Monthly Archives: November 2021

Album Review: AFTERLIGHT (Thea Gilmore) – Afterlight

Posted on November 30, 2021 by alanjones

Mighty Village Records - [Release date: 01.10.21] What’s a woman to do when the life that you’ve led for over twenty years reveals itself over time to be a stifling, coercive relationship that’s dominated your life and musical career? The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged acoustic, Afterlight, album, review, singer, songwriter, Thea Gilmore | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE DARKNESS – Reading Hexagon, 26 November 2021

Posted on November 30, 2021 by andynathan

Never mind the hysteria that surrounded them in the early 2000’s, proof of how quickly time marches lies in the fact that it now a full ten years since the Darkness triumphantly reformed at Download. Since then they have surprised … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, gig, Justin Hawkins, Massive Wagons, Rufus Taylor, The Darkness | Leave a comment

Book review: On track – Decades – ERIC CLAPTON, PORCUPINE TREE, LED ZEPPELIN, GENESIS, YES

Posted on November 30, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing The On Track series continues unabated and this – and the companion series ‘Decades’ – to a large extent reflects the enthusiasm of the publisher Stephen Lambe and his band of individual authors. Whilst we are frequently critical … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Cardiacs, Decades, Eric Clapton, Genesis, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zeppelin, MORRISSEY, On Track, Porcupine Tree, Radiohead, review, Sonicbond, Tangerine Dream, The Bee Gees, The Damned, THE DOORS, the Smiths, Tori Amos, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: JULIAN LITTMAN – Goblin Market Music

Posted on November 30, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 01.12.21] Steeleye Span’s Julian Littman has created a concept album based on Christina Rossetti’s famous 19th Century poem ‘Goblin Market’. In addition, author John Matthews set out to adapt the themes in the poem to create a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Christina Rossetti, concept album, folk, Goblin Market, Julian Littman, Maddy Prior, poetry, prog rock, progressive, review, Steeleye Span | Leave a comment

News: ELLES BAILEY, STONEDEAD, URIAH HEEP (December 2021)

Posted on November 30, 2021 by jason

Michael Schenker, photo by Simon Dunkerley

Tim Arnold releases his new album, ‘Maybe Magic’, on January 7 via Bandcamp. Pretty Maids vocalist Ronnie Atkins releases his new solo album ‘Make It Count’ on march 18 via Frontiers. Elles Bailey has opened pre-orders for her next album, ‘Shining in … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged alternative, blues, blues rock, Elles Bailey, festivals, folk, gigs, indie, melodic rock, metal, news, pop, prog, rock, Stonedead, tours | Leave a comment

Album review: THORBJORN RISAGER & THE BLACK TORNADO – Best Of

Posted on November 29, 2021 by petefeenstra

Ruf [Release date 21.09.21] If there’s still a debate about the merits of European blues as opposed to its American antecedents, then Denmark’s Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado have finally kicked the argument into touch with this stellar ‘Best … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, big band, blues, compilation, country, Danish, Emil Balsgaard, funk, Harold Adamson, horns, Joachim Svensmark, Kasper Wagner, Martin Seidelin, Nat King Cole, Peter Kehl, review, rock, ruf records, soul, Søren Bøjgaard, Thorbjorn Risager &The Black Tornado, vocals | Leave a comment

Gig review: MARILLION – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 26 November 2021

Posted on November 29, 2021 by Davoski

Marillion are one of the hardest working live bands around and no surprise that they have wasted little time in getting back on the road after their enforced pandemic hiatus. Tonight was the first of a brace of gigs at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 26 November 2021, gig, Hammersmith Apollo, live, Marillion, prog, review, Steve Hogarth, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

Album review: MANIMAL – Armageddon

Posted on November 29, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 3.12.21] Armageddon is Swedish Power Metal band, Manimal’s 6th release. What it lacks in subtlety, it makes up for in bravado and sheer power, with the rough edges sanded down by a bunch of resilient, tough … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Armageddon, Henrik Stenroos, Manimal, power metal, review, Samuel Nyman, Sweden | Leave a comment

Gig review: SKERRYVORE – Arlington Arts Centre, Friday November 26 2021

Posted on November 28, 2021 by jason

Possibly the most tartan on display south of the border outside of an Edinburgh Woollen Mill shop, Celtic folk rockers Skerryvore were in town for a Friday night to remember. Skerryvore consist of Alec Dalglish (vocals, guitar & the band’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Arlington Arts Centre, Celtic rock, country, folk, folk rock, Friday November 26 2021, gig, melodic, review, Skerryvore | Leave a comment

Album review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Glory For Salvation

Posted on November 28, 2021 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 26.11.21] Italian symphonic metal legends Rhapsody (for that is what they were originally called) return with their 13th studio album and is the second in the The Nephilim’s Empire Saga concept series, and follows on from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Alex Staropoli, Glory For Salvation, metal, power metal, review, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: SKID ROW – The Atlantic Years

Posted on November 28, 2021 by jason

BMG [Release date 03.12.21] American rock band Skid Row, who formed in New Jersey in 1986, found fame in the late 80s and early 90s with their brand of hard rock that included elements of glam and sleaze. Signing to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged box set, classic rock. sleaze rock, hair metal, hard rock, reissues, review, rock, Sebastian Bach, Skid Row, The Atlantic Years | Leave a comment

Gig review: ELLES BAILEY – Cambridge Junction 2, Tuesday 23 November 2021

Posted on November 28, 2021 by jason

A natural born storyteller, Elles Bailey also has the sort of voice that could make angels weep and this combination is like a siren draw into her endlessly colourful and wonderful world. Back on the road now after an extended … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged acoustic, blues, blues rock, Cambridge Junction 2, country, Elles Bailey, gig, review, Tuesday 23 November 2021 | Leave a comment

Gig review: LIFESIGNS – The Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes, Tuesday 23 November 2021

Posted on November 25, 2021 by jason

Blackheart Orchestra are garnering quite a reputation for themselves, especially on the live circuit. So, unfamiliar as I was with them I was keen to catch their short support slot. The Manchester duo treated a pretty full room to a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Blackheart Orchestra, gig, John Young, Liesigns, melodic, Milton Keynes, progressive, review, rock, The Craufurd Arms, Tuesday 23 November 2021 | Leave a comment

Album review : CORROSION OF CONFORMITY – Sleeping Martyr: 2000-2005 (3 CD digipack)

Posted on November 25, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 26.11.21] The Sleeping Martyr digipak is a cleverly selected three album package from one of the world’s coolest metal bands, Corrosion Of Conformity. All three – America’s Volume Dealer (2000), Live Volume (2001) and In The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album. boxset, Cherry Red, COC, heavy metal, John Custer, Metallica, Pepper Keenan, Reed Mullin, Soundgarden, southern rock | Leave a comment

Rising Stars: WAX ON WATER

Posted on November 25, 2021 by jason

Maya Damaris from Wax on Water answers GRTR! Q&A… Wax on Water -The Sting in the Raw – YouTube 1. Your new EP ‘The Drip -Part 1′ is out now – what has the reception been so far ? What … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged alternative, classical, indie, interview, Maya Damaris, melodic, Rising Stars, Wax On Water | Leave a comment

Album review: JIM PETERIK & WORLD STAGE – Tigress – Women Who Rock the World

Posted on November 23, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release date 05.11.21) Jim Peterik’s World Stage project, whether live or in the studio, is characterised by the Survivor founder using the widest array of musical chums to sing his songs. ‘Tigress’ (what is it with his obsession … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Cathy Richardson, Chez Kane, Chloe Lowery, Janet Gardner, Jim Peterik, melodic rock, Survivor, World Stage | Leave a comment

Gig review: PHIL CAMPBELL & THE BASTARD SONS – Thekla, Bristol, 18 November 2021

Posted on November 23, 2021 by jason

First of all, what a venue, for the uninitiated, the Thekla is a floating music venue, it was a cargo ship in days gone by. It well and truly commands its place in Bristol’s thriving music scene. The staff are … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18 November 2021, Bristol, Florence Black, gig, guitarist, live music, metal, Motorhead, NWOCR, Phil Campbell, review, The Bastard Sons, Thekla | Leave a comment

Album review: GROUNDBREAKER – Soul to Soul

Posted on November 23, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release date 12.11.21) Groundbreaker’s debut album was a Frontiers Records project to reunite Steve Overland with the pure AOR sound of early FM. That was a collaboration with Work of Art’s Robert Sall, but the latter is not … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, AOR, FM, Groundbreaker, melodic rock, Steve Overland, Sven Larsson | Leave a comment

Gig review: WISHBONE ASH – Islington Academy, London, 18 November 2021

Posted on November 21, 2021 by andynathan

Sitting out live action during the pandemic must have been particularly galling for Wishbone Ash who always keep up a punishing live schedule. So there was a relief for both band and audience seeing them back in their familiar habitat … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andy Powell, Bob Skeat, classic rock, gig, Mark Abrahams, Mike Sturgis, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

EP review: BIG BIG TRAIN – Proper Jack Froster

Posted on November 21, 2021 by jason

Digital only [Release date 19.11.21] A seasonal release from Big Big Train, ahead of their new album ‘Welcome To The Planet’ due in January next year. The single is expanded into a digital EP as they add the previously released … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, Big Big Train, EP, folk, prog rock, Proper Jack Froster, review, rock | Leave a comment

EP review: TOM WEBBER – Stop and Think About It

Posted on November 21, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 16.10.21] Debut release by Oxfordshire based singer songwriter Tom Webber. Despite his youthful age his music takes the listener back to the late 50’s/early 60’s when artists like the Everly Brothers, the Drifters and Sam Cooke were … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, EP, pop, review, rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, soul, Stop and Think About It, Tom Webber | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to GIANT

Posted on November 20, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Giant are rightly revered in melodic rock circles, another of those bands who for a short period at the turn of the 1980s delivered two of the finest albums in the genre. The band formed in 1987 after the two … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Dan Huff, feature, Giant, hard rock, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: TOM WEBBER – Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot, Friday 19 November 2021

Posted on November 20, 2021 by jason

First in a series of gigs promoted by the Music Box and tonught was a three solo artist showcase, headlined by local lad Tom Webber. Nicely staged with round tables and chairs providing a relaxed atmosphere, especially as appearing solo … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged acoustic, alt pop, Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot, Friday 19 November 2021, Genevive Miles, gig, John Otway, NINE BELOW ZERO, pop, review, rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, Thom Lucas, Tom Webber | Leave a comment

Album review: ASIA – The Official Live Bootlegs (10 CD Boxset)

Posted on November 20, 2021 by brianmc

BMG UK [release date 26/11/21] Asia : In 1997, Paul Stump wrote in “A History Of Progressive Rock” that the band’s “links with the genre were as tenuous as George Formby’s links with Mozart”. It is a memorable quote. And … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, AOR, Bootlegs, boxset, Carl Palmer, ELP, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, King Crimson, live, progrock, Steve Howe, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: ESKINA – We Were The Moon

Posted on November 18, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Challenge Records [Release date 19.11.21] www.eskinamusic.com Has the music world gone all reflective? Or maybe it is just a coincidence that in the past few weeks we have received several releases that seem to chime with the times. Or maybe … Continue reading →