Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Quick plays: TIM HOCKENBERRY, JOSH HARTY

Posted on February 22, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

TIM HOCKENBERRY Tim Hockenberry [Release date 04.03.16] You know with an ex-America’s Got Talent performer (Hockenberry made the semi-finals in 2012) you’re going to get a decent vocal performance. And his debut release doesn’t disappoint in that respect – his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, America's Got Talent, Americana, country, Holding On, Josh Harty, review, roots, singer, songwriter, Tim Hockenberry | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Eagles And Dragons (9-vinyl box set)

Posted on February 21, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Demon Records [Release date 18.03.16] Nine albums, nearly twenty years in timespan, and another chance for recycling under the auspices of 180 gram vinyl. This means you don’t get bonus tracks, just the original albums in original sleeves and inners … Continue reading →

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

Album review: GRANDHOUR – Bombs & Bullets

Posted on February 20, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Rock Hawk Records [27.11.15] Australia has produced some interesting bands recently, Shadowqueen and Kitchen Witch immediately come to mind. Although bands like Palace Of The King and Tracer have followed the perhaps more predictable AC/DC lineage. The latest contenders – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Aussie, Australia, Bombs & Bullets, Grandhour, hard rock, melodic, review, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: RAZORBATS, RAGE, SAGA, STAR CRYSTAL

Posted on February 17, 2016 by jason

RAZORBATS – Camp Rock www.razorbats.com [Release date 15.09.15] Razorbats hail from Norway and they like their 70′s rock that’s for sure, as you can hear bits of Alice Cooper, Kiss and on ‘Getaway’ you could be listening to a long-lost … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Camp Rock, Follow Me, melodic rock, metal, My Way, punk pop, Rage, review, rock, Saga, Star Crystal, The Pleasure & The Pain, the Razorbats | Leave a comment

Album review: TONY BANKS – Reissues

Posted on February 17, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric Recordings [Release date 26.02.16] CD/DVD (5.1 mix) It is a pity that Tony Banks came across as somewhat bad tempered and grumpy in the most recent Genesis TV documentary. Has he got a chip on the proverbial shoulder? Well, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged A Chord Too Far, A Curious Feeling, album, anthology, Chester Thompson, compilation, Daryl Stuermer, Genesis, Mo Foster, review, The Fugitive, Tony Banks | Leave a comment

Album review: ANTHRAX – For All Kings

Posted on February 16, 2016 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 26.02.16] I will admit it has been awhile since I heard an Anthrax album right through, although I was a big fan back in their 80′s period when thrash metal was at its commercial peak. This … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Anthrax, classic, For All Kings, metal, review, Thrash | Leave a comment

Album review: THE TREATMENT – Generation Me

Posted on February 16, 2016 by jason

Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Release date 18.03.16] The Treatment have been around since 2008 and this is album number three from them. They have supported many big names in the rock world including Kiss, Motley Crue and Status Quo plus they have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Frontiers, Generation Me, hard rock, review, rock, The Treatment | Leave a comment

Album review: SOTO – Divak

Posted on February 16, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC [Release date 01.04.16] Soto’s debut album ‘Inside The Vertigo’ came and went early last year, and judging by the critical reaction perhaps splitting some of the core JSS fanbase as it marked a return to the more hard-hitting metal … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Divak, heavy metal, heavy rock, Jeff Scott Soto, Journey, metal, review, Soto, Talisman, Tempestt, Yngwie Malmsteen | Leave a comment

Album review: TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA – Letters From The Labyrinth

Posted on February 13, 2016 by jason

Decca [Release date 29.01.16 - UK] Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) are back with a new album and unlike previous ones this is not a one themed rock opera, instead a collection of songs with varying themes. Plus there are some classical … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Jon Oliva, Letters from the Labyrinth, Paul O'Neill, review, Savatage, Trans Siberian Orchestra, TSO | Leave a comment

Album review: SIMO – Let Love Show The Way

Posted on February 11, 2016 by petefeenstra

Provogue [Release date 26.01.16] Sometimes a new band needs a relevant context to make a splash. Happily for Simo, they seems to be in the right place at the right time to explode on to the contemporary blues-rock scene with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adam Abrashoff, album, Allman Brothers, blues, Cream, Elad Shapiro, Grateful Dead, guitar, JD Simo, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Mountain, Peter Green, psychedelia, review, Simo, soul, Ten Years After, Zeppelin | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TREETOP FLYERS, SERENITY

Posted on February 10, 2016 by jason

TREETOP FLYERS – Palomino [Release date 11.03.16] This is the second album from this London five piece and listening to the album you would think you were back in the 1970′s and the West Coast sound of artists like Crosby, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged 70s music, album, Codex Atlantus, metal, Palomino, power metal, review, rock, Serenity, symphonic, the Treetop Flyers | Leave a comment

Album review: AVANTASIA – Ghostlights

Posted on February 10, 2016 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 29.01.16] Tobias Sammet is back with another instalment of his Avantasia project. This one follows on thematically from ‘The Mystery Of Time’ album, with the lead character, a young scientist, unwittingly drawing the attention of a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AVANTASIA, Bob Catley, Dee Snider, Edguy, GEOFF TATE, Ghostlights, Jorn Lande, metal, Michael Kiske, Nuclear Blast, opera, review, rock, symphonic, Tobias Sammet | Leave a comment

Album review: TYGERS OF PAN TANG – Noises From The Cathouse

Posted on February 10, 2016 by jason

Angel Air Records [Release date 05.02.16] Remember the days when any self-respecting rock band had to have a “Y” replacing the “I” in its name, at least one umlaut over a vowel and the kind of curly-locked barnets which would … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Angel Air Records, classic rock, metal, Noises From The Cathouse, NWOBHM, re-issue, review, Robb Weir, rock, Tygers Of Pan Tang | Comments Off

Album review: RESURRECTION KINGS

Posted on February 9, 2016 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 29.01.16] Frontiers new project sees former Dio guitarist Craig Goldy continue his return to the spotlight following Giuffria’s poorly received and presumably short lived reunion at Rockingham. This time he has teamed up with a line … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged blues rock, Chas West, Craig Goldy, Dio, Frontiers, melodic rock, Resurrection Kings, Sean MacNabb, Vinny Appice | Leave a comment

Album review: NORDIC UNION

Posted on February 9, 2016 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 29.01.16] Lead singer of Eclipse, whose ‘Armageddonize’ album was GRTR!’s second best melodic rock album of 2015, Erik Martensson is one of the most prolific, not to say talented, figures in his field. The latest in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Eclipse, Erik Martensson, Frontiers Records, melodic rock, Nordic Union, Pretty Maids, W.E.T. | Leave a comment

Album review: RHINE – An Outsider

Posted on February 8, 2016 by jason

[Released 05.02.16] To mix Thrash with Death Metal is asking for elitists to come crawling from the walls. However different the two genres may be, it is hard to pick the differences out in Rhine’s music. This is a good … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, An Outsider, Death Metal, metal, review, Rhine, Thrash | Leave a comment

Album review: CASUALTIES OF COOL

Posted on February 8, 2016 by jason

Inside Out www.insideout.de [Release date 16.01.16] Casualties of Cool is the latest release by, well, Casualties of Cool! The ambient country rock album is the first album from Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad, Devin Townsend Project etc…) and Che Aimee … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Casualties of Cool, Che Aimee Dorval, country, debut album, Devin Townsend, folk, Inside Out, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: JENNIFER WARNES – The Well

Posted on February 4, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

BMG [Release date 04.03.16] It comes to something when it takes a fifteen year old album – getting its first UK release – to highlight just how sterile and bland the singer songwriter scene has become. Warnes’ eighth studio album, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Jennifer Warnes, pop, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, The Well | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DAVID LOCKE, DERIAN CROSS, TESS OF THE CIRCLE

Posted on February 4, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

DAVID LOCKE Transitions [Release date 05.15] www.davidlocke.co.uk David Locke is another guitar journeymen but the difference between his production values and the Derian Cross album (see below) are palpable. A lot of time and effort has evidently gone into making … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Amplify, Dave Locke, Derian Cross, fusion, guitar, guitarist, One, pop rock, rock, Tess Of the Circle, Transitions | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BEN ABRAHAM, DEATH BY UNGA BUNGA, TALISCO

Posted on February 3, 2016 by jason

BEN ABRAHAM – Sirens Secretly Canadian [Release date 04.03.16] Despite the record label name, Ben Abraham hails from Australia where this, his debut album, was released last year. It is now getting a full UK release and I can see … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Ben Abraham, Death By Unga Bunga, folk, Pineapple Pizza, pop, punk, review, Run, singer songwriter, Talisco | Leave a comment

Album review: DREAM THEATER – The Astonishing

Posted on February 1, 2016 by jason

Roadrunner Records [Release date 29.01.16] Epic. Sprawling. Career defining? Perhaps. Dream Theater have unleashed upon its adoring fans an album of such substantial girth that it makes the job of reviewing it reasonably tough. DT are known for super long … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, concept, Dream Theater, James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, melodic, metal, progressive, review, the Astonishing | Leave a comment

Album review: ESCAPE THE FATE – Hate Me

Posted on January 31, 2016 by jason

[Release date 30.10.15] “Hate Me” is the 5th studio album from the Las Vegas formed band. Escape the Fate (ETF) are most notable for being the first band of outspoken Falling in Reverse frontman, Ronnie Radke. They also have worked … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Craig Mabbitt, ESCAPE THE FATE, Hate Me, metal, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM – Paintings

Posted on January 29, 2016 by jason

AOR Heaven [Released 26.02.16] Album number twelve from Last Autumn’s Dream who, with a couple of exceptions, release a new album at the start of each year. The line-up is the same as 2015′s ‘Level Eleven’, making this the second … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, AOR Heaven, Last Autumn’s Dream, melodic, Paintings, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: BROTHERS OF MARS – Welcome To My Breakdown

Posted on January 29, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 22.09.15] www.brothersofmars.com A quick glance at the track listing on this solo project from Mauro Zarattini – ‘Mental Breakdown’, ‘Welcome To Hell’, ‘Tarot Reader’, and ‘Acid Rain’ – suggests that the listener is in for some, to use … Continue reading →

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Album review: SHAKRA – High Noon

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 29.01.16] Swiss hard rock band Shakra return with their tenth studio album “High Noon” and, after the departure of vocalist John Prakesh in late 2013, surprisingly also return with previous vocalist Mark Fox who quit the … Continue reading →