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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
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Album review: RITA BLISS – One More Winter
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Album review : SEVEN SPIRES – A Fortress Called Home (Master Key Edition / 3CDs)
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Album review : SHAKRA – Just Live Loud
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Album review: KRIS BARRAS BAND – Monsters We Made
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Album review: THE UGLY GUYS – Highway Shoes
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Album review: STEVE HACKETT & STEVE ROTHERY – The Roaring Waves
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Latest Gig Reviews
GRTR! Greats
Featured Album Reviews
Features
Interviews
Single & EP Reviews
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Category Archives: ALL POSTS
News: Albums of the Month (August – December 2024)
A quarterly feature highlighting album releases rated highly by the GRTR! review team and worthy of your investigation MARY COUGHLAN Repeat Rewind (Strange Brew) … it is everything you might expect from a vocalist who has a rare ability to … Continue reading
Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS
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Feature: Baker’s Dozen – Librarians With Hickeys
Librarians With Hickeys are an indie pop rock duo consisting of Ray Carmen and Mike Crooker. Here both of them choose an eclectic Baker’s Dozen… Ray Carmen (in more or less no particular order) 1. Paul McCartney – Maybe I’m … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES
Tagged alternative, Bakers Dozen, feature, indie, Librarians With Hickeys, Mike Crocker, Paul McArtney, playlist, pop, pop rock, power pop, Ray Carmen, Robyn Hitchcock, rock, XTC
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Album review : STORACE – Live And Let Live (plus bonus live CD)
Frontiers [Release date : 13.12.24] Marc Storace’s Live and Let Live is an album born in the depths of the Covid pandemic. Skipping through the “singer meets musician, they swap ideas” part of the plot, the album was eventually recorded … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Alice Cooper, Bad Company, Chris von Rohr, Covid, Eazy Money, Fernando von Arb, KROKUS, NWOBH, review, Scorpions, Storace, Swiss
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Album review: THE BLACK CROWES – Happiness Bastards
Silver Arrow [Release date: 15.03.24] Well, seeing as I picked this as one of my albums of the year, I really ought to review it! Released in March, it is refreshing to pen a few words about an album I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, classic rock, Happiness Bastards, hard rock, review, southern rock, The Black Crowes
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Gig review: ROBERT JON AND THE WRECK – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 28 November 2024
On Thanksgiving Day, what could be more appropriate to go to than a gig, from a California based band peddling the very best in southern rock? Luckily in recent years Robert Jon and the Wreck seem to have constantly been … Continue reading
Album review : ILLUSION FORCE – Halfana
Frontiers [Release date : 13.12.24] Five year veterans of the Japanese rock/metal scene, Illusion Force have now been recognised by Frontiers’ Music as indeed, a force to be reckoned with worldwide. They cite Dragonforce and Helloween as being among their … Continue reading
Gig review: STEVE HOGARTH – The Crypt, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, 5 December 2024
What we need in the pre-Christmas period is a warm and cosy festive gig, maybe in an unusual location, to lift the flagging spirits. To help us take our mind off political posturing, the smell of Musk, Black Friday overspend, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 5 December 2024, classic rock, gig, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Marillion, review, Solo, Steve Hogarth, The Crypt
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Gig review: THE VAN MORRISON ALUMNI BAND – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 25 November 2024
Few artists have gained the stature of Van Morrison, the Belfast born troubadour a true legend whose blend of soul, jazz, blues and rock is oft imitated but seldom bettered. Whilst his recorded output has never been less than industrious … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 25 November 2024, blues, Bury St Edmunds, jazz, Jo Harman, pop, rock, soul, The Apex, The Van Morrison Alumni Band, Van Morrison
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Album review: MOGGS MOTEL – Moggs Motel
Steamhammer/SPV [Release date: 06.09.24] When frontman Phil Mogg called a halt to UFO’s Last Orders European tour in 2022 on Doctor Doctor’s orders, I thought that was the end of the road. I was disappointed, not only because I was … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, classic rock, hard rock, Moggs Motel, Neil Carter, Phil Mogg, review, UFO
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Album review : LAZY DAYS – The British Progressive Sounds of 1975 (3-CD set)
Cherry Red [Release date : 06.12.24] 1975: all around the UK, a huge variety of rock and pop genres, sub genres, splinter groups and so forth were fighting it out for recognition, and ultimately, sales. The summer of love was … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Single review : AUDIO 54 – Good To Me
Bandcamp [Release date : 19.10.24] ‘Good To Me’ is the latest stand alone groundbreaking single release from the Audio 54 stable. Leicester born singer, songwriter and musician Craig Marshall has quietly, but confidently emerged as an innovative producer who fashions … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Audio 54, Craig Marshall, Dave Larder, funk, Good To Me, gospel, hip hop, jazz, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Pini, R&B, singer, single review, songwriter, soul, vocal
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Gig review: MASSIVE WAGONS – SWG3, Glasgow, 27 November 2024
Wednesday nights are not renowned as party nights, but with Massive Wagons back in town a healthy crowd gathered in SWG3 to rock along with the band that always get the party started. With a full on night of thrash … Continue reading
Album review: BRAZEN ABBOT : Eye Of The Storm and Bad Religion
Frontiers [Release date : 13.12.24] Prior to his Rock Opera project, Nostradamus (2001), classically trained Bulgarian multi-instrumentalist, Nikolo Kotzev had founded Brazen Abbot. The band’s second and third releases, Eye Of The Storm (1996) and Bad Religion (1997), have now … Continue reading
Album review: CORY MARKS – Sorry For Nothing
Century Media [Release date 06.12.24] Album number three from Cory Marks, with his last album, 2020’s ‘Who I Am’, making the UK and Australian country charts, plus number 16 in the album charts in his native Canada. The single of … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bad Wolves, Cory Marks, country, country rock, hard rock, Mick Mars, Motley Crue, Nickelback, review, rock, Sorry For Nothing
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News: AVANTASIA, GOTTHARD, MICKEY JUPP (December 2024)
Airforce (who feature former Iron Maiden guitarist Doug Sampson) release their new album ‘Acts of Madness’ on February 21 through ROAR Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks release a CD/DVD package ‘Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks Live- Perpetual Change’ … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, AOR, AVANTASIA, blues, folk, gigs, Gotthard, melodic rock, metal, Mickey Jupp, news, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates
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Album review: ELECTRIC TEMPLE – High Voltage Salvation
Eonian Records [Release date 06.12.24 ] An interesting trend in recent years has been for vocalist/frontmen to spread their largesse, perhaps due to economic as much as creative reasons. So, for example, we have that arch moonlighter Ronnie Romero in … Continue reading
Feature: Box Sets are for life, not just for Christmas…(December 2024)
The reissues and recycling still come thick and fast, not least in the unashamed “reissue” of vinyl – another income stream for the record labels designed to extract more wedge from our hard-pressed wallets. Here is our round-up of recommended … Continue reading
Album review : TAK MATSUMOTO GROUP – TMG II
Frontiers [Release date : 06.12.24] Through one of those close encounters you read about, Tak Matsumoto, guitarist and founder of leading Japanese rock band, B’z met up with Jack (Night Ranger) Blades and Eric (Mr Big) Martin in LA, in … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged B'z, Baby Metal, Budokan, Eric Martin, hard rock, Jack Blades, Japan, LiSA, melodic rock, Mr Big, Night Ranger, review, Tak Matsumoto Group
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Album review : POWELL PAYNE – Voila
Frontiers [Release date 6.12.24] There really should have been some kind of fanfare, a blaze of publicity, to accompany the release of Voila, debut album from Adam Payne, ex Airrace, and Mark Powell, ex Psycho Kiss. In this post-AOR age, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Airrace, AOR, Frontiers, melodic rock, Peter Cetera, Powell Payne, Psycho Kiss, review, Richard Marx, Voila
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Single review: SPLEEN – Making Plans For Nigel
YouTube Spleen have been around since 2019 and now comprises Samuele Riccucci on guitar and vocals, Matteo Innocenti on drums and backing vocals, Olmo Fantini on guitar and backing vocals, and Alberto Sanna on bass. A brave move to cover … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Covers, Making Plans For Nigel, New Wave, pop, punk, punk pop, review, Robbie Williams, single, Spleen, XTC
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Gig review: ANTHRAX – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 November 2024
It’s been a while. 35 years in fact, since I last saw Anthrax. March 1989 at this very venue. I had to look it up, but I needn’t have bothered. During a mid-set chat, Scott Ian listed all the times … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 23November 2024, Anthrax, gig, Hammersmith Apollo, Joey Belladonna, Kreator, live, metal, review, Scott Ian, Thrash
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Gig review: BLACK STONE CHERRY – Wembley Arena, London, 23 November 2024
As they mentioned from the stage, Black Stone Cherry have been on tour for the best part of two years, touring their latest album ‘Screaming At The Sky’. Seemingly their favourite territory, the UK has seen them no less than … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Ayron Jones, Ben Wells, Black Stone Cherry, Chris Robertson, gig, Jen Ledger, John Cooper, John Fred Young, Skillet, southern rock, Steve Jewell
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Gig review: SQUEEZE – Roundhouse, London, 22 November 2024
It’s a tribute to the virtue of good songwriting and refusing to follow fashion that Squeeze have joined the select group of bands to be celebrating their 50th birthday (albeit with a few breaks apart). And yet, as Glenn Tilbrook … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 22 November 2024, Badly Drawn Boy, Chris Difford, gig, Glenn Tilbrook, London, Melvin Duffy, Roundhouse, Simon Hanson, Squeeze, Stephen Large
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Album review : RUTHLESS BLUES – Nice Work
Bandcamp [Release date 01.11.24] ‘Nice Work’ is an aptly titled album for a band who always managed to convey their natural exuberance in a straight forward mix of old school rock and blues. This is Ruthless Blues first studio album … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, bass, blues, Clive Edwards, drums, guitar, Hammind, harmonica, John Irish Earle, Martyn Taylor, Nice Work, review, Richard Taylor, rock, Ruthless Blues, sax, Stevie Smith
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Feature: PHIL VINCENT’s Baker’s Dozen
A Baker’s Dozen, in which various musicians choose 13 songs – a baker’s dozen – to make a playlist. The following rules apply – Maximum of three songs from any artist Maximum of two songs from any album Maximum of two … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES
Tagged Bakers Dozen, Beatles, feature, hard rock, heavy metal, Jon Butcher Axis, Judas Priest, melodic rock, metal, Phil Vincent, pop, prog rock, Queen, RAVEN, Thin Lizzy
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