Category Archives: Quick Plays

Quick plays: THE WEEKS, ABEL RAISE THE CAIN, HAPPYNESS

Posted on March 30, 2017 by jason

THE WEEKS Easy Lightning Rod Records [Release date 07.04.17] The Weeks have been around since 2006 and they consist of Cyle Barnes (vocals), Samuel Williams (guitar/vocals), Cain Barnes (drums) and Damien Bone (bass). They have toured with the likes of Kings Of Leon … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Abel Raise The Cain, album, alternative, Easy, For Strangers Only, HAPPYNESS, indie, Kings Of Leon, Mercury Rev, review, rock, southern rock, the Weeks, Write In | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MADISON VIOLET, STEVE RAVENSFIELD, BLACK ANGELS

Posted on March 14, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

MADISON VIOLET The Knight Sessions (Big Lake Music) With their last album Year Of The Horse (2014), Madison Violet (two piece Canadian female harmony duo Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac) shifted from their country/ folk roots to a bolder, dare … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Broken Diamonds, country, Death Song, Madison Violet, pop, Psychedelic Rock, review, rock 'n' roll, singer, songwriter, Sound Of The Suburb, Steve Ravensfield, the Black Angels, The Knight Sessions | Leave a comment

Quick plays: VEXINE, SIREN’S SKY, NARYAN, THE VIOLET HOUR, THIRD LOVE

Posted on March 13, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

VEXINE Little Sin [Release date 30.04.16] Female fronted blues based rock bands are becoming increasingly ‘in vogue’, but Richmond, Virginia, based 4-piece Vexine have hooked a left at the crossroads and are taking the genre across country. A seasoned bunch … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged About You, album, AOR, Black Letters, Cosmic, Ignite, Little Sin, Naryan, progressive, review, rock, Siren's Sky, The Violet Hour, Third Love, Vexine | Leave a comment

Quick plays: CLAP YOUR HEADS SAY YEAH, MINUS THE BEAR

Posted on February 1, 2017 by jason

CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH The Tourist [Release date 24.02.17] Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (CYHSY) are the brainchild of Alec Ounsworth, who writes and composes all the music, although he used a bass and drummer for the album, playing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Alec Ounsworth, alternative, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, indie, Minus The Bear. Voids, pop, Quick Play, review, rock, The Tourist | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MIKE GROGAN, PELE, THE MOST UGLY CHILD

Posted on January 23, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

MIKE GROGAN Too Many Ghosts Poacher Records [Release date 10.02.17] Having paid his dues in the punk explosion of the 70′s, and a six piece Springsteen-esque band in the 80′s, South of England based multi-instrumentalist Mike Grogan has settled into … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues | Tagged album, Copper And Lace, Fireworks, folk, Mike Grogan, Pele, pop, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, The Most Ugly Child, Too Many Ghosts, Torgeir Waldemar | Leave a comment

Quick plays: D’ERCOLE, JIM JIDHED, BEACHEADS

Posted on January 3, 2017 by jason

D’ERCOLE No Place Like Home This is the fourth album from melodic hard rock band D’Ercole and they have released it themselves having left Z Records. The album features Phil Vincent as the main songwriter and producer (does this man never … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, Alien, AOR, AOR Heaven, Beacheads, D'Ercole, indie pop, Jim Jidhed, melodic, Phil Vincent, pop rock, Quick Play, reviews, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE GRAHAMS, CHRIS MURPHY

Posted on December 7, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

THE GRAHAMS AND FRIENDS Live In Studio When we reviewed husband and wife Americana duo Alyssa and Doug Graham’s studio album Glory Bound last year – a ‘good time’ release that retraced the railroad lines that created the Americana musical … Continue reading →

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

Quick plays: CIVIL WAR, STRATOVARIUS

Posted on November 22, 2016 by jason

CIVIL WAR The Last Full Measure Napalm Records [Release date 04.11.16] Civil War are back with a swift follow up to last year’s enjoyable ‘Gods And Generals’ release. They have trimmed down in size now down to two guitarists following … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Civil War, Destiny, metal, power metal, review, Stratovarius, The Last Full Measure, Visions Of Europe | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JULIETTE STRANGE, NERISSA SCHWARZ, THE FERTILITY CULT, MAGNUSON

Posted on November 8, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

JULIETTE STRANGE Romeo Kills Romeo [Release date 12.05.16] Sometimes you hear an album that just chimes with the way you are feeling at the time. ‘Romeo Kills Romeo’ may be one of those. A collaboration (presumably via the ether) of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged A Forest Of Kings, album, ambient, Discordia, Frequency Drift, Juliette Strange, Magnuson, Nerissa Schwarz, Playgrounds Lost, pop, prog, progressive, psychedelic, review, rock, Romeo Kills Romeo, The Fertility Cult | Leave a comment

Quick plays: WHITE WIDDOW, ARENA

Posted on October 20, 2016 by jason

WHITE WIDDOW Silhouette AOR Heaven [Release date 28.10.16] White Widdow return with album number four and they carry on where their last album, ‘Crossfire’, left off, with lots of catchy and hook filled AOR tunes – ‘Stranded’ and ‘Smile For … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, AOR, Arena, melodic rock, review, rock, Silhouette, White Widdow | Leave a comment

Quick plays: AMANDA RHEAUME, SKYWARD, EILERA, ANDY BENNETT

Posted on October 17, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

AMANDA RHEAUME Holding Patterns [Release date 21.10.16] On her last release Keep A Fire (2014) we suggested that Ottawa songstress Amanda Rheaume’s song writing is more ‘popular’ than ‘pop’ and a pleasant enough Radio 2 style listen. In that sense, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Amanda Rheaume, Andy Bennett, chill-out, Distant Light, Eilera, Face Your Demons, Hang Massive, Holding Patterns, review, rock, singer songwriter, Skyward, Thinkin' Drinkin' Singin', trip hop | Leave a comment

Quick plays: FOREST FIELD, CTP (Christian Tolle Project)

Posted on October 15, 2016 by jason

FOREST FIELD Lonely Desert Rock Company [Release date 21.10.16] Thankfully this time the band have an album cover more suited to their prog rock leanings than last year’s ‘Angels’ cover. The band is focused around Peter Cox who wrote all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, AOR, Christian Tolle Project, CTP, Forest Field, John Parr, Lonely Desert, melodic rock, Michael Voss, Now & Then, Phil Vincent, prog, progressive, review, Steve Lukather | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ALBERT AF EKENSTAM, ROADKILL, FRACTALMIND

Posted on October 11, 2016 by jason

ALBERT AF EKENSTAM Ashes Kning Disk [Release date 14.10.16] ‘Ashes’ is the debut album from Albert af Ekenstam, who is a member of Tempel and his fellow band member Filip Leyman joins him on drums/keys/production. Singer/guitarist Sumie Nagano and trumpeter … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Albert af Ekenstam, album, Ashes, Chris Goss, Extinct, Fractalmind, progressive, Rat Scabies, review, Roadkill, rock, singer songwriter, Stainless, The Mutants, Tragic Earth | Leave a comment

Quick plays: REDLINE MESSIAH, OPERATION: MINDCRIME, SEVENTH WONDER

Posted on October 5, 2016 by jason

REDLINE MESSIAH Buzzbomd Records Redline Messiah hail from the Mid-West and are made up from a melting pot of Chicago and California punk and metal veterans. Having formed only last year, the band’s debut album is a punk laced melodic … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Chain Wallet, Frontiers, GEOFF TATE, indie pop, metal, Operation: Mindcrime, Prog Power USA, progressive metal, Queensryche, Redline Messiah, Resurrection, review, rock, Seventh Wonder, sleaze | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MARION, HANA PIRANHA

Posted on September 27, 2016 by jason

MARION This World And Body/The Program (reissues) Edsel [Release date 16.09.16] Marion were formed in Macclesfield in 1993 by then students Jamie Harding and Phil Cunningham, who had previously been in various bands together. The band’s first album, 1996’s This … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues | Tagged alternative, Birdeatsbaby, Brit Pop, Edsel, Fishing With Dynamite, Hana Maria, Hana Piranha, Marion, MORRISSEY, pop rock, reissue, review, rock, The Program, the Smiths, This World And Body | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE NEW 52, MIKE HURST, ORFILA

Posted on September 20, 2016 by jason

THE NEW 52 Let Me Sleep www.thenew52music.com [Release date 16.09.16] The New 52 is the brainchild of Darragh Cullen, and he is joined by drummer Sean O’Connor, guitarist Connor McLoughlin and bassist Mikey Deasy for live shows – on the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Andalucia Rose, country, First Stone, Let Me Sleep, Mike Hurst, Never Slowin' Down, Orfila, pop, pop rock, producer's Archives Vol.4, Sixtynine, the New 52, You Are Me | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ASTRALION, GEORGIA RUTH

Posted on September 15, 2016 by jason

ASTRALION Outlaw Cliches ahoy! Rampant guitar solos – check; choral backing vocals – check; keyboards set to thrash mode – check. If you like Stratovarious and HammerFall you may like this, but they really need to get a few musical … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, Astralion, Georgia Ruth, metal, power, Quick Play, reviews, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Quick plays: CRANSTON, CRUZH, THE LUCID DREAM

Posted on September 13, 2016 by jason

CRANSTON www.philvincentbands.com [Release date 22.07.16] Phil Vincent is a prolific solo and band artist who never drops the quality. Cranston is his latest incarnation and he is joined by Paul Sabu (Only Child/Sabu) on this one. Phil takes on the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alternative, Compulsion Songs, Cranston, Cruzh, Halfway To Hell, Heroes Of Mighty Magic, Lynam, melodic, metal, review, rock, the Lucid Dream, Twilight Force | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SAGA, SEVEN, SETH LAKEMAN

Posted on September 1, 2016 by jason

SAGA Live In Hamburg earMUSIC [Release date 02.09.16] Fans may have many of the songs on here as it compiles the live songs that have been dotted over the recent reissues of the band’s studio albums which started last year. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Ballads of the Broken Few, folk, Live In Hamburg, melodic, progressive, review, rock, Saga, Seth Lakeman, Seven, Shattered, Wildwood Kin | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ANNA ELIZABETH LAUBE, THE O’s

Posted on September 1, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

ANNA ELIZABETH LAUBE Tree Ahh…Pockets! Records [Release date 21.10.16] Her last album – Anna Laube (2015) may have taken five years to complete, but the fourth album from Seattle-based Anna Elizabeth Laube has followed in just over 12 months. But … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, Anna Elizabeth Laube, Honeycomb, review, roots, singer, songwriter, The O's, Tree | Leave a comment

Quick plays: CHANGE OF HEART, THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE

Posted on August 16, 2016 by jason

CHANGE OF HEART – Last Tiger Escape Music [Release date 22.07.16] Change Of Heart first appeared back in 1998 and released their last album way back in 2005 ‘Truth Or Dare’. They are back with their polished Brit AOR/melodic rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, AOR, Change Of Heart, gothic, Imagica, Last Tiger, melodic, review, rock, Thadeus Gonzalez, the Birthday Massacre | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ROGER ROGER

Posted on August 11, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

ROGER ROGER Fairweather Roger Roger? Two for the price of one? Well, almost as this Canadian folk/roots release features the Rogers twins Lucas and Madeline Roger. And in many ways it is an album of two parts with the songs … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, Fairweather, folk, review, Roger Roger | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TRICK OR TREAT, DANTE FOX, DIMH, DIVAN

Posted on August 2, 2016 by jason

TRICK OR TREAT Rabbit’s Hill Pt. 2 Frontiers [Release date 08.07.16] A concept album from a power/melodic metal band (who used to be a Helloween covers act) based on Richard Adams’ classic novel ‘Watership Down’. What could possibly go wrong?! Nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alternative, AOR, Breathless, Dante Fox, DIMH Project, Divan, melodic, melodic rock, metal, Modern Knowledge, Rabbit's Hill Pt.2, review, rock, Spirit Love & Higher Meaning, The Stone Angels, Trick Or Treat, Victim & Maker, Watership Down | Leave a comment

Quick plays: AMPHETAMIN, GADI CAPLAN, PREACHER

Posted on July 24, 2016 by alanjones

AMPHETAMIN – A Flood Of Strange Sensations There is so much good progressive rock coming out of France at the moment with bands such as Delain, Lazuli, Black Noodle Project and The Last Embrace well worth checking out. Also well … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Quick Plays | Tagged A Flood Of Strange Sensations, Aftermath, album, Amphetamin, Gadi Caplan, Morning Sun, Preacher, prog, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

Quick plays: LISA WEINT, AVI ROSENFIELD

Posted on July 22, 2016 by jason

LISA WEINT Vurbei Three piece band from Austria who formed in 2012 and who consist of Markus Baumgartner (vocals) , Ronald Wintersteiner (synths/vocals) and Tomasz Ploszajski (guitar). The band have an interesting mix of the lighter metal moments of say … Continue reading →