Monthly Archives: February 2022

Album review: TRICK OR TREAT – Creepy Symphonies

Posted on February 13, 2022 by jason

Scarlet Records [Release date 01.04.22] ‘Creepy Symphonies’ is the seventh studio album from Trick Or Treat, who always entertain with their music. Like Freedom Call, Trick Or Treat like to think of their music as happy metal. Vocalist Alle Conti … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Alle Conti, Creepy Symphonies, melodic metal, metal, power metal, review, Scarlet Records, Trick Or Treat, Twilight Force | Leave a comment

Album review: KRIS BARRAS BAND – Death Valley Paradise

Posted on February 13, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Mascot [Release date 04.03.22] Kris Barras was voted Breakthrough Act in our 2021 poll and the last couple of years have seen him – like many artists – maintaining his profile largely due to livestreaming. But it’s also given him … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt metal, Death Valley Paradise, heavy rock, Kris Barras Band, review | Leave a comment

Album review: MARILLION – An Hour Before It’s Dark

Posted on February 12, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Intact/earMUSIC [Release date 04.03.22] CD+DVD Digipak / CD Digipak / Jewelbox CD / Blu-ray Softbox / 2LP Gatefold / Ltd. Coloured 2LP (Orange) The past two years of pandemic has understandably pervaded album releases, the most extreme outcome is a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2022 | Tagged album, An Hour Before It's Dark, Ian Mosley, Marillion, Mark Kelly, Pete Trewavas, progressive, review, rock, Steve Hogarth, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

Album review: GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES – Hail To The Heroes

Posted on February 12, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date: 11.02.22] Highly derivative hard rock/metal from Bengaluru, India band, Girish And The Chronicles. They are now on their third album, and first on Frontiers. The album’s title, ‘Hail To The Heroes’ suggests a bunch of declamatory stadium … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, BlacknBlue, Coverdale, Frontiers, Girish, Hard Rock and Metal, India, Quiet Riot, review, Rough Cutt | Leave a comment

Album review: CITY OF LIGHTS – Before The Sun Sets

Posted on February 11, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] Debut album from City Of Lights – Brit guitarist/writer Neil Austin and Greek vocalist Manos Fatsis (Hideaway). They are joined in the studio by members of Creye, Degreed and Art Nation. It’s clear that a passionate … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Art Nation, Before The Sun Sets, City Of Lights, Creye, Degreed, Fatsis, Frontiers, melodic rock, Neil Austin, review | Leave a comment

Book review: DONT WORRY ‘BOUT THE BEAR (From the Blues to Jazz, Rock & Roll and Black Sabbath) by Jim Simpson with Ron Simpson

Posted on February 11, 2022 by petefeenstra

Brewin Books [Publication date 22.06.2019] Jim Simpson’s ‘Don’t Worry ‘Bout The Bear’ – the title comes from a Doctor Ross song written for the author– is a down to earth account of his 60 plus years in the music business, … Continue reading →

Posted in BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Bakerloo, Big Bear Records, Black Sabbath, blues, book, Buddy Guy, Champion Jack Dupree, Doctor Ross, Don Arden, Don't Worry 'Bout The Bear, Don't Worry 'Bout The Bear - From the Blues to Jazz, Humphrey Lyttleton, Jasper Carrott, jazz, Jazz Rag, Jesse Fuller, Jim Simpson, Locomotive, Miles Davis, prog, review, rock, Rock & Roll and Black Sabbath, Ron Simpson, ska, Tea & Symphony, Val Wiseman | Leave a comment

Gig review:JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 3 February 2022

Posted on February 9, 2022 by andynathan

One of my favourite gigs of last year was when FM guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick played The Cavern bar in suburban South-west London. The occasion was special enough, being my first show after the 2021 lockdown was relaxed, but the musical … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues rock, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, Leon Cave, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Album review : DEGREED – Are You Ready

Posted on February 9, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] Are You Ready is Degreed’s sixth album, and their first on Frontiers. Robin Erikkson, Mats Erikkson, Mikael Blanc and Daniel Johansson have come a long long way in six albums. Their focus is clearly on the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Brother Firetribe, Degreed, eighties, Frontiers, Harem Scarem, Leverage, melodic rock, Queen, review, Robin Erikssen, Wigelius | Leave a comment

EP review: LORDS OF RUIN – Ruin Within

Posted on February 7, 2022 by jason

Website [Release 24.01.22; streaming services from 14.02.22] Metal band, Lords of Ruin have released their long-awaited debut EP, following the inevitable Covid delays to production and release, which have affected so many up-and-coming bands. It literally stalled them in their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged EP, heavy metal, Lords of Ruin, metal, review, Ruin Within | Leave a comment

Single review: SKINNY KNOWLEDGE – I Wonder

Posted on February 6, 2022 by jason

Facebook [Release date 25.02.22] Bournemouth based rockers, Skinny Knowledge follow up on their awesome debut album, ‘Don’t Turn Out the Lights’ with a new single, ‘I Wonder’. The single continues the band’s own brand of high energy, alternative rock that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged hard rock, I Wonder, NWOCR, review, rock, single, Skinny Knowledge | Leave a comment

Album review: JACK FRANCIS – Jack Francis

Posted on February 6, 2022 by brianmc

Good Deeds Music [Release date: 04.02.22] In introducing his remarkably lean and confident debut album, Jack Francis manages to namecheck Bruce Springsteen, and without realising it, Paul McCartney. There are echoes of ‘Yesterday’ in his story that the song, ‘Helena’, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, BBC radio, blues, Bruce Springsteen, country rock, Good Deeds Music, Jack Francis, Paul McCartney, review | Leave a comment

Album review: JAMIE’S GUNS – Sex, Drugs & Weapons of War

Posted on February 6, 2022 by jason

Facebook [Release date 04.01.22] This band was one of my lucky finds in 2021, when I spotted the debut self-titled album in the NWOCR Facebook group, and I have been sharing their music far and wide ever since, whilst eagerly … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Digital only | Tagged album, blues rock, classic rock, Drugs & Weapons of War, Jamie's Guns, NWOCR, Review. hard rock, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: POCO – One Night In Nashville

Posted on February 5, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra [Release date 28.01.22] This 2004 live recording is one of the last to feature original members Rusty Young, Richie Furay, and George Grantham together with Paul Cotton who joined the band for their third album in 1971 replacing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, country rock, live, One Night In Nashville, Paul Cotton, Poco, review, Richie Furay, Rusty Young | Leave a comment

Album review : BRIX SMITH and MARTY WILLSON-PIPER – Lost Angeles

Posted on February 5, 2022 by brianmc

Cadiz Music [Release date: 17.o1.22] This one has an interesting story behind it. Brix Smith was originally named after The Clash standard, Guns of Brixton, which is pretty cool. In the 90’s she went to a gig in her native … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Brix Smith, John Peel, Manic Street Preachers, Mark E. Smith, Marty Willson-Piper, Oasis, Pulp, review, The Clash, The Fall, The Ramones | Leave a comment

Album review: JOHNNY COPPIN – River Of Dreams

Posted on February 5, 2022 by jason

Red Sky Records [Release date 25.02.22] Johnny Coppin is a singer songwriter who was a member of Decameron back in the 1970′s and has released over a dozen solo albums to date. He has toured as part of a duo … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, folk, Johnny Coppin, review, River Of Dreams, Rosanne Cash, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: CACTUS – The Birth Of Cactus 1970

Posted on February 5, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra [Release date 21.01.22] Following other heavyweights such as Iron Butterfly and Vanilla Fudge, Cactus fashioned their own brand of bluesy heavy rock at the turn of the sixties. It was a supergroup in the making with ex-Fudgers Carmine … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, blues rock, Cactus, Carmine Appice, hard rock, Jim McCarty, live, The Birth Of Cactus 1970, Tim Bogert | Leave a comment

Album review: SLADE – Alive, Slade In Flame (splatter vinyl)

Posted on February 5, 2022 by jason

BMG [Release date 26.11.21] BMG continue their excellent Slade reissue campaign. The West Midlands glam rock legends had many a hit in the 70s. Fronted by Noddy Holder, they were the face of laddish glam hard rock. After a difficult … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 70's rock, album, Alive, BMG, classic album, glam rock, hard rock, Jim Lea, Noddy Holder, reissue, review, rock, Slade, Slade In Flame | Leave a comment

Gig review: SAXON- Hammersmith Apollo, London, 29 January 2022

Posted on February 4, 2022 by andynathan

Saxon’s 40th anniversary show was a case of deferred pleasure even by current standards. It was actually first scheduled as long ago as October 2019 but delayed when singer Biff Byford underwent heart surgery, and subsequently rescheduled at least twice … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Biff Byford, Diamond Head, Doug Scarratt, gig, GIRLSCHOOL, metal, Nigel Glockler, Paul Quinn, Saxon, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

News: MAGNUM Month at Get Ready to ROCK! – 50 Years, New Album, UK and European Tour (March 2022)

Posted on February 4, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Ahead of their UK and European tour in late March/April 2022, Get Ready to ROCK! will be celebrating the band Magnum throughout the month of March. Magnum celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2022. They developed from a band playing cover … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS, Special features | Tagged album, anniversary, AOR, Bob Catley, Europe, Magnum, melodic rock, pomp rock, Tony Clarkin, Tour, uk | Leave a comment

Album review: PETER KNIGHT & JOHN SPIERS – Both In A Tune

Posted on February 3, 2022 by jason

Website [Release date 11.02.22] Peter Knight defines a progressive musician as he always seeks to further his music, be it traditional tunes given a new arrangement, or his own compositions. Famous of course as a member of Steeleye Span until … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bellowhead, Both In A Tune, folk, Gigspanner, instrumental, John Spiers, Peter Knight, progressive, review, Steeleye Span | Leave a comment

Album review: EMPATH – Visitor

Posted on February 2, 2022 by jason

Fat Possum Records [Release date 11.02.22] Upon first listen to Empath’s new album Visitor, a rich blend of artistic influences jumped out within the individualistic sound the Philly foursome have to offer. Psych-rock royalty like 13th Floor Elevators, The Velvet … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Empath, Fat Possum Records, indie, psych rock, psychedelic, review, rock, Visitor | Leave a comment

Album review: UK SUBS – A Punk Rock Anthology 1978-2017

Posted on February 1, 2022 by jason

Edsel [Release date 28.1.22] The UK Subs back catalogue is the gift that keeps on giving, surely qualifying them as one of the most compiled groups of the punk/new wave era. The beauty of this 56 track 2CD set is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Punk Rock Anthology 1978-2017, album, Alvin Gibbs, punk, review, rock, UK Subs | Leave a comment

News: SAXON, ALICE COOPER, THE UNDERTONES (February 2022)

Posted on February 1, 2022 by jason

Accept have signed with Napalm Records. Aerosmith release ’1971: The Road Starts Here’ on April 8. Angel Nation release their new album ‘Antares on April 8 through Inner Wound Recordings. Autograph have signed with Frontiers with a new album due … Continue reading →