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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2025
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2026
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Upcoming: Festivals UK & Europe (2026)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Latest Album Reviews
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Album review: ROSS HARDING – The Blood and the Blues
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Album review: PETE KOSANOVICH – Beauty Within You
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Album review : ROB MORATTI – Sovereign
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Album review : BRAZEN ABBOT – Live And Learn and Guilty As Sin (CD reissues)
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Album review : GRAHAM BONNET – Lost In Hollywood Again (Live)
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JIM PETERIK AND WORLD STAGE – River of Song – The Power Of Duets, Volume 1
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Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: STEVE OVERLAND AND JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Weir, Brentford, Middlesex, 9 December 2025
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Gig review: JOHN OTWAY – Face Bar, Reading, Thursday 11 December 2025
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Gig review: CURVED AIR – The Sub Rooms, Stroud, 20 November 2025
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Gig review: MARTIN BARRE & FRIENDS – Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 18 November 2025
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GRTR! Greats
Featured Album Reviews
Features
Interviews
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Author Archives: jason
DVD review: ROBERT PLANT and the SENSATIONAL SHAPE SHIFTERS – Live at David Lynch’s Festival of Disruption
Eagle Vision [09.02.18] Recent live DVD “Live at David Lynch’s Festival of Disruption” captures the performance from Robert Plant and the Sensational Shape Shifters, and finds them in fine form. Recorded in L.A in October 2016 at David Lynch’s Festival … Continue reading
Album review: DIZZY REED – Rock ‘n Roll Ain’t Easy
Golden Robot Records [16.02.18] Dizzy Reed is better known as the keyboard player, and second longest serving member, of Guns n’ Roses (after Axl Rose himself, of course) having joined the band in 1990. “Rock ‘n Roll Ain’t Easy” is … Continue reading
Album review: RAVEN – Wiped Out
Dissonance Productions [Release date 27.04.18] Formed in the north of England in the mid 70s by brothers John (bass, and vocals) and Mark (guitar) Gallagher, Raven were a trio associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Playing what … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, hard rock, heavy metal, metal, NWOBHM, RAVEN, re-issue, review, Wipe Out
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Album review: JIM McCARTY – Walking In The Wild Land
Angel Air [Release date 09.03.18] Jim McCarty, of course, is known to rock fans as the long-standing drummer of the Yardbirds. Indeed, he is the only original Yardbird left in the latter-day version of the band and the only member … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alex Lifeson, Angel Air, drummer, Jim McCarty, review, rock, Rush, Solo, Walking In The Wild Land, Yardbirds
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Album review: ANIMAL DRIVE – Bite!
Frontiers Music [Release date 23.02.18] Bite! Is the debut album from Croatian hard rock band Animal Drive. Four guys in their mid to late twenties, front-man Dino Jelusic has toured as a vocalist with the Trans Siberian Orchestra. He’s joined … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Animal Drive, Bite!, Croatia, debut, Dino Jelusic, Jeff Scott Soto, melodic, modern rock, New Breed, review, rock, Trans Siberian Orchestra
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Album review: EVERTHRONE
In 2015 the band Everthrone released easily one of the best albums that year (The Dawning, which in fact topped my Top 5 of the year without much competition). They decided to crowd fund the follow-up and without much fanfare … Continue reading
Album review: KNIGHTMARE – Walk Through Fire
Bandcamp [Release date 16.03.18] Knightmare, out of the Raleigh, NC area have been around for a bit, and are a phenomenal live band to witness. A hybrid mix of USPM and NWOBHM, these young guys show the utmost respect, and … Continue reading
EP review: RANDOM CONFLICT – Ruined Nation
[Release date 30.03.18] Muscle Shoals Alabama punk stalwarts Random Conflict have followed up 2016’s brilliant Black List EP with a brand new EP entitled Ruin Nation. These guys have been a consistent favorite of mine since coming onto my radar … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged EP, Hardcore, punk, Random Conflict, review, rock, Ruined Nation, Slayer
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Quick plays: SCOTT MATTHEWS, SHIRAZ LANE, MIKE LEPOND’S SILENT ASSASSINS
SCOTT MATTHEWS The Great Untold Sheido [27.04.18] Album number six from the Wolverhampton singer songwriter Scott Matthews, who has gone for a sparse sound and production on this album. His guitar playing is simply superb, which coupled with his haunting … Continue reading
Album review: JESUS JONES – Passages
Absolute Label Services [Release date 20.04.18] Jesus Jones made a big splash in the music world between 1989 and 1991 with a series of hit singles, including ‘Right Here, Right Now’ and ‘International Bright Young Thing’, plus a number one album … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 90's music, album, dance rock, Fat Harry White, indie, Jesus Jones, Mark and Lard, Mike Edwards, Passages, pop, review, rock
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Album review: DEAN WEEN GROUP – Rock2
Schnitzel Records [Release date 16.03.18] Dean Ween, aka Mickey Melchiondo, is one half of the duo behind US band Ween, who split in 2012 and then returned in 2015 with live shows and a live album. This is the second … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, alternative, Dean Ween Group, funk, lounge, metal, Mickey Melchiondo, review, rock, Rock 2, soul, soundtrack, Ween
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Album review: AYREON UNIVERSE – The Best of Ayreon Live
Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group [30.03.18] Ayreon are masterminded by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, who prefers to create music in the studio rather than appear live and the announcement that Ayreon would play two shows in September 2017 (their first official … Continue reading
Album review: GREYBEARDS – For The Wilder Minds
Attitude Recordings [Release date 04.05.18] Sweden seems to export rock bands these days like China exports plastic shit – at least for now until Trump’s trade war kicks in – but is every one a Volvo? On the evidence of these … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Attitude Records, Bonafide, For The Wilder Minds, Greybeards, hard rock, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Sweden, The Cult
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Album review: BULLET – Dust To Gold
SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 20.04.18] This is the sixth album from Swedish rockers Bullet and it really depends on your bag….if you’re into Accept-cloned, dandruff-shifting riff and roll, then “Dust To Gold” (and probably the other five) are for you. Not a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bullet, Dust To Gold, hard rock, review, rock
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Album review: ROSS THE BOSS – By Blood Sworn
AFM Records [Release date 20.04.18] Ross the Boss has already laid out a pretty legendary career. From his time with The Dictators to Manowar to Dick Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom to his most recent group DeathDealer, Ross has recorded some pretty significant … Continue reading
Album review: UNIVERSE INFINITY – Rock Is Alive
Pride & Joy Music [Release date 13.04.18] Universe Infinity started out as Universe and released one album back in the 80′s before splitting-up. Fast forward to today, they added Infinity to their name and recruited former House Of Shakira vocalist … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Andreas Eklund, House Of Shakira, melodic rock, review, rock, Rock Is Alive, Universe Infinity
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Album review: AMERICAN TEARS – Hard Core
Escape Music [Release date 23.04.18] American Tears first surfaced in 1974 and were a power trio focussed around the keyboards of Mark Mangold,who is the sole remaining original member on this album, and indeed the only musician playing all the … Continue reading
Interview: PETE TREWAVAS (KINO/MARILLION)
Kino release their new album, ‘Radio Voltaire’ – their first in over fifteen years – via Inside Out on 23 March. Kino consists of John Mitchell (Frost*, Lonely Robot, Arena), Pete Trewavas (Marillion,Transatlantic) and Craig Blundell (Steven Wilson, Lonely Robot). Pete tells … Continue reading
Quick plays: ESP 2.0, ROAMER, UNRULY CHILD
ESP 2.0 22 Layers Of Sunlight [Release date 20.04.18] www.suncreative.com ESP released a very enjoyable prog rock album in 2016′s ‘Invisible Din’ and now they are back with a revamped line-up. Composer/producer/guitarist Tony Lowe and Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, alt rock, alternative, Big Country, Esp 2.0, Layers Of Sunlight, Marcie Free, melodic, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Roamer, rock, Tony Lowe, Unhinged: Live From Milan, Unruly Child, What The Hell
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Album review: DUKES OF THE ORIENT
Frontiers [Release date 23.02.18] Dukes Of The Orient is centred around vocalist/bassist John Payne and keyboards player Erik Norlander, however they have their origins in Asia featuring John Payne. In that guise John Payne has worked with guitarists Guthrie Govan, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Asia, Dukes of the Orient, Erik Norlander, GPS, John Payne, melodic, prog, review, rock
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Album review: KIM WILDE – Here Come The Aliens
Wildeflower Records [Release date 16.03.18] This is Kim Wilde’s first full UK album release since 1992 and 2018 also sees her first full UK tour in nearly thirty years. She also had a pop at the Christmas number 1 battle with an anti-Christmas … Continue reading
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Album review: KINO – Radio Voltaire
Inside Out [Release date 23.03.18] John Mitchell has often said in past interviews that there may be a second Kino album to follow the excellent ‘Picture’ album released back in 2005, however it never seemed that imminent until earlier this year … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Craig Blundell, Inside Out, It Bites, John Beck, John Mitchell, Kino, Lonely Robot, Marillion, melodic, Pete Trewavas, prog, Radio Voltaire, review, rock
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Album review: BURN – Ice Age
Melodic Rock Records [Release date 28.02.18] Burn released their third album ‘Global Warning’ back in 2007 (and in a nod to that album the opening instrumental on this album is titled ’Global Warning’), followed by an appearance at Firefest the following … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Burn, Chris Green, hard rock, Ice Age, melodic rock, NEWMAN, review, Steve Newman, Tyketto
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Album review: SAXON – Reissues (Saxon, Wheels Of Steel, Strong Arm Of The Law)
BMG [Release date 30.03.18] Bastions of British Heavy Metal, Saxon formed in the late 70s and were at the forefront of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, alongside Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Samson and Girlschool et al. And while … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, classic rock, metal, NWOBHM, reissue, review, rock. Biff Byford, Saxon, Strong Arm Of The Law, Wheels Of Steel
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Album review: DON McLEAN – Botanical Gardens
BMG [Release date 23.03.18] ‘Botanical Garden’ is Don McLean’s 19th album and the first in eight years, inspired by his walks around the gardens in Sydney, near the famous Opera House. Some of the songs on the album have been … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, American Pie, Botanical Gardens, country, Don McLean, review, rock 'n' roll, singer songwriter
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