Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile)

Album review: THE DEAD DAISIES – The Dead Daisies

The Dead Daisies

Spitfire Music [Release date – out now] The Dead Daisies career is, ironically, blooming at the moment. The lead single from the album ‘Lock ‘N’ Load’ featuring Slash on guitar is all over the rock radio stations and the band … Continue reading

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Album review: FALLING RED – Empire Of The Damned

Falling Red

Self Release [Release date – 27.01.14] There can’t have been many rock bands from Carlisle over the years but Falling Red may be about to put the town firmly on the rock map. Over the last 6 years the band … Continue reading

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Album review: CRYSTAL VIPER – Possession

Crystal Viper - Possession

AFM Records www.afmrecords.de With an album cover looking like a tacky horror movie or a bad King Diamond album from the 1980’s the preconceptions start before I’ve even listened to this new release from Polish metal band Crystal Viper. Crystal … Continue reading

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Album review: SUSAN CATTANEO – Haunted Heart

SUSAN CATTANEO - Haunted Heart

Jersey Girl Music [Release date 20.01.14] We’ve been impressed at GRTR! by Cattaneo’s previous releases, and her fourth album Haunted Heart continues the good work. The warm honeyed vocals of previous releases are still there, as is range of styles … Continue reading

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Album review: EILEEN ROSE – Be Many Gone

Eileen Rose - Be Many Gone

Rarely have I seen a PR sheet so devoid of information about an album.  And the absence of sleeve and associated credits, lyrics etc doesn’t help either.  But here goes. A few year’s back singer songwriter Eileen Rose’s album – … Continue reading

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Album review: THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Classic Album Selection 1977-1984

THE BOOMTOWN RATS - Classic Album Collection

Universal [Release date 21.10.13] The latest record company wheeze to squeeze the last vestiges of profit out of dusty back catalogues seems to be the ‘reasonably priced’ box set.  Which can be very good news for the discerning punter, but … Continue reading

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Album Review: COSHISH – Firdous

      Universal Music India  [Release Date 11.09.13] One of the perks of being a reviewer is that, just occasionally, a little gem pops up out of the general slew of releases that, had you not been reviewing, would … Continue reading

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Album review: STEELEYE SPAN – Wintersmith

Park Records This is a departure for the revered folk rockers Steeleye Span, as the album is based on the novel ‘Wintersmith’ by Terry Pratchett, who also appears on the album and has a hand in writing the songs too. … Continue reading

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The Best Of 2013 – top albums, top live acts – the reviewers’ choice

Best of 2013

Every year we ask the GRTR! Team to list their favourite albums and gigs of the year.  As ever, it is a very eclectic mix and reflects the very broad and all-embracing tastes of our reviewers. How have we arrived … Continue reading

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Album review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Dark Wings Of Steel

Rhapsody Of Fire - Dark Wings Of Steel

AFM Records – [Release date 25.11.13] Keyboard wizard Alex Staropoli, founding member of the Symphonic Metal outfit Rhapsody (Rhapsody Of Fire since 2006),  is a man who has suffered trials and tribulations and undoubtedly grown a second skin through relentless … Continue reading

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Album review: ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD – Songs From The Road

Ruf [Release date 18.11.13] Royal Southern Brotherhood ‘Songs From the Road’ cements their place as one of the most essential live experiences in 2013. From their self titled debut album to their incendiary live shows, it’s been a long time … Continue reading

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Album review: SPARKS – New Music For Amnesiacs – The Essential Collection

Lil Beethoven Records (2CD) This two CD, 40 song best of is a condensed version of the recent box set, which features 83 songs. Sparks may be masters of pop yet they have had an influence in the rock world … Continue reading

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Album review: ANGELICA – Thrive

Angelica - Thrive

Frontiers www.frontiers.it Murder of My Sweet front woman Angelica Rylin has moved away from their symphonic metal sound for her debut solo release – Thrive is another one of Frontier’s all-star melodic rock records. Angelica has brought fellow band members … Continue reading

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Album review: BADHOVEN – Obsession

        ATS Records (Release date – out now) The last group I can think of that broke out of Austria were the Von Trappe Family Singers who went on to find success in America. With the right … Continue reading

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Quick plays: HANZEL UND GRETYL, SASQUATCH, HIDRIA SPACEFOLK, TOMAS BERGSTREN. JAMES McMORROW

Hidria Spacefolk - Astronautica

HIDRIA SPACEFOLK Astronautica (Hidria Records) http://hidriaspacefolk.st/ This Finnish band formed in 1999 and their first album ‘Symbiosis’ came out in 2002.  The band seem to have evolved organically, and slowly, as band members have come and gone sometimes to have … Continue reading

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Album review: REO SPEEDWAGON – Live At Moondance Jam

CD/DVD – Frontiers Records [Release Date 29.11.13] It’s a strange feeling to be reviewing a CD of a gig I have fond memories of attending, especially as it was nearly four years ago and the band are scheduled to play … Continue reading

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Album review: ZOE SCHWARZ BLUES COMMOTION – The Blues Don’t Scare Me

33 Jazz [Release date 04.11.13] Zoe Schwarz’s clarity of diction and unique phrasing mark her out as a special singer capable of making any song exclusively her own. She’s equally happy as a sultry, soulful blues singer or as a … Continue reading

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Album review: BOSTON – Life, Love & Hope

Boston - Life, Love & Hope

Frontiers www.frontiers.it [Release date 09.12.13] Relatively quick in Boston terms at just over ten years since the last album ‘Corporate America’ and some songs of that album get reworked by Tom Scholz on this album, a man always on a … Continue reading

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Album review: MICK FARREN AND ANDY COLQUHOUN – Black Vinyl Dress

Gonzo [Release date 28.1013] Mick Farren once said: ‘I’m a lousy singer, but a brilliant rock star’. And while that may be true, the rock scene has all but dissipated and our anti heroes need to do more than come … Continue reading

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Album review: FUGHU – Human – The Tales & Human – The Facts

Fughu [Release date 2013] Argentinean prog-metal band Fughu don’t do things by halves. Apart from releasing two separate albums as a double album, their complex music also wraps itself round two nightmarish librettos, the full drama of which is emoted … Continue reading

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Album review: DEF LEPPARD – Viva Hysteria!

Def Leppard - Viva Hysteria

Frontiers (2CD/DVD) www.frontiers.it One of Britain’s best and hardest working rock bands, Def Leppard have always been at the melodic end despite growing up with the NWoBHM scene. After the classic third album ‘Pyromania’ (which went diamond in the USA), the … Continue reading

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Album review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Dark Wings Of Steel

Rhapsody Of Fire - Dark Wings Of Steel

  AFM Records www.afmrecords.de [Release date 25.11.13] Rhapsody of Fire return with their first studio album since the amicable split of main songwriters Luca Turilli and Alex Staropoli in 2012 – Luca has his own version of the band called … Continue reading

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Album review: CRYSTAL GRENADE – Lo! And Behold

CRYSTAL GRENADE - Lo! And Behold

Gonzo [Release date 14.10.13] A wonderful name, Crystal Grenade.  One that belongs to Mancunian songstress Carol Hodge, described as ‘Shakespears Sister fighting Amanda Palmer and Tori Amos in a dimly lit Victorian pub’.  If that conjures up images of heavily … Continue reading

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Album review: PAUL GUZZONE – Chasing The Moon

Triple Z Music [Release date 2013] New York based Paul Guzzone describes himself as ‘an electronic troubadour’.  He’s big on sonic textures, wry narratives, catchy hooks and songs that draw you in. ‘Chasing The Moon’ is an unlikely but successful … Continue reading

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Album review: GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS– Live At Montreux 2013

Eagle Rock[Release date 18.11.13] Having paid his dues through relentless road work – including a 50 states in 50 nights tour – and his self titled debut album in 1976 – George Throrogood made his major label breakthrough on Capital … Continue reading

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