Yearly Archives: 2020

Album review: SEVEN SPIRES – Emerald Seas

Posted on March 4, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 28.02.20] If only all concept albums were like this one…bittersweet melodic metal anthems liberally laced with apocalyptic metal tragedy. It’s such an accomplished piece of music that it belies the fact it is only the US band … Continue reading →

Album review: GRAHAM GOULDMAN – Modesty Forbids

Posted on March 2, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Graham Gouldman in the first hour of his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 5 April 2020. Lojinx [Release date 20.03.20] Graham Gouldman is a real trooper. In recent years he has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 10CC, album, Graham Gouldman, interview, Modesty Forbids, pop, review, Ringo Starr, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

News: KANSAS, FISH, HEATHEN, OZZY, BRIAN WILSON (March 2020)

Posted on March 2, 2020 by jason

HEART - O2 Apollo, Manchester, 30 June 2016

Ozzy Osbourne’s latest album ‘Ordinary Man’ debuted at number 3 in both the US Billboard and UK album charts. Fish is now hoping to release his long-awaited final studio album ‘Weltschmerz’ in July. Carcass have named their new album ‘Torn … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged AOR, Brian Wilson, classic rock, Fish, gigs, Heathen, Kansas, March 2020, melodic rock, metal, news, pop, rock, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review: SNAKE OIL & HARMONY – Hurricane Riders

Posted on March 2, 2020 by jason

Zero One Entertainment [Release date 28.02.20] Five years ago, Danny Vaughn (Tyketto) and Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network) decided to combine their talents in to form a live acoustic touring act called Snake Oil & Harmony. Since then they have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, country, Dan Reed, Dan Reed Network, Danny Vaughn, Hurricane Riders, melodic, pop, review, singer songwriter, Snake Oil & Harmony, Tyketto | Leave a comment

Album review: WAITING FOR MONDAY – S/T

Posted on March 1, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] Few bands are less famous than their producer. Walter Ino, 6 years with Survivor, touring keyboard player with The Babys, and currently holding down lead guitarist spot with The Eagles of Death Metal, produced this self … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, debut, DENNIS DeYOUNG, Jeff Scott Soto, melodic rock, review, Waiting For Monday, Walter Ino | Leave a comment

Album review: ARCHON ANGEL – Fallen

Posted on March 1, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] Archon Angel is a new project born from a meeting between producer/guitarist Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere) and former Savatage and Circle II Circle vocalist Zak Stevens during the making of Timo Tolkki’s Avalon’s Return To Eden … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Archon Angel, Circle II Circle, Fallen, metal, progressive metal, review, Savatage, Zak Stevens | Leave a comment

Album review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – F8

Posted on March 1, 2020 by david.wilson

Better Noise Records [Release date – 28.02.20] This is album number 8 from Five Finger Death Punch and it’s one that marks a number of firsts for the band. It is the first album to feature new drummer Charlie Engen, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, CD, Charlie Engen, Chric Kael, F8, Five Finger Death Punch, Inside Out, Ivan Moody, Jason Hook, metal, review, rock, Zoltan Bathory | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACKWATER CONSPIRACY – Two Tails & The Dirty Truth Of Love & Revolution

Posted on March 1, 2020 by david.wilson

Bulletproof 20/20 Records [Release date 14.02.20] This is the second album from County Tyrone southern tinged rockers Blackwater Conspiracy following on from their 2017 debut ‘Shootin’ The Breeze’ and it is a bit of a cracker. The band master … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Blackwater Conspiracy, CD, country, Phil Conalane, review, rock, southern rock, Two Tails & The Dirty Truth Of Love & Revolution | Leave a comment

Album review: WKW (WATSON, KERCHEVAL, WATSON) – Men Of Steel

Posted on March 1, 2020 by david.wilson

WKW Music [Release date - Out Now] WKW is a collaboration between the two Big Country mainstays, Bruce and Jamie Watson, and Thomas Kercheval. Kercheval is an Emmy winning documentary editor, independent musician and longtime Big Country fan. He ran … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Big Country, Bruce Watson, CD, Jamie Watson, Kerchevel, Men Of Steel, review, Robert Burns, Stuart Adamson, The Skids, Watson, WKW | Leave a comment

Album review: STATUS QUO – Rock Till You Drop & Thirsty Work

Posted on March 1, 2020 by jason

UMC [Release date 06.03.20] “Rock Till You Drop” was something of a love/hate album for the band. Rossi loved it, Parfitt hated it. It was a look back in the band’s rear view mirror. It was never uncomfortably reverential, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, boogie, classic rock, Francis Rossi, pop rock, re-issue, review, Rick Parfitt, rock, Rock Til You Drop, Status Quo, Thirsty Work | Leave a comment

Album review: RICHARD THOMPSON – Live At Rock City, Nottingham 86

Posted on February 29, 2020 by jason

Angel Air/Store For Music [Release date 13.03.20] An archive live performance from Richard Thompson from 1986 where he has backed by a veritable array of top notch folk musicians including Clive Gregson & Christine Collister (who were forging a successful … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Christine Collister, Clive Gregson, Fairport Convention, folk, folk rock, guitarist, live concert, radio, review, Richard Thompson, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Gig review: MYKE GRAY featuring Kim Jennett – Camden Underworld, London, 23 February 2020

Posted on February 29, 2020 by andynathan

I’ve been an admirer over the years of Myke Gray’s very fluent, technically accomplished guitar playing style, particularly so as he has always been complemented by powerful, bluesy vocalists, be it in Jagged Edge, Skin or Red White and Blues. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Colin Parkinson, gig, Glenn Quinn, Kim Jennett, Myke Gray, Neil Ogden, Skin | Leave a comment

Album review: STATUS QUO – Perfect Remedy

Posted on February 29, 2020 by jason

UMC [Release date 06.03.20] Albums nineteen, twenty and twenty one. How many bands can say that? Each one now reissued, and expanded to within an inch of its life. With added liner notes and pics. “Perfect Remedy” (1989), “Rock Till … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, boogie, classic rock, Francis Rossi, Perfect Remedy, re-issue, review, Rick Parfitt, rock, rock 'n' roll, Status Quo | Leave a comment

Album review: DATURA4 – West Coast Highway Cosmic

Posted on February 29, 2020 by jason

Naturalsounds Records [Release date 17.04.20] Feels like only five minutes since Datura4 anointed us with their blessed brand of down-under boogie and yet here they are already with their fourth album release, “West Coast Highway Cosmic”. As consistent as white … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, boogie, Datura4, Dom Mariani, review, rock, UFO, West Coast Highway Cosmic | Leave a comment

Book review: STEVE ROTHERY – Postcards From The Road

Posted on February 27, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Astral Horizon Press [Publication date 21.05.20] Steve Rothery’s photo book was first published in 2016 when it was sold via a pre-order campaign and then at gigs and the band website. Now it gets a full release. Rothery was a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Fish, Marillion, photography, Postcards From The Road, review, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

Gig review: JARED JAMES NICHOLS/COLLATERAL – Gibson Brands Studio, London, 24 February 2020

Posted on February 25, 2020 by andynathan

One of the most common gripes on social media when bands announce tours is ‘why aren’t they playing anywhere near me?’. With Jared James Nichols and Collateral going on a nine date nationwide spring tour excuses will be thinner than … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 24 February 2020, Angelo Tristan, blues rock, Collateral, Gibson Brands Studio, Gibson Guitars, gig, Jared James Nichols, London, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ABSOLVA – Side By Side

Posted on February 25, 2020 by jason

Rocksector Records [Release date 18.10.19] Absolva formed from the ashes of Fury (UK) in 2012, featuring Chris Appleton (vocals, guitar), Luke Appleton (guitar, vocals), Martin McNee (drums) and bassist Karl Schramm, who joined the band in 2014. The band also … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Blaze Bayley, Fury UK, Iced Earth, Iron Maiden, Luke Appleton, melodic metal, metal, review | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK SWAN – Shake The World

Posted on February 25, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] You have to say (again) that Frontiers knows how to put a band together, in this case Black Swan. Here are four musicians – Robin McAuley, Jeff Pilson, Reb Beach and Matt Starr – whose well … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Black Swan, Dokken, Frontiers, hard rock, Jeff Pilson, Matt Starr, melodic rock, Mr Big, MSG, Reb Beach, review, Robin McAuley, Shake The World | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL SAATCHI – Sun Come Up

Posted on February 25, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Jobbing Brighton musician , singer, and writer Phil Saatchi’s main claim to fame seem to be collaborations with Sam Brown on her 1990 debut Stop!, and with Phil Manzanera on And The Beat Goes On in 1991. Oh, and a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Phil Saatchi, pop, review, rock, Sun Come Up | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JEFFREY FOUCAULT, AMBERLY CHALBERG, DANIEL STEER

Posted on February 24, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

JEFFREY FOUCAULT Blood Brothers Blueblade Records [Release date 27,03.20] No question, Americana is the new rock n roll. And the opening number – ‘Dishes’ – on Jeffrey Foucault’s follow up to his critically acclaimed 2015 album Salt As Wolves – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Amberly Chalberg, Americana, Blood Brothers, country, Daniel Steer, Hi-Line, Jeffrey Foucault, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE HARLEY – Uncovered

Posted on February 24, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Absolute [Release date 21.02.20] While Cockney Rebel never really made the A grade, The Psychomodo – an album that languished amongst my 1970s LP collection – has always been one that I’ve always felt a strange affinity for, even if … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Cockney Rebel, cover versions, Covers, review, singer, songwriter, Steve Harley, Uncovered | Leave a comment

Quick plays: LARS BOUTRUP, AL DI MEOLA

Posted on February 23, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

LARS BOUTRUP’S MUSIC FOR KEYBOARDS The Great Beyond Ex’cess Records (Release date 02.03.20) Danish keyboard wiz Lars Boutrup evokes organ grinders of a bygone age. In doing so he also fashions his own version of classic keyboard-led rock. ‘The Great … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Across The Universe, Al Di Meola, album, guitar, guitarist, Hammond, instrumental, keyboards, Lars Boutrup, Lars Boutrup's Music For Keyboards, organ, progressive, review, rock, The Beatles, The Great Beyond | Leave a comment

Album review: THE BURRITO BROTHERS – The Notorious Burrito Brothers

Posted on February 22, 2020 by jason

Store For Music [Release date 06.03.20] This is one of those situations where a little knowledge is a bad thing. Without any “previous” one would pick up this disc and be introduced to very pleasant, competent country rock. Non-threatening, if … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, country, country rock, Flying Burrito Brother, Gram Parsons, melodic, re-issue, review, rock, the Burrito Brothers, The Notorious Burrito Brothers | Leave a comment

Album review: RAGE – Wings Of Rage

Posted on February 22, 2020 by jason

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 10.01.20] Every family has a black sheep. That one relative who never gets invited to Christmas lunch. Rage are that family member, the unhinged uncle who is usually locked in an attic or roaming around the woods. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, heavy metal, metal, NWOBHM, Peter "Peavy" Wagner, power metal, Rage, review, thrash metal, Wings Of Rage | Leave a comment

Album review: METAL CHURCH – The Elektra Years 1984-1989

Posted on February 22, 2020 by jason

Cherry Red Records [Release date 28.02.20] Before Kurdt Vanderhoof went off to invent a new genre with his band, Hall Aflame, in 1991, he released 3 albums with his startup venture, Metal Church. Cherry Red Records have bundled these into … Continue reading →