Monthly Archives: January 2023

Album review: ARCTIC RAIN – Unity

ARCTIC RAIN - Unity

Frontiers [Release date: 27.01.23] Arctic Rain’s declamatory melodic rock will remind you of several expert practitioners of the genre. From the Bon Jovi-esque ‘One World’, intense, in your face, with a fleeting sense of melody, and the title track, ‘Unity’, … Continue reading

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News: GLEN MATLOCK, SAXON, GRAND DESIGN (February 2023)

GRAHAM BONNET BAND - The Tivoli, Buckley, 24 August 2018

Angel release their new album ‘Once Upon A Time’, via Cleopatra Records on April 21. Babylon A.D. release ‘Live Lightning’ via Perris Records on March 17. Elles Bailey releases an expanded version of her ‘Shining in The Half Light’ album on 17 March. The expanded version includes … Continue reading

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Gig review: DIRTY HONEY – The Garage, London, 24 January 2023

DIRTY HONEY- The Garage, London, 24 January 2023

Many American bands are choosing to skip Europe and the UK with the rising cost of touring. And the cost of living crisis and the sheer volume of gigs as the industry tries to make up for the time lost … Continue reading

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Album review: MILTON HIDE – The Holloway

Website [Release date 31.03.23] Milton Hide (AKA husband and wife Jim and Josie Tipler) release their second album, ‘The Holloway’, following on from 2o21′s most enjoyable ‘Temperature’s Rising’. Since then they have played many a show up and down the … Continue reading

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News: CHANTEL McGREGOR enters “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness” (February 2023)

GRTR!@20

Rock website Get Ready to ROCK! has announced the second artist to be inducted in its “GRTR! Grotto of Greatness”. The website’s version of the “Hall of Fame” is part of its 20th anniversary celebrations in 2023.  A different artist/band … Continue reading

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Album review; URIAH HEEP – Chaos and Colour

URIAH HEEP- Chaos and Colour

Silver Lining Music [Release Date 27.01.23] Uriah Heep spent last year belatedly celebrating their 50th anniversary with some special live shows that showed their distinguished legacy to its finest. But they have also had a contemporary new lease of life. … Continue reading

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Album review: LIV KRISTINE – River Of Diamonds

LIV KRISTINE - River Of Diamonds

Metalville [Release date 21.04.23] Since 1998, and during an acrimonius split from her band Leaves’ Eyes and partner, Liv Kristine has released a series of excellent pop rock albums.  We chronicled these in our radio special in 2022 when we … Continue reading

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Album review: THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS + CALEB JOHNSON – Paradise Found: Bat Out Of Hell Reignited

The Neverland Express and Caleb Johnson

Deko Entertainment [Release date 27.01.23] A reworking of the classic Meat Loaf album ‘Bat Out Of Hell’, based on the live version Meat Loaf’s band the Neverland Express performed with the much missed frontman. Band leader and former Anthrax guitarist … Continue reading

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Album review: GIRLSCHOOL – The School Report 1976-2008

Girlschool_HNEBOX161-min-scaled1-150x150

Cherry Red/HNE [Release date: 27.01.23] Girlschool experienced their share of heartache… label let downs, revolving door membership issues, conflicting views on musical direction and the struggles to sustain their ambitions in the face of all of the above. But they soldiered … Continue reading

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Album review: TOM ADAMSON BAND – Old View Of The New World

TOM ADAMSON BAND

Blue Build Records  -  [Release date: 20.12.22] Tom Adamson is a Scottish-born multi-instrumentalist who has played alongside and supported a diverse number of top-line acts including Sister Sledge, Supergrass, Toploader, Johnny Dankworth & Cleo Laine and er, John Barrowman. This … Continue reading

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Album review: THE FIRST CLASS – Beach Baby – The Complete Recordings (3 CD set)

First-Class-front-cover-jpeg-min

Cherry Red [release date: 27.01.23] 1974, and the first pop single to be written by Shakespeare, ‘Beach Baby’, breaks into the US and UK charts. John Carter (not that one) was born John Shakespeare. A singer, songwriter and producer who … Continue reading

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Album review : HOLOCAUST – Heavy Metal Mania – The Complete Recordings, Vol 1 1980-1984 (6 CDs)

HOLOCAUST – Heavy Metal Mania – The Complete Recordings, Vol 1 1980-1984 (6 CDs)

Cherry Red [Release date 27.01.23] Carrying the NWOBHM torch in Scotland since 1977, Edinburgh’s Holocaust are the genre’s archetypal survivors. They are almost literally the definition of “Metal bands who’ve flown under the radar their whole career”. Arguably, it was … Continue reading

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Album review: CHRIS ROSANDER – The Monster Inside

chris rosander the monster inside

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 17.02.23] Chris Rosander released his debut album ‘King Of Hearts’ in 2020 on the now defunct AOR Heaven. As the pandemic put paid to any live plans, Chris Rosander started work on making more … Continue reading

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Single review: FEENSTRA & SIMPSON – Your Eyes Gave You Away

FEENSTRA & SIMPSON - Your Eyes Gave You Away

YouTube A new songwriter outlet for GRTR! writer, radio presenter and promoter Pete Feenstra as he he teams up with John Simpson. No not the TV news reporter but the John Simpson who helped found the Feelgoods, a Dr Feelgood … Continue reading

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Album review : TRAPEZE – Don’t Stop The Music – Complete Recordings Vol 1 1970-1992 (6 CD Boxset)

Trapeze_PurpleBox029-min-scaled

Cherry Red [Release date: 24.02.23] A cool, 6-CD boxset of high calibre Trapeze material. Three CDs of studio albums plus 3 CDs of live recordings, one as recent as 1992. CD1 : Trapeze (originally released 1970) The debut tends to … Continue reading

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Album review: CASEY MAUNDER – Until Your Heart Stops Beating

CASEY MAUNDER - Until Your Heart Stops Beating

Website Once again the musical hand of fate plays a blinder as Casey Maunder sent his debut album in for possible review and boy is it a good one! Casey plays all the guitars, vocals, bass, keys and wrote all … Continue reading

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Album review: ISSA – Lights Of Japan

issa lights

Frontiers [Release date: 20.01.23] Issa Oversveen is married to James Martin, ex of Vega. With his brother Tom, he’s written the bulk of the material here. And you can tell. Even with the best efforts of guitarist Simone Mularoni and … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACK STAR RIDERS- Wrong Side of Paradise

BLACK STAR RIDERS- Wrong Side of Paradise

Earache Records (Release date 20.01.23) Black Star Riders first album in over three years marks a turning point in the life of the band. It is the first recorded without Scott Gorham, leaving only singer Ricky Warwick from the original … Continue reading

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Album review: TEN – Something Wicked This Way Comes

ten something

Frontiers [Release date: 20.01.23] Here’s another Ten album title that will again appeal to the literati or the cinephiles among the band’s fans. It’s their sixteenth studio release since 1996. Ever present founder/ writer/ singer, Gary Hughes has gathered a … Continue reading

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Feature: GRTR!@20 Anniversary – Waking The Witch

GRTR!@20

Jason Ritchie charts the rise and demise of a favourite band… Waking The Witch initially consisted of Rachel Goodwin, Patsy Matheson, Jools Parker, and Michelle Plum, with Becky Mills replacing Plum in 2005, all of whom also worked as solo … Continue reading

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Album review: JOHN BLEK – Until The Rivers Run Dry

JOHN BLEK - Until The Rivers Run Dry

Bandcamp [Release date 17.02.23] This is John Blek’s eighth album and an artist that had not crossed my musical radar until now. The album was recorded over ten days and features Cathy Davy (vocals) – who has appeared on albums … Continue reading

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Album review: RAIN – Radio Silence

RAIN - RADIO SILENCE

Giant Electric Pea    [Release date: 27.01.23] Another release on the Giant Electric Pea label – they’re getting quite prolific… For those not in the know, GEP is the label founded by IQ stalwarts Mike Holmes and Martin Orford in … Continue reading

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Album review: JD SIMO TRIO – Songs From The House Of Grease

jdsimotrio

Crows Feet Records [release date: 13.01.23] An album of cover versions is always a risk. But the concept is no stranger to JD Simo. This is the guitarist chosen by renowned Film Director, Baz Luhrman to play all the guitar … Continue reading

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Album title: BEYOND THE BLACK – Beyond The Black

BEYOND THE BLACK

Nuclear Blast [Release date 13.01.23] Fifth album from Beyond The Black and the third since the 2014 revamped line-up which left vocalist Jenifer Haben as the sole original member. Beyond The Black is completed by lead guitarist Chris Hermsdörfer, rhythm … Continue reading

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Album review: JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR – Nobody’s Fool

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR - Nobody's Fool

Keeping The Blues Alive (KTBA Records) [Release date 28.10.22] Joanne Shaw Taylor has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, establishing herself as one of the most formidable blues/rock performers.  We’ve followed her rise and rise in the … Continue reading

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