Yearly Archives: 2016

Gig review: ENTER SHIKARI – Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, 19 February 2016

Posted on February 23, 2016 by jason

The King Blues – Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, 19 February 2016

Enter Shikari, a band renowned for their live performances, be it in the living room of bassist Chris Batten’s parent’s house (see video for ‘Sorry You’re Not a Winner’), the summer festival fields or in this instance, Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, Enter Shikari, gig, Hardcore, metal, punk, review, rock, the King Blues, the Wonder Years | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TIM HOCKENBERRY, JOSH HARTY

Posted on February 22, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

TIM HOCKENBERRY Tim Hockenberry [Release date 04.03.16] You know with an ex-America’s Got Talent performer (Hockenberry made the semi-finals in 2012) you’re going to get a decent vocal performance. And his debut release doesn’t disappoint in that respect – his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, America's Got Talent, Americana, country, Holding On, Josh Harty, review, roots, singer, songwriter, Tim Hockenberry | Leave a comment

DVD Review: ELVIS COSTELLO – Detour Live At Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Posted on February 22, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Eagle Rock [Release date 12.02.16] Elvis Costello brought his Detour (scouse for ‘the tour’) show ‘home’ to the Liverpool Phil in June 2015. Performing solo with just guitar or piano (apart from when joined by Larkin Po sisters Rebecca and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged Americana, Detour, DVD, Elvis Costello, Larkin Poe, Live At Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, review, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Eagles And Dragons (9-vinyl box set)

Posted on February 21, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Demon Records [Release date 18.03.16] Nine albums, nearly twenty years in timespan, and another chance for recycling under the auspices of 180 gram vinyl. This means you don’t get bonus tracks, just the original albums in original sleeves and inners … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Biff Byford, box set, Dogs Of War, Eagles And Dragons, Forever Free, heavy metal, heavy rock, Into The Labyrinth, Killing Ground, Lionheart, Metalhead, review, Saxon, Solid Ball Of Rock, The Inner Sanctum, Unleash The Beast, Vinyl | Leave a comment

Rising Stars interview: THE REBELLES

Posted on February 21, 2016 by jason

The Rebelles is formed of Tracie Hunter, Elizabeth Westwood and Phoebe White, and ahead of their debut album they have released a single of the Mott the Hoople classic ‘All The Young Dudes’. Over the band for more on the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged classic rock, Ian Hunter, interview, Mott the Hoople, punk, Rising Stars, rock, The Rebelles, Tracie Hunter | 1 Comment

DVD review: THE ECSTASY OF WILKO JOHNSON

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Davoski

Cadiz Music [Release date 21.12.15] This is a work of bizarre genius. What was presumably conceived by film and music director Julien Temple as an epitaph for Wilko Johnson has turned out to be an uplifting story of life-affirmation. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged Canvey Island, Dr Feelgood, DVD, film, Julien Temple, review, The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson, Wilko Johnson | Leave a comment

Album review: GRANDHOUR – Bombs & Bullets

Posted on February 20, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Rock Hawk Records [27.11.15] Australia has produced some interesting bands recently, Shadowqueen and Kitchen Witch immediately come to mind. Although bands like Palace Of The King and Tracer have followed the perhaps more predictable AC/DC lineage. The latest contenders – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Aussie, Australia, Bombs & Bullets, Grandhour, hard rock, melodic, review, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: BLACK STONE CHERRY, SHINEDOWN, HALESTORM – SSE Arena, Wembley, London, 4 February 2016

Posted on February 18, 2016 by andynathan

Gig review: CARNIVAL OF MADNESS (BLACK STONE CHERRY, SHINEDOWN, HALESTORM) - SSE Arena, Wembley, London, 4 February 2016

‘The Carnival of Madness’, a well known USA touring concept which brings together three or four like-minded bands from the newer generation, was making a first trip to these shores, but the personnel involved were in very familiar circumstances. Black … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Ben Wells, Black Stone Cherry, Brent Smith, Carnival of Madness, Chris Robertson, gig, Halestorm, hard rock, Highly Suspect, John Fred Young, Jon Lawhon, Lzzy Hale, Shinedown, southern rock, Wembley Arena, Zach Myers | Leave a comment

Quick plays: RAZORBATS, RAGE, SAGA, STAR CRYSTAL

Posted on February 17, 2016 by jason

RAZORBATS – Camp Rock www.razorbats.com [Release date 15.09.15] Razorbats hail from Norway and they like their 70′s rock that’s for sure, as you can hear bits of Alice Cooper, Kiss and on ‘Getaway’ you could be listening to a long-lost … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Camp Rock, Follow Me, melodic rock, metal, My Way, punk pop, Rage, review, rock, Saga, Star Crystal, The Pleasure & The Pain, the Razorbats | Leave a comment

Album review: TONY BANKS – Reissues

Posted on February 17, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric Recordings [Release date 26.02.16] CD/DVD (5.1 mix) It is a pity that Tony Banks came across as somewhat bad tempered and grumpy in the most recent Genesis TV documentary. Has he got a chip on the proverbial shoulder? Well, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged A Chord Too Far, A Curious Feeling, album, anthology, Chester Thompson, compilation, Daryl Stuermer, Genesis, Mo Foster, review, The Fugitive, Tony Banks | Leave a comment

Album review: ANTHRAX – For All Kings

Posted on February 16, 2016 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 26.02.16] I will admit it has been awhile since I heard an Anthrax album right through, although I was a big fan back in their 80′s period when thrash metal was at its commercial peak. This … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Anthrax, classic, For All Kings, metal, review, Thrash | Leave a comment

Album review: THE TREATMENT – Generation Me

Posted on February 16, 2016 by jason

Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Release date 18.03.16] The Treatment have been around since 2008 and this is album number three from them. They have supported many big names in the rock world including Kiss, Motley Crue and Status Quo plus they have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Frontiers, Generation Me, hard rock, review, rock, The Treatment | Leave a comment

Album review: SOTO – Divak

Posted on February 16, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC [Release date 01.04.16] Soto’s debut album ‘Inside The Vertigo’ came and went early last year, and judging by the critical reaction perhaps splitting some of the core JSS fanbase as it marked a return to the more hard-hitting metal … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Divak, heavy metal, heavy rock, Jeff Scott Soto, Journey, metal, review, Soto, Talisman, Tempestt, Yngwie Malmsteen | Leave a comment

Gig review: RUNRIG – Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 13 February 2016

Posted on February 14, 2016 by david.wilson

If you were to conduct a street poll asking Joe Public to name Scottish bands you would no doubt get the likes of The Proclaimers, Wet, Wet, Wet and possibly even the Bay City Rollers. I have a sneaking suspicion … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 13 February 2016, Alba, Brian Hurren, Bruce Guthro, Calum MacDonald, Chris Gorman, Edinburgh, gig, James Mackenzie, Loch Lomond, Malcolm Jones, review, Ridge Records, rock. folk, Rory MacDonald, Runrig, Skye, The Story, Usher Hall | Leave a comment

Album review: TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA – Letters From The Labyrinth

Posted on February 13, 2016 by jason

Decca [Release date 29.01.16 - UK] Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) are back with a new album and unlike previous ones this is not a one themed rock opera, instead a collection of songs with varying themes. Plus there are some classical … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Jon Oliva, Letters from the Labyrinth, Paul O'Neill, review, Savatage, Trans Siberian Orchestra, TSO | Leave a comment

Gig review: JUST SAY YES/ARFM MELODIC ROCK FUNDRAISER – The Spot, Derby, 30 January 2016

Posted on February 12, 2016 by andynathan

Now in its second year, the ‘Just Say Yes’ and ARFM charity melodic rock fundraiser was a must on several grounds. First of all, in its own right as raising a substantial amount for a charity supporting young people with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 30 January 2016, AOR, Blood Red Saints, Derby, Fahran, festival, gig, Hand of Dimes, Just Say Yes, Lifeline, melodic rock, Melodic Rock Fundraiser, NEWMAN, No Hot Ashes, The Spot | Leave a comment

EP review: BROKEN WITT REBELS – Georgia Pine

Posted on February 12, 2016 by jason

[Released 01.04.16] https://www.facebook.com/BrokenWittRebelsUK/ Broken Witt Rebels hail from Birmingham (UK), not Alabama as you may be mistaken for thinking after listening to their southern rock tinged sound on this five song EP. The band consists of Danny Core (vocals/rhythm guitar), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Alabama Shakes, EP, Georgia Pine, Reef, review, rock, soul, southern, the Broken Witt Rebels | Leave a comment

Album review: SIMO – Let Love Show The Way

Posted on February 11, 2016 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 26.01.16] Sometimes a new band needs a relevant context to make a splash. Happily for Simo, they seems to be in the right place at the right time to explode on to the contemporary blues-rock scene with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adam Abrashoff, album, Allman Brothers, blues, Cream, Elad Shapiro, Grateful Dead, guitar, JD Simo, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Mountain, Peter Green, psychedelia, review, Simo, soul, Ten Years After, Zeppelin | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TREETOP FLYERS, SERENITY

Posted on February 10, 2016 by jason

TREETOP FLYERS – Palomino [Release date 11.03.16] This is the second album from this London five piece and listening to the album you would think you were back in the 1970′s and the West Coast sound of artists like Crosby, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged 70s music, album, Codex Atlantus, metal, Palomino, power metal, review, rock, Serenity, symphonic, the Treetop Flyers | Leave a comment

Album review: AVANTASIA – Ghostlights

Posted on February 10, 2016 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 29.01.16] Tobias Sammet is back with another instalment of his Avantasia project. This one follows on thematically from ‘The Mystery Of Time’ album, with the lead character, a young scientist, unwittingly drawing the attention of a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AVANTASIA, Bob Catley, Dee Snider, Edguy, GEOFF TATE, Ghostlights, Jorn Lande, metal, Michael Kiske, Nuclear Blast, opera, review, rock, symphonic, Tobias Sammet | Leave a comment

Album review: TYGERS OF PAN TANG – Noises From The Cathouse

Posted on February 10, 2016 by jason

Angel Air Records [Release date 05.02.16] Remember the days when any self-respecting rock band had to have a “Y” replacing the “I” in its name, at least one umlaut over a vowel and the kind of curly-locked barnets which would … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Angel Air Records, classic rock, metal, Noises From The Cathouse, NWOBHM, re-issue, review, Robb Weir, rock, Tygers Of Pan Tang | Comments Off

News: HANDEL & HENDRIX Museum opens in Brook Street, London – 9 February 2016

Posted on February 10, 2016 by petefeenstra

The Handel & Hendrix in London Museum opens its doors to Jimi Hendrix’s London Brook Street flat from 10 February . It’s a unique project that the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) committee member Rachel Hasted notes: “brings together Rock & the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Exhibitions, NEWS | Tagged Barrie Wentzell, CHARLES SHAAR MURRAY, Christian Lloyd, Ed Vulliamy, George Frideric Handel, guitar, Handel & Hendrix In London, Jimi Hendrix, Kathy Etchingham, Madeline Bell, museum, Octavia, preview, Rachel Hasted, Roger Mayer, Stephen Dale Petit | Leave a comment

Album review: RESURRECTION KINGS

Posted on February 9, 2016 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 29.01.16] Frontiers new project sees former Dio guitarist Craig Goldy continue his return to the spotlight following Giuffria’s poorly received and presumably short lived reunion at Rockingham. This time he has teamed up with a line … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged blues rock, Chas West, Craig Goldy, Dio, Frontiers, melodic rock, Resurrection Kings, Sean MacNabb, Vinny Appice | Leave a comment

Album review: NORDIC UNION

Posted on February 9, 2016 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 29.01.16] Lead singer of Eclipse, whose ‘Armageddonize’ album was GRTR!’s second best melodic rock album of 2015, Erik Martensson is one of the most prolific, not to say talented, figures in his field. The latest in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Eclipse, Erik Martensson, Frontiers Records, melodic rock, Nordic Union, Pretty Maids, W.E.T. | Leave a comment

News: DONOVAN announces 70th Birthday Show

Posted on February 9, 2016 by jason

DONOVAN’S 70TH BIRTHDAY PARTY CONCERT IN ‘BEAT CAFÉ’ AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM ON 6th MAY 2016 Donovan, ‘60s legend, icon, poet and one of our most enduring singer-songwriters, celebrates his 70th birthday with a special concert at The London Palladium … Continue reading →