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Tag Archives: melodic rock
Album review : EDGE OF FOREVER – Ritual

Frontiers [Release date : 13.10.23] Alessandro Del Vecchio’s band, Edge Of Forever, have released some interesting albums over the last few years. Native American culture has been a constant theme. It clearly inspired a quartet of tracks on last year’s … Continue reading
Album review: ANN WILSON & TRIPSITTER – Another Door

Dualtone [Release date 29.09.23 US, 13.10.23 ROW] Ann Wilson, best known for Heart with her sister Nancy, decided that prior to starting the 2023 tour with her band Tripsitter, they would record an album of all-original material. This album also … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Ann Wilson & Tripsitter, Another Door, hard rock, Heart, melodic rock, review, rock
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Album review: SKAGARACK- Heart and Soul

Thunderstruck Records (Release date 25.08.23) Skagarack were, alongside Fate, the Danish standard bearers in the original Scandinavian melodic rock explosion of the late eighties. I was a big fan, seeing them at the old Marquee and even picking up albums … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Jan Petersen, melodic rock, Skagarack, TORBEN SCHMIDT
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Gig review: ROMEO’S DAUGHTER – The Garage, Highbury, London, 23 September 2023

With good timing, as their new album ‘Slipstream’ has just been released, Romeo’s Daughter played their first show in London since the pandemic. Indeed much of the pre show talk evolved around who had retained their tickets from an original … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Craig Joiner, gig, Highbury, Leigh Matty, melodic rock, Romeo's Daughter, Sweet Crisis, The Garage
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Album review : BONFIRE – MMMXXIII

AFM [Release date : 22.09.23] MMMXXIII is a suite of three albums re-recorded by German Rock giants, Bonfire. The band’s continued popularity and success through the decades confounds critics, of the genre at least, if not the band. That of … Continue reading
Album review: TEMPT – Tempt

Better Noise Music [Release date 25.08.23] Tempt’s website states they are “rock music for the modern age.” To date they have supported the likes of Bon Jovi, Shinedown and Iron Maiden, plus released a number of well received covers and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, debut, Def Leppard, hard rock, melodic rock, modern rock, review, rock, Tempt
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Album review: SAM MILLAR – More Cheese Please

Bandcamp [Release date 01.09.23] Sam Millar is the epitome of an artist determined to get their music out there despite setbacks. Previously a member of the highly touted Big Foot, who split just as they were about to reap the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 80's rock, album, AOR, Big Foot, melodic rock, More Cheese Please, review, rock, Sam Millar, Sass Bandits
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Album review: AOR – Bewitched In L.A.

Bewitched In L.A. Perris Records [Release date 08.09.23] The advent of AI in music is the subject of much discussion. Listening to this latest offering from melodic rock plagiarist Frederic Slama you could be forgiven for thinking that everything – … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Bewitched In L.A., Frederic Slama, melodic rock, Paul Sabu, review, Tommy Denander
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Quick plays: DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS, 19th STREET BAND, PHIL VINCENT

DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS Strangers No More Magnolia Music [Release date 09.06.23] Ninth studio album from Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors who have been gaining critical plaudits and fans in the Americana field since they formed back in 2005. … Continue reading
Album review : STREETLIGHT – Ignition

Frontiers [Release date : 11.08.23] Streetlight’s debut album is filled to the brim with heart and soul AOR. Few bands have the skill and ability to make it sound this honest. Just unpretentious songs of unerring simplicity and (mostly) uncomplicated … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Frontiers, Ignition, Johannes Hager, Journey, melodic rock, Powerpop, review, Streetlight, Westcoast Rock
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Album review : RIAN – Wings

Frontiers [Release date 04.08.23] Third album from Swedish melodic rock band, Rian, led by exceptionally talented vocalist/ guitarist Richard Andermyer. Their second on Frontiers. The band’s label debut, titled Twenty Three, was reviewed in GRTR! back in 2021. Here’s what … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, Dark Horse, Eclipse, Frontiers, melodic rock, Paul Laine, review, Richard Andermyer, Tobias Jakobsson, Treat, Twenty-Three
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Album review: MITCH MALLOY – The Last Song

Godsend Records [Release date 07.07.23] After his stint fronting Great White, Mitch Malloy resumes his solo career with his first album since ‘Making Noise’ some seven years ago. Indeed, like its predecessor, this is a solo effort in every sense … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Great White, melodic rock, Mitch Malloy, The Last Song
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Album review : KENT HILLI – Nothing Left To Lose

Frontiers [Release date : 04.08.23] Only one solo album under his belt, yet Kent Hilli seems to have been around forever. Three studio albums with Perfect Plan, two Restless Spirits’ albums and a stint fronting legendary melodic rock band, Giant. … Continue reading
Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell, 20 July 2023

Despite latest album ‘Kickstart the Sun’ being for me their finest achievement, Cats in Space’s autumn tour in 2022 was still bedevilled by audiences a fraction of what they deserved. It therefore represented a bold gamble when, post-tour, the band … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Andy Stewart, Cats In Space, Damien Edwards, Dean Howard, gig, Greg Hart, Jeff Brown, melodic rock, pomp rock, soft rock, Steevi Bacon
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Gig review: THE DAMN TRUTH – O2 Islington Academy 2, London, 21 July 2023

Having narrowly avoided stumbling into The Exploited’s show at the slightly larger Academy1 right next door, I was pleasantly surprised to see a pretty full venue for this early kick-off. The Cold Stares, a trio based in Indiana, are led … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 21 July 2023, blues, blues rock, gig, Islington, live, melodic rock, review, The Cold Stares, The Damn Truth
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Album review: TONY MITCHELL – Radio Heartbeat

Pride & Glory Music [Release date 21.07.23] The fourth solo album from Tony Mitchell, of Kiss Of The Gypsy & Dirty White Boyz fame. Joining him on here are Midnite City guitarist Miles Meakin, bassist Nigel Bailey (Dirty White Boyz, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, hard rock, Kiss Of The Gypsy, melodic rock, Nigel Bailey, Radio Heartbeat, review, rock, Tony Mitchell
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News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2023)

WINGER Seven (Frontiers) Winger are a great group of musicians and they write great songs. And ‘Seven’ matches up to their very best work. ***** Review by David Randall HOUSE OF SHAKIRA XIT (Frontiers) No question, XIT is a perfect pop … Continue reading
Posted in Albums of the Month, Albums of the Year...to date, NEWS
Tagged albums, April 2023, classic rock, hard rock, heavy rock, instrumental, June 2023, May 2023, melodic rock, pop rock, review
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Book review: ON TRACK… REO Speedwagon- every album, every song by James Romag

Sonic Bond Publishing (Release Date 28.04.23) The ever growing On Track series is now spreading its wings to bands with at best cult status in the UK, in this case REO Speedwagon who, despite three big power ballad hits in … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, book, melodic rock, On Track, REO Speedwagon, Sonic Bond
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Gig review: MIDNITE CITY – The Black Heart, Camden, London, 17 June 2023

Touring their freshly released fourth album ‘In at the Deep End’, I was delighted that Midnite City’s schedule included a relatively rare London date at the Black Heart. Perhaps as a result of long running festivals at places like Wigan … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Dave Winkler, gig, glam rock, Josh 'Tabbie' Williams, melodic rock, Midnite City, Miles Meakin, Rob Wylde, Ryan Briggs, Shawn Charvette, Star Circus
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Album review : ROBIN GEORGE – Ace In My Hand (2CD)

Cherry Red [Release date 23.06.23] What can you say about Robin George that hasn’t already been said? He seems to have been circling under rock’n’roll’s radar forever, ready to land, but never making that last critical step. Considering that the … Continue reading
Album review: MIDNITE CITY – In At The Deep End

Pride and Joy Music [Releaae date 23.06.23] This is an impressive fourth release in under six years from Midnite City, confirming them as one of the most enduring of the select band of UK melodic rock acts. It doesn’t mess … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, glam rock, In At The Deep End, melodic rock, Midnite City, Rob Wylde
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Album review: PRIDE OF LIONS – Dream Higher

Frontiers [Release date 16.06.23] Seventh studio album from Pride Of Lions. The “Survivor” name has been purged from all official publicity associated with Peterik for legal reasons, but anyone who is at all interested in the genre well knows Peterik’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged .38 Special, Jim Peterik, Lynyrd Skynyrd, melodic rock, review, Rocky, Survivor, Toby Hitchcock
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Album review : STARDUST – Kingdom Of Illusion

Frontiers [Release date: 16.06.23] Hungarian band, Stardust kick off their album with ‘War’ as the opening track. Given current events, there was always someone who’d climb on the bandwagon. Lets move on. There’s a welcome familiarity to Stardust’s melodic rock, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Cinderella, Eclipse, HEAT, Hungary, Kingdom Of Illusion, melodic rock, review, Stardust, WET
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Album review: GARDNER JAMES – No Strings

Frontiers [Release date 09.06.23] Gardner James is Justin James, who has worked with Staind and Tyketto. And Janet Gardner, who was of course vocalist with Vixen. Their history is well documented online. A pithy rock band riff can be just … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues rock, Janet Gardner, Justin James, LA, melodic rock, review, Staind, Tyketto, Vixen, Von Groove
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