Monthly Archives: January 2016

Album review: ESCAPE THE FATE – Hate Me

Posted on January 31, 2016 by jason

[Release date 30.10.15] “Hate Me” is the 5th studio album from the Las Vegas formed band. Escape the Fate (ETF) are most notable for being the first band of outspoken Falling in Reverse frontman, Ronnie Radke. They also have worked … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Craig Mabbitt, ESCAPE THE FATE, Hate Me, metal, review, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: THRESHOLD – O2 Islington Academy, London, 24 January 2016

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Davoski

This was a progressive/symphonic metal triple-header, but sadly I only caught the dying embers of the Damnation Angels as I ascended the stairs. Pretty good it sounded too, but the Northern Line had effectively robbed me of the set. French … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 24 January 2016, Damian Wilson, gig, live, London, O2 Islington Academy, prog metal, progressive metal, review, Spheric Universe Experience, symphonic metal, Threshold | Leave a comment

News: RENAISSANCE & CURVED AIR – Pioneers of Symphonic/Art Prog tour together in April 2016

Posted on January 30, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

ANNIE HASLAM of RENAISSANCE (59:15) David Randall chats to Annie about prog rockers Renaissance Also available in several parts here Symphonic rock icons Renaissance featuring legendary singer Annie Haslam will be performing in the US & UK in support of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged Annie Haslam, April 2016, art rock, Curved Air, fusion, Live At the Union Chapel, prog, progressive, Renaissance, rock, Sonja Kristina, symphonic prog, Tour, uk | Leave a comment

Album review: LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM – Paintings

Posted on January 29, 2016 by jason

AOR Heaven [Released 26.02.16] Album number twelve from Last Autumn’s Dream who, with a couple of exceptions, release a new album at the start of each year. The line-up is the same as 2015′s ‘Level Eleven’, making this the second … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, AOR Heaven, Last Autumn’s Dream, melodic, Paintings, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: BROTHERS OF MARS – Welcome To My Breakdown

Posted on January 29, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 22.09.15] www.brothersofmars.com A quick glance at the track listing on this solo project from Mauro Zarattini – ‘Mental Breakdown’, ‘Welcome To Hell’, ‘Tarot Reader’, and ‘Acid Rain’ – suggests that the listener is in for some, to use … Continue reading →

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Gig review: GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL – Skegness, 22-24 January 2016

Posted on January 29, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Arthur Brown - GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL - Skegness 22-24 January 2016

Reporting by Simon Dunkerley and Pete Feenstra Pete Feenstra writes: Perhaps only The Great British Rock & Blues Festival can give you the unlikely opportunity of slipping from the dancing delights of Courtney Pine’s venue filling world music and jazz … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 22-24 January 2016, AYNSLEY LISTER, blues, Courtney Pine, FM, gig, Great British Rock & Blues Festival, Hawkwind, jazz, Martin Turner, review, rock, Skegness, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Willie And The Bandits | Leave a comment

Album review: SHAKRA – High Noon

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 29.01.16] Swiss hard rock band Shakra return with their tenth studio album “High Noon” and, after the departure of vocalist John Prakesh in late 2013, surprisingly also return with previous vocalist Mark Fox who quit the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, Dominik Pfister, High Noon, Mark Fox, melodic rock, review, Roger Tanner, Shakra, Switzerland, Thom Blunier, Thomas Muster | Leave a comment

Album Review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Into The Legend

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 15.01.16] Rhapsody of Fire return with their 11th studio album “Into The Legend”…this is of course classing Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody as a totally separate band which I suppose it is anyway… The press release points out … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, Alessandro Sala, Alex Holzwarth, Alex Staropoli, Fabio Lione, Into The Legend, orchestral metal, power metal, review, Rhapsody, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, Roby De Micheli, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

News: RODNEY MATTHEWS exhibition runs until 24 February – Wells, Somerset

Posted on January 26, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

GRTR! photographer Simon Dunkerley recently attended the private viewing of ‘IONAWR’, the new exhibition featuring the work of fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. Before the times of digital download and live music streaming the thrill of a new album release meant … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Exhibitions, NEWS | Tagged 13 January - 24 February 2016, art, Bishop Well's Palace, exhibition, fantasy, IONAWR, Magnum, Nazareth, Rodney Matthews, Somerset, Thin Lizzy, Wells | Leave a comment

Album review: MAGNUM – Sacred Blood “Divine” Lies

Posted on January 25, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

SPV [Release date 26.02.16] Tony Clarkin must surely receive a public award for services to consistent songwriting. Since the mid-1970s he has been the main architect of Magnum’s wider and enduring success. And on this – the band’s 19th studio … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Al Barrow, album, AOR, Bob Catley, Harry James, Magnum, Mark Stanway, pomp, review, rock, Sacred Blood "Divine" Lies, Tony Clarkin | Leave a comment

Album review: THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT – White Bear

Posted on January 24, 2016 by jason

Earache Records [Release date 15.01.16] The Temperance Movement’s debut album released back in 2013 proved a big hit, making the upper echelons of the UK album charts. Since then they have opened for the Rolling Stones and toured extensively, including … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic, Earache Records, Phil Campbell, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, The Temperance Movement, White Bear | Leave a comment

Album review: LAST IN LINE – Heavy Crown

Posted on January 24, 2016 by jason

Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Release date 19.02.16] How poignant that, as I write this review, it is just hours since the news broke that bass player Jimmy Bain has died. A member of Rainbow, Thin Lizzy and a pivotal part of Dio, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andrew Freeman, classic, Dio, Frontiers, Heavy Crown, Jeff Pilson, Jimmy Bain, Last In Line, review, rock, Vinny Appice, Vivian Campbell | Leave a comment

Gig review: MICHAEL SCHENKER’S TEMPLE OF ROCK – Queens Hall, Edinburgh, 22 January 2016

Posted on January 24, 2016 by david.wilson

Photo: Pako Meria Almost exactly a year ago I got a copy through of the latest Temple Of Rock album, ‘Spirit On A Mission’. One play through was all it took for me to decide that the band had created … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 22nd January 2016, classic rock, Doogie White, Ed David, Edinburgh, Francis Buchholz, gig, Herman Rarebell, Jason Womack, Michael Schenker, Michael Schenker's Temple Of Rock, MSG, Queens Hall, review, rock, Scorpions, UFO, Venrez, Wayne Findley | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JULIA FORDHAM (1988 reissue), UNDERHILL ROSE

Posted on January 23, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Cherry Pop [Release date 29.01.16] Julia Fordham is one of those artists who could only really flourish in the 1980s when there were expansive label budgets, solid production values, and exposure on national radio. Her exquisite blend of self-penned pop … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues | Tagged album, Americana, bonus tracks, folk, Julia Fordham, live, pop, reissue, review, roots, singer, songwriter, The Great Tomorrow, Underhill Rose | Leave a comment

Album review: JAN AKKERMAN – Jan Akkerman (1977 reissue)

Posted on January 23, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric Recordings [Release date 29.01.16] “Jan Akkerman”, the 1977 album with the distinctive “guitar in bed” cover, was Akkerman’s answer to Jeff Beck’s ‘Blow By Blow’ two years earlier. This was the Dutch guitarist’s first solo album since splitting from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Dutch, Focus, guitar, guitarist, Holland, Jan Akkerman, jazz fusion, Jazz rock, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DIRTBAG REPUBLIC, SNAKEWINE, TRAGIK

Posted on January 23, 2016 by jason

DIRTBAG REPUBLIC S/T www.dirtbagreoublic.bandcamp.com Now this is my kind of album- sleazy rock n roll neatly served up in 3 minute segments. This Canadian band have a sound that blends the likes of KISS, The New York Dolls, Cheap Trick … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, Alien Drive, classic, Dirtbag Republic, Phil Vincent, Quick Play, reviews, rock, sleaze, Snakewine, Stiff Staff, Tragik | Leave a comment

EP review: EVILYN STRANGE – Evilution

Posted on January 23, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Thirteen 772 Music [Release date 07.03.16] By their own admission, Mikael Johannesson and Phillip Strange have gone heavier for this five track EP ahead of a full-length album, the follow-up to 2013′s ‘Mourning Phoebe’. Whilst there is nothing inherently wrong … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged EP, Evilution, Evilyn Strange, heavy rock, review | Leave a comment

News: ELEANOR MCEVOY – New album 5 February, Archive Interview – Sunday 24 January 2016

Posted on January 23, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Eleanor McEvoy - Alexanders, Chester, 12 March 2015

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio favourite Eleanor McEvoy is featured on Sunday 24 January, ahead of the release of her latest album ‘Naked Music’ (17:00 GMT). The radio station is replaying their 2009 interview when Eleanor chatted about her career … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged blues rock, Dale Griffin, Eleanor McEvoy, feature, interview, Magnum, Mott the Hoople, NWOBHM, radio, Simo, singer, songwriter, Tygers Of Pan Tang | Leave a comment

Album review: PRIMAL FEAR – Rulebreaker

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [Release date 22.11.15] Teutonic metal merchants Primal Fear return with their 11th studio album “Rulebreaker” which follows a similar path to 2014’s well received “Delivering The Black” opus. Primal Fear were founded way back in 1997 when bassist … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alex Beyrodt, Francesco Jovino, Frontiers, Magnus Karlsson, Mat Sinner, metal, Primal Fear, Ralf Scheepers, review, Rulebreaker, Tom Naumann | Leave a comment

Album review: CUTTING CREW – Add To Favourites

Posted on January 20, 2016 by jason

www.cuttingcrew.biz Everyone will know Cutting Crew for their big 80′s hit ‘(I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight’ and they had a decent level of success until they split-up in 1993. The band returned in 2005 with frontman and sole … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Add To Favorites, album, AOR, country, Cutting Crew, Nick Van Eede, pop, review, rock, soul | Leave a comment

News: WILL ROBERT BRAND NEW EP AND DEBUT HEADLINE TOUR

Posted on January 20, 2016 by jason

Ahead of the release of his new ‘Mountain’ E.P. on 19th February through Virgin EMI, acclaimed Cambridge-based troubadour Will Robert will embark on fifteen-date debut headline tour of the UK. The life-affirming five-track E.P. will be available to buy before … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged EP, Mountain, news, rock, singer, songwriter, UK tour, Will Robert | Leave a comment

Album review: IAN DANTER – Second Time Around

Posted on January 18, 2016 by jason

Cherry Red [Release date 25.09.15] I enjoyed TalkSport’s (he also subs in at Planet Rock and is the drummer in Kiss tribute band Dressed To Kill) Ian Danter’s debut album ‘Prove You Wrong’, released in 2013 and here is the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic, Greg Hart, IAN DANTER, Kiss, melodic, power pop, review, rock, Second Time Around, talkSPORT | Leave a comment

Album review: BRAINSTORM – Scary Creatures

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 15.01.16] Brainstorm’s 11th studio album “Scary Creatures” follows hot on the heels of 2014’s “Firesoul” and features ten more Euro-style power metal numbers. The Bavarian band were formed way back in 1989 and released their first … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, Andy B. Franck, Antonio Ieva, Brainstorm, Dieter Bernert, metal, Milan Loncaric, review, Scary Creatures, Torsten Ihlenfeld | Leave a comment

Album review: EXUMER – The Raging Tides

Posted on January 17, 2016 by jason

Metal Blade [Release date 29.01.16] Old fashion thrashin’. It can’t be put more simply than that. Exumer released both “Possessed by Fire” and “Rising from the Sea” at the height of thrash’s popularity, the 80s. This is a band that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Exumer, metal, Metal Blade, review, the Raging Tides, Thrash | Leave a comment

EP reviews: MORE THAN MOST, HOMEWRECKR

Posted on January 17, 2016 by david.wilson

EP Review: MORE THAN MOST – Impossible Is Temporary Self release [Release date 05.02.16] This is the debut EP from the London five piece who formed back in 2014. They describe themselves as ‘electronic alt-rockers’ and contain elements from the … Continue reading →