Category Archives: Quick Plays

Quick plays: BRUCE COCKBURN, LOUIEN

Posted on September 17, 2019 by jason

BRUCE COCKBURN Crowing Ignites True North Records [Release date 20.09.19] ‘Crowing Ignites’ is Bruce Cockburn’s 34th and his second all instrumental album, which differs from his previous instrumental album in that the compositions on here are brand new. The music … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, blues, Bruce Cockburn, Crowing Ignites, folk, instrumental, jazz, Joni Mitchell, Louien, None of My Words, pop, review | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ROBERT TEPPER, JEREMY IVEY, INTO THE UNKNOWN

Posted on September 2, 2019 by jason

ROBERT TEPPER Better Than The Rest AOR Heaven [Release date 27.09.19] Robert Tepper is best known for his song ‘No Easy Way Out’, which was the theme to ‘Rocky IV’ and has been subsequently released in various dance remix guises, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, AOR, Better Than The Rest, country, Into The Unknown, Jeremy Ivey, melodic rock, Pablo Padilla, review, Robert Tepper, rock, Rocky IV, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Quick plays: VISIONATICA, ARDOURS

Posted on August 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

VISIONATICA Enigma Fire (Frontiers) [Release date 12.07.19] You have to ask yourself, on occasions, where has originality gone? Visionatica, a[nother] female fronted symphonic metal band, this time, from Nuremberg, failed to make much of a global ‘splash’ with their 2016 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Ardours, Enigma Fire, goth, hard rock, Last Place On Earth, Mariangela Demurtas, review, symphonic metal, Tristania, Visionatica | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DUFFY & BIRD, DREW HOLCOMB, TIM GRIMM, BOB BRADSHAW, 3TIMES7

Posted on August 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

DUFFY & BIRD Spirit Level [Release date 20.09.19] You can’t go wrong with a voice and an acoustic guitar. That is, if you’ve a decent singer, a decent song, and decent player. It’s a formula as old as the hills. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged 3Times7, acoustic, album, Americana, blues, blues rock, Bob Bradshaw, Dragons, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Duffy & Bird, Heart Land Again, Queen Of The West, Rain In Chicago, review, roots, singer songwriter, Spirit Level, Tim Grimm | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JIMI ANDERSON GROUP, HOLLOW HAZE, HUMBLE PIE

Posted on July 23, 2019 by jason

JIMI ANDERSON GROUP I Belong AOR Heaven [Release date 30.08.19] Second album from the Jimi Anderson Group, which sees singer Jimi Anderson working again with producers/musicians Sandy Jones and Greame Duffin, plus guitarist David Cuthbert. There is nothing on here … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, AOR, classic rock, Frontiers, Hollow Haze, Humble Pie, Jimi Anderson Group, melodic metal, melodic rock, power metal, Quick Play, review, Steve Marriott | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ANGELA PERLEY, ANNIE KEATING, SESSION AMERICANA

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

ANGELA PERLEY 4:30 [Release date 30.08.19] With two albums, and a clutch of EPs behind her as the lead singer of Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons – a rock ‘n’-roll band from Columbus, Ohio imbued with country, blues and … Continue reading →

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

Quick plays: JAILBIRDS, TIMO TOLKKI’S AVALON, CHAOS MAGIC

Posted on July 4, 2019 by jason

JAILBIRDS The Great Escape Golden Robot Records [Released date 05.07.19] Jailbirds are an Australian/Irish hard rock band based in Dublin, Ireland and ‘The Great Escape’ is their debut album. The band is composed of Axel McDonald (vocals, lead guitar), Jay … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Caterina Nix, Chaos Magic, classic rock, Evergrey, Frontiers, hard rock, Jailbirds, melodic metal, metal, prog metal, reviews, Stratovarius, Timo Tolkki | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BEN HEMMING

Posted on June 13, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

BEN HEMMING The Devil Beside Me [Release date 31.05.19] ‘Nu-blues’ man Ben Hemming opens his latest release with the impressively broody/ doomy Dead Man Blues which reminds me (strangely) of PJ Harvey circa Bring Your Love To Me. It’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Ben Hemming, blues, review, roots, singer, songwriter, The Devil Beside Me | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ROYAL REPUBLIC, ROB MORATTI, FINE SOFT DAY, TRAGIK

Posted on June 10, 2019 by jason

ROYAL REPUBLIC Club Majesty Nuclear Blast [Release date 31.05.19] Royal Republic are on the up and up with their mix of rock, dance, disco, funk, rock n roll – heck they will put in any style of music into their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, AOR, Club Majesty, dance, disco, Fine Soft Day, folk, melodic rock, Phil Vincent, Pink Floyd, pop rock, progressive, Quick Plays, review, Rob Moratti, rock, rock 'n' roll, Royal Republic, Saga, Survival Code, Tragik | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE BRINK, RESTLESS SPIRITS, ZEPHYRA

Posted on June 6, 2019 by jason

THE BRINK Nowhere To Run Frontiers [Release date 17.05.19] The Brink – Tom Quick (vocals), Lexi (lead guitar), Izzy Trixx (rhythm guitar), Gary Connor (bass guitar) and Davide Drake Bocci (drums) – are another up and coming band, part of … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: BUFORD POPE, WORLD OF MICK, LENY’S GIRL

Posted on May 30, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

BUFORD POPE The Waiting Game [Release date 08.04.19] Swedish singer songwriter Buford Pope (aka Mikael Liljeborg) – with raspy vocals reminiscent of a young (albeit tight trousered) Rod Stewart – literally plays the waiting game with his eighth release, in … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: NITRATE, HOWARD JONES

Posted on May 20, 2019 by jason

NITRATE Open Wide AOR Heaven [Release date 21.06.19] Hot on the heels of last year’s enjoyable debut album ‘Real World’, Nitrate are back with album number two. The core duo of Nick Hogg (bass, guitars, keyboards) and Midnite City’s Rob … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged 80's rock, album, BT, dance, electronica, hair metal, Harem Scarem, Harry Hess, Howard Jones, melodic rock, Midnite City, Nitrate, Open Wide, pop, review, rock, synthpop, Transform | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DUNCAN LLOYD, HARDLINE

Posted on May 15, 2019 by jason

DUNCAN LLOYD Outside Notion Afternoon In Bed [Release date 24.05.19] Third solo outing from Maximo Park’s guitarist and main songwriter Duncan Lloyd, one that sees a marked departure from his last album. This time it is less alternative rock, more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Alex Rudi Pell, alternative, ambient, Duncan Lloyd, hard rock, Hardline, Johnny Gioeli, Journey, Maximo Park, melodic rock, review, rock, Stop Stop | Leave a comment

Quick plays: X-ROMANCE, THE DAMNED THINGS, LEGION

Posted on April 25, 2019 by jason

X-ROMANCE Voices From The Past AOR Heaven [Release date 24.05.19] Another blast from the past re-discovered and rebooted for today. This time it is the turn of X-Romance. X-Romance was initially a project started in 2015 as an offspring to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Anthrax, Fall Out Boy, hard rock, House Of Shakira, KILLER BEE, Legion, melodic rock, metal, modern rock, Phil Vincent, review, rock, Scott Ian, the Damned Things, Vince O'Regan, X-Romance | Leave a comment

Quick plays: UNION DUKE, AUBURN, CARRIE TREE

Posted on April 23, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

UNION DUKE Golden Days [Release date 14.06.19] Bridging indie rock with bluegrass and country, and laden with three, four and even five voice harmonies, Toronto-based quintet Union Duke put the pedal to the metal with their third release. With banjo, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, ambient, Americana, Auburn, Carrie Tree, country, folk, Game Of Faith, Golden days, review, roots, singer, songwriter, The Canoe, Union Duke | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MERRICK’S TUSK, THE EXPERIMENTAL

Posted on April 16, 2019 by jason

MERRICK’S TUSK Between The Earth and The Trees Undead Collective Records [Release date 03.05.19] Although Merrick’s Tusk have been around for the last decade, the band are now releasing their debut album “Between The Earth And The Trees”. With the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, EP, Erica Drive, indie, Merrick's Tusk, modern rock, post-hardcore, progressive, review, rock, the Experimental | Leave a comment

Quick plays: CARRIE TREE, HEADSTICKS, THE END MACHINE, TNT

Posted on March 26, 2019 by jason

CARRIE TREE The Canoe [Release date 26.04.19] Brighton based singer songwriter Carrie Tree is onto her third album with ‘The Canoe’, which sees her work with producer and arranger Markus Sieber. ‘Human Kindness’ is the album’s stand out, highlighting that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, ambient, Carrie Tree, Dokken, Headsticks, Kept In The Dark, Lynch Mob, punk, punk folk, review, singer songwriter, Sons of Morpheus, The Canoe, the END Machine, TNT | 1 Comment

Quick plays: MATT MITCHELL & THE COLD HEARTS, A NEW REVENGE, RAIN OR SHINE

Posted on March 19, 2019 by jason

MATT MITCHELL & THE COLD HEARTS Independent [Release date 19.04.19] Matt Mitchell has fronted AOR band Pride, the more metal flavoured Furyon and then Colour Of Noise, who featured former Little Angels guitarist Bruce John Dickinson. Despite a strong album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged A New Revenge, album, Alice Cooper, classic rock, country, Enemies And Lovers, Furyon, hair metal, Hanging On, hard rock, Judas Priest, Matt Mitchell, modern rock, Perris Records, Pretty Archie, Pride, Quick Plays, Rain Or Shine, review, rock, Tim 'Ripper' Owens | Leave a comment

Quick plays: STARBREAKER, WEST BOUND

Posted on March 6, 2019 by jason

STARBREAKER Dysphoria Frontiers [Release date 25.01.19] Third album from the Starbreaker project featuring Primal Fear guitarist Magnus Karlsson and former TNT vocalist Tony Harnell. It has been awhile as their second album was released back in 2008. With Tony Harnell’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, blues rock, Bonham, Chas West, hard rock, Judas Priest, Magnus Karlsson, melodic metal, metal, Primal Fear, review, rock, Roy Z, TNT, Tony Harnell, West Bound | Leave a comment

Quick plays: KRISTINA STYKOS, DANNI NICHOLLS

Posted on February 25, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

KRISTINA STYKOS River Of Light Thunder Ridge Records [Release date 05.04.19] With many of the songs delivered in an enforced semi-spoken style (in 2017, she was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a disorder that makes speaking and singing difficult or even … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, Americana, country, Danni Nicholls, folk, Kristina Stykos, Nashville, review, River Of Light, singer, songwriter, The Melted Morning | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MICHAEL McDERMOTT, DANNY SCHMIDT

Posted on February 25, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

MICHAEL McDERMOTT Orphans Pauper Sky Records [Release date 12.04.19] In Orphans, a set of songs that while not making earlier records refused to be left to collect dust, Michael McDermott has come up with perhaps his best album yet – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, Americana, Danny Schmidt, Louise Lemon, Michael McDermott, Orphans, review, rock, singer, songwriter, Standard Deviation | Leave a comment

Quick plays: VINDICATA, REVOLUTION HIGHWAY, ROCKICKS

Posted on February 9, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

VINDICATA Beneath The Surface Grooveyard Records [Release date 23.11.18] The “secret weapon” on this debut album might be construed as early Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland (who handles most of the solos) but in actual fact it’s vocalist Mary Magill who … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged A Retrospective Anthology, album, Beneath The Surface, Chris Poland, hard rock, Keep On Rockin', metal, review, Revolution Highway, Rockicks, Vindicata | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DEAD MAN’S WHISKEY, HIGH TREASON, HARBOTTLE & JONAS

Posted on February 1, 2019 by jason

DEAD MAN’S WHISKEY – Under The Gun Reloaded McCall Records [Release date 01.02.19] I was surprised to find out that Dead Man’s Whiskey are a British band as their sound is more aligned with the likes of Black Stone Cherry … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Dead Man's Whiskey, folk, Harbottle & Jonas, hard rock, High Treason, NWOBHM, review, rock, Silver Bullets, southern rock, The Sea Is My Brother, Under The Gun Reloaded | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MIKAEL ERLANDSSON, SLUG COMPARISON

Posted on January 22, 2019 by jason

MIKAEL ERLANDSSON Capricorn Six AOR Heaven [Release date 22.02.19] This is the sixth solo album from vocalist/keyboards player Mikael Erlandsson, who may be more familiar to fans of melodic rock as the frontman of Last Autumn’s Dream, who have released … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, AOR, Capricorn Six, Conny Plank, Doug Harrison, Fen, Last Autumn’s Dream, melodic rock, Mikael Erlandsson, progresssive, review, rock, Slug Comparison, When You were Living Here | 1 Comment

Quick plays: VIANA, FERNANDO PERDOMO, JET RED

Posted on January 17, 2019 by jason

VIANA Forever Free Escape Music [Release date 25.01.19] Stefano Viana is an Italian guitarist, songwriter and producer who released his self-titled debut album in 2017. For album number two he has signed with Escape Music and enlisted vocalist Bryan Cole … Continue reading →