-
Upcoming Gigs & Albums
-
Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2025
-
Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2026
-
Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
-
Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
-
Upcoming: Festivals UK & Europe (2026)
-
Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
-
Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
-
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
GRTR! Greats
Featured Album Reviews
Features
Interviews
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Yearly Archives: 2024
Album review : NIKOLO KOTZEV – Nostradamus, The Rock Opera – studio album version and Live In Sofia version
Frontiers [Release date : 19.07.24] Writing and producing Nostradamus, the Rock Opera, was a hugely ambitious undertaking and took its architect, Nikolo (Brazen Abbot) Kotzev, 3 years to complete. Released in 2001, it sold 50,000 worldwide. A significant achievement for … Continue reading
Album review : CAN’T SEEM TO COME DOWN – The American Sounds of 1968
Cherry Red [Release date : 19.07.24] In 1968, the comedown from 1967’s “Summer Of Love” quickly dissipated, leading directly into a year of inventive, eclectic rock music, often groundbreaking, frequently influential. That’s reflected in the 3 CDs of Cherry Red/Grapefruit’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 3 CDs, American Sounds 1968, Blue Cheer, boxset, Buffalo Springfield, Dylan, Hendrix, Nixon, review, Spirit, Summer of Love, The Byrds, The Seeds, Zappa
Leave a comment
Interview: ROB LAMOTHE
Singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Rob Lamothe rose to fame as the lead vocalist for the Los Angeles rock band Riverdogs. His soul-stirring debut solo album, ‘Gravity’ (1996), introduced an introspective side to his songwriting, exploring the human experience and … Continue reading
Gig review: SCORPIONS – Wembley Arena, London, 8 June 2024
As one of my all time favourite bands, and one whose commercial breakthrough came earlier in this country than most, it has been a disappointment that we have not seen more of the Scorpions in recent years. Presumably on the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Extreme, Gary Cherone, gig, Klaus Meine, Love at First Sting, Mathias Jabs, Mikkey Dee, Nuno Bettencourt, Rudolf Schenker, Scorpions
Leave a comment
Album review: DAVID BOWIE – David Bowie
Deram [Release date 26.07.24] The late David Bowie had a long, successful and influential career, and most will (or should) be familiar with the bulk of his catalogue. Finally finding his ‘sound’, a groove, at the turn of the 70s, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged 1967, David Bowie, debut album, Decca, Deram, pop, re-issue
Leave a comment
Album review : PALACE – Reckless Heart
Frontiers [Release date : 12.07.24] Michael Palace has long since proved that his classy debut, Master Of The Universe, was too good to be a fluke. On Reckless Heart, his fifth album, he continues to display his considerable gifts as … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alessi, Aztec Camera, Christopher Cross, Frontiers, Kenny Loggins, Michael Palace, review, Richard Marx, soft rock, Steely Dan
Leave a comment
Album review : MR. BIG – Ten
Frontiers [Release date: 12.07.24] Holding the world in their hands, Mr Big say goodbye to the late Pat Torpey, the band’s drummer, who lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2018. And after 35 years of flying highs and way … Continue reading
EP review: RANCID EP
Rancid – EP by Rancid | Spotify Emerging from the blue-collar swamps of Berkeley, California, Rancid has now been a living, breathing punk rock band for over a quarter century. Back in 1991, after the demise of their much beloved … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged 2012, digital, EP, punk, punk rock, Rancid, review
Leave a comment
News: TWISTED SISTER, ULTRAVOX, JESSICA LYNN (July 2024)
Accept will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2025-2026 with a “unique anniversary tour” planned for the end of 2025. An anniversary album will be released early 2026. Avantasia return with their latest album ‘Here Be Dragons’ due for release early … 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, classic rock, EP, festivals, folk, gigs, Jessica Lynn, metal, New releases, news, punk, rock, singles, tours, Twisted Sister, ULTRAVOX
Leave a comment
Single review : DUST RADIO – Tupelo
Bandcamp [Release date 18.06.24] ‘Tupelo’ is a down-home tale of drifters and grifters in the Deep South. It’s a digital equivalent of an old school 45 rpm single, in which the musical feel and narrative creep up on you like … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged blues, Cohen Brothers, Dust Radio, Elvis Presely, guitar, harp, Paddy Wells, review, Rob Kenny, roots, single, Stu Baggaley, Tom Jackson
Leave a comment
Album review: ORDEN OGAN – The Order of Fear
Reigning Pheonix Music [Release date 05.07.24] Album number eight by the power metal veterans Orden Ogan (well, they have been around since 1997 under the Orden Ogan name!) and their first for their new record label, Reigning Phoenix Music. Mainman Sebastian “Seeb” … Continue reading
Album review : KRYPTOS – Decimator
AFM Records [Release date : 05.07.24] On their magnificent seventh album now, Indian heavy metal band, Kryptos still have their eyes on the prize. It’s always tantalisingly out of reach for most bands. Few ever get their hands on it. … Continue reading
Album review : THE BYRON BAND – On The Rocks… Again, 3CD Box Set
Cherry Red [Release date : 28.06.24] CD1: On The Rocks (1981) CD2: Demos recorded for unreleased second album (1982) CD3: Rehearsal Recording (1981), plus Live In Liverpool (1980) The title of the Byron Band’s debut album, On The Rocks, is … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Byron Band, David Byron, On The Rocks, review, Robin George, rock, Uriah Heep
Leave a comment
Gig review: TOBY JEPSON- 02 Academy 2, Islington, 9 June 2024
The format of a spoken word tour, interspersed with a few songs, is growing in popularity, but not everyone has the right skill set to carry it off. Toby Jepson is one such with his cunningly titled ‘My Life in … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged acoustic, Dave Kemp, gig, Little Angels, Matt Mitchell, Toby Jepson, Wayward Sons
Leave a comment
Album review: CIRCULINE – C.O.R.E.
Inner Nova Music [Release date 20.09.24] There’s nothing quite like a bit of old school schmoozing. Circuline have, let’s say, a certain maturity of years (their bassist Shelby excluded) and – therefore – a maturity of outlook. Old timers like … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, C.O.R.E., Circuline, Dave Bainbridge, prog, Progressive Rock, review
Leave a comment
Album review : CHATEAUX – Spirit Of The Chateau (3 CD Reissue)
Cherry Red [Release date : 21.06.24] CD1: Chained And Desperate (1983) CD2: Firepower (1984) CD3: Highly Strung (1985) Led by guitarist, Tim Broughton, English metal band Chateau signed to Ebony Records, a NWOBHM startup label, in 1981. The band (previously … Continue reading
Album review: ATLANTIC – Another World
Escape Music [Release date 21.06.24] Atlantic is the brainchild of guitarist and songwriter Simon Harrison, who released their debut album ‘Power’ back in 1994 (re-issued by Escape in 2008). It was originally planned to be a one-off – until now … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Another World, AOR, Atlantic, Dare, Escape Music, FM, Grim Reaper, Journey, Lionsheart, Mark Grimmett, melodic rock, review, Simon Harrison, Steve Grimmett
Leave a comment
Album review : PALLAS – Eyes In The Night (The Recordings 1981-86, 7CD boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date : 28.06.24] You have to credit Cherry Red with their even handed approach to reissues/remasters. No offence to fans of neo-Prog band, Pallas, but the band is not front page news, and never have been, but … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged boxset, DVD, Eddy Offord, ELP, Genesis, King Crimson, London, Marillion, neo prog, Pallas, review, Scottish, Yes
Leave a comment
Album review : MAGGIE E. ROGERS – Chasing Sunsets
‘Chasing Sunsets’ is a lyrically strong and musical versatile album rooted in the folk, singer songwriter and storytelling tradition. Significantly subtitled; ‘ Songs of love, life…and the sun’, the 11 tracks gather a momentum through M.D. Mike King’s inventive arrangements … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, blues, Chasing Sunsets, Damien Nolan, funk, jazz, Maggie E Rogers, Mike King, Mirco Altenbach, Noel Harrison, review, rock, Roger Inniss, singer, songwriter, Tom Waits
Leave a comment
Album review: FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION – Whisky A-Go-Go 1968
UMC [Release date 21.06.24] Singer, instrumentalist and composer Frank Zappa is widely considered one of the foremost, innovative, prolific and off-the-wall musicians to ever record, and he often took an anti-establishment view too. With his band The Mothers Of Invention, … Continue reading
Gig review: RICHARD MARX – Royal Albert Hall, London, 22 May 2024
Richard Marx only plays the finest London venues when he comes over to the UK. Building on some memorable acoustic shows at the Union Chapel in Autumn 2022, he announced a fuller UK tour which culminated in this show at … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, gig, J. Blynn, John Oates, melodic rock, Nathan East, Richard Marx, singer songwriter
Leave a comment
Album review: VICIOUS RUMORS – Welcome To The Ball (Remaster)
Rock Candy [Release date : 24.05.24] Rock Candy Records are perhaps, unfairly, more associated with AOR and Melodic Rock than they are Metal, but among reissue labels they have no peers when it comes to value judgement. The always underrated … Continue reading
Album review : AXE – The Offering (Remaster)
Rock Candy Records [Release date 24.05.24] Third time lucky for Axe. The Offering, released in 1982, got enough sales and radio airplay to put them firmly on the USA’s Melodic Rock map, leading directly to tours with Kiss, The Scorpions … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, Axe, Bobby Barth, Edgar Riley, Kiss, melodic rock, Mike Osborne, remaster, review, Rock Candy Records, Scorpions, ZZ Top
Leave a comment
Album review : THE LADDER – S/T (Remaster)
Rock Candy Records [Release date : 24.05.24] Another “obscure” 1980’s American AOR album, rescued by Rock Candy Records. It was “big in Japan” though. Aren’t they all. The Ladder – writers Joe and Lou Parente, with vocalist Frank Mancano – … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, ATCO, Chicago, David Foster, Frank Mancano, Joe Parente, Lou Parente, Philadelphia, review, Rock Candy, The Ladder
Leave a comment
Album review : STRIDER – Exposed and Misunderstood (Remasters)
Rock Candy Records [Release date: 24.05.24] In 1970, Strider formed in London. Wrong place, right time? Right place, wrong time? Who knows. Certainly wasn’t for lack of talent or quality songs. Hugely popular with a core UK fanbase, Strider could … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Babys, blues, Eddie Money, Exposed, Gary Grainger, Misunderstood, review, rock, Rock Candy, Rod Stewart, Strider, Terry Brock
Leave a comment
