Album review : ROB MORATTI – Sovereign

Frontiers [Release date: 12.12.25]

Rob Moratti’s all star cast is arguably more famous than he is :
Joel Hoekstra, Tony Franklin, Felix Borg, Fredrik Bergh and Pete Alpenborg.

Alpenborg’s written stuff for Harry Hess, Robin McAuley, Kee Marcello, Tommy Heart and Tony Harnell.

He co-wrote the songs on Moratti’s well received 2024 album, Epical, and along with Fredrick Bergh has co-written much of Sovereign.

Echoing Epical, it is an elegant AOR album. In the manner of artists like Kent Hilli and Bro Firetribe, Moratti reclaims the musical space that was ultimately vacated by Alias, Starship, and perhaps even Journey.

It catches the mood of that era, where sentimentality and romantic musical moments, coated with a commercial sheen, were the currency of Melodic Rock.

Moratti takes an unapologetic stance on this. And that means there aren’t many surprises.

The good news is he’s still the same consummate pop-rock craftsman who has been making it all sound so smooth for years.

The evidence? Almost any track picked at random.

The teaser trailer single, ‘Can’t Let You Go’ is so last century, but in a good way; very Journey, very Survivor, an homage to the eighties, with a cool, lip smacking key change toward the finish.

All through Sovereign, Hoekstra shines, not by taking centre stage but by investing his axework with low profile emotion and passion, threading discreet solos through each track, lifting the melodic rock onto another plane.

The balladic ‘Every Word’s stuttering keyboards, shimmering production and measured BGVs, along with Hoekstra’s starstruck solo, underline the adage that for AOR, underdone is always better than overdone.

The only very slightly more aggressive ‘Waiting’ and ‘Locked Down’, and the even more Survivor-ish ‘Two Hearts’ are absolute peaches … tantalising AOR songs with luscious melodies. Nothing if not derivative. But unashamedly so. Tributes to past AOR glories. Skilfully done. ***1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 December 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). First broadcast on 25 November 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 1 December 2025

We feature all the artists selected in this sequence in 2025.

Featured Albums w/c 1 December 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.