Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: DEF LEPPARD – Euphoria (Vinyl reissue)

Posted on August 14, 2022 by jason

Universal [Release date 05.08.22] The Sheffield rock legends’ seventh studio album, originally released in 1999, gets the vinyl reissue treatment here. It was the second full album to feature guitarist Vivian Campbell, which returned the band to a five piece … Continue reading →

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Album review: RUSTY SHACKLE – Under A Bloodshot Moon

Posted on August 14, 2022 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 19.08.22] Welsh indie-roots band Rusty Shackle have not passed across the musical radar of this reviewer until now and I am gald that have finally. Rusty Shackle have been recording and touring around the globe since 2010. … Continue reading →

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Album review: STEAMHAMMER – Wailing Again

Posted on August 13, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

MiG records [Release date 30.09.22] Having just completed an overview of the current “state of play” in rock music for our 20th anniversary I mentioned that there has been a void in recent times allowing old stagers to reform and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Martin Pugh, Pete Sears, review, rhythm and blues, Steamhammer, Wailing Again | Leave a comment

Album review: ESBE – I Might Be Dreaming

Posted on August 13, 2022 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Esbe for his Feature show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 28 August 2022. New Cat Records [Release date 20.05.22] Esbe is a British composer, musician, arranger, producer and vocalist with a beautifully expressive … Continue reading →

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Album review: FLASH – In The USA Live Recordings 1972-73 (3-CD set)

Posted on August 13, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Think Like A Key Music [Release date 09.09.22] Flash were a post-Yes vehicle for guitarist Peter Banks. In the UK at least they may have attracted more attention for their “risqué” album covers after they’d signed for Sovereign/EMI in 1971. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 3-CD, album, Colin Carter, Flash, In The USA Live Recordings 1972-73, Peter Banks, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: THE HOOTENANNY – Plays The Songs Of Ron Ryan

Posted on August 13, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Think Like A Key Music [Release date 02.09.22] By all accounts, Ron Ryan was the writing force behind several of The Dave Clark Five’s hits in the sixties. He was introduced to Clark via his brother, early band member Mick … Continue reading →

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Album review: SLYDER SMITH & THE OBLIVION KIDS – Charm Offensive

Posted on August 13, 2022 by jason

Ray Records [Release date 19.08.22] Slyder Smith you may know from glam-tinged power popsters, Last Great Dreamers, who have released four studio albums and one live album to date. He’s now decided to take the place behind the mic stand. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Charm Offensive, Last Great Dreamers, melodic, pop, pop rock, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Rolling Stones, SLYDER SMITH & THE OBLIVION KIDS | Leave a comment

Album review: DIM GRAY – Firmament

Posted on August 12, 2022 by alanjones

English Electric Recordings [Release date: 02.09.22] In a world going to Hell in a hand-cart, we all need a quiet place where we can escape for a while, chill out and contemplate the infinite – some may choose the floatation … Continue reading →

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Album review: ALISON O’DONNELL – Hark The Voice That Sings For All

Posted on August 12, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Talking Elephant [Release date 22.07.22] Until this album appeared at GRTR! Towers I’d not heard of Alison O’Donnell. Apart from, that is, the actress who plays “Tosh” in the superb “Shetland” TV series. The musical one has plied her trade … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, Alison O'Donnell, folk, Hark The Voice That Sings For All. album, Mellow Candle, review | Leave a comment

Album review: SUNSTORM – Brothers In Arms

Posted on August 9, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 12.08.22] All that accumulated weight from the Joe Lynn Turner era has been thrown overboard, and Version 2 of the new, invigorated Sunstorm is writing and performing with confidence and skill. Ronnie Romero remains from Version 2′s … Continue reading →

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Album review: HYDRA – Point Break

Posted on August 8, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 12.08.22] Hydra is a project put together by rock’n’roll impresario, Daniel Flores, built around the songs of Swedish wunderkind, Henrik Hedstrom. Flores has brought in another highly talented musician, Andy Kravljaca, to sing and add lead and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Kravljaca, AOR, Christopher Cross, Daniel Flores, Henrik Hedstrom, Hydra, melodic rock, review, soft rock, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: SIX BY SIX

Posted on August 7, 2022 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 12.08.22] SiX By SiX is a new trio that sees Saga guitarist Crichton, Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler and vocalist & multi-instrumentalist Robert Berry (3 – Emerson, Berry, Palmer; Alliance) join forces. Maybe seeing Saxon’s drummer in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 3, album, Ian Crichton, Inside Out, Keith Emerson, melodic, Nigel Glockler, prog rock, review, Robert Berry, Saga, Saxon, SiX By SiX | Leave a comment

Album review: MIKE BROOKFIELD – Built To Last

Posted on August 7, 2022 by petefeenstra

Golden Rule [Release date 01.07.22] The Anglo-Irish singer songwriter/guitarist Mike Brookfield is back with the latest version of his own ever changing musical vision. The aptly titled ‘Built To last’ is a song driven album with meaningful lyrics and the … Continue reading →

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Album review: LITTLE TEXAS – 4 Classic Albums on 2 CDs

Posted on August 6, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 12.08.22] In the nineties, Little Texas were country rock’s most famous unknown band. Unknown outside of the USA perhaps, but a multi platinum selling band in their home territory through that decade. This 2 CD set … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, Bruce Hornsby, country rock, Dan Huff, Desert Rose band, Eagles, retrospective, review | Leave a comment

Album review: H.E.A.T. – Force Majeure

Posted on August 4, 2022 by andynathan

earMUSIC [Release date 05.08.22] H.E.A.T’s seventh album has been anticipated with some curiosity. 2020’s misleadingly entitled ‘H.E.A.T II’ was a refreshing return to their trademark anthemic melodic rock sound, after the experimental ‘Into The Great Unknown’ but singer Erik Gronwall, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dave Dalone, H.E.A.T., Jona Tee, Kenny Leckremo, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Album review: RESTLESS SPIRITS – Second To None

Posted on August 4, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 12.08.22] Restless Spirits’ guitarist Tony (Lords Of Black) Hernando’s melodic rock project gains some momentum here, with 4 outstanding singers. 3 of them, Chez Kane, Kent Hilli and Renan Zonta are on the verge of wider recognition. … Continue reading →

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Album review: NORDIC UNION – Animalistic

Posted on August 3, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 12.08.22] Nordic Union, as every melodic rock fan will know, is a musical marriage of two talented people. Songwriter, producer and guitarist, Erik (Eclipse, WET) Martensson, and vocalist, Ronnie (Pretty Maids) Atkins. Atkins’ advanced form of lung cancer, … Continue reading →

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News: Albums of the Month (April 2022 – June 2022)

Posted on August 3, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

DARE Road To Eden (Legend Records) Though it would be unreasonable to expect a full return to their original style, this nice blend of classic and newer Dare is a perfect representation of where they are in 2022, setting them … Continue reading →

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Album review: FRACTAL SEXTET

Posted on August 2, 2022 by GRTR! HQ

Alchemy Records [Release date 16.09.22] It would be easy to dismiss Fractal Sextet as a muso-based-up-their-own-backside combo. In fact the press release might have you believe that. But no. Muso – yes – but damned accessible with it. The whole … Continue reading →

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Album review: AMY GODDARD – Rise

Posted on August 1, 2022 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 22.07.22] Amy Goddard is a British contemporary folk singer/songwriter with both Celtic and American influences. She is also an artist and luthier (which I had to look up and they are a maker of string instruments). With … Continue reading →

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Album review: PALACE- One 4 The Road

Posted on August 1, 2022 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release date 15.07.22) Swedish man of many talents Michael Palace is back with his latest recreation of vintage AOR. Like its predecessor ‘Rock and Roll Radio’ 18 months ago he sings and plays all instruments himself, writes and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, melodic rock, Michael Palace, Palace | Leave a comment

Album review: DEF LEPPARD – Adrenalize (vinyl reissue)

Posted on July 30, 2022 by jason

Universal [Release date 05.08.22] Def Leppard are Britain’s most successful rock bands, whose records adorn many a collection (and radio playlist too). 1987’s Hysteria, with hits like Poor Some Sugar On Me, was such a success it’s album everyone either … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Adrenalize, album, Def Leppard, hard rock, Joe Elliott, melodic rock, reissue, review, rock, Vinyl | Leave a comment

Album review: MONTROSE – I Got The Fire (6 CD Boxset)

Posted on July 28, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red/HNE Recordings [Release date: 29.07.22] If you’re looking for comprehensive CD coverage of Montrose’s journey through the seventies, look no further. That might sound like a PR man’s tagline, but it’s reflective of reality. This boxset consists of: CD1: … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bill Church, Bob James, boxset, Deep Purple, Denny Carmassi, Free, hard rock, Jump On It, Led Zeppelin, review, Ronnie Montrose, Sammy Hagar, Warner Bros | Leave a comment

Album review: WAYSTED : Heroes Die Young – Waysted Volume 2 (5 CD boxset)

Posted on July 26, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red/HNE [Release date 29.07.22] Waysted reformed early in the new millenium, just to prove that the world hadn’t ended. This 5 CD boxset chronicles the band’s releases from when they kick started their career in 2000, to the date … Continue reading →

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Album review: OUSEY MANN – Is Anybody Listening

Posted on July 25, 2022 by andynathan

Escape Music (Release date 24.06.22) Both Chris Ousey and Steve Mann have been on the UK rock scene as long as I can remember –the former singing with Virginia Wolf, Heartland and Snakecharmer among others, the latter the loyal sideman … Continue reading →