Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: DJABE & STEVE HACKETT – Life Is A Journey – The Sardinia Tapes

Posted on September 24, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric Antenna [Release date 06.10.17] I recall when chatting to Steve Hackett several years ago he mentioned that he is very receptive to his environment in terms of new sounds and possibilities. This might simply be hearing something ear-catching whilst … Continue reading →

Album review: TARGET – In Target

Posted on September 20, 2017 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 20.10.07] Target will be of interest to melodic rock fans as the band featured future Cobra/Survivor vocalist Jimi Jamison, who sadly died back in 2014. This was planned to be Target’s third album and was recorded … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: FRIGG, PALE HONEY, HELL IN THE CLUB, CATHEDRALE

Posted on September 20, 2017 by jason

FRIGG Frost On Fiddles Frigg [Release date 06.10.17] Frigg (be careful how you spell that on a Google search!) hail from Finland and feature the talents of four fiddle players, plus a guitarist, bassist and cittern/mandolin players. All instrumentals and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Cathedrale, Devotion, fiddles, folk, Frigg, Frost On Fiddles, Hell In The Club, John Young. Jon Camp, melodic, Pale Honey, progressive, review, rock, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: RINGO – Give More Love

Posted on September 20, 2017 by petefeenstra

UMC [Release date 15.09.17] Ringo’s ‘Give More Love’ - he’s dropped his Starr moniker on the album credit – is better than you might imagine, for an artist who has been known to ration his appearances on his own all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alberta Cross, album, Benmont Tench, Dave Stewart, Don Was, Edgar Winter, Gary Nicholson, Give More Love, Greg Leisz, Jeff Lynn, Joe Walsh, Mark Charles Heidinger, Paul McCartney, Peter Frampton, Petter Ericson Stakee, Poco, review, Richard Marx, Ringo, Ringo Starr, Steve Lukather, The Beatles, The Eagles, Timothy B. Schmit, Van Dyke Parks | Leave a comment

Album review: GAMMA RAY – Reissues (Land Of The Free/Alive ’95)

Posted on September 20, 2017 by jason

earMUSIC [Release date 29.09.17] earMUSIC’s Gamma Ray re-issue schedule continues with the band’s fourth studio album (original released in 1995) getting a deluxe 2CD re-issue. The second disc adds three songs (including the band’s blistering cover of Holocaust’s ‘Heavy Metal … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Reissues | Tagged album, Alive '95, Classic Albums, EarMusic, Gamma Ray, Kai Hansen, Land of the Free, live albums, metal, Michael Kiske, power metal, review | Leave a comment

Quick plays: STEVE HILL, JARED JAMES NICHOLS

Posted on September 18, 2017 by jason

STEVE HILL Solo Recordings Volume 3 No Label Records [Release date 06.10.17] Steve Hill is a proper one-man band as his feet play bass drum, snare drum, hi-hats and with a drum stick fused to the head of his guitar, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, Black Magic, blues, blues rock, Jared James Nichols, review, rock, Solo Recordings Vol.3, Steve Hill | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE MILLER BAND – Ultimate Hits

Posted on September 18, 2017 by jason

UMC [Release date 15.09.17] This hits set is available as a single disc and a two disc edition which features 4 previously unreleased live tracks, 3 previously unreleased studio tracks and a previously unreleased demo. It is released ahead of a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Boz Scaggs, classic rock, Les Paul, review, rock, Steve Miller, Steve Miller Band, Ultimate Hits | Leave a comment

Quick plays: LEVI CUSS, JIM McHUGH

Posted on September 17, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

LEVI CUSS Just Below Radio (Vol. 1 & 2) [Release date 03.11.17] Well, that’s a first – 2 EP CDs, 4 tracks on each, which surely doubles up on the production cost, when both would fit handsomely on a single … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Ben Reel, Canadian, Irish, Jim McHugh, Just Below Radio Vol 1 & 2, Levi Cuss, Noise Machine, review, rock, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: JANIS IAN – The Essential 2.0

Posted on September 17, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Sony Legacy [Release date 22.09.17] This 2 CD collection neatly brings together, for the first time, some of Ian’s best (?) works spanning her whole career from 1967 to date on the Columbia, Verve And Rude Girl labels. All too … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, compilation, folk, Greatest Hits, Janis Ian, review, rock, singer songwriter, The Essential 2.0 | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVE STEWART – Nashville Sessions The Duets, Vol.1

Posted on September 17, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Dave Stewart Entertainment [Release date 25.08.17] Pop, rock – Dave Stewart is a master of both. And his taste in female vocalists, second to none. But his output, even with The Eurythmics was always patchy. More moments of sheer brilliance … Continue reading →

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Album review: MOONLIGHT DESIRES – Just The Hits 1981-1985

Posted on September 16, 2017 by jason

Infamous Butcher Records [Release date 15.09.17] Moonlight Desires hail from Canada and have produced a set of very enjoyable covers, and not the usual suspects either as they have gone for 80′s synth led pop rockers. The band’s name comes from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 80's music, album, AOR, Corey Hart, Covers, Just The Hits 1981-1985, Lawrence Gowan, melodic, metal, Moonlight Desires, pop, review, rock, Steve Winwood, Styx, Trevor Ziebarth | Leave a comment

Album review: APPICE – Sinister

Posted on September 15, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

SPV [Release date 27.10.17] This is the first ever studio collaboration between the Brothers Appice. Carmen is of course best known for his work with Vanilla Fudge and Jeff Beck. Vinny is the younger whipper snapper who has worked most … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: RICKY ROSS, MATT PATERSHUK

Posted on September 14, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

RICKY ROSS Short Stories Vol. 1 earMUSIC [Release date 15.09.17] While there’s no argument Ricky Ross can pen a decent tune, and has a signature vocal timbre, he’s perhaps not the most technically gifted of singers, which in no small … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, country, Deacon Blue, Matt Patershuk, review, Ricky Ross, rock, roots, Same As I Have Ever Been, Short Stories Vol.1. | Leave a comment

Album review: AMELIA WHITE – Rhythm Of The Rain

Posted on September 14, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 27.10.17] East Nashville based singer and songwriter Amelia White’s 2014 offering Old Postcard, her 6th long player, was what I’d describe as ‘a keeper’ – an Americana/soft rock cross over album reminiscent of classic Tom Petty and delivered … Continue reading →

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Album review: TOM KILLNER – Live

Posted on September 14, 2017 by petefeenstra

Cleopatra Records [Release date 02.06.17] Rotherham based blues rocker Tim Killner plays the blues the way he feels them. Uninterested in the disposable music that holds its thrall on many of his musical contemporaries, the young Killner taps into the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Chicago Blues, Cleopatra, guitar, guitarist, Jimi Hendrix, JOE COCKER, Muddy Waters, review, rock, southern rock, Steve Wonder, The Allman Brothers, Tom Killner, Tom Killner Live CD, Warren Haynes | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE MARTIN & THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS – The Long-Awaited Album

Posted on September 14, 2017 by jason

Rounder Records/Decca [Release date 29.09.17] Steve Martin, not content with being a comedian, actor, playwright and author, has in recent years found a new area of success with his banjo playing. He has released albums previously with the Steep Canyon Rangers and … Continue reading →

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Album review: COLDSPELL – A New World Arise

Posted on September 14, 2017 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 22.09.17] ColdSpell have been around since 2005 and this is the band’s fourth album, with what is quite a gap for them since 2013′s ‘Frozen Paradise’. However, that extra time in between albums has allowed the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A New World Arise, album, Coldspell, hard rock, melodic, melodic hard rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL VINCENT – XX

Posted on September 12, 2017 by jason

Phil Vincent Music Phil Vincent is very prolific, this being his twentieth solo album, plus he has been in various bands/projects through the years including D’Ercole, Legion and Tragik. Although Phil plays and produces all of the music on here, he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged album, hard rock, interview, melodic, metal, Paul Sabu, Phil Vincent, review, rock, Solo, Vince O'Regan, XX | Leave a comment

Quick plays: A II Z, INTO THE UNKNOWN

Posted on September 12, 2017 by jason

A II Z The Witch Of Berkeley Caroline Records [Release date 18.08.17] Part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, AIIZ (pronounced A To Z) were formed in Manchester in 1979 and recorded one album, this live set (like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues | Tagged A II Z, album, Chris de Burgh, Headcharger, Hexagram, Into The Unknown, metal, NWOBHM, Out Of The Shadows, review, rock, The Witch Of Berkeley | Leave a comment

Album review: DR JOHN – The Atco Albums Collection

Posted on September 12, 2017 by jason

Rhino [Release date 15.09.17] Born Malcolm John Redennack. Dr John is a renowned American singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist. Inspired by work with New Orleans R&B and Jazz pianist/singer Professor Longhair, Dr John’s work is often for its New Orleans … Continue reading →

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Album review: VARDIS – Reissues

Posted on September 12, 2017 by jason

Dissonance [Release date 22.09.17] Vardis have to be one of the most underrated and overlooked bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal genre. Their brand of metal, often dipping into boogie/biker metal, could also be seen as a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 100MPH, album, metal, NWOBHM, Quo Vardis, reissue, review, rock, Steve Zodiac, The World's Insane, Vardis | Leave a comment

Album review: ROADCASE ROYALE – First Things First (Nancy Wilson, Liv Warfield)

Posted on September 9, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Loud & Proud Records [Release date 22.09.17] When the first track released by Roadcase Royale was circulating earlier this year it became an instant favourite on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio and bode well for the band’s debut album. ‘Get … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, First Things First, Heart, Liv Warfield, Nancy Wilson, Prince, R&B, review, Roadcase Royale, rock, Ryan Waters, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Solid Book Of Rock (Box set)

Posted on September 7, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Edsel/Demon Music Group [Release date 18.08.17] It seems that – exhausting the market for CD expanded or deluxe editions – 2017 might be the “Year of The Box Set” as labels try and find new income streams. We’ll be getting … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Biff Byford, box set, Dogs Of War, Forever Free, heavy metal, heavy rock, Into The Labyrinth, Killing Ground, Lionheart, Metalhead, review, Saxon, Solid Book Of Rock, Sollid Ball Of Rock, The Inner Sanctum, Unleash The Beast | Leave a comment

Album review: THRESHOLD – Legends Of The Shires

Posted on September 7, 2017 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 08.09.17] Threshold have been in the metal news a lot recently after vocalist Damian Wilson left the band in March and they announced former vocalist Glynn Morgan was returning to the band – he left them back … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Damian Wilson, Glynn Morgan, Karl Groom, Legends Of The Shires, metal, Nuclear Blast, prog metal, progressive metal, review, Richard West, Threshold | Leave a comment

Album review: THE LEN PRICE 3 – Kentish Longtails

Posted on September 7, 2017 by jason

JLM Recordings [Release date 22.09.17] The Len Price 3 are now on this, their fifth album and not a band I have heard of previously, however if you like punk, pop rock and mod chances are you will need this … Continue reading →