Album review: GUILD OF AGES – Rise

Escape Music [Release date 29.06.18]

Guild Of Ages are this year’s ‘Missing In Action’ band now returning to action, following on from the return of Boulevard last year. They called it a day in 2002 before being tempted back for the farewell Firefest show in 2014 and they have now releasing their first album in nearly twenty years. The band’s line-up has remained intact since 1994, namely Anthony ‘Antz’ Trujillo (Guitars, keyboards, vocals), Danny Martinez Jr (Lead Vocals, guitars), James Lostetter (Bass) and Steve Stuntz (Drums, vocals).

After the suitably titled ‘Intro’ instrumental Guild Of Ages show their love of a little prog on ‘Deep In Heaven’, that deftly mixes melodic rock and a few extended musical passages. The song’s intro sweeps in on a glorious mix of keys, strings and guitar.

Their love of damn fine hard rock tune comes through on ‘Around The Sun’, which features a monster of a chorus and the band’s trademark harmony vocals. This song along should be enough to entice you into listening further. The other big hook filled tune is ‘I’ll Keep Burnin’ which rattles along with another memorable chorus and a song that brings its own sunshine!

Of course there is a ballad or two, with ‘Ever Road Leads Me Home’ a song that sweeps the listener along in a sea of musical emotion. Guild Of Ages never shied away from heavier songs in the past and continue to do so on this album with both ‘Awaken’ and ‘All Fall Down’ tapping into the band’s heavier sound, not unlike label mates Mass.

A fine return by Guild Of Ages and ‘Rise’ is highly recommended to existing fans and anyone who enjoys modern melodic hard rock. Even better news the band’s back catalogue, including the CITA albums, are due to be re-issued and re-mastered by Escape Music, good times! ****

Review by Jason Ritchie


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

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 7 April 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 2 April 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply