Yearly Archives: 2021

Album review: ONE THOUSAND MOTELS – Get In Where You Fit In

Posted on April 2, 2021 by jason

Universal Music [Release date 30.04.21] One Thousand Motels is a bit of a punk supergroup if you will, consisting of the Damned drummer Rat Scabies, and bassist/multi-instrumentalist Chris Constantinou, who has worked with Adam Ant, Sinead O’Connor, Bow Wow Wow … Continue reading →

Album review: ARION – Vultures Die Alone

Posted on April 2, 2021 by brianmc

AFM [release date: 9.04.21] Over the 10 years since their debut, Arion have swapped teenage Eurovision notoriety for cutting edge symphonic rock. Like other Power Metal bands, their music is emphatic, and heavy on the drama. They know how to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album review, Arion, AVANTASIA, Kamelot, power metal, Stratovarius, symphonic rock | Leave a comment

EP review: SINKA – Take Me To The Skies

Posted on April 1, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 16.04.21] Sinka are Shaun Sewell-Sears (vocals & guitar), Matt Smith (bass) and Jack Wright (drums), who released a self-produced debut EP, ‘F.W.Y.K’ in April 2020 (which is well worth a listen and owning). For their new EP … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alt pop, alt rock, EP, Muse, pop rock, review, Sinka, Take Me To The Skies | Leave a comment

News: POWERWOLF, TONY IOMMI, OPETH, TRIFECTA (April 2021)

Posted on April 1, 2021 by jason

Lee Aaron (pictured) will release her latest album, ‘Radio On!’, on July 23. Bellowhead release a live album, ‘Reassembled’, on June 18. This was recorded at the band’s one-off online reunion show last December. The Black Keys release a blues … 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 classic rock, folk, fusion, gigs, jazz, metal, news, OPETH, pop, powerwolf, prog, rock, Staind, tour dates, Trifecta | Leave a comment

Album review: GARY HUGHES – Decades

Posted on March 31, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 12.03.21] With Gary Hughes having just released his first solo album in a long while, the simultaneous release of this generous 29 track double compilation is very timely as an opportunity to discover (or rediscover) the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, compilation, Gary Hughes, melodic rock, TEN | Leave a comment

Album review: A RISING FORCE – Undertow

Posted on March 29, 2021 by andynathan

HighVolMusic [Release Date 07.05.21] A Rising Force brings together several seasoned Minnesota musicians in a new band. They include guitarist Leni DiMancari, who was an original member of Hericane Alice but is better known, at least to me, as the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Rising Force, album, Brian Lorenson, Lane Allen, Leni DiMancari, Mark Westlund, Undertow | Leave a comment

Album review: CHEZ KANE

Posted on March 29, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 12.03.21] Chez Kane is one of three sisters fronting Kane’d, who have gained a reputation pre-pandemic as an enjoyable live act. This is her debut solo album, though equal uncredited billing goes to Danny Rexon, lead … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Chez Kane, Crazy Lixx, Danny Rexon, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Album review: SMITH KOTZEN (Adrian Smith, Richie Kotzen)

Posted on March 29, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

BMG [Release date 26.03.21] What have rock stars been doing in Lockdown? Streaming, recycling back catalogue, a bit of gardening, maybe even new material. And some have joined forces with others. Strength in numbers, or something. Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adrian Smith, album, blues rock, guitar, hard rock, Iron Maiden, melodic rock, Mr Big, Poison, review, Richie Kotzen, Smith Kotzen | Leave a comment

Album review: GARY HUGHES – Waterside

Posted on March 29, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 12.03.21] It’s been a relatively quiet period for Gary Hughes, the usually prolific Ten mainman- over two years since Ten’s last album but a whopping 14 since his last album under his own name. Now, on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dann Rosingana, Darrel Treece-Birch, Gary Hughes, melodic rock, TEN | Leave a comment

Album review: THE FLEUR DE LYS – Circles: The Ultimate

Posted on March 29, 2021 by jason

Countdown Records / Acid Jazz [Release date 26.3.21] Formed in Southampton in 1964, The Fleur De Lys had an ever-changing line up during their short lifetime, the mainstay being drummer Keith Guster who has assisted with this new 25 track … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Circles, Fleur de Lys, Keith Guster, pop, R&B, review, soul, The Ultimate' | Leave a comment

Album review: UNDERKING – At Hell’s Gate

Posted on March 28, 2021 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 23.04.21] Underking is in fact a one-man band consisting of Maxwell Jeffries hailing from Nottingham and this is Underking’s third album. Maxwell has been working on this album for over a year, with the songs covering “topics … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged album, At Hell’s Gate, Maxwell Jefferies, metal, Misfits, review, trad metal, Underking | Leave a comment

Album review: REACH – The Promise Of A Life

Posted on March 27, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 23.04.21] Reach was founded in 2012 and settled on a power trio consisting of Ludvig Turner (vocals, guitars), Marcus Johansson (drums) and Soufian Ma´Aoui (bass). Reach have released two albums prior to this one and have played … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, melodic, modern rock, Muse, pomp rock, Queen, quirky, Reach, review, rock, The Promise Of A Life | Leave a comment

Album review: THE OUTLAW ORCHESTRA – Power Cut

Posted on March 27, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 26.03.21] The Outlaw Orchestra, who love southern rock, blues and country, via their hometown of Southampton, follow up last year’s enjoyable ‘Pantomime Villains’ with this mini-album. As singer/guitarist Dave Roux explains “When we’re not on the road, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, country, EP, Outlaw Orchestra, Power Cut, review, rock, southern rock | Leave a comment

Album review: BEN RANDALL – Before The Rain

Posted on March 26, 2021 by alanjones

Thoroughbred Music [Release date: 02.04.21] www.benrandallguitar.com For me, it’s always been about the guitar. Back in the day, from the moment I heard Paul Kossoff’s wailing Les Paul on the early Free albums, I was hooked. Koss, Blackmore, Iommi, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Before The Rain, Ben Randall, guitar, melodic rock, metal, Paul Logue, progressive metal, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: SUNSTORM – Afterlife

Posted on March 26, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [Release date 12.03.21] Gone are the days of the Joe Lynn Turner fronted Sunstorm. Gone are the days when the band’s songs were written by Diane Warren, Desmond Child, Bob Halligan jnr, The Martin (Vega) Brothers and other … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Afterlife, album review, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Frontiers Records, Joe Lynn Turner, melodic rock, Rainbow, Ronnie Romero, Sunstorm | Leave a comment

Album review: JULIAN TAYLOR BAND – Desert Star

Posted on March 26, 2021 by petefeenstra

Julian Taylor chatted to Pete Feenstra on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sunday 28 March, 20:00 GMT including tracks from ‘Desert Star’. Aporia Records [Release date 28.05.21] Julian Taylor Band’s ‘Desert Star’ is the album that refuses to lie down. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Canada, Desert Star, funk, Joey Landreth, John Mayer, Julian Taylor, Julian Taylor Band, Prince, R&B, review, rock, roots, soul, Stevie Wonder, Toronto | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…LEVEL 42, AIMEE MANN (Every Album, Every Song)

Posted on March 26, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

On track...LEVEL 42 (Every Album, Every Song)

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 01.04.21] Level 42 were very much a band of the eighties – the decade of their greatest success – and submerged their early brand of jazz rock fusion in a highly accessible blend of pop funk. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 'Til Tuesday, acoustic, Aimee Mann, book, Every Album, Every Song, folk, indie, jazz funk, jazz fusion, Level 42, Mark King, Mike Lindop, On Track, pop funk, review | Leave a comment

Interview: Dolf de Borst of the Datsuns

Posted on March 25, 2021 by jason

The Datsuns new album, ‘Eye To Eye’ – their first since 2014 – is released on May 28 and the band’s new single, ‘Suspicion’ is out now. GRTR! recently caught up with vocalist/bassist Dolf de Borst to discuss the upcoming … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged Dolf de Borst, Eye To Eye, garage rock, interview, rock, rock 'n' roll, the Datsuns | Leave a comment

Quick plays: CITIZEN, NAD SYLVAN, ESCAPE

Posted on March 24, 2021 by jason

CITIZEN Life In Your Glass World Run For Cover Records [Release date 26.03.21] Formed in 2009, Citizen – vocalist Mat Kerekes, guitarist Nick Hamm, and bassist Eric Hamm – return after almost 4 years away with their new album, ‘Life … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alt rock, alternative, Citizen, Escape, Fire In The Sky, Genesis, hard rock, Life In Your Glass World, Nad Sylvan, prog, review, rock, Spiritus Mundi | Leave a comment

Album review: THE ALMIGHTY – Welcome To Defiance (7 CD Boxset)

Posted on March 24, 2021 by brianmc

HNE / Cherry Red Records [release date 26.03.21] Glasgow band, The Almighty, was formed in 1988 and revolved around Ricky Warwick on guitar and vocals. (He now does the same job for the Black Star Riders.) Such was the band’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 7 CD Boxset, Black Star Riders, Cherry Red Records, Nick Parsons, Pete Friesen, Ricky Warwick, The Almighty, Welcome To Defiance | Leave a comment

Album review: THE BAND – Stage Fright (50th Anniversary Edition)

Posted on March 24, 2021 by jason

Capitol / UMG [Release date 12.2.21] Often regarded as a poor relation to The Band’s peerless first two albums, this 2CD anniversary edition of “Stage Fright” (overseen by Robbie Robertson) invites fresh appraisal with a new mix and revised running … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 50th Anniversary Edition, album, classic album, classic rock, review, Robbie Robertson, Stage Fright, The Band, Todd Rundgren | Leave a comment

Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) April 2021 – June 2021

Posted on March 24, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Compiled by Jason Ritchie January – March 2021 July-September 2021 October-December 2021 April 2nd DAVID BOWIE ‘The Kit Kat Klub (Live In New York ’99)’ Parlophone CACTUS ‘Tightrope’ Cleopatra Records DR FEELGOOD ‘Greatest Hits’ EAGLES ‘The Millennium Concert’ (vinyl) BRYAN … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions, Video | Tagged 2021, album, AOR, April, Bluray, CD, classic rock, DVD, heavy rock, June, May, melodic rock, metal, New releases, progressive, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: METALITE – A Virtual World

Posted on March 23, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date 26.03.21] Coming soon to a Melodic Metal dancefloor near you, Metalite and their third album, A Virtual World. Afficionados will already know the band incorporate elements of trance and electronica into their streamlined melodic metal variant. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged A Virtual World, AFM Records, Amaranthe, dance, Jacob Hansen, Metalite, power metal, symphonic rock, Within Temptation | Leave a comment

Album review: SECRET SPHERE – Lifeblood

Posted on March 21, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [Release date 12.03.21] If Italy’s Secret Sphere aren’t the EU’s Power Metal poster boys, then they should be. They are a relatively unsung band who’ve battled through multiple line up changes, and come up smelling of roses every … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album review, Aldo Lenobile, Frontiers Records, Lifeblood, power metal, progressive metal, Roberto Messina, Secret Sphere, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: JOEL HOEKSTRA’S 13 – Running Games

Posted on March 20, 2021 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 12.02.21] Joel Hoekstra, best known as the current guitarist for Whitesnake and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (and previously as a member of Night Ranger and the Broadway show Rock of Ages), returns with album number two from his solo … Continue reading →