Yearly Archives: 2026

Album review: JENNY COLQUITT – Pockets Full Of Rain

Posted on April 21, 2026 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 01.05.26] Whatever else this album is, and it is many things, it is not Americana, which is what it is being promoted as. It is a pretty special collection of really well crafted songs delivered in a … Continue reading →

Gig review: TYKETTO – 229 Club, London, 17 April 2026

Posted on April 20, 2026 by andynathan

As frontman and founding member Danny Vaughn proudly boasted from the stage, Tyketto’s profile has unexpectedly increased some 35 years after their classic ‘Don’t Come Easy’ debut, with a European tour with Black Star Riders and a Masters of Rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Chris Childs, Closer to the Sun, Collateral, Danny Vaughn, Ged Rylands, gig, Harry Scott Elliott, Kory Clarke, melodic rock, Tyketto, Warrior Soul | Leave a comment

Album review: SOMETHING FOR THE LONGING – Scottish Independent Pop 1985-1999 (3 CDs)

Posted on April 20, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release Date : 24.04.26] Compiled by Scottish film director, cinematographer and writer, Grant McPhee, Something For The Longing is a deep dive into “Scottish Independent Pop”. A 15 year, widescreen snapshot taken as the 20th Century was coming … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Arab Strap, Belle And Sebastien, BMX Bandits, C86, Grant McPhee, King Creosote, Mogwai, Postcard Records, review, Scottish Indie Pop, The Delgados, The Jesus and Mary Chain | Leave a comment

Album review : CREYE – IV Aftermath

Posted on April 19, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 24.04.26] Scandi band Creye hit their stride with their fourth album, Aftermath, delivering melodic rock of depth and width, polished, full of neat gearshifts, and verses as strong as the choruses, just about. The fact … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Aftermath, Andreas Gulstrand, AOR, Boybands, Creye, Frontiers Music, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – Academy 2, Manchester, 16 April 2026

Posted on April 18, 2026 by jason

All the way from Orange County California, Robert Jon And The Wreck pulled a near capacity Manchester crowd, who were eager to be entertained. They started with ‘The Devil Is Your Only Friend’, but I think Manchester could be added … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Academy 2, April 16 2026, blues, blues rock, gig, Manchester, review, Robert Jon & The Wreck, rock, southern rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: SKINDRED – O2 Academy, Oxford, 17 April 2026

Posted on April 18, 2026 by jason

Skindred released their new album, ‘You Got This’, and their ninth overall, on the same day as they played this sold out gig in Oxford. So good to see that for once at a gig I was at the older … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Arimea, Benji Webbe, Friday April 17 2026, gig, hip hop, metal, nu-metal, O2 Academy, Oxford, ragga metal, reggae, review, rock, Skindred | Leave a comment

Album review : JACK BRUCE – Halfway To The Stars – The Recordings 2001-2003 (5 CD Boxset)

Posted on April 18, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 24.04.26] Shadows In The Air (2001) More Jack Than God (2003) Live At The Milky Way part 1 (2001, with the Cuicoland Express) Live At The Milky Way part 2 (2001, with the Cuicoland Express) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Cuicoland Express, Dr John, Eric Clapton, Gary Moore, Jack Bruce, Kip Hanrahan, Latin American, Pete Brown, review, Vernon Reid | Leave a comment

Album review: ELEGANT WEAPONS – Evolution

Posted on April 17, 2026 by jason

Exciter Records [Release date 24.04.26] Album number two from Elegant Weapons, the band formed around Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner and vocalist Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, MSG), with bassist Dave Rimmer (Uriah Heep), and drummer Christopher Williams (Accept) making their recording … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adam Wakeman, album, Andy Sneap, heavy metal, Judas Priest, melodic metal, metal, review, Richie Faulkner, Ronnie Romero | Leave a comment

Album review: LONG DISTANCE CALLING – The Phantom Void

Posted on April 16, 2026 by jason

earMUSIC [Release date 10.04.26] Long Distance Calling have been around for some twenty years now and this, their ninth studio album continues their predominantly wordless approach to story telling. The core of the group remains unchanged with David Jordan and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, instrumental, Long Distance Calling, progressive, review, rock, The Phantom Void | Leave a comment

Album review : URIAH HEEP – Beautiful Dream, The Recordings 1975-77 (4CDs)

Posted on April 15, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 24.04.26] Return To Fantasy (1975) High And Mighty (1976) Firefly (1977) Innocent Victim (1977) Cherry Red’s latest Uriah Heep boxset, Beautiful Dream, is essentially a follow up to their Shadow And The Wind set released last … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Beautiful Dream The Recordings 1975-77, box set, Cherry Red, David Byron, hard rock, John Lawton, John Wetton, review, seventies, Trevor Bolder, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: XTASY – Phoenix

Posted on April 14, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Art of Melody Music / Burning Minds Music Groups [Release date 10.04.26] Now here’s a thing. Melodic rock that’s not from Scandinavia! Spain’s Xtasy formed in 2011 and have been building a following in their home country and in Continental … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, melodic rock, metal, Phoenix, review, Xtasy | Leave a comment

Album review: HOKKA – Via Miseria IV

Posted on April 14, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Nuclear Blast Records [Release date 24.04.26] There is a lot of good stuff coming out of Finland at the moment, always underpinned by the Nordic/Scandi talent for melody (and a fair helping of darkness). Lovers of The Rasmus are going … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Hokka, melodic rock, nu-metal, review, The Rasmus, Via Miseria IV | Leave a comment

Album review: ARGOVIA – Primal Repetition

Posted on April 14, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Presagio Records [Release date 10.04.26] One of the enlightening features of our “New to GRTR!” radio show is the range of music from all four corners of the planet. Colombia doesn’t feature that regularly but when it does. Wow! Argovia … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Argovia, Haken, Primal Repetition, prog rock, Progressive Rock, review, Ross Jennings | Leave a comment

Album review : PRAYING MANTIS – The Official Bootleg Boxset Vol 1 – Live In Japan

Posted on April 13, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 24.04.26] CD1 : Live From The Bottom Line, Nagoya Japan, 1993 Part One. CD2 : Live From The Bottom Line, Nagoya Japan, 1993 Part Two CD3 : Live From The Bottom Line, Nagoya Japan, 1998 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Chris Troy, Denis Stratton, Japan, Mark Thompson-Smith, melodic metal, Nagoya, Praying Mantis, review, Tino Troy, Tony O'Hora | Leave a comment

Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – New Theatre, Oxford, 12 April 2026

Posted on April 13, 2026 by jason

This fan may have just been starting out in primary school when Suzi Quatro had her first UK number with ‘Can The Can’ in 1973, however, it was still a great moment to finally see her live on stage. Big … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 April 2026, Alice Cooper, Chris Norman, classic rock, gig, KT Tunstall, New Theatre, Oxford, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Suzi Quatro | Leave a comment

Single review: ROBERT JON AND THE WRECK – Run Back To Me

Posted on April 12, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 27.03.26] From the opening bars of this song which is on the soulful side of southern rock, you can tell this is a band which gels. Every instrument complements each other, and then the vocals of Robert … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged blues rock, review, Robert Jon And The Wreck, rock, Run Back To Me, single, southern rock | Leave a comment

Album review: SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND – Good Evening Boys And Girls (21 CD box set)

Posted on April 12, 2026 by jason

Madfish [Release date 10.04.26] WOW what a magnificent box set we have here. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, quite literally a 70s theatrical rock sensation. Fronted by singer/songwriter Alex Harvey, once touted as Glasgow’s answer to Tommy Steel, Alex released … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Box sets, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged Alex Harvey, blues rock, box set, Chris Glen, classic rock, Good Evening Boys And Girls, Hugh Mckenna, Nazareth, review, rock, SAHB, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Ted McKenna, Zal Cleminson | Leave a comment

Album review: Ritchie Blackmore’s RAINBOW In Concert 1976 – Live In Koln

Posted on April 12, 2026 by jason

Demon [Release date 18.04.26] This special edition release is exclusive to RSD (Record Store Day) 2026 and catches both the Rainbow and the band at their creative and blistering energetic peak. The album was originally released a few years back … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Box sets, Reissues | Tagged album, Cozy Powell, Deep Purple, In Concert 1976 - Live In Koln, Rainbow Rising, reissue, review, Ritchie Blackmore, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Carey, Vinyl | Leave a comment

Gig review: FM- White Rock Studio, Hastings, 5 April 2026

Posted on April 11, 2026 by andynathan

With their 1986 debut album ‘Indiscreet’ FM took on the Americans at their own game with among the finest, and arguably the very best, British AOR albums ever recorded, with all the hallmarks of the genre- hook-filled songs on the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Brave Rival, Ed 'the Shred' Clarke, FM, gig, Indiscreet, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, Lindsey Bonnick, melodic rock, Merv Goldsworthy, Pete Jupp, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Album review: THE SIDESHOWS

Posted on April 9, 2026 by jason

Europea Phonographic [Release date 10.04.26] The Sideshows is the new project formed by former Hanoi Rocks, New York Dolls, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and currently Michael Monroe Band bassist Sami Yaffa alongside songwriter Rich Ragany (Role Models, Rich Ragany … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe, New York Dolls, power pop, punk, review, rock, Sami Yaffa, The Sideshows | Leave a comment

Album review: THE STEVE SUMMERS BAND – Rewired

Posted on April 8, 2026 by petefeenstra

Bandcamp [Release date 23.03.26] CD https://stevesummersband.com/contact [Release date 30.04.26] The Steve Summer Band ‘Rewired’ album is essentially a career update of his rock-blues band which has existed since 2010. 8 of the 12 tracks originate from 2 previously released albums … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bernie Marsden, blues, DEL BROMHAM, Derek White, Eric Clapton, Felix Pappalardi, Gary Moore, Jethro Tull, Joe Bonamassa, Johnny Winter, Larry Miller, Leslie West, Lip Service, Mountain, Mungo Jerry, Pink Floyd, prog, review, Rich Summers, Robin Trower, rock, Scott Hunter, Simon Needler, Steve Summers, Stray, The Steve Summers Band, Vic Martin | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE GUILTY MEN – The Stables, Milton Keynes, 1 April 2026

Posted on April 8, 2026 by jason

The origins of the Guilty Men lie back in 2021, when guitarists and old pals Clive Gregson (Any Trouble, Richard Thompson, Christine Collister) and Neil Cossar (The Cheaters) finally got around to writing a few songs together. Which one of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 1 April 2026, Clive Gregson, gig, John Lees Barclay James Harvest, melodic, Milton Keynes, Neil Cossar, review, rock, THE GUILTY MEN, The Stables | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Live & Ready 1980-1984

Posted on April 6, 2026 by jason

Chrysalis Records [Release date 03.04.26] Guitar legend Michael Schenker has had a largely wonderful career, with his own band as well as with both Scorpions and UFO. And of his eponymous band, the 1980 to 1984 period is widely considered … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Box sets, Reissues | Tagged box set. Michael Schenker Group, classic rock, guitarist, hard rock, Live & Ready 1980-1984, Michael Schenker, MSG, review, rock, Scorpions, UFO | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (January – March 2026)

Posted on April 6, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Get Ready to ROCK! - Albums of the Month (January-March 2026)

A quarterly feature highlighting album releases rated highly by the GRTR! review team and worthy of your investigation. We try and pick out a cross-section of albums that reflect the range of genres reviewed at the website. The star rating … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Leave a comment

Album review : FIGHTER V – Deja Vu

Posted on April 6, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 10.04.26] We couldn’t help thinking that we’d heard this album somewhere before. Maybe it’ll come back to us. Deja Vu is the third album from Swiss melodic rock band, Fighter V. Emmo Acar (v), Lobe … Continue reading →