Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: SHEMEKIA COPELAND – America’s Child

Posted on October 31, 2018 by petefeenstra

Alligator Records[Release date 03.08.18] Shemekia Copeland’s ‘America’s Child’ is very much an album of our times. The title is an all enveloping concept that leads into a bunch of related, philosophical and at times analytical songs that shift from the … Continue reading →

Album review: SEVENTH WONDER – Tiara

Posted on October 31, 2018 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 12.10.18] It has been eight years since Seventh Wonder’s last album ‘The Great Escape’, in part due to the commitments of vocalist Tommy Karevik in Kamelot, who he joined in 2012. One new member in the band since … Continue reading →

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Album review: CITY OF THIEVES – Beast Reality

Posted on October 29, 2018 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 12.10.18] City Of Thieves (who evolved out of Four Wheel Drive), are one of Frontiers much touted ‘new breed’ of up and coming rock & metal bands. Fair play to Frontiers as they try and find the next set … Continue reading →

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Album review: ROBBEN FORD – Purple House

Posted on October 29, 2018 by petefeenstra

Ear MUSIC [Release date 26.10.18] There’s a lot to be said for a blues oriented guitarist willing to explore new directions deep into a lengthy career that has straddled rock-blues, jazz and fusion. Robben Ford makes much of the fact … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Crosby Stills & Nash, David Bowie, Devon Allman, Drew Smithers, funk, guitar, Purple House, review, Robben Ford, rock, Shemekia Copeland, soul, Supersonic Blues Machine, Travis McCready | Leave a comment

Album review: JAWBONE – Jawbone

Posted on October 26, 2018 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Marcus Bonfanti about Jawbone for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio and playing tracks from the new album. Self Release [Release date 09.11.18] Jawbone take their name from a song from The Band’s self-titled 1969 second album, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Creedence Cleawater Revival, Evan Jenkins, funk, Jawbone, Little Feat, Marcus Bonfanti, Nash & Young, Paddy Milner, review, Rex Horan, rock, roots, Stills, The Band | Leave a comment

Album review: GALEN AYERS – Monument

Posted on October 25, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Bombinate [Release date: 27.07.18] A confident debut here from this British US/Greece-based singer-songwriter, ‘Monument’ births short/sharp essays in personal values and beliefs in a swell of acoustic ambience. Cool to the point-of-chilly opener, ‘You Choose’ sets out her stall with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, ambient, folk, Galen Ayers, Kevin Ayers, Monument, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: TOM KILLNER – Get Back Up

Posted on October 24, 2018 by petefeenstra

OTE [Release date 26.10.18] Imagine an endless library of rock-blues CD’s, or perhaps a laptop full of similar audio files that are all of a certain standard and leave you scratching your head as you listen for something that really … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Quinn, blues, Get Back Up, Grateful Dead, guitar, Jo Cocker, Megan Franchez, Otis, Paul Butcher, review, rock, Santana, soul, southern rock, Tom Killner, vocal, Warren Haynes, Wesley Brook | Leave a comment

Album review: COLIN JAMES – Miles To Go

Posted on October 23, 2018 by petefeenstra

True North Records [Release date 21.09.18] Canadian blues-rock artist Colin James recently reflected that : “Blues is the only genre where you can maintain a young profile at the age of 53.” And while there’s no doubting the veracity of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Arthur Crupdup, Blind Willie Johnson, blues, blues rock, Charles Brown, Colin James, James Cotton, JJ Cale, Mark Knopfler, Miles To Go, Muddy Waters, review, rock, Steve Marriner, Tony Joe White | Leave a comment

Quick plays: KRP, CHRIS POPE & THE CHORDS UK, THE BUZNIKS, CTP

Posted on October 23, 2018 by jason

KRP (KEITH REID PROJECT) In My Head Rockville [Release date 07.12.18] It has been ten year’s since former Procol Harum (he wasn’t involved in the band’s ‘Novum’ album released last year) member Keith Reid released the first Keith Reid Project album, ‘The Common Thread’. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Buzniks, Chris Pope & the Chords UK, Christian Tolle Project, classic rock, gothic, In My Head, Keith Reid, Keith Reid Project, KRP, melodic rock, Mr Lordi, Nowhere Land, Procul Harum, review, rock, Silver Dust, Squeeze | Leave a comment

Album review: SEMISONIC – Feeling Strangely Fine

Posted on October 22, 2018 by jason

UMC [Release date 09.11.18] Semisonic’s classic album ‘Feeling Strangely Fine’ gets the twentieth anniversary make-over that sees the album released on deluxe edition CD and digital, as well as a limited edition gold vinyl pressing, which marks the first time … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 20th Anniversary, classic album, Dan Wilson, Feeling Strangely Fine, pop, power pop, re-issue, review, Semisonic, Steve Perry | Leave a comment

Album review: SPIRITS BURNING & MICHAEL MOORCOCK – An Alien Heat

Posted on October 22, 2018 by petefeenstra

Gonzo/Multimedia [Release date 19.10.18] ‘An Alien Heat’ pairs Don Falcone’s innovative San Francisco band Spirits Burning with 70′s Hawkwind alumnus and sci-fi fantasy writer Michael Moorcock. Best known for his work on Hawkwind’s 1975 album ‘Warrior on the Edge of … Continue reading →

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Album review: JR HARBIDGE – First Ray Of Light

Posted on October 22, 2018 by jason

Absolute via Universal/Sony [Release date 05.10.18] Involved in the Midlands music scene since his teens, in bands such as the grunge-influenced Third Bullet as well as production work for a variety of outfits, a change of direction, together with a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, First ray Of Light, JP Harbidge, review, singer songwriter, soulful | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – The Eagle Has Landed

Posted on October 21, 2018 by jason

BMG [Release date 19.10.18] To coincide nicely with their latest opus Thunderbolt, we get this reissue of Saxon’s classic 1982 live album. This rounds off the BMG reissues of the Carrere and Phonogram catalogue. Originally a single LP, this comes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Reissues | Tagged album, Biff Byford, classic metal, heavy metal, live, metal, MWOBHM, re-issue, review, Saxon, The Eagle Has Landed | Leave a comment

Album review: WILLIAM SHATNER – Shatner Claus – The Christmas Album

Posted on October 21, 2018 by jason

‘ Cleopatra Records [Release date 26.10.18] Yes it’s that time of year again, when the Christmas album start appearing. But rather than the usual churning out of the same tracks, some other piss poor excuse for a compilation no different … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Billy Gibbons, Henry Rollins, Ian Anderson, Review. Star Trek, Rick Wakeman, rock, seasonal, Shatner Claus – The Christmas Album, Todd Rudngren, William Shatner | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THEM, SODOM, BROTHERS OF METAL

Posted on October 20, 2018 by jason

THEM Manor of the Se7en Gables SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 26.10.18] US/German thrash/power metal band return with their second album, a horror story featuring witchcraft, murder and they use a series of spoken word parts to keep the story moving along. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, Brothers Of Metal, metal, Mike Lepond, Paul Sabu, power metal, review, Sodom, Symphony X, Them, Thrash | Leave a comment

Album review: RENAISSANCE – A Symphonic Journey (CD/DVD)

Posted on October 19, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Annie Haslam chatted to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio shortly before Renaissance’s UK dates in April 2015. This hour special includes tracks from the band’s albums. Symphonic Rock Recordings [Release date: 14.09.18] Bands to have hurdled a half century’s performing … Continue reading →

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Album review: BIRDPEN – There’s Something Wrong With Everything

Posted on October 18, 2018 by jason

Jar Records [Release date 12.10.18] BirdPen are a duo hailing from Southampton – singer/songwriter Dave Pen and guitarist, keyboardist Mike Bird. They have been making music since 2003, with this being their fifth full studio album. Set in the now/near … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, Birdpen, Dave Pen, electronic, melodic, Mike Bird, prog rock, review, There's Something Wrong With Everything | Leave a comment

Album review: URIAH HEEP – Living The Dream

Posted on October 17, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Frontiers [Release date 14.09.18] We really have no right to expect – in 2018 – a tremendously vital album from a “heritage” band with an average age of 60 and who celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2019. But that’s exactly … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bernie Shaw, hard rock, Living The Dream, Mick Box, Phil Lanzon, progressive, review, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: GROUNDBREAKER

Posted on October 17, 2018 by andynathan

Frontiers [Release Date 14.09.18] While FM have come back better and more consistently diverse than ever, notably with this year’s ‘Atomic Generation’, many of the AOR purists among their fanbase still hanker for a repeat of their 1986 debut ‘Indiscreet’. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Delvecchio, AOR, FM, Groundbreaker, melodic rock, review, Robert Sall, Steve Overland, Work Of Art | Leave a comment

Album review: TREAT – Tunguska

Posted on October 17, 2018 by andynathan

Release Date 14.09.18 Elder statesmen of the thriving Scandinavian melodic rock scene Treat have, since reforming, pursued an updated sound rather than just revisit past glories. But unlike their great contemporaries Europe, they have done so without losing touch with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anders Wikstrom, melodic rock, Patrick Appelgren, review, Robert Ernlund, Treat | Leave a comment

Album review: THE PINEAPPLE THIEF – Dissolution

Posted on October 17, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Kscope [Release date 31.08.18] I know, it’s easy to confuse The Pineapple Thief with Porcupine Tree. This perception is only reinforced by the presence of now regular drummer Gavin Harrison. Similarities might normally end there, but in fact Pineapple Thief … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bruce Soord, Dissolution, Gavin Harrison, prog, Progressive Rock, review, The Pineapple Thief | Leave a comment

Album review: HEARTS ON FIRE – Call Of Destiny

Posted on October 17, 2018 by jason

MelodicRock Records [Release date 19.10.18] Hearts On Fire formed in 2017 by Jean Funes, guitarist of Sound Of Eternity. He said “This is the album I always wanted to make. Sound of Eternity had that modern rock touch all over it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Call Of Destiny, debut, Dennis Ward, Eric Ragno, Hearts On Fire, Khymera, melodic, melodic rock, review, Rian | Leave a comment

Album review: RAINBREAKERS – Face To Face

Posted on October 16, 2018 by jason

www.therainbreakers.com [Release date 31.08.18] The Shrewsbury based Rainbreakers have now recorded their debut album, after releasing a couple of well received EPs and touring with the likes of Corky Laing (Mountain) and played a handful of festivals. Comprised of Ben Edwards … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, debut, Face To Face, Maroon 5, melodic, Rainbreakers, review, soft rock, soul, soulful | Leave a comment

Album review: HAKEN – Vector

Posted on October 16, 2018 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 26.10.18] Haken recently celebrated their tenth anniversary and now we have album number five from them. Although the band produced the album s they normally do, this time they enlisted Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood (Periphery, Devin Townsend … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Haken, melodic, metal, Muse, prog rock, progressive, review, Vector | Leave a comment

Album review: BIRDSONG AT MORNING – Signs And Wonders

Posted on October 15, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Blue Gentian Records [Release date 22.08.18] ‘Signs And Wonders’ is a remarkably ambitious album from a band based around singer/songwriter/vocalist Alan Williams. But then this is a band that released a 4-CD box set debut in 2011. This time the … Continue reading →