Yearly Archives: 2024

Gig review: STEVE HOGARTH – The Crypt, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, 5 December 2024

Posted on December 6, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

What we need in the pre-Christmas period is a warm and cosy festive gig, maybe in an unusual location, to lift the flagging spirits. To help us take our mind off political posturing, the smell of Musk, Black Friday overspend, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 5 December 2024, classic rock, gig, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Marillion, review, Solo, Steve Hogarth, The Crypt | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE VAN MORRISON ALUMNI BAND – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 25 November 2024

Posted on December 6, 2024 by jason

Few artists have gained the stature of Van Morrison, the Belfast born troubadour a true legend whose blend of soul, jazz, blues and rock is oft imitated but seldom bettered. Whilst his recorded output has never been less than industrious … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 25 November 2024, blues, Bury St Edmunds, jazz, Jo Harman, pop, rock, soul, The Apex, The Van Morrison Alumni Band, Van Morrison | Leave a comment

Album review: MOGGS MOTEL – Moggs Motel

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Davoski

Steamhammer/SPV [Release date: 06.09.24] When frontman Phil Mogg called a halt to UFO’s Last Orders European tour in 2022 on Doctor Doctor’s orders, I thought that was the end of the road. I was disappointed, not only because I was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, hard rock, Moggs Motel, Neil Carter, Phil Mogg, review, UFO | Leave a comment

Album review : LAZY DAYS – The British Progressive Sounds of 1975 (3-CD set)

Posted on December 2, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 06.12.24] 1975: all around the UK, a huge variety of rock and pop genres, sub genres, splinter groups and so forth were fighting it out for recognition, and ultimately, sales. The summer of love was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

Single review : AUDIO 54 – Good To Me

Posted on December 1, 2024 by petefeenstra

Bandcamp [Release date : 19.10.24] ‘Good To Me’ is the latest stand alone groundbreaking single release from the Audio 54 stable. Leicester born singer, songwriter and musician Craig Marshall has quietly, but confidently emerged as an innovative producer who fashions … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Audio 54, Craig Marshall, Dave Larder, funk, Good To Me, gospel, hip hop, jazz, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Pini, R&B, singer, single review, songwriter, soul, vocal | Leave a comment

Gig review: MASSIVE WAGONS – SWG3, Glasgow, 27 November 2024

Posted on December 1, 2024 by david.wilson

Wednesday nights are not renowned as party nights, but with Massive Wagons back in town a healthy crowd gathered in SWG3 to rock along with the band that always get the party started. With a full on night of thrash … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 27th November 2024, Adam Thistlethwaite, Andy's Mans Club, Bangin' On Your Stereo, Barry Mills, blues, Cam Cole, Earth to Grace, Florence Black, gig, Glasgow, live, Massive Wagons, One Man Band, review, rock, SWG3 | Leave a comment

Album review: BRAZEN ABBOT : Eye Of The Storm and Bad Religion

Posted on December 1, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 13.12.24] Prior to his Rock Opera project, Nostradamus (2001), classically trained Bulgarian multi-instrumentalist, Nikolo Kotzev had founded Brazen Abbot. The band’s second and third releases, Eye Of The Storm (1996) and Bad Religion (1997), have now … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Bad Religion, Brazen Abbot, Eye Of The Storm, Frontiers Music, Goran Edman, Joe Lynn Turner, melodic hard rock, Nikolo Kotzev, Nostradamus, review, rock opera, Thomas Vikstrom | Leave a comment

Album review: CORY MARKS – Sorry For Nothing

Posted on December 1, 2024 by jason

Century Media [Release date 06.12.24] Album number three from Cory Marks, with his last album, 2020’s ‘Who I Am’, making the UK and Australian country charts, plus number 16 in the album charts in his native Canada. The single of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bad Wolves, Cory Marks, country, country rock, hard rock, Mick Mars, Motley Crue, Nickelback, review, rock, Sorry For Nothing | Leave a comment

News: AVANTASIA, GOTTHARD, MICKEY JUPP (December 2024)

Posted on December 1, 2024 by jason

GLENN HUGHES- Electric Ballroom, London, 25 October 2023

Airforce (who feature former Iron Maiden guitarist Doug Sampson) release their new album ‘Acts of Madness’ on February 21 through ROAR Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks release a CD/DVD package ‘Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks Live- Perpetual Change’ … 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, AVANTASIA, blues, folk, gigs, Gotthard, melodic rock, metal, Mickey Jupp, news, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review: ELECTRIC TEMPLE – High Voltage Salvation

Posted on November 29, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Eonian Records [Release date 06.12.24 ] An interesting trend in recent years has been for vocalist/frontmen to spread their largesse, perhaps due to economic as much as creative reasons. So, for example, we have that arch moonlighter Ronnie Romero in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andrew Freeman, Electric Temple, heavy rock, High Voltage Salvation, Mat Starr, Mike Duda, review, Tony Childs | Leave a comment

Feature: Box Sets are for life, not just for Christmas…(December 2024)

Posted on November 29, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

The reissues and recycling still come thick and fast, not least in the unashamed “reissue” of vinyl – another income stream for the record labels designed to extract more wedge from our hard-pressed wallets. Here is our round-up of recommended … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged anthology, Black Sabbath, box sets, boxsets, classic rock, collections, folk rock, Glenn Hughes, heavy rock, pop rock, Progressive Rock, singer songwriter, The Producers, Thunder, Tony Iommi, Trevor Horn | Leave a comment

Album review : TAK MATSUMOTO GROUP – TMG II

Posted on November 29, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 06.12.24] Through one of those close encounters you read about, Tak Matsumoto, guitarist and founder of leading Japanese rock band, B’z met up with Jack (Night Ranger) Blades and Eric (Mr Big) Martin in LA, in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged B'z, Baby Metal, Budokan, Eric Martin, hard rock, Jack Blades, Japan, LiSA, melodic rock, Mr Big, Night Ranger, review, Tak Matsumoto Group | Leave a comment

Album review : POWELL PAYNE – Voila

Posted on November 28, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 6.12.24] There really should have been some kind of fanfare, a blaze of publicity, to accompany the release of Voila, debut album from Adam Payne, ex Airrace, and Mark Powell, ex Psycho Kiss. In this post-AOR age, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Airrace, AOR, Frontiers, melodic rock, Peter Cetera, Powell Payne, Psycho Kiss, review, Richard Marx, Voila | Leave a comment

Single review: SPLEEN – Making Plans For Nigel

Posted on November 28, 2024 by jason

YouTube Spleen have been around since 2019 and now comprises Samuele Riccucci on guitar and vocals, Matteo Innocenti on drums and backing vocals, Olmo Fantini on guitar and backing vocals, and Alberto Sanna on bass. A brave move to cover … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Covers, Making Plans For Nigel, New Wave, pop, punk, punk pop, review, Robbie Williams, single, Spleen, XTC | Leave a comment

Gig review: ANTHRAX – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 November 2024

Posted on November 27, 2024 by Davoski

It’s been a while. 35 years in fact, since I last saw Anthrax. March 1989 at this very venue. I had to look it up, but I needn’t have bothered. During a mid-set chat, Scott Ian listed all the times … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 23November 2024, Anthrax, gig, Hammersmith Apollo, Joey Belladonna, Kreator, live, metal, review, Scott Ian, Thrash | Leave a comment

Gig review: BLACK STONE CHERRY – Wembley Arena, London, 23 November 2024

Posted on November 27, 2024 by andynathan

As they mentioned from the stage, Black Stone Cherry have been on tour for the best part of two years, touring their latest album ‘Screaming At The Sky’. Seemingly their favourite territory, the UK has seen them no less than … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Ayron Jones, Ben Wells, Black Stone Cherry, Chris Robertson, gig, Jen Ledger, John Cooper, John Fred Young, Skillet, southern rock, Steve Jewell | Leave a comment

Gig review: SQUEEZE – Roundhouse, London, 22 November 2024

Posted on November 25, 2024 by andynathan

It’s a tribute to the virtue of good songwriting and refusing to follow fashion that Squeeze have joined the select group of bands to be celebrating their 50th birthday (albeit with a few breaks apart). And yet, as Glenn Tilbrook … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 22 November 2024, Badly Drawn Boy, Chris Difford, gig, Glenn Tilbrook, London, Melvin Duffy, Roundhouse, Simon Hanson, Squeeze, Stephen Large | Leave a comment

Album review : RUTHLESS BLUES – Nice Work

Posted on November 25, 2024 by petefeenstra

Bandcamp [Release date 01.11.24] ‘Nice Work’ is an aptly titled album for a band who always managed to convey their natural exuberance in a straight forward mix of old school rock and blues. This is Ruthless Blues first studio album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, bass, blues, Clive Edwards, drums, guitar, Hammind, harmonica, John Irish Earle, Martyn Taylor, Nice Work, review, Richard Taylor, rock, Ruthless Blues, sax, Stevie Smith | Leave a comment

Feature: PHIL VINCENT’s Baker’s Dozen

Posted on November 24, 2024 by jason

A Baker’s Dozen, in which various musicians choose 13 songs – a baker’s dozen – to make a playlist. The following rules apply – Maximum of three songs from any artist Maximum of two songs from any album Maximum of two … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged Bakers Dozen, Beatles, feature, hard rock, heavy metal, Jon Butcher Axis, Judas Priest, melodic rock, metal, Phil Vincent, pop, prog rock, Queen, RAVEN, Thin Lizzy | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL VINCENT – Master of Deception

Posted on November 22, 2024 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 22.11.24] This is Phil Vincent’s 26th solo album! That is excluding the various bands he appears with like D’Ercole and Tragik. Mastered again by Jacob Hansen (who certainly seems to have added some punch to last few … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, Master of Deception, melodic rock, Phil Vincent, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: CROSSBONE SKULLY – Evil World Machine

Posted on November 20, 2024 by jason

Better Noise Music [Release date 22.11.24] Crossbone Skully is the band formed by Alice Cooper and Hollywood Vampires guitarist Tommy Henriksen. He’s joined by guitarists Anna Cara and Sam Koltun, bassist Chris Wyse and drummer Alex Boch. That’s not all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AC/DC, album, Alice Cooper, classic rock, Crossbone Skully, Def Leppard, Evil World Machine, hard rock, Hollywood Vampires, Johnny Depp, Motley Crue, Mutt Lange, review, rock, sleaze rock, Tommy Denander, Tommy Henriksen | Leave a comment

Gig review: CARDINAL BLACK – Sub 89, Reading, 15 November 2024

Posted on November 19, 2024 by andynathan

Of all the new bands on the scene, Cardinal Black seem to be among those on the verge of a big commercial breakthrough. On this autumn tour, the London venue was at the Shepherds Bush Empire, though I couldn’t make … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues rock, Cardinal Black, Chris Buck, gig, New Wave of Classic Rock, soul, Tom Hollister | Leave a comment

Album review : FAITH NYC – Love Is A Wish Away

Posted on November 19, 2024 by brianmc

Good Deeds Music [Release date 22.11.24] A Motown sound that isn’t a Motown sound. Faith NYC is Felice Rosser’s band, which comprises percussionist, Fin Hunt, and guitar man, Justin Adams. Rosser sings and plays bass. Born and brought up in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Black Music, Faith NYC, Felice Rosser, Fin Hunt, Justin Adams, Motown, New York, punk, review, soul | Leave a comment

Album review : LUMINARE CHRISTMAS – Mistletoe Magic

Posted on November 18, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 22.12.24] Founded by Chip Davis, leader of the 28 million selling, neoclassical ensemble Mannheim Steamroller, Luminare Christmas is a relatively new venture. Mannheim have two albums in the Top Ten Best Selling Christmas albums of all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS | Tagged Chip Davis, Christmas, Denis DeYoung, Frontiers, Luminare, Mannheim Steamroller, Nutcracker, review, Styx, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi | Leave a comment

Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 13 November 2024

Posted on November 17, 2024 by andynathan

After too long sharing a bill on revival shows or out of the touring spotlight altogether, the last couple of years have seen the welcome return of Suzi Quatro as a headline live act, cementing her legacy as a trailblazing … Continue reading →