Yearly Archives: 2020

Album review: PINNACLE POINT – Symphony Of Mind

Posted on June 21, 2020 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 17.07.20] Pinnacle Point released their debut album ‘Winds Of Change’ back in 2017 and the band features vocalist Jerome Mazza (Angelica, Outlaw Son, Steve Walsh) and guitarist Torben Enevoldsen (Fate, Acacia Avenue, Section A). They are … Continue reading →

Quick plays: ELECTRIC MOB, CHESTER KAMEN AND THE LOVES, DOHNY JEP

Posted on June 20, 2020 by jason

ELECTRIC MOB Discharge Frontiers [Release date 12.06.20] Another band making their debut, this time Brazil’s Electric Mob who feature vocalist Renan Zonta. He appeared on The Voice performing such classic rock songs as Sweet Child ‘O Mine and Highway To … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Americanized, blues rock, Calling All Astronauts, Chester Kamen, classic rock, Dohny Jep, Electric Mob, electronica, hard rock, Quick Plays, review, rock, synth rock | Leave a comment

Album review: ERIC CHURCH – The Outsiders

Posted on June 20, 2020 by jason

Snakefarm Records [Release date 12.06.20] Church’s edgy, non conformist image smacks of authenticity, and when you hear songs like ‘The Outsider’ and ‘Devil Devil’ you wonder how long his love affair with the genre’s conventions will last. These are songs … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, arena rock, country, country rock, Eric Church, hard rock, review, rock, The Outsiders | Leave a comment

Book review: FLYPOSTING: Posters Of A Music Revolution by Chris Hewitt

Posted on June 17, 2020 by petefeenstra

Dandelion Records [Publication date 15.06.20] ‘Flyposting – Posters Of A Music Revolution’ doesn’t so much document the radically changing times of the 70′s, as reflect an era when the medium became the message. Up until such times as when local … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Barclay James Harvest, Bob Marley, book, Burning Spear, Captain Beefheart, Chris Hewitt, Dandy Shaft, Flyposting Posters Of A Music Revolution, Ian Gillan Band, Iron Maiden, Jethro Tull, John Cooper Clarke, Led Zeppelin, Man, Queen, Racing Cars, Rainbow, review, Slade Rabid Records, Snips, Squeeze, Stackwaddy, Stanley Clarke, Steam Hammer, Steve Gibbons, Steve Hardcastle, Steve Hillage, The Bystanders, Tosh Ryan, Trapeze, Writing On The Wall | Leave a comment

Album review: RONAN FURLONG – Minerva’s Meddling

Posted on June 16, 2020 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Ronan Furlong for his Feature show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, first broadcast 7 June 2020, and including tracks from the album ‘Minerva’s Meddling’. Thoroughbred Music [Release date 29.06.20] To say that Ronan Furlong’s ‘Minerva’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Celtic, David Surkamp, folk, interview, Irish, metal, Minerva's Meddling, Neil Young, Pavlov's Dog, review, rock, Ronan Furlong, roots, vocal | 1 Comment

Album review: NICK D’VIRGILIO – Invisible

Posted on June 13, 2020 by jason

English Electric Recordings [Release date 22.05.20] NDV is Nick D’Virgilio, the current drummer in Big Big Train, having also played in Spock’s Beard, Genesis and been musical director for Cirque de Soliel. This is the second solo album from Nick D’Virgilio … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Big Big Train, drummer, Invisible, melodic, NDV, Nick D’Virgilio, progressive, review, rock, Solo, Spock's Beard | Leave a comment

Album review: JOSE RAMIREZ – Here I Come

Posted on June 13, 2020 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date 12.06.20] American based Costa Rica’s blues artist José Ramirez calls himself an interpreter of soulful blues. The aptly titled ’Here I Come’ can equally be seen as a statement of intent and announces his own considerable … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anson Funderburgh, blues, funk, guitar, Here I Come, Jimmy Pugh, José Ramirez, Memphis soul, Nate Rowe, review, Robert Johnson, Ronnie Earl, soul, T-Bone Walker, The Texas Horns, Wes Starr | Leave a comment

Single review: JAMES REYNE – Toon Town Lullaby

Posted on June 13, 2020 by jason

Bloodline Records [Release date 08.06.20] First single from his forthcoming “Toon Town Lullaby” album (his 12th, due out 12 July). ‘Toon Town Lullaby’ confirms that Reyne has reached the ‘mature balladeer’ stage in his long career. The distinctive, powerful voice … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Australian Crawl, James Reyne, review, rock, single, Solo, Toon Town Lullaby | Leave a comment

News: RORY GALLAGHER celebrated in virtual festival – Sunday 14 June

Posted on June 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Rory Gallagher - Isle Of Wight Festival 1970

Sunday 14 June will mark the 25th anniversary of the passing of the legendary musician Rory Gallagher. In the absence of this year’s four-day celebration in Ballyshannon the day will be marked by Rory followers around the world. WDR TV, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS | Tagged anniversary, Band Of Friends, blues, blues rock, festival, guitarist, Isle of Wight, Rockpalast, Rory Gallagher, Sunday 14 June 2020 | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – RANSOM – Trouble In Paradise

Posted on June 12, 2020 by andynathan

MTM (1997) As alternative sounds ruled the roost in the nineties, musical styles that had ruled the previous decade were out of fashion and none more so than the melodic rock/AOR scene which was driven completely underground. In pre-Facebook, YouTube … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged AOR, Don Cromwell, Eddie Money, melodic rock, Ransom, Tommy Girvin, Trouble In Paradise | Leave a comment

Feature: Gigs of the Millennium – JOE BONAMASSA

Posted on June 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Joe Bonamassa - The Cavern, Liverpool, 27 June 2016

In June 2016 Joe Bonamassa trod the boards at the venue where – nearly over 50 years earlier – the Fab Four had fired their opening salvo. This historic gig has become one of life’s highlights for GRTR! reviewer Alan … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, Gigs of the Millennium | Tagged 27 June 2016, blues, blues rock, feature, gig, Joe Bonamassa, Liverpool, review, The Cavern | Leave a comment

Album review: INTELLIGENT MUSIC PROJECT – Sorcery Inside/Life Motion

Posted on June 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

INTELLIGENT MUSIC PROJECT V - Life Motion

Intelligent Music [Release date 12.02.20, 24.12.18*] There must be something in the Bulgarian water. One time Uriah Heep vocalist John Lawton has also used that country’s musicians in recent years and actually appears on the first two ‘Intelligent’ releases. This … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Carl Sentance, Intelligent Music Project, John Payne, Joseph Williams, Life Motion, melodic rock, Milan Vrabevski, review, Richard Grisman, Ronnie Romero, Simon Phillips, Sorcery Inside | Leave a comment

EP review: DEAD REYNOLDS – Frontier

Posted on June 12, 2020 by jason

The Fort Records [Release date 19.06.20] Dead Reynolds have already released one EP prior to this one, plus have gained airplay on the likes of Kerrang! Radio and our very own GRTR! Radio. Live wise they have supported the likes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alt rock, Dead Reynolds, Deaf Havana, EP, Frontier, indie, Mallory Knox, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Curse Of The Hidden Mirror

Posted on June 12, 2020 by jason

Frontiers Records [Release date 12.06.20] Back in the late nineties, their creativity sandbanked, Blue Oyster Cult spent 3 solid years on the road. Those years eventually sparked songwriting lightning, and assisted once more by Sci-fi/cyberpunk writer, John Shirley, the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, classic rock, Curse Of The Hidden Mirror, Eric Bloom, Frontiers, melodic, re-issue, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ – Wide Awake

Posted on June 11, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 14.08.20] Johnny Hates Jazz’s return in 2013 was well received, with a comeback album ‘Magnetized’ gathering airplay and even a short tour in 2016 (when we saw them in downtown Darwen Library Theatre) and a handful of festival … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 80s, album, Clark Datchler, eighties, interview, Johnny Hates Jazz, Mike Nocito, pop, pop rock, review, synth pop, Wide Awake | Leave a comment

Album review: STRAWBS – Burning For You (Remastered & Expanded Edition)

Posted on June 11, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date: 26.6.20] In common with most rock survivors, David Cousins’ Strawbs have worked a variety of music genres over the past 50 years, segueing early folk stirrings into more conventional song structures via a progressive heyday. The last … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Burning For You, classic rock, Dave Cousins, folk, pop, progressive, reissue, remastered, review, Strawbs | Leave a comment

EP review: ROXY GIRLS – A Wealth Of Information

Posted on June 10, 2020 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 05.06.20] Sometimes you just need something that serves up no frills thrills, just full on, straight ahead adrenaline soaked excitement. Roxy Girls bring you just that. This total blast of an EP brings seven perfectly formed and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged A Wealth Of Information, EP, indie, review, rock, Roxy Girls, Talking Heads, XTC | Leave a comment

Album review: THE WALK-A-BOUT – 20/20

Posted on June 10, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Shred The Evidence Records [Release date 05.06.20] New York Long Islanders (East End) The Walk-A-Bout developed around the songwriting skills of Australian Darren ‘Sully’ Sullivan (vocals) and Kevin Anderson (guitars) and their debut mini-album ‘Things Are Looking Up’ came out … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 20/20, album, classic rock, review, The Walk-A-Bout | Leave a comment

Feature: Gigs of the Millennium – Steve Tilston, Argent, Camel, The Tubes

Posted on June 9, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall surveys a near-20 year period, reflecting on what constitutes a great gig… What makes a good gig? It can often be the events surrounding it – a pre-gig meal or drink for example - your fellow gig-goer(s), the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, Gigs of the Millennium | Tagged Argent, Camel, classic rock, Dan Reed Network, David Gilmour, Europe, feature, gig, hard rock, Jeff Scott Soto, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, Saxon, singer songwriter, Steve Lukather, Steve Tilston, The Tubes, Winger | Leave a comment

Album review: BUZZCOCKS – Sell You Everything 1991-2014

Posted on June 8, 2020 by jason

Cherry Red [Release date 29.05.20] The recent release of new single ‘Gotta Get Better’ marked the beginning of “Phase 3” of Buzzcocks, now solely fronted by Steve Diggle following the death of Pete Shelley in December 2018. With most “Phase … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged box set Sell You Everything 1991-2014, Buzzcocks, Cherry Red Records, melodic, Pete Shelley, pop, pop rock, punk, punk pop, review, rock, Steve Diggle | Leave a comment

Single reviews: STORMZONE, BRANTLEY GILBERT, GIRL SKIN, LUCA BASELE

Posted on June 7, 2020 by jason

STORMZONE Tolling Of The Bell Metalapolis Records [Release date 05.06.20] Blimey, album number seven ‘Ignite The Machine’ from StormZone is released by Metalapolis Records on July 31. Before that we have this new single, a six minute trad metal feast … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Brantley Gilbert, cinematic, country, Girl Skin, indie, jazz, Luca Basele, metal, NYChillharmonic, pop, progressive, review, rock, singles, Stormzone | Leave a comment

Album review: CPR (Crosby Pevar Raymond)

Posted on June 7, 2020 by jason

BMG [Release date 21.07.20] Guitarist, songwriter and vocalist David Crosby is quite a legend, all historic drug and alcohol issues aside, being a founder member of folk rock/country rock pioneers The Byrds, he has recorded with Crosby & Nash (former … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged albums, AOR, country, CPR, CSN, David Crosby, folk, James Raymond, Jeff Pevar, melodic, pop, re-issue, review, The Byrds | Leave a comment

Album review: PRETTY MAIDS – Maid In Japan

Posted on June 6, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 22.05.20] Pretty Maids have been around since the early 80’s, with original members vocalist Ronnie Artkins and guitarist Ken Hammer joined by bassist Rene Shades, Chris Laney on keyboards, guitar and drummer Allan Sørensen (who left the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chris Laney, classic rock, DVD, live, Maid In Japan, melodic hard rock, melodic metal, Pretty Maids, review, rock, Ronnie Atkins | Leave a comment

Album review: SPIRIT – Tent Of Miracles (2CD Remastered & Expanded Edition)

Posted on June 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date: 22.05.20] The 20-year journey from the band’s 1970 career-defining ‘The Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus’ to pulling back the flaps of ‘Tent Of Miracles’ had been a wayward one for this acclaimed late ‘60s West Coast psych … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Leave a comment

Album review: HOUSE OF LORDS – New World, New Eyes

Posted on June 4, 2020 by jason

Frontiers Records [Release date 12.06.20] Many critics have gone to print noting the inconsistency of the reformed House Of Lord’s 21st century releases. Maybe that would explain why James Christian (vocals/production) has brought in Mark Spiro and Tommy Denander to … Continue reading →