Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: THE BIG DEAL – First Bite

Posted on May 9, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date: 06.05.22] The Big Deal is a Serbian Melodic Rock band, an offshoot of highly successful Progrockers, Alogia. Husband and wife team, Srdjan and Nevena Brankovic are the band’s centrepoint, handling guitar, production, songwriting and vocals. Nevena … Continue reading →

Album review: STARCHASER – Starchaser

Posted on May 8, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date: 06.05.22] If you have an insatiable appetite for the genre, this meat and 2 veg power metal album from new band, Starchaser might provide reasonable, short term sustenance. It began life as a Kenneth (Tad Morose) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album review, heavy metal, Howard Shore, Kenneth Johnson, Lord Of The Rings, Million, power metal, Tad Morose, Ulrich Carlsson | Leave a comment

Album review: JANI LIIMATEINAN – My Father’s Son

Posted on May 7, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 06.05.22] “Solo” album from Sonata Arctica/ Insomnium/ Dark Element guitar man/ composer, Jani Liimateinen. Considering that he’s put this album together with a host of guest vocalists, the finished article is a strongly cohesive whole, with barely … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anette Olzon, Antti Railio, Bjorn Strid, Brother Firetribe, Celesty, Dark Element, Insomnium, melodic metal, Pekka Heino, review, Sonata Arctica, symphonic metal, Timo Kotipelto, Tony Kakko, Work Of Art | Leave a comment

Album review: LOVERBOY – Wildside (Remaster)

Posted on May 6, 2022 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [release date: 25.03.22] Loverboy’s fifth studio album, again produced by the maestro, Bruce Fairbairn (RIP), has been remastered and reissued recently by Rock Candy Records. When Fairbairn, Bob Rock and Mike Fraser are handling production, engineering and … Continue reading →

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Album review: TERRA NOVA – Ring That Bell

Posted on May 6, 2022 by jason

Lion Music [Release date 27.05.22] Terra Nova have been around since 1992, so it is fitting that thirty years after forming they are back with their first new album since 2018’s ‘Raise Your Voice’. Their 1997 offering ‘Livin’ It Up’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, hard rock, Journey, melodic rock, review, Ring That Bell, rock, Terra Nova | Leave a comment

Album review: FOZZY – Boombox

Posted on May 6, 2022 by jason

Mascot Records [Release date 06.05.22] Fozzy have been present on the rock scene for over two decades and their pedigree is clearly demonstrated on this latest album – it’s a master class in pure Rock ‘n’ Roll! Fozzy have had … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Boombox, Chris Jericho, Fozzy, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, melodic metal, metal, review, Rich Ward, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: FORTUNE- Level Ground

Posted on May 4, 2022 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 08.04.22) After it took 24 years to follow up their self-titled debut album and cult AOR classic, Fortune’s third album follows after a relatively brief three year interval. However while 2019’s ‘Fortune II’ included a number … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Fortune, Larry Greene, melodic rock, Richard Fortune, Steve Porcaro | Leave a comment

Album review: LILLIAN AXE – Psalms For Eternity (3 CD set)

Posted on May 3, 2022 by brianmc

Global Rock [Release date 6.04.22] This month, Lillian Axe release a 3 CD retrospective on Global Rock, SFM’s brand spanking new Rock and Metal label, grandly called Psalms For Eternity. It’s been curated by mainman, guitarist and songwriter, Steve Blaze, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Album set, best of, Christopher Nolan, heavy metal, Lillian Axe, Memento, review, Steve Blaze | Leave a comment

Album review: MICK WHITE – Something’s Got To Give

Posted on May 3, 2022 by jason

Enghardt Media/The Metal Society [29.04.22] Now here’s a blast from the past. I first encountered vocalist Mick White in the late 80s when he was working with Paul Samson, and later when he fronted First Strike (that Just Another Night album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, First Strike, hard rock, melodic rock, metal, Mick White, NWOBHM, review, Samson, Something's Got To Give | Leave a comment

Album review: ICON – Icon (Remaster)

Posted on May 1, 2022 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [release date: 18.03.22] Icon’s debut album from 1984 has recently been remastered by leading UK Reissue label, Rock Candy Records. The fact that the band’s set list in those early days included material by Deep Purple and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Classic Heavy Metal, Dan Wexler, Deep Purple, eighties, John Aquilino, Judas Priest, Mike Varney, remastered, review, Stephen Clifford | Leave a comment

Album review: FORGET-ME-NOT featuring Jane Gould – S/T

Posted on April 29, 2022 by andynathan

AOR Boulevard Records (Release date 15.04.22) Former Iconic Eye singer Jane Gould has assembled some impressive collaborations for her Forget-Me- Not project with the help of some key movers and shakers in the melodic rock world. Songwriters include the likes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Jane Gould, melodic rock, Steve Newman | Leave a comment

Album review: BILLY MACKENZIE – Satellite Life Recordings 1995-96, 3 CD Set

Posted on April 28, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red Records [Release date: 23.04.22] Billy MacKenzie died in 1997, aged 39. Beyond the band he founded with Alan Rankine, The Associates, he recorded a handful of solo albums, but many of the songs in those studio sessions didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 3 CD set, Alan Rankine, albums, Roxy Music, Steve Aungle, The Associates | Leave a comment

Album review: BONHAM BULLICK – Bonham Bullick

Posted on April 28, 2022 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Deborah Bonham and Pete Bullick for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 3 April 2022. Quarto Valley Records [Release date 29.04.22] Vocalist Deborah Bonham and husband /guitarist Pete Bullick step out with a brand new … Continue reading →

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Album review: MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY – The Soul Food Store

Posted on April 25, 2022 by petefeenstra

Matt Pearce chatted to Pete Feenstra for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 17 April 2022. Mutinear Records [Release date 29.04.22] ‘The Soul Food Store’ is an aptly titled project. Matt Pearce digs deep on his sophomore album for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, blues, Carlos Santana, Daliah Sherrington, doowop, Ernie Isley, funk, interview, Mark Greenfield, Matt Pearce, Matt Pearce & The Mutiny, Prince, radio, review, rock, soul, Steve Beighton, The Soul Food Store | Leave a comment

Album review: NAZARETH – Surviving The Law

Posted on April 25, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 15.04.22] Most music reviewers weren’t born when Nazareth started up, and few bands are still rocking as hard, to enthusiastic acclaim, 54 years later. Surviving The Law is the band’s second album with Carl Sentance on vocals. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Carl Sentance, Chicken Shack, grunge, Jimmy Murrison, John Mayall, Lee Agnew, Pete Agnew, review, Roy Wood, Wizard | Leave a comment

Album review: JOE SATRIANI – The Elephants Of Mars

Posted on April 25, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC [Release date 08.04.22] A new Satch album. Energy levels high. Check. Weird titles. Check. Stellar guitar. Check. Shades on. Check. In fact guitar nerds are being spoilt, because this album comes hot on the heels of Steve Vai’s latest … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2022 | Tagged album, classic rock, guitar, guitarist, instrumental, Joe Satriani, review, sci fi, The Elephants Of Mars | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK SWAN – Generation Mind

Posted on April 24, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 08.04.22] Black Swan follow up 2020′s Shake The World with the much more confident, cohesive, Generation Mind. Robin McAuley, Reb Beach, Matt Starr and Jeff Pilson form a formidable collective. Each transforming his own success and experience … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Frontiers, Jeff Pilson, Matt Starr, melodic hard rock, Reb Beach, review, Robin McAuley | Leave a comment

Album review: GARETH DUNLOP – Animal

Posted on April 24, 2022 by jason

Zenith Café/Membran [Release date 22.04.22] Belfast born singer songwriter Gareth Dunlop may only be on this, his second, solo album but he has found success with his songs featuring on TV series including ‘Lucifer’, ‘Best of Me’, along with adverts … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Animal, cinematic, Foy Vance, Gareth Dunlop, melodic, pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: NANAUE – 281F

Posted on April 24, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Rattsburg Records [Release date 26.11.21] www. nanaue.com Based on the liner note, it seems this project has been some 11 years in the making. Evidently one of those internet phenomenons with recording bounced across Italy, Spain and Belgium. The main … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 281F, album, classic rock, Emiliano Deferrari, Matteo Nahum, Nanaue, pop rock, progressive, review | Leave a comment

Album review: FRANKIE MILLER – Falling In Love and Easy Money (Remasters w/bonus tracks)

Posted on April 23, 2022 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [release date 18.03.22] 1980 now, and Frankie Miller’s label are looking for another hit song like ‘Darlin’, from his 1978 long player, Falling In Love. And so, knowing there’s no substitute for throwing money at it, they … Continue reading →

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Album review: HELD BY TREES – Solace

Posted on April 22, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Tweed Jacket Music [Release date 22.04.22] The opening piece on this instrumental album sounds like an outtake from Inspector Morse c.1988. It was one of the great TV detective series, punctuated by Barrington Pheloung’s superb orchestrations. I digress, perhaps the … Continue reading →

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Album review: TWELFTH NIGHT – Smiling At Grief…Revisited

Posted on April 22, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Twelfth Night [Release date 01.04.22] The cottage industry that is Twelfth Night continues. The band haven’t been active live since 2014 and some would say that their best work was done with vocalist/lyricist Geoff Mann in the early 1980s. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Tillison, Clive Mitten, neo prog, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Rob Reed, Smiling At Grief...Revisited, Steven Wilson, Twelfth Night | Leave a comment

Album review: RONNIE ROMERO – Raised On Radio

Posted on April 19, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 15.04.22] Ronnie Romero’s taken an opportunity that not many singers get. Given the chance to record an album of covers, he’s deep dived into his favourite back catalogues and emerged with some unsung classics in his hands. … Continue reading →

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Album review – SEMBLANT – Vermillion Eclipse

Posted on April 18, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date: 15.04.22] Semblant’s second album on the Frontiers label sees this Brazilian Melodic (Death) Metal band confidently cement its leading position in the “one to watch” category. The “Death” description is misleading, and only gets used in the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Brazil, Death Metal, Frontiers, melodic metal, Mizuho Lin, review, Semblant, Sergio Mazul, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: JACK BROADBENT – Ride

Posted on April 18, 2022 by jason

www.jackbroadbent.co.uk Crow’s Feet Records Album number five from the critically acclaimed guitarist Jack Broadbent. Hailed as “The new master of the slide guitar” by the Montreux Jazz Festival and “The real thang” by the legendary Bootsy Collins, Jack Broadbent has … Continue reading →