Category Archives: Albums of the Month

Albums of the Month as selected by GRTR! Reviewers and published in our monthly newsletter

News: Albums of the Month (August – December 2024)

Posted on December 7, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

A quarterly feature highlighting album releases rated highly by the GRTR! review team and worthy of your investigation MARY COUGHLAN Repeat Rewind (Strange Brew) … it is everything you might expect from a vocalist who has a rare ability to … Continue reading →

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News: Albums of the Month (July – September 2024)

Posted on October 30, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

A quarterly feature highlighting album releases rated highly by the GRTR! review team and worthy of your investigation KALANDRA A Frame Of Mind (By Norse Music) Turn on the heat, settle down with your favourite tipple, and let ‘A Frame … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged 2024, albums of the month, Augst, Austin Gold, Brave Rival, classic rock, Jon Anderson, July, Kalandra, Lazarus Heights, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, Scarlet Rebels, September | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2024)

Posted on August 4, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

ATLANTIC Another World (Escape Music) This summer’s AOR album has arrived! Lush keys, harmonies, plenty of lovestruck lyrical themes, soaring guitar solos and the vocals of Mark Grimmett, who adds that extra bit of class to the whole musical proceedings. … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged 2024, albums of the month, AOR, April, Atlantic, Big Big Train, Black Country Communion, blues rock, heavy rock, June, May, melodic rock, Nestor, Progressive Rock, rock, Son Of Man, These Wicked Rivers | Leave a comment

News: Albums Of The Month (January – March 2024)

Posted on May 8, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

MYRATH Karma (earMUSIC) They have big songs and even bigger ideas on how to present them live and are not short on confidence in their collective abilities, and rightly so. ‘Karma’ will only serve to further the Myrath cause … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged 2024, albums of the month, blues rock, February, heavy rock, Jack J. Hutchinson, January, Magnum, March, Medicine Head, melodic rock, Myrath, pop rock, progressive metal, rock, South Of Salem, Walter Trout | Leave a comment

News: Albums Of The Month (October – December 2023)

Posted on January 8, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

HANFORD FLYOVER Source (Fruits De Mer Records) There are several bands operating in the psych/blues rock space and female fronted such as Dead Feathers and Blues Pills, and even label mate Crystal Jacqueline. But Hanford Flyover are less late sixties Jefferson … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged 2023, albums of the month, Ann Wilson, blues rock, Care of Night, December, Hanford Flyover, instrumental, melodic rock, November, October, prog, progressive, Robin Trower, rock, Sari Schorr, Trevor Rabin, Tripsitter, Will Pike | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (July – September 2023)

Posted on October 19, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

ALBANY DOWN Born In The Ashes (indie) Seven years is surely too long between releases, but whatever the reasons, this excellent album deserves to build some momentum and push Albany Down towards enduring and wide-spread success. **** Review by Dave Atkinson … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, August 2023, blues rock, classic rock, hard rock, July 2023, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, September 2023 | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2023)

Posted on July 10, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

WINGER Seven (Frontiers) Winger are a great group of musicians and they write great songs. And ‘Seven’ matches up to their very best work. ***** Review by David Randall HOUSE OF SHAKIRA XIT (Frontiers) No question, XIT is a perfect pop … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, Albums of the Year...to date, NEWS | Tagged albums, April 2023, classic rock, hard rock, heavy rock, instrumental, June 2023, May 2023, melodic rock, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (January – March 2023)

Posted on April 6, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

URIAH HEEP Chaos & Colour (Silver Lining Music) Heep join a select bunch of veteran bands (including close contemporaries Deep Purple) who are sounding as good as ever. Indeed classic heavy rock does not come much better than this. **** … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, Albums of the Year...to date, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged albums, classic rock, Cross Country Driver, February 2023, Floor Jansen, hard rock, heavy rock, January 2023, Katatonia, March 2023, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, Robin McAuley, The Cold Stares, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (October – December 2022)

Posted on December 8, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

DYNAZTY Final Advent (AFM Records) What it does is incrementally fine tune the sound that’s now established as their MO. Their epic, keyboard driven symphonic/melodic metal just bursts with energy and invention, pushing them streets ahead of every other band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, ALTER BRIDGE, Austin Gold, classic rock, December 2022, Dynazty, Generation Radio, Gun, hard rock, heavy rock, melodic rock, November 2022, October 2022, Progressive Rock, review, Threshold | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (July 2022 – September 2022)

Posted on September 29, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

CATS IN SPACE Kickstart The Sun (Harmony Factory) The ambitious production of chief songwriter Greg Hart and Ian Caple does justice to the songs and the overall impression is that the sound is noticeably tougher than previous releases with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, August 2022, blues rock, Cats In Space, classic rock, Dim Gray, H.E.A.T., hard rock, heavy rock, July 2022, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, September 2022, Snowy White, The Dead Daisies, White Spirit | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (April 2022 – June 2022)

Posted on August 3, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

DARE Road To Eden (Legend Records) Though it would be unreasonable to expect a full return to their original style, this nice blend of classic and newer Dare is a perfect representation of where they are in 2022, setting them … Continue reading →

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News: Albums of the Month (January 2022 – March 2022)

Posted on March 17, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

LIFESIGNS Altitude (Lifesigns Music) Fans of the likes of Marillion, Genesis and Camel will find much to enjoy here – fans of the more challenging end of the prog spectrum should probably look elsewhere. ***** Review by Alan Jones SAXON … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, blues rock, classic rock, Eric Gales, February 2022, Find Me, Ghost, heavy rock, January 2022, Lifesigns, March 2022, Marillion, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, Saxon | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (October 2021 – December 2021)

Posted on December 9, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Albums of the Month (October-December 2021)

DEEP PURPLE Turning To Crime (earMUSIC) While the production is big, solid and bright, there’s also a live-in-the-studio feel, like it was recorded quickly and spontaneously. Listen with open ears and the album shows the band on great form, and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged Afterlight, albums, blues rock, Burntfield, classic rock, December 2021, Deep Purple, Eclipse, Leverage, melodic rock, November 2021, October 2021, Progressive Rock, review, singer, songwriter, Thea Gilmore, Thorbjorn Risager | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (July 2021 – September 2021)

Posted on September 29, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Albums of the Month (July-September 2021)

EDGE OF PARADISE The Universe (Frontiers) It’s passionate, articulate symphonic metal, occasionally conducting lightning raids onto hard rock terrain… ****1/2 Review by Brian McGowan AMANDA LEHMANN Innocence And Illusion (indie) Lehmann is not afraid to explore different moods on this … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged albums, Amanda Lehmann., August 2021, blues rock, classic rock, Edge Of Paradise, heavy rock, Iron Maiden, July 2021, melodic rock, metal, Progressive Rock, review, September 2021, Steve Hackett, symphonic metal, the Petal Falls, Tommy Castro | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (April 2021 – June 2021)

Posted on July 11, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

SMITH KOTZEN (BMG) Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) and Richie Kotzen (Poison, Mr Big, Winery Dogs) have pitted their combined guitaring and songwriting skills to fashion nine tracks of pure unadulterated hard rock heaven. ****1/2 Review by David Randall THE DUST … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, alt rock, April 2021, classic rock, hard rock, Ian McNabb, indie rock, June 2021, May 2021, metal, review, Smith Kotzen, symphonic metal, The Dust Coda, The John Williams Syndicate, Timo Tolkki's Avalon, Trucker Diablo | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (January 2021 – March 2021)

Posted on April 5, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Albums of the Month (January-March 2021)

THUNDER All the Right Noises (BMG) Thunder fans will love this album as it touches all the band’s key strengths – memorable songs, party rockers, ballads, lyrics to make you think and above all, well-crafted hard rock tunes. An Album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged albums, Anneke van Giersbergen. Troy Redfern, AOR, Ben Randall, blues rock, February 2021, guitar, hard rock, instrumental, January 2021, March 2021, Progressive Rock, review, Scardust, singer songwriter, Thunder, Touch | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (October 2020 – December 2020)

Posted on December 9, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

FISH – Weltschmerz (Fish Music) …this is a rich, accessible, profound album invested with heaps of integrity, passion and insight. ‘Weltschmerz’ stands as the best album of Fish’s solo career, and easily amongst the best of the year by anyone… … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged AC/DC, albums, art rock, Blue Oyster Cult, blues rock, December 2020, Doris Brendel, Fish, hard rock, L.A. Guns, Muddy Manninen, November 2020, October 2020, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (July 2020 – September 2020)

Posted on September 27, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

MAGENTA Masters Of Illusion (Tiger Moth) It turns back the years without ever being ‘retro’ and I would suggest is comfortably the best Magenta album since Home. Masters Of Illusion – The Musical, anyone? ***** (Pete Whalley) WALTER TROUT Ordinary … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 20/20, albums of the month, AOR, Arctic Rain, August, blues, blues rock, classic rock, Deep Purple, hard rock, July, Kat Riggins, Legacy Pilots, Magenta, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, September, Walter Trout | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (April 2020 – June 2020)

Posted on July 4, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

KATATONIA City Burials Peaceville Records …what we are dealing with here is a flawless piece of work one that both critics and fans of the band will refer to as a classic in years to come. Brilliant just brilliant! ***** … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 20/20, albums of the month, April, Bad Touch, blues, blues rock, classic rock, hard rock, House of Lords, jazz funk, June, Katatonia, Lettuce, May, melodic rock, Myrath, Ronan Furlong, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (January 2020 – March 2020)

Posted on March 28, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

In his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 29 March David Randall featured a selection of tracks from “Albums of the Month” (January-March 2020) (29:45) BLIND EGO Preaching To The Choir (Gentle Art Of Music) As with … Continue reading →

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News: Albums of the Month (October 2019 – December 2019)

Posted on November 23, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

January – March 2019 April – June 2019 July – September 2019 BUCK AND EVANS Write A Better Day (Departure Records) …feels like an old school album crafted with contemporary values. Given enough airplay this impressive debut album should help … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 2019, albums of the month, blues rock, Buck And Evans, Chasing The Monsoon, classic rock, December, hard rock, Kris Barras, melodic rock, November, October, Progressive Rock, Steve Hackett, The Defiants | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (July 2019 – September 2019)

Posted on October 2, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

January-March 2019 April-June 2019 October – December 2019 DANNY BEARDSLEY Blood From A Stone www.dannybeardsley.com [Release date 20.09.19] Just when you thought it was safe to go back in to your ageing album collection – frustrated that much new … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 2019, albums of the month, August, Berlin, blues rock, classic rock, Danny Beardsley, Diana Rein, hard rock, Iamthemorning, July, melodic rock, Phil Lanzon, pop rock, Progressive Rock, September, Status Quo, the New Roses | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (April 2019 – June 2019)

Posted on June 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

January-March 2019 July-September 2019 October-December 2019 ERJA LYYTINEN Another World (Tuohi Records) [Release Date 26.04.19] From the tension building intensity and a harmony guitar break of ‘Hard As Stone’ to the gently paced ‘Without You’, with its angst filled and … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 2019, albums of the month, April, Big Big Train, blues rock, classic rock, Diamond Head, Erja Lyytinen, hard rock, Izz, June, May, melodic rock, Michael Thompson Band, Prince, Progressive Rock, Rebecca Downes | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (January 2019 – March 2019)

Posted on June 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

April-June 2019 July-September 2019 October-December 2019 STEVE HACKETT At The Edge Of Light (Inside Out) [Release date 25.01.19] In his long and distinguished career at the forefront of everything that’s good about progressive rock, Steve Hackett has consistently delivered albums … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 2019, albums of the month, blues rock, classic rock, DEL BROMHAM, Elles Bailey, February, hard rock, January, Keith Howe, March, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, RPWL, Steve Hackett, Wily Bo Walker | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (October 2018 – December 2018)

Posted on November 8, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Albums of the Month 2018 January – March 2018 April – June 2018 July – September 2018 URIAH HEEP Living The Dream (Frontiers) “…to their credit ‘Living The Dream’ remains wholly relevant to any rock audience, young or old. On … Continue reading →