Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: WISHBONE ASH – Argus (50th Anniversary Edition 1972-2022)

Posted on April 24, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Madfish/Snapper Music [Release date 14.04.23] In his Best of two decades listing our Melodic Rock Editor Andy Nathan (and big Wishbone Ash fan) included the gig at a country house in Buckinghamshire in 2012. Andy wrote: “Given the enmity between … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 50th anniversary, Andy Powell, Argus, box set, classic rock, folk, Limited Edition, Martin Turner, progressive, rock, Steve Upton, Ted Turner, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Album review : TRAPEZE – Midnight Flyers (The Complete Recordings Vol 2) 5 CD boxset

Posted on April 23, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 28.04.23] CD1 – Hot Wire (1974) & Trapeze (1976) CD2 – Hold On (1979) CD3 – Live At The Boat Club, Nottingham (1975) CD4 – Live In Arlington, Texas, (1976) CD5 – Live In Fort Worth, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged boxset, Cherry Red, Dave Holland, Deep Purple, funk rock, Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley, Midnight Flyers (The Complete Recordings Vol 2), Nottingham, Pete Wright, Rob Kendrick, Texas, Trapeze | Leave a comment

Album review: ROB ORLEMANS & HALF PAST MIDNIGHT – Shake Them Down

Posted on April 21, 2023 by petefeenstra

Metal Horse Records & Media [Release date 21.04.23] It’s just over 20 years since Rob Orlemans struck out on his own with his Half Past Midnight band after being mentored by the late Curtis Knight (he of Jimi Hendrix fame). … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alvin Lee, Billy Gibbons, Black Sabbath, blues, boogie, Bukka White, Canned Heat, Curtis Knight, Ernst van Ee, Furry Lewis, Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin Hopkins, Michael Katon, Ozzy Osbourne, Piet Tromp, review, Rob Orleman & Half Past Midnight, Rob Orlemans, rock, Rose Tattoo, Shake Them Down, Uriah Heep, ZZ Top | 2 Comments

Album review: THE MEL OUTSIDER REFORMATION – Miss Victory V

Posted on April 19, 2023 by petefeenstra

The Mel Outsder Reformation - Miss Victory V

Planet UK [Release date 11.22] The Mel Outsider Reformation’s ‘Miss Victory V’ is an excellent album full of uniquely original songs, Mel Outsider’s cinematic phrasing and his band’s musical swagger. Its a musical arc that spans rock, soul, funk, rhythm and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adrian Melling, album, Alex Harvey, Americana, Andy Morell, Bruce Springsteen, Ellie Coast, funk, Hayley Gaftarnick, Ian Hunter, Karl Francis, Mark Jones, Matt Pawson, Miss Victory V, review, rhythm and blues, rock, soul, Supersonic Blues Machine, The Mel Outsider Reformation, The Outsider's UK | Leave a comment

Album review: ELVENKING – Reader Of The Runes (part 2), Rapture

Posted on April 17, 2023 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 28.04.23] Heavy metal pirates, Elvenking, set sail again, boldly going where few bands dare to go. It’s no exaggeration to claim that this album is a unique heavy metal experience. Operatic, symphonic, folky, very lyrical, not … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Elvenking, Ensiferum, folk metal, heavy metal, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Leaves' Eyes, melodic metal, Rapture, Reader of The Runes, review | Leave a comment

Album review: WINGER – Seven

Posted on April 16, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Kip Winger chatted to David Randall for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, featuring tracks from the new album. First broadcast Sunday 7 May 2023. Frontiers [Release date 05.05.23] It’s a sign of the times that Metallica have apologised to Winger … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, interview, Kip Winger, melodic, radio, Reb Beach, review, Seven, Winger | Leave a comment

Album review: TIM ARNOLD – Super Connected

Posted on April 16, 2023 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 05.05.23] Tim Arnold returns with a concept album about social media, big tech and mental health, which culminated in Arnold’s unexpected diagnosis of autism. Arnold wrote Super Connected ‘in character’, with each song sung from the perspective of different … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, electronic, Jethro Tull, Kevin Godley, Lindsay Kemp, melodic, pop, progressive, review, Stephen Fry, Super Connected, Tim Arnold | Leave a comment

Album review: LAST IN LINE – Jericho

Posted on April 15, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC [Release date 31.03.23] As far as recent ‘superbands’ go I think it is fair to say that Last In Line come from the heavier bluesy rock end of the spectrum when say compared to a band like Revolution Saints. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andrew Freeman, Dio, hard rock, heavy rock, Jericho, Last In Line, Phil Soussain, review, Vinny Appice, Vivian Campbell | Leave a comment

Album review : ONE DESIRE – Live With The Shadow Orchestra

Posted on April 14, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date 21.04.23] Rising Finnish band, One Desire return with a live album. What is it with rock/ metal bands and orchestras? The ambition to match up the two has been realised regularly ever since most of us can … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classical, Deep Purple, live, Metallica, Nightwish, Procol Harum, review, Scorpions, Vassa orchestra Finland | Leave a comment

Album review: MORGANWAY – Back To Zero

Posted on April 14, 2023 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 05.05.23] Having enjoyed Morganway’s self-titled 2019 debut expectations are high for this reviewer. Since releasing their debut album they have been gaining rave reviews for their live performances, along with winning awards including BCMA (British Country Music Association) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Back To Zero, country, Harmony, melodic, Morganway, pop rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: IMAR – Awakening

Posted on April 13, 2023 by jason

www.imarband.com [Release date 21.04.23] The Scottish, Irish and Isle Of Man collective that is Imar return with their first album in five years. Imar’s line-up is Mohsen Amini (concertina), Adam Brown (bodhrán, guitar), Tomás Callister (fiddle), Ryan Murphy (flute, uilleann … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Awakening, folk, Imar, instrumental, review, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: DEXTER WANSEL – Life On Mars / What The World Is Coming To / Voyager / Time Is Slipping Away

Posted on April 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 31.03.23] Back in the day (mid to late 1980s), I was a closet listener to Robbie Vincent’s BBC Radio 1 show when he would frequently implore his audience to “open the fridge and freezer door” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Dexter Wansel, disco, funk, fusion, George Howard, jazz funk, Jean Carn, Life On Mars, reissue, The Jones Girls, Voyager and Time Is Slipping Away, What the World Is Coming To | Leave a comment

Album review: RAMSEY LEWIS – Les Fleurs / Fantasy / Keys To The City (Remasters)

Posted on April 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 31.03.23] BGO have done a great job releasing back catalogue from a number of big name artists and labels and packaging several albums on a couple of discs together with extensive liner notes in a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Earth Wind & Fire, fantasy, funk, fusion, instrumental, jazz funk, Keys To The City, Larry Dunn, Les Fleurs, Maurice White, piano, Ramsey Lewis | Leave a comment

Album review: MECCA – Everlasting

Posted on April 10, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date 21.03.23] First Mecca album to be released in Europe since the Brexit Referendum. And the suitably titled opener, ‘And Now The Magic is Gone’ turns out to be the album’s big moment. Everlasting is not quite as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alias, AOR, Frontiers, Joe Vana, Marcie Free, melodic rock, review, Signal, Stefano Lionetti, Tommy Denander, Toto, Unruly Child, Vivien Lalu | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVE FOSTER BAND – Glimmer

Posted on April 9, 2023 by jason

English Electric Recording [Release date 21.04.23] Dave Foster Band features the aforementioned guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Dave Foster (currently in Big, Big Train and a former member of Mr So & So) and vocalist Dinet Poortman. The other musicians involved are all top … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, Big Big Train, Dave Foster, Dave Foster Band, Dinet Poortman, Glimmer, Marillion, melodic, pop, Queen, review, rock, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

Album review : BIOHAZARD – Urban Discipline and No Holds Barred, Live In Europe (2 CD Deluxe Digipack)

Posted on April 7, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [release date: 14.03.23] New York band Biohazard are credited with fusing hardcore metal, punk and hip hop. Five years after formation they signed with Roadrunner Records and released their groundbreaking album, Urban Discipline. Urban Discipline (1992) This influential … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged 2 CD Digipack, album, Deluxe, Fishbone, hip hop, Kyuss, metal, New York Times, punk, review | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (January – March 2023)

Posted on April 6, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

URIAH HEEP Chaos & Colour (Silver Lining Music) Heep join a select bunch of veteran bands (including close contemporaries Deep Purple) who are sounding as good as ever. Indeed classic heavy rock does not come much better than this. **** … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, Albums of the Year...to date, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged albums, classic rock, Cross Country Driver, February 2023, Floor Jansen, hard rock, heavy rock, January 2023, Katatonia, March 2023, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, Robin McAuley, The Cold Stares, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Quick plays: CHRIS DUARTE, THE FLYING SYMBOLS, SANSOME & QUINN

Posted on April 5, 2023 by jason

CHRIS DUARTE Ain’t Giving Up Mascot Records [Release date 07.04.23] Blues-roots guitarist Chris Duarte releases this, his 15th studio album. It also marks the first time in 22 years Duarte has worked with producer-guitarist Dennis Herring (Buddy Guy, Modest Mouse, Elvis … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, blues, Chris Duarte, folk, George Sansome & Matt Quinn, guitarist, hard rock, review, rock, roots, the Flying Symbols | Leave a comment

Album review: THE YOUNG’UNS – Tiny Notes

Posted on April 5, 2023 by jason

Hudson Records [Release date 07.04.23] The Young’uns are never one to shy away from a major musical undertaking as their last album, ‘The Ballad Of Johnny Longstaff’, proved. How do the Young’uns follow that? With this album ‘Tiny Notes’ which … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 3 dads walking, album, folk, Jon Boden, review, the Youbg'uns, Tiny Notes, topical, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: MAGNUS KARLSSON’S FREEFALL – Hunt The Flame

Posted on April 4, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 14.04.23] Fourth Freefall album from rock’n’roll workaholic, Magnus Karlsson. For this, Freefall’s fourth album, Karlsson’s rounded up 11 singers, all of whom offer something different, and we get a few tracks that show every sign that he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alexander Strandell, Hunt The Flame, Jakob Samuel, Kristian Fhyr, Magnus Karlsson, melodic metal, review, rock, symphonic | Leave a comment

Album review : ARCHON ANGEL – II

Posted on April 3, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 14.04.23] On his second album now fronting Archon Angel, Zak Stevens probably couldn’t tell you how many albums he’s appeared on. We’ll help him out: Since 1993, five as Savatage’s frontman, five up front with The TSO … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Aldo Lonobile, Archon Angel, Circle II Circle, Frontiers, II, melodic metal, review, Savatage, TSO, Zak Stevens | Leave a comment

Album review: KILLER – Hellfire (And The Best of Killer) 2 CD Edition

Posted on April 1, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red/HNE [Release date: 21.03.23] Belgium: 1980 : 3 respected, experienced, died in the wool rock musicians split with their long time bands, and get together to share a different musical destiny. Paul “Shorty” Van Camp, “Fat Leo” and “Spooky” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Belgium, Cherry Red, heavy metal, Hellfire (And The Best of Killer), HNE, Iron Maiden, Killer, Mausoleum, Metallica, Motorhead, review, Saxon, Shorty Van Camp, Spooky | Leave a comment

Album review: ALLY VENABLE – Real Gone

Posted on March 28, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Ruf Records [Release date: 24.03.23] When we reviewed the previous Ally Venable album we suggested that whilst the young guitar slinger/singer/songwriter had made great progress the perfectly formed finish was yet to come. ‘Real Gone’ takes things a step further … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ally Venable, blues, blues rock, Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, Real Gone, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ANN-MARGRET – Born To Be Wild

Posted on March 27, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 14.04.23] ‘Born To Be Wild’ is what, at first look, is often called a novelty album. Bring together a one-time Hollywood (and musical) icon (of a certain era) and hook them up virtually with a whole … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ann-Margret, Born To Be Wild, Brian Auger, Cliff Richard, film, Harvey Mandel, Joe Perry, movie, nostalgia, Pat Boone, Pete Townshend, review, Rick Wakeman, Robben Ford, Sonny Landreth, Steve Cropper | Leave a comment

Album review: WARFARE – The Lemmy Sessions (3 CD Boxset)

Posted on March 23, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red/HNE [Release date : 24.03.23] Late on in the last century’s timeline, around 1990, Co. Durham’s one and only anarchic metal band, Warfare, were outselling stablemates, Venom and Raven. On stage and off stage they were living up to … Continue reading →