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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
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Album review : MCAULEY SCHENKER GROUP – Bad Boys, The MSG Story 1987-92 (4 CD boxset)
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Album review: THUNDER- Live (expanded and remastered reissue)
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Album review: BIG BIG TRAIN – Woodcut
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Album review : FRANCIS ROSSI Accidental
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Album review : EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS – Teenage Depression & Life On The Line (2CD set)
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Album review : AUTUMN’S CHILD – Melody Lane
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Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: BAND OF FRIENDS- 229 Club, London, 4 January 2026
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Gig review: PUNCHDRUNK SAINTS – Fairycroft House, Saffron Walden, December 27 2025
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Gig review: STEVE OVERLAND AND JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Weir, Brentford, Middlesex, 9 December 2025
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Gig review: JOHN OTWAY – Face Bar, Reading, Thursday 11 December 2025
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GRTR! Greats
Featured Album Reviews
Features
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Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
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Category Archives: ALL POSTS
Album Review: ANNIHILATOR – Feast
UDR [Release date 26.08.13] This album is the 14th studio release from Canadian thrashers Annihilator. I have been aware of the band for many years but have never really warmed to them, even their ‘Alice In Hell’ … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged album, Annihilator, Feast, Jeff Waters, metal, review, rock, Thrash
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Album review: TOUCHSTONE – Oceans Of Time
Hear No Evil [Release date 07.10.13 ] Having signed a new deal with Hear No Evil/Cherry Red Records, Touchstone have adopted the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ principle with their fourth studio album and leading single ‘Flux’. Recorded … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged metal, Oceans Of Time, prog, progressive, review, Rob Cottingham, rock, Touchstone
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Album review: ASHES OF ARES – Ashes Of Ares
Nuclear Blast [Release date 6.09.13] The concept of high profile musicians combining forces and working on side projects is as old as Rock music itself – still, as if by instinct, I always find myself negatively predisposed towards any collection … Continue reading
Album review: JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR – Songs From The Road
Ruf [Release date 04.11.13] There’s nothing like a live album to deliver the bacon. I don’t mean a doctored product with overdubs and the like, but simply a live recording with an expectant audience, a hot band and the recording … Continue reading
Album Review: CRYSTAL PALACE – The System Of Events
Gentle Art Of Music [Release Date: 04.10.13] The history of rock music is peppered with great albums – but the ones that truly sit in the Pantheon of iconic albums are those which have that one defining track, that … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Crystal Palace, Progressive Rock, review, RPWL, The System Of Events
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Interview: 10Q’s with LAWLESS
Lawless are a new band who have just released their debut album ‘Rock Savage’ through Escape Music. Here we catch-up with vocalist/guitarist Paul Hume to find out more about the band, their new album and what they have planned in … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions
Tagged classic metal, DEMON, Escape Music, LAWLESS, Nigel Ogden, Paul Hume, Rock Savage, Stoke-on-Trent
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Album review: STEVE CRADDOCK – Travel Wild, Travel Free
Proper Records (released 30th September 2013) This is the third solo album from Ocean Colour Scene/Paul Weller’s guitarist Steve Craddock, who also has his wife Sally help out on vocals adding a folk air to the proceedings in places. The … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album review, Ocean Colour Scene, Paul Weller, Proper Records, Steve Craddock, Travel Free, Travel Wild
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Album review: BLODWYN PIG – Pigthology
Gonzo Multimedia [Release date 10.06.13] This release promises much – previously unheard recordings from influential blues rock band Blodwyn Pig led by original Jethro Tull guitarist Mick Abrahams. Unreleased material from this band (especially the formative years) must be as … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, BBC, Blodwyn Pig, blues, compilation, gig, Jack Lancaster, Jazz rock, John Peel, live, Mick Abrahams, Pigthology, radio, review, rock, session
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Gig review: CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL, 1-4 August 2013
Haggis Farm Polo Club, Cambridgeshire Back in 2004 the first Rockingbeerfest three day festival took place under the blackened skies and torrential rain, quite contrastingly here we are today celebrating the 10th anniversary in 31degree bright sunshine. Under the leadership … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 1-4 August 2013, Bonafide, Cambridge Rock Festival, Caravan, Deborah Bonham, festival, gig, Hazel O'Connor, Magnum, Praying Mantis, Quireboys, review, rock, The Animals
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Book review: Cher: All I Really Want To Do by Daryl Easlea and Eddi Fiegel
Backbeat Books Despite being well into her 60’s Cher is still instantly recognised as one of the most famous female singers of all time. From her big 1960’s hits with ex-husband Sonny Bono to massive solo success in both music … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS
Tagged All I Really Want To Do, Backbeat Books, book review, Cher, Daryl Easlea, Eddi Fiegel
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Gig Review: THE BLACKOUT – The Fleece, Bristol, 22 August 2013
Since touring with the Lost Prophets and winning Kerrang’s Best British Newcomer award in their early days, The Blackout have come a long way, recently releasing their fourth album ‘Start The Party’. On the eve of playing the main stage … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Bristol, Gavin Butler, gig, live, metal, Reaper In Sicily, review, rock, Sean Smith, Start The Party, The Blackout, The Fleece
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Album review: IVAN MIHALJEVIC & SIDE EFFECTS – Counterclockwise
Zeta Factory [Release date 01.04.13] ‘Counterclockwise’ is a concept album of sorts. It’s not an album with a single overbearing theme as such, but more of a cerebral examination of the state of our collective consciousness. Front man Ivan Mihaljevic … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Alen Frijak, Counterclockwise, Croatia, guitar, Ivan Mihaljevic, Marko Karacic Karo, metal, prog, review, rock, Side Effects
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Gig review: STEVE VAI – O2 Academy, Glasgow, 31 August 2013
This was the first time in a long time that I had ventured out to catch Steve Vai on stage. In fact the last time I saw him live he still had Devin Townsend up front and was confusing the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 31 August 2013, Dave Weiner, gig, Glasgow, guitar, Jeremy Colston, live, O2 Academy, ock, Philip Bynoe, review, Steve Vai, The Story Of Light
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Gig review: SOLFEST, Cumbria, 23-25 August 2013
Solfest is a small festival with a big heart. It’s a celebration of music and community. Solfest feels like an enormous family reunion and perhaps even more so this year as it was Solfests 10th Anniversary. To celebrate the occasion … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 23-25 August 2013, Cumbria, festival, Flogging Molly, folk, Maximo Park, New Model Army, rock, Solfest, The Joy Formidable, The Undertones
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Album review: PETE BROWN & PHIL RYAN WITH PSOULCHEDELIA – Perils Of Wisdom
Repertoire [Release date 24.06.13] Pete Brown and Phil’s Ryan’s Psoulchedelia is a misleading name for a band whose music only occasionally broaches soul and is not remotely psychedelic. The punned title ‘Perils of Wisdom’ turns out to be an oblique … Continue reading
Book review: Rhapsody in Black: The Life and Music of Roy Orbison by John Kruth
Backbeat Books I have personally been looking for a good biography of Roy Orbison for a number of years and John Kruth’s “Rhapsody in Black: The Life and Music of Roy Orbison” has certainly met my expectations. With a sense … Continue reading
Quick plays: REBELLIOUS SPIRIT, UGLY KID JOE, KING KOBRA
REBELLIOUS SPIRIT – Gamble Shot (SPV) The recent success of Reckless Love has had an impact on a number of young bands. A good example of this is young German band Rebellious Spirit, whose logo is not dissimilar from the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Doll, Gamble Shot, II, KING KOBRA, Ragdoll Diaries, Rebellious Spirit, review, Stairway To Hell, The Quill, UGLY KID JOE
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Album review: THE BLUES BAND – Live At Rockpalast
Repertoire [Release date 10.06.13] The Blues Band ‘Live at Rockpalast’ is that rare thing, a live DVD that connects as much with the viewer at home as the band did with the audience on the night. Too often a multi … Continue reading
Album review: ALVIN LEE & TEN YEARS LATER – Live At Rockpalast
Repertoire [Release date 10.06.13] Alvin Lee & Ten Years Later actually came 5 years after the dissolution of Ten Years After. It was essentially a virtuoso power trio who relentlessly toured The US and Europe and on this live DVD … Continue reading
Album review: EWAN DOBSON – Acoustic Metal
Candy Rat Records [Release date 06.02.13] ‘Once you see the line between metal virtuosity and classical music the challenge begins.’ So says Canadian guitarist Ewan Dobson whose 2 CD ‘Acoustic Metal’ is a challenging, innovative and hugely enjoyable CD. If … Continue reading
Album review: FERGIE FREDERIKSEN – Any Given Moment
Frontiers www.frontiers.it Fergie sang on Le Roux’s wonderful So Fired Up and then joined Toto for one of my absolute favourite Toto albums, namely Isolation…it was just a shame that his time in the band was so short. Back in … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Any Given Moment, AOR, FERGIE FREDERIKSEN, Frontiers, melodic rock, review, Toto
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Album review: MAGGIE REILLY – Heaven Sent
Red Berry Records [Release date 11.11.13] www.maggiereilly.co.uk Maggie Reilly frequently features in our singer-songwriter sequence on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio and , since 2009 when we interviewed her, she has become a firm favourite. Her solo albums are always worth … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Cado Belle, Celtic, Heaven Sent, Maggie Bell, Mike Oldfield, pop, review, singer, songwriter
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DVD Review: STATUS QUO – The Frantic Four Reunion 2013 – Live At Wembley Arena
Fourth Chord Records [Release date 30.09.13] When Quo announced the Frantic Four Reunion shows there was some consternation that the venues chosen were theatre sized rather than arenas around the country. It proved, however, to be a masterstroke that led … Continue reading
Interview with AYNSLEY LISTER – 29 Aug 2013
Aynsley Lister is back with his first studio album for 4 years. It’s suitably titled ‘Home’, because it’s his debut recording on his own Straight Talkin’ Records label. It also features his current tour band and is overseen by his … Continue reading
Album review: ROBERT PALMER – Reissues (1974-1985)
Edsel Records [Release date 26.08.13] 2-CD reissues Robert Palmer came to the music buying public’s attention with Vinegar Joe in 1971 and for a time he formed a formidable singing partnership with Elkie Brooks. Palmer’s transformation to a suave, smart–suited, soul … Continue reading
