Yearly Archives: 2023

Album review: DUST RADIO – Problem & Remedy

Dust Radio - Problem & Remedy

Pete Feenstra chatted to Paddy Wells (Dust Radio) for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.  First broadcast 3 September 2023. Bandcamp [Release date 23.06.23] Dust Radio is essentially the duo of Paddy Wells (vocal, blues harp and lyrics) and Tom Jackson … Continue reading

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Album review: THE FIERCE & THE DEAD – News From The Invisible World

THE FIERCE AND THE DEAD - News From The Invisible World

Spencer Park Music [Release date 28.07.23] The Fierce and The Dead have been working on this album over the past five years. It also marks a major change to the band’s sound, lead  vocals from bassist Kevin Feazey (Blur’s Damon … Continue reading

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Album review : IRON SAVIOR – Riding On Fire – The Noise Years 1997-2004, 6 CD Boxset

Iron-Savior-cover-noise 250

Cherry Red [Release date 28.07.23] “A constant and independent force within the Power Metal universe”. No prizes for attributing this quote to Iron Savior mainman, Piet Sielck. It could easily have come from his Iron Savior buddy, Kai (Gamma Ray) … Continue reading

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Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – CATS IN SPACE (August 2023)

The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness

Pop rock revivalists whose rise and rise has been almost purr-fect… damn that pandemic… Cats in Space are a unique proposition among the new generation of classic rock bands that have emerged in recent years (writes Andy Nathan). Acts that … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE WHO, O2 Arena, London, 12 July 2023

whohits_2023

On the verge of their sixth decade as a band and The Who really have nothing to prove but still don’t care about what they’re being told by others. This is The Who and they’ll do exactly as they want. … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE WHO – Badminton Estate, Gloucestershire, 16 July 2023

The Who - Badminton Estate, Gloucestershire, 16 July 2023

So how refined that The Who, along with the Heart of England Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Keith Levenson, are playing at the renowned Badminton Estate, to promote a new live album, in an open-air concert arena with a capacity of … Continue reading

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News: CATS IN SPACE are the latest entrants in The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness (August 2023)

The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness

Rock website Get Ready to ROCK!’s 20th anniversary celebration continues with the latest entrants in “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness”. Pop rockers Cats In Space will be honoured in August ahead of UK tour dates in September. Jason Ritchie, News … Continue reading

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Album review: RAY ALDER – II

RAY ALDER – II

Inside Out [Release date: 09.06.23] When asked to compile a list of the most influential vocalists of the Progressive Metal genre, Ray Alder’s is, undoubtedly and reservedly so, one of the very first names that comes to mind. Having been … Continue reading

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Album review: TONY MITCHELL – Radio Heartbeat

TONY MITCHELL - Radio Heartbeat

Pride & Glory Music [Release date 21.07.23] The fourth solo album from Tony Mitchell, of Kiss Of The Gypsy & Dirty White Boyz fame. Joining him on here are Midnite City guitarist Miles Meakin, bassist Nigel Bailey (Dirty White Boyz, … Continue reading

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Album review: DESOLATION SOUND – Salish Rock

DESOLATION SOUND - Salish Rock

Robo Jack Records  -  [Release date: 28.07.2022] What’s in a name? For all fans of doom metal it’s time to look elsewhere as Desolation Sound are not the Lords of Valhalla that the name suggests. In fact, anything but – … Continue reading

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Gig review: JON ANDERSON/MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND – Erkel Szinhaz, Budapest, Hungary, 9 July 2023

Gig review: JON ANDERSON/MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND – Erkel Szinhaz, Budapest, Hungary, 9 July 2023

A city break you won’t find on Expedia: the Queen of the Danube by day; prog rock royalty by night! Budapest is an amazing city and no surprise that the venue for this co-headline gig was a classy, plush, comfy-seated … Continue reading

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Album review : EDGE OF PARADISE – Hologram

EDGE OF PARADISE - Hologram

Frontiers [Release date: 14.07.23] Fresh off a ten date US tour with Lacuna Coil, Edge Of Paradise release Hologram, their fifth album, their third on Frontiers. The band is a duo comprising of Armenian/ Russian/ American singer, Margarita Monet, and … Continue reading

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Album review: SEAN TAYLOR – Short Stories

SEAN TAYLOR - Short Stories

Website [Release date 14.07.23] Sean Taylor returns with another album full of melody and thoughtful lyrics. Joining Sean are Ben Walker (guitars, electric piano), Mike Seal (double bass), Paulina Szczepaniak (percussion), Justin Carroll (Hammond organ), Joe Harvey Whyte (pedal steel) … Continue reading

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Album review: THE MAGPIE ARC – Glamour In The Grey

THE MAGPIE ARC - Glamour In The Grey

Collective Perspective [Release date 07.07.23] Now here’s a listen.  I didn’t quite know what to expect from this band.  From the name, it could be an alt-rock band couldn’t it?  From the opening track ‘All I Planted’ it is immediately … Continue reading

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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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