Author Archives: jason

Gig review: HEATHEN APOSTLES – Six Six Bar, Cambridge, Monday 24 July 2023

Posted on July 26, 2023 by jason

It was the night Bloodgrass came to the dark environs of the Six Six Bar in sleepy university city, an unusually large flock of jet-black crows seen above the ever-reaching spires of Cambridge. The portents were heavy and the anticipation … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Americana, bloodgrass, Cambridge, gig, gothic, Heathen Apostles, Monday 24 July 2023, Old Man Boom, review, Six Six Bar | Leave a comment

Album review: THE FIERCE & THE DEAD – News From The Invisible World

Posted on July 23, 2023 by jason

THE FIERCE AND THE DEAD - News From The Invisible World

Spencer Park Music [Release date 28.07.23] The Fierce and The Dead have been working on this album over the past five years. It also marks a major change to the band’s sound, lead vocals from bassist Kevin Feazey (Blur’s Damon … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, metal, modern metal, News From The Invisible World, prog metal, progressive, review, TFATD, The Fierce & The Dead | Leave a comment

Album review: RAY ALDER – II

Posted on July 16, 2023 by jason

Inside Out [Release date: 09.06.23] When asked to compile a list of the most influential vocalists of the Progressive Metal genre, Ray Alder’s is, undoubtedly and reservedly so, one of the very first names that comes to mind. Having been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Fates Warning, II, Jim Matheos, metal, prog metal, progressive, Ray Alder, review | Leave a comment

Album review: TONY MITCHELL – Radio Heartbeat

Posted on July 16, 2023 by jason

Pride & Glory Music [Release date 21.07.23] The fourth solo album from Tony Mitchell, of Kiss Of The Gypsy & Dirty White Boyz fame. Joining him on here are Midnite City guitarist Miles Meakin, bassist Nigel Bailey (Dirty White Boyz, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, hard rock, Kiss Of The Gypsy, melodic rock, Nigel Bailey, Radio Heartbeat, review, rock, Tony Mitchell | Leave a comment

Album review: SEAN TAYLOR – Short Stories

Posted on July 15, 2023 by jason

Website [Release date 14.07.23] Sean Taylor returns with another album full of melody and thoughtful lyrics. Joining Sean are Ben Walker (guitars, electric piano), Mike Seal (double bass), Paulina Szczepaniak (percussion), Justin Carroll (Hammond organ), Joe Harvey Whyte (pedal steel) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, melodic, pop, review, Sean Taylor, Short Stories, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: BEN REEL – Come A Long Way

Posted on July 10, 2023 by jason

Website [Release date 30.06.23] ‘Come A Long Way’ is the 11th album from Ben Reel, with many of his previous releases given favourable reviews by GRTR! reviewer Pete Whalley (who has now, sadly, hung up his keyboard). This album features 11 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Ben Reel, Come A Long Way, country, folk, pop, review, rock, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: SYTERIA – Syteria World

Posted on July 9, 2023 by jason

Cargo Records [Release date 11.08.23] Formed in the mid 10s by Jax Chambers, best known as the lead guitarist of Girlschool, Syteria have released a number of albums and singles independently (check out www.syteria.co.uk for more). This Yorkshire based and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, GIRLSCHOOL, hard rock, Jax Chambers, punk, review, rock, Syteria, Syteria World | Leave a comment

Book review: SLADE in the 1970s (Decades) by Darren Johnson

Posted on July 3, 2023 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 26.05.23] Slade were one of the biggest British bands of the 1970s, three UK number one albums (and one in Australia), six number one singles in the UK and Irish charts, numerous top 10 hit singles and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Darren Johnson, Dave Hill, Don Powell, glam, glam rock, hard rock, Jim Lea, Noddy Holder, review, rock, Slade, Slade in the 1970s (Decades), Sonicbound Publishing | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JOANNA CONNOR, AL STAEHELY, BETWEEN BEACH AND FOREST

Posted on July 2, 2023 by jason

Joanna Connor – Best of Me Quarto Valley Records [Release date 09.06.23] Chicago blues guitar great Joanna Connor releases her 15th album. Joining Joanna Connor are her regular “Wrecking Crew” touring band: Shaun Gotti Calloway (bass); Dan Souvigny (guitar, keys); … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Al Staehely, albums, Americana, Best Of Me, Between Beach and Forest, blues, folk, indie, Joanna Connor, Joe Bonamassa, reviews, rock, Somewhere In West Texas, Spirit | Leave a comment

News: DIO, MARC HUDSON, LINDISFARNE (July 2023)

Posted on June 30, 2023 by jason

Bad Touch - GIANTS OF ROCK, Butlins, Minehead, 25-27 January 2019

Angra have signed with Atomic Fire Records who release their new album ‘Cycles Of Pain’ on November 3. Any Given Sin release their latest album ‘War Within’ via Mascot Records on August 4. Asking Alexandria have confirmed the release date … 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, classic rock, Dio, Dragonfroce, folk, gigs, Lindisfarne, Marc Hudson, metal, news, prog rock, Re-issues/special editions, RIP, tour dates | Leave a comment

Rising Stars interview: JESSICA LYNN

Posted on June 29, 2023 by jason

Jessica Lynn has been described by American Songwriter as “country arena rock”, and her 7-show UK tour will take place this July. Stateside, Jessica Lynn is famed for the spectacle and quality of her live shows and stagecraft — not to mention her TV … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged country, country pop, gigs, interview, Jessica Lynn, pop, Richard Marx, Rising Stars, rock, soul, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review: KEELEY – Floating Above Everything Else

Posted on June 26, 2023 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 30.06.23] To some, music is a drug, constantly searching for that new high that will set the pulses racing and synapses firing. In a world of identikit artists all vying for airplay and sales, it’s a thing of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Maguire, album, alt pop, Floating Above Everything Else, Keeley, Keeley Moss, pop. melodic, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: SOUNDSCAPISM INC. – Staring Down On Incandescent Cities

Posted on June 25, 2023 by jason

EtherealSoundWorks [Release date 20.07.23] Fifth album by Soundscapism Inc., the musical project created by Bruno A, who handles the production and the majority of the instruments on the album, along with composing all the music and writing the lyrics (save for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ambient, electronica, experimental, progressive, review, rock, Soundscapism Inc, Staring Down On Incandescent Cities | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Craig Calvert, Jan James, Motown, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, soul, Time Bomb | Leave a comment

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 →