Yearly Archives: 2020

EP review: BOOTYARD BANDITS – The Very Best Of

Posted on April 8, 2020 by jason
BOOTYARD BANDITS - The Very Best Of

Facebook [Release date 17.04.20] The Bootyard Bands may play country rock/Wild West music and give the impression they hail from the US, when in fact they are from Worcester UK. Touring wise they have supported the likes of Massive Wagons … Continue reading →

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Feature: Albums that time forgot – LENNY KRAVITZ – 5

Posted on April 8, 2020 by jason
LENNY KRAVITZ – 5

Virgin [Release date 12.05.98] Lenny Kravitz has always been hard to define; it’s entirely possible to imagine Kravitz in the crowd at Woodstock or strutting down a Parisian catwalk. Despite being effortlessly cool and the very embodiment of old school … Continue reading →

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Album review: MAGENTA – Acapela 2016 and 2017 (CD/DVD)

Posted on April 8, 2020 by GRTR! HQ
MAGENTA - Acapela 2016 and 2017

Tigermoth Productions [Original release date 04.11.19] Magenta are one of those bands who have influenced many other prog wannabes whilst sometimes getting overlooked themselves.  They’ve never had significant wider acclaim, never employed big time PR or appeared on major labels, … Continue reading →

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Album review: BONFIRE – Fistful Of Fire

Posted on April 7, 2020 by jason
BONFIRE - Fistful Of Fire

AFM Records (Released 03/04/20) Worried that we’ve grown weary of the ten rock songs and a ballad format, Bonfire throw in a few (3 in fact) short instrumentals to punctuate the band’s well established sonic signature, on this, their 17th … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: THE LOVETONES, JOE EDWARDS, PATSY THOMPSON

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ
THE LOVETONES Myriad

THE LOVETONES  Myriad Cleopatra Records [Release date 28.02.20] I can’t say I’m familiar with The Lovetones – an Aussie indie psychedelic rock band previously active between 2002 and 2010.  But main man Matthew J Tow’s song writing has been compared … Continue reading →

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Album review: MISSING PERSONS featuring Dale Bozzio – Dreaming

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ
MISSING PERSONS featuring Dale Bozzio - Dreaming

Cleopatra Records [Release date 20.03.20] A ‘household name’ back in the early days of MTV – as lead singer of Missing Persons – Dale Bozzio is said to have influenced Lady Gaga via Madonna. Also known for her work with … Continue reading →

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Album review: ROB COTTINGHAM – Back Behind The Orchard Tree

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ
ROB COTTINGHAM - Back Behind The Orchard Tree

[Release date 03.04.19] You have to hand it to Rob Cottingham.  He doesn’t like to sit idle, and this re-working of the Touchstone/Cairo founder’s debut solo album has been on his bucket list for some time. Having learnt a shed … Continue reading →

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Album review: COMPASS – Our Time On Earth

Posted on April 6, 2020 by jason
COMPASS – Our Time On Earth

Escape Music [Release date 24.04.20] The Compass story began back in December 2017 when singer songwriter Steve Newman decided to write a few songs that musically would step outside the barriers imposed by many years writing for his own band … Continue reading →

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Album review: WOLFHEART – Wolves Of Karelia

Posted on April 6, 2020 by david.wilson

Napalm Records [10.04.20] Finnish metallers Wolfheart master in something called ‘Winter Metal’ which appears to be a cross between fast and furious death metal and the wide soundscapes of Sigur Ros. It is a mix which works amazingly well and … Continue reading →

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EP Review: BOMBS OF HADES – Phantom Bell

Posted on April 6, 2020 by david.wilson

Black Lodge [Release date 17.04.20] Bombs Of Hades originally formed back in 2002 to party and play Crusty Death Metal (a new genre on me!) and have over the years released several albums and EP’s whilst honing their sound. This … Continue reading →

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Album review: DICTATOR SHIP – Your Favourites

Posted on April 6, 2020 by david.wilson

The Sign Records [Release date 17.04.20] This is the debut album from Swedish rockers Dictator Ship and over the course of 27 minutes the guys set out to entertain with retro rock from a bygone age. The band have produced … Continue reading →

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Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to WISHBONE ASH

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ
WISHBONE ASH - The Tivoli, Buckley, 3 November 2018

GRTR!’s melodic rock maestro Andy Nathan charts the progress of Wishbone Ash, currently celebrating their 50th anniversary Wishbone Ash may have a criminally low profile in the wider world, but there aren’t many bands that can boast both a history … Continue reading →

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Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to COZY POWELL

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ
Cozy Powell

Joe Geesin recalls Cozy Powell’s long career, the key albums, and a friendship with one of rock’s finest drummers Colin Flooks, better known as Cozy Powell, was a renowned rock drummer who, like many, lived like he played – hard … Continue reading →

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Album review: ZON – Astral Projector/ORPHAN – Salute

Posted on April 5, 2020 by jason
ZON - Astral Projector

Rock Candy [Release date 20.03.20] ZON – Astral Projector + 4 The band members’ post Zon experiences are arguably more colourful than their brief, 2 album grab at fame and fortune. And yet, the 1978 debut, “Astral Projector” promised so … Continue reading →

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News: Singer songwriter JOSH TAERK plays live for Get Ready to ROCK! (Sunday 5 April, 21:00 BST, GMT+1)

Posted on April 3, 2020 by GRTR! HQ
Josh Taerk

Canadian singer songwriter Josh Taerk plays an exclusive live session via Get Ready to ROCK!’s Facebook page on Sunday 5 April at 21:00 BST (GMT+1) Josh was born in Toronto, Canada. He is an official Recording Academy/Grammy Member and his  … Continue reading →

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Album review: KHYMERA – Master Of Illusions

Posted on April 3, 2020 by jason
KHYMERA – Master Of Illusions

Frontiers [Release date 06.03.20] Album number five from Khymera, who started out as an alliance between Italian producer & musician Daniele Liverani and then Kansas singer Steve Walsh. Khymera has since developed into a regular musical project when bassist and … Continue reading →

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Album review: BLAZE BAYLEY – Live In Czech

Posted on April 2, 2020 by david.wilson

Blaze Bayley Recordings [03.04.20] Blaze Bayley is one of rock and metal’s true survivors. Having been plucked from the excellent Wolfsbane to front Iron Maiden following Bruce Dickinson’s departure in 1994, he was then unceremoniously dumped by the band five … Continue reading →

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Album review: BUFFALO SUMMER – Desolation Blue

Posted on April 2, 2020 by david.wilson

Silver Lining Records [Release date 27.03.20] This is the third album from Buffalo Summer and rather good it is too. The Welsh wonders have been playing up and down the country and every festival they can get with a decent … Continue reading →

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Feature: Call Collect: An introduction to FOCUS

Posted on April 1, 2020 by GRTR! HQ
Focus - Hard Rock Hell Prog, Pwllheli, 21-22 March 2014

In their own words, Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman discuss the early days of Focus and their wider success…and demise in the late 1970s.  This feature is based on interviews in 1990 for a ‘Record Collector’ article published in … Continue reading →

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Album review: JOE SATRIANI – Shapeshifting

Posted on April 1, 2020 by GRTR! HQ
JOE SATRIANI - Shapeshifting

Sony Music [Release date 10.04.20] We’ve always commented on the energy displayed by Satriani not least sustained during a two hour live show.  Recent albums have been pretty convincing too.  That energy permeates this latest offering and will surely translate … Continue reading →

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Single reviews: BAD TOUCH, DEEP PURPLE, VEGA

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jason
BAD TOUCH - Strut

BAD TOUCH – Strut Norfolk’s favourite retro rockers are back with this delicious little slab of bluesy classic rock. Perfectly titled, the track rolls along, boasting some really great little classic 70’s and 80’s touches and is the most mature … Continue reading →

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Album review: LEGION – Redemption

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jason
LEGION - Redemption

Rock Company [Release date 18.03.20] Amazingly this is Legion’s eleventh studio album since forming back in 2010. The band’s line-up has also stayed pretty consistent with vocalist Phil Vincent and guitarist Vince O’Regan joined by bassist Gavin Cooper, drummer Any … Continue reading →

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News: QUEEN, MARILLION, HELLOWEEN, DEVIN TOWNSEND (April 2020)

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jason
Quireboys - Giants of Rock, Butlins, Minehead, 26 January 2020

Hawklords release a new live album ‘Hawklords Alive’ on May 29. Marillion have started work on a new album during the current lockdown and are posting regular updates on their social media. Pattern-Seeking Animals (who feature current and former members … Continue reading →

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Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to BLUE OYSTER CULT

Posted on March 31, 2020 by jason
Blue Oyster Cult

Jason Ritchie picks out some of the key albums from the heavy metal masters Formed from the late 60’s band Soft White Underbelly, Blue Oyster Cult (BOC) are often dubbed ‘the thinking man’s heavy metal band’. But for me they … Continue reading →

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Album review: TESTAMENT – Titans Of Creation

Posted on March 31, 2020 by david.wilson

Nuclear Blast [Release date 03.04.20] The world may well have gone crazy at the moment with Coronavirus changing people’s day to day lives to such an extent that nothing feels normal. It is good then to have something to bring you some normality … Continue reading →

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