Yearly Archives: 2026

Album review: NEAL MORSE BAND – L.I.F.T.

Posted on February 26, 2026 by jason

InsideOut Music [Release date: 27.02.26] The announcements that the Neal Morse Band’s fifth album, L.I.F.T.’ would be released in 2026 came as a pleasant surprise to many fans of NMB (as they now style themselves). That was the result of … Continue reading →

Gig review: SMITH KOTZEN – Bristol Academy, 20 February 2026

Posted on February 26, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

It’s a band and promoters nightmare. Towards the end of a relatively short UK tour the special guests Kris Barras Band had to pull out due to Kris’ throat infection. Shame as I was looking forward to seeing Barras live … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20 February 2026, Adrian Smith, Bristol Academy, classic rock, gig, hard rock, Iron Maiden, review, Richie Kotzen, Smith Kotzen, Winery Dogs | Leave a comment

Gig review: SOLSTICE – Kidderminster Town Hall, 19 February 2026

Posted on February 26, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

There are a few bands I’ve seen over the years in fairly quick succession: Hawkwind in the early seventies. Magnum in the early 1990s. I’m getting that way with Solstice. I last saw the band barely six months ago at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 19 February 2026, Andy Glass, gig, Kidderminster Town hall, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Solstice | Leave a comment

Gig review: MEDICINE HEAD – The Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 19 February 2026

Posted on February 25, 2026 by andynathan

John Fiddler is an indefatigable old trouper – despite some health challenges over the last year, he was back at the Eel Pie Club for the second time in 12 months with his revamped Medicine Head line up. Initially slow … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andre Shapps, Belinda Campbell, blues rock, Box of Frogs, Cabbage Patch, Chris Musto, Dave 'Bucket' Colwell, Eel Pie Club, folk rock, gig, John Fiddler, Medicine Head | Leave a comment

Album review : BLACK SWAN – Paralyzed

Posted on February 24, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 27.02.26] Four years after Black Swan’s second album, Generation Mind, comes Paralyzed, with the four horsemen, Robin McAuley, Reb Beach, Jeff Pilson and Matt Starr riding quickly into view. So called “supergroups”, of which this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Black Swan, Frontiers Music, hard rock, Jeff Pilson, Matt Starr, Paralyzed, Reb Beach, review, Robin McAuley | Leave a comment

News: RUSH, CRIMSON GLORY, VON GROOVE (March 2026)

Posted on February 23, 2026 by jason

Acacia Avenue release ‘Chapter V’ via Pride & Joy Music on May 29. Amberian Dawn release their latest album, ‘Temptation’s Gates’, on June 26 via Napalm Records. The band have also announced Nicole Willerton as their new vocalist. Deko Entertainment release a 50th … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Exhibitions, 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, blues, Crimson Glory, folk, gigs, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, Rush, special editions, tour dates, Von Groove | Leave a comment

Album review: WILLE AND THE BANDITS – Salt Roots

Posted on February 23, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 27.02.26] This latest album from Wille and the Bandits sees main man William ‘Wille’ Edwards and his band reaching new heights of epic story telling brilliance. Salt Roots is, in many ways, a homage to Cornwall, Edwards’ county … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Cornish Surfer Blues Rock, review, rock, Salt Roots, Willie And The Bandits | Leave a comment

Album review : ANDY SMYTHE – Quiet Revolution

Posted on February 21, 2026 by petefeenstra

self release [Release date: 13.03.26] Andy Smythe’s ‘Quiet Revolution’ is a contemplative, but impassioned look at contemporary times. The album title appears to mirror the thoughts and songs of an introvert whose insightful lyrics appear to be a catalyst for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Smythe, folk, Nick Drake, Pete Atkin, pop, Quiet Revolution, review, rock, singer, songwriter, The Waterboys, Tim Buckley | Leave a comment

EP review: RIOT WEEKEND – Table4Four

Posted on February 21, 2026 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 27.03.26] RiotWeekend hail from Guildford, with a line-up consisting of Holly Nunn (lead vocals and bass) Tomma Moulard (guitars), Rab McGowan (guitars) and Salvatore Bertolone (drums). They released their self-titled debut EP in 2022 to favourable reviews … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged EP, pop punk, punk, review, Riot Weekend, rock, Table4Four | Leave a comment

Gig review: FORTY ELEPHANT GANG – Harwell Village Hall, February 20 2026

Posted on February 21, 2026 by jason

First gig of the 2026 season of gigs hosted and promoted by Big Ginger Tom Music, which includes a sold out show by Seth Lakeman in the autumn and the Urban Folk Quartet in May. Support act is Warwickshire based Lauren … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Americana, blues, folk, Forty Elephant Gang, Friday 20 February 2026, gig, Harwell Village Hall, indie, Lauren South, review, soul | Leave a comment

Album review : MOUNTAIN – Don’t Look Around – The Recordings 1969-74 (7 CD boxset)

Posted on February 20, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red/Esoteric [Release date : 27.02.26] CD1: Leslie West – Mountain (1969) CD2: Mountain Live At Woodstock (1969) CD3: Climbing (1970) 2 bonus tracks CD4: Nantucket Sleighride (1971) CD5: Flowers Of Evil (1971) 2 bonus tracks CD6: Twin Peaks (1974) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Box sets, Reissues | Tagged Blues/Rock, boxset, Cherry Red, Corky Laing, Felix Pappalardi, Leslie West, Mississippi Queen, Mountain, Nantucket Sleighride | Leave a comment

EP review: SPREADING THE DISEASE – Purgatory Carnival

Posted on February 20, 2026 by jason

Facebook [Release date 28.02.26] Kent based Spreading the Disease are back and heavy as ever! The band’s current line-up consists of Steve Saunders (bass), Thorsten Giertsch (guitar), Donal McGee (drums), Daniel Stevenson (guitar) and Jonny P (vocals). Spreading the Disease … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Single and EP reviews | Tagged EP, extreme metal, metal, Purgatory Carnival, review, Spreading The Disease | Leave a comment

Single review: PARKER BARROW – Glass Eye Cryin’

Posted on February 20, 2026 by jason

Ooooh yeah there it is again, that voice, ranting, raving and raising hell on this slice of southern tinged rock n roll. Whose voice you may ask – Megan Kane I answer, hear it loud and hear it proud. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged blues, Fanny, Glass Eye Cryin', Parker Barrow, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, single | Leave a comment

Album review : GARRET T. WILLIE – Bill’s Cafe

Posted on February 19, 2026 by petefeenstra

Gulf Coast Records [Release date: 27.02.26] Garret T. Willie’s ‘Bill’s Café’ is a powerful statement of intent. Were it not for the fact that he hails from a little rural town called Alert Bay, off the northern tip of Vancouver … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bill's Café, blues, Captain Beefheart, Clutch, Garret T. Willie, Howlin Wolf, John Fogerty, Jon Harvey, Monster Truck, Neil Farron, Omar & The Howlers, Omar Dykes, review, rock, Tom Hambridge | Leave a comment

Album review : MICHAEL MONROE – Outerstellar

Posted on February 18, 2026 by brianmc

Silver Lining Music [Release date: 20.02.26] Michael Monroe is on his 13th album now, with the same lineup as last half dozen or so, Steve Conte, Sam Yaffa, Rich Jones and Karl Rockvist, and so you expect more of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Hanoi Rocks, Karl Rockvist, Michael Monroe, Outerstellar, Rich Jones, Sam Yaffa, Silver Lining, Steve Conte | Leave a comment

Album review : GENE PARSONS – Kindling And Beyond, The Solo Recordings 1973-1986 (5 CD Boxset)

Posted on February 17, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 20.02.26] There can’t have been a music fan who lived through the sixties or the seventies who were unaware of The Byrds and/ or The Flying Burrito Brothers. And if they knew them, they would know … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Bill Payne, bluegrass, country rock, Gene Parsons, Gram Parsons, Little Feat, Lowell George, review, Russ Titelman, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers | Leave a comment

Book review: TONY BANKS: MAN OF SPELLS -THE MAGICIAN OF GENESIS by Mario Giammetti

Posted on February 17, 2026 by jason

Kingmaker Publishing Anyone with the slightest knowledge of, or interest in, the history of Genesis will quickly acknowledge the importance of keyboard player, songwriter and founding member Tony Banks within its various line-ups. Like me then, they would probably be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, classic rock, Genesis, MAN OF SPELLS -THE MAGICIAN OF GENESIS, Mario Giammetti, Mike Rutherford, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, prog rock, review, Tony Banks | Leave a comment

Single review: SAMANTHA FISH – Rusty Razor

Posted on February 16, 2026 by jason

This song hits you like an early Led Zep riff, then Samantha launches into some vocals so brimming with attitude they blow you back and pin your ears to the wall. This song is already getting airplay on Planet Rock, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged blues, blues rock, guitarist, Paper Doll, review, rock, Rusty Razor, Samantha Fish, single, Zac Shulze Gang | Leave a comment

Album review : ROSE TATTOO – The albums 1981-84 (4 CD boxset)

Posted on February 14, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 20.02.26] Rose Tattoo. Now, there was a band. Still is, in fact. Fiftieth anniversary this year. Only man left standing from the original lineup is loud and fearless vocalist, Angry Anderson. When it all began … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Box sets, Reissues | Tagged AC/DC, Angry Anderson, Australia, boxset, Cherry Red, George Young, Harry Vanda, review, Rose Tattoo, The albums 1981-84 | Leave a comment

Album review: VOODOO RAMBLE – Live Made In The UK

Posted on February 13, 2026 by jason

Facebook [Release date 01.02.26] On side 2 of Savoy Brown’s A Step Further, the singer announces – this is the boogie the Savoy Brown Boogie, and then they launch into a full album side of a live cut of blues boogie. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Boris Zamba, Live Made in the UK, Pete Feenstra, review, rock, Voodoo Ramble | Leave a comment

Album review : TRANSATLANTIC RADIO – Midnight Transmission

Posted on February 12, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 20.02.26] Swedish émigré and fully fledged Angeleno since the nineties, bass playing Victor Broden is a Grammy winning musician and producer. He moved to LA on a wing and prayer, with the echoes of the AOR … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Chris Reeve, Filter, Frontiers, melodic rock, review, Ricky Martin, RJ Ronquillo, Santana, Transatlantic Radio, Victor Broden | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…THE BEATLES, THE PRETENDERS, THE CURE, JOURNEY, DEEP PURPLE (2025)

Posted on February 12, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Various publication dates 02-11.25] www.sonicbondpublishing.com Here’s our traditional annual round-up of books published by Sonicbond, this time in 2025. The publisher specialises in music books written by enthusiasts and usually dissecting the output of a particular artist. This … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Deep Purple, Every Album, Every Song, Iggy And The Stooges, Journey, Leonard Cohen, On Track, review, The Beatles, The Cure, The Pretenders, The Yardbirds | Leave a comment

Album review: BIG BAND OF BOOM

Posted on February 12, 2026 by jason

Ragtime Records [Release date 13.03.26] “Imagine the Kill Bill soundtrack played by Rage Against the Machine with an orchestra” is the blurb used to entice the wary listener into the music of twelve piece, Birmingham based, Big Band of Boom. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, big band, Big Band of Boom, fusion, indie, jazz, metal, review, rock, swing, System Of A Down | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL VINCENT – Thirst Trap

Posted on February 12, 2026 by jason

Rock Company Records [Release date 25.02.26] Phil Vincent has been releasing albums since 1996, as a solo artist or as a member of bands like Tragik and D’Ercole. ‘Thirst Trap’ is his 24th solo album to date, and it is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Black Sabbath, classic rock, D'Ercole, melodic rock, Phil Vincent, review, rock, Thirst Trap, Tragik | Leave a comment

Album review: THE NEUTRINOS – Last Haus On Earth

Posted on February 11, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Wet Nurse Records [Release date 01.05.26] I don’t quite get Norwich’s “The Neutrinos”. Probably far too clever for their own good. This, their sixth album, is contemporary art-rock/post-punk but where it falls down is the lack of consistency. In amongst … Continue reading →