Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

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

Album review: TRISHULA – Scared To Breathe

Posted on March 5, 2019 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 29.03.19] Neil Fraser (Ten, Rage Of Angels, Tony Mills) is the brains behind Trishula, where he handles guitars, bass and keyboards. He is joined by vocalist Jason Morgan and drummer Joao Colac, both of whom Neil … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, AOR Heaven, guitarist, hard rock, Magnum, melodic rock, Neil Fraser, Rage Of Angels, review, rock, Scared To Breathe, TEN, Trishula | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL VINCENT – Hypocrite

Posted on March 5, 2019 by jason

Rock Company [Release date 27.02.19] Hot on the heels of the recently released second album from Cranston, Phil Vincent releases his twenty first solo album. Yes that’s right, 21 solo albums in addition to his work on the aforementioned Cranston, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, D'Ercole, Hypocrite, melodic rock, metal, Phil Vincent, review, rock, synth pop, Tragik | 1 Comment

Album review: ELLES BAILEY – Road I Call Home

Posted on March 5, 2019 by jason

Outlaw Music [Release date 08.03.19] After attracting a slew of favourable reviews with her debut album, 2017′s ‘Wildfire’, the Bristol-based singer-songwriter Elles Bailey is back with a follow-up. Like its predecessor, recorded primarily in Nashville’ Road I Call Home’ is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged album, Americana, blues, country, Elles Bailey, folk, guitarist, interview, Nashville, review, Road I Call Home, rock | 2 Comments

Album review: ROBIN TROWER – Coming Closer To The Day

Posted on March 4, 2019 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 22.03.19] Robin Trower’s conceptually titled ‘Coming Closer To The Day’ offers a big clue as to the introspective nature of an album on which his guitar playing makes the biggest impact. His vocal are a problem. He … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Bridge of Sigh, Coming Closer To The Day, guitar, jazz, Jimi Hendrix, Procol Harum, review, Robin Trower, rock, songcraft | Leave a comment

Album review: SPINOUT UK – My Kind Of People

Posted on March 2, 2019 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date 18.01.19] From Len Surtees subtly thumbed bass notes on opening ‘Field Of Fire’, to Gary Roberts evocative vocals throughout an album framed by a lush production with a big wall of sound, Spinout UK make an … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, classic rock, My Kind Of People, review, rock, Spinout Uk | Leave a comment

Album review: SPIRITS OF FIRE

Posted on March 2, 2019 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 22.2.19] Spirits Of Fire is the new outfit fronted by ex-Judas Priest singer Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens. A supergroup of sorts the project brings together Owens (ex-Judas Priest, Iced Earth), guitarist Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), bassist Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Chris Caffery, classic metal, debut album, Judas Priest, melodic metal, metal, review, Roy Z, Savatage, Spirits Of Fire, Tim 'Ripper' Owens, Trans Siberian Orchestra | Leave a comment

Album review: AARON BUCHANAN & THE CULT CLASSICS – The Man With Stars On His Knees

Posted on March 1, 2019 by jason

Pete Feenstra chatted to Aaron Buchanan for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in February 2019. This hour special discusses his music with tracks from the album ‘The Man With Stars On His Knees’ (Special Edition) Listenable Records [Release date 22.02.19] … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged Aaron Buchanan, album, classic rock, Heavens Basement, Queen, review, rock, the Cult Classics, The Man With Stars On His Knees | Leave a comment

Album review: TOBY HITCHCOCK – Reckoning

Posted on February 28, 2019 by andynathan

Frontiers [Release Date 25.01.19] Best known as the man who brings Jim Peterik’s songs to life in Pride of Lions, this is Toby Hitchcock’s second solo album. His first way back in 2013 was written by the prolific Erik Martensson … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, melodic rock, Pride of Lions, review, Toby Hitchcock | Leave a comment

Album review: APE SHIFTER – II

Posted on February 28, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Brainstorm Records [Release date 29.03.19] This trio from Germany released their debut in 2017 . ‘II’ continues the guitar driven hard rock instrumental vibe. Opener ‘Gravity’ gives a fair impression of the album as a whole, decidedly retro with classic … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Ape Shifter, guitar, hard rock, II. album, instrumental, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: KINETIC ELEMENT – The Face Of Life

Posted on February 25, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Melodic Revolution Records Great, just what we need – another bunch of old buffers, sorry, I mean proggers, flogging early Genesis/Yes inspired symphonic prog. The latter, in particular. To be fair, the Richmond, Virginia based band – formed by veteran … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Kinetic Element, prog, Progressive Rock, review, The Face Of Life | 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

Album review: RUTH NOTMAN & SAM KELLY – Changeable Heart

Posted on February 25, 2019 by jason

Pure Records [Release date 15.03.19] In young folk terms this is a bit of a star studded collaboration, with former BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award finalist Ruth Notman making a return to making music (she took time out to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Damien O'Kane, Ewan MacColl, folk, melodic, Paul Brady, pop folk, review, Ruth Notman, Sam Kelly | Leave a comment

Album review: JEREMY & THE HARLEQUINS – Remember This

Posted on February 25, 2019 by jason

Yep Roc Records [Release date 01.03.19] Jeremy Fury is the singer and main songwriter in the band, which is completed by guitarists Craig Bon and Patrick Meyer, bassist Bobby Ever and Jeremy’s brother Stevie Fury on drums. They have released … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bruce Springsteen, Jake Bugg, Jeremy, Jeremy Fury, Little Steven, Madonna, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, the Harlequins | Leave a comment

Album review: JETBOY – Born To Fly

Posted on February 24, 2019 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 25.01.19] With their first full album of new material since 1990, “Born To Fly” is a welcome return for Jetboy. The band includes original members Micky Finn on vocals alongside guitarists, and founder members, Fernie Rod and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Born To Fly, Frontiers, hair metal, Hanoi Rocks, hard rock, Jetboy, review, sleaze rock | Leave a comment

Album review: QUIET RIOT – One Night In Milan

Posted on February 21, 2019 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 25.01.19] Veteran rock band Quiet Riot are the latest live offering from the Frontiers “One Night In Milan” series. Recorded at the 2018 edition of the annual festival in Milan, hence the title, highlighting the labels roster … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Frankie Banali, hard rock, Kevin DuBrow, live, One Night In Milan, Quiet Riot, review, rock, Slade | Leave a comment

Album review: PETER H. NILSSON – Little American Dream

Posted on February 18, 2019 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 29.03.19] Swedish guitar player Peter H. Nilsson has been in the music business for many years in different bands in and extensive touring in his native Sweden. He hooked-up with singer Chris Biano (a Nashville based … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, guitarist, Little American Dream, melodic rock, Peter H Nilsson, review, West Coast | Leave a comment

Album review: REESE WYNANS AND FRIENDS – Sweet Release

Posted on February 18, 2019 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 01.03.19] It’s hard to dislike a guest filled covers album that beats with a southern heart, be it Texas rocking blues, white boy soul meets Muscle Shoals, or out and out Southern Rock. But it takes the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged blues, Boz Scaggs, Chris Layton, Double Trouble, Doyle Bramhall 11, funk, jazz, Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, Keb Mo, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Led Dudek, Mike Bloomfield, Mike Henderson, Muscle Shoals, Noah Hunt, Otis Rush, Paul McCartney, Reese Wynans, Reese Wynans And Friends, Robbie Robertson, rock, Sam Moore, soul, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Sweet Release, The Allman Brothers, Tommy Shannon, Van Morrison, Warren Haynes, Willie Mitchell | Leave a comment

Album review: AVANTASIA – Moonglow

Posted on February 17, 2019 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 15.02.19] ‘Moonglow’ is the eighth full-length album by Tobias Sammet’s metal opera project Avantasia. As with previous Avantasia’s albums he calls upon an impressive list of guest vocalists including returns for Magnum’s Bob Catley, former Queensryche and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, AVANTASIA, Bob Catley, Candice Night, Edguy, GEOFF TATE, Jorn Lande, melodic metal, Moonglow, Nuclear Blast, pomp, power metal, review, symphonic metal, Tobias Sammet | Leave a comment

Album review: TIM BOWNESS – Flowers At The Scene

Posted on February 14, 2019 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 01.03.19] ‘Flowers At The Scene’ is Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson’s first joint production in over a decade – they have been working as a duo under the no-man name since 1987 – although it is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Partridge, art rock, Big Big Train, Dylan Howe, Flowers At The Scene, Jim Matheos, melodic, No-Man, progressive, review, Steve Wilson, Tim Bowness, XTC | Leave a comment

Album review: TRAGEDY: ALL METAL TRIBUTE TO THE BEE GEES & BEYOND – Goes To The Movies

Posted on February 14, 2019 by jason

[Release date 11.02.19] Do you remember the Disco/Metal Peace accord of 1977? No me neither, however from this momentous event came the seeds for the founding of Tragedy: All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees & Beyond. Looking like the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, disco, glam rock, Goes To The Movies, Grease, metal, Poison, review, Tragedy: All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees & Beyond | Leave a comment

Album review: TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND – Signs

Posted on February 13, 2019 by petefeenstra

Concord [Release date 15.02.19] ‘Signs’ is the Tedeschi Trucks Band’s 6th album and it finds them unwittingly embracing middle age with mature songs, deep emotion and intricate playing. What it lacks is a sense of equilibrium, as there’s surfeit of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Al Green, Barrett Strong, blues, Bobby Bland, Butch Trucks, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall II, funk, Gregg Allman, Jackson Brown, Marvin Gaye, Motown, Oliver Wood, R&B, rock, Signs, Sly Stone, soul, Susan Tedeschi, Tammy Terrell, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Warren Haynes | Leave a comment

Album review: SIMON TODD – Half Empty/Half Full

Posted on February 11, 2019 by petefeenstra

Ginger Tom Music [Release date 21.09.18] Produced by the esteemed songwriter Boo Hewerdine, Northumberland singer/songwriter Simon Todd’s ‘Half Empty/Half Full’ is an aptly titled album that keeps the listener guessing until very end. The title might be interpreted as a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged a cappella, album, Americana, Boo Hewerdine, Boy George, Clive James, folk, Half Empty/Half Full, Nick Cave, Northumberland, Pete Atkin, review, rock, Simon Todd, singer, songwriter, Tony Hadley | Leave a comment

Album review: DESIGN – Children Of The Mist – The Best Of

Posted on February 9, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Market Square Music [Release date 05.04.19] You may well ask: was there a Design flaw? This six-piece pop harmony group had great exposure in the early-1970s via several major TV shows but they never had a hit single. Their ultimate … Continue reading →