THE EVENING SHADES Alright
www.theeveningshades.com [Release date 28.08.15]

The Evening Shades are a US four piece consisting of Mark Thales (vocals/acoustic guitar), Matthew Tayvis (bass/keys), Sam Kovic (guitars) and Justen Nielsen (drums). This band have an ear for a decent melody taking in influences from jangly indie guitar pop through to the pop punk beloved of US bands.

If you listen to nothing else from this band I urge you to listen to ‘All About You’. A magnificent tune that has a massive harmony vocal filled chorus. ‘Trampoline’ lets the guitars fly and recalls those US pop punk bands like Green Day and Blink 182, impressive stuff. From this they can go all indie rock on ‘Gameshow’, again the band have a good ear for a decent chorus.

Impressive album, featuring some top notch songs and they deserve a chance in the very crowded musical world out there. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

CLAUS HASSING Open Your Heart
www.claushassing.com

From the cover featuring Claus in a leather jacket totting his guitar above his head with a sunset backdrop you have a feeling he likes the music of Bryan Adams and you’d be right. Claus hails from Denmark and this is his debut album, although he has been a producer for other artists.

He has a nice easy on the ear vocal, with the guitar punch on opener ‘Hotel Room’ recalling the aforementioned Bryan Adams in his classic 80′s era. ‘Girl Next Door’ follows a more pop direction, again easy on the ear and ‘Feels Like Rain’ recalls Jude Cole.

He certainly likes to mix his musical styles and that can be a good and bad thing I guess on a debut, depending on the listener’s own musical tolerance. Three bonus acoustic songs are tagged onto the album and ‘Excuse Me Mrs.’ is a lovely tune, Claus’s vocal leads the way and effective backing vocals.

Enjoyable debut album, maybe a lot at sixteen songs but then you do get a good overview of Claus’s various song styles. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

SOVEREIGN COUNCIL – Laniakae
www.sovereigncouncil.com [Release date 01.08.15]

Perhaps not the most metal or catchy band name, although it does have a slightly majestic ring to it, although say council and I think of stuffy old men in a county hall somewhere… Anyway this band have been around since 2012 and hail from Canada who started out as a seven piece before slimming down to the current five piece outfit.

The vocals are shared between Alexander MacWilliam (who does the growls at times which don’t work that well for me personally) and Lisa Thompson. There is some serious riffing on this album as can be heard on ‘The Human Condition’ and then at the opposite end of the scale they do the gentle ‘Morta’. The latter features a haunting violin part played by Marina Andrade who guests elsewhere on the album.

Overall a decent progressive metal album, although I am getting a little jaded by the amount of bands releasing music in this genre! Do stick with it though as the band have some interesting lyrical and musical ideas, including adding the violin which adds an extra dimension to many of the songs. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

BUTTERFLY CHILD Futures
Dell’Orso [Release date 27.11.15]

Butterfly Child is the brainchild of Joe Cassidy and they recorded three albums and a series of EP’s back in the 1990′s. He is backed by a series of musicians including a couple who worked on previous Butterfly Child albums.

It is nicely old school as the CD lists side one and two, although vinyl is on the ascendancy again so maybe not so old school. The music is very dreamy, plenty of strings and subtle guitar parts, all topped by the vocals of Joe Cassidy.

One band this album reminds me of is not the Beach Boys as the PR notes say but Mercury Rev and that’s no bad thing in my book! It really sounds like Mercury Rev on ‘The Only Sound’ and the title track is a lovely piece of music with mellow vocals. ‘Blind Me So I Can See’ is a real stand out, there is just so much going on musically and it reveals more after each play.

Dream pop or whatever you call it, this is a musical feast and a delight on the listener’s ears. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

KNIGHT AREA – Hyperlive

Metal Mind Productions [Released 13.11.15] www.metalmind.com.pl

This live CD/DVD was recorded in April this year in Katowice, Poland where the band were supporting Arena. The set sees them play most of 2014′s ‘Hyperdrive’ album, plus a few choice songs from their earlier albums, including a medley towards the end of their set.

Musically Knight Area fit well with that night’s headliners Arena, along with bands like IQ and they also like a little pomp rock a la Kansas and Queen at times. Vocalist Mark Smit is as good live as he is on record, although there is not much onstage banter with the audience, possibly curtailed as this was a support set.

‘Afraid Of The Dark’ and ‘Crimson Skies’ sound wonderful live and the band play together seamlessly. Highlight has to be the Queen-like ballad ‘Songs From The Past’, one of their best songs to date for me.

The stage set is minimal as the focus is on the music and songs, plus you get a CD with the same setlist. DVD extras include band interviews and a photo gallery. Do give Knight Area a listen, as they can appeal to both the prog rock and melodic rock fan. ***1/2

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

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.

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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)