Monthly Archives: January 2021

Book review: On track…KATE BUSH, RENAISSANCE, DIRE STRAITS, JONI MITCHELL

Posted on January 30, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication dates: December 2020; January/February 2021] The On Track volumes from Sonicbond come thick and fast. I can’t help thinking that in the rush certain standards are being compromised or, at least, opportunities missed. Firstly there are a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Derek Taylor, Dire Straits, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, On Track, pop, prog, Progressive Rock, Renaissance, review, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK SABBATH – Vol.4 Super Deluxe Edition

Posted on January 30, 2021 by jason

WIN A COPY!! Competition closes 14.02.21 Sanctuary (5LP) [Release date 12.02.21] Now here really is a special edition of a genuinely classic album, by one of the original developers of the whole heavy metal genre, Black Sabbath. Originally a blues … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Reissues | Tagged Bill Ward, Black Sabbath, box set, Geezer Butler, heavy metal classic album, Ozzy Osbourne, review, Steve Wilson, Tony Iommi, Vinyl, Vol.4 Super Deluxe Edition | Leave a comment

Album review: THE GOLD NEEDLES – What’s Tomorrow Ever Done For You?

Posted on January 30, 2021 by jason

Jem Records [Release date 19.02.21] The Gold Needles are onto album number three that features nine new original songs plus three covers including The Hollies ‘Have You Ever Loved Somebody’ and The Beatles ‘If I Needed Someone.’ Formed in 2015, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Larry Fast, melodic, pop rock, power pop, review, the Gold Needles, What’s Tomorrow Ever Done For You? | Leave a comment

Album review: W.E.T. – Retransmission

Posted on January 29, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 22.01.21) Of all the melodic rock supergroups assembled, usually on the Frontiers roster, W.E.T. have proved to have staying power. This fourth studio release comes a relatively recent three years after its predecessor ‘Earthrage’, which is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Eclipse, Erik Martensson, Jeff Scott Soto, melodic rock, Robert Sall, W.E.T. | Leave a comment

Album review : WALTER EGAN – Fascination

Posted on January 29, 2021 by brianmc

Red Steel Music [Release date 05.02.21] Westcoast/Americana/AOR wizard, Walter Egan is back, with a smoothed out rock’n’roll love story, Fascination, just 2 years after his Burritos’ album, Sound As Ever, created a few fresh waves. Imbued with bygone vibes, it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Lindsay Buckingham, review, Stevie Nicks, Walter Egan, Westcoast Rock | Leave a comment

News: CHEAP TRICK, FM, LEAGUE OF LIGHTS (February 2021)

Posted on January 29, 2021 by jason

IAN ANDERSON (JETHRO TULL) - The Lowry, Salford, 14 September 2015

Cheap Trick release their new album ‘In Another World’ on April 9 via BMG. Sweet Oblivion featuring Geoff Tate release their second album ‘Relentless’ on April 9 via Frontiers. FM release a double live album ‘Tough It Out Live’ on … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged blues, Cheap Trick, classic rock, festivals, FM, folk, gigs, League Of Lights, metal, New releases, news, rock, tours | Leave a comment

Album review: ZED MITCHELL – Route 69

Posted on January 28, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Pete Feenstra chatted to Zed Mitchell for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in January 2021 and playing tracks from ‘Route 69′. Timezone Records [Release date 15.12.20] Zed Mitchell may only be known to his loyal coterie of blues aficionados but, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, guitar, guitarist, interview, review, Route 69, Zed Mitchell | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION – Halcyon Hymns

Posted on January 28, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 05.02.21] Fourth album from DBA, the fruitful poprock collaboration between Geoff (Asia/Yes) Downes and uber songwriter/producer, Chris (Guetta/Aguilera) Braide. Halcyon Hymns is their living-in-the-lockdown album, and as the title more than subtly suggests, it’s a recording … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Asia, Chris Braide, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Halcyon Hymns, melodic, pop rock, review, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: ACCEPT – Too Mean To Die

Posted on January 27, 2021 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 29.01.21] Accept, the German masters of heavy metal for more than 40 years and key influencers on bands such as Metallica and Iron Maiden, return with their 16th studio album – ‘Too Mean To Die’. Accept … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Accept, album, classic metal, melodic metal, metal, Nuclear Blast, review, Too Mean To Die, Wolf Hoffmann | Leave a comment

Album review: LUCERO – When You Found Me

Posted on January 27, 2021 by jason

Thirty Tigers [Release date 29.01.21] Lucero’s last album, 2018’s ‘Among The Ghosts’, was a real treat and new discovery to this reviewer. Lucero have reunited once more with Grammy Award winning producer Matt Ross-Spang (Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Drive-by Truckers) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt country, Americana, Ben Nichols, Bob Seger, country, folk, Lucero, review, southern rock, When You Found Me | Leave a comment

Album review: THE PROG COLLECTIVE – Worlds On Hold

Posted on January 23, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 16.12.20] The latest iteration of The Prog Collective is ever more relevant in these times of artist lockdown and lack of live. A project started in 2012, and spearheaded by Yes bassist Billy Sherwood, the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Billy Sherwood, Derek Sherinian, GEOFF TATE, Progressive Rock, review, Steve Hackett, The Prog Collective, Todd Rundgren, Worlds On Hold, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: FANCY – The Complete Recordings

Posted on January 23, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio features a series of interview specials to tie in with the Fancy release and the forthcoming Ray Fenwick compilation. Mo Foster: Sunday 31 January 18:00 GMT Mo Foster Favourite Tracks from Favourite Artists: Monday 1 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Annie Kavanagh, box set, compilation, Fancy, Les Binks, Mo Foster, pop rock, Ray Fenwick, The Complete Recordings | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Immortal

Posted on January 23, 2021 by david.wilson

Nuclear Blast Records [Release date 29.01.21] You would forgive Michael Schenker if he announced he was about to step back from music for a bit and take things easy. Now 65 and celebrating not only 50 years in the business but 40 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Doogie White, Gary Barden, Immortal, Joe Lynn Turner, metal, Michael Schenker Group, Michael Voss, MSG, Nuclear Blast, Rainbow, Ralph Scheepers, review, Robin McAuley, rock, Ronnie James Dio, Ronnie Romero, Scorpions, UFO | Leave a comment

Album review: WORLD GOES ROUND – S/T

Posted on January 23, 2021 by brianmc

Viper Records [Release date 22.01.21] It was 30 years ago today that World Goes Round recorded their one and only album (Ed: we might be a year or two out). This supremely talented array of artists, whose names (almost) always … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, album review, AOR, melodic, melodic pop rock, pop, pop rock, review, self-titled, World Goes Round | Leave a comment

Single review: KING OF THE DEAD – Destroy My Name

Posted on January 22, 2021 by jason

Independent [Release date 08.01.21] The first few bars of interplay between rhythm and lead guitar from King Of The Dead could be Status Quo, but once the vocals are launched we’re back in NWOBHM territory. Pacey, piercing, high pitched, they … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Destroy My Name, King Of The Dead, metal, punk, review, rock, single | Leave a comment

Album review: IRON SAVIOR – Skycrest

Posted on January 21, 2021 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 04.12.20] Installed like a figurehead at the prow of European heavy metal, Piet Sielck’s Iron Savior proudly trail the story of this classic musical movement behind them. You could argue that along with Kai Hansen, Sielck … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Helloween, IRON SAVIOR, melodic metal, metal, Piet Sielck, power metal, review, Skycrest | Leave a comment

Album review: BITE THE BULLET – Black & White

Posted on January 21, 2021 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 27.11.20] Bite The Bullet were originally formed in 1986 by singer songwriter Mick Benton and drummer Graham Cowling (who are also the only two musicians on this album) and they released their debut album in 1989. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bite The Bullet, Black & White, Escape Music, melodic rock, Mr Mister, pop rock, review, The Outfield | Leave a comment

Album review: CATFISH – Exile – Live In Lockdown

Posted on January 18, 2021 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date 01.12.20] With their first gig in 5 months, with no rehearsals, a new drummer in Kev Hickman and just their own frisson to feed the adrenalin for a live stream, Catfish join the ranks of bands … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adam Pyke, album review, blues, Catfish, Exile-Live In Lockdown, grunge, guitar, Joe Bonamassa, Kev Hickman, live album, Matt Long, Paul Long, rock, The Hoax | Leave a comment

Album review: IRON MASK – Master Of Masters

Posted on January 17, 2021 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 05.12.20] For those who live and work outside Power Metal territory, bands like Iron Mask sound much like every other Power Metal band. When you’re on the inside though, perspective comes easy. Different musical styles readily … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Dushan Petrossi, Iron Mask, Master Of Masters, melodic metal, metal, power metal, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND – Live At The Nassau Coliseum, May 4 1979

Posted on January 17, 2021 by jason

Floating World Singer, songwriter, guitarist and violinist Charlie Daniels, who sadly left us last year, was a pioneer in that he brought together country, blues, bluegrass, rhythm’n’blues and southern rock. A kind of centre point, it’s not until you listen … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album. the Charlie Daniels Band, clasic rock, country, folk, Live At The Nassau Coliseum, May 4 1979, review, southern rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DRAGONY – Viribus Unitis

Posted on January 17, 2021 by david.wilson

Napalm Records [Release date 15.01.21] This is the 4th album from the Austrian Power metal crew Dragony and it is a tale from the glorious days of empire when Emperor Franz Joseph ruled. However, this is no straightforward, boring history lesson … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Archduke Franz Joseph, Austria, CD, Dragony, power mwtal, rock, Sebastian Levermann, Siegfried Samer, Strauss, Vienna, Virius Unitis | Leave a comment

Album review: SORCERESS OF SIN – Mirrored Revenge

Posted on January 16, 2021 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 27.11.20] Sorceress Of Sin formed in 2020 in Cambridge, based around vocalist/lyricist Lisa Skinner and her husband, drummer Paul Skinner. By day they run a post office but after hours they go all power metal! Joining them … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Bandcamp, melodic metal, metal, Mirrored Revenge, power metal, review, Sorceress Of Sin | Leave a comment

Album review: CREYE – II

Posted on January 16, 2021 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 22.01.21] Second album from Creye, a Swedish band founded by Andreas Gullstrand, now fronted by new vocalist, August Rauer. Sweden has been the lightning rod for AOR and melodic rock since the eighties, delivering up aspiring band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andreas Gullstrand, AOR, August Rauer, Creye, Frontiers, II, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: PHANTOM ELITE – Titanium

Posted on January 16, 2021 by jason

Frontiers Records (Release date 22/01/21) On their second album now, Phantom Elite grew from the seeds of an HDK tour band, embracing Progressive Rock, Contemporary Metal and Symphonic Rock, evolving into what we see today. Fronted by Marina (Avantasia) La … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Amanda Somerville, Frontiers, HDK, Marina La Torraca, melodic metal, metal, Phantom Elite, prog metal, review, Titanium | Leave a comment

Album review: WIG WAM – Never Say Die

Posted on January 15, 2021 by jason

Frontiers Records [Release date 22.01.21] Much of today’s melodic rock’n’roll has degenerated into pro-tooled, prefabricated, flatpack assembly blandness. So it’s a genuine joy to hear Wigwam’s Never Say Die, their first release since reforming in 2020. It’s a relentless powerhouse … Continue reading →