Monthly Archives: December 2013

Album Review: HENRIK FREISCHLADER – Night Train To Budapest

Cable Car Records– [Release Date: 29.11.13] ‘Night Train To Budapest’ places the emphasis squarely on Henrik’s fast maturing song writing, his love of wholesome grooves and array of aching guitar tones. He’s a one man crusade – he plays all … Continue reading

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Album review: THE MANIC SHINE – Let Go Or Be Dragged

THE MANIC SHINE – Let Go Or Be Dragged

The Animal Farm – [Release date: 27.01.14] It’s rare to hear an album crammed full of original ideas, great playing, a subtle production and crossover rock songs with real commercial potential. The aptly named The Manic Shine is a powerful … Continue reading

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Gig Review: THE CRUNCH – Nambucca, London, 12 December 2013

The night didn’t start too well when we had to teach the barman how to pour a pint of real ale out of the hand pump. But the service, very much like the gig, improved dramatically over the next few … Continue reading

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Gig review: TOSELAND/Chrome Molly, Islington Academy 2, 11 December 2013

Rock and speed (on wheels, that is) are natural bedfellows, from heavy metal’s long association with motorbikes to the guitar dabblings of Formula 1 figures like Damon Hill and Eddie Jordan.  To be a success in both fields is as … Continue reading

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Gig review: DEATH ANGEL – London, The Underworld, 10 December 2013‏

Dew-Scented - London Underworld, 10 December 2013

Support Acts: Dew-Scented Review & Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Five days on from the glorious Marduk/Grave show, I am back in The Underworld in Camden to see San Francisco Thrashers Death Angel, who are back in town, supporting their … Continue reading

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DVD review: DEEP PURPLE – Perfect Strangers Live

Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers Live (DVD)

Eagle Records – Out Now Deep Purple have experienced eight main member reshuffles since they first formed in Hertford back in 1968, however, it has been universally accepted that it is the work of the Mark II line up (Gillan/ … Continue reading

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DVD review: TED NUGENT – Ultralive Ballisticrock

Ted Nugent - Ultralive Ballisticrock (DVD)

Frontiers – Out Now. Theodore Anthony Nugent is a man who has, of late, managed to find himself in the spotlight for reasons that have more to do with his staunch conservative political views, rather than his musical abilities. There … Continue reading

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Album Review: THE HOLMES BROTHERS – Brotherhood

Alligator Records – [Release Date: 15.10.13] The Holmes Brothers raised the bar of expectations with the outright success of their last album ‘Feed My Soul’. And ‘Brotherhood’ answers all the germane questions of what to do next, as it reigns … Continue reading

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News: CHERRY PICKIN’: Win six albums in our Xmas competition

Cherry Red Records

Sunday 15 December, 18:00 (GMT) Tuesday 17 December, 16:00 (repeat) Thursday 19 December, 21:00 (repeat) Saturday 21 October, 17:00 (repeat) The latest of our Cherry Red Records showcases is broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio This hour long sequence … Continue reading

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Gig Review: MICHAEL MONROE – Thekla, Bristol, 2 December 2013

Michael Monroe’s illustrious career in the history of rock and roll started in 1980 when he was the flamboyant, fun and edgy vocalist of Hanoi Rocks. This new sounding glam punk band had a strong influence over many bands including … Continue reading

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Gig review: PAPA ROACH – Brixton Academy, London,10 December 2013

The subtitle to this review should be ‘My daughter made me do it!’ as not only does she love Papa Roach but I have been tasked writing this review as she thinks she would be too biased! So here we … Continue reading

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Album Review: UNIFIED PAST – Spots

Unified Past

      Melodic Revolution Records – [Release Date: 11.06.13] I usually find that, as a general rule of thumb, the more verbose the press release, the worse the accompanying piece of work is – the old ‘empty vessels make … Continue reading

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Book review: If You Like The Ramones… by Peter Aaron

Backbeat Books www.backbeatbooks.com The latest in this excellent series of ‘If You Like…’ books and this time it is US punk meets rock ‘n’ roll legends the Ramones. This one is slightly different as the author Peter Aaron not only … Continue reading

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Interview with TOR ODDMUND SUHRKE & ØYSTEIN LANDSVERK (Leprous) – 9 November 2013

Leprous are a group of five very skilled musicians who are better known in the wider Metal community as the backing band of guitar maestro and Emperor front man Ihsahn. Having quietly perfected their craft over the last twelve years, … Continue reading

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Album review: ASOMVEL – Knuckle Duster

Bad Omen Records – Out Now. Ask anyone in the music business what the two basic elements for achieving commercial success are (apart from talent, obviously), and you are bound to hear among the answers ‘good timing’ and ‘luck’. These, … Continue reading

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Album review: SOULFLY – Savages

Nuclear Blast – Out Now. There are not many musicians out there who have willingly parted ways with one of the biggest Metal bands in the world and can still hold claim to a decent career, but Brazilian musician/song-writer Massimiliano … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL 7 – Pwllheli, Wales, 28-30 November 2013

Area 51 - Hard Rock Hell, November 2013

Roll Up, Roll Up, Roll Up (Rizlas? ed.) for the greatest show on earth, this certainly encompasses the feeling around the HRH community as “Hard Rock Hell 7 – Cirque De Rock” rolls into its now well established new home … Continue reading

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Album review: BRUCE BOUILLET – The Order Of Control

Bruce Bouillet - The Order Of Control

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 21.01.14] Instrumental guitar albums are a “difficult” genre to do well.  At GRTR! Towers we are subjected to all manner of offerings; most are over-indulgent, unoriginal and badly produced.  Bruce Bouillet may hold more of … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT – Club Academy, Manchester, 22 November 2013

The Temperance Movement - Manchester, 22 November 2013

Tonight was always going to be a special night, back in Manchester for the first time since The Temperance Movement (TTM) won “Best New Band” at the planet rock awards and also the last night of their current tour. What … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STAR RIDERS – The Picture House, Edinburgh, 6 December 2013

Black Star Riders - 3 December 2013

2013 has been a big year for Black Star Riders. They released their debut album, ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’, which was well received by fans and critics alike and made successful festival appearances across Europe, including a main stage slot … Continue reading

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Gig review: MARDUK – London, The Underworld, 5 December 2013‏

Death Wolf

Support Acts: Grave, Death Wolf, Valkyrja Review & Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis With Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson being the top guy that he is and Marduk one of the most energy driven and high performance black metal bands around, one … Continue reading

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Interview with TED LUNDSTROM (Amon Amarth) – 17 November 2013

Ted Lundstrom - Amon Amarth

The Forum is a large London-based venue, a place that many bands dream of selling out but something which only a handful are capable of achieving. This old theatre has been the home of the Swedish Melodic Death Metal band … Continue reading

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Quick plays: HAPPYNESS, THE DAVID LIBERTY BAND, DIRTY THRILLS, UNCLE SID, JOE COCKER

The David Liberty Band

HAPPYNESS – Happyness EP Weird Smiling [Release date 06.01.14] Three-piece band from south London consisting of Johnny Allan, Benji Compston and Ashley Cooper. This is their self-produced debut EP and they certainly pack a lot if instrumentation in for a … Continue reading

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Album review: JAY FERGUSON – Reissues

Jay Ferguson - reissues

Edsel Records [Release date 02.12.13] 2-CD From a personal point of view, these three albums from the late-seventies are perhaps best recalled from their place in the racks of many a vinyl seller at record fairs.  I don’t really remember … Continue reading

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Album review: JOSH TAERK – Josh

Josh Taerk - Josh

Absolute [Release date 14.10.13] The latest release by young Canadian singer/songwriter Josh Taerk is something of a throwback.  Even his mop of curls shouts ‘1980s’, although I’m guessing it’s not a perm! The opening number – ‘I’ll Live For You’ … Continue reading

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