Category Archives: ALL POSTS

Album review: ROBIN TROWER – Shine

Posted on August 20, 2026 by petefeenstra

Provogue / Artone Label Group [Release date : 25.09.26] ‘Shine’ admirably lives up to its name. It’s taut, precise, fluid, balanced and represents honest emotive guitar-driven music from the heart. It’s a marvellous album, full of deep grooves, sculpted tones and … Continue reading →

Album review: EWAN MACINTYRE/HERDING CATS – On These Islands We Sing

Posted on August 20, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 03.09.26] I do like an uncompromising artist, and Ewan Macintyre is certainly one of those. From Gaelic sung Americana, to Scottish inspired Meters type funk, he pulls no punches in his left field delivery of songs. So does … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Ewan Macintyre & Herding Cats, folk, Gaelic, On These Islands We Sing, review, singer songwriter, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review: SCOTT COOK – Troubadourly Yours

Posted on August 20, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 21.08.26] The title track opens the album with a seven minute autobiographical, anti-capitalist, anti-racist, influence checking stream of consciousness, my mouth was dry by the end of it. What an opener, and once Jack Kerouac was mentioned I … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, folk, melodic, review, Scott Cook, singer songwriter, Troubadourly Yours | Leave a comment

Album review: THE FIERCE AND THE DEAD – Regional Theatre

Posted on August 20, 2026 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 11.09.26] A new album by the Fierce And The Dead is always a musical treat. On ‘Regional Theatre’ they have gone a bit cinematic in scope and sound yet retain their signature shoegaze meets indie rock sounds. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, grunge, indie, Regional Theatre, review, rock, shoegaze, the Fierce and the Dead | Leave a comment

Gig review: HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES – AO Arena Manchester, 18 August 2026

Posted on August 20, 2026 by jason

I was walking my dog in the park the other day, and a fellow dog walker come music enthusiast came into my space. I’m going to see The Hollywood Vampires tomorrow says I. Ooooh! Says he have you seen the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18 August 2026, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, AO Arena Manchester, classic rock. blues rock, gig, Hollywood Vampires, Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, review, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: FIREVOLT FESTIVAL – Whitebottom Farm, Stockport, 7-9 August 2026

Posted on August 18, 2026 by andynathan

Four years ago, as the live scene slowly returned to normal after the pandemic, my interest was piqued by a festival called Firestorm on the very outskirts of Greater Manchester, featuring several of my favourite bands. It seemed too good … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged A’priori, Cats In Space, Crowley, Dare, Darren Wharton’s Renegade, Doomsday Outlaw, festival, Fireheart, Firevolt, FM, gig, Haxan, Jack J. Hutchinson, LN, Mad Haven, Mason Hill, Massive Wagons, McHale’s Permanent Brew, MuddiBrooke, New Wave of Classic Rock, Pyroclast, Ricky Warwick and the Fighting Hearts, Shape of Water, Takeaway Thieves, the New Roses, the Wildhearts, These Wicked Rivers, Thieves Of Liberty, Virginmarys, Ward XVI, Wednesday 13 | Leave a comment

Album review : ATOMIC ROOSTER – Friday The 13th (The BBC Sessions 1970-1981)

Posted on August 18, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 28.08.26] Lucky for some. This neatly packaged 2 CD set follows hard on the heels of the band’s all new recording, Circle The Sun, released (and reviewed here) in October last year. This “new” set … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Arthur Brown, Atomic Rooster, Carl Palmer, Cherry Red, Chris Farlowe, Friday The13th, John Peel, review, Vincent Crane | Leave a comment

Album review: LONG EARTH – Towards The Sky

Posted on August 18, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Bakeniko [Release date: 26.06.26] The summer of 2026 will forever be remembered as the hottest on record (so far), but with various events punctuating that heat not least the partial eclipse that had everyone reaching for those special glasses (or … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Long Earth, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Towards The Sky | Leave a comment

Album review : MICKEY THOMAS Over The Edge

Posted on August 17, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 21.08.26] Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and Starship’s history is well documented online. Mickey Thomas was Starship’s vocalist through the eighties. By 1989, the band’s output had dropped to zero, and Thomas hadn’t released any solo material since … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Freddy Curci, Jack Blades, Jefferson Starship, Jonathan Cain, melodic rock, Mickey Thomas, Neal Schon, Over The Edge, review, Richie Kotzen, Steve Lukather | Leave a comment

EP review: THORNS – Ready to Strike

Posted on August 16, 2026 by jason

These Go To Eleven Records [Release date 26.08.26] Thorns. Thrash. They sound like ‘Tallica. More accurately ‘Kill ‘em All era ‘Tallica. Hetfield vocals, Lars drum sound, Kirk soloing from…all over . Yes, they sound like ‘Tallica”…..EXCEPT…..don’t be so lazy! Thorns … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Single and EP reviews | Tagged EP, metal, Metallica, Overkill, Ready To Strike, review, Thorns, thrash metal | Leave a comment

Album review : GRAND – Guilty Pleasure

Posted on August 16, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 21.08.26] We asked 3 separate AI sources… Gemini, Co pilot and Claude: “describe the melodic rock / AOR music of the eighties, specifically 1984”. We’ll publish the results sometime. Then we took this new release from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AI, AOR, Claude, Co Pilot, Frontiers, Gemini, Grand, Guilty Pleasure, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: SIMON KEMPSTON – A Poet Or A Painter

Posted on August 14, 2026 by petefeenstra

Self Portrait [Release date : 29.09.26] In a world of instant gratification, downloads and self hype, it’s almost a shock to come across a well crafted, singer song-writer and folk inspired album, with lyrical substance underpinned by thoughtful arrangements. And while … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Poet Or A Painter, album, Bert Jansch, Bob Miller, folk, guitarist, John Martyn, Kyle Grieve, Nick Drake, review, Robbie Greig, Sam Irvine, Simon Kempston, singer, songwriter, Tim Buckley | Leave a comment

Album review : ODDLAND – Unilluminate To Illuminate

Posted on August 14, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 21.08.26] At last, after 3 albums at the fringes, Oddland is now pushing the boundaries of structure and tone to the outer edges of Prog Metal. It’s a scary place to be if you can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Oddland, Pain of Salvation, prog metal, review, Soan, Unilluminate To Illuminate | Leave a comment

Album review: THE DEVIL WEARS NADA – In Lust We Thrust

Posted on August 14, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Eonian Records [Release date 10.07.26] This album is a throwback to the classic sounds of 1980s melodic rock and even the opening piece is a bit of retro radio, not dissimilar to something you might hear in Grand Theft Auto. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, In Lust We Thrust, melodic rock, review, The Devil Wears Nada | Leave a comment

Album review: JACK BROWNING – Painted Skies

Posted on August 13, 2026 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 16.09.26] Is this is only the second album from Jack Browning, I feel like I’ve been following this dude for years on Facebook, and the maturity in the songwriting is way beyond a second album. He has been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, blues, guitarist, Jack Browning, Painted Skies, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review : TOKYO BLADE – Hoist The Colours High

Posted on August 13, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 21.08.26] The unquenchable flame that is Tokyo Blade is about to release its 14th studio album in a career lasting the best part of 50 years. Hows that for durability? Hoist The Colours High is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Marsh, Andy Boulton, Hoist The Colours High, NWOBHM, review, Time Is The Fire, Tokyo Blade | Leave a comment

Gig review: MALMO MELODIC- Plan B, Malmo, Sweden, 24-26 July 2026

Posted on August 12, 2026 by andynathan

Now in its third year, Malmo Melodic continues to grow in scale and stake a claim to be the world capital of the melodic rock community for one weekend. There were 30 countries represented, once again with the United Kingdom … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Alicate, Alien, AOR, Art Nation, Boulevard, Brother Firetribe, Caught in Action, Constancia, Creye, Eclipse, Emotional Fire, festival, Fighter V, gig, Hardline, Malmo Melodic, melodic rock, Michael Bormann’s Jaded Hard, Midnite City, Mother Mersy, Proud, Saffire, Sarayasign, Tyketto, White Widdow, Wig Wam | Leave a comment

Album review: NICOLE ATKINS – Drama

Posted on August 9, 2026 by jason

Sun Records/ Wicked Games Records [Release date 18.09.26] Nicole Atkins returns with her first all-new album in over six years. The album came together at the behest of her close friend and touring partner Chris Isaak, who signed her to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chris Issak, country, Drama, Nicole Atkins, pop, review, singer songwriter, Wilco | Leave a comment

Album review: TEN YEARS AFTER – Cricklewood Green (Deluxe Edition)

Posted on August 9, 2026 by jason

Chrysalis [Release date 28.08.26] Ten Years After are a British blues rock group who really don’t get enough love. After several breaks, reunions and line-up changes, they’re still going strong, after their formation in the mid 60s. With their roots … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Alvin Lee, classic album, classic rock, Cricklewood Green, deluxe edition, reissue, review, rock, Ten Years After | Leave a comment

Album review: ALBERT BOUCHARD – Imaginos IV: Rhyme of the Star Clock

Posted on August 6, 2026 by jason

Deko Entertainment [Release date 25.09.26] The story so far… In 1981, Albert Bouchard was fired, mid-tour, from Blue Öyster Cult, the band he helped to form back in the 1960s. His immediate response was to hook up with the band’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Albert Bouchard, album, Blue Coupe, Blue Oyster Cult, BOC, classic rock, Imaginos, Imaginos IV: Rhyme of the Star Clock, Joe Bouchard, review, rock, Sandy Pearlman, SF | Leave a comment

Gig review: ERIC JOHNSON – Lytham Lowther Pavilion, 4 August 2026

Posted on August 6, 2026 by jason

Joined by Nashville’s Daniel Kimbro on bass and ex-Joe Bonamassa and Chaka Khan, Tal Bergman on drums, Eric Johnson was playing the last date of a five week tour, taking in Europe and the UK. The great thing about catching … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 4 August 2026, blues, Eric Johnson, gig, guitarist, Lytham Lowther Pavilion, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: EVA UNDER FIRE – Villainous

Posted on August 3, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Better Noise Music [Release date 10.07.26] The female-fronted pop metal genre is a fairly crowded space these days. We have – for example – Ad Infinitum (Switzerland), Elysion (Greece) and not forgetting the trailblazers who are sounding as good as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Eva Under Fire, metal, pop metal, review, Villainous | Leave a comment

Gig review: MAID OF STONE FESTIVAL- Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent, 17-19 July 2026

Posted on August 3, 2026 by andynathan

Now in its fourth year, Maid of Stone has in a short space of time established itself as one of the very best festivals, ranking alongside the longer running Steelhouse and Stonedead for mid-sized events catering for a classic rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged A Thousand Horses, Aethoria, Anchor Lane, Anthony Gomes, Battle Born, Cassidy Paris, Chez Kane, classic rock, Crow Black Chicken, Danko Jones, Devere, Doro, festival, FM, gig, GIRLSCHOOL, Hannah Wicklund, Haxan, Heavy Pettin', Kit Trigg, LN, Maid of Stone, Morganway, Phil Campbell's Bastard Sons, Queen Horizon, Rattlesnakes, Regional One, Sam Morrow, Saxon, Silverroller, Square Wild, The Almighty, the New Roses, The Temperance Movement, The Virginmarys, the Wildhearts, Tuk Smith and The Restless Hearts, Untamed Silence, Uriah Heep, Velvet Rush, Xander and the Peace Pirates | Leave a comment

Album review: EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – Works Live

Posted on August 2, 2026 by jason

BMG [Release date 24.07.26] Recorded in Montreal, Canada in 1977, this live album was originally released in 1979 as the single LP ‘In Concert’ it was originally intended to be a double album, but that idea was kiboshed by the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Carl Palmer, classic rock, ELP. Emerson Lake & Palmer, Greg Lake, Keith Emerson, prog, prog rock, review, Works Live | Leave a comment

Album review: LALU : A Mythmaker’s Demise

Posted on August 2, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 31.07.26] Looks like Progrock supremo, Vivien Lalu’s got the band back together for his fifth album.In fact today’s Lalu is a lot like yesterday’s Lalu, both in compliment and style, with Mekong Delta’s Martin LeMar … Continue reading →