Author Archives: jason

Album review: JAN JAMES – Time Bomb

Posted on June 16, 2023 by jason

www.janjames.com [Release date b28.07.23] Jan James 2020 release ‘Justify’ was a decent set of blues & soul numbers and now we have her latest release, again recorded and written with her partner Craig Calvert (who also plays guitar and bass … Continue reading →

Singles review: JOSH TAERK, SUZI QUATRO, ALICE COOPER, DEGREED

Posted on June 16, 2023 by jason

JOSH TAERK Hold On Virginia AMG/Sony Music Josh is well known to readers of this site, and indeed listeners of GRTR! Radio, as his monthly live sessions with his family have been a treat since 2020. Now we have a new … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Alice Cooper, Coney Hatch, country, Degreed, Josh Taerk, KT Tunstall, new music, pop, pop rock, review, rock, singles, Suzi Quatro | Leave a comment

Backstage Heroes: DARREN JOHNSON

Posted on June 15, 2023 by jason

Author and reviewer Darren Johnson has three published books to date, with ‘Slade in the 1970s’ recently published by SonicBond Publishing. Here we find out more about his introduction to rock music, why he loves glam rock in particular, all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Backstage Heroes | Tagged author, Backstage Hero, book, classic rock, Darren Johnson, glam rock, GRTR!, interview, Jim Lea, Jimmy Page, Noddy Holder, rock, Slade in the 1970s, Suzi Quatro, Sweet | Leave a comment

Album review: THE GUESS WHO – Plein D’Amour

Posted on June 11, 2023 by jason

Deko Entertainment [Release date 07.07.23] The Guess Who’s 2018 album, ‘The Future IS What It Used to Be’, wasn’t bad at all, maybe a bit too AOR/melodic rock for diehard fans, possibly due to Styx’s Tommy Shaw having a large … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Deko Entertainment, hard rock, melodic rock, Plein D'Amour, review, rock, The Guess Who | Leave a comment

Album review: GOV’T MULE – Peace…Like A River

Posted on June 11, 2023 by jason

Fantasy Records [Release date 16.06.23] Formed in the mid 90s as an offshoot of the reformed Allman Brothers, and led by guitarist Warren Haynes, this is the Mule’s 13th studio album. The band have long had a reputation of injecting … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, classic rock, Gov't Mule, guitarist, Peace...Like A River, review, rock, southern rock, The Allman Brothers, Warren Haynes | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK SABBATH – Live Evil

Posted on June 11, 2023 by jason

WIN a copy of Live Evil! BMG [Release date 02.06.23] 1982, and twelve years after their debut, the fathers of heavy metal finally released their first official live album. And what a cracker it is. And the reason for releasing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Black Sabbath, classic album, classic rock, Deluxe, heavy metal, Live Evil, metal, reissue, review, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi | Leave a comment

EP review: THE UGLY GUYS – Rolling In The Deep

Posted on June 10, 2023 by jason

Conquest Music [Release date 09.06.23] The Ugly Guys release this three track EP ahead of their album of cover versions, ‘Cover Your Tracks’, due out on August 25 on Conquest Music. Looking back to 2013 on this site this reviewer … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Adele, Amerciana, country, EP, Gene Pitney, pub rock, review, rock, Rolling In The Deep, The Kursaal Flyers, the Ugly Guys | Leave a comment

Album review: DALLAHAN – Speak Of The Devil

Posted on June 10, 2023 by jason

www.dallahanmusic.com [Release date 16.06.23] Dallahan base their sound not only on Scotland and Ireland’s traditional music scene, but drawing on the music of the Balkans and North America. Dallahan consists of Jack Badcock on guitar and vocals, Ciaran Ryan on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Celtic, Dallahan, folk, instrumental, review, Speak Of the Devil, traditional | Leave a comment

Gig review: BONNIE RAITT – New Theatre, Oxford, Wednesday 7 June 2023

Posted on June 8, 2023 by jason

Bonnie Raitt, Liverpool Empire, 22 June 2013

A sold out show at Oxford’s lovely New Theatre and whilst most of the audience have doubtless been Bonnie Raitt fans since her early days, it was good to see some younger fans dotted around the audience. Support for Bonnie … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Americana, blues, Bonnie Raitt, folk, Gareth Dunlop. New Theatre, gig, guitarist, John Prine, Oxford, Oxford New Theatre, review, singer songwriter, Wednesday 7 June 2023 | Leave a comment

Album review: RENOVATIONS – Blank

Posted on June 6, 2023 by jason

Facebook [Release date 10.06.23] Renovations are an electro-rock trio based in Edinburgh, who formed in October 2019 when the French singer and bass player, Charlotte was offered a gig opportunity, but she needed to gather a group of likeminded passionate … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Blank, electro-rock, electronica, Rénovations, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: FELLOW ROBOT – Misanthropioid

Posted on June 5, 2023 by jason

ToneQuake Records [Release date 19.05.23] Fellow Robot originally started out as a concept piece in 2016, pulling lyrics from the sci-fi novel “The Robot’s Guide to Music” written by singer Anthony Pedroza. While deeply rooted to its origins, “Misanthropioid” is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, alternative, Anthony Pedroza, Fellow Robot, indie, Misanthropiod, review, sci fi, theatrical | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOHN OTWAY & WILD WILLY BARRETT – West End Centre, Aldershot, Saturday 3 June 2023

Posted on June 4, 2023 by jason

Billed as the ‘Half A Sentry tour’, John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett team up again for an extensive UK tour, that as the press releases states – “celebrates 5 decades of music making animosity, splits and reunions.” First visit … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Aldershot, eccentric, folk, gig, interview, John Otway, pop, punk, radio, review, rock, rock n roll legends, Saturday 3 June 2023, singer songwriter, Top Of The Pops, West End Centre, Wild Willy Barrett | Leave a comment

Rising Stars: BLACKLIST UNION

Posted on June 1, 2023 by jason

Blacklist Union have released the title track from their upcoming new album, Letters from the Psych Ward. This will be Blacklist Union’s fifth album and is slated for a September 2023 release. We catch up with singer Tony West to find out more… … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged Blacklist Union, grunge, hard rock, interview, Malfunkshun, modern rock, Rising Stars, rock, Tony West | Leave a comment

News: RICK SPRINGFIELD, QUEEN, PHIL VINCENT (June 2023)

Posted on May 30, 2023 by jason

Aerosmith release a 44 track ‘Greatest Hits‘ on August 18 on various formats including 3CD and 4LP sets. Albany Down release their new album ‘Born In The Ashes’ on September 1. They have released the first single off the album … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, 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, blues, folk, gigs, metal, news, Phil Vincent, Queen, Re-issues/special editions, Rick Springfield, RIP, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVID EDWARD BOOTH – All My Days

Posted on May 29, 2023 by jason

The Recording Booth [Release date 23.06.23] Derbyshire born David Edward Booth is a songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer based in rural Suffolk. David is also in-house producer and auxiliary writer/guitarist for The Knoydart Songwriting Retreat. He helped produce Kelly Bayfield’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, All My Days, David Edward Booth, folk, Kelly Bayfield, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: WEAPON – New Clear Power

Posted on May 21, 2023 by jason

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 19.05.23] There have been a few changes in the Weapon camp since their 2019 album ‘Ghosts Of War’, with original guitarist Jeff Summers leaving the band in 2021, and they can now revert to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Danny Hynes, hard rock, melodic metal, metal, New Clear Power, NWOBHM, review, Robert Majd, Steve Mann, Weapon | Leave a comment

Album review: ELEGANT WEAPONS – Horns For A Halo

Posted on May 21, 2023 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 26.05.23] Elegant Weapons may be releasing their debut album, however, the album’s line-up is a bit of a metal supergroup. It features Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner, along with fellow Priest band mate, drummer Scott Travis. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Andy Sneap, debut, Elegant Weapons, heavy metal, Horns For A Halo, Judas Priest, metal, MSG, Nuclear Blast, Pantera, power metal, Rainbow, review, Richie Faulkner, Ronnie Romero, UFO | Leave a comment

Album review: ROSS THE BOSS – Legacy Of Blood, Fire And Steel

Posted on May 21, 2023 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 28.04.23] (LP, ref vinyl, gatefold sleeve) Guitarist Ross The Boss is best known as a founder member of both The Dictators and later Manowar, and has an extensive discography with both, as well as Shakin’ Street, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, best of, Fire And Steel, guitarist, Legacy Of Blood, Manowar, power metal, review, Ross the Boss | Leave a comment

Album review: RAVEN – Faster Than The Speed Of Light

Posted on May 21, 2023 by jason

Cherry Red Records [Release date 26.05.23] One of the finest speed metal bands to come out of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, three piece were formed in the early 70s and grew up listening to (and playing) classic … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, athletic rock, box set, Faster Than The Speed Of Light, metal, RAVEN, review, speed metal, thrash metal | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOE SATRIANI – London Palladium,17 May 2023

Posted on May 20, 2023 by jason

There’s never been much doubt that Joe Satriani is from another solar system, his skill with a guitar like nothing on this Earth. Always one the most outstanding players out there, his literally jaw dropping skills have been the envy … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 17 May 2023, Deep Purple, gig, guitar instrumental, guitarist, Joe Satrian, Kenny Aronoff, London Palladium, metal, review, rock, The Elephants Of Mars | Leave a comment

Album review: KRIS DREVER – Best Of

Posted on May 18, 2023 by jason

Website [Release date 19.05.23] Kris Drever has now made five solo albums (debuting in 2006 debut with ‘Black Water’), as well as five studio albums with the folk trio Lau, and recordings with various collaborators including Fine Friday, Roddy Womble … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, best of, Boo Hewerdine, folk, Kris Drever, Lau, review, Roddy Womble, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: URIAH HEEP – Wonderworld, High And Mighty

Posted on May 14, 2023 by jason

BMG [Release date 26.05.23] BMG are continuing their fine picture disc reissue campaign by Uriah Heep, and what lovely items they are too. These British prog legends have had their catalogue reissued more times than I care to imagine, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Reissues | Tagged album, BMG, coloured vinyl, David Byron, High And Mighty, John Wetton, Ken Hensley, Mick Box, reissues, review, Uriah Heep, Wonderworld | Leave a comment

Album review: MIKE ROSS – Third Eye Open

Posted on May 10, 2023 by jason

Taller Records [Release date 28.04.23] This latest album Mike Ross certainly hits the listener like the proverbial musical freight train. Joining Mike Ross (vocals, guitar, organ) on engine’s footplate are Derek Randall (vocals, bass) and Darren Lee (drums). Jack Hutchinson adds … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, guitarist, hard rock, Jack Hutchinson, Mike Ross, review, rock, Third Eye Open | Leave a comment

Album review: GNOSS – Stretching Skyward

Posted on May 8, 2023 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 12.05.23] Gnoss – Aidan Moodie (vocals, guitar), Graham Rorie (fiddle, mandolin), Connor Sinclair (flute, whistles) and Craig Baxter (bodhrán, percussion) – released their last album ‘The Light of the Moon’ in 2021. On the subsequent tour supporting … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, folk, Gnoss, instrumental, review, Stretching Skyward, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: RICHIE RAMONE – Live To Tell

Posted on May 3, 2023 by jason

Cargo/Livewire [Release date 21.04.23] If you think of the famed Ramones logo, amongst the four names around the outside you wouldn’t find Richie, however, a Ramone he was, on drumming duty between 1983 and 1987. In fact, the story is … Continue reading →