Category Archives: Reissues

Album review: STYX – Caught In The Act

Posted on February 20, 2018 by jason

BGO Records [Release date 09.02.18] BGO Records are re-issuing ‘Caught In The Act’, Styx’s live album originally released in 1984, as a double CD in a slip case, remastered and with sleeve notes from Neil Daniels. ‘Caught In The Act’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, BGO Records, Caught In The Act, classic rock, concert, Dennis De Young, James Young, Kilry Was Here, live, melodic, melodic rock, review, rock, Styx, Tommy Shaw | Leave a comment

Album review: RICHIE KOTZEN, IAN GILLAN (reissues)

Posted on February 19, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

RICHIE KOTZEN - Telecasters & Stratocasters - Klassic Kotzen

The Store For Music [Release date 17.11.17/23.02.18] A welcome outing for three late-1990s solo albums from the underrated Richie Kotzen, repackaged as Telecasters & Stratocasters: Klassic Kotzen. Kotzen might be best known for his stints in Poison and Mr.Big and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Reissues | Tagged Accidentally On Purpose, album, Break It All Down, compilation, Deep Purple, funk, Gillan, Ian Gillan, Ian Gillan Band, Naked Thunder, R&B, reissue, review, Richie Kotzen, rock, Roger Glover, Something To Say, soul, Telecasters & Stratocasters: Klassic Kotzen, What Is | Leave a comment

Album review: JON BUTCHER AXIS

Posted on February 13, 2018 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 19.01.18] If like me you were one of those who spent every fortnight reading Kerrang! and the Wimpwire column by Derek Oliver, Jon Butcher’s name came up quite often and indeed he got a feature in the AOR/melodic … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 80s, album, Escape Music, JK Northrup, Jon Butcher, Jon Butcher Axis, melodic, re-issue, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DRIVE, SHE SAID – Real Life

Posted on February 11, 2018 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 23.03.18] ‘Real Life’ was originally released back in 2003 by Drive, She Said the band who featured vocalist/guitarist/bassist Al Fritsch and keyboards wizard Mark Mangold. This album has been re-mixed in 2017 by Brian Anthony and Mark … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Al Fritsch, album, Drive, Escape Music, Mark Mangold, melodic, pomp, re-mastered, Real Life, remixed, review, rock, She Said | Leave a comment

Album review: CHRIS HILLMAN – The Asylum Years

Posted on February 10, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Omnivore Recordings [Release date 09.02.18] This new CD brings together Chris Hillman’s first two solo albums, from 1976 and 1977 respectively. Hillman had a fine pedigree as a member of The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and Manassas. Immediately prior … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Reissues | Tagged album, Chris Hillman, Clear Sailin', country, Manassas, reissue, review, rock, Slippin' Away, The Asylum Years, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band | Leave a comment

Album review: MARILLION – Holidays In Eden Live/Size Matters (reissues)

Posted on February 9, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC [Release date 19.01.18] Curious ‘mainstream’ releases for these two double CD sets, that fans will know were originally released on the band’s own Racket Records label (in fact, Size Matters is still currently available, albeit with a different sleeve), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Holidays In Eden Live, live, Marillion, progressive, review, rock, Size Matters, Steve Hogarth, Steve Rothery, weekend | Leave a comment

Album review: OSMOSIS (reissue)

Posted on February 5, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date: 24.11.17] If the ‘assimilation of ideas’ inherent in the meaning of the term osmosis is also a process of ‘almost unconscious gradualism’, it is not reflected in the 1970 debut (and only) release by this US Bostonian … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, jazz, Osmosis, progressive, reissue, review | Leave a comment

Album review: STRAY – Fire & Glass (The Pye Recordings 1975-1976)

Posted on February 5, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date: 24.11.17] Regulars on the 70s’ gigging circuit in the UK, Stray harnessed consistently strong and varied repertoire with colourful performances supporting the likes of Black Sabbath and Ten Years After. But they were also signed to indie … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, blues rock, classic rock, compilation, DEL BROMHAM, Fire & Glass (The Pye Recordings 1975-1976), review, Stray | Leave a comment

Album review: W.A.S.P. – Re-idolized

Posted on February 3, 2018 by jason

Napalm Records [Release date 02.02.18] Moving away from the trashy, good-time, OTT lyrics of earlier albums, The Crimson Idol (released in 1993) saw Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P. move into the territory of the concept album. The Crimson Idol tells the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Blackie Lawless, metal, Naplam Records, Re-idolized, review, rock, The Crimson Idol, W.A.S.P | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ – My ReGeneration/The Further Adventures Of

Posted on January 23, 2018 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 01.12.17] The Down ‘N’ Outz were formed by Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, when he was asked to be involved in the Mott The Hoople reunion shows in 2009. For this he was backed by Quireboys’ members Paul Guerin … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, classic rock, Def Leppard, Down N Outz, Ian Hunter, Joe Elliott, live, Mott the Hoople, My ReGeneration, Quireboys, re-issue, review, the Further Adventures Of | Leave a comment

Album review: MAGMA – Mekanïk Destruktï? Kommandöh

Posted on December 30, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Seventh Records [Release date: 25.11.17] When the album ‘Mekanïk Destruktï? Kommandöh’ hit the racks in UK and US record stores in 1973, it was assumed to be a debut because nobody had heard of the band, and – judging by … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Christian Vander, Krautrock, Magma, Mekanïk Destruktï? Kommandöh, prog, progressive, reissue, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THE GARDENING CLUB

Posted on December 29, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Gonzo Multimedia [Release date 22.09.17] A lost prog classic? That might be applied to this reissue of an album originally released in 1983 and the work of UK-born, now Canadian resident Martin Springett. The album will appeal to fans of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Camel, Don Geppert, Genesis, Martin Springett, prog, Progressive Rock, review, The Gardening Club | Leave a comment

Album review: SKID ROW – Skid/34 Hours (reissues)

Posted on December 7, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

BGO [Release date: 21.07.17] 2 on 1 CD “I remember Paris in ‘49” … five words guaranteed to cue the leery lads of the night to grab and clinch their squeezes for that last, up close smooch in the smoke … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 34 Hours, album, blues rock, Gary Moore, hard rock, Phil Lynott, review, Skid, Skid Row, Thin Lizzy | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – Winter Carols

Posted on December 6, 2017 by jason

Minstrel Hall Music [Release date 20.10.17] Ritchie Blackmore’s move from the hard rock of Rainbow and Deep Purple to the renaissance folk of Blackmore’s Night, with his wife Candice, has always been controversial among rock fans, When I reviewed the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Blackmore's Night, Candice Night, Christmas, Deep Purple, review, Ritchie Blackmore, Winter Carols | Leave a comment

Album review: VERN DAYSEL – Shootin’ The Breeze/Blood Of A Wolf

Posted on November 23, 2017 by jason

In this special showcase, Vern Daysel introduces his music with tracks from ‘Blood Of A Wolf’. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 17 December 2017 (38:26) Remember the philosophical story about the optimistic kid who wakes up on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Blood of a Wolf, Free, Quireboys, review, rock, Shootin' The Breeze, southern rock, The Faces, Vern Daysel | Leave a comment

Album review: BLIND GUARDIAN – Re-issues

Posted on November 19, 2017 by jason

Battalions Of Fear/Follow Me Blind/Tales From The Twilight World/Somewhere Far Beyond/Tokyo Tales’/Imaginations From The Other Side/The Forgotten Tales (compilation)/Nightfall In Middle Earth/A Night At The Opera/Live Nuclear Blast [Release date 27.10.17] German power metal band Blind Guardian have produced some … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged albums, Blind Guardian, Hansi Hursch, metal, Nuclear Blast, power metal, re-issue, review, Thrash | Leave a comment

Album review: ANTHONY PHILLIPS – Invisible Men

Posted on November 13, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date 13.10.17] The former Genesis guitarist’s solo career has been enjoying a boom courtesy of Esoteric Recordings and their expansive reissue programme of his back catalogue. We’ve had the 70s – acoustic, analogue, much meditative melancholy resonating nicely … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Reissues | Tagged album, Anthony Phillips, electronic, Genesis, Invisible Men, pop, review, Richard Scott | Leave a comment

Album review: ROSE TATTOO – Tatts Live In Brunswick 1982

Posted on November 10, 2017 by jason

Golden Robot [Release date 24.11.17] Classic Australian hard rock band synonymous with the shaven headed frontman Angry Anderson and a tattoo or two, as well as a few AC/DC connections, Rose Tattoo were formed in the mid 70s and took AC/DC’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Angry Anderson, blues, hard rock, live abum, Pete Wells, review, rock, Rose Tattoo, Tatts Live In Brunswick 1982 | Leave a comment

Album review: THOMAS LANG – Scallywag Jaz (2 disc expanded edition)

Posted on October 22, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

SFE/Cherry Red [Release date 10.11.17] As we learn from the informative liner notes Tom T. Jones made his first demos in a studio in Birkenhead (Lily Savage’s spiritual home) before returning to his day job as a British Rail joiner. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 30th anniversary edition, album, expanded, jazz, pop, review, Scallywag Jaz, soul, Thomas Lang | Leave a comment

Album review: GAMMA RAY – Reissues (Land Of The Free/Alive ’95)

Posted on September 20, 2017 by jason

earMUSIC [Release date 29.09.17] earMUSIC’s Gamma Ray re-issue schedule continues with the band’s fourth studio album (original released in 1995) getting a deluxe 2CD re-issue. The second disc adds three songs (including the band’s blistering cover of Holocaust’s ‘Heavy Metal … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Reissues | Tagged album, Alive '95, Classic Albums, EarMusic, Gamma Ray, Kai Hansen, Land of the Free, live albums, metal, Michael Kiske, power metal, review | Leave a comment

Quick plays: A II Z, INTO THE UNKNOWN

Posted on September 12, 2017 by jason

A II Z The Witch Of Berkeley Caroline Records [Release date 18.08.17] Part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, AIIZ (pronounced A To Z) were formed in Manchester in 1979 and recorded one album, this live set (like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues | Tagged A II Z, album, Chris de Burgh, Headcharger, Hexagram, Into The Unknown, metal, NWOBHM, Out Of The Shadows, review, rock, The Witch Of Berkeley | Leave a comment

Album review: VARDIS – Reissues

Posted on September 12, 2017 by jason

Dissonance [Release date 22.09.17] Vardis have to be one of the most underrated and overlooked bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal genre. Their brand of metal, often dipping into boogie/biker metal, could also be seen as a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 100MPH, album, metal, NWOBHM, Quo Vardis, reissue, review, rock, Steve Zodiac, The World's Insane, Vardis | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Solid Book Of Rock (Box set)

Posted on September 7, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Edsel/Demon Music Group [Release date 18.08.17] It seems that – exhausting the market for CD expanded or deluxe editions – 2017 might be the “Year of The Box Set” as labels try and find new income streams. We’ll be getting … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Biff Byford, box set, Dogs Of War, Forever Free, heavy metal, heavy rock, Into The Labyrinth, Killing Ground, Lionheart, Metalhead, review, Saxon, Solid Book Of Rock, Sollid Ball Of Rock, The Inner Sanctum, Unleash The Beast | Leave a comment

Album review: EMERSON LAKE & PALMER – Fanfare 1970–1997

Posted on September 3, 2017 by jason

BMG [Release date 29.09.17] As the world of prog and rock continue to mourn the sad loss of Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, and with Carl Palmer kicking off a tour, we get this mammoth box set that is as overblown … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, BMG, box set, Carl Palmer, ELP, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Fanfare 1970-1997, Keith Emerson. Greg Lake, prog, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: COZY POWELL – The Polydor Years

Posted on September 3, 2017 by jason

Caroline International [Release date 25.08.17] Drummer extraordinaire Cozy Powell is one of the biggest hitters in the hard rock word, making his name with Jeff Beck, Rainbow, Whitesnake, MSG, Black Sabbath, and Brian May; just before he died in 1998 … Continue reading →