Yearly Archives: 2014

Album review: THE PASS OUTS – Dead Technology

The Pass Outs - Dead Technology

Self release [Release date 06.06.14] The Pass Outs hail from Mebourne in Australia, where they have built up a following strong enough to sell out a 250 capacity venue on the launch of their debut album ‘Dead Technology’. A loosely … Continue reading

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Album review: TEN YEARS AFTER – The Friday Rock Show Sessions Live At Reading 1983

Ten Years After - The Friday Rock Show Sessions Live At Reading 1983

Talking Elephant [Release date 21.07.14] 6 March 2013 was a sad day for British rock, when it was announced that Alvin Lee had died suddenly.  He was 68 but had seemed to be invincible.  However, with Ten Years After and … Continue reading

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Quick plays: POLLY BARRETT, CATHERINE MACLELLAN, JANE KRAMER

Polly Barrett - Probably Me

POLLY BARRETT Probably Me [Release date 22.09.14] We had the release of Irish singer songwriter Polly Barrett’s 2011 debut Mr Bookshop down as the folk/pop album Andrea Corr should have made if she wanted to sustain her popular profile. Barrett … Continue reading

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Quick plays: AMERICAN DOG, ALONE WITH WOLVES

American Dog - Neanderthal

AMERICAN DOG – Neanderthal Bad Reputation  (Release date 19.07.14) American Dog are from Ohio and formed in 1999. They have released many albums, nine to be exact, three of them live albums, and an EP. Neanderthal is their latest and … Continue reading

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Quick plays: NEOPERA, GRAMERCY ARMS, KNIFEWORLD

NEOPERA – Destined Ways earMusic www.neopera.com [Released 21.07.14] Neopera were formed by guitarist Jorn Schubert (Dark Age) in 2010 and the line-up includes Gamma Ray’s Dirk Schlächter, along with two operatic styled vocalist Nina Jiers (soprano) and Thorsten Schuck (baritone) … Continue reading

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Album review: TOUCHSTONE – Live Inside Outside

Touchstone - Live Inside Outside

www.touchstonemusic.co.uk  2-DVD/CD [Release date 28.07.14] The history of Touchstone almost parallels that of GRTR!.  They are a band we’ve watched develop from small beginnings in 2003, via their debut album in 2007, and since that time they have consolidated their … Continue reading

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Album review: CARL VERHEYEN – Mustang Run

Carl Verheyen - Mustang Run

Cranktone Entertainment [Release date 17.03.14] Carl Verheyen is perhaps most familiar as the latter-day-Supertramp guitarist.  He’s also had a parallel session and instructional career and ‘Mustang Run’ is an excellent introduction to this quality musician.  He’s also enlisted the help … Continue reading

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Album review: DEEP PURPLE – Live In Graz 1975

Deep Purple - Live In Graz 1975

The Official Deep Purple (Overseas) Live Series earMUSIC [Release date 15.09.14] If you didn’t know the story you may be surprised that less than three months after this recording the Mark III version of Purple split, Blackmore continuing with Rainbow … Continue reading

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Interview: 10Q’s with Wille Dowling of THE DOWLING POOLE

The Dowling Poole

The Dowling Poole feature Willie Dowling (ex-Jackdaw4/Honeycrack) and Jon Poole (ex-Cardiacs). They have released their debut album, ‘Bleak Strategies’ and they have recently played a series of Pledger gigs as part of their recent Pledge Music campaign to fund the … Continue reading

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Book review: NIRVANA FAQ by John D Luerssen

Nirvana FAQ -All that

Backbeat Books [Publication date 22.05.14] Written by award winning author John D Luerssen, who has written for the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard and Spinner, “Nirvana FAQ-All that’s left to know about the most important band of the 1990′s” is … Continue reading

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Album review: ALESTORM – Sunset On The Golden Age

Alestorm - Sunset On The Golden Age

Napalm Records [Release date – 04.08.14] A new Alestorm album is always a highly anticipated event with those hungry for more piratical nonsense on the high seas and with ‘Sunset On The Golden Age’ the band don’t disappoint. Anyone familiar … Continue reading

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Album review: DARKEST ERA – Severance

Darkest Era - Severance

Cruz Del Sur Music  [Release date – out now] I caught Darkest Era live last year as support to Gloryhammer in Glasgow and, whilst they put on a good show, I did mark them down for playing quite a few … Continue reading

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Gig review: ONSLAUGHT – O2 Islington Academy, London, 20 July 2014

Artillery, O2 Islington Academy, London, 20 July 2014

Support Act: Artillery, Nightlord, One Machine Review and photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis July is not the best of months to arrange a gig in London. This is the time of the year when most people are either counting their … Continue reading

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Album review: ALL MY FRIENDS – Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman

ALL MY FRIENDS – Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman

Rounder [Release Date 14.06.14] ‘All My Friends – Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman’ is the sort of all star 26 track double album that the Americans do so well. It’s a multi-generational and all inclusive musical family … Continue reading

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Album review: THE BEAT – The Complete Studio Recordings

THE BEAT - The Complete Studio Recordings

Edsel [Release date 12.05.14] Formed in Birmingham in 1979, The Beat had a string of hit singles and released 3 studio albums- 1980’s “I Just Can’t Stop It”, followed by 1981’s “Wha’ppen” and 1982’s “Special Beat Service”. I’d like to … Continue reading

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Album review: THE QUIREBOYS – Black Eyed Sons

THE QUIREBOYS - Black Eyed Sons

Off Yer Rocka Recordings [Release date 16.06.14] 2-CD/DVD The Quireboys are currently celebrating 30 years as a band – 30 years, where did that go, it seems like only yesterday that the band were being heralded as the next big … Continue reading

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Book reviews: KILLERS – THE ORIGINS OF IRON MAIDEN 1975-1983 by Neil Daniels

Killers - The Origins of Iron Maiden by Neil Daniels

Soundcheck Books [Publication date 10.04.14] Prolific music writer Neil Daniels has done it again. We all know the Iron Maiden story, or do we? From their inception on Christmas Day in 1975, bass player Steve Harris has steered England’s best … Continue reading

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Album review: AOR – LA Connection

AOR - LA Connection

Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Released 21.07.14] Frederic Slama is back with album number thirteen under the AOR handle and a new label after the last couple of releases were on the aptly named AOR Heaven label. On this album he is … Continue reading

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Album review: JOHN LUTTRELL – The Dream Exchange

John Luttrell - The Dream Exchange

www.johnluttrell.com [Release date 15.05.14] In the mid-late 1980s there was a fad for what was termed ‘new age’ music which produced ambient albums in their abundance and presaged the “chill-out” genre a decade later.  Some nasty critics likened the genre … Continue reading

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Gig review: MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER – Guilfest, 19 July 2014

Now you may be wondering what Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer is doing on GRTR! Well he name checked Slayer and he did an indie rock medley accompanied by his trusty banjolele. Plus he’s damn fine and talented chap. He … Continue reading

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Gig review: GUILFEST – 19-20 July 2014

Saturday saw the weather again being kind to Guilfest and a bigger crowd too. Arrived to The Farm doing their hit ‘All Together Now’ on the main stage and they seemed to have gone down well with the crowd. Next … Continue reading

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Album review: EMIL BULLS – Sacrifice To Venus

EMIL BULLS – Sacrifice To Venus

AFM Records [Release date 08.08.14] Emil Bulls are a German alternative metal band who I have never heard of even though “Sacrifice To Venus” is their 8th album according to the AFM press release (if you include their acoustic live … Continue reading

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Album review: BRIAN MAILLARD – Reincarnation

Brian Maillard - Reincarnation

www.brianmaillard.com [Release date: 01.02.14] Brian Mailliard is an accomplished guitarist who came to wider attention with the band Solid Vision and perhaps more widely with the ill-fated if rather good Dominici albums (2005-7) fronted by original Dream Theater vocalist Charlie … Continue reading

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Gig review: GUILFEST – 18 July 2014

Good to have the Guilfest back after the previous company running it went into liquidation after 2012’s festival. Last year they had two one day line-ups sponsored by Magic FM. The amount of stages has remained the same with two … Continue reading

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Album review: FURYKANE – Furykane

Furykane - Furykane

Self Release  [Release date -  Out Now] Furykane are an alternative rock/metal band from France. Comprising of Jen (vocals), Max (guitar), Quentin (bass) and Romain (drums), they formed in 2006 and this is their second album. Furykane claim to be … Continue reading

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