Category Archives: ALL POSTS

Gig review: THE DAMN TRUTH – O2 Islington Academy 2, London, 21 July 2023

Posted on July 25, 2023 by Davoski

Having narrowly avoided stumbling into The Exploited’s show at the slightly larger Academy1 right next door, I was pleasantly surprised to see a pretty full venue for this early kick-off. The Cold Stares, a trio based in Indiana, are led … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 21 July 2023, blues, blues rock, gig, Islington, live, melodic rock, review, The Cold Stares, The Damn Truth | Leave a comment

Album review: DUST RADIO – Problem & Remedy

Posted on July 23, 2023 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Paddy Wells (Dust Radio) for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 3 September 2023. Bandcamp [Release date 23.06.23] Dust Radio is essentially the duo of Paddy Wells (vocal, blues harp and lyrics) and Tom Jackson … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Americana, blues, Dr John, Dust Radio, guitar, harmonica, interview, Moreland & Arbuckle, Paddy Wells, Problem & Remedy, radio, review, rock, roots, slide, Stevie Oakes, Stu Baggaley, Tom Jackson | Leave a comment

Album review: THE FIERCE & THE DEAD – News From The Invisible World

Posted on July 23, 2023 by jason

THE FIERCE AND THE DEAD - News From The Invisible World

Spencer Park Music [Release date 28.07.23] The Fierce and The Dead have been working on this album over the past five years. It also marks a major change to the band’s sound, lead vocals from bassist Kevin Feazey (Blur’s Damon … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, metal, modern metal, News From The Invisible World, prog metal, progressive, review, TFATD, The Fierce & The Dead | Leave a comment

Album review : IRON SAVIOR – Riding On Fire – The Noise Years 1997-2004, 6 CD Boxset

Posted on July 19, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 28.07.23] “A constant and independent force within the Power Metal universe”. No prizes for attributing this quote to Iron Savior mainman, Piet Sielck. It could easily have come from his Iron Savior buddy, Kai (Gamma Ray) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged boxset, Gamma Ray, Helloween, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Kai Hansen, power metal, Teutonic Metal. Piet Sielck | Leave a comment

Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – CATS IN SPACE (August 2023)

Posted on July 18, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Pop rock revivalists whose rise and rise has been almost purr-fect… damn that pandemic… Cats in Space are a unique proposition among the new generation of classic rock bands that have emerged in recent years (writes Andy Nathan). Acts that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness | Tagged August 2023, Cats In Space, classic rock, feature, Grotto, pop rock, retrospective | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE WHO, O2 Arena, London, 12 July 2023

Posted on July 17, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

On the verge of their sixth decade as a band and The Who really have nothing to prove but still don’t care about what they’re being told by others. This is The Who and they’ll do exactly as they want. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 July 2023, classic rock, gig, London, O2 Arena, orchestra, Pete Townshend, review, Roger Daltrey, THE WHO | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE WHO – Badminton Estate, Gloucestershire, 16 July 2023

Posted on July 17, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

So how refined that The Who, along with the Heart of England Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Keith Levenson, are playing at the renowned Badminton Estate, to promote a new live album, in an open-air concert arena with a capacity of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 16 July 2023, Badminton Estate, classic rock, gig, Gloucestershire, orchestra, Pete Townshend, review, Roger Daltrey, THE WHO | Leave a comment

News: CATS IN SPACE are the latest entrants in The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness (August 2023)

Posted on July 17, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Rock website Get Ready to ROCK!’s 20th anniversary celebration continues with the latest entrants in “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness”. Pop rockers Cats In Space will be honoured in August ahead of UK tour dates in September. Jason Ritchie, News … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Leave a comment

Album review: RAY ALDER – II

Posted on July 16, 2023 by jason

Inside Out [Release date: 09.06.23] When asked to compile a list of the most influential vocalists of the Progressive Metal genre, Ray Alder’s is, undoubtedly and reservedly so, one of the very first names that comes to mind. Having been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Fates Warning, II, Jim Matheos, metal, prog metal, progressive, Ray Alder, review | Leave a comment

Album review: TONY MITCHELL – Radio Heartbeat

Posted on July 16, 2023 by jason

Pride & Glory Music [Release date 21.07.23] The fourth solo album from Tony Mitchell, of Kiss Of The Gypsy & Dirty White Boyz fame. Joining him on here are Midnite City guitarist Miles Meakin, bassist Nigel Bailey (Dirty White Boyz, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, hard rock, Kiss Of The Gypsy, melodic rock, Nigel Bailey, Radio Heartbeat, review, rock, Tony Mitchell | Leave a comment

Gig review: JON ANDERSON/MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND – Erkel Szinhaz, Budapest, Hungary, 9 July 2023

Posted on July 15, 2023 by Davoski

A city break you won’t find on Expedia: the Queen of the Danube by day; prog rock royalty by night! Budapest is an amazing city and no surprise that the venue for this co-headline gig was a classy, plush, comfy-seated … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Budapest, gig, Jon Anderson, live, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, prog, review, rock, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review : EDGE OF PARADISE – Hologram

Posted on July 15, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 14.07.23] Fresh off a ten date US tour with Lacuna Coil, Edge Of Paradise release Hologram, their fifth album, their third on Frontiers. The band is a duo comprising of Armenian/ Russian/ American singer, Margarita Monet, and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Dave Bates, Howard Benson, Kate Bush, Lacuna Coil, Margarita Monet, power metal, review, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: SEAN TAYLOR – Short Stories

Posted on July 15, 2023 by jason

Website [Release date 14.07.23] Sean Taylor returns with another album full of melody and thoughtful lyrics. Joining Sean are Ben Walker (guitars, electric piano), Mike Seal (double bass), Paulina Szczepaniak (percussion), Justin Carroll (Hammond organ), Joe Harvey Whyte (pedal steel) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, melodic, pop, review, Sean Taylor, Short Stories, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: THE MAGPIE ARC – Glamour In The Grey

Posted on July 14, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Collective Perspective [Release date 07.07.23] Now here’s a listen. I didn’t quite know what to expect from this band. From the name, it could be an alt-rock band couldn’t it? From the opening track ‘All I Planted’ it is immediately … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BILLY JOEL- British Summer Time, Hyde Park, London, 7 July 2023

Posted on July 14, 2023 by andynathan

Sandwiched between Bruce Springsteen’s two British Summer Time dates at Hyde Park came another American legend from the East Coast and of a similar vintage in Billy Joel. Just like my two previous sightings of the New Yorker at Wembley … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Billy Joel, British Summer Time, BST, Daryl Hall, festival, gig, Hall and Oates, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review : HATEBREED – The Rise Of Brutality / Supremacy (2CD Deluxe Ed)

Posted on July 14, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [release date: 14.07.23] “Heavy Music is this cleansing, therapeutic and cathartic experience for so many”. So says Jamie Jasta, frontman of US Grammy nominated, Metal/ Hardcore band, Hatebreed. No surprise then to learn that his band are longtime … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Black Label Society, Grammy, Hardcore, Jamie Jasta, metal, reissue, Slayer, SLIPKNOT | Leave a comment

Gig review: KISS – Hydro, Glasgow – 8th July 2023

Posted on July 14, 2023 by david.wilson

I first saw Kiss on the Lick It Up tour in October 1983 in the Edinburgh Playhouse and here we are nearly 40 years on to witness the band’s last ever UK show. I caveat that last statement by pointing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 8th July 2023, Benji Ward, End Of The Road, Eric Singer, Gene Simmons, gig, Glasgow, Hydro, Kiss, live, Paul Stanley, Skindred, The Wild Things, Tommy Thayler | Leave a comment

Gig review: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND – British Summer Time Hyde Park, 6 July 2023

Posted on July 12, 2023 by andynathan

A regular visitor to these shores in recent years, Bruce Springsteen had not been in the UK since ‘The River’ tour seven years ago. So when a pair of dates were announced at Hyde Park- his first there since the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged British Summer Time, Bruce Springsteen, BST, E Street Band, festival, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, gig, Hyde Park, Jake Clemons, Max Weinberg, Nils Lofgren, Steve Van Zandt, The Chicks | Leave a comment

Album review : ALL FOR METAL – Legends

Posted on July 12, 2023 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date : 07.07.23] We distinctly remember reviewing All For Metal’s trailer single, ‘We were Born In Valhalla’, back in December last year, and referring this dubious claim to a Fact Check website. Well, they never got back … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Antonio Calanna, Hardy Krech, heavy metal, Jasmin Pabst, Lordi, Manowar, Tim "Tetzel" Schmidt, Ursula Zanichelli, Valhalla, Viking metal | Leave a comment

Album review: BLOODBOUND – Tales From The North

Posted on July 11, 2023 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date 7.07.23] Since the early nineties, Northern European Metal bands have progressively sought to explore and celebrate the history and impact of Viking Culture. “Viking Metal” has grown considerably since then. One of today’s key exponents is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, AOR, Fredrik Bergh, power metal, review, Street Talk, Tomas Olsson, Viking metal | Leave a comment

Album review: BEN REEL – Come A Long Way

Posted on July 10, 2023 by jason

Website [Release date 30.06.23] ‘Come A Long Way’ is the 11th album from Ben Reel, with many of his previous releases given favourable reviews by GRTR! reviewer Pete Whalley (who has now, sadly, hung up his keyboard). This album features 11 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Ben Reel, Come A Long Way, country, folk, pop, review, rock, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Book review: ON TRACK… REO Speedwagon- every album, every song by James Romag

Posted on July 9, 2023 by andynathan

Sonic Bond Publishing (Release Date 28.04.23) The ever growing On Track series is now spreading its wings to bands with at best cult status in the UK, in this case REO Speedwagon who, despite three big power ballad hits in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, book, melodic rock, On Track, REO Speedwagon, Sonic Bond | Leave a comment

Album review : BANGALORE CHOIR – Center Mass

Posted on July 9, 2023 by brianmc

Global Rock Records [Release date: 07.07.23] David Reece claims that David Coverdale had Bangalore Choir removed from the support spot on Whitesnake’s European tour in 1989, because he didn’t want to compete with Reece’s voice. The story may well be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Autograph, Bangalore Choir, Center Mass, Cherry Red, David Coverdale, David Reece, Giovanni Salvinelli, Gypsy Rose, House of Lords, Jimi Bell, Last Autumn’s Dream, Mario Percudani, Martin Kronlund, melodic hard rock, Mikael Erlandsson, Mitch Malloy, Nicolo Savinelli, Phenomena, review, Ricardo DeMarossi, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: SYTERIA – Syteria World

Posted on July 9, 2023 by jason

Cargo Records [Release date 11.08.23] Formed in the mid 10s by Jax Chambers, best known as the lead guitarist of Girlschool, Syteria have released a number of albums and singles independently (check out www.syteria.co.uk for more). This Yorkshire based and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, GIRLSCHOOL, hard rock, Jax Chambers, punk, review, rock, Syteria, Syteria World | Leave a comment

Album review: RITCHIE DAVE PORTER & DEBRA SUSAN – The Story So Far

Posted on July 9, 2023 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Ritchie Dave Porter and Debra Susan for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 25 June 2023. Self release [Release date: 20.07.22] Ritchie Dave Porter and Debra Susan’s ‘The Story So Far’ is … Continue reading →