IT BITES ‘Map Of The Past’

Inside Out (2012) www.itbites.com

The press blurb states this is the band’s first concept album but it is a very loose one based upon ‘the discovery of an old family photograph’ and going into the past to fix things that went wrong.

With bassist Lee Pomeroy now firmly encased in the band’s line-up the band have a settled feel and this doubtless helps in producing an album like this that is more progressive and less of an instant hit than their excellent comeback album ‘The Tall Ships’. You need to stick with the album and you will be amply rewarded. Songs like ‘Cartoon Graveyard’ (superbly catchy chorus with lots of guitar and keyboard runs) and ‘Wallflower’ have a fast and melodic pace to them. ‘Meadow And The Stream’ sounds like It Bites meets Kino, although that’s hardly surprising given the shared members in both bands. If bands like It Bites could still have hit singles then this would be one. Both John Mitchell and John Beck have some excellent guitar and keyboards interplay respectively throughout the album.

The ELO/Jeff Lynne approved strings that usher in ‘Send No Flower’ are simply immense and lead into a reflective song with a stop/start vocal. ‘Flag’ is a straight forward number, the nearest to the band’s 80’s/90’s output.

This is definitely more progressive and in parts a much more relaxed musical affair than the band’s previous albums, and I am sure it will prove a hit with the band’s fans.

 ****1/2

Jason Ritchie

10 Q’s with John Mitchell


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January


Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply