Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Quick plays: DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS, 19th STREET BAND, PHIL VINCENT

DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS Strangers No More

DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS Strangers No More Magnolia Music [Release date 09.06.23] Ninth studio album from Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors who have been gaining critical plaudits and fans in the Americana field since they formed back in 2005. … Continue reading

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Album review : SCREAM MAKER – Land Of Fire

scream maker land

Frontiers [Release date 14.07.23] Although Polish Melodic Metal band, Scream Maker are usually bracketed beside the bands they have frequently toured with, like Saxon, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Slayer and others, their own material drills down into the DNA of the … Continue reading

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Album review : DANNY BRYANT – Rise

Danny Bryant - Rise

Pete Feenstra chatted to Danny Bryant for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio playing tracks from the new album.  First broadcast 13 August 2023. Jazzhaus [Release date: 29.09.23] Danny Bryant’s Rise’ is his 13th album and finds the … Continue reading

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Album review : STREETLIGHT – Ignition

STREETLIGHT - Ignition

Frontiers [Release date : 11.08.23] Streetlight’s debut album is filled to the brim with heart and soul AOR. Few bands have the skill and ability to make it sound this honest. Just unpretentious songs of unerring simplicity and (mostly) uncomplicated … Continue reading

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Album review: JOSHUA BURNELL – Glass Knight

JOSHUA BURNELL - Glass Knight

Website [Release date 11.08.23] This reviewer enjoyed Joshua Burnell’s last album, 2020′s ‘Flowers Where The Horses Sleep’ and with an artist not limited by genre boundaries, expectations were raised for ‘Glass Knight’. With all music and lyrics written and arranged … Continue reading

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Album review : RIAN – Wings

RIAN - Wings

Frontiers [Release date 04.08.23] Third album from Swedish melodic rock band, Rian, led by exceptionally talented vocalist/ guitarist Richard Andermyer. Their second on Frontiers. The band’s label debut, titled Twenty Three, was reviewed in GRTR! back in 2021. Here’s what … Continue reading

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Album review: MITCH MALLOY – The Last Song

MITCH MALLOY- The Last Song

Godsend Records [Release date 07.07.23] After his stint fronting Great White, Mitch Malloy resumes his solo career with his first album since ‘Making Noise’ some seven years ago. Indeed, like its predecessor, this is a solo effort in every sense … Continue reading

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Album review : KENT HILLI – Nothing Left To Lose

KENT HILLI - Nothing Left To Lose

Frontiers [Release date : 04.08.23] Only one solo album under his belt, yet Kent Hilli seems to have been around forever. Three studio albums with Perfect Plan, two Restless Spirits’ albums and a stint fronting legendary melodic rock band, Giant. … Continue reading

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Album review: ROBBIE CUMMING – Choons Vol.1 & 2

ROBBIE CUMMING - Choons Vol.1 & 2

Absolute [Release date 12.05.23] I’ve often wondered about a canal boat holiday, traversing the criss-cross network hopefully in the sunshine, away from congested roads, and with regular stops for refreshment. And, maybe, if I took the plunge as it were … Continue reading

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Album review: MARCUS MALONE & THE MOTOR CITY HUSTLERS – Interstate 75

Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers - Interstate 75

Pete Feenstra chatted to Marcus Malone and Dan Smith for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.  First broadcast, 6 August 2023. Ramrock Red [Release date: 07.04.23] Marcus Malone & The Motor City Hustlers is a brand new soul, … Continue reading

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Album review: GREIG TAYLOR BAND – The Light

Greig Taylor Band - The Light

Bandcamp [Release date 08.08.23] The Greig Taylor Band is built round Scottish soul singer Greig Taylor, a vocalist whose life experiences help bring gravitas to his self penned songs and gritty soulful phrasing. The combination of his vocal flexibility, meaningful … Continue reading

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Album review: DUST RADIO – Problem & Remedy

Dust Radio - Problem & Remedy

Pete Feenstra chatted to Paddy Wells (Dust Radio) for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.  First broadcast 3 September 2023. Bandcamp [Release date 23.06.23] Dust Radio is essentially the duo of Paddy Wells (vocal, blues harp and lyrics) and Tom Jackson … Continue reading

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Album review: THE FIERCE & THE DEAD – News From The Invisible World

THE FIERCE AND THE DEAD - News From The Invisible World

Spencer Park Music [Release date 28.07.23] The Fierce and The Dead have been working on this album over the past five years. It also marks a major change to the band’s sound, lead  vocals from bassist Kevin Feazey (Blur’s Damon … Continue reading

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Album review : IRON SAVIOR – Riding On Fire – The Noise Years 1997-2004, 6 CD Boxset

Iron-Savior-cover-noise 250

Cherry Red [Release date 28.07.23] “A constant and independent force within the Power Metal universe”. No prizes for attributing this quote to Iron Savior mainman, Piet Sielck. It could easily have come from his Iron Savior buddy, Kai (Gamma Ray) … Continue reading

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Album review: RAY ALDER – II

RAY ALDER – II

Inside Out [Release date: 09.06.23] When asked to compile a list of the most influential vocalists of the Progressive Metal genre, Ray Alder’s is, undoubtedly and reservedly so, one of the very first names that comes to mind. Having been … Continue reading

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Album review: TONY MITCHELL – Radio Heartbeat

TONY MITCHELL - Radio Heartbeat

Pride & Glory Music [Release date 21.07.23] The fourth solo album from Tony Mitchell, of Kiss Of The Gypsy & Dirty White Boyz fame. Joining him on here are Midnite City guitarist Miles Meakin, bassist Nigel Bailey (Dirty White Boyz, … Continue reading

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Album review: DESOLATION SOUND – Salish Rock

DESOLATION SOUND - Salish Rock

Robo Jack Records  -  [Release date: 28.07.2022] What’s in a name? For all fans of doom metal it’s time to look elsewhere as Desolation Sound are not the Lords of Valhalla that the name suggests. In fact, anything but – … Continue reading

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Album review : EDGE OF PARADISE – Hologram

EDGE OF PARADISE - Hologram

Frontiers [Release date: 14.07.23] Fresh off a ten date US tour with Lacuna Coil, Edge Of Paradise release Hologram, their fifth album, their third on Frontiers. The band is a duo comprising of Armenian/ Russian/ American singer, Margarita Monet, and … Continue reading

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Album review: SEAN TAYLOR – Short Stories

SEAN TAYLOR - Short Stories

Website [Release date 14.07.23] Sean Taylor returns with another album full of melody and thoughtful lyrics. Joining Sean are Ben Walker (guitars, electric piano), Mike Seal (double bass), Paulina Szczepaniak (percussion), Justin Carroll (Hammond organ), Joe Harvey Whyte (pedal steel) … Continue reading

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Album review: THE MAGPIE ARC – Glamour In The Grey

THE MAGPIE ARC - Glamour In The Grey

Collective Perspective [Release date 07.07.23] Now here’s a listen.  I didn’t quite know what to expect from this band.  From the name, it could be an alt-rock band couldn’t it?  From the opening track ‘All I Planted’ it is immediately … Continue reading

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Album review : HATEBREED – The Rise Of Brutality / Supremacy (2CD Deluxe Ed)

HATEBREED – The Rise Of Brutality / Supremacy

Cherry Red [release date: 14.07.23] “Heavy Music is this cleansing, therapeutic and cathartic experience for so many”. So says Jamie Jasta, frontman of US Grammy nominated, Metal/ Hardcore band, Hatebreed. No surprise then to learn that his band are longtime … Continue reading

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Album review : ALL FOR METAL – Legends

ALL FOR METAL – Legends

AFM Records [release date : 07.07.23] We distinctly remember reviewing All For Metal’s trailer single, ‘We were Born In Valhalla’, back in December last year, and referring this dubious claim to a Fact Check website. Well, they never got back … Continue reading

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Album review: BLOODBOUND – Tales From The North

BLOODBOUND - Tales Of The North

AFM Records [release date 7.07.23] Since the early nineties, Northern European Metal bands have progressively sought to explore and celebrate the history and impact of Viking Culture. “Viking Metal” has grown considerably since then. One of today’s key exponents is … Continue reading

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News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2023)

Albums of the Month (April – June 2023)

WINGER Seven (Frontiers) Winger are a great group of musicians and they write great songs.  And ‘Seven’ matches up to their very best work. ***** Review by David Randall  HOUSE OF SHAKIRA XIT (Frontiers) No question, XIT is a perfect pop … Continue reading

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Album review: BEN REEL – Come A Long Way

BEN REEL - Come A Long Way

Website [Release date 30.06.23] ‘Come A Long Way’ is the 11th album from Ben Reel, with many of his previous releases given favourable reviews by GRTR! reviewer Pete Whalley (who has now, sadly, hung up his keyboard). This album features 11 … Continue reading

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