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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: CARDINAL BLACK – Sub 89, Reading, 15 November 2024
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Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 13 November 2024
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Gig review: HRH XVII, Great Yarmouth, 7-9 November 2024
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Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES – Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024
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Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024
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Gig review: ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024
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Featured Album Reviews
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Album review : OLIVER / DAWSON SAXON – Screaming Eagles – The Complete Works (6 CD boxset)
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Album review: ERIC JOHNSON – Europe Live
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Album review: RICHARD THOMPSON – Acoustic Classics
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Album review: PHIL LANZON – 48 Seconds
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Album review: THE DUNWELLS – Light Up The Sky
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Album review: SKARLETT RIOT – Invicta
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Features
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Features
Author Archives: GRTR! HQ
Album review: THE DEAD SOUTH – Illusion & Doubt
DevilDuck Records [Release date 23.03.18] Outlaws, modern hillbillies? The opening strains of ‘Boots’ does, indeed, bring Jed Clampett and his clan to mind. And regrettably, not Elly May. No, more her half-witted half-brother Jethro, having a banjo/mandolin fuelled bluegrass hoedown … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, bluegrass, folk, Illusion & Doubt, review, rock, The Dead South
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Album review: MISSISSIPPI STOMP – Shine
[Release date 22.04.17] Mississippi Stomp are an Americana outfit from, yes, you guessed it [northeast] Mississppi. Tupelo, to be precise the home of the King. Shine is their sophomore release. Together since the early nineties, with the focal point husband … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, Mississippi Stomp, review, rock, Shine
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Album review: FRACTAL MIRROR – Close To Vapour
Bad Elephant Music [Release date 26.01.18] My heart sinks when I see a shallow Press Release signposting a band as being of the ‘Progressive/Art Rock’ genre, and then sinks several degrees further when I see the only other information (apart … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, art rock, Close To Vapour, Fractal Mirror, prog, Progressive Rock, review
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Album review: KORBY LENKER – Thousand Springs
[Release date 16.03.18] Nashville singer songwriter Korby Lenker chose to record his seventh album, not in the studio, but in places that resonated with him his guitar and vocals being captured in places as diverse as the edge of the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged acoustic, album, Korby Lenker, review, rock, singer, songwriter, Thousand Springs
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Album review: TAUTOLOGIC – Re:Psychle
[Release date 18.01.18] If you’re into ‘prog’ and looking for something, well, ‘different’, then this release from Chicago-based sextet Tautologic could be worth exploring. It’s like nothing you’ve ever heard before, at least not on a single album. Formed back … Continue reading
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Album review: AL DI MEOLA – Opus
earMUSIC [Release date 23.02.18] Many will remember Al Di Meola from his three-album sojourn with jazz fusionists Return To Forever. After that time Di Meola pursued a solo career frequently incorporating world flavours and collaborating with other guitar icons. His … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Al Di Meola, album, fusion, guitar, jazz, jazz fusion, Jazz rock, Opus, Return To Forever, review
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Album review: GONG EXPRESSO – Decadence
Gong Expresso [Release date 20.02.18] Once upon a time there was a band called Gong. They were hippy, trippy and certainly dippy. In their ranks was percussionist Pierre Moerlen who evidently saw an eye to the main chance. Pierre established … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Benoit Moerlen, Decadence, Gong Expresso, Hansford Rowe, jazz, Pierre Moerlen, review
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Album review: OSMOSIS (reissue)
Esoteric [Release date: 24.11.17] If the ‘assimilation of ideas’ inherent in the meaning of the term osmosis is also a process of ‘almost unconscious gradualism’, it is not reflected in the 1970 debut (and only) release by this US Bostonian … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, jazz, Osmosis, progressive, reissue, review
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Album review: STRAY – Fire & Glass (The Pye Recordings 1975-1976)
Esoteric [Release date: 24.11.17] Regulars on the 70s’ gigging circuit in the UK, Stray harnessed consistently strong and varied repertoire with colourful performances supporting the likes of Black Sabbath and Ten Years After. But they were also signed to indie … Continue reading
Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 3)
Day 3 – Sunday As the final day started we wouldn’t have been surprised to see Bobby Kimball sliding out of the curtains reminiscing about his appearance on Toto IV but … instead Chantel McGregor got the juices flowing with … Continue reading
Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 2)
Day 2 – Saturday John Verity opened up shop on a damp Saturday with a thoughtful blues rock set, not overplaying his own solo material (new album: Blue To My Soul) and treating us to some familiar standards including ‘Cocaine’ … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 27 January 2018, blues, Bobby Kimball, Boston, Butlins, classic rock, festival, Fran Cosmo, Giants Of Rock, Hawkwind, John Verity, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, melodic rock, Minehead, progressive, Somerset, space rock, Toto, Uriah Heep
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Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 1)
News during the week that Wetherspoons had taken steak off their menu may not have been of great interest until we learn that Butlins also get their meat from the same source that is currently “under investigation”. The loss of … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 26 January 2018, Butlins, classic rock, Curved Air, festival, FM, Giants Of Rock, Magnum, Martin Turner, melodic rock, Minehead, progressive, Somerset, Wishbone Ash
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Gig review: JOANOVARC, HELL’S GAZELLES, KILLIT, BLACK WHISKEY – Giants Of Rock, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018
A spotlight on some of the upcoming bands that graced the Giants of Rock stages in 2018… Dubbed the ‘new queens of rock’ JoanovArc immediately impressed with an energetic and high-quality performance. Big drums, powerful bass, nice heavy guitar and … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 26-29 January 2018, Black Whiskey, blues rock, Giants Of Rock, gig, hard rock, Hell's Gazelles, Joanovarc, Killit, Minehead, review
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News: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR announce first headliner for two day event (30 June/ 1 July 2018)
Ramblin’ Man Fair have announced their first headliner for the event taking place 30 June – 1 July. British rock legends The Cult will play an exclusive festival set. Scottish rockers Gun (pictured) have been added to the main stage … Continue reading
Posted in Festivals & Large Events, NEWS
Tagged 1 July 2018, 30 June 2018, blues rock, classic rock, festival, Fish, Gov't Mule, Gun, Kent, line-up, Maidstone, Mote Park, news, Progressive Rock, Ramblin' Man Fair, Steve Earle, The Cult
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News: HRH PROG VII features Hawkwind, Pendragon, The Strawbs amongst others (15-18 November 2018)
Hawkwind (pictured) will headline this year’s HRH Prog event, 15-18 November 2018 at the Hafan y Môr holiday park, near the seaside village of Pwllheli, in North West Wales. Prog rockers Pendragon celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2018 and also … Continue reading
Posted in Festivals & Large Events, NEWS
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Gig review: KING KING – Bath Forum, 20 January 2018
Bath has never been a hot bed for rock/blues gigs but tonight the temperature rose to fever pitch when King King arrived in town and shook the Georgian buildings to their very foundations. After the issues that Alan Nimmo has … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 20 January 2018, Alan Nimmo, Bath Forum, blues, classic rock, gig, King King, review, rock, Wayne Procter
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Gig review: OPERATION: MINDCRIME (Geoff Tate) – Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd, 14 January 2018
I won’t bore you with the details of the acrimonious Queensryche break up and fall out that followed, but in summary after a court case in 2012/14 Geoff Tate is the only person that can perform the classic Operation Mindcrime … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 14 January 2018, GEOFF TATE, gig, hard rock, Muni Arts Centre, Operation: Mindcrime, Pontypridd, progressive metal, Queensryche, review
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Album review: THE DARK ELEMENT (featuring Anette Olzon & Jani Liimatainen)
Frontiers Records [Release date 10.11.17] After Anette Olzon’s unceremonious departure from Nightwish in 2012 she took stock, brushed herself down, and fashioned the beginnings of a solo career. ‘Shine’ was released in 2014 and was one of my favourite albums, … Continue reading
Album review: THE LYNNeS – Heartbreak Song For The Radio
The LYNNeS [Release date 02.02.18] It’s been a while since GRTR! last encountered Lynne Hanson – with her third album Once The Sun Goes Down (2010) – a finger picking folk/country/Americana artist with loyal followings in Canada, the States, Europe … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Album review: TONOCHROME – A Map In Fragments
Bad Elephant Music [Release date 02.02.18] The debut album from London based art rock quartet, has proggy undertones, but at heart is more rooted in jazz and ambient soundscapes. The brainchild of singer and main songwriter Andres Razzini, it’s an … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged A Map In Fragments, album, ambient, art rock, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Tonochrome
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Album review: BILLION DOLLAR BABIES – First Ever Live Show Flint 1977
Gonzo Multimedia [Release date 17.11.17] The ill-fated Billion Dollar Babies project is something of a holy grail amongst acolytes of the original Alice Cooper band. And there are many, myself included. The last time this recording hit the streets was … Continue reading
Album review: HEAVEN & EARTH – Hard To Kill
Quarto Valley Records [Release date 13.10.17] It would be cruel to say that ‘Heaven & Earth’ is Rainbow-by-numbers but, cripes, bandleader – UK-born Stuart Smith - looks like Ritchie (check the CD booklet!!) and apparently was mentored by him. The … Continue reading
Album review: GORDON GILTRAP – Peace Will Fall
Angel Air Records [Release date 12.01.18] A bit like the proverbial bus, Gordon Giltrap’s recent albums are few and far between and then two arrive within a relatively short space of time. Last year’s ‘The Last of England’ was a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged acoustic, album, Carol Lee Sampson, Christian, folk, Gordon Giltrap, instrumental, Martin Green, Peace Will Fall, religious, review
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News: A Year in Rock 2017 – Get Ready to ROCK! photo highlights
Get Ready to ROCK! ends 2017 by publishing a selection of photos taken by their photographers during the year following on from the publication of the Best of 2017 popular poll results. Says Reviews Editor Jason Ritchie: “Each year we … Continue reading
Posted in GIG REVIEWS, NEWS, Photo Galleries, The Best of 2017
Tagged 2017, best of, Download, festivals, gigs, Glenn Hughes, highlights, HRH Prog, Kiss, Marillion, Michael Schenker, photographs, reviews, rock music, Steelhouse
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Album review: MAGMA – Mekanïk Destruktï? Kommandöh
Seventh Records [Release date: 25.11.17] When the album ‘Mekanïk Destruktï? Kommandöh’ hit the racks in UK and US record stores in 1973, it was assumed to be a debut because nobody had heard of the band, and – judging by … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Christian Vander, Krautrock, Magma, Mekanïk Destruktï? Kommandöh, prog, progressive, reissue, review, rock
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