Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

THE URBAN VOODOO MACHINE – Rather You Shot Me Down

I have never seen this gypsy blues, bop 'n' stroll collective but I would imagine they are a sight to behold and hear! This three song EP for Valentine's Day includes the slow burning title track from their last album … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | 1 Comment

Human Temple ‘Halfway To Heartache’

This is the band’s third album since starting out in 2004 and if you like melodic hard rock in the style of Treat, Pretty Maids, Edge Of Forever et al you need a copy of this CD. The opening salvo … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

Anthrax/Testament/Death Angel: Round Two, Wish There Was A Round Three

  So yeah, if you're keeping up, I just went to this same show a couple of months ago. And oh yeah, I would most certainly go again if I were able to. Pound for pound, this is the best … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

Scorpions – Comeblack

This is an unusual release for the Scorps, re-recording a number of fan favourite tracks after they announced their retirement… Seven of the thirteen tracks are from their own catalogue, while the remaining six songs are covers!  Being a fan … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

HUGH LAURIE – Let them talk

Hugh Laurie is best known for his superb acting in “House”, but there’s a lot more to this Englishman than meets the eye: along with his love for motorcycles and motorcycle racing, he has a passion for the old blues.  … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

Saracen – Marilyn

This is the band’s first release since the highly acclaimed “Vox in Excelso” and this, like its predecessor, is a concept album – this time about the life of Marilyn Monroe. The songs are good, but not outstanding and this … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

Ilium – Genetic Memory

Ilium is an Australian melodic/power metal outfit with four albums under their studded belts.  “Genetic memory” is the band’s fifth release and the third with vocalist Mike DiMeo, who did time with Riot, as well as Masterplan. DiMeo’s voice is … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

Trillium – Alloy

Trillium is Amanda Somerville’s solo delving into the world of power metal.  Her previous album, “Windows”, had a far more pop/rock flavour to it but, as she’s been involved with projects like Aina and Avantasia, it seems to be a … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

SHY – Shy

It’s taken me some time to get to listen to this and the first thing that comes to mind is what took me so long?!  This is Shy’s reunion album after a six year hiatus… As it transpires, the album, … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

Lee Small – Jamaica Inn (Escape Music)

Lee Small has the claim to fame of being the vocalist for Shy, as well as lending his vocals to Phenomena.  He teams up with guitarist Martin Kronlund (Gypsy Rose) for his first solo release. This is a lovely slice … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

GARY MOORE – Live at Montreux 2010

Eagle Rock This release is Gary Moore’s last to be filmed/recorded and is the first to be released posthumously.  Gary Moore had returned to his rock roots and this set is indicative thereof. His voice sounds a bit off in … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

FINAL CURSE – Way Of The Accursed

I've had my hands on the pre-release of Final Curse's upcoming CD release entitled Way of the Accursed for a bit now. It's one of the luxuries of being friends with the members of the band. Hailing from Charlotte, NC, … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts) | Leave a comment

STYX – Live: The Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight

A double live CD featuring the band's current line-up plus original bass player Chuck Panozzo, performing the whole of tow of their classic 1970's albums – 'The Grand Illusion' and 'Pieces Of Eight'. There are also a DVD and BluRay … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | 1 Comment

Run From Robots – Rust

Pop punksters Run From Robots are about to release this, their debut album. The ten tracks on offer here will be familiar to anyone who has ever listened to Good Charlotte, Blink 182 etc, etc. The band go for the … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

SEP7EMBER – Strange Ways Of Going Home

This is the debut album from Sep7ember who are billed as a “rapidly rising new German melodic punk band”. With this information, I was expecting some high octane pop punk in the mould of Green Day but instead I got … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

KLOGR – Til You Decay

Klogr are an Italian rock/ metal project which came together in 2010 under the watchful eye of frontman Gabriele “Rusty” Rustichelli who appears to have had a hand in several alternative projects in Italy. This album is part of a … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

Danny Bryant’s Redeye band – Night Life Live In Holland

Danny Bryant started young on his chosen path, turning professional at the tender age of 18. Now 13 years on and still only 31, he has released 7 albums to date, and this, his latest offering, was recorded live in … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

CRIMES OF PASSION – To Die For

CRIMES OF PASSION ‘To Die For’ DR2 Records (2012)   Crimes Of Passion return with their second album and two new members – guitarists Charles Staton and Harry Griffths, after original guitarist Andy Lindsay left the band.   The band … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

KANSAS ‘Power’ MCA (1986)

‘Power’ is one of the band’s best albums in my humble opinion. This album was the first after the band reformed in 1985. They had split a couple of years earlier after a couple of albums featuring the Elefante brothers, … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, Buried Treasures | Leave a comment

Y&T ‘Down For The Count’ A&M (1985)

Y&T had been going as far back as the mid-70′s and prior to this album they had released a string of well received albums including ‘Mean Steak’ and ‘Black Tiger’. Main man Dave Meniketti has a nice raw vocal amply … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, Buried Treasures | Leave a comment

XTC ‘Apple Venus – Volume 1′ Cooking Vinyl (2003)

  Ahhh XTC a fine band who started out in the late 70′s New Wave boom and have since spread their musical wings in any direction that takes their fancy. Sadly due to main man Andy Partridge’s stage fright problems … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, Buried Treasures | Leave a comment

DIRTY WHITE BOY ‘Bad Reputation’ Polydor (1990)

Sadly Dirty White Boy only ever did this one album but boy is it a corker! Formed around ex-Guffria vocalist David Glenn Eisley and former David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick they rocked big time with plenty of slide guitar courtesy … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, Buried Treasures | Leave a comment

DISTANCE ‘Under The One Sky’ Reprise Records (1989)

  The Distance were a natural successor to the Powerstation who featured legendary producer Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson and replacing Robert Palmer was Robert Hart. Musically this has some great funk rock numbers such as ‘Give It Up’, neat … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, Buried Treasures | Leave a comment

TENHI – Saivo

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

Prophecy Productions Writing about music is an activity I have undertaken with much passion and devotion over the last decade and, as it happens with every occupation outside work, it does tend to occupy much of my free time. So … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment

BURZUM – “FROM THE DEPTHS OF DARKNESS””

Metal Church - The Present Wasteland

 The story of Varg Vikernes has been very well documented and is well known by all fans of Metal music through the years. In 2009, fifteen whole years after being first incarcerated for the murder of Mayhem’s leading man Oystein … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Leave a comment