Yearly Archives: 2017

Interview: DIGGETH

Posted on May 8, 2017 by jason

Some bands, regardless of how big they are, what size venue they are playing or how many albums they have released just manage to grab you straight away with hard, punchy, instantly memorable rock tunes. When I wandered into Hastings’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged AC/DC, Alco Emaus, Casper Bongers, Diggeth, Harald te Grotenhuis, interview, metal, Metallica, rock | 1 Comment

Album review: HONEYJACK – 8 Track

Posted on May 8, 2017 by jason

www.honeyjackband.com Honeyjack are a duo of Mark Summerlin (vocals/guitars) and T.J. Scarlett (guitars). Mark Summerlin has been the guitarist and musical director for Seal and he was planning this to be a solo album, that was until he hooked up … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged .38 Special, 8 Track, album, AOR, Honeyjack, interview, Mark Summerlin, melodic, review, Rising Stars, rock, Seal, southern rock, TJ Scarlett | Leave a comment

Album review: URIAH HEEP Reissues (Look At Yourself, Demons And Wizards, The Magician’s Birthday)

Posted on May 8, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

BMG [Release date 31.03.17] As we opined when reviewing the first tranche of Heep reissues, we would question the merits of adding a second disc with the “alternative” album version as reimagined by Heep fan and collector Robert Corich under … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, classic rock, Demons And Wizards, expanded, heavy rock, Ken Hensley, Look At Yourself, Mick Box, prog, progressive, reissue, remastered, review, The Magician's Birthday, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – Reissues (Works Vol.1 & 2, Love Beach)

Posted on May 7, 2017 by jason

BMG [Release date 26.05/17] Formed in 1970, Emerson, Lake & Palmer were one of the first progressive rock supergroups, and certainly one of the most successful. Keyboard player, pianist and keen advocate of the Moog Keith Emerson had previously played with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Carl Palmer, classical, Emerson, expanded, Greg Lake, Keith Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Love Beach, prog, progressive, reissue, rock, Works Live, Works Volume 1, Works Volume 2 | Leave a comment

Album review: KAPREKAR’S CONSTANT – Fate Outsmarts Desire

Posted on May 6, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Uranium Club [Release date 12.03.17] Kaprekar’s Constant is the brainchild of a couple of old duffers, and childhood friends, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Al Nicholson and Nick Jefferson who, like many of us lived through prog’s golden years. Bringing together like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, David Jackson, Fate Outsmarts Desire, Kaprekar's Constant, Level 42, Mike Westergaard, Phil Gould, prog, Progressive Rock, review, The Blessing, Van Der Graaf Generator | Leave a comment

Album review: PORTER NICKERSON – Bonfire To Ash

Posted on May 6, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Weasel Records [Release date 05.05.17] When Midwest based guitarist / singer-songwriter Willy Porter started out, the success of the single ‘Angry Words’ (from his 1994 album Dog-Eared Dream) led to touring slots with the like of Tori Amos, Rickie Lee … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Bonfire To Ash, Carmen Nickerson, Porter Nickerson, review, singer, songwriter, Willy Porter | Leave a comment

Album review: RICH HOPKINS AND LUMINARIOS – My Way Or The Highway

Posted on May 6, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Blue Rose [Release date 27.01.17] You can tell a ‘serious’ musician when their album credits lists both the guitars and amplifiers they use, but Tuscon guitar slinger and songwriter Rich Hopkins comes across as one laid back dude. He might … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Lisa Novak, My Way Or The Highway, review, Rich Hopkins And Luminarios, roots, southern rock | Leave a comment

Album review: HUDSON FORD – The A&M Albums

Posted on May 6, 2017 by jason

Caroline Records [Release date 05.05.17] Vocalist, guitarist and bassist John Ford and drummer Richard Hudson were originally members of Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera in the 60s, before famously joining The Strawbs (a band that at one point featured Rick Wakeman). In … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged A&M Albums, album, Hudson Ford, reissue, review, Rick Wakeman, the Monks, The Strawbs | Leave a comment

Album review: MARSHALL LAW – Marshall Law

Posted on May 4, 2017 by jason

Dissonance [Release date 28.04.17] If you don’t know the name, you should. Part of a second new wave of British Heavy Metal, Marshall Law formed in the West Midlands in the late 80s and had much acclaim at the time. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Judas Priest, Marshall Law, metal, NWOBHM, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: NITROGODS – Roadkill BBQ

Posted on May 3, 2017 by jason

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 26.05.17] If Rush play thinking man’s music, then Hannover/Stuttgart’s very own Nitrogods require only that you have one functioning brain cell which has been pickled for weeks and then slapped stupid with a baseball bat. Looking a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, Motorhead, NITROGODS, review, Roadkill BBQ, rock, rock 'n' roll | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ADRENALINE RUSH, BLOOD COMMAND, LIGHT FREEDOM REVIVAL

Posted on May 3, 2017 by jason

ADRENALINE RUSH Soul Survivor Frontiers [Release date 21.04.17] Album number two from Adrenaline Rush, the band built around former pop singer Tave Wanning. The band have undergone a couple of line-up changes with Sam Soderlindh (lead guitar) and Joel Fox (bass) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Adrenaline Rush, albums, Blood Command, Coal Creek, Cult Drugs, Duncan Lloyd, Eterniverse Deja Vu, indie, IOUOME, Light Freedom Revival, Maximo Park, melodic metal, metal, review, rock, Soul Survivor | Leave a comment

Album review: BAI BANG – Rock Of Life

Posted on May 2, 2017 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 28.04.17] Bai Bang have been around since the late 80′s, weathering the grunge storm that saw off a lot of glam metal/hard rock bands and the one constant has been vocalist Diddi Kastenholt. On this album there … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bai Bang, hard rock, melodic, review, rock, Rock Of Life | Leave a comment

Album review: DRAGONFORCE – Reaching Into Infinity

Posted on May 1, 2017 by david.wilson

earMusic [Release date 19.05.17] This is the seventh studio album from Dragonforce and a bit like AC/DC or Status Quo you should know what to expect from a DF album by now. This release however does throw a few curved … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Anthrax, Dragonforce, Gee Anzalone, Herman Li, Iron Maiden, Judgement day, Marc Hudson, power metal, Reaching Into Infinity, review, Sam Totman, Thrash | Leave a comment

Album review: LIV SIN – Follow Me

Posted on May 1, 2017 by jason

Despotz Records [Release date 28.04.17] Formed in Gothenberg in 2002 with a musical agenda promising and delivering “old-school metal” Swedish band, Sister Sin, made six well-received albums before calling it a day in 2015. However, two years on, lead singer … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Destruction, Follow Me, Liv Jagrell, Liv Sin, metal, review, rock, Schmeir, Sister Sin, Stefan Kaufmann, UDO | 1 Comment

Gig review: LONELY ROBOT – Sub89, Reading, 27 April 2017

Posted on April 28, 2017 by jason

Sub89 is a decent sized venue in a less than salubrious part of Reading, McD’s and Nandos being the classier places in the street! It has a decent sized stage and the only downside was the sound which wasn’t great … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged 27 April 2017, Craig Blundell, gig, John Mitchell, Lonely Robot, Louder Still, progressive, reading, review, rock, Sub89, the Big Dream | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE QUIREBOYS – Islington Academy, London, 23 April 2017

Posted on April 27, 2017 by andynathan

There is a danger we can become blasé about the Quireboys, and it is easy to form a stereotype around the lovable, shambolic rogues with the singer in a gypsy headscarf and glass in hand, who turn every gig into … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Dave McCluskey, gig, Guy Griffin, Keith Weir, Last Great Dreamers, Nick Mailing, Paul Guerin, Quireboys, review, rock, Spike, Twisted Love | Leave a comment

Album review: TODD RUNDGREN – White Knight

Posted on April 27, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

The full version of this interview is broadcast as part of the 500th ‘Assume The Position’ presented by David Randall on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. Repeated Monday 29 May, 22:00 GMT and Friday 2 June, 22:00 GMT (5:22) Now … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Daryl Hall, Donald Fagen, Joe Satriani, Joe Walsh, review, Robyn, rock, Todd Rundgren, Trent Reznor, White Knight | 1 Comment

Album review: BOBBY KIMBALL – We’re Not In Kansas Anymore

Posted on April 27, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra Records [Release date 21.04.17] For many, Bobby Kimball is the definitive voice of Toto and performed with that band during the halcyon years of 1978-1984 (rejoining and touring 1998-2000). Since that time he has forged a semi-cabaret existence … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bobby Kimball, Derek Sherinian, melodic rock, review, soft rock, Toto, We're Not In Kansas Anymore | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BURNT OUT WRECK, CHESS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

Posted on April 27, 2017 by jason

BURNT OUT WRECK Swallow Cherry Red Records [Release date 24.03.17] Gary Moat was the drummer with Scottish rockers Heavy Pettin’ and for his new band, Burnt Out Wreck, he leaves his drum kit behind to head for the mic stand. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged AC/DC, album, alternative, Anna Coogan, Bo Diddley, Burnt Out Wreck, Chess, Chuck Berry, compilation, country, folk, For All Our Sins, Gary Moat, Heavy Pettin', Just Go Wild Over Rock 'N' Roll, KROKUS, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Sound of the Sirens, Swallow, The Lonely Cry of Space and Time | Leave a comment

Album review: BIG BIG TRAIN – Grimspound

Posted on April 27, 2017 by jason

English Electric Recordings [Release date 28.04.17] www.bigbigtrain.com Following hot on the heels of last year’s excellent ‘Folklore’ album Big Big Train are back with another album featuring tales of national heroes, the countryside and family dramas. This album also sees … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Big Big Train, David Longdon, Fairport Convention, folk, Greg Spawton, Grimspound, Judy Dyble, prog rock, progressive, review | Leave a comment

Album review: AYREON – The Source

Posted on April 26, 2017 by petefeenstra

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 28.04.17] It’s 12 years since Ayreon’s first album ‘The Final Experiment’ and the key elements of a conceptual sci-fi story with prog rock underpinnings remain at the heart of the new album ‘The Source.’ It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Arjen Lucassen, Ayreon, Ben Mathot, blues, David Bowie, Floor Jansen, Frank Zappa, funk, Guthrie Gavan, James LaBrie, Jeroen Goossens, Jethro Tull, Martin Barre, metal, Michael Eriksen, Mike Mills, Nils K. Rue, Paul Gilbert, Pink Floyd, prog, Queen, review, Russell Allen, Simone Simons, The Darkness, the Source, Todd Rundgren, Tommy Karevik, Tommy Rogers, Trace, Utopia, Yann Souetre, Yes | Leave a comment

News: STEVE HACKETT on tour in the UK from 28 April

Posted on April 26, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Steve Hackett commences his UK tour on Friday 28 April. Promoting his new album ‘The Night Siren’ the tour is also billed as “Genesis Revisited with Classic Hackett” and culminates in a sold out show at The London Palladium. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged Genesis Revisited, gigs, guitar, guitarist, may 2017, prog, Progressive Rock, Steve Hackett, The Night Siren, UK tour | Leave a comment

Gig review: ECLIPSE – The Borderline, London, 22 April 2017

Posted on April 25, 2017 by andynathan

With each album Eclipse’s reputation is finally spreading beyond the confines of the small but loyal melodic rock community. There was a significantly higher crowd to see them at a packed Borderline than on their previous visits, and yet what … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andre Linnan, Eclipse, Erik Martensson, Franklin Zoo, gig, Magnus Henriksson, melodic rock, One Desire, review | Leave a comment

Album review: HANK MARVIN – Without A Word

Posted on April 25, 2017 by jason

Demon Music Group [Release date 02.06.17] Hank Marvin is a guitar legend of that is there no doubt, having influenced many other guitar greats like Brian May, Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler and even those not associated with guitars like Jean-Michel Jarre, who … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Cliff Richard, Dr Who, film sountracks, guitar, guitarist, Hank Marvin, instrumental, review, The Shadows, Without A Word | Leave a comment

Album review: AXEL RUDI PELL – Ballads V

Posted on April 25, 2017 by jason

Steamhammer/SPV [Release date 21.04.17] Axel Rudi Pell has been releasing these ballads collections since 1993 and it was six years since ‘IV’ was released. Always a good mix of previously released material, covers and few new songs, ‘V’ is no … Continue reading →