Tag Archives: review

Gig review: FIREFEST – Nottingham Rock City, 24-26 October 2014 (Day 1)

Pretty Maids - Firefest, Nottingham Rock City, 25 October 2014

GRTR!’s resident Melodic Rock/AOR expert Andy Nathan has been covering Firefest for us right from the start.  Andy’s informed report and Simon Dunkerley’s inspired photos celebrate ‘The Final Fling’ as the festival bows out in style… The announcement last year … Continue reading

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Quick plays: X-DRIVE, ADRENALINE RUSH, DALTON, DR JOHN

Adrenaline Rush

ADRENALINE RUSH Adrenaline Rush Frontiers [Release date:  25.08.14] ‘Adrenaline Rush’ is the debut album from the Scandinavian band of the same name, musically the album is up a notch from most debut albums I’ve heard this year and reminds me … Continue reading

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Album review: SARAH DUNN BAND – You Or The Whiskey

Sarah Dunn Band - You Or The Whiskey

Audacity Records [Release date 19.08.14] When you hear the opening bars of ‘Finish What You Started’ – the opening number on You Or The Whiskey – a mix of Southern blues rock, rootsy fiddle and mandolin, a crisp production and … Continue reading

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Album review: ALEX HART – On This Day

Alex Hart - On This Day

Right Track [Release date: 10.11.14] I was hoping, having heard Alex Hart’s debut single ‘Orange Van’, with its subtle ‘folktronic’ beat, that the Devon based singer songwriter may be the next Beth Orton.  But while she describes her style as … Continue reading

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Album review: LIVE – The Turn

Live - The Turn

Released [03.11.14] Live have had an interesting history these past few years to say the least as after splitting-up in 2009 and parting with lead singer Ed Kowalczyk, lawsuits and recriminations followed. Eventually in 2011 the other band members rebooted … Continue reading

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Album review: NEONFLY – Strangers In Paradise plus interview with Frederick Thunder

NEONFLY – Strangers In Paradise

Inner Wound Recordings [Release date 01.12.14] Neonfly I discovered thanks to a tip-off from Charlie Farrell, a man who knows his way around the metal scene and recommended I got along early to see them supporting the mighty Power Quest. … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLUES FEST 2014 – Royal Albert Hall, London, 28 October 2014

Georgie Fame - Blues Fest 2014, Royal Albert Hall, London, 28 October 2014

An afternoon session at the Albert Hall for the 2014 Blues Fest was a pleasant surprise, as the old building opened its doors to some of smaller rooms to house a wide array of exciting blues talent. Perhaps it was … Continue reading

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Album review: DIXIE DREGS – Dregs Of The Earth, Unsung Heroes, Industry Standard (reissue)

DIXIE DREGS - Dregs Of The Earth, Unsung Heroes, Industry Standard (reissue)

BGO Records [Release date 06.10.14] www.bgo-records.com OK.  I own up.  I thought Dixie Dregs might have been another Poco or Flying Burrito Brothers.  Yes, I knew that this was Steve Morse’s first major calling card, but even though liking his … Continue reading

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Album review: CYRILLE VERDEAUX & PASCAL MENETREY – Tribal Hybrid Concept

CYRILLE VERDEAUX & PASCAL MENETREY – Tribal Hybrid Concept

Gonzo [Release date 12.05.14] ‘Tribal Hybrid Concept’ is cerebral and at times emotional music. It’s a cross cultural melange with lofty ambitions that fuses different genres of music with a succession of samples.  The result is free flowing atmospheric vibes … Continue reading

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Single & EP reviews: FORGED IN BLACK, INHERIT THE STARS

FORGED IN BLACK – The Exodus

EP Review : FORGED IN BLACK – The Exodus Self Release [Release date 01.12.14] Forged in Black from Essex are releasing their first EP this December however under their former name, Merciless Fail, the band released both an album and … Continue reading

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Gig review: SOiL – The Garage, Glasgow, 23 October 2014

SOiL - The Garage, Glasgow, 23 October 2014

Some things are sent to try you!  Take tonight, I was going along to this gig mostly on the strength of opening act Wolfborne’s latest album, ‘In The Beginning’, which I reviewed recently and found to be excellent. Knowing that … Continue reading

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Album review: FREQUENCY DRIFT – Summer

FREQUENCY DRIFT - Summer

[Download only from band website - Release date: 12.09.14] There are certain bands and artists, aren’t there, to whom you turn to capture your prevailing mood? One brings to mind Buddy Guy for blues, Zeppelin or AC/DC if you want … Continue reading

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DVD review: THE STORY OF UFO – Too Hot To Handle (1969-1993)

The Story of UFO - Too Hot To Handle

Wienerworld [Release date 29.09.14] One of the great mainstays of British hard rock for nearly 50 years, UFO have never been properly commemorated in terms of a video documentary. Some fans may complain that this 60 minute overview (really from … Continue reading

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Album review: HOUSE OF X – S/t

House of X

Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Released 27.10.14] Not some dodgy gentleman’s club but a group where three of its members, namely Danny Peyronel (vocals), Clive Edwards (drums) and Laurence Archer (guitars), have all at one time be members of legendary British hard … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACKBERRY SMOKE – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 19 October 2014

BLACKBERRY SMOKE - Shepherds Bush Empire, London,19 October 2014

Fellow GRTR! scribe Nikk Gunns posed a fascinating discussion question online recently – ‘if there were no new music from this point onwards, could you live with the music we have already had’? Judging from the mixed response he received, … Continue reading

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Album review: BEN POOLE – Live At The Royal Albert Hall

BEN POOLE – Live At The Royal Albert Hall

Manhaton [Release date 06.10.14] Soulful voiced Ben Poole never strays too far from his soulful strengths on a live album full of feel, subtle dynamics and a passionate performance. Originally recorded as a radio session for the Paul Jones BBC … Continue reading

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Album review: LOVE – Love Songs

LOVE - Love Songs

Salvo [Release date 27.10.14] ‘Love Songs’ compiles the first three Love albums (minus ‘Emotions’ and ‘Glazing’ from ‘Love’ and the elongated ‘Revelation’ from ‘De Capo’) and replaces the latter with a thrilling Arthur Lee and Jimi Hendrix wah-wah led collaboration … Continue reading

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Album review: TODD RUNDGREN – Runt, Initiation, Hermit Of Mink Hollow (reissues)

Todd Rundgren - Runt & The Alternate Runt

Edsel [Release date 08.09.14] Can the market really stand further reissues of three Todd albums from the 1970s?  Looking back at our GRTR! archive, Edsel reissued the albums as part of their Rundgren reissue campaign in 2011/2.  So what’s new … Continue reading

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DVD review: ARETHA FRANKLIN – The Legendary Concertgebouw Concert 1968

ARETHA FRANKLIN - The Legendary Concertgebouw Concert 1968

Wienerworld [Release date: 28.07.14] One has to wonder at the justification of a full price DVD release – unique footage, or no – when the running time is only 42 minutes, including an interview. At the peak of her powers … Continue reading

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DVD review: TRANSATLANTIC – KaLiveoscope

TRANSATLANTIC - KaLiveoscope

Inside Out [Release date: 28.10.14] I’m maybe the wrong person to review this DVD.  Or perhaps the best.  Because while I’m familiar with the name and the fact the band’s a side project ‘supergroup’ I couldn’t previously have told you … Continue reading

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DVD review: DEEP PURPLE with Orchestra – Live In Verona

DEEP PURPLE with Orchestra - Live In Verona

Eagle Rock [Release date 30.10.14] Deep Purple and orchestras go back a long way – to 1969 when John Lord composed The Concerto for Group and Orchestra with lyrics written by Ian Gillan and which was first performed by Deep … Continue reading

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DVD review: GENESIS – Three Sides Live

Genesis - Three Sides Live DVD

Eagle Rock [Release date 03.11.14] Appallingly imbalanced as the recent BBC documentary was, it did reveal one thing – that Genesis weren’t a band of happy campers – more a group of individuals where individual expression and experimentation was suppressed … Continue reading

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Quick plays: CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS, RUN BOY RUN, SUNJAY, MICHELLE LEWIS

CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS Who We Are

CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS Who We Are For those unaware of the charms of Chris While & Julie Matthews, their ninth studio album celebrating their 20th anniversary is unlikely to unlock any previously closed doors. Winners of the best … Continue reading

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Album review: BILLY IDOL – Kings & Queens Of The Underground

BILLY IDOL - Kings & Queens Of The Underground

BFI records [Release date 20.10.14] What has Billy Idol ever done?  Well he was a very obvious ‘gobbing’ target in his Generation X 1976 – 1981 heyday, and he was unquestionably a poster boy of choice when he dominated MTV … Continue reading

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Album review: ALVIN STARDUST – Alvin

Alvin Stardust - Alvin

Conehead UK [Release date 01.12.14] It must be difficult working with an “established” artist who hasn’t made an album for 30 years.  Which direction do you go in?  Do you leave the past behind?  Do you embrace the past?  In … Continue reading

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