Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: JETHRO TULL & IAN ANDERSON

Posted on March 15, 2020 by jason

JETHRO TULL – Living With The Past (CD&DVD Collector’s Edition Gatefold Digipac) EarMUSIC/Edel [Release date 20.03.20] Germany’s Edel/Ear Music continue their ambitious “Classics Range” with a double Jethro Tull whammy. These two boxsets add up to several hours of high … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged classic rock, folk, folk rock, Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull, live album, Living In The Past, prog rock, review, Thick As A Brick | Leave a comment

Album review: THE MOOD GROOVE – Some Left, Some Stayed

Posted on March 14, 2020 by jason

Indie [Release date 29.02.20] The Mood Groove, formed by JK Northrup and Ed Balldinger, released their debut album back in 2018 as an outlet to create and record music that stretched their collective imaginations and to invite listeners to something … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, Ed Balldinger, Eric Ragno, Fiction Syxx, Frank Zappa, funk, JK Northrup, melodic, Montrose, review, rock, Some Left Some Stayed, the Mood Groove | Leave a comment

Album review: HAREM SCAREM – Change The World

Posted on March 14, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 06.03.20] It’s not unreasonable to claim that Harem Scarem spearheaded the Melodic Rock movement’s rejuvenation in the mid nineties. 1993′s “Mood Swings”, the band’s second album, gave thousands of fans a liferaft to cling onto when the … Continue reading →

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Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Agents Of Fortune, 40th Anniversary

Posted on March 14, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 06.03.20] CD/DVD As any fan knows, the key to a band’s longevity is an enduring ability to write great songs. That and the talent to leave more out than they put in. Once they get into the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged 40th anniversary, Agents Of Fortune, album, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, classic album, classic rock, Eric Bloom, live, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: SERIOUS BLACK – Suite 226

Posted on March 12, 2020 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 31.01.20] “Suite 226” is seriously good Serious Black. The band have taken a lot of flak over the variable quality of their last couple of albums. Which isn’t surprising, knowing that the band’s refusal to conform … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, melodic metal, metal, review, rock opera, Serious Black, Suite 226, Urban breed | Leave a comment

Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Heaven Forbid

Posted on March 9, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 06.03.20] Blue Oyster Cult originally released ‘Heaven Forbid’ in 1998 on the CMC label, so it never got a widespread release and the band had left the label by their next album. Although there are no bonus … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album. Eric Bloom, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, classic rock, Frontiers, hard rock, Heaven Forbid, re-issue, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: SHAKRA – Mad World

Posted on March 8, 2020 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 28.02.20] “Mad World” is Shakra’s 12th studio album, and it’s a lot like the previous 11. That’s a relief. Thomas Muster’s and Thom Blunier’s economic riffs continue to drive the music, and along with prodigal son, … Continue reading →

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Album review: DAVID CROSS & PETER BANKS – Crossover

Posted on March 8, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Noisy Records [Release date 17.01.20] David Cross will be best known for his time with King Crimson in the 1970s. His more recent solo works and collaborations (with the likes of one-time Van Der Graaf sax player David Jackson and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ambient, Billy Sherwood, Crossover, David Cross, fusion, Geoff Downes, instrumental, King Crimson, Peter Banks, review, Tony Kaye, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: NEWMAN – Ignition

Posted on March 4, 2020 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 27.03.20] Steve Newman formed the band Newman way back in 1997, with the last Newman album ‘Aerial’ released in 2017. Since then he’s been busy writing songs with the likes of Toby Hitchcock, joined the band … Continue reading →

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Album review: SEVEN SPIRES – Emerald Seas

Posted on March 4, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 28.02.20] If only all concept albums were like this one…bittersweet melodic metal anthems liberally laced with apocalyptic metal tragedy. It’s such an accomplished piece of music that it belies the fact it is only the US band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Emerald Seas, Frontiers, metal, prog metal, review, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, Sascha Paeth, Seven Spires, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: GRAHAM GOULDMAN – Modesty Forbids

Posted on March 2, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Graham Gouldman in the first hour of his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 5 April 2020. Lojinx [Release date 20.03.20] Graham Gouldman is a real trooper. In recent years he has … Continue reading →

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Album review: SNAKE OIL & HARMONY – Hurricane Riders

Posted on March 2, 2020 by jason

Zero One Entertainment [Release date 28.02.20] Five years ago, Danny Vaughn (Tyketto) and Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network) decided to combine their talents in to form a live acoustic touring act called Snake Oil & Harmony. Since then they have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, country, Dan Reed, Dan Reed Network, Danny Vaughn, Hurricane Riders, melodic, pop, review, singer songwriter, Snake Oil & Harmony, Tyketto | Leave a comment

Album review: WAITING FOR MONDAY – S/T

Posted on March 1, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] Few bands are less famous than their producer. Walter Ino, 6 years with Survivor, touring keyboard player with The Babys, and currently holding down lead guitarist spot with The Eagles of Death Metal, produced this self … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, debut, DENNIS DeYOUNG, Jeff Scott Soto, melodic rock, review, Waiting For Monday, Walter Ino | Leave a comment

Album review: ARCHON ANGEL – Fallen

Posted on March 1, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] Archon Angel is a new project born from a meeting between producer/guitarist Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere) and former Savatage and Circle II Circle vocalist Zak Stevens during the making of Timo Tolkki’s Avalon’s Return To Eden … Continue reading →

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Album review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – F8

Posted on March 1, 2020 by david.wilson

Better Noise Records [Release date – 28.02.20] This is album number 8 from Five Finger Death Punch and it’s one that marks a number of firsts for the band. It is the first album to feature new drummer Charlie Engen, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, CD, Charlie Engen, Chric Kael, F8, Five Finger Death Punch, Inside Out, Ivan Moody, Jason Hook, metal, review, rock, Zoltan Bathory | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACKWATER CONSPIRACY – Two Tails & The Dirty Truth Of Love & Revolution

Posted on March 1, 2020 by david.wilson

Bulletproof 20/20 Records [Release date 14.02.20] This is the second album from County Tyrone southern tinged rockers Blackwater Conspiracy following on from their 2017 debut ‘Shootin’ The Breeze’ and it is a bit of a cracker. The band master … Continue reading →

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Album review: WKW (WATSON, KERCHEVAL, WATSON) – Men Of Steel

Posted on March 1, 2020 by david.wilson

WKW Music [Release date - Out Now] WKW is a collaboration between the two Big Country mainstays, Bruce and Jamie Watson, and Thomas Kercheval. Kercheval is an Emmy winning documentary editor, independent musician and longtime Big Country fan. He ran … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Big Country, Bruce Watson, CD, Jamie Watson, Kerchevel, Men Of Steel, review, Robert Burns, Stuart Adamson, The Skids, Watson, WKW | Leave a comment

Album review: STATUS QUO – Rock Till You Drop & Thirsty Work

Posted on March 1, 2020 by jason

UMC [Release date 06.03.20] “Rock Till You Drop” was something of a love/hate album for the band. Rossi loved it, Parfitt hated it. It was a look back in the band’s rear view mirror. It was never uncomfortably reverential, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, boogie, classic rock, Francis Rossi, pop rock, re-issue, review, Rick Parfitt, rock, Rock Til You Drop, Status Quo, Thirsty Work | Leave a comment

Album review: RICHARD THOMPSON – Live At Rock City, Nottingham 86

Posted on February 29, 2020 by jason

Angel Air/Store For Music [Release date 13.03.20] An archive live performance from Richard Thompson from 1986 where he has backed by a veritable array of top notch folk musicians including Clive Gregson & Christine Collister (who were forging a successful … Continue reading →

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Album review: STATUS QUO – Perfect Remedy

Posted on February 29, 2020 by jason

UMC [Release date 06.03.20] Albums nineteen, twenty and twenty one. How many bands can say that? Each one now reissued, and expanded to within an inch of its life. With added liner notes and pics. “Perfect Remedy” (1989), “Rock Till … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, boogie, classic rock, Francis Rossi, Perfect Remedy, re-issue, review, Rick Parfitt, rock, rock 'n' roll, Status Quo | Leave a comment

Album review: DATURA4 – West Coast Highway Cosmic

Posted on February 29, 2020 by jason

Naturalsounds Records [Release date 17.04.20] Feels like only five minutes since Datura4 anointed us with their blessed brand of down-under boogie and yet here they are already with their fourth album release, “West Coast Highway Cosmic”. As consistent as white … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, boogie, Datura4, Dom Mariani, review, rock, UFO, West Coast Highway Cosmic | Leave a comment

Album review: ABSOLVA – Side By Side

Posted on February 25, 2020 by jason

Rocksector Records [Release date 18.10.19] Absolva formed from the ashes of Fury (UK) in 2012, featuring Chris Appleton (vocals, guitar), Luke Appleton (guitar, vocals), Martin McNee (drums) and bassist Karl Schramm, who joined the band in 2014. The band also … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Blaze Bayley, Fury UK, Iced Earth, Iron Maiden, Luke Appleton, melodic metal, metal, review | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK SWAN – Shake The World

Posted on February 25, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] You have to say (again) that Frontiers knows how to put a band together, in this case Black Swan. Here are four musicians – Robin McAuley, Jeff Pilson, Reb Beach and Matt Starr – whose well … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Black Swan, Dokken, Frontiers, hard rock, Jeff Pilson, Matt Starr, melodic rock, Mr Big, MSG, Reb Beach, review, Robin McAuley, Shake The World | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL SAATCHI – Sun Come Up

Posted on February 25, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Jobbing Brighton musician , singer, and writer Phil Saatchi’s main claim to fame seem to be collaborations with Sam Brown on her 1990 debut Stop!, and with Phil Manzanera on And The Beat Goes On in 1991. Oh, and a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Phil Saatchi, pop, review, rock, Sun Come Up | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JEFFREY FOUCAULT, AMBERLY CHALBERG, DANIEL STEER

Posted on February 24, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

JEFFREY FOUCAULT Blood Brothers Blueblade Records [Release date 27,03.20] No question, Americana is the new rock n roll. And the opening number – ‘Dishes’ – on Jeffrey Foucault’s follow up to his critically acclaimed 2015 album Salt As Wolves – … Continue reading →