Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: TINY BIT OF GIANT’S BLOOD – Gigantosaur

Posted on July 14, 2020 by jason

Jumbo Records [Release date 22.05.20] Following ‘Dram A’ a five-track EP released back in 2018 ‘Gigantosaur’ is the debut full-length album from US-based self-styled glam punks Tiny Bit Of Giant’s Blood. A curious but likeable album from this gloriously eccentric … Continue reading →

Album review: SHINING BLACK

Posted on July 13, 2020 by jason

Frontiers Records [Release date 10.07.20] For afficionados, these are instantly recognisable protagonists. Shining Black matches up Mark Boals, a gun for hire vocalist, with the perhaps lesser known Olaf Thorsen, guitarist with Labyrinth and Vision Divine. It plays out along … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Frontiers, Labyrinth, Mark Boals, melodic metal, Olaf Thorsen, progressive metal, review, Shining Black, Vision Divine, Yngwie Malmsteen | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVID BOWIE – Ouvrez le Chien (Live Dallas 95)

Posted on July 12, 2020 by jason

Parlophone Records [Release date 03.07.20] When it comes to the oft-debated world of posthumous releases, the gatekeepers of David Bowie’s catalogue can surely be held up as an example of how to do it right. Since Bowie’s passing in 2016 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, avant garde, David Bowie, electronica, Ouvrez le Chien (Live Dallas 95), pop, review, rock, Tin Machine | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL GRANT & THE ASSASSINS – Always The Villain

Posted on July 12, 2020 by jason

Frontiers Records [Release date 10.07.20] Few bands or artists appear from nowhere. And sure enough, Michael Grant has a history, one that goes beyond his recent stint with the LA Guns. Wiki will reveal all so no point in going … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, Always The Villain, Frontiers, Guns 'N' Roses, Michael Grant, review, rock, the Assassins | Leave a comment

Album review: ENUFF ZNUFF – Brainwashed Generation

Posted on July 10, 2020 by jason

Frontiers Records [Release date 10.07.20] There was a time Enuff Z’Nuff’s lineup seemed to go into an endless revolving door spin, but now, with founding member Donnie Vie apparently leaving for good, Chip Z’Nuff has assembled a solid, talented line … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Beatles, Brainwashed Generation, Chip Z'nuff, Donnie Vie, Enuff Z'Nuff, melodic, pop rock, power pop, review | Leave a comment

Album review: NORMAN BEAKER – Running Down The Clock

Posted on July 9, 2020 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Norman Beaker about his music and the new album for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 5 July 2020. Clock Records [Release date 24.07.20] It’s almost a shock to realise that this album celebrates Norman’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, blues, Bo Diddley, boogie, Chris Farlowe, country, Delbert McClinton, George Harrison, interview, JJ Cale, John Price, Larry Garner, Leo Anjelkavic, Mark Knopfler, Norman Beaker, review, rock, Running Down The Clock, The Pretty Things, Tommy Castro, ZZ Top | Leave a comment

Album review: WHITESNAKE – The Rock Album: MMXX

Posted on July 6, 2020 by jason

Rhino [Release date 19.06.20] Part one of a remastered trio (the Red White & Blue trio), this compilation goes back to 1984’s Slide It In and takes in rock tracks of Ol’ Cov’s catalogue since, all given a 2020 remix. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, David Coverdale, reissue, review, Rhino, rock, The Rock Album: MMXX, Vinyl, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: TOBY JEPSON & THE TRUTH – Ignorance Is Bliss

Posted on July 6, 2020 by jason

Website [Release date 13.07.20] Toby Jepson is a national treasure and one of the finest musicians, songwriters and producers in the country. From his time fronting Little Angels, his successful solo career, stints with Fastway, Gun and Dio Disciples through … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 25th anniversary, album, Ignorance Is Bliss, Little Angels, reissue, review, Solo, Toby Jepson & the Truth, Wayward Sons | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (April 2020 – June 2020)

Posted on July 4, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

KATATONIA City Burials Peaceville Records …what we are dealing with here is a flawless piece of work one that both critics and fans of the band will refer to as a classic in years to come. Brilliant just brilliant! ***** … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 20/20, albums of the month, April, Bad Touch, blues, blues rock, classic rock, hard rock, House of Lords, jazz funk, June, Katatonia, Lettuce, May, melodic rock, Myrath, Ronan Furlong, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: MAGNUS KARLSSON’S FREE FALL – We Are The Night

Posted on July 4, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 12.06.20] Album number three from the Free Fall project fronted by Primal Fear guitarist Magnus Karlsson, who has been busy of late having had a hand in the recent Allen/Olzen album also released by Frontiers. Karlsson handles … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Freefall, guitarist, Magnus Karlsson, melodic metal, Primal Fear, pwoer metal, review, symphonic metal, Tony Martin, We Are The Night | Leave a comment

Album review: LONELY ROBOT – Feelings Are Good

Posted on July 2, 2020 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 17.07.20] In true Douglas Adams fashion Lonely Robot are back with their fourth album in a trilogy. Actually the first three albums were part of the space trilogy, whereas ‘Feelings Are Good’ as John Mitchell explains … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Craig Blundell, Feelings Are Good, John Mitchell, Lonely Robot, melodic, pop, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: VIOLENT SOHO – Everything is A-OK

Posted on July 1, 2020 by Davoski

I Oh You Records [Release date: 03.04.20] Accomplished indie/alt rock from Brisbane. I assume the title is not meant to be ironic. The album surfaced in the Spring and the recording/packaging would have been created long before the Covid-19 pandemic. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt, Brisbane, Everything is A-OK, indy, review, rock, Smashing Pumpkins, Violent Soho | Leave a comment

Album review: KANSAS – The Absence of Presence

Posted on June 30, 2020 by andynathan

Inside Out Records [Release Date 17.07.20] Kansas are an object lesson in regeneration and renewal for veteran bands. Having been around since 1974, many feared for their future when lead singer Steve Walsh retired in 2014, but continuing with a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Kansas, Phil Ehart, Progressive Rock, Richard Williams, Ronnie Platt, Tom Brislin, Zak Rizvi | Leave a comment

Album review: PAUL KANTNER, GRACE SLICK & DAVID FREIBERG – Baron Von Tollboth And The Chrome Nun

Posted on June 30, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date: 27.3.20] By the early ’70s, a plethora of side projects accompanied the gentle coming-to-earth of Jefferson Airplane. A banner for socially-conscious psych-spiked folk rock, the San Franciscan ensemble was unassembling, its members distracted, often by themselves, and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Leave a comment

CHESTER KAMEN AND THE LOVES – Americanized

Posted on June 30, 2020 by jason

CHESTER KAMEN & THE LOVES - Americanized

Stoney Records [Release date 03.07.20] In another era Chester Kamen and the Loves might have shifted a ton of copies. They somehow evoke the days of New Wave/Punk, coming across like early Talking Heads, like the Buzzcocks, Eddie and the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americanized, Buzzcocks, Chester Kamen and the Loves, melodic, New Wave, Paul McArtney, punk pop, review, rock, Roger Waters | Leave a comment

Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Iheart Radio Theater NYC 2012

Posted on June 27, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 08.05.20] An invited audience of 200 lucky fans saw Blue Oyster Cult live on stage at the IHeart Radio Theater in New York in 2012. The event noisily celebrated the band’s 40th year together, expertly recorded by … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, classic rock, Eric Bloom, Frontiers, hard rock, heavy metal, Iheart Radio Theater NYC 2012, live, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: EBBA BERGKVIST & THE FLAT TIRE BAND – Spilt Milk

Posted on June 27, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 29.05.20] The debut album from Ebba Bergkvist & The Flat Tire Band – a Stockholm based, blues rock band featuring Ebba Bergkvist (vocals, guitar), Adam Randolph (drums), Erik Edgren (guitar)and Björn Korning (bass) – offers a bewildering smogasboard … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues rock, Ebba Bergkvist & The Flat Tire Band, review, rock, roots, Spilt Milk | Leave a comment

Album review: THUNDERMOTHER – Heat Wave

Posted on June 27, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

AFM Records [Release date 31.07.20] Heat Wave – Thundermother’s fourth album – finds the no frills, all-female, Swedish, rock ‘n’ raunchers still in line-up transition. With all bar founder member/guitarist/songwriter Filippa Nässil quitting the band after touring their 2015 sophomore … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, Heat Wave, review, Sweden, Thundermother | Leave a comment

Album review: LARKIN POE – Self Made Man

Posted on June 27, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Tricki-Woo Records [Release date 12.06.20] Atlanta-bred, Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist Lovell sisters Rebecca and Megan have never been less than prolific, passing through folk, and then pop before alighting on the pop meets American South roots based format they debuted on Peach … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues rock, Larkin Poe, review, roots, Self Made Man | Leave a comment

Album review: MAGENTA – Masters Of Illusion

Posted on June 27, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Tigermoth [Release date 10.07.20] It seems a while since Magenta’s last studio release – We Are Legend (2017), and much as I enjoyed it, I have to confess it isn’t an album I’ve felt overly inclined to revisit at regular … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Hammer, horror, John Mitchell, Magenta, Masters Of Illusion, Peter Jones, prog, prog rock, progressive, review, Rob Reed, Troy Donockley | Leave a comment

Album review: SHRED KELLY – Like A Rising Sun

Posted on June 27, 2020 by jason

Devil Duck Records [Release date 03.07.20] Where do these excellent bands keep appearing from? Shred Kelly are another one, a five piece alt folk rock band (and not a speed metal band as their name may suggest) hailing from Canada … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt folk, folk, folk rock, Like A Rising Sun, melodic, pop rock, review, Shred Kelly | Leave a comment

Album review: SMACKBOUND – 20/20

Posted on June 24, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 12.06.20] Finland’s Smackbound paid their dues playing clubs as a covers’ band. Their debut album, “20/20” is a distillation of all the styles and stuff they performed on stage…with added songwriting. And the songwriting shines brightly. It … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 20/20, album, debut, Frontiers, melodic metal, metal, review, Smackbound, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: MANDOKI SOULMATES – Living In The Gap/Hungarian Pictures

Posted on June 24, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Red Rock Production/Cleopatra Records [Release date 06.20] 2-CD Reviewing in the millennium means that we miss out on previous decades’ lavish PR packages. If we are lucky these days we get a 320kbps download. The arrival of the re-promoted Mandoki … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Al Di Meola, album, Bobby Kimball, Chris Thompson, fusion, Hungarian Pictures, Ian Anderson, Jack Bruce, Jazz rock, John Helliwell. Leslie Mandoki, Living In The Gap, Mandoki Soulmates, Mike Stern, prog, progressive, Randy Brecker, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: SOLITUDE WITHIN – Disappear

Posted on June 23, 2020 by jason

The European metal scene has never been healthier, as each week reveals more and more bands to fall in love with. Belgium Symphonic rockers Solitude Within can rightly stake their claim as part of the leading pack with their 2017 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged album, Disappear, epic metal, melodic, melodic metal, metal, review, Solitude Within, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: PINNACLE POINT – Symphony Of Mind

Posted on June 21, 2020 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 17.07.20] Pinnacle Point released their debut album ‘Winds Of Change’ back in 2017 and the band features vocalist Jerome Mazza (Angelica, Outlaw Son, Steve Walsh) and guitarist Torben Enevoldsen (Fate, Acacia Avenue, Section A). They are … Continue reading →