Yearly Archives: 2023

Album review: SEMISONIC – Little Bit of Sun

Posted on November 14, 2023 by jason

Pleasuresonic [Release date 03.11.23] It’s only been twenty two years since Semisonic last released a full studio album (we had the EP ‘You’re Not Alone’ in 2020). Mind you, its not as if mainman Dan Wilson has been idle penning … Continue reading →

Gig review: RUSS BALLARD- Nell’s Jazz and Blues, West Kensington, London, 9 November 2023

Posted on November 13, 2023 by andynathan

As someone for whom the PRS cheques roll in every time his famous songs are played, Russ Ballard has no need to go out in tour for the money, so his newly prolific touring in the UK must be for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Argent, gig, John Miller, Marc Rapson, melodic rock, PJ Phillips, Roly Jones, Russ Ballard, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review : DGM – Life

Posted on November 11, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 17.11.23] Hugely underrated Italian Prog Metallers, DGM, continue to provide reasons why they should be underrated no longer. On their eleventh album now since the debut in 1997, they’ve seen the inevitable lineup changes that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, DGM, Italian, Marco Basile, Prog Metallers, progrock, review, Simone Mularoni | Leave a comment

Album review: D’VIRGILIO, MORSE AND JENNINGS – Sophomore

Posted on November 10, 2023 by david.wilson

InsideOut Music [Release date 10.11.23] ‘Sophomore’ is the aptly named second album release from the trio comprising three of the biggest names in prog rock, Neal Morse, Nick D’Virgilio and Ross Jennings. Their first album ‘Troika’, which was released in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anywhere The Wind Blows, Big Big Train, CD, D'Virgilio Morse and Jennings, Haken, Insideout Music, Neal Morse, Nick D’Virgilio, review, Ross Jennings, Sophomore, Spock's Beard, Tiny Little Fires, Transatlantic, Troika | Leave a comment

Album review: SHOW OF HANDS – Roots 2

Posted on November 8, 2023 by jason

Hands On Music [Release date 06.11.23] Show Of Hands, who have been around since 1986, are stopping touring “for an indefinite break”, after a trio tour this year (when Miranda Sykes joins them) and shows as a duo early next … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, best of, folk, folk rock, Miranda Sykes, Phil Beer, review, Roots 2, Show Of Hands, Steve Knightley, Track Dogs, traditional | Leave a comment

Gig review: HRH XVI – Great Yarmouth, November 2-4 2023

Posted on November 8, 2023 by jason

So if Storm Ciaran had plans to disrupt HRH, they failed dismally, whilst the storm hit and disrupted lots of travel plans, impacting arrivals on Thursday, the HRH faithful turned up in their masses ready to rock out and party. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged classic rock, festival, Great Yarmouth, Gypsy Pistoleros, hard rock, HRH XVI, metal, November 2-4 2023, Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons, review, rock, Tyketto, Yngwie Malmsteen | Leave a comment

Album review : CARE OF NIGHT – Reconnected

Posted on November 6, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 17.11.23] Third album from rising Swedish AOR/Melodic Rock band, Care Of Night. Vocalist Calle Schonberg, guitarist Ostrom Berg and producer, Erik Wigelius have shifted the band’s sound up several notches. There’s a strong and welcome resemblance … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Care of Night, Chicago, Erik Wigelius, Johnny Hates Jazz, melodic rock, Peter Cetera, review, Work Of Art | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE DUST CODA- Dingwalls, London, 28 October 2023

Posted on November 5, 2023 by andynathan

Rather more quietly than some of their other contemporaries in the New Wave of Classic Rock movement, The Dust Coda have been building a name for themselves, and 2023 has been a busy year, with a second straight top 40 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Adam Mackie, Doomsday Outlaw, gig, John Drake, New Wave of Classic Rock, The Dust Coda | Leave a comment

Album review: HONEY AND THE BEAR – Away Beyond The Fret

Posted on November 4, 2023 by jason

www.honeyandthebear.co.uk [Release date 03.11.23] Album number three from Honey and the Bear, the husband and wife duo of Lucy and Jon Hart. Like 2021′s enjoyable ‘Journey Through the Roke’, this latest album is based on Suffolk folklore and indeed ‘fret’ in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Away Beyond the Fret, folk, Honey and the Bear, Kelly Bayfield, melodic, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review : SECRET SPHERE – Blackened Heartbeat

Posted on November 4, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 10.11.23] Blackened Heart is the tenth studio album from the EU’s Power Metal poster boys, Secret Sphere. It’s also the second with original vocalist, Roberto Messina, who reunited with the band on 2021’s Lifeblood, after an 8 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Aldo Lonobile, Blackened Heartbeat, concept, Lifeblood, power metal, review, Roberto Messina, Secret Sphere | Leave a comment

Album review: FRANCIS DUNNERY – The Blues Of Tombstone Dunnery, Vol.1

Posted on November 2, 2023 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Francis Dunnery about his blues album for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 5 November 2023. Francis Dunnery Music [Release date 15.09.23] Francis Dunnery’s ‘The Blues Of Tombstone Dunnery Vol 1’ is a concept that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged Albert Collins, album, blues, Chicago Blues, Climax Blues Band, Francis Dunnery, funk, guitar, horns, interview, It Bites, jazz, Jump, radio, review, ska, swing, The Blues Of Tombstone Dunnery, vocal, Vol. 1 | Leave a comment

Album review: EMILY WOLFE – The Blowback

Posted on November 2, 2023 by jason

Crows Feet Records [Release date 20.10.23] Third album from Emily Wolfe, with her 2021 release ‘Outlier’ still getting regular plays by this reviewer. On this album Emily Wolfe wrote or co-wrote most of the tracks with bassist Evan Nicholson, as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, alternative, Emily Wolfe, indie, punk, review, singer songwriter, The Blowback | Leave a comment

Gig review: FAIRPORT CONVENTION – The Junction, Cambridge, 31 October 2023

Posted on November 2, 2023 by jason

They started off as a band in 1967 but now, more than ever, Fairport Convention are a family, the sense of community between not just the musicians themselves but the fans too something that’s vital and heart-warming. Eternally set squarely … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged acoustic, Cambridge, Chris Leslie, Dave Pegg, Fairport Convention, folk, folk rock, gig, review, Ric Sanders, Simon Nicol, The Junction, Tuesday 31 October 2023 | Leave a comment

Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – SAXON (November 2023)

Posted on November 1, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

The wheels of steel keep turning for the heavy metal masters, and have turned ever more quickly for Saxon in the millennium Photo: Darren Griffiths In April 2007 there was a reality TV show when Harvey Goldsmith hosted an attempt … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness | Leave a comment

Album review: REMEDY – Something That Your Eyes Won’t See

Posted on October 31, 2023 by jason

S-Rock Music [Release date 16.12.22] Remedy hail from Sweden, home of many a fine melodic rock and AOR band, and Remedy follow on in this grand tradition. The band’s line-up is Robert van der Zwan (vocals, guitars), Roland Forsman (guitars), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, hard rock, melodic rock, Remedy, review, Scandi rock, Something That Your Eyes Won't See | Leave a comment

News: KOBRA PAIGE, FIREFEST, TRAGIK (November 2023)

Posted on October 30, 2023 by jason

GLENN HUGHES- Electric Ballroom, London, 25 October 2023

Bon Jovi have released a new song ‘Christmas Isn’t Christmas’. Caligula’s Horse release their new album ‘Charcoal Grace’ through InsideOut Music on January 26. Sheryl Crow will release her new album, ‘Evolution’, on March 29, 2024 via The Valory Music Group, … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Firefest, folk, gigs, melodic rock Kobra Paige, metal, news, prog rock, RIP, rock, tour dates, Tragik | Leave a comment

Gig review: LAURIE WRIGHT + THE MOLOTOVS, Underworld, Camden, 21 October 2023

Posted on October 30, 2023 by jason

A revolution is happening and there’s no stopping it. In a world full of conflict and corruption, it’s always been down to the youth to shake things up, their voices and music providing defining moments of change. It’s a testament … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Camden, gig, Laurie Wright, review, Saturday 21 October 2023, The Molotovs, Underworld | Leave a comment

Gig review: GLENN HUGHES – Electric Ballroom, London, 25 October 2023

Posted on October 29, 2023 by andynathan

In Glenn Hughes’ distinguished and chequered career, his time in Deep Purple is a gift that keeps giving. Songs from his tenure with them have always formed a big part of his solo shows and indeed for many years (until … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Ash Sheehan, Bob Fridzema, Deep Purple, gig, Glenn Hughes, Soren Andersen, The Damn Truth | Leave a comment

Album review: DORO – Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud

Posted on October 29, 2023 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 27.10.23] Doro Pesch is one of metal’s most consistent performers, both on stage and in the studio, having lost none of her vocal range and power, as opener ‘Children Of The Dawn’ ably illustrates. The Queen … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Bonnie Tyler, classic metal, Conqueress – Forever Strong and Proud, Doro, melodic metal, metal, Nuclear Blast, review, Rob Halford | Leave a comment

Gig review: SAMANTHA FISH & JESSE DAYTON – Junction, Cambridge, 25 October 2023

Posted on October 29, 2023 by jason

The fact that the Junction is wall to wall with people is testament to not just the rise of Samantha Fish but also how the revival of blues has never been stronger. With its blue-collar honesty and everyman appeal, this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 25 October 2023, blues, blues rock, Cambridge, gig. Samantha Fish, guitarist, Jesse Dayton, Junction, review, the Commoners | Leave a comment

Album review: THUNDERSTICK – Lockdown

Posted on October 29, 2023 by jason

Roulette [Release date 20.10.23] Renowned Samson (and former Iron Maiden) drummer is not one to rest on his laurels, and since resurrecting his eponymous band in 2017, he’s kept rocking and entertaining. And this new album has kept the standards … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, drummer, heavy metal, Iron Maiden, lockdown, metal, NWOBHM, review, Samson, Thunderstick | Leave a comment

Album review : VENOM – Live From The Hammersmith Odeon (CD/DVD Deluxe Digipak)

Posted on October 28, 2023 by brianmc

Venom-Live-at-Hammersmith-CD_DVD-expanded-2-scaled 150

Cherry Red [Release date : 27.10.23] Formed in England’s industrial North East in 1979, there was none heavier, none more extreme and indeed none more influential in the heavy metal genre than Venom. The band’s reputation was born out of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Abaddon, Black Metal, Cronos, eighties, Hammersmith Odeon, live, Mantas, Metallica, Motorhead, punk, review, thrash metal, Venom | Leave a comment

Album review: PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS – Spooky Action At A Distance

Posted on October 27, 2023 by jason

InsideOut Music [Release date 27.10.23] Fourth album from Pattern-Seeking Animals who comprise of multi-instrumentalist John Boegehold, Spock’s Beard duo Ted Leonard (vocals, guitars) and Dave Meros (bass, vocals), and former Spock’s Beard drummer Jimmy Keegan. What makes Pattern-Seeking Animals rather … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Insideout Music, melodic, Pattern-Seeking Animals, progressive, review, rock, Spock's Beard, Spooky Action at a Distance | Leave a comment

Album review: SKINNY KNOWLEDGE – Twenty Two

Posted on October 27, 2023 by jason

Facebook [Release date 27.10.23] Skinny Knowledge release ‘TwentyTwo’ as the notoriously tricky second album, following on from their debut in 2021 with ‘Don’t Turn Out the Lights’. On producing Andy Smooth states, “The overall sound of the album has taken … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dinosaur Pile-Up, hard rock, review, rock, Skinny Knowledge, Twenty Two | Leave a comment

Album review: BERNIE TORME – Lightning Strikes 1982-83 (4 CD boxset)

Posted on October 26, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 27.10.23] Four CD Boxset of some of Irish guitar wunderkind, Bernie Torme’s best stuff, remastered: Turn Out The Lights (1982) Electric Gypsies (1982) Live 1983 Live In Sheffield (1983) When Torme decamped to London, in 1974, … Continue reading →