Yearly Archives: 2023

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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Book Review: DEFINITELY: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF DEF LEPPARD

DEFINITELY: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF DEF LEPPARD

Genesis Publishing [Release Date 09.05.23] Def Leppard’s profile is as high now as at any time since their eighties heyday. The Stadium tour travelled America and has hit the UK this summer, ‘Diamond Star Halos’ was released  to general acclaim … Continue reading

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Album review : WITHERING SCORN – Prophets of Demise

WITHERING SCORN - Prophets

Frontiers [Release date: 07.07.23] Withering Scorn is a band made up of experienced, successful heavy metal musicians, assembled by brothers, Glen and Shawn Drover, both ex Megadeth and Eidolon. They are joined by ex Fates Warning bass man, Joe DiBiase … Continue reading

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Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – MARILLION (July 2023)

The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness

Photo: David Randall Self sufficient free spirits who keep getting better, and in spite of “Sugar Mice”… Marillion’s entry into our hallowed portal coincides with the period that they have been self-sufficient.  By 1998 ostracised by the likes of EMI … Continue reading

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News: DIO, MARC HUDSON, LINDISFARNE (July 2023)

Bad Touch - GIANTS OF ROCK, Butlins, Minehead, 25-27 January 2019

Angra have signed with Atomic Fire Records who release their new album ‘Cycles Of Pain’ on November 3. Any Given Sin release their latest album ‘War Within’ via Mascot Records on August 4. Asking Alexandria have confirmed the release date … Continue reading

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Rising Stars interview: JESSICA LYNN

Jessica Lynn

Jessica Lynn has been described by American Songwriter as “country arena rock”, and her 7-show UK tour will take place this July. Stateside, Jessica Lynn is famed for the spectacle and quality of her live shows and stagecraft — not to mention her TV … Continue reading

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Album review: GAMMA – What’s Gone Is Gone (The Complete Elektra Recordings))

Gamma box set

Cherry Red [Release date: 30.06.23] CD1: GAMMA 1 (1979) CD2: GAMMA 2 (1980) CD3: GAMMA 3 (1982) The first 3 CDs from Ronnie Montrose’s band, Gamma, come nicely packaged this month, with each one including a couple of bonus tracks, … Continue reading

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Album review: THE JOHN WILLIAMS SYNDICATE – Into The Light

The John Williams Syndicate - Into The Light

Pete Feenstra chatted to John Williams for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio playing tracks from the new album. First broadcast 2 July 2023. Wulfrun Records [Release date 23.07.23] When a gamekeeper turns poacher, or in this case … Continue reading

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Album review : FRIJID PINK – The Deram Recordings 1970-1971 (2 CDs)

Frijid Pink - The Deram Recordings 1970-1971

Cherry Red [Release date 30.06.23] A two CD package, comprising Detroit band, Frijid Pink’s first two albums. Sometimes the movies crossover into popular music. One quote that rings true and often crops up is William Goldman’s “nobody knows anything”. Frequently, … Continue reading

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Album review: LUKE MORLEY – Songs From The Blue Room

LUKE MORLEY- Songs From the Blue Room

Conquest Records [Release date 23.06.23] With new Thunder activity on hold for a while as Danny Bowes continues his long road to recovery, the time is right for the band’s lead guitarist and chief songwriter Luke Morley to release his … Continue reading

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Album review: KEELEY – Floating Above Everything Else

KEELEY – Floating Above Everything Else

Bandcamp [Release date 30.06.23] To some, music is a drug, constantly searching for that new high that will set the pulses racing and synapses firing. In a world of identikit artists all vying for airplay and sales, it’s a thing of … Continue reading

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Album review: SOUNDSCAPISM INC. – Staring Down On Incandescent Cities

SOUNDSCAPISM INC. - Staring Down On Incandescent Cities

EtherealSoundWorks [Release date 20.07.23] Fifth album by Soundscapism Inc., the musical project created by Bruno A, who handles the production and the majority of the instruments on the album, along with composing all the music and writing the lyrics (save for … Continue reading

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