Category Archives: The Best of 2017

Album review: THRESHOLD – Legends Of The Shires

Posted on September 7, 2017 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 08.09.17] Threshold have been in the metal news a lot recently after vocalist Damian Wilson left the band in March and they announced former vocalist Glynn Morgan was returning to the band – he left them back … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Damian Wilson, Glynn Morgan, Karl Groom, Legends Of The Shires, metal, Nuclear Blast, prog metal, progressive metal, review, Richard West, Threshold | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION – BCCIV

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Davoski

Mascot Records [Release date: 22.09.17] When Bonamassa walked out of Black Country Communion in 2013, you could have taken long odds on a reunion. Particularly given the relative success both camps have had with their own projects in the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged Afterglow, BCCIV, Black Country Communion, classic rock, Derek Sherinian, Glenn Hughes, hard rock, Jason Bonham, Joe Bonamassa | Leave a comment

Album review: COZY POWELL – The Polydor Years

Posted on September 3, 2017 by jason

Caroline International [Release date 25.08.17] Drummer extraordinaire Cozy Powell is one of the biggest hitters in the hard rock word, making his name with Jeff Beck, Rainbow, Whitesnake, MSG, Black Sabbath, and Brian May; just before he died in 1998 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Bernie Marsden, box set, Cozy Powell, Don Airey, drummer, ELP, Jack Bruce, MSG, Rainbow, review, Ritchie Blackmore, Solo, The Polydor Years, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: JUDIE TZUKE – Peace Has Broken Out

Posted on August 31, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Big Moon Records [Release date 01.09.17] To the casual observer, it may seem a long time since Judie Tzuke’s last studio release – the excellent One Tree Less, some six years ago. But those who’ve followed her more closely will … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged acoustic, album, Judie Tzuke, Peace Has Broken Out, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: GUN – Favourite Pleasures

Posted on August 27, 2017 by david.wilson

Cloburn Music [Release date 15.09.17] Gun are one of those bands who operate under the radar. They are constantly working away in the background either gigging or producing new music with little fuss but they have a loyal band of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, CD, Dante Gizzi, Favourite Pleasure, funk, Gun, Jools Gizzi, review, rock, Stevie Wonder, Swagger, Taking On The World, The Edge, Tom Russell, Tommy Vance, U2 | Leave a comment

Album review: GRAHAM BONNET – Anthology

Posted on August 25, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Graham Bonnet about his career for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. This special feature was first broadcast on 27 August 2017. (59:20) HNE Recordings/Cherry Red [Release date 28.04.17] Graham Bonnet is enjoying something of a revival … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Alcatrazz, Anthem, anthology, Blackthorne, box set, Forcefield, Graham Bonnet, hard rock, heavy rock, Impellitteri, interview, Marbles, Michael Schenker Group, Rainbow, review, Taz Taylor | Leave a comment

Album review: BOULEVARD – IV Luminescence

Posted on August 19, 2017 by jason

MelodicRock Records [Release date 22.09.17] Here’s a band I thought I’d never hear new music from and I am very glad to be proved wrong. Boulevard are a Canadian band who released two albums – 1988′s self-titled debut and 1990′s ‘Into … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, AOR, Boulevard, Chicago, IV Luminescence, melodic, review, rock, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: H.E.A.T – Into The Great Unknown

Posted on August 17, 2017 by andynathan

earMUSIC Release Date 22.09.17 Back in 2014, with their fourth album ‘Tearing Down the Walls’, and high energy live shows, H.E.A.T seemed on the verge of a major commercial breakthrough as standard bearers for a new breed of melodic rockers. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Dave Dalone, Erik Gronwall, H.E.A.T., Into The Great Unknown, melodic hard rock, melodic rock, review, Sky Davis | Leave a comment

Album review: DEVILFIRE – Dark Manoeuvres

Posted on August 17, 2017 by jason

Escape The Fire Records [Release date 07.10.07] What the fudge is in the water in Birmingham? Could it really still be that yearning to escape working class, chained-to-the-factory drudgery? Seemingly Britain’s hard-rock Austin, Texas equivalent, Brum has produced some of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Dark Manoeuvres, Devilfire, hard rock, melodic, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THE YOUNG ‘UNS – Strangers

Posted on August 17, 2017 by jason

Hereteu Records [Release date 29.09.17] Teeside three piece the Young ‘Uns – Sean Cooney, David Eagle and Michael Hughes – have won the BBC Folk Awards Best Group in 2015 and 2016, along with picking up numerous plaudits from the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged acapella, album, BBC Folk Awards, folk, review, social history, Strangers, the Young 'Uns, vocal harmonies | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK SABBATH – The Ten Year War (Box Set)

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Davoski

BMG [Release date 29.09.17] Black Sabbath’s Ozzy-fronted albums have been given a monster remaster and the full luxury box set re-issue treatment. It is quite a piece of work. The package has even had a roadshow of launch events. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Bill Ward, Black Sabbath, box set, Geezer Butler, heavy metal, heavy rock, memorabilia, Ozzy Osbourne, review, The Ten Year War, Tony Iommi | Leave a comment

Album review: WALTER TROUT – We’re All In This Together

Posted on August 10, 2017 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Walter Trout in October 2017 for his Sunday Feature show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. In this hour special Walter chats about the album with several tracks featured. Provogue Records [Release date 01.09.17] ‘We’re All … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, blues, Charlie Mussellwhite, Chuck Leavell, Edgar Winter, Eric Corne, Eric Gales, funk, guitar, interview, Jimmy Trapp, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Louis Walker, John Mayall, John Nemeth, Jon Trout, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Mike Zito, Randy Bachman, review, Robben Ford, rock, Sammy Avila, Sonny Landreth, The Allman Brothers, Walter Trout, Warren Haynes, We're All In This Together | Leave a comment

Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Day 1 – Mote Park, Maidstone, 28 July 2017

Posted on August 7, 2017 by david.wilson

RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR –Mote Park, Maidstone, 28 July 2017

The Ramblin’ Man Fair is now in its third year and is going from strength to strength. It is situated in Mote Park right in the centre of Maidstone in Kent, it is a bit bizarre passing a children’s playpark … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events, The Best of 2017 | Tagged 28 July 2017, Biff Byford, Dave Meniketti, Dio, gig, Graham Bonnet, Last In Line, Maidstone, metal, Mote Park, Rainbow, Ramblin' Man Fair, review.rock, Saxon, The Eagle Has Landed, Vivian Campbell, Y&T | Leave a comment

Album review: D2UR – Tic Toc

Posted on August 7, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 01.07.17] D2UR (pronounced Detour, really?) are a no-nonsense Canadian band built around the partnership of Mike and Diane Isbister. He plays guitars, she sings. Starting out as a covers band, their debut release Rev U Up (2013) was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, D2UR, Diane Isbister, hard rock, melodic rock, Mike Isbister, review, Tic Toc | Leave a comment

Album review: KING KING – Exile & Grace

Posted on August 5, 2017 by petefeenstra

Manhaton [Release date 06.10.17] King King’s ‘Exile & Grace’ doesn’t so much attempt reinvent the wheel, as musically re-market old wine in new bottles. For while the CD comes stamped through with the band’s signature sound – sharp riffs, boisterous … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, The Best of 2017 | Tagged AC/DC, Alan Nimmo, album, Audley Freed, Bad Company, blues, Bob Fridzema, Cry Of Love, Exile & Grace, funk, King King, Paul Rogers, review, rock, Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes, Thin Lizzy, Thunder, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Gig review: GRAHAM BONNET BAND – The Tivoli, Buckley, 30 July 2017

Posted on July 31, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

In this exclusive edit Graham tells Get Ready to ROCK!’s David Randall about his current activities and band. (15:02) The hour special is broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sunday 27 August at 18:00 GMT. The full version is … Continue reading →

Posted in GIG REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, The Best of 2017 | Tagged 30 July 2017, Alcatrazz, Buckley, gig, Graham Bonnet Band, hard rock, heavy rock, Impellitteri, interview, Michael Schenker, North Wales, Rainbow, review, The Tivoli | Leave a comment

Gig review: SUMMERFEST – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, 28 June-9 July 2017

Posted on July 25, 2017 by andynathan

In a world of constant change in popular music, for a festival to celebrate its 50th year, as Milwaukee’s Summerfest did this year, represents a lifetime. I’d been to the festival certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s biggest … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged AOR, Bad Boy, Blackberry Smoke, Bob Dylan, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Dennis De Young, festival, Foghat, gig, Greta Van Fleet, Huey Lewis and the News, Jason Isbell, John Waite, July 2017, June 2017, melodic rock, Milwaukee, Paul Simon, Peter Frampton, progressive, REO Speedwagon, review, rock, Sheryl Crow, Shinedown, Soul Asylum, Summerfest, Tesla, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Toto, Wisconsin | Leave a comment

Album review: KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND – Lay It On Down

Posted on July 22, 2017 by petefeenstra

Kenny Wayne Shepherd chatted to Pete Feenstra about his new album ‘Lay It On Down’. First broadcast 23 July on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. More information Provogue [Release date 04.08.17] When you sign a multi-album deal with Warner Brothers … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, blues, country, funk, guitar, Jackson Brown, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Lay It On Down, Ledbetter Heights, Marshall Alltman, Nashville, Noah Hunt, R&B, review, rock, soul, Steve Stills, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Eagles, The Rides | Leave a comment

Album review: THE SPIRITUAL MACHINES – Awake, Alert, Alive, almost

Posted on July 20, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Would Work Sound [Release date 14.02.17] Sometimes reviewers can get lost underneath a sea of review copies waiting to be sorted, waiting for evaluation. They seek refuge in other music eras, rediscovering their lost youth, whilst avoiding the present. Anything … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Leave a comment

Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Scarecrow

Posted on July 17, 2017 by jason

www.catsinspaceband.com [Release date 25.08.17] Cats In Space’s debut album ‘Too Many Gods’ was released in 2015 and rightly won the band many rave reviews. Since then they have toured supporting Thunder, done a joint headline tour with Space Elevator, appeared … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged 1970's, album, Cats In Space, Greg Hart, melodic, Pilot, pomp, Queen, review, rock, Scarecrow, Sweet | Leave a comment

Album review: THUNDERSTICK – Something Wicked This Way Comes

Posted on July 8, 2017 by jason

[Release date 28.07.17] There are few musicians as iconic in image as Barry Graham Perkis, aka Thunderstick, who originally found fame as the masked and caged drummer for NWoBHM band Samson. Previously a short lived drummer for Iron Maiden, he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Barry Graham Purkis, Iron Maiden, metal, NWOBHM, review, rock, Samson, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Thunderstick | 1 Comment

Gig review: THE PRETTY THINGS & THE IMPERIAL CROWNS – Relache Festival, Bordeaux, SW France, 7 July 2017

Posted on July 8, 2017 by petefeenstra

Jimmie Wood – Relache Festival, Bordeaux, SW France, 7 July 2017

There’s a lot to be said for the art of performance. And tonight The Imperial Crowns front man Jimmie Wood works hard to preach the blues to a sun drenched crowd initially cowering on the edges of the festival square, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, GIG REVIEWS, Photo Galleries, The Best of 2017 | Tagged Billy Champagne Sullivan, blues, Bo Diddley, Bordeaux, David Lynch, Dick Taylor, festival, France, Frank Holland, funk, gig, gospel, Jimmie Wood, Jimmy Reed, JJ Holiday, John Popper, Jon Avilla, Phil May, psychedelia, R&B, Rachel C.Wood, Relache Festival, review, rock, S.F. Sorrow, The Electric Banana, The Imperial Crowns, The Pretty Things | Leave a comment

Gig review: RITCHIE BLACKMORE’S RAINBOW – Genting Arena, Birmingham, 28 June 2017

Posted on July 3, 2017 by jason

Rainbow - STONE FREE FESTIVAL, London, 17 June 2017

When I was a teenager getting seriously into rock and metal in the early 80s I was lucky enough to see some of the biggest acts around: AC/DC, Sabbath, Quo, Ozzy etc. One band I never got to see, however, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged Andy Scott, Birmingham 28th June 2017, classic rock, Genting Arena, gig, glam, Graham Bonnet, Joe Lynn Turner, review, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, rock, Ronnie James Dio, Ronnie Romero, Sweet | 1 Comment

Album review: THEA GILMORE – The Counterweight

Posted on June 27, 2017 by alanjones

WMW/Cooking Vinyl [Release date 02.06.17] So what’s a girl to do? She’s got bills to pay just like the rest of us, so is this the moment that Thea Gilmore drifts into the mainstream? From the release of the bile-spitting … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged acoustic, album, Nigel Stonier, pop, review, rock, Singer/Songwriter, The Counterweight, Thea Gilmore | Leave a comment

Gig review: ROCK GODDESS – The Borderline, London, June 23 2017

Posted on June 26, 2017 by jason

The time is definitely right for a NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) revival and it is great to see a good number of bands from that late 70s/early 80s era recording and touring once again, even ones that … Continue reading →