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Album review: MARIACHI EL BRONX – Mariachi El Bronx IV
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – The Stables, Milton Keynes, 14 March 2026
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Tag Archives: metal
Gig review: STONEDEAF FESTIVAL – Newark Showground, 24 August 2019

Bank holiday weekends have their good and bad points. On the good side you get a long weekend to do whatever takes your fancy, hopefully in fantastic weather and with great musical accompaniment. On the bad side however, you get … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 24th August 2019, Airbourne. Motorhead, Brian Tatler, Chris Sumby, Deep Purple, Diamond Head, Donington, festival, GEOFF TATE, gig, Glenn Hughes, Inglorious, Krusher, Lemmy, Massive. The Amorettes, metal, Monsters Of Rock, Motley Brew, Newark Showground, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, review, rock, Samarkind, Stonedeaf, Tequila Mockingbird, Toby Jepson, Wayward Sons
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Album review: MOB RULES – Beast Over Europe

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 13.09.19] Germany. Spiritual home of power metal. Influenced by British classic rock of early to mid 80s (think Saxon, Iron Maiden et al), the scene started in mid 80s mid Europe and it’s come a long way … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Beast Over Europe, Klaus Dirks, live, melodic metal, metal, Mob Rules, power metal, review, SPV
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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Day 3 – Mote Park, Maidstone – 21 July 2019

Andy Nathan writes: Sunday was another day when there was a chance to check out a band in the tent before the main stage opened. This time it was used as the ‘Grooverider’ stage- I have no idea whether this … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 21st July 2019, AIRBOURNE, Austen Gold, beth Hart, blues, Chantal McGregor, Chris Robinson, festival, Foreigner, Gin Annie, Inglorious, Jaime Kyle, Joel O'Keeffe, Lemmy, Living Colour, Maidstone, Matt Mitchell and The Cold Hearts, metal, Mick Jones, Mote Park, Ramblin' Man, Ramblin' Man Fair, Ritchie Kotzen, rock, The Black Crows
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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Mote Park, Maidstone – Day 1 – 19 July 2019

Once again the rock hordes decended on Mote Park in Maidstone for another weekend of rock, blues, good beer and good company. GRTR! despatched Andy Nathan and Dave Atkinson to cover all the action, come rain or shine… Andy Nathan … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 19th July 2019, AC/DC, AOR, blues, FM, Ginger Wildheart, Justin Hawkins, Kris Barras Band, live, Maidstone, metal, Mote Park, Ramblin' Man, Ramblin' Man Fair, rock, Steve Overland, The Darkness, The Lazys, the Wildhearts
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Album review: FREEDOM CALL – M.E.T.A.L.

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 23.08.19] Fronted by vocalist/guitarist Chris Bay, Freedom Call have been going since 1998, several line-up changes under their belt, and Bay has overseen a few changes. And this album is as great as ever. I have championed … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Chris Bay, Freedom Call, happy metal, M.E.T.A.L., melodic metal, metal, power metal, review
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Album review: JORN – Live On Death Road

Frontiers [Release date 14.06.19] Jorn Lande continues his fiftieth birthday celebrations, started off last December with a lavish box set, with a live double CD and DVD. Joining Jorn in his live band are guitarist Tore Moren, keyboards player Alessandro … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, classic rock, Dio, Frontiers, Jorn, Jorn Lande, melodic metal, metal, reviews, rock
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Quick plays: JAILBIRDS, TIMO TOLKKI’S AVALON, CHAOS MAGIC

JAILBIRDS The Great Escape Golden Robot Records [Released date 05.07.19] Jailbirds are an Australian/Irish hard rock band based in Dublin, Ireland and ‘The Great Escape’ is their debut album. The band is composed of Axel McDonald (vocals, lead guitar), Jay … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged album, Caterina Nix, Chaos Magic, classic rock, Evergrey, Frontiers, hard rock, Jailbirds, melodic metal, metal, prog metal, reviews, Stratovarius, Timo Tolkki
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Album review: GENERATION AXE – The Guitars That Destroyed The World (Live In China)

earMUSIC [Release date 28.06.19] Generation Axe, coordinated by Guitar God Steve Vai, brought together a summit of shredders from 2016 when the circus toured North America. Subsequent sorties saw them in Asia, when this outing was recorded in April 2017. … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Animals As Leaders, Black Label Society, Extreme, Generation Axe, guitar, heavy rock, live, metal, Nuno Bettencourt, review, shred, Steve Vai, The Guitars That Destroyed The World (Live In China), Tosin Abasi, Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde
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Album review: MYRATH – Shehili

earMUSIC [Release date 03.05.19] Tunisian metallers Myrath have been around since 2001, gaining more rave reviews and fans after 2016’s ‘Legacy’ album, one which saw them embrace their Arabic sounds more and ditch some of the Eurometal clichés. On ‘Shehili’ … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, folk, melodic metal, metal, Myrath, power metal, prog metal, review, Shehili, traditional music, Tunisian
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Album review: WARRIOR SOUL – Rock N Roll Disease

Cargo/Livewire [Release date 07.06.19] This is big ballsy rock n roll, just the way it should be, and Warrior Soul’s new album “Rock n Roll Disease” pretty much picks up where 2017’s “Back On The Lash” left off. With nods … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Kory Clarke, Lemmy, metal, punk, review, rock, Rock N Roll Disease, Warrior Soul
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Album review: DIAMOND HEAD – The Coffin Train

Silver Lining Music [release date: 24.05.19] Ah, the enigma that is Diamond Head. The band who are rightly regarded as pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal; and who inspired the first wave of thrash in the shape … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Brian Tatler, Diamond Head, metal, NWOBHM, review, rock, The Coffin Train
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Album review: FORLORN HOPE – Over The Hills

[Release date 26.07.19] Inspired and informed by the Peninsular War of 1807-1814 when “master of Europe” Napoleon faced six years of hostility from Britain, Spain and Portugal. ‘Over The Hills’ doesn’t compromise. While some albums work on two levels and … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Forlorn Hope, historical, metal, Napoleonic Wars, Over The Hills, review
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Album review: SOTO – Origami

Inside Out [Release date 24.05.19] Jeff Scott Soto is a busy man with his solo albums, Sons Of Apollo, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, W.E.T. and of course the band SOTO (I am thinking the use of capitals is to differentiate from the … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Jeff Scott Soto, Journey, melodic metal, metal, Michael Jackson, review, rock, Sons Of Apollo, Soto, Talisman, W.E.T.
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Quick plays: X-ROMANCE, THE DAMNED THINGS, LEGION

X-ROMANCE Voices From The Past AOR Heaven [Release date 24.05.19] Another blast from the past re-discovered and rebooted for today. This time it is the turn of X-Romance. X-Romance was initially a project started in 2015 as an offspring to … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged album, Anthrax, Fall Out Boy, hard rock, House Of Shakira, KILLER BEE, Legion, melodic rock, metal, modern rock, Phil Vincent, review, rock, Scott Ian, the Damned Things, Vince O'Regan, X-Romance
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Album review: WEEND’O – You Need To Know Yourself

Sonicbond [Release date 12.04.19] We were impressed by the sophomore release – Time Of Awakening – by French progressive metal band Weend’ô (pronounced Window) this time last year. With some heavenly vocals from singer/keyboardist Laetitia Chaudemanche, lovely, fluid, lead guitar … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, metal, prog, progressive, remixes, review, rock, Weend'o, You Need To Know Yourself
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Album review: THE TREATMENT – Power Crazy

Frontiers Music [Release date 22.03.19] The Treatment have been the bridesmaid in rock for far too long. They have been the perennial support band with some major tours under their belts but they have never managed to make the breakthrough into the … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged AC/DC, album CD, Buckcherry, Def Leppard, Frontier Records, Kiss, metal, Power Crazy, rock, Tagore Grey, The Treatment, Tom Rampton
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) April 2019 – June 2019

Compiled by Jason Ritchie January – March 2019 July – September 2019 April 5th ANIMAL DRIVE ‘Back To The Roots’ (covers EP) Frontiers BAD NEWS ’32nd Anniversary Box Set’ BRANT BJORK ‘Jacoozzi’ Heavy Psych Sounds Records DAVID BOWIE ‘Spying Through … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
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Tagged 2019, album, AOR, April, Bluray, CD, DVD, heavy rock, June, May, melodic rock, metal, New releases, progressive, rock
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News: SOS Festival features THE QUIREBOYS, A JOKERS RAGE, MASSIVE (Manchester, 12-14 July 2019)

In this festival preview, tracks from The Quireboys, Luke Appleton and Massive. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 14 April 2019 (14:57) The 12th annual SOS event will take place at Longfield Suite, Prestwich, nr. Manchester 12-14 July. … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS
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Tagged 12-14 July 2019, A Joker's Rage, hard rock, Longfield Suite, Massive, metal, nr. Manchester, Prestwich, Quireboys, SOS Festival
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Album review: DEVIN TOWNSEND – Empath

Hevy Devy/Inside Out [Release date 29.03.19] Devin Townsend has rested his Project and with ‘Empath’ we have his first solo album since ‘Ziltoid’. Guests include regular contributor Anneke van Giersbergen, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, Frank Zappa alumni Mike Keneally as music … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged album, Anneke van Giersbergen, Casualties of Cool, Chad Kroeger, choral, classical, Devin Townsend, Empath, folk, melodic, metal, Nickelback, progressive, review, rock, Solo, Steve Vai, Strapping Young Lad, symphonic
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Quick plays: STARBREAKER, WEST BOUND

STARBREAKER Dysphoria Frontiers [Release date 25.01.19] Third album from the Starbreaker project featuring Primal Fear guitarist Magnus Karlsson and former TNT vocalist Tony Harnell. It has been awhile as their second album was released back in 2008. With Tony Harnell’s … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
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Tagged album, blues rock, Bonham, Chas West, hard rock, Judas Priest, Magnus Karlsson, melodic metal, metal, Primal Fear, review, rock, Roy Z, TNT, Tony Harnell, West Bound
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Album review: PHIL VINCENT – Hypocrite

Rock Company [Release date 27.02.19] Hot on the heels of the recently released second album from Cranston, Phil Vincent releases his twenty first solo album. Yes that’s right, 21 solo albums in addition to his work on the aforementioned Cranston, … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, D'Ercole, Hypocrite, melodic rock, metal, Phil Vincent, review, rock, synth pop, Tragik
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Album review: SPIRITS OF FIRE

Frontiers [Release date 22.2.19] Spirits Of Fire is the new outfit fronted by ex-Judas Priest singer Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens. A supergroup of sorts the project brings together Owens (ex-Judas Priest, Iced Earth), guitarist Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), bassist Steve … Continue reading →
Single review: GOYA – Prophecie

Facebook [Release date 08.03.19] Instrumental progressive rock, eh ? It’s not for everyone and typically not for the Mad Dog. However, having set aside my traditional aversion to both “prog” and “instrumentals” and opened my mind wide enough to … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
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Tagged Goya, instrumental, metal, progressive, Prophecie, review, rock, single
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Album review: TRAGEDY: ALL METAL TRIBUTE TO THE BEE GEES & BEYOND – Goes To The Movies

[Release date 11.02.19] Do you remember the Disco/Metal Peace accord of 1977? No me neither, however from this momentous event came the seeds for the founding of Tragedy: All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees & Beyond. Looking like the … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, disco, glam rock, Goes To The Movies, Grease, metal, Poison, review, Tragedy: All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees & Beyond
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Quick plays: VINDICATA, REVOLUTION HIGHWAY, ROCKICKS

VINDICATA Beneath The Surface Grooveyard Records [Release date 23.11.18] The “secret weapon” on this debut album might be construed as early Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland (who handles most of the solos) but in actual fact it’s vocalist Mary Magill who … Continue reading →

