Category Archives: ALL POSTS

News: Albums of the Month (October 2021 – December 2021)

Posted on December 9, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Albums of the Month (October-December 2021)

DEEP PURPLE Turning To Crime (earMUSIC) While the production is big, solid and bright, there’s also a live-in-the-studio feel, like it was recorded quickly and spontaneously. Listen with open ears and the album shows the band on great form, and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged Afterlight, albums, blues rock, Burntfield, classic rock, December 2021, Deep Purple, Eclipse, Leverage, melodic rock, November 2021, October 2021, Progressive Rock, review, singer, songwriter, Thea Gilmore, Thorbjorn Risager | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE JONES GANG- 229 Club, London, 3 December 2021

Posted on December 8, 2021 by andynathan

Few living people can claim as rich a classic rock pedigree as Kenney Jones- the only Small Faces member still with us, a mainstay in the Faces and Keith Moon’s replacement in the Who. Its not surprising then that the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Dave 'Bucket' Colwell, gig, Kenney Jones, Pat Davey, Robert Hart, Stevie Smith, The Faces, the Jones Gang, The Small Faces, THE WHO | Leave a comment

Gig review: LINDISFARNE – Backstage At The Green Hotel, Kinross – Friday 3rd December 2021

Posted on December 7, 2021 by david.wilson

The week prior to this gig I had watched the excellent documentary on BBC about the life and music of Lindisfarne’s guiding light Alan Hull. Alan’s creative genius is at the centre of the Lindisfarne legacy and his timeless masterpieces … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 3rd December 2021, Alan Hull, Backstage At The Green Hotel, Dave Hull Denholm, folk, gig, Ian Thomson, Kinross, Lindisfarne, live, Meet Me On The Corner, Mundell Music, rock, Rod Clements, Run For Home, Steve Daggett | Leave a comment

Album review: THE MURDER OF MY SWEET – A Gentleman’s Legacy

Posted on December 7, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 10.12.21] The Murder Of My Sweet’s latest release, A Gentleman’s Legacy, is a concept album, with a plot worthy of some of the better psychological thriller writers we may have encountered over the years. The band is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Abba, album, concept album, Dan Brown, Daniel Flores, Frontiers, Genesis, MURDER OF MY SWEET, Phil Collins, progrock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: CAP OUTRUN – High On Deception

Posted on December 6, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date 10.12.21] Swedish rock band, Cap Outrun’s debut album integrates Progrock with Melodic Rock. A bold mix of nostalgia and modernism. One of the prime reasons for Progrock’s popularity is the music’s illusion of improvisation. You’re not quite … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chandler Mogen, Denis DeYoung, Lou Gramm, melodic rock, progrock, review, Steely Dan, Toto, Von Hertzen Brothers | Leave a comment

Gig review: BAD TOUCH – O2 Islington Academy, London, 2 December 2021

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Davoski

The gig was in the upstairs portion of Academy, which is more intimate than the main ground floor venue and provided for a vibrant, enthusiastic atmosphere. Something Piston appeared to thrive on. Their short, powerful set was packed with crowd … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 December 2021, Bad Touch, classic rock, gig, Islington Academy, live, Piston, review | Leave a comment

Book review: On Track…ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA by Barry Delve

Posted on December 5, 2021 by jason

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 03.12.21] After a highly readable book on Queen a couple of years ago Sonicbond now publish a book based on my other all-time favourite band the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Wisely Barry Delve focusses solely on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged Barry Dalve, Bev Bevan, book, classic rock, Electric Light Orchestra - Every Album, ELO, Every Song, Jeff Lynne, melodic, pop, pop rock, review, Roy Wood, Sonicbond Publishing | Leave a comment

EP review: THIRD LUNG – Dialogues Of The Fatal Few

Posted on December 5, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 26.11.21] We enjoyed Reading four piece Third Lung’s 2019 EP ‘Sooner Or Later’ here at Ritchie towers and I was delighted to read they have a new EP out. The EP is a compilation of singles, plus … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, Dialogues Of The Fatal Few, EP, indie, melodic, review, rock, Third Lung | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVID CROSS & ANDREW KEELING – October Is Marigold

Posted on December 4, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Noisy Records [Release date 03.12.21] David Cross releases fine instrumental music via his own Noisy Records imprint. Cross was with King Crimson in the 1970s whilst Keeling has scored new versions of the band’s repertoire. You’d expect that their music … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andrew Keeling, David Cross, Electric Chamber Music Vol.3, flute, instrumental, King Crimson, October Is Marigold, review, violin | Leave a comment

Feature: An introduction to Christmas (rock) Music

Posted on December 4, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Christmas comes but once a year, and with it the usual mixed bag of toons. But not for us the familiar stylings of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ or ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’. We like to dig deep, a bit like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged Alan Davey, album, carols, Christmas, feature, Hawkestrel, Hawkwind, instrumental, Jethro Tull, playlist, review, Rick Wakeman, Thea Gilmore, Thijs van Leer, Xmas | Leave a comment

Album review : STAHLMANN – Quarz

Posted on December 4, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date: 10.12.21] 7th album from German band, Stahlmann. When Rammstein released their first album, in 1995, the German music press coined a new phrase, Neue Deutsch Harte. NDH became a cutting edge calling card for other bands … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Germany, industrial metal, NDH, Neue Deutsch Harte, Rammstein, review, Stahlmann | Leave a comment

Album review: MERCURY X – Imprisoned

Posted on December 4, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date 10.12.21] In straddling the border between Progmetal and Symphonic Rock, Swedish band, Mercury X have staked out a fertile chunk of territory. This is their debut album (excluding two independent releases). It remains to be seen if … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Frontiers, Marillion. Pink Floyd, Mercury X, prog metal, review, Sweden, symphonic rock, The Flower Kings | Leave a comment

News: The Best of 2021 – Get Ready to ROCK! reviewers choose their Top Albums of the Year

Posted on December 3, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

2021 has been another horrendous year for live music, largely silenced by the coronavirus pandemic. In August, live events in the UK started cautiously with several festivals and, with restrictions lifting for smaller venues, some semblance of live music returned … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, The Best of 2021 | Tagged albums, Best of 2021, blues rock, breakthrough acts, classic rock, hard rock, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, reissues, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

EP review: ROLY WITHEROW – Down By The River

Posted on December 2, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 03.12.21] Roly Witherow is a prolific and acclaimed composer in the world of film, theatre and TV. Roly released his debut album ‘Ballads and Yarns’ in 2020, which he now follows-up with this new five-track EP. Roly … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged acoustic, Down By The River, EP. Singer songwriter, folk, review, Richard Thompson, Roly Witherow | Leave a comment

Gig review: FISH – Cambridge Junction, 18 November 2021

Posted on December 2, 2021 by jason

FISH – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 15 December 2017

After four decades, four studio albums with Marillion and eleven solo albums it’s drawing close to Fish winding down a long and storied musical career that has seen the towering Scotsman touch the hearts of countless thousands around the globe. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18 November 2021, Cambridge Junction, Doris Brendel, Fish, gig, John Mitchell, Marillion, prog rock, review, rock, Weltschmerz | Leave a comment

Album review: JAMES WHITE & THE WILD FIRE – Live at Saffron Hall

Posted on December 1, 2021 by jason

Facebook [Release date 19.11.21] James White & The Wild Fire formed in 2020 and musically are a blend of country, bluegrass, indie and Americana, hailing from Saffron Walden, Essex. The group consists of James White (vocals and guitar), Brooke Bond … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, bluegrass, country, folk, folk rock, James White & the Wild Fire, live album, Live at Saffron Hall, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: KIP WINGER – The Black Heart, Camden, London, 27 November 2021

Posted on December 1, 2021 by andynathan

Kip Winger’s acoustic shows in London at the much missed Borderline became the stuff of legend with their mixture of intimate songs and storytelling and fan participation. They even achieved the ultimate accolade of being a numbered series, so this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 27 November 2021, acoustic, Camden, gig, review Kip Winger, Robby Rothschild, The Black Heart, Winger | Leave a comment

Album review: DEEP PURPLE – Turning To Crime

Posted on December 1, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

earMusic [Release date 26.11.21] The rock legends’ 22nd studio album and it comes only a year after the critically acclaimed Whoosh (one of the band’s best albums in their 50+ years). Clearly at a loose end or two during the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Covers, Deep Purple, Don Airey, hard rock, Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, review, Roger Glover, Steve Morse, Turning To Crime | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE DARKNESS – Reading Hexagon, 26 November 2021

Posted on November 30, 2021 by andynathan

Never mind the hysteria that surrounded them in the early 2000’s, proof of how quickly time marches lies in the fact that it now a full ten years since the Darkness triumphantly reformed at Download. Since then they have surprised … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Dan Hawkins, Frankie Poullain, gig, Justin Hawkins, Massive Wagons, Rufus Taylor, The Darkness | Leave a comment

Book review: On track – Decades – ERIC CLAPTON, PORCUPINE TREE, LED ZEPPELIN, GENESIS, YES

Posted on November 30, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing The On Track series continues unabated and this – and the companion series ‘Decades’ – to a large extent reflects the enthusiasm of the publisher Stephen Lambe and his band of individual authors. Whilst we are frequently critical … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, Cardiacs, Decades, Eric Clapton, Genesis, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zeppelin, MORRISSEY, On Track, Porcupine Tree, Radiohead, review, Sonicbond, Tangerine Dream, The Bee Gees, The Damned, THE DOORS, the Smiths, Tori Amos, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: JULIAN LITTMAN – Goblin Market Music

Posted on November 30, 2021 by jason

Website [Release date 01.12.21] Steeleye Span’s Julian Littman has created a concept album based on Christina Rossetti’s famous 19th Century poem ‘Goblin Market’. In addition, author John Matthews set out to adapt the themes in the poem to create a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Christina Rossetti, concept album, folk, Goblin Market, Julian Littman, Maddy Prior, poetry, prog rock, progressive, review, Steeleye Span | Leave a comment

News: ELLES BAILEY, STONEDEAD, URIAH HEEP (December 2021)

Posted on November 30, 2021 by jason

Michael Schenker, photo by Simon Dunkerley

Tim Arnold releases his new album, ‘Maybe Magic’, on January 7 via Bandcamp. Pretty Maids vocalist Ronnie Atkins releases his new solo album ‘Make It Count’ on march 18 via Frontiers. Elles Bailey has opened pre-orders for her next album, ‘Shining in … 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 alternative, blues, blues rock, Elles Bailey, festivals, folk, gigs, indie, melodic rock, metal, news, pop, prog, rock, Stonedead, tours | Leave a comment

Album review: THORBJORN RISAGER & THE BLACK TORNADO – Best Of

Posted on November 29, 2021 by petefeenstra

Ruf [Release date 21.09.21] If there’s still a debate about the merits of European blues as opposed to its American antecedents, then Denmark’s Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado have finally kicked the argument into touch with this stellar ‘Best … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, big band, blues, compilation, country, Danish, Emil Balsgaard, funk, Harold Adamson, horns, Joachim Svensmark, Kasper Wagner, Martin Seidelin, Nat King Cole, Peter Kehl, review, rock, ruf records, soul, Søren Bøjgaard, Thorbjorn Risager &The Black Tornado, vocals | Leave a comment

Gig review: MARILLION – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 26 November 2021

Posted on November 29, 2021 by Davoski

Marillion are one of the hardest working live bands around and no surprise that they have wasted little time in getting back on the road after their enforced pandemic hiatus. Tonight was the first of a brace of gigs at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 26 November 2021, gig, Hammersmith Apollo, live, Marillion, prog, review, Steve Hogarth, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

Album review: MANIMAL – Armageddon

Posted on November 29, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 3.12.21] Armageddon is Swedish Power Metal band, Manimal’s 6th release. What it lacks in subtlety, it makes up for in bravado and sheer power, with the rough edges sanded down by a bunch of resilient, tough … Continue reading →