Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: SIMON PHILLIPS – Protocol III

Posted on January 1, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Phantom Recordings/Inakustik [Release date 23.10.15] I must be getting old, but a bit of jazz fusion always seems to go down well especially when it’s well executed. In 2014 we reviewed ‘Protocol II’ and opined it was ‘a superior jazz … Continue reading →

Album review: STEEL THREADS – The Rule Of Three

Posted on December 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 13.12.15] www.steelthreadsmusic.co.uk With no PR blurb as a guide, The Rule Of Three came as something of an aural surprise the black cover emblazoned with a barbed wire take on John Paul Jones’ Led Zeppelin IV symbol (with … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: ASHBY, AMELIA WHITE, SHADES OF SORROW

Posted on December 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

ASHBY Fragmental [Release date 13.11.15] Ashby are a progressive rock quintet from Germany. Fronted by Sabina Mosel, three thoughts immediately struck me a vocal symmetry with Sam Brown and Doris Brendel, a proggy sound that put the band in a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, Amelia White, Angelleno, Ascension, Ashby, country, Cruel Season, Fragmental, Home Sweet Hotel, metal, progressive metal, Sam Outlaw, Shades Of Sorrow, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: CARLY DOW – Ingrained

Posted on December 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

It’s unusual these days to come across an artist that offers something ‘different’. But Canadian singer songwriter Carly Dow’s ‘wind crafted soul-folk’ debut reveals a unique and alluring talent. Dow’s song writing is steeped in the lakes, rivers, mountains, forests, … Continue reading →

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Album review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Naked Music

Posted on December 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Moscodisc [Release date 05.02.16] The closest we’ve got to a live album from Eleanor McEvoy, ten studio albums down the line was 2011′s Alone a record lifted from practice sessions never intended for release. It was pretty good proxy for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best Of 2016 | Tagged acoustic, album, Eleanor McEvoy, Naked Music, review, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: THE CRINGE – Blind Spot

Posted on December 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 16.10.15] The Cringe. Perhaps not the best name for a group I’ve ever heard. But it’s given the New York City based band four previous releases. Tried and test mainstream rock, the band features John Cusimano on vocals … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Blind Spot, Don Gilmore, review, rock, the Cringe | Leave a comment

Album review: THE MUTE GODS – Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me

Posted on December 30, 2015 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 22.01.16] The Mute Gods are centred around Nick Beggs, who has worked and toured with Steve Hackett and Steven Wilson among others. He is joined by respected drummer Marco Minnemann (who also plays guitar) and Roger … Continue reading →

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Album review: SEVEN SHOTS FROM SOBER – Songs From Stephen Ave

Posted on December 29, 2015 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date 29.09.15] Named after a pedestrian mall in their native Calgary, ‘Songs From Stephen Ave’, is a smoking album from a Canadian powerhouse trio. With a name like Seven Songs From Sober, you’d expect nothing less than … Continue reading →

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Album review: YUKA & CHRONOSHIP – The 3rd Planetary Chronicles

Posted on December 28, 2015 by alanjones

Cherry Red Records [Release date: 25.09.15] There are times aren’t there when all the planets align to produce something a bit special – er, no pun intended… Essentially the band of keyboard virtuoso Yuka Funakoshi, Yuka & Chronoship have been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Japan, Progressive Rock, review, The 3rd Planetary Chronicles, Yuka & Chronoship, Yuka Funakoshi | Leave a comment

Album review: KHYMERA- The Grand Design

Posted on December 27, 2015 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 04.12.15) Khymera have now released four albums under a variety of line ups. I must admit the only one I bought was their 2003 debut which had the ‘production line’ trademarks of too many melodic rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Dennis Ward, Erik Ragno, Frontiers Records, Khymera, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Album review: BLOOD RED SAINTS- S/T

Posted on December 27, 2015 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 4.12.15) One of 2014’s unexpected surprises in the world of melodic rock was a very impressive debut by Brits In Faith, unleashing a real vocal find in Pete Godfrey. They seem to have had a short … Continue reading →

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Album review: ANDY SUMMERS – Metal Dog

Posted on December 26, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Andy Summers Music/Cargo Records [Release date 15.01.16] A new solo album from Andy Summers? He of the heavily arpeggiated, chorused but always ear-friendly guitaring? He’s released a string of solo albums since ‘XYZ’ in 1987 and his last release was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ambient, Andy Summers, fusion, guitar, guitarist, instrumental, Metal Dog, Police, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THE SWEET – Action The Ultimate Story

Posted on December 25, 2015 by jason

RCA/Sony Music [Released 25.10.15] Without the Sweet you could argue we would have no Def Leppard, Kiss or Motley Crue, some of the many bands who credit this band as a big influence on them. Add to that the numerous … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Action The Ultimate Story, album, Andy Scott, Brian Connolly, classic rock, glam, Mick Tucker, RCA/Sony Music, review, rock, Steve Priest, The Sweet | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BRAD SCHECTER, ATOMIC SYMPHONY

Posted on December 22, 2015 by jason

BRAD SCHECTER – Live Your Dreams www.bradschecter.com This is Brad Schecter’s debut album (he has fronted a couple of metal bands according to his bio) and the songs on here represent 22 years of songs he has been working on. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Atomic Symphon, Brad Schecter, Lazy Bonez, Live Your Dreams, melodic, metal, prog, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: TANGERINE DREAM – Out Of This World (Vinyl Edition)

Posted on December 22, 2015 by alanjones

Invisible Hands Music [Release date (vinyl): 11.12.15] Released in memory of Edgar Froese, founding member of the legendary electronic rock pioneers Tangerine Dream who sadly passed away in January 2015, ‘Out Of This World’ is a compilation of the band’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged album, ambient, Edgar Froese, electronic, Out Of This World, Progressive Rock, review, rock, special edition, Tangerine Dream, Vinyl | Leave a comment

Album review: THE SKYS – Journey Through The Skies

Posted on December 21, 2015 by alanjones

Self-released [Release date: 06.11.15] Following up The Skys’ 2012 release ‘Colours Of The Desert’ (which was excellent – with a few caveats), Lithuania’s finest return with ‘Journey Through The Skies’ which, in the same way as ‘Colours’, is another tremendous … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anne-Marie Helder, Journey Through The Skies, Progressive Rock, review, Rob Townsend, Snowy White, The Skys | Leave a comment

Album review: MYSTERY – Delusion Rain

Posted on December 19, 2015 by jason

Unicorn Digital http://www.unicorndigital.net/ Mystery are back with their follow-up to 2012′s ‘The World Is A Game’. Since then the band have changed vocalists with Jean Pageau replacing Benoît David, who left to join prog rock legends Yes and has subsequently … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Delusion Rain, melodic, music, Mystery, progressive, review, rock, Unicorn Digital | Leave a comment

Album review: CRIMSON STONE – Crimson Stone

Posted on December 18, 2015 by petefeenstra

La Choza De Doe [Release date 07.06.15] Which came first the chicken or the egg? Put it another way, do bands like Crimson Stone try to fit a pre-existing musical mould? Crimson Stone show just enough imagination within a huge … Continue reading →

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Album review: INGLORIOUS – Inglorious

Posted on December 16, 2015 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 19.02.16] Inglorious formed in February 2014 and they are fronted by Nathan James, who has sung live with Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Uli Jon Roth, along with TV’s ‘Superstar’. The line-up is completed by guitarists Andreas Eriksson and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, Inglorious, Nathan James, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: SIMULACRUM – Sky Divided

Posted on December 15, 2015 by david.wilson

Self Release [Release date 28.08.15] This is the second album from Finnish prog metallers Simulacrum and rather good it is too. The band are led by Niklas on vocals and Chrism on keyboards who take care of the lyrics and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS | Tagged album, CD, Fallout, Finland, Mad Max, metal, prog, review, rock, Simulacrum, Sky Divided | Leave a comment

Album review: GRAAL – Chapter 1V

Posted on December 15, 2015 by petefeenstra

Code 7 – Jolly Roger [Release date 25.05.15] It ten years since the Italian prog rock band Graal’s debuted with ‘Realm Of Fantasy’ and ‘Chapter 1v’ finds them honing their craft in a genre hopping mode while revelling in instrumental virtuosity. … Continue reading →

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Album review: MEN ON THE HILL – M.O.T.H.

Posted on December 14, 2015 by jason

Imagine living in a post-apocalyptic, musical wasteland populated by pretentious jazz-loving “intellectuals” who get out of the bath to take a piss, adore Snorah Jones and listen to a hoaky amateurish local English-language radio station that only plays songs which … Continue reading →

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Album review: BILLY SHERWOOD – Citizen

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [Release date 06.11.15] Billy Sherwood, man of many talents and currently bassist for Yes, has assembled an impressive cast of guest musicians for his “Citizen” album…but the question has to be can it deliver when so many of … Continue reading →

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Album review: RYAN McGARVEY – The Road Chosen

Posted on December 10, 2015 by petefeenstra

Justforkicks-Deu [Release date 07.11.14] Here’s an album that almost slipped through the cracks, but given it was released in late November last year and consequently missed ‘the best of’ lists, I think we’re allowed to sneak into the 2015 reviews. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Chris Duarte, Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson, funk, grooves, guitar, Joe Bonamassa, review, rock, Ryan McGarvey, The Road Chosen | Leave a comment

Album review: FISCHER’S FLICKER – Fornever And Never

Posted on December 10, 2015 by petefeenstra

Lavender Kartydid Music [Release date 15.08.15] ‘Fornever And Never’ by Chicago Fisher’s Flicker is a bewildering musical journey that reflects its leader’s Scott Fischer’s eclectic musical background. Described by his PR as a ‘a vast musical amusement park’, Scott Fischer … Continue reading →