Tag Archives: review

Album review: SPARKS – A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip

Posted on May 15, 2020 by jason

BMG [Release date digital 15.05.20; physical 03.07.20] There are not many artists that have been going for over fifty years and still regularly tour and release good new music, and Sparks are one of those few. Their last album, 2017’s … Continue reading →

Album review: PAUL SABU – Sabu/Kidd Glove

Posted on May 14, 2020 by jason

PAUL SABU – Sabu Rock Candy Records [Release date 24.04.20] 1980: After building a name for himself as a producer of slicked back, funk-lite disco music, Paul Sabu took an out-of-the-blue offer from MCA Records to record a melodic rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, AOR, Kidd Glove, melodic rock, Motown, Paul Sabu, re-issue, review, Rock Candy, Sabu | Leave a comment

Single reviews: THE RISING, NATHAN JAMES, DANNY VAUGHN, THE SENTON BOMBS, DION

Posted on May 14, 2020 by jason

THE RISING Shadows On The Wall I have been following the Rising since they started out. In their early days they were more in a country rock vibe, before settling on the main duo of guitarist Chris Logan and vocalist … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, alt rock, country, Danny Vaughn, folk, melodic, metal, Paul Rodgers, review, singles, the Rising, the Senton Bombs, world music | Leave a comment

Album review: FIREWIND – Firewind

Posted on May 13, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

AFM Records [Release date 15.05.20] Although the main attraction of Firewind is their frontman Gus G, maybe their Achilles heel over the years has been the regularly changing line-up. This time round, the band have another new singer – Herbie … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Firewind, Gus G, hard rock, Herbie Langhans, power metal, review | 1 Comment

Album review: PARADISE LOST – Obsidian

Posted on May 13, 2020 by jason

Nuclear Blast Records [Release date 15.05.20] Creating an album whose compositions are fresh-sounding, well-balanced, expertly-performed and capable of causing high levels of excitement with every new spin is a pretty hard task for any band to achieve in the year … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Doom Metal, gothic, Gregor Mackintosh, metal, Nick Holmes, Nuclear Blast, Obsidian, Paradise Lost, pure metal, review | Leave a comment

Quick plays: WILL POUND, ANDY FLEET, BEN KUNDER

Posted on May 12, 2020 by jason

WILL POUND A Day Will Come [Release date 08.05.20] The latest album by Will Pound is based on his travels across Europe, where he is joined by many of the musicians he met on his travels. It is subtitled ‘A … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged A Day Will Come, album, Andy Fleet, Ben Kunder, folk, jazz, melodic, review, roots, Searching For The Stranger, singer, songwriter, The Sleepless Kind, Will Pound, world music | Leave a comment

Album review: MOLLY HATCHET – Molly Hatchet

Posted on May 11, 2020 by jason

Rock Candy Records [Release date 24.04.20] Musical blood brothers of Skynyrd and the Allmans, Molly Hatchet released their self titled debut in 1978, with the strikingly original “Death Dealer” artwork on the front cover. It’s one of many unique pieces … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, classic rock, Danny Joe Brown, Dave Hlubek, Molly Hatchet, re-issue, review, rock, Rock Candy, southern rock | Leave a comment

Album review: ESOTERICA – In Dreams

Posted on May 11, 2020 by jason

Esoterica [Release date 20.04.20] The dictionary definition of Esoterica is ‘things understood by or meant for a select few’. No one could ever accuse the London based sextet of either as their open-hearted take on modern rock is growing legions … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Esoterica, gothic, In Dreams, melodic metal, metal, New Order, review, rock, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: CHRIS ROSANDER – King Of Hearts

Posted on May 10, 2020 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 26.06.20] Christian Rosander is a 22-year-old musician and songwriter from Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Since he was 14 years old, he’d been writing songs in the AOR/Melodic and Westcoast genre. To be fair you’d been pretty certain the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, AOR Heaven, Chris Rosander, King Of Hearts, melodic rock, review, synth pop, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE THORNE – Emotional Creatures Part 3

Posted on May 9, 2020 by jason

Own label [Release date 02.02.20] Part 3 of the ‘Emotional Creatures’ trilogy he started back in 2005, which was also his debut album. Less name guests this time around as Steve Thorne plays all the instruments, bar the drums which … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Emotional Creatures Part 3, melodic rock, prog rock, progressive, review, Steve Thorne | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DELAIN, JESSICA WOLFF, BEFORE SUNDAY

Posted on May 7, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

DELAIN Apocalypse & Chill (Napalm Records) [Release date 07.02.20] There was a time – around 10 years ago – when I was rather taken with Delain, and for that matter, Within Temptation. Both brought a slightly more commercial edge to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Anticipation, Apocalypse & Chill, Before Sunday, Delain, Jessica Wolff, Para Dice, pop rock, review, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL McDERMOTT – What In The World

Posted on May 7, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 06.05.20] I’ve been reasonably positive about previous releases by Chicago based Americana singer songwriter Michael McDermott. And if you’re looking for a singer songwriter in the great American troubadour mould, look no further. That is, so long as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Michael McDermott, review, roots, singer, songwriter, What In The World | Leave a comment

Album review: LUCIFER – Lucifer III

Posted on May 7, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Century Media [Release date 20.03.20] It says a lot, when you can’t immediately recall that you reviewed a band’s last release only 2 years ago! In the case of Lucifer = a Stockholm based outfit owing much to the likes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, heavy rock, Lucifer, Lucifer III, progressive, psychedelic, review, Stoner | Leave a comment

Feature: Bands that time forgot – BAD COMPANY (1986-1996)

Posted on May 7, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

For most, Bad Company conjures up the classic seventies line-up fronted by Paul Rodgers and with Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke and Boz Burrell. The eponymous and classic first album yielded a handful of airplay and chart hits and set the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Bands that time forgot, FEATURES, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 1986-1996, AOR, Bad Company, Brian Howe, classic rock, Dave 'Bucket' Colwell, feature, hard rock, interview, melodic rock, Mick Ralphs, review, Robert Hart, Simon Kirke | Leave a comment

Album review: MIKE BATT – The Penultimate Collection

Posted on May 6, 2020 by jason

Dramatico [Release date digital 08.05.20; physical 26.06.20] Mike Batt’s long and varied career is celebrated on this double album, which highlights his work as performer, composer and arranger. This collection features Mike Batt’s original solo material, along with his own … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Art Garfunkel, best of, Bonnie Tyler, Colin Blunstone, composer, George Harrison, melodic, Mike Batt, pop, review, Roger Chapman, singer songwriter, the Wombles | Leave a comment

Album review: FOGHAT – Family Joules

Posted on May 6, 2020 by jason

Metalville [Eelease date 22.05.20] Released originally in 2003, this was always going to be a tough gig for Foghat. Slide guitar wizard Rod Price had recently left, and then they were knocked for six by the untimely death of their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, boogie, classic rock, Family Joules, Foghat, Humble Pie, re-issue, review, rock | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – NEAL SCHON – Late Nite

Posted on May 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Columbia [1989] Years ago there was a very good record store in the Liverpool area and with a branch in my nearby shopping bolthole Chester. Penny Lane Records yielded a fine selection of import albums at a reasonable price. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged album, AOR, Bob Marlette, interview, Journey, Late Nite, melodic rock, Neal Schon, review, Santana, Sheryl Crow | Leave a comment

Feature: Bands that time forgot – CELTUS

Posted on May 5, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

The two brothers John and Pat McManus had previously been members of eighties Irish heavy rockers Mama’s Boys. Both were multi-instrumentalists and their desire to achieve a more atmospheric, reflective groove was partly influenced by the premature death from leukaemia … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Bands that time forgot, FEATURES | Tagged album, Celtic, Celtus, feature, fusion, John McManus, Pat McManus, review, rock | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – 21 GUNS – Nothing’s Real

Posted on May 5, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Z Records [1997] The 1990s was a hard time for melodic hard rock bands feeling the chill wind from Seattle. Joey Tempest from the band Europe told me that they also succumbed to the prevailing trend, and that when visiting … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged 21 Guns, album, feature, hard rock, interview, melodic, Mike Sturgis, Nothing's Real, Phenomena II, review, Scott Gorham, Thin Lizzy | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MILAN POLAK, EVERYDAY HEROES

Posted on May 4, 2020 by jason

MILAN POLAK Can’t Please Everyone Lion Music (Release date 10.05.20) Guitar wizard Milan Polak is back with his fourth album to feature vocals. All the songs were composed by him, along with him playing most of the instruments. Plus there … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Billy Sheehan, Everyday Heroes, guitarist, Lion Music, melodic rock, Milan Polak, New Wave of Classic Rock, review, rock, southern rock | Leave a comment

Single reviews: THE DARKER MY HORIZON, MILTON HIDE, ALLAN CLARKE, CWF, THE LICKERISH QUARTET

Posted on May 3, 2020 by jason

THE DARKER MY HORIZON Carpe Diem Another band utilising their lockdown time wisely are the Darker My Horizon, who made the video with help from their fans with all proceeds going to the NHS charities. Nice riff-tastic tune with lyrics … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Allan Clarke, AOR, classic rock, CWF, folk, Jellyfish, melodic rock, Milton Hide, modern rock, New releases, pop, power pop, review, rock, singles, the Darker My Horizon, The Hollies, the Lickerish Quartet, Toto | Leave a comment

Single reviews: JESSICA LYNN, SCORPIONS, QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT, ROBERT JON & THE WRECK

Posted on May 2, 2020 by jason

JESSICA LYNN Run To Jessica Lynn releases her first single of 2020 and despite the country label, this is one of those timeless pop power ballads. She has a vocal and a half, backed by a big production and guitar … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Adam Lambert, classic rock, country, Jessica Lynn, metal, New releases, pop, Pop Evil, Queen, review, rock, Scorpions, Shannon LaBrie, singles | Leave a comment

Book review: HAWKWIND On Track – Every Album, Every Song by Duncan Harris

Posted on May 1, 2020 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 26.03.20] ‘Hawkwind – every album, every song’ is another volume in Sonicbond’s ‘On Track’ series, this time taking on the Herculean task of documenting the prolific adventures of Dave Brock’s gang of space rockers in the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, classic rock, Dave Brock, Duncan Harris, Hawkwind On Track – Every Album Every Song, Lemmy, review, space rock | 1 Comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – KEATS

Posted on May 1, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

EMI [1984] Released in 1984 the eponymous album by Keats might be considered as an Alan Parsons Project off-shoot. It was produced by Parsons and includes the core band members that feature on most of the Project albums, Ian Bairnson, … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged Alan Parsons, Alan Parsons Project, album, Colin Blunstone, David Paton, eighties, Ian Bairnson, interview, Keats, pop rock, review, soft rock, Stuart Elliott | Leave a comment

Album review: MYRATH – Live In Carthage

Posted on April 30, 2020 by david.wilson

earMusic [Release date 17.04.20] Carthage has a lot of history, not all good unfortunately. It was one of the richest cities in the ancient world and was the centre of the Punic empire which proved to be a thorn in … Continue reading →