Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM – Level Eleven

Posted on February 15, 2015 by jason

AOR Heaven [Released 23.02.15] Last Autumn’s Dream are back with a new album and this is their eleventh. Vocalist Mikael Erlandsson is the last original member as in 2014 guitarist Andy Malecek decided to leave the band because of personal … Continue reading →

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

Album review: BLUES CARAVAN 2014 – Laurence Jones, Christina Skjolberg, Albert Castiglia

Posted on February 15, 2015 by petefeenstra

BLUES CARAVAN 2014 Laurence Jones, Christina Skjolberg, Albert Castiglia – Live

Blues Caravan 2014 Live Ruf Records [Release date 12.01.15] The Blues Caravan 2014 is a CD and DVD that gives it you as it really was, right down to the husky voices and the sharp band interplay. I’ve never … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Albert Castiglia, Albert Collins, album, blues, Blues Caravan 2014, Christina Skjolberg, funk, Keith Richards, Lawrence Jones, live, Miri Miettinen, review, rock, Roger Innis | Leave a comment

Album review: RITCHIE DAVE PORTER – Rocking The Blues

Posted on February 15, 2015 by petefeenstra

CD Baby [Release date 14.08.14] Ritchie Dave Porter is a blues-rock guitarist from Birmingham who tells us on his liner notes that: ‘Rocking the Blues’ is the expression of my soul through the guitar’, and also that: ‘Every note is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, blues, guitar, Michael Tingle, review, Ritchie Dave Porter, rock, Rocking the Blues | Leave a comment

Album review: TODD GRIFFIN – Mountain Man

Posted on February 14, 2015 by petefeenstra

Bad Reputation [Release date 22.12.14] ‘Mountain Man’ has a lovely retro feel – part garage rock, part straight ahead rock and roll – and survivor’s lyrics that never dim in their optimistic outlook. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Axel Rose, Creedence Clearwater Revival, David Bowie, garage rock, Jorgen Carlson, Mitch Perry, Mountain Man, Neil Young, review, rock, Rolling Stones, Todd Griffin, Tom Petty, Willie Nile | Leave a comment

Album review: BAD WATER BLUES KINGS – Good Stuff

Posted on February 14, 2015 by petefeenstra

Tegancat Music [Release date April 2014] Bad Water Blues Kings have their hearts in the right place. They play smooth inoffensive blues, but don’t really have any outstanding material with which to make a splash. Jim … Continue reading →

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Album review: UFO – A Conspiracy Of Stars

Posted on February 14, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

SPV [Release date 23.02.15] UFO are another of our “heritage” bands who for the past few years have toured consistently and released new albums. In short, they are still relevant. And, arguably, ‘A Conspiracy Of Stars’ is their best offering … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Conspiracy Of Stars, album, hard rock, heavy rock, Paul Raymond, Phil Mogg, review, UFO, Vinnie Moore | Leave a comment

Album review: ECLIPSE – Armageddonize

Posted on February 11, 2015 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 20.02.15] In the crowded field of Scandinavian melodic rock hopefuls, Eclipse took a massive step forward with their fourth album in 2012, ‘Bleed And Scream’ which topped many end year best ofs. It was another triumph … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Armaggedonize, Eclipse, Erik Martensson, hard rock, melodic, review, Sweden, W.E.T. | Leave a comment

Album review: H.E.A.T. – Live In London

Posted on February 11, 2015 by andynathan

earMUSIC [Release Date 20.2.15] 2014 saw young Swedish melodic rockers H.E.A.T. gain significant traction with their fourth album ‘Tearing Down The Walls’ (GRTR! critics’ best of 2014). They really seem to have a special relationship with the UK audiences, so it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, H.E.A.T., hard rock, Live in London, melodic, review, Sweden | Leave a comment

Album review: URIAH HEEP- Live at Koko (CD/DVD)

Posted on February 10, 2015 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 20.02.15] Uriah Heep’s long career has been punctuated by regular live albums – 1973’s ‘Live’ with original singer David Byron, the Live In Moscow opus which opened up what was to become their longest-running line up … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Bernie Shaw, classic rock, Davey Rimmer, gig, heavy rock, Koko, live album, Mick Box, Phil Lanzon, review, Russell Gilbrook, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Quick plays: GAMMA RAY, CHRIS GRAY, THE BLOW MONKEYS

Posted on February 9, 2015 by jason

GAMMA RAY – The Best (Of) earMusic [Released 02.02.15] Amazingly it has been thirty years since former Helloween guitarist Kai Hansen formed Gamma Ray. This comes as a standard 2CD package along with a 2CD limited edition and for the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, Chris Gray, Diamonds In Your Tree, Dr Robert, EarMusic, Gamma Ray, Hellwoeen, Kai Hansen, melodic, metal, pop, power, review, singer songwriter, the Blow Monkeys | Comments Off

Album review: BRIDGET ST. JOHN – Dandelion Albums & BBC Collection

Posted on February 4, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Cherry Red Records [Release date 16.02.15] 4-disc boxed set Bridget St. John no doubt influenced a generation of female folkies and this three-album retrospective will go some way to confirming that legacy. A handsome box set, collecting her output for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Reissues | Tagged album, Ask Me No Questions, BBC, boxed set, Bridget St. John, Dandelion Albums & BBC Collection, folk, In Concert, John Martyn, John Peel, radio, review, sessions, singer, Songs For The Gentle Man, songwriter, Thank You For... | Leave a comment

Album review: SWEET AND LYNCH – Only to Rise

Posted on February 2, 2015 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 23.01.15] Sweet and Lynch may sound like a firm of corporate lawyers, an image accentuated by the album cover of the pair suited and booted in front of a cityscape of skyscrapers, but it is the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS | Tagged album, AOR, Brian Tichy, Dokken, George Lynch, Lynch Mob, melodic hard rock, Michael Sweet, Only to Rise, review, Stryper, Sweet And Lynch | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE BARNUM MESERVE, KINGNALDO

Posted on February 1, 2015 by jason

THE BARNUM MESERVE – S/t www. facebook.com/thebarnummeserve [Released 06.04.15] Three piece from Nottingham consisting of Leon Wiley (vocals/paino), Paul Moss Pearce (drums) and Dylan Griffiths (bass), the PR blurb name checks Nine Inch Nails, Arcade Fire and Soundgarden as musical … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alternative, debut album, epic, Kingnaldo, Quick Plays, review, rock, the Barnum Meserve | Leave a comment

Album Review: LONELY ROBOT – Please Come Home

Posted on January 31, 2015 by jason

Inside Out www.insideout.de [Released 23.02.15] Lonely Robot is the new project from producer, guitarist and vocalist John Mitchell (Kino/It Bites/Frost*/Arena). He is backed by a rhythm section of Nick Beggs (Steve Hackett/Kajagoogoo) on bass and Craig Blundell on drums, with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Arena, Frost*, Go West, It Bites, John Mitchell, Lonely Robot, Marillion, Nick Beggs, Peter Cox, Please Come Home, pop, prog, review, Steve Hogarth | Leave a comment

Album review: THE NEAL MORSE BAND – The Grand Experiment

Posted on January 31, 2015 by jason

Inside Out www.insideout.de [Released 16.02.15] Does Neal Morse ever sleep? Not content with his rather good 1970′s West Coast flavoured solo album ‘Songs From November’ and the excellent second Flying Colors album, both released last year, he is back again! … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Inside Out, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, prog, review, rock, the Grand Experiment, the Neal Morse Band | Leave a comment

Album review: SERIOUS BLACK – As Daylight Breaks

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 16.01.15] Serious Black can only be described as a European metal super-group due to the presence of former/current members of Helloween/Masterplan, Blind Guardian, Edenbridge, Visions of Atlantis and Bloodbound. Sounds extremely promising… The band started as … Continue reading →

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Album review: U.D.O – Decadent

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 23.01.15] Everyone’s favourite German growler, Udo Dirkschneider, is back with his new studio album “Decadent”. It doesn’t seem long since I was underwhelmed by his one paced “Steelhammer – Live From Moscow” album. So what does … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Accept, AFM, album, Andrey Smirov, Decadent, Fitty Wienhold, Francesco Jovino, Kasperi Heikkinen, metal, review, U.D.O, Udo Dirkschneider | Leave a comment

Album review: CHRIS THOMPSON Jukebox – The Ultimate Collection 1975-2015

Posted on January 29, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Interview edit: Chris Thompson with David Randall, 16 February 2015 (14:35) This edit features un-broadcast material from an hour-long feature aired on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 22 February. The full feature is now available via Mixcloud Cherry … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Brian May, Chris Spedding, Chris Thompson, compilation, Jukebox, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Mavis Staples, pop, review, rock, The Ultimate Collection | Leave a comment

Album review: RAINBOW – The Polydor Years

Posted on January 28, 2015 by jason

Universal (9LP box set) [Release date 24.11.14] With the rejuvenation of both vinyl and classic rock, Universal have collated all 8 of the classic Rainbow albums in original packaging. Extravagant? Yes, resoundingly. But it’s lovely too. While a couple have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Cozy Powell, Don Airey, Graham Bonnet, Joe Lynn Turner, Rainbow, review, Ritchie Blackmore, rock, Ronnie James Dio, Universal, Vinyl | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACKBERRY SMOKE – Holding All The Roses

Posted on January 27, 2015 by jason

Earache Records [Release date 09.02.15] www.blackberrysmoke.com This is amazingly Blackberry Smoke’s fourth studio album, as their last album ‘The Whippoorwill’ was released in the UK last year (although it dated from 2012 when it was released in their native US) … Continue reading →

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Album review: IMPERA – Empire Of Sin

Posted on January 26, 2015 by jason

Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Release date 26.01.15] This is the third album from Impera since 2012 when they released their debut album. They were formed around drummer JK Impera (Bruce Kulick/Graham Bonnet), who is joined by guitarist Tommy Denander (who has … Continue reading →

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Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER’S TEMPLE OF ROCK – Spirit On A Mission

Posted on January 25, 2015 by david.wilson

Inakustik [Release date – 23.03.15] I have been lucky enough to see Michael Schenker’s Temple Of Rock on several occasions over the last few years and I have witnessed the band gelling and getting stronger with each show. The last … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, CD, Doogie White, Francis Buchholz, Herman Rarebell, inakustik, Michael Schenker, Michael Schenker's Temple Of Rock, review, Spirit On A Mission, Vigilante Man, Wayne Findley | 1 Comment

Album review: JORN LANDE & TROND HOLTER – Dracula : Swing Of Death

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [Release date 23.01.15] It’s that man Jorn Lande again…hot on the heels of the latest Allen-Lande release comes “Dracula : Swing of Death”. This time it is a collaboration with Wig Wam guitarist (aka Teeny) on what has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dracula, Frontiers, Jorn Lande, Lena Fløitmoen Børresen, review, rock opera, Swing Of Death, Teeny, Trond Holter, Wig Wam | Leave a comment

Album review: PALLAS – wearewhoweare

Posted on January 23, 2015 by david.wilson

Self Release [Release date – 15.12.2014] Pallas are one of the most enduring and consistent bands of the prog rock genre and every album release is keenly anticipated by their loyal following. It has been over three years since their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, CD, Graeme Murray, Niall Mathewson, Pallas, Paul Mackie, prog, review, rock, Ronnie Brown, wearewhoweare | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ANDREW COMBS, MICHAEL ARMSTRONG

Posted on January 22, 2015 by jason

ANDREW COMBS – All These Dreams www.andrewcomsmusic.com [Released 26.01.15] This is the second album from Nashville based singer-songwriter Andrew Combs. As you would expect being based in Nashville there is a little country in the musical flavours on offer, along … Continue reading →