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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Gig review: BLACK EYED SONS- The Lexington, London, 16 December 2024
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – Thames Side Brewery, Staines, 8 December 2024
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Gig review: STRAY – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 December 2024
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Gig review: THE SHEEPDOGS, THE COMMONERS – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 5 December 2024
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Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow, 14 December 2024
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Gig review: THE DAMN TRUTH – The Grace, London, 26 November 2024
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Featured Album Reviews
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Yearly Archives: 2024
Book reviews: On track…SPARKS, ROXY MUSIC, DAVID BOWIE
On Track…Sparks 1969-1979 by Chris Sutton (Sonicbond Publishing) Chris Sutton has penned a few titles previously for SonicBond including a couple on Alice Cooper and an AC/DC one. Unlike some titles in the series this Sparks one features interviews specifically … Continue reading
Album review: DEWOLFF- Muscle Shoals
Mascot Records [Release date 06.12.24] “The singing river ? Damned if there ain’t soul in the silt itself. Musician folks been heading down this way for years and I’ll wager I’ve seen ‘em all – yes sir, Muscle Shoals, Alabama. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, DeWolf, Lynyrd Skynrd, Muscle Shoals, Otis Redding, review, rock, soul
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DVD review: MAN – God Walking Past (A review of the band’s career and recorded works 1968-1976)
Effigy [Release date: 18.11.24] ‘God Walking Past’ takes its title from Man member Deke Leonard’s description of the band’s music. He calls it “Impressive”, and the description could equally be applied to this thoroughly researched ‘not for prophet’ labour of … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged Andrew Lauder, Barrie Marshall, Barry Melton, Clive John, Deke Leonard, DVD, Gav Crumpton, George Jones, Geraint Watkins, God Walking Past, Jenny Marshall, John McKenzie, Ken Whaley, Man, Martin Ace, Michael Heatley, Micky Jones, Nick Ring, Pete Feenstra, Phil Ryan, review, Terry Williams, The Bystanders, Tony Smith
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Album review : MARY COUGHLAN – Repeat Rewind
Strange Brew [Release date : 25.10.24] Mary Coughlan’s ‘Repeat Rewind’ is released hand in hand with the 40th anniversary of her career and provides the perfect showcase for her full range of talents, from heartfelt, humorous and ironic observations to … Continue reading
Album review : STORACE – Crossfire
Frontiers [Release date 22.11.24] Crossfire is only the second Storace “solo” release from an artist whose gravel gargling vocals have fronted many million selling albums. Any fan of the hard rock genre will recognise the talent Marc Storace has surrounded … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AC/DC, Alice Cooper, Frontiers, Gotus, hard rock, Hollywood Vampires, KROKUS, Pat Aeby, review, Storace, Tommy Henriksen
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Gig review: HRH XVII, Great Yarmouth, 7-9 November 2024
Hard Rock Hell (HRH) was back for its 17th instalment “Valhalla”. Rockers from up and down the country were already here in their masses. The atmosphere was already building and I couldn’t wait to get stuck into this weekend. Thursday … Continue reading
Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES – Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024
This show, one of the occasional live spinoffs from the Blues Power shows on one of GRTR!’s fellow radio stations, ticked a lot of boxes for me. I’ve steadily been getting more into When Rivers Meet but my ambition to … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Aaron Bond, blues, blues rock, Chantel McGregor, gig, Grace Bond, When Rivers Meet, Xander and the Peace Pirates
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Album review : VAN ZANT – Always Look Up
Frontiers [Release date : 22.11.24] Here are the Van Zant brothers, Donnie and Johnny, vocalists respectively with 38 Special and Lynyrd Skynyrd (50 million album sales between them), looking forward, going back. In 2017, University Of Northumbria’s Professor of American … Continue reading
Feature: CASEY MAUNDER’s Bakers Dozen
The first 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 … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES
Tagged Bakers Dozen, Casey Maunder, Cheap Trick, feature, Get Out and Push, hard rock, melodic rock, playlist, Spotify, Tigertailz
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Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024
They may not have the same veteran status as the headliners of this show, but Reef are celebrating 30 years in the business this year. No mean feat, with founding members Gary Stringer on vocals and Jack Bessant on bass. … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 6 November 2024, blues, Deep Purple, gig, hard rock, live, prog, review, rock, Smoke On The Water
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Album review: MASSIVE WAGONS – Earth To Grace
Earache Records [Release date 08.11.24] Amazingly this is album number seven from Massive Wagons, and their fourth on Earache Records, with their last two albums both making the UK top 10 album chart. No pressure then lads! The pre-released songs/singles … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Earth to Grace, hard rock, Hundred Reasons, Massive Wagons, melodic, metal, punk, review, Wildhearts
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Gig review: ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024
One of the new generations of artists that has somehow managed largely to pass me by to date is Elles Bailey. I’d seen her name on tours and festival bills and social media, but never yet managed to see her … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Americana, blues rock, Cinelli Brothers, country, Demi Marriner, Elles Bailey, gig, Joe Wilkins, Jonny Henderson, roots rock
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Album review : STARCHASER – Into The Great Unknown
Frontiers [Release date 15.11.24] Second album from Swedish Melodic Metal band, Starchaser. The title track, ‘Into The Great Unknown’, a successful marriage of image and drama and music, gets us underway with a flourish. (Actually the “image” comes from the … Continue reading
Album review: EVE GOODMAN – Summer Sun, Winter Trees
Bandcamp [Release date 15.11.24] ‘Summer Sun, Winter Trees’ is Eve Goodman’s debut album, having released the EP ‘Wave Upon Wave’ previously. As Eve explains, “These songs are a capture of my moods, my headspace, and the symbols and imagery that … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Eve Goodman, folk, review, singer songwriter, Summer Sun, Winter Trees
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Album review: MARK WIRTZ – Dream Dream Dream The Anthology (5 CD Boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date : 15.11.24] Long in the making, this Mark Wirtz Anthology misses out nothing in the fascinating life and times of this musical virtuoso – composer, producer, performer, conductor, author, (and ultimately, stand up comedian). Too much … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged boxset, Cherry Red, Dream Dream Dream, George Martin, Helen Ready, Keith West, Mark Wirtz, Marlene Dietrich, review, Teenage Opera, Tomorrow, USA, Yes
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Album review: LIBRARIANS WITH HICKEYS – How To Make Friends By Telephone
Big Stir Records/Bandcamp [Release date 08.11.24] Librarians With Hickeys are an indie pop rock duo consisting of Ray Carmen (vocals, guitars, drums) and Mike Crooker (vocals, bass, organ, piano, keys). They released their debut album in 2020 and this is … Continue reading
Album review : VOODOO CIRCLE – Hail To The King
AFM Records [Release date 15.11.24] Love Whitesnake? Love Rainbow? Love Led Zeppelin? Here’s Voodoo Circle, just for you. 12 magnificent tracks. 60 magic minutes. Their finest hour. Sturdily melodic, hardbodied rock songs come at you relentlessly. You wait for the … Continue reading
Album review : LIONVILLE – Supernatural
Frontiers [Release date 15.11.24] Art for Art’s sake. Lionville’s Italian founder, writer, guitarist and all round mainman, Stefano Leonetti has brought in Swedish vocalist Alexander (Art Nation) Strandell to replace the departed Lars (Work Of Art) Safsund. Strandell has achieved … Continue reading
EP review: PARADISE SINS – Desires
www.facebook.com/paradisesinsband [Release date 06.12.24] Paradise Sins are a recent formation (2022) and look back to 1980s melodic hard rock for their inspiration. This five track EP is their second main calling card to date (following the previous EP ‘Untamed’) but … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Desires, EP, hard rock, melodic, Paradise Sins, review
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Gig review: DEFECTS – Key Club, Leeds, 1 November 2024
Once again I was impatiently awaiting this gig. Filled with excitement I headed off to the Key Club in Leeds. Upon arriving I found the venue was small and intimate which was a massive bonus, the Stage was raised so … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 1 November 2024, alt rock, Defects, gig, Knife Bride, Leeds, modern rock, nu-metal, Profiler, review, rock, the Key Club
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Album review: KINGS OF MERCIA – Battle Scars
Metal Blade Records [Release date 25.10.24] One thing you can’t accuse Steve Overland of is being work shy. The revival of his first love, FM, is not enough for the industrious frontman. Since 2004 he’s also produced albums as Shadowman … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Battle Scars, Fates Warning, FM, hard rock, Jim Matheos, Kings Of Mercia, melodic, review, Steve Overland
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Album review: SEVENTH CRYSTAL – Entity
Frontiers [Release date : 08.11.24] It’s hard to pin Seventh Crystal down. Is that a good thing? Yes and no. Vocalist and songwriter, Kristian Fyhr leads the band with assurance and direction. Entity is the band’s third album, a progression … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Frontiers, heavy rock, Krystian Fyhr, progrock, review, Seventh Crystal
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Album review : IMPELLITTERI – War Machine
Frontiers [Release date : 08.11.24] Chris Impellitteri has always had something to say about the world and the way of it, illuminated by the occasional religious overtone. This new album, his band’s 16th, is not much different. We should be … Continue reading
Album review: THE QUIREBOYS – Wardour Street
Cadiz Music [Release date 01.11.24] When I heard Spike had been ousted by his own band but had drafted in original Quireboys guitarist and co-founder the late, great, Guy Bailey to help resurrect the true Quireboys, rejoined by most of … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, classic rock, Frankie Miller, Guy Bailey, Luke Morley, Nigel Mogg, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Spike, The Quireboys, Thunder, Wardour Street
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Gig review: KING KING, THESE WICKED RIVERS – Sub 89, Reading, 27 October 2024
King King’s extensive touring schedule has included this autumn jaunt to some new places including what Alan Nimmo suggested was their first ever visit to the County town of Berkshire. With no London date, a trip on the Elizabeth line … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Alan Nimmo, Arran Day, blues, blues rock, gig, John Hartwell, Jonny Dyke, King King, Stevie Nimmo, These Wicked Rivers
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