joan Jett, John Waite, melodic rock, Paul Laine, review
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Gig review: THE NEW ROSES- Downstairs at the Dome, London, 26 November 2023
Despite rave reviews, German rockers The New Roses have yet to achieve the success they deserve in the UK. We can speculate about the reason for this- one being that though they defy pigeonholing, their sound is totally un-German! Hopefully … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Dizzy Daniels, Empyre, gig, Henrik Steenholdt, melodic rock, New Wave of Classic Rock, Norman Bites, the New Roses, Timmy Rough, Urban Berz
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Album review: MAGNUM – Here Comes The Rain
David Randall chatted to Bob Catley and Lee Morris playing tracks from the new album. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 24 December 2023. SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 12.01.24] Magnum celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2022 when they finally … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
Tagged album, Bob Catley, Here Comes The Rain, interview, Magnum, melodic rock, pomp, radio, review, Tony Clarkin
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Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – MAGNUM (December 2023)
Photo: Darren Griffiths They nearly folded in 1983, played the arenas in the late 1980s, and nose-dived in 1995. But – fifty years on – Magnum remain magnificent Magnum have figured prominently in our coverage at GRTR! since 2003. This … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness
Tagged albums, band, Bob Catley, classic rock, gigs, interview, Magnum, melodic rock, pomp rock, radio, retrospective, review, Tony Clarkin
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News: SPINAL TAP, PROG FOR PEART, MARTYN JOSEPH (December 2023)
Big Big Train will release their 15th studio album ‘The Likes Of Us’ on March 1 via InsideOut Music. Founding Crimson Glory members Ben Jackson (guitar), Jeff Lords (bass) and Dana Burnell (drums) are being joined by new vocalist Travis Wills and guitarist Mark “Borgy” Borgmeyer. Two new singles, ‘Triskaideka’ and ‘Indelible Ashes’, … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, 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, folk, gigs, Martyn Joseph, melodic rock, metal, news, Prog fof Peart, prog rock, reissues, RIP, rock, Spinal Tap, tour dates
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News: Melodic pomp rockers MAGNUM enter The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness (December 2023)
Melodic pomp rockers Magnum are the latest inductees in “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness” a year long promotion to celebrate 20 years of the popular rock website Get Ready to ROCK! The Midlands-based band have figured prominently in the website’s … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, ALL POSTS, NEWS
Tagged Bob Catley, history, Magnum, melodic rock, news, pomp, radio, retrospective, Tony Clarkin
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Album review: MICHAEL CATTON – Point Of No Return
Mighty Music [Release date 10.11.23] ‘Point of No Return’ is the debut release British/Danish singer Michael Catton (formerly of Tainted Lady). He is joined by renowned producer and guitarist Soren Andersen (Glenn Hughes), Chris Catton (keyboards, backing vocals), Michael Gersdorff (bass) … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 80's rock, album, hard rock, melodic rock, Michael Catton, Point Of No Return, review, Solo
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Gig review: RUSS BALLARD- Nell’s Jazz and Blues, West Kensington, London, 9 November 2023
As someone for whom the PRS cheques roll in every time his famous songs are played, Russ Ballard has no need to go out in tour for the money, so his newly prolific touring in the UK must be for … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Argent, gig, John Miller, Marc Rapson, melodic rock, PJ Phillips, Roly Jones, Russ Ballard, singer songwriter
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Album review : CARE OF NIGHT – Reconnected
Frontiers [Release date : 17.11.23] Third album from rising Swedish AOR/Melodic Rock band, Care Of Night. Vocalist Calle Schonberg, guitarist Ostrom Berg and producer, Erik Wigelius have shifted the band’s sound up several notches. There’s a strong and welcome resemblance … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Care of Night, Chicago, Erik Wigelius, Johnny Hates Jazz, melodic rock, Peter Cetera, review, Work Of Art
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