Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile)

Quick plays: DAVID LOCKE, DERIAN CROSS, TESS OF THE CIRCLE

Posted on February 4, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

DAVID LOCKE Transitions [Release date 05.15] www.davidlocke.co.uk David Locke is another guitar journeymen but the difference between his production values and the Derian Cross album (see below) are palpable. A lot of time and effort has evidently gone into making … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Amplify, Dave Locke, Derian Cross, fusion, guitar, guitarist, One, pop rock, rock, Tess Of the Circle, Transitions | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BEN ABRAHAM, DEATH BY UNGA BUNGA, TALISCO

Posted on February 3, 2016 by jason

BEN ABRAHAM – Sirens Secretly Canadian [Release date 04.03.16] Despite the record label name, Ben Abraham hails from Australia where this, his debut album, was released last year. It is now getting a full UK release and I can see … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Ben Abraham, Death By Unga Bunga, folk, Pineapple Pizza, pop, punk, review, Run, singer songwriter, Talisco | Leave a comment

Album review: DREAM THEATER – The Astonishing

Posted on February 1, 2016 by jason

Roadrunner Records [Release date 29.01.16] Epic. Sprawling. Career defining? Perhaps. Dream Theater have unleashed upon its adoring fans an album of such substantial girth that it makes the job of reviewing it reasonably tough. DT are known for super long … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, concept, Dream Theater, James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, melodic, metal, progressive, review, the Astonishing | Leave a comment

Album review: ESCAPE THE FATE – Hate Me

Posted on January 31, 2016 by jason

[Release date 30.10.15] “Hate Me” is the 5th studio album from the Las Vegas formed band. Escape the Fate (ETF) are most notable for being the first band of outspoken Falling in Reverse frontman, Ronnie Radke. They also have worked … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Craig Mabbitt, ESCAPE THE FATE, Hate Me, metal, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM – Paintings

Posted on January 29, 2016 by jason

AOR Heaven [Released 26.02.16] Album number twelve from Last Autumn’s Dream who, with a couple of exceptions, release a new album at the start of each year. The line-up is the same as 2015′s ‘Level Eleven’, making this the second … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, AOR Heaven, Last Autumn’s Dream, melodic, Paintings, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: BROTHERS OF MARS – Welcome To My Breakdown

Posted on January 29, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 22.09.15] www.brothersofmars.com A quick glance at the track listing on this solo project from Mauro Zarattini – ‘Mental Breakdown’, ‘Welcome To Hell’, ‘Tarot Reader’, and ‘Acid Rain’ – suggests that the listener is in for some, to use … Continue reading →

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Album review: SHAKRA – High Noon

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 29.01.16] Swiss hard rock band Shakra return with their tenth studio album “High Noon” and, after the departure of vocalist John Prakesh in late 2013, surprisingly also return with previous vocalist Mark Fox who quit the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, Dominik Pfister, High Noon, Mark Fox, melodic rock, review, Roger Tanner, Shakra, Switzerland, Thom Blunier, Thomas Muster | Leave a comment

Album Review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Into The Legend

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 15.01.16] Rhapsody of Fire return with their 11th studio album “Into The Legend”…this is of course classing Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody as a totally separate band which I suppose it is anyway… The press release points out … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, Alessandro Sala, Alex Holzwarth, Alex Staropoli, Fabio Lione, Into The Legend, orchestral metal, power metal, review, Rhapsody, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, Roby De Micheli, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: MAGNUM – Sacred Blood “Divine” Lies

Posted on January 25, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

SPV [Release date 26.02.16] Tony Clarkin must surely receive a public award for services to consistent songwriting. Since the mid-1970s he has been the main architect of Magnum’s wider and enduring success. And on this – the band’s 19th studio … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Al Barrow, album, AOR, Bob Catley, Harry James, Magnum, Mark Stanway, pomp, review, rock, Sacred Blood "Divine" Lies, Tony Clarkin | Leave a comment

Album review: THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT – White Bear

Posted on January 24, 2016 by jason

Earache Records [Release date 15.01.16] The Temperance Movement’s debut album released back in 2013 proved a big hit, making the upper echelons of the UK album charts. Since then they have opened for the Rolling Stones and toured extensively, including … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic, Earache Records, Phil Campbell, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, The Temperance Movement, White Bear | Leave a comment

Album review: LAST IN LINE – Heavy Crown

Posted on January 24, 2016 by jason

Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Release date 19.02.16] How poignant that, as I write this review, it is just hours since the news broke that bass player Jimmy Bain has died. A member of Rainbow, Thin Lizzy and a pivotal part of Dio, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andrew Freeman, classic, Dio, Frontiers, Heavy Crown, Jeff Pilson, Jimmy Bain, Last In Line, review, rock, Vinny Appice, Vivian Campbell | Leave a comment

Quick plays: JULIA FORDHAM (1988 reissue), UNDERHILL ROSE

Posted on January 23, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Cherry Pop [Release date 29.01.16] Julia Fordham is one of those artists who could only really flourish in the 1980s when there were expansive label budgets, solid production values, and exposure on national radio. Her exquisite blend of self-penned pop … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues | Tagged album, Americana, bonus tracks, folk, Julia Fordham, live, pop, reissue, review, roots, singer, songwriter, The Great Tomorrow, Underhill Rose | Leave a comment

Album review: JAN AKKERMAN – Jan Akkerman (1977 reissue)

Posted on January 23, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric Recordings [Release date 29.01.16] “Jan Akkerman”, the 1977 album with the distinctive “guitar in bed” cover, was Akkerman’s answer to Jeff Beck’s ‘Blow By Blow’ two years earlier. This was the Dutch guitarist’s first solo album since splitting from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Dutch, Focus, guitar, guitarist, Holland, Jan Akkerman, jazz fusion, Jazz rock, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DIRTBAG REPUBLIC, SNAKEWINE, TRAGIK

Posted on January 23, 2016 by jason

DIRTBAG REPUBLIC S/T www.dirtbagreoublic.bandcamp.com Now this is my kind of album- sleazy rock n roll neatly served up in 3 minute segments. This Canadian band have a sound that blends the likes of KISS, The New York Dolls, Cheap Trick … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, Alien Drive, classic, Dirtbag Republic, Phil Vincent, Quick Play, reviews, rock, sleaze, Snakewine, Stiff Staff, Tragik | Leave a comment

Album review: PRIMAL FEAR – Rulebreaker

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [Release date 22.11.15] Teutonic metal merchants Primal Fear return with their 11th studio album “Rulebreaker” which follows a similar path to 2014’s well received “Delivering The Black” opus. Primal Fear were founded way back in 1997 when bassist … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alex Beyrodt, Francesco Jovino, Frontiers, Magnus Karlsson, Mat Sinner, metal, Primal Fear, Ralf Scheepers, review, Rulebreaker, Tom Naumann | Leave a comment

Album review: CUTTING CREW – Add To Favourites

Posted on January 20, 2016 by jason

www.cuttingcrew.biz Everyone will know Cutting Crew for their big 80′s hit ‘(I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight’ and they had a decent level of success until they split-up in 1993. The band returned in 2005 with frontman and sole … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Add To Favorites, album, AOR, country, Cutting Crew, Nick Van Eede, pop, review, rock, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: IAN DANTER – Second Time Around

Posted on January 18, 2016 by jason

Cherry Red [Release date 25.09.15] I enjoyed TalkSport’s (he also subs in at Planet Rock and is the drummer in Kiss tribute band Dressed To Kill) Ian Danter’s debut album ‘Prove You Wrong’, released in 2013 and here is the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic, Greg Hart, IAN DANTER, Kiss, melodic, power pop, review, rock, Second Time Around, talkSPORT | Leave a comment

Album review: BRAINSTORM – Scary Creatures

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 15.01.16] Brainstorm’s 11th studio album “Scary Creatures” follows hot on the heels of 2014’s “Firesoul” and features ten more Euro-style power metal numbers. The Bavarian band were formed way back in 1989 and released their first … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, Andy B. Franck, Antonio Ieva, Brainstorm, Dieter Bernert, metal, Milan Loncaric, review, Scary Creatures, Torsten Ihlenfeld | Leave a comment

Album review: EXUMER – The Raging Tides

Posted on January 17, 2016 by jason

Metal Blade [Release date 29.01.16] Old fashion thrashin’. It can’t be put more simply than that. Exumer released both “Possessed by Fire” and “Rising from the Sea” at the height of thrash’s popularity, the 80s. This is a band that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Exumer, metal, Metal Blade, review, the Raging Tides, Thrash | Leave a comment

Quick plays – HELLSPRAY, HURON, THE SHAMBOLIC

Posted on January 17, 2016 by david.wilson

Album review: HELLSPRAY – Bring On The War Self Release [Release date 07.08.15] This is the second album by Swedish metal band Hellspray following on from their debut ‘Part Of The Solution’. The band master in hard and fast metal … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Quick Plays | Tagged album, Anders Moberg, Bring On The War, CD, Doom, Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate, Hellspray, Huron, metal, Motorhead, review, rock, Skindred, The Dead, The Dead Stay Dead, The Dying and The Damned, The Shambolic, When The Kill Code Fails, Zac Wylde | Leave a comment

Album review: MANIMAL – Trapped In The Shadows

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Phil Berisford

AFM Records [Release date 20.11.15] Manimal return with their brand of Swedish metal in the form of “Trapped In The Shadows” but for me the band name is a little off putting as it serves as a reminder of that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AFM Records, album, André Holmqvist, Henrik Stenroos, Kenny Boufadene, Manimal, metal, review, Samuel Nyman, Trapped In The Shadows | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MICK FLINN BAND, MATCHBOX

Posted on January 13, 2016 by jason

MICK FLINN BAND Road To L.A. [Release date 29.01.16] The Mick Flinn Band formed around five years ago, but Mick Flinn is most probably more well known as the lead singer in 70′s hitmakers the Mixtures, who had chart success … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, blues, Going Down Town, Matchbox, Mick Flinn Band, review, Road To LA, rock, rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, the Mixtures | Leave a comment

Album review: GLITCH CODE – Gifted_Damaged

Posted on January 13, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Basilica Music [Release date 12.02.16] Glitch Code is a collaboration between songwriter/producer/sound designer Paul Kirkpatrick and vocalist Rachel Harvey. And a lot of attention to detail has gone into the creation of their debut – even the packaging for the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Basilica, electronica, Gifted_Damaged, Glitch Code, Paul Kirkpatrick, pop, Rachel Harvey, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: LEAPFROGTOWN – Dreaming In Public

Posted on January 13, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

Coffee Jingle Records [Release date 25.01.16] Leapfrogtown – a vehicle for London duo Chris Guard and Stuart Walton – is proof, if it were ever needed, that you’re never old to [start to] rock ‘n’ roll, with their debut a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chris Guard, Dreaming In Public, glam, Leapfrogtown, pop, review, rock, Stuart Walton | Leave a comment

Album review: THE GALACTIC COWBOY ORCHESTRA – Earth Lift

Posted on January 12, 2016 by petefeenstra

Loud Folk [Release date 22.09.15] Minneapolis art rockers The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra take us back to the experimental and adventurous days of early 70’s prog rock and fusion, when bands like King Crimson, Jethro Tull and later the Mahavishnu Orchestra … Continue reading →