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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2025
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2026
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Upcoming: Festivals UK & Europe (2026)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Latest Album Reviews
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Album review: SPOCK’S BEARD – The Archaeoptimist
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Album review: ROSS HARDING – The Blood and the Blues
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Album review: PETE KOSANOVICH – Beauty Within You
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Album review : ROB MORATTI – Sovereign
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Album review : BRAZEN ABBOT – Live And Learn and Guilty As Sin (CD reissues)
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Album review : GRAHAM BONNET – Lost In Hollywood Again (Live)
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Latest Gig Reviews
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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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Gig review: CURVED AIR – The Sub Rooms, Stroud, 20 November 2025
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Gig review: MARTIN BARRE & FRIENDS – Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 18 November 2025
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GRTR! Greats
Featured Album Reviews
Features
Interviews
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
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Category Archives: ALL POSTS
Album review : MECCA – 20 Years (3 CD reissue w/bonus tracks)
Frontiers [release date: 18.02.22] Mecca’s 20 Years bundles the band’s 3 albums, released over the last two decades, into an attractive package of original recordings, now remastered, with 5 bonus tracks spread across the 3 CDs. The self titled debut … Continue reading
Album review: MANIC SINNERS – King Of The Badlands
Frontiers [Release date: 18.02.22] Manic Sinners are Frontiers’ first signing from Romania. They are a talented, hard rocking trio of multi-instrumentalists who’ve borrowed heavily from the past, (who hasn’t?). If you’re going to borrow, borrow from the best. They’ve picked … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Blue Murder, David Coverdale, Dio, Dokken, Frontiers, hard rock, Lynch Mob, Manic Sinners, melodic rock, review, Romania, Von Groove
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Album review: THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE – Fascination
Metropolis Records [Release date 18.02.22] Have you ever craved the thick tones of electric guitars over synths in a dark, electronic cocktail of gothic delightfulness? The Birthday Massacre might just be the thing you are missing. Unless of course, like … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, darkwave, Fascination, goth, melodic, metal, review, synth rock, the Birthday Massacre
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Album review: SEAN TAYLOR – The Beat Goes On
www.seantaylorsongs.com [Release date 14.01.22] Sean Taylor said he has made a deliberate attempt to accentuate a positive message of enjoying life through arts, love, music, things that bring people together. He sings “lose yourself in music, feel every note that … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, jazz, melodic, pop, review, Sean Taylor, singer songwriter, The Beat Goes On
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Album review: JACK J. HUTCHINSON – The Hammer Falls
Pete Feenstra chatted to Jack J Hutchinson for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 20 February 2022 Earache Records (Release date 04.02.22) Hard rocker Jack J. Hutchinson tells us: “We’ve thrown everything but the kitchen sink at this record.” … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
Tagged album, blues, classic rock, Jack J. Hutchinson, Josh Norton Cox, Josiah J. Manning, Lazarus Michaelides, Led Zeppelin, metal, Oasis, Ozzy Osbourne, Pink Floyd, prog, review, Rush, The Hammer Falls
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Album review: VAST CONDUIT – Always Be There
Vast Music Conduit [Release date 16.02.22] I have to admit I’ve never really been into the American prog rockers Enchant but – after hearing this – I think I should. The band flourished in the neo-prog decade of the 1990s. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Always Be There, Bill Jenkins, Enchant, fusion, jazz fusion, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Thought Chamber, Vast Conduit
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Gig review: RUSS BALLARD – 100 Club, London, 10 February 2022
The over used word ‘legendary’ applies in Russ Ballard’s case, as one of the very best and most prolific songwriters for a wide range of pop and rock artists, not to mention a distinguished and long career as singer and … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Argent, gig, Jos Henrit, Marc Rapson, melodic rock, Roly Jones, Russ Ballard, singer songwriter
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Interview: RONNI LE TEKRO
Ronni Le Tekrø is considered one of the world’s most influential metal guitarists, first and foremost with his band TNT, but also as a solo artist and studio musician. Tekrø has sold over 4 Million albums with TNT and was … Continue reading
Gig review: CHANTEL McGREGOR & AYNSLEY LISTER – The Stables, Milton Keynes, 6 February 2022
Original co-headliner, Finnish guitarist Erja Lyytinen, was unable to travel due to Covid restrictions. Fortunately, Chantel McGregor could call upon an old friend, Aynsley Lister, to join her for three nights of her tour, the last of which was at … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 06 February 2022, AYNSLEY LISTER, blues, blues rock, Chantel McGregor, gig, guitarists, Milton Keynes, review, rock, The Stables
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Album review: GIANT – Shifting Time
Frontiers Records (Release Date 21.01.22) In the small and incestuous world of melodic rock the release of a new Giant album has caused the liveliest controversy for many years. Their first two albums are widely seen as classics of the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Dan Huff, David Huff, Giant, John Roth, Kent Hilli, melodic rock, Mike Brignardello, Shifting Time
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Gig review: THOSE DAMN CROWS – Tramshed, Cardiff – 5th February 2022
It has been a while since I reviewed a show, i believe it may have been the Steelhouse Away Day 1 with Bernie Marsden which was in 2019. We know why the 2nd one didn’t happen, and also put pay … Continue reading
Album review: ALAN PARSONS – One Note Symphony (Live In Tel Aviv)
Frontiers [release date: 11.02.22] This was Alan Parsons and his travelling band’s fourth time gigging in Israel, enjoying the huge honour of appearing with the highly regarded Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. Frontiers signed Parsons 4 years ago, releasing his “solo” album, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Alan Parsons, album, David Minasian, Frontiers, IM3 Global, Israel, Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, Jason Mraz, Jeff Kollman, live, Lou Gramm, Paul Dukas, PJ Olsen, review, Schuman, Tel Aviv, Tom Brooks, Trinity Houston
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Album review: TRICK OR TREAT – Creepy Symphonies
Scarlet Records [Release date 01.04.22] ‘Creepy Symphonies’ is the seventh studio album from Trick Or Treat, who always entertain with their music. Like Freedom Call, Trick Or Treat like to think of their music as happy metal. Vocalist Alle Conti … Continue reading
Album review: KRIS BARRAS BAND – Death Valley Paradise
Mascot [Release date 04.03.22] Kris Barras was voted Breakthrough Act in our 2021 poll and the last couple of years have seen him – like many artists – maintaining his profile largely due to livestreaming. But it’s also given him … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, alt metal, Death Valley Paradise, heavy rock, Kris Barras Band, review
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Album review: MARILLION – An Hour Before It’s Dark
Intact/earMUSIC [Release date 04.03.22] CD+DVD Digipak / CD Digipak / Jewelbox CD / Blu-ray Softbox / 2LP Gatefold / Ltd. Coloured 2LP (Orange) The past two years of pandemic has understandably pervaded album releases, the most extreme outcome is a … Continue reading
Album review: GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES – Hail To The Heroes
Frontiers [release date: 11.02.22] Highly derivative hard rock/metal from Bengaluru, India band, Girish And The Chronicles. They are now on their third album, and first on Frontiers. The album’s title, ‘Hail To The Heroes’ suggests a bunch of declamatory stadium … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, BlacknBlue, Coverdale, Frontiers, Girish, Hard Rock and Metal, India, Quiet Riot, review, Rough Cutt
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Album review: CITY OF LIGHTS – Before The Sun Sets
Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] Debut album from City Of Lights – Brit guitarist/writer Neil Austin and Greek vocalist Manos Fatsis (Hideaway). They are joined in the studio by members of Creye, Degreed and Art Nation. It’s clear that a passionate … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Art Nation, Before The Sun Sets, City Of Lights, Creye, Degreed, Fatsis, Frontiers, melodic rock, Neil Austin, review
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Gig review:JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 3 February 2022
One of my favourite gigs of last year was when FM guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick played The Cavern bar in suburban South-west London. The occasion was special enough, being my first show after the 2021 lockdown was relaxed, but the musical … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged blues rock, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, Leon Cave, melodic rock
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Album review : DEGREED – Are You Ready
Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] Are You Ready is Degreed’s sixth album, and their first on Frontiers. Robin Erikkson, Mats Erikkson, Mikael Blanc and Daniel Johansson have come a long long way in six albums. Their focus is clearly on the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Brother Firetribe, Degreed, eighties, Frontiers, Harem Scarem, Leverage, melodic rock, Queen, review, Robin Erikssen, Wigelius
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EP review: LORDS OF RUIN – Ruin Within
Website [Release 24.01.22; streaming services from 14.02.22] Metal band, Lords of Ruin have released their long-awaited debut EP, following the inevitable Covid delays to production and release, which have affected so many up-and-coming bands. It literally stalled them in their … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged EP, heavy metal, Lords of Ruin, metal, review, Ruin Within
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Single review: SKINNY KNOWLEDGE – I Wonder
Facebook [Release date 25.02.22] Bournemouth based rockers, Skinny Knowledge follow up on their awesome debut album, ‘Don’t Turn Out the Lights’ with a new single, ‘I Wonder’. The single continues the band’s own brand of high energy, alternative rock that … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged hard rock, I Wonder, NWOCR, review, rock, single, Skinny Knowledge
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Album review: JACK FRANCIS – Jack Francis
Good Deeds Music [Release date: 04.02.22] In introducing his remarkably lean and confident debut album, Jack Francis manages to namecheck Bruce Springsteen, and without realising it, Paul McCartney. There are echoes of ‘Yesterday’ in his story that the song, ‘Helena’, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, BBC radio, blues, Bruce Springsteen, country rock, Good Deeds Music, Jack Francis, Paul McCartney, review
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Album review: JAMIE’S GUNS – Sex, Drugs & Weapons of War
Facebook [Release date 04.01.22] This band was one of my lucky finds in 2021, when I spotted the debut self-titled album in the NWOCR Facebook group, and I have been sharing their music far and wide ever since, whilst eagerly … Continue reading
Album review: POCO – One Night In Nashville
Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra [Release date 28.01.22] This 2004 live recording is one of the last to feature original members Rusty Young, Richie Furay, and George Grantham together with Paul Cotton who joined the band for their third album in 1971 replacing … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, country rock, live, One Night In Nashville, Paul Cotton, Poco, review, Richie Furay, Rusty Young
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Album review : BRIX SMITH and MARTY WILLSON-PIPER – Lost Angeles
Cadiz Music [Release date: 17.o1.22] This one has an interesting story behind it. Brix Smith was originally named after The Clash standard, Guns of Brixton, which is pretty cool. In the 90’s she went to a gig in her native … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Brix Smith, John Peel, Manic Street Preachers, Mark E. Smith, Marty Willson-Piper, Oasis, Pulp, review, The Clash, The Fall, The Ramones
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