AXEL RUDI PELL & FRIENDS – Magic Moments 25th Anniversary Special Show

SPV www.spv.de (3CD/3DVD/Blu-Ray) [Released 27.04.15]

This was a special one-off concert filmed and recorded back in July 11th 2014 at the ‘Bang Your Head’ festival to celebrate German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell’s 25 years in music.

You can get this as a triple CD or DVD combination, more than enough metal for the Axel Rudi Pell (ARP) fan! The DVD version I had to review has disc one featuring his first band Steeler who belt through a set of that band’s classics and are helped by a couple of guest vocalists, Rob Rock and Jeff Scott Soto. A real treat for fans of the band.

Disc two is the main concert with a set of ARP classics featuring his current band and long time vocalist Johnny Gioelli really gets the crowd joining in throughout the set. Highlights include ‘Into The Storm’ and ‘Strong As A Rock’.

Now Mr Pell has a reputation for liking a certain Mr Blackmore’s style of playing, particularly the Rainbow era and the latter end of this set features a fair few Rainbow and Deep Purple tunes. Three ex-Rainbow members turn up, with Tony Carey guesting on a cracking version of ‘Mistreated’ which also sees another former Rainbow member Doogie White handle the vocals. Graham Bonnet appears on ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’, which he can still do justice to, less so on the Dio-era Rainbow classic ‘Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll’, although Doogie White saves the day on this one. Then all the musicians take to the stage for a finale of ‘Smoke On The Water’.

A great package for fans, a five star I am sure, for the more casual fan or new to ARP’s work, perhaps best left as it is a lot for the casual fan to take in! ***1/2 (add a star if you are a fan)

Review by Jason Ritchie

FREEDOM CALL – Eternity

SPV www.spv.de [Released 27.04.15]

This rather good 2CD re-issue is of the band’s 2002 album ‘Eternity’ and in keeping with their quirky sense of humour, there is a new song on on the second disc ’666 Weeks Beyond Eternity’, marking the 666 weeks that have passed since the album was created. Spooky or what? It is a typical feel good piece of melodic metal from the band.

The original album has been remastered and has some of Freedom Call’s classic anthems like ‘Warriors’ (think Manowar with a more melodic chorus!) and ‘The Spell’, still one of the band’s finest tunes for me.

Disc two features live versions of songs on the ‘Eternity’ album, most taken from the previously released ‘Hellvetia’ album. The disc also includes other bands takes on songs from ‘Eternity’, including Neonfly’s storming run through ‘Land Of Light’. Again these have been released before, albeit as bonus material on another album.

Good for the fans, although avid fans will already have all the songs on the second disc bar the new tune, as they have all been previously released. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

DANIELZ – Some Romantic Night – The Solo Years

Angel Air www.angelair.co.uk [04.05.15]

Danilez recorded this album at the end of the 1980′s after his band Tarazara split-up. Since then he is best known for forming the T Rex tribute band T.Rextasy.

The songs are very 80s’ sounding and not the best production it has to be said. Not many highlights really, bar the ELO (80′s version) refrain on ‘I Don’t Need A Reason’. There are some truly awful moments like ‘Tail-Lights Flashing’ and the bonus tracks highlight Danielz Marc Bolan like vocals, but not a lot else.

I am afraid to say I can’t see this having much appeal at all outside avid fans of his tribute band. **

Review by Jason Ritchie

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

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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.

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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)