Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: ALLY VENABLE – Money & Power

Posted on April 18, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

Ruf Records [Release date 18.04.25] In our reviews of Ally Venable’s previous albums ‘Texas Honey’, ‘Heart Of Fire’ and ‘Real Gone’ we noted that she was not quite the fully formed offering but was getting there. ‘Money & Power’ is … Continue reading →

Book review: On track…ANTHONY PHILLIPS 1977-1990 by Alan Draper

Posted on April 17, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

Anthony Phillips chatted to David Randall about his career in March 2015. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio where he is a Featured Artist. Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 25.04.25] When this new “On track…” tome landed at GRTR! … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged Anthony Phillips, Anthony Phillips 1977-1990, book, Genesis, guitar, instrumental, new age, On Track, Progressive Rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: SOLSTICE – Clann

Posted on April 5, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

https://solsticeprog.uk/ [Release date 04.04.25] I should start this by saying “where have Solstice been all my reviewing life?” I have been vaguely aware of their existence, more familiar with their album ‘Prophecy’ (2013), but it is only now that they are … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Andy Glass, Clann, folk, fusion, prog, Progressive Rock, Solstice | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (January – March 2025)

Posted on April 4, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

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. PERFECT PLAN Heart … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 2025, albums of the month, classic rock, February, hard rock, January, March, melodic rock, R&B, singer songwriter, soul | Leave a comment

Feature: GRTR! Greats – WISHBONE ASH

Posted on March 30, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

Photos: Andy Nathan In 1977, after their successful ‘Front Page News’ tour, Wishbone Ash’s record label posted an advert in the music papers saying “not bad for four boring old farts’, or words to that effect. A time traveller from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR! GREATS, GRTR! Greats (All Posts), INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Leave a comment

Gig review: SOUTH OF SALEM – Thekla, Bristol, 27 March 2025

Posted on March 29, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

It’s quite a novelty stepping on to an old German cargo ship to see a gig in the cargo hold and in 2024 Thekla celebrated its 40th anniversary as a live music venue. Judging by the snaking crowd greeting the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 27 March 2025, Bristol, gig, hard rock, metal, review, South Of Salem, Thekla | Leave a comment

Album review: IZZY REIGN

Posted on March 25, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

FiXT Music [Release date: 21.03.25] Each week, when compiling our radio sequence ‘New to GRTR!’, there have been an increasing number of artists fusing electronica elements or EDM (electronic dance music) with rock and alternative metal. Maybe I am just … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged EDM, electronica, industrial metal, Izzy Reign. album, metal, review, rock, synth, synthwave | Leave a comment

Gig review: GRAHAM GOULDMAN – Cadogan Hall, London, 20 March 2025

Posted on March 22, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

GRAHAM GOULDMAN - The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7 March 2025

Graham Gouldman’s ‘Heart Full Of Songs’ is an inspirational evening built round his own remarkable song history and related stories. The show is fleshed out by glistening harmonies, salient hooks and a set list which interweaves the substance of his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 10CC, 20 March 2025, acoustic, Cadogan Hall, gig, Graham Gouldman, London, pop rock, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Book review: HOGGIN’ THE PAGE – Groundhogs The Classic Years by Martyn Hanson

Posted on March 13, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 07.02.25] Sonicbond have been well featured at GRTR! with their “On track…” and “Decades” imprints amongst a plethora of publications since 2018. The publisher has now taken to resurrecting books out of print or giving these … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged blues, blues rock, classic rock, Groundhogs The Classic Years, history, Hoggin' The Page, Tony McPhee | Leave a comment

Album review: LIV KRISTINE – Amor Vincit Omnia

Posted on March 13, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

Metalville [Release date 25.04.25] Following Liv Kristine’s acrimonious departure from Leaves Eyes there have been a series of solo album reissues, a new solo album in 2023, although combining now with her other interests in wellness and voice coaching. Liv’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Amor Vincit Omnia, Liv Kristine, review, rock. Leaves' Eyes, Theatre Of Tragedy | Leave a comment

Book review: On track… DAVID BOWIE, GERRY RAFFERTY, TALKING HEADS, THE BEATLES, DEEP PURPLE

Posted on March 12, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication dates Feb.-Mar. 2025] The On track… series continues and the first of 2025 includes David Bowie 1983-2016, the perfect complement to the earlier tome covering 1964-1982. This time Don Klees reflects the genre-changing nature of Bowie, especially … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, classic rock, David Bowie, Deep Purple, Gerry Rafferty, On Track, Porcupine Tree, review, Talking Heads, The Beatles | Leave a comment

Feature: GRTR! Greats – GRAHAM GOULDMAN

Posted on March 4, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

Photo: Martin Porter Graham Gouldman is one of our most durable songwriters who has achieved success as a solo artist and with his band 10cc. Influenced by The Beatles, he wrote for several major artists in the 1960s before decamping … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR! GREATS, GRTR! Greats (All Posts), INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 10CC, album, feature, gig, Graham Gouldman, interview, retrospective, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Feature: GRTR! Greats – THEA GILMORE

Posted on February 28, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Thea Gilmore in February 2025 for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. This edited version of the interview first broadcast 23 February includes tracks from the album ‘These Quiet Friends’ plus others from Thea’s back catalogue. Part … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR! GREATS, GRTR! Greats (All Posts), INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, feature, folk, gig, interview, radio, review, rock, singer, songwriter, Thea Gilmore | Leave a comment

News: GRTR! Greats – New feature series starts in March at Get Ready to ROCK!

Posted on February 10, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

A new series starts in March 2025, reflecting artist coverage at major classic rock website Get Ready to ROCK! Since 2003 the website has gained an unrivalled reputation for quality and insightful reviews plus interviews and features. In 2023 the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, Special features | Tagged album, artists, classic rock, gig, Graham Gouldman, GRTR! Greats (All Posts), history, retrospective, reviews, Robin Trower, singer songwriter, survey, Thea Gilmore, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Album review: ANDY SUSEMIHL – Mihlstones

Posted on February 9, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

www.andysusemihl.com SM Noise Records [Release date 07.02.25] We last reviewed an Andy Susemihl album in 2021, and before that in 2018 followed by an interesting chat about his music and a career that dates back to the late 1980s with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Susemihl, classic rock, hard rock, Mihlstones, review, Sinner, U.D.O | Leave a comment

Album review: DREAM THEATER – Parasomnia

Posted on February 9, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

InsideOut [Release date 07.02.25] Dream Theater’s sixteenth studio album marks the return of drummer Mike Portnoy after a 15 year hiatus. While the album ambitiously explores themes of sleep disturbances it does lack the innovative spark that once defined the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Dream Theater, James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, metal, Parasomnia, progressive metal, review | Leave a comment

Album review: PEARL HANDLED REVOLVER – Tales You Lose

Posted on February 3, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

www.pearlhandledrevolver.co.uk [Release date 18.04.25] It’s a tough world out there. Especially if you are in a band that occupies the “bluesy classic rock” end of the spectrum. Back in 2013 we reviewed PHR at Cambridge Rock Festival when Simon Dunkerley … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, hard rock, Pearl Handled Revolver, psychedelic, review, Tales You Lose | Leave a comment

Album review: LARKIN POE – Bloom

Posted on February 2, 2025 by GRTR! HQ

Tricki-Woo [Release date 24.01.25] Without being unhealthy stalkers we can claim some kudos for featuring Larkin Poe as far back as 2011. We reviewed one of their very early UK tours and my abiding memory is that we were kept … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Bloom, blues, blues rock, Larkin Poe, Lovell, Megan, Rebecca, review, roots | Leave a comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! announces top albums of 2024 based on weekly chart and poll (December 2024)

Posted on December 23, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Get Ready to ROCK! The Best of 2024 - Top 30 Albums

Popular rock music website Get Ready to ROCK! has announced its end of year Top 30 album chart. This is based on weekly activity at the website and via social media. News and reviews editor Jason Ritchie explains: “We introduced … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, The Best of 2024 | Leave a comment

Album review: MAGNUM – Live At KK’s Steel Mill

Posted on December 20, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

SPV Steamhammer [Release date 10.01.25] Twelve months on from Tony Clarkin’s passing, and marking 50 years since he formed the band with Bob Catley, Magnum’s latest (and maybe last) live hurrah allows us more grieving time. The band had put … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bob Catley, classic rock, Live At KK's Steel Mill, Magnum, review, Tony Clarkin | Leave a comment

News: The Best of 2024 – The Get Ready to ROCK! Reviewer Selections (December 2024)

Posted on December 9, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

We started 2024 with the sad news that Tony Clarkin of Magnum had passed away just days before the release of the band’s latest album. The band have been venerated over the years by GRTR! and were celebrated in our … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, The Best of 2024 | Tagged 2024, albums, Amelia Coburn, best of, Black Sabbath, blues rock, Brave Rival, breakthrough acts, classic rock, Honeymoon Suite, live acts, melodic rock, metal, Progressive Rock, reissues, reviews, Scarlet Rebels, Starchaser, Steve Hackett, Walter Trout | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (August – December 2024)

Posted on December 7, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Get Ready to ROCK! Albums of the Month (October-December 2024)

A quarterly feature highlighting album releases rated highly by the GRTR! review team and worthy of your investigation MARY COUGHLAN Repeat Rewind (Strange Brew) … it is everything you might expect from a vocalist who has a rare ability to … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: STEVE HOGARTH – The Crypt, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, 5 December 2024

Posted on December 6, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

What we need in the pre-Christmas period is a warm and cosy festive gig, maybe in an unusual location, to lift the flagging spirits. To help us take our mind off political posturing, the smell of Musk, Black Friday overspend, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 5 December 2024, classic rock, gig, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Marillion, review, Solo, Steve Hogarth, The Crypt | Leave a comment

Album review: ELECTRIC TEMPLE – High Voltage Salvation

Posted on November 29, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Eonian Records [Release date 06.12.24 ] An interesting trend in recent years has been for vocalist/frontmen to spread their largesse, perhaps due to economic as much as creative reasons. So, for example, we have that arch moonlighter Ronnie Romero in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andrew Freeman, Electric Temple, heavy rock, High Voltage Salvation, Mat Starr, Mike Duda, review, Tony Childs | Leave a comment

Feature: Box Sets are for life, not just for Christmas…(December 2024)

Posted on November 29, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

The reissues and recycling still come thick and fast, not least in the unashamed “reissue” of vinyl – another income stream for the record labels designed to extract more wedge from our hard-pressed wallets. Here is our round-up of recommended … Continue reading →