Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: JOHN WETTON – Concentus (10-CD box set)

Posted on October 29, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to John Wetton in April 2009. This interview was first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio 19 April 2009 and now reissued in “The GRTR! Archive” series. Spirit Of Unicorn Music/Cherry Red Records [Release date 15.11.24] … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged art rock, box set, classic rock, Concentus, interview, John Wetton, live, Progressive Rock, radio, recordings | Leave a comment

Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) 2024

Posted on October 29, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Updated 28.10.24 To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on a Mac) on the keyboard. The “F” stands for “Find,” and it works … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions, Upcoming (Tours & Releases) | Tagged 2024, album, blues rock, Bluray, CD, classic rock, DVD, hard rock, heavy rock, melodic rock, metal, New releases, Progressive Rock, reissue, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: TRUCKER DIABLO – Social Hand Grenade

Posted on October 27, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Big Unit Records [Release date 25.10.24] It’s a sad fact that many of the NWOCR bands doing the rounds at the moment started out at least 10 years ago. The likes of Doomsday Outlaw and Sons Of Liberty come to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, heavy rock, NWOCR, review, Social Hand Grenade, Trucker Diablo | Leave a comment

Album review: KALANDRA – A Frame Of Mind

Posted on September 30, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

By Norse Music [Release date 13.09.24] What is it with Scandinavia – still enticing and alluring with it’s Scandi Noir blend of melancholy and repressed emotion? If you want an album to soothe the soul as we head out of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Frame Of Mind, album, ambient, folk, Kalandra, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ – Waterside, Sale, 7 September 2024

Posted on September 8, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Clark Datchler for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio following an earlier interview tracing his early career with Johnny Hates Jazz. He discusses the band, his solo career, and the 2024 tour dates. First broadcast 14 April … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 7 September 2024, Clark Datchler, gig, Johnny Hates Jazz, pop, pop rock, review, Sale, Waterside | Leave a comment

Album review: AUSTIN GOLD – Ain’t No Saint

Posted on September 5, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

TMR Rock Records [Release date 18.10.24] Austin Gold have made the Breakthrough Act category in successive years in our reviewer poll, most recently in 2022. That year’s album – ‘Those City Lights’ – saw the Cambridgeshire-based crew providing more distance … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Ain't No Saint, album, Austin Gold, classic rock, hard rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: GRYPHON – Gryphon Live ‘A Sonic Tonic’

Posted on August 27, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Talking Elephant [Release date 06.09.24] It’s some 50 years since Gryphon donned doublet and hose and became something of a media sensation with their blend of medieval folk rock. This is the band’s first ever live album although some of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, folk, folk rock, Graeme Taylor, Gryphon, Live A Sonic Tonic, medieval, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE DEAD DAISIES – Light ‘Em Up

Posted on August 26, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

SPV [Release date 06.09.24] One of my musical regrets in recent years is that I didn’t get to see The Dead Daisies UK tour with Glenn Hughes in December 2022 . As he does, Hughes sprinkled his gold dust over … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Doug Aldrich, hard rock, John Corabi, Light 'Em Up, review, The Dead Daisies | Leave a comment

Album review: HEALTHY JUNKIES – Listen To The Mad

Posted on August 15, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Banana Castle Records [Release date 22.11.24] www.healthyjunkies.co.uk With the success of the 2024 Olympics the French must be feeling rather proud. A band with a French female singer might now have a distinct advantage. But Nina Courson is no Celine … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, grunge, Healthy Junkies, Listen To The Mad, New Wave, pop, post-punk, psych, Psychedelic Rock, punk, review | Leave a comment

Album review: MICK PINI – Papa Voodoo

Posted on August 14, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Pete Feenstra chatted to Mick Pini and Craig Marshall for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, playing tracks from the new album. First broadcast 18 August 2024. Audio 54 Records/Cadiz [Release date 15.08.24] ‘Papa Voodoo’ is another collaboration … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Audio 54, beats, Craig Marshall, dance, funk, guitar, Mick Pini, Papa Voodoo, R&B, review | 1 Comment

News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2024)

Posted on August 4, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

ATLANTIC Another World (Escape Music) This summer’s AOR album has arrived! Lush keys, harmonies, plenty of lovestruck lyrical themes, soaring guitar solos and the vocals of Mark Grimmett, who adds that extra bit of class to the whole musical proceedings. … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged 2024, albums of the month, AOR, April, Atlantic, Big Big Train, Black Country Communion, blues rock, heavy rock, June, May, melodic rock, Nestor, Progressive Rock, rock, Son Of Man, These Wicked Rivers | Leave a comment

Album review: KISSIN’ DYNAMITE – Back With A Bang

Posted on July 16, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Napalm Records [Release date: 05.07.24] German rockers Kissin’ Dynamite have been pounding away since 2006 but their current mission statement is simple: Bring Back Stadium Rock. ‘Back With A Bang’ supports their strategy with a series of hard rock anthems … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Back With A Bang, hard rock, Kissin’ Dynamite, melodic hard rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: CIRCULINE – C.O.R.E.

Posted on June 24, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Inner Nova Music [Release date 20.09.24] There’s nothing quite like a bit of old school schmoozing. Circuline have, let’s say, a certain maturity of years (their bassist Shelby excluded) and – therefore – a maturity of outlook. Old timers like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, C.O.R.E., Circuline, Dave Bainbridge, prog, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: TERAMAZE – Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace

Posted on June 13, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Wells Music [Release date 24.05.24] teramaze.bandcamp.com/ For some strange reason I have only just become acquainted with this Australian prog metal band. This latest offering is their eleventh full-length album, so I have some catching up to do. Strangely again, over … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Australia, Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace, melodic, prog metal, progressive metal, review, Teramaze | Leave a comment

Album review: THE DAVE FOSTER BAND – Maybe They’ll Come Back For Us

Posted on June 11, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

English Electric Recordings [Release date 31.05.24] Several years ago when I saw The Steve Rothery Band playing live Dave Foster provided support, and then reappeared in the Marillion guitarist’s band. Half way through Foster’s own set, an ethereally toned guitar … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Big Big Train, Mark King, Maybe They'll Come Back For Us, Panic Room, pop prog, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Steve Rothery, The Dave Foster Band | Leave a comment

Album review: FOCUS – Focus 12

Posted on May 30, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Thijs van Leer for his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio playing tracks from the new album. First broadcast 9 June 2024 and featured in the second hour. Spirit Of Unicorn Music [Release date … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Focus, Focus 12, Jazz rock, Pierre van der Linden, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Thijs van Leer | Leave a comment

Album review: PSYCH! British Prog, Rock, Folk & Blues 1966-1973 (3-CD)

Posted on May 30, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Decca/Universal [Release date 21.06.24] This 64-song 3-CD/2LP collection highlights a halcyon period for British psych rock and folk stretching from the mid sixties to the early 1970s. During that time Deram was the leading purveyor of the genre and this … Continue reading →

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Album review: OLIVER WAKEMAN – Anam Cara

Posted on May 20, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Elflock Records/Spirit of Unicorn Music/Cherry Red [Release date 10.05.24] Oliver Wakeman is best known as part of a veritable keyboard dynasty but out of the fatherly shadow he has been steadily making solid albums on his own terms. The latest … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Anam Cara, classic rock, Hayley Griffiths, Oliver Wakeman, prog, Progressive Rock, Troy Donockley | Leave a comment

Album review: MANDOKI SOULMATES – A Memory Of Our Future

Posted on May 16, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Red Rock Music/Inside Out Music [Release date 10.05.24] I think it fair to say that Leslie Mandoki doesn’t do things half-arsed. Several years ago a couple of reissues were accompanied by an expansive press kit, a real thick tome that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Memory Of Our Future, Al Di Meola, album, AOR, Bill Evans, Ian Anderson, Jazz rock, Mandoki Soulmates, Mike Stern, prog, Progressive Rock, Randy Brecker, review, Simon Phillips | Leave a comment

Album review: THESE WICKED RIVERS – Force Of Nature

Posted on May 14, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Fat Earth Records [Released date 01.03.24] This is a perfectly formed second album from Derby’s finest. Formed in 2014, the band combine elements of southern, classic and heavy rock. The title track is a great calling card and guaranteed to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Force Of Nature, heavy rock, review, southern rock, These Wicked Rivers | Leave a comment

Album review: MARISA AND THE MOTHS – What Doesn’t Kill You

Posted on May 13, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Tonesick Records [Release date 03.05.24] I first became aware of Marisa And The Moths during Lockdown and they ultimately produced some excellent stripped back versions of their songs, not least a truly wonderful version of ‘Choke’. At that time they … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, heavy rock, Marisa And The Moths, review, What Doesn't Kill You | Leave a comment

Album review: ATTIC THEORY – What We Fear The Most

Posted on May 13, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

ThunderGun Records [Release date 26.04.24] It shows an album’s strength when four tracks are pre-released as “singles”. There could have been more. The debut album from this Liverpool band is a great example of burgeoning home grown talent in 2024. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Attic Theory, hard rock, heavy rock, review, What We Fear The Most | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…OASIS, NEIL YOUNG, AC/DC, PROCOL HARUM (every album, every song)

Posted on May 9, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing www.sonicbondpublishing.com [Publication dates 26.01.24*, 29.02.24**, 05.04.24***, 10.05.24****] The wide spread of the On Track… series is confirmed by Paul Tornbohm’s dissection of Carpenters*. Surveying the pop duo’s output from 1969, Tornbohm approaches his task from the viewpoint of a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged AC/DC, book, Brit Pop, Carpenters, classic rock, hard rock, INXS, Neil Young, Oasis, On Track, pop, pop rock, Procol Harum, review | Leave a comment

News: Albums Of The Month (January – March 2024)

Posted on May 8, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

MYRATH Karma (earMUSIC) They have big songs and even bigger ideas on how to present them live and are not short on confidence in their collective abilities, and rightly so. ‘Karma’ will only serve to further the Myrath cause … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged 2024, albums of the month, blues rock, February, heavy rock, Jack J. Hutchinson, January, Magnum, March, Medicine Head, melodic rock, Myrath, pop rock, progressive metal, rock, South Of Salem, Walter Trout | Leave a comment

Album review: SHADES OF PLATO – Blackout

Posted on May 1, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Platonic Arrangements [Release date 20.06.24] shadesofplato1.bandcamp.com/ Any album with a song title ‘Bacteria With Shoes’ demands attention. And you’ll find it on the third album from gothic rockers Shades Of Plato. By their own admission this album predicts a post-pandemic apocalypse … Continue reading →