Monthly Archives: July 2023

Gig review: BILLY JOEL- British Summer Time, Hyde Park, London, 7 July 2023

BILLY JOEL- British Summer Time, Hyde Park, London, 7 July 2023

Sandwiched between Bruce Springsteen’s two British Summer Time dates at Hyde Park came another American legend from the East Coast and of a similar vintage in Billy Joel. Just like my two previous sightings of the New Yorker at Wembley … Continue reading

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Album review : HATEBREED – The Rise Of Brutality / Supremacy (2CD Deluxe Ed)

HATEBREED – The Rise Of Brutality / Supremacy

Cherry Red [release date: 14.07.23] “Heavy Music is this cleansing, therapeutic and cathartic experience for so many”. So says Jamie Jasta, frontman of US Grammy nominated, Metal/ Hardcore band, Hatebreed. No surprise then to learn that his band are longtime … Continue reading

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Gig review: KISS – Hydro, Glasgow – 8th July 2023

KISS – Hydro, Glasgow – 8th July 2023

I first saw Kiss on the Lick It Up tour in October 1983 in the Edinburgh Playhouse and here we are nearly 40 years on to witness the band’s last ever UK show. I caveat that last statement by pointing … Continue reading

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Gig review: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND – British Summer Time Hyde Park, 6 July 2023

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND- British Summer Time Hyde Park, 6 July 2023

A regular visitor to these shores in recent years, Bruce Springsteen had not been in the UK since ‘The River’ tour seven years ago. So when a pair of dates were announced at Hyde Park- his first there since the … Continue reading

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Album review : ALL FOR METAL – Legends

ALL FOR METAL – Legends

AFM Records [release date : 07.07.23] We distinctly remember reviewing All For Metal’s trailer single, ‘We were Born In Valhalla’, back in December last year, and referring this dubious claim to a Fact Check website. Well, they never got back … Continue reading

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Album review: BLOODBOUND – Tales From The North

BLOODBOUND - Tales Of The North

AFM Records [release date 7.07.23] Since the early nineties, Northern European Metal bands have progressively sought to explore and celebrate the history and impact of Viking Culture. “Viking Metal” has grown considerably since then. One of today’s key exponents is … Continue reading

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News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2023)

Albums of the Month (April – June 2023)

WINGER Seven (Frontiers) Winger are a great group of musicians and they write great songs.  And ‘Seven’ matches up to their very best work. ***** Review by David Randall  HOUSE OF SHAKIRA XIT (Frontiers) No question, XIT is a perfect pop … Continue reading

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Album review: BEN REEL – Come A Long Way

BEN REEL - Come A Long Way

Website [Release date 30.06.23] ‘Come A Long Way’ is the 11th album from Ben Reel, with many of his previous releases given favourable reviews by GRTR! reviewer Pete Whalley (who has now, sadly, hung up his keyboard). This album features 11 … Continue reading

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Book review: ON TRACK… REO Speedwagon- every album, every song by James Romag

ON TRACK... REO Speedwagon- every album, every song by James Romag

Sonic Bond Publishing (Release Date 28.04.23) The ever growing On Track series is now spreading its wings to bands with at best cult status in the UK, in this case REO Speedwagon who, despite three big power ballad hits in … Continue reading

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Album review : BANGALORE CHOIR – Center Mass

BANGLADORE CHOIR - Center Mass

Global Rock Records [Release date: 07.07.23] David Reece claims that David Coverdale had Bangalore Choir removed from the support spot on Whitesnake’s European tour in 1989, because he didn’t want to compete with Reece’s voice. The story may well be … Continue reading

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Album review: SYTERIA – Syteria World

SYTERIA - Syteria World

Cargo Records [Release date 11.08.23] Formed in the mid 10s by Jax Chambers, best known as the lead guitarist of Girlschool, Syteria have released a number of albums and singles independently (check out www.syteria.co.uk for more). This Yorkshire based and … Continue reading

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Album review: RITCHIE DAVE PORTER & DEBRA SUSAN – The Story So Far

Ritchie Dave Porter & Debra Susan - The Story So Far

Pete Feenstra chatted to Ritchie Dave Porter and Debra Susan for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.  First broadcast 25 June 2023. Self release [Release date: 20.07.22] Ritchie Dave Porter and Debra Susan’s ‘The Story So Far’ is … Continue reading

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Album review : ROBLEDO – Broken Soul

ROBLEDO - Broken Soul

Frontiers [Release date 14.07.23] Second “solo” album from Sinners Blood frontman, James Robledo. Broken Soul is a tough as teak mix of metal and hard rock, driven by the skilful, tuneful axework of his Sinners Blood bandmate, the man with … Continue reading

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Album review : PYRAMAZE – Bloodlines

PYRAMAZE - Bloodlines

AFM Records [Release date 23.06.23] Bloodlines is the seventh album in eighteen years from Danish metallers, Pyramaze. This is a band who rebuilt their line up in 2015, after significant loss of key members in 2011. It took the new … Continue reading

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Album review: FIREBORN – Reflections

FIREBORN - Reflections

Deko Entertainment [Release date 16.06.23] Some readers might say if an album is potentially sub-three stars why bother reviewing it? Well, in truth, at GRTR! we don’t shy away in giving an album our honest appraisal and if nothing else … Continue reading

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Album review: SELWYN BIRCHWOOD – Exorcist

SELWYN BIRCHWOOD - Exorcist

Alligator Records [Release date: 08.06.23] Selwyn Birchwood is the epitome of a young contemporary blues contender who has learned his chops in the old school way through touring. He’s nurtured his tone, honed his vocal phrasing and he’s worked on his … Continue reading

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Gig review: GUNS N’ ROSES – British Summer Time, Hyde Park, 30 June 2023

GUNS N' ROSES- British Summer Time, Hyde Park, 30 June 2023

The self proclaimed most dangerous band in the world are now comfortable enough elder statesmen to play the most mainstream of festivals, that back in the day they would either never have played, or the organisers probably wouldn’t have had … Continue reading

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Album review: SOUTHERN EMPIRE – Another World

SOUTHERN EMPIRE

Giant Electric Pea  -  [Release date: 04.09.23] Southern Empire was formed in 2014 following the break-up of Australian progressive rock pioneers Unitopia, and have carried the torch for Southern hemisphere prog since. Signed to IQ’s Giant Electric Pea label, the … Continue reading

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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) January 2023 – June 2023

BLACK STAR RIDERS- Wrong Side of Paradise

Compiled by Jason Ritchie July – December 2023 To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on a Mac) on the keyboard. The “F” stands for “Find,” and … Continue reading

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Gig review: PETER GABRIEL – Hydro, Glasgow – 22nd June 2023

PETER GABRIEL – Hydro, Glasgow – 22nd June 2023

At the ripe old age of 73 you would forgive Peter Gabriel for taking things easy and retiring from music to live off the royalties of his past glorious. Mr Gabriel, however, has never been one to conform and has … Continue reading

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Album review : STEEL BARS – A Rock Tribute To Michael Bolton – V/A

Steel Bars - A Tribute to Michael Bolton

Frontiers [Release date: 07.07.23] Any adult remotely interested in popular music will have heard of Michael Bolton. His songs have been compiled to within an inch of their lives and have become the language of lurrve on late nite radio, … Continue reading

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Album review: TIZANE – Forever Is Nothing

TIZANE - Forever Is Nothing

Burning Girl Records [Release date 23.06.23] This is the second album from Tizane following 2021′s ‘Cherry’ which I have to say completely escaped our attention. Described as dark pop-rock the album starts almost invisibly with ‘Off The Edge’ and it … Continue reading

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Album review : WINTERSTORM – Everfrost

winterstorm everfrost 350

AFM Records [Release date 14.07.23] It’s always the case with music like Winterstorm’s – a refreshing mix of Nordic Viking metal, folk, and fast-paced orchestral power metal – that you have to get with the programme to really appreciate it. … Continue reading

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Book review: SLADE in the 1970s (Decades) by Darren Johnson

Slade in the 1970s

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 26.05.23] Slade were one of the biggest British bands of the 1970s, three UK number one albums (and one in Australia),  six number one singles in the UK and Irish charts, numerous top 10 hit singles and … Continue reading

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Quick plays: JOANNA CONNOR, AL STAEHELY, BETWEEN BEACH AND FOREST

Joanna Connor

Joanna Connor – Best of Me Quarto Valley Records [Release date 09.06.23] Chicago blues guitar great Joanna Connor releases her 15th album. Joining Joanna Connor are her regular “Wrecking Crew” touring band: Shaun Gotti Calloway (bass); Dan Souvigny (guitar, keys); … Continue reading

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