Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile)

Album review: IMAR – Awakening

Posted on April 13, 2023 by jason

www.imarband.com [Release date 21.04.23] The Scottish, Irish and Isle Of Man collective that is Imar return with their first album in five years. Imar’s line-up is Mohsen Amini (concertina), Adam Brown (bodhrán, guitar), Tomás Callister (fiddle), Ryan Murphy (flute, uilleann … Continue reading →

Album review: DEXTER WANSEL – Life On Mars / What The World Is Coming To / Voyager / Time Is Slipping Away

Posted on April 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 31.03.23] Back in the day (mid to late 1980s), I was a closet listener to Robbie Vincent’s BBC Radio 1 show when he would frequently implore his audience to “open the fridge and freezer door” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Dexter Wansel, disco, funk, fusion, George Howard, jazz funk, Jean Carn, Life On Mars, reissue, The Jones Girls, Voyager and Time Is Slipping Away, What the World Is Coming To | Leave a comment

Album review: RAMSEY LEWIS – Les Fleurs / Fantasy / Keys To The City (Remasters)

Posted on April 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 31.03.23] BGO have done a great job releasing back catalogue from a number of big name artists and labels and packaging several albums on a couple of discs together with extensive liner notes in a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Earth Wind & Fire, fantasy, funk, fusion, instrumental, jazz funk, Keys To The City, Larry Dunn, Les Fleurs, Maurice White, piano, Ramsey Lewis | Leave a comment

Album review: MECCA – Everlasting

Posted on April 10, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date 21.03.23] First Mecca album to be released in Europe since the Brexit Referendum. And the suitably titled opener, ‘And Now The Magic is Gone’ turns out to be the album’s big moment. Everlasting is not quite as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alias, AOR, Frontiers, Joe Vana, Marcie Free, melodic rock, review, Signal, Stefano Lionetti, Tommy Denander, Toto, Unruly Child, Vivien Lalu | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVE FOSTER BAND – Glimmer

Posted on April 9, 2023 by jason

English Electric Recording [Release date 21.04.23] Dave Foster Band features the aforementioned guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Dave Foster (currently in Big, Big Train and a former member of Mr So & So) and vocalist Dinet Poortman. The other musicians involved are all top … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, Big Big Train, Dave Foster, Dave Foster Band, Dinet Poortman, Glimmer, Marillion, melodic, pop, Queen, review, rock, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

Album review : BIOHAZARD – Urban Discipline and No Holds Barred, Live In Europe (2 CD Deluxe Digipack)

Posted on April 7, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [release date: 14.03.23] New York band Biohazard are credited with fusing hardcore metal, punk and hip hop. Five years after formation they signed with Roadrunner Records and released their groundbreaking album, Urban Discipline. Urban Discipline (1992) This influential … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged 2 CD Digipack, album, Deluxe, Fishbone, hip hop, Kyuss, metal, New York Times, punk, review | Leave a comment

Quick plays: CHRIS DUARTE, THE FLYING SYMBOLS, SANSOME & QUINN

Posted on April 5, 2023 by jason

CHRIS DUARTE Ain’t Giving Up Mascot Records [Release date 07.04.23] Blues-roots guitarist Chris Duarte releases this, his 15th studio album. It also marks the first time in 22 years Duarte has worked with producer-guitarist Dennis Herring (Buddy Guy, Modest Mouse, Elvis … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged albums, blues, Chris Duarte, folk, George Sansome & Matt Quinn, guitarist, hard rock, review, rock, roots, the Flying Symbols | Leave a comment

Album review: THE YOUNG’UNS – Tiny Notes

Posted on April 5, 2023 by jason

Hudson Records [Release date 07.04.23] The Young’uns are never one to shy away from a major musical undertaking as their last album, ‘The Ballad Of Johnny Longstaff’, proved. How do the Young’uns follow that? With this album ‘Tiny Notes’ which … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 3 dads walking, album, folk, Jon Boden, review, the Youbg'uns, Tiny Notes, topical, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: MAGNUS KARLSSON’S FREEFALL – Hunt The Flame

Posted on April 4, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 14.04.23] Fourth Freefall album from rock’n’roll workaholic, Magnus Karlsson. For this, Freefall’s fourth album, Karlsson’s rounded up 11 singers, all of whom offer something different, and we get a few tracks that show every sign that he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alexander Strandell, Hunt The Flame, Jakob Samuel, Kristian Fhyr, Magnus Karlsson, melodic metal, review, rock, symphonic | Leave a comment

Album review : ARCHON ANGEL – II

Posted on April 3, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 14.04.23] On his second album now fronting Archon Angel, Zak Stevens probably couldn’t tell you how many albums he’s appeared on. We’ll help him out: Since 1993, five as Savatage’s frontman, five up front with The TSO … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Aldo Lonobile, Archon Angel, Circle II Circle, Frontiers, II, melodic metal, review, Savatage, TSO, Zak Stevens | Leave a comment

Album review: KILLER – Hellfire (And The Best of Killer) 2 CD Edition

Posted on April 1, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red/HNE [Release date: 21.03.23] Belgium: 1980 : 3 respected, experienced, died in the wool rock musicians split with their long time bands, and get together to share a different musical destiny. Paul “Shorty” Van Camp, “Fat Leo” and “Spooky” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Belgium, Cherry Red, heavy metal, Hellfire (And The Best of Killer), HNE, Iron Maiden, Killer, Mausoleum, Metallica, Motorhead, review, Saxon, Shorty Van Camp, Spooky | Leave a comment

Album review: ALLY VENABLE – Real Gone

Posted on March 28, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Ruf Records [Release date: 24.03.23] When we reviewed the previous Ally Venable album we suggested that whilst the young guitar slinger/singer/songwriter had made great progress the perfectly formed finish was yet to come. ‘Real Gone’ takes things a step further … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ally Venable, blues, blues rock, Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, Real Gone, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ANN-MARGRET – Born To Be Wild

Posted on March 27, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 14.04.23] ‘Born To Be Wild’ is what, at first look, is often called a novelty album. Bring together a one-time Hollywood (and musical) icon (of a certain era) and hook them up virtually with a whole … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ann-Margret, Born To Be Wild, Brian Auger, Cliff Richard, film, Harvey Mandel, Joe Perry, movie, nostalgia, Pat Boone, Pete Townshend, review, Rick Wakeman, Robben Ford, Sonny Landreth, Steve Cropper | Leave a comment

Album review: WARFARE – The Lemmy Sessions (3 CD Boxset)

Posted on March 23, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red/HNE [Release date : 24.03.23] Late on in the last century’s timeline, around 1990, Co. Durham’s one and only anarchic metal band, Warfare, were outselling stablemates, Venom and Raven. On stage and off stage they were living up to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, boxset, Durham, Evo, heavy metal, John Tucker, Lemmy, Motorhead, review, The Lemmy Sessions, Warfare | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE HILLAGE – LA Forum 31.1.77

Posted on March 23, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Madfish [Release date 17.03.23] Yet another Steve Hillage live album? And again focusing on the “classic era”? One for the fans, definitely, for whom the main attraction will be three bonus tracks recorded in London in March 1977 and seemingly … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Cliove Bunker, Colin Bass, LA Forum 31.1.77, live, Miquette Giraudy, Psychedelic Rock, review, Steve Hillage | Leave a comment

Album review: NICK WATERHOUSE – The Fooler

Posted on March 22, 2023 by jason

Innovative Leisure/PRES [Release date 31.03.23] ‘The Fooler’ is the sixth album from Nick Waterhouse and his last album, 2021′s ‘Promenade Blue’ was a real find and musical highlight for this reviewer. Recorded in just a few days with Mark Neill … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, garage rock, Nick Waterhouse, pop, review, rhythm and blues, singer songwriter, soul, the Fooler | Leave a comment

Album review: BLUE LIGHT EFFECT – Songs From The Frontier

Posted on March 21, 2023 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 22.12.22] The pandemic has seen all sorts of creative ideas and music coming out, the latest being Blue Light Effect, a band composed of first responders, frontline workers, and a registered nurse. Hailing from Long Island, NY … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, Blue Light Effect, Collective Soul, Gina Cutillo, melodic, pop rock, review, rock, Songs From The Frontier | Leave a comment

Album review: FLOOR JANSEN – Paragon

Posted on March 21, 2023 by jason

Pias/Revamp Music [Release date: 24.03.23] Floor Jansen’s addition as a permanent member to the Nightwish family back in 2013 found most of the fans of the Finnish outfit in total agreement, as the three-octave ranged soprano was already a singer … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged After Forever, album, Anneke van Giersbergen, Floor Jansen, melodic, Nighwish, Paragon, pop, pop rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: FOGHAT – Road Fever – The Complete Bearsville Recordings 1972-75 (6 CD boxset)

Posted on March 20, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red/HNE [Release date 24.03.23] Britband Foghat clocked up a considerable number of tour miles after relocating to the USA in 1970, road testing their material, looking to kickstart their career. It worked a treat. It’s on the road that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bearsville, blues, boogie, boxset, Cherry Red, Dave Peverett, Foghat, Nick Jameson, review, Rod Price, Roger Earl | Leave a comment

Album review : CROSS COUNTRY DRIVER – The New Truth

Posted on March 18, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 17.03.23] Rob (Riverdogs) Lamothe’s new bluesy, country, earthy rock music band is called Cross Country Driver. It consists of only him, his son Zander on drums, and old friend James Harper on guitar. An impressive guest list, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dug Pinnick, Greg Chaisson, Jimmy Wallace, Mike Mangini, review, Rob Lamothe, rock, Zander Lamothe | Leave a comment

Album review : TRANSWORLD IDENTITY – Seven Worlds

Posted on March 16, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 17.3.23] Transworld Identity is a breath of fresh air. Vocalist Mila Bosa previously fronted a hard rock covers band, inevitably moving onto original material with her own band, T-ID. Hard to tell just how long they’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Abba, album, AOR, Frontiers, Hanoi Rocks, melodic rock, Mila Bosa, Nightwish, pop, review, Ryan Roxie | Leave a comment

Album review : GUNTER WERNO – Anima One

Posted on March 15, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 10.03.23] Like last month’s All My Shadows, Gunter Werno’s Anima One is yet another offshoot grown from the fertile ground that bred Prog Metal giants, Vanden Plas. While All My Shadows saw VP’s prime movers, Stephan Lill … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy kuntz, Classical music, concerto, Fruchthalle, Gunter Werno, JS BACH, Kaiserslautern, Philharmonic Orchestra, review, Stephan Lill, Tchaikovsky, VANDEN PLAS | Leave a comment

Album review: THE FLOOD – Hear Us Out

Posted on March 14, 2023 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 24.03.23] The Flood are an interesting proposition featuring vocalist Chris Ousey (Heartland/Virginia Wolf/Snakecharmer), FM guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick and former FM keyboards player Didge Digital. So far, so melodic hard rock and blues rock. However, it is the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Billy Sheenan, blues rock, Chris Ousey, Didge Digital, FM, hard rock, Hear Us Out, Heartland, Jim Kirkpatrick, Mr Big, Nigel Glockler, review, rock, Saxon, Snakecharmer, The Flood, Winery Dogs | Leave a comment

Album review: STONETRIP – Run Free

Posted on March 12, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Golden Robot Records [Release date 10.03.23] If you’ve ever listened to our weekly new release show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio ‘New to GRTR!’ you’ll know that we feature a fair number of releases from Golden Robot Records. Established … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, hard rock, heavy rock, review, Run Free, Stonetrip | Leave a comment

Album review: THE ANSWER – Sundowners

Posted on March 12, 2023 by jason

Golden Robot Records [Release date 17.03.23] After a long wait, 7 years to be exact, Northern Irish rockers, The Answer return with a new album, releasing it on St Patricks day (of course!) and this fan girl gets to review … Continue reading →