Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: DENNIS GREAVES & MARK FELTHAM – Duo

Posted on April 15, 2015 by petefeenstra
DENNIS GREAVES & MARK FELTHAM – Duo

Zed [Release date 05.04.15] There’s no denying the veracity underlying Dennis Greaves and Mark Feltham’s stripped down ‘Duo’ album. It’s crafted with a genuine feel for the music, care for the arrangements and it’s sparked by some inspired interplay and … Continue reading →

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Album review: D.A. FOSTER – The Real Thing

Posted on April 12, 2015 by petefeenstra

        Vizztone/Shaboo [Release date 02.02.15] D.A. Foster’s rich baritone sounds as if he’s pouring a life time’s experience into a well chosen set of soul songs. His rich and warm timbre makes the most of a batch … Continue reading →

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Album review: KALLE VILPUU – Silver Lining

Posted on April 11, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
KALLE VILPUU - Silver Lining

www.kallevilpuu.com [Release date 22.12.13] I have to say I always approach guitarist-led independent releases with a certain amount of intrepidation.  Often they are mere vanity projects, apeing others, badly recorded, badly executed and maybe enlisting a “name” to help sales … Continue reading →

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Album review: FM – Heroes and Villains

Posted on April 10, 2015 by andynathan
FM - Heroes And Villains

Frontiers Records [Release date 17.04.15] FM may have spent last autumn on a 30th anniversary tour, but they are neither a nostalgia band nor one to let the grass grow under their feet. Two years after a pair of new … Continue reading →

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Album review: MICHAEL DES BARRES – The Key to the Universe

Posted on April 10, 2015 by petefeenstra

        FOD [Release date 05.04.15] Michael Des Barres is a descendant of a 13th century French knight and the son of the 25th Marquis Des Barres, who blew his fortune on opium and ended up behind bars. … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA – Plays Prog Rock Classics

Posted on April 10, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA - Plays Prog Rock Classics

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra [Release date 20.04.15] Classical rock is an often maligned genre, when done well it can bring new dimension to time-worn classics, done badly and it can fail to enhance the originals. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra have always done … Continue reading →

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Album review: KISKE SOMERVILLE – City of Heroes

Posted on April 9, 2015 by andynathan
KISKE SOMERVILLE- City of Heroes

Frontiers Records [Release Date 17.04.15] Despite the rather unimaginative name, some of rock’s most respected names are behind this project. The singers are former Helloween and more recently Place Vendome singer Michael Kiske and Trillium singer and vocal coach Amanda … Continue reading →

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Album review: RADIOACTIVE – F4ur

Posted on April 9, 2015 by jason
RADIOACTIVE - F4ur

Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Release date 17.04.15] This is indeed as the title suggests album number four from Radioactive, the first in nearly ten years. Radioactive is the brainchild of guitarist/songwriter Tommy Denander and on each album to date he has … Continue reading →

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Quick Plays: NINE BLACK ALPS, EDENIAL

Posted on April 6, 2015 by david.wilson

Album review: NINE BLACK ALPS – Live From The Wishing Well         Hatch Records (Release date 04.05.15) After 12 years and 5 studio albums, UK Grunge rock exponents Nine Black Alps are about to release their first … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: 23 ACEZ, LEFT FOR RED

Posted on April 6, 2015 by david.wilson

Album review: 23 ACEZ – Redemption Wave         Mighty Music (Release date 12.01.15) A bit of Belgian rock in the shape of 23 Acez who have been together since 2010. Formed by Benny Willaert the four piece … Continue reading →

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Album review: JOHN POWER – The Complete Studio Recordings 2002-2015 (Box set)

Posted on April 5, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
JOHN POWER - The Complete Studio Recordings 2002-2015 (Box set)

Edsel Records [Release date 27.04.15] Having released all four Cast albums in ‘deluxe’ format, Edsel have now turned to the solo work of The La’s and Cast frontman John Power.  The Complete Sessions brigdes his 3 releases between 2003 and … Continue reading →

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Album review: NIGHTWISH – Endless Forms Most Beautiful

Posted on April 5, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
NIGHTWISH - Endless Forms Most Beautiful

Nuclear Blast [Release date 30.01.15] Delain’s April Rain (2009) was my introduction to symphonic rock/metal, and Within Temptation The Unforgiving (2011) completed my education.  I’ve subsequently discovered that a little ‘symph’ goes a long, long way.  Metal meets Eurovision is … Continue reading →

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Album review: KARNATAKA – Secrets Of Angels

Posted on April 5, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
KARNATAKA - Secrets Of Angels

Immrama [Release date 30.03.15] To be blunt, the first impressions of Secrets Of Angels – played live at Bury Met in February – weren’t great.  The band blamed the venue and the lack of an adequate sound check, but as … Continue reading →

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Album review: TODD RUNDGREN – Global

Posted on April 4, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
TODD RUNDGREN - Global

Esoteric Antenna [Release date 13.04.15] I think it’s fair to say that with the release of a new Todd Rundgren album no-one – not even his hardcore fans – quite know what to expect. In the case of ‘Global’ Rundgren … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: CHITRAL SOMAPALA, MARK SLAUGHTER

Posted on April 2, 2015 by jason

CHITRAL SOMAPALA – Sinhabumi [Release date 23.01.15] Chitral Somapala is a big name in his home nation of Sri Lanka and on this album he sings in his native language. Rock fans will know him from his time in Power … Continue reading →

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Album review: LAURENCE JONES – What’s It Gonna Be

Posted on April 1, 2015 by petefeenstra
LAURENCE JONES – What

Ruf  [Release date 13.04.15] Laurence answers his own question on ‘What’s It Gonna Be’ by filling his own blank canvas with heartfelt, meaningful songs fleshed out with an impressive variety of harmony vocals, burning solos and tight ensemble playing that … Continue reading →

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Album review: KARIBOW – Addicted

Posted on April 1, 2015 by alanjones
Karibow - Addicted

Rock Werk Records   [Release date: 26 October 2014] Hailing from Germany, Karibow is the brainchild – and, as far as I can make out, the sole preserve of – Oliver Rüsing, an exceptional multi-instrumentalist – who, again as far … Continue reading →

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Album review: ANNABELLE CHVOSTEK – Be The Media

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
ANABELLE CHVOSTEK - Be The Media

Those expecting a folk roots album from former Wailin’ Jenny singer songwriter Annabelle Chvostek can think again. After releasing two albums on Canada’s most foremost folk label Chvostek has gone back to her independent roots, picking up a 1957 Kay … Continue reading →

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Album review: PISTOLS & VULTURES – Seven

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
PISTOLS & VULTURES - Seven

It’s rare that a PR blurb says so little, and it takes some digging to discover that Pistols & Vultures are an Ipswich/Colchester based ‘alternative’ rock band formed in 2009 whilst Carnell Cook: (vocals), Alex Green (guitars, bass, percussion and … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE PRETENDERS – Reissues (Box set)

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
Pretenders

Edsel [Release date 16.02.15] ‘Icon’ is an overused word in the entertainment industry.  But not so in the case of Chrissie Hynde the driving force behind, and in all but name, The Pretenders – one of the most successful bands … Continue reading →

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Album review: LESOIR – Luctor Et Emergo

Posted on March 30, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
LESOIR - Luctor Et Emergo

The PR blurb for their latest release would have you believe Transience received rave reviews beyond their homeland.  If that’s true, they’re well hidden from Google’s search engine. The sessions for Luctor Et Emergo sees the band (Maartje Meessen – … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY, DANNY SCHMIDT

Posted on March 30, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY One

NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY One You might well ask why GRTR! is reviewing a Celtic / Breton fiddle album? And it would be a reasonable question to ask.  But there are ‘rock’ connections.  Firstly, one half of the main … Continue reading →

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Album review: STEVE ROTHERY – The Ghosts Of Pripyat

Posted on March 30, 2015 by alanjones
STEVE ROTHERY - The Ghosts Of Pripyat

Self-released  -  [Release date 02.02.15] What’s a reviewer supposed to do when confronted by perfection? Our whole raison d’être here at GRTR! is to give an opinion that informs the reader; (a) whether the music being reviewed is worth a … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: THE GENTLE STORM, WINDSOR DRIVE, FINLAY MORTON

Posted on March 29, 2015 by jason

THE GENTLE STORM – The Diary Inside Out www.insideout.de [Released 23.03.15] A new name but a very experienced duo behind the name, namely Arjen Lucassen of Ayreon fame and Anneke van Giersbergen, the former Gathering vocalist and last seen on … Continue reading →

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Album Review: EMPIRES OF EDEN – Architect Of Hope

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Phil Berisford

MelodicRock Records [release date 09.03.15] Empires Of Eden is the brainchild of Australian guitarist Stu Marshall who currently trades his wares alongside the mighty Ross The Boss in Death Dealer and “Empires of Eden” is the follow up to 2012’s … Continue reading →

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