Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: NESTOR – Teenage Rebel

Posted on June 2, 2024 by jason

Napalm Records [Release date 31.05.24] Album number two from Nestor sees the band signed to a big label, namely Napalm Records, home to fellow lovers of a good 80′s melodic rock riff, the Night Flight Orchestra. According the band’s bio … Continue reading →

Album review: RICK ESTRIN AND THE NIGHTCATS – The Hits Keep Coming

Posted on May 31, 2024 by petefeenstra

Alligator Records [Release date 08.03.24] It’s five years since Rick Estrin & the Nightcats cut an album signifantly called ‘Contemporary’. And as if too illustate his almost unique standing as a conduit between old school blues and his current groundbreaking … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Charlie Baty, Charlie McCoy, Derrick ‘D’Mar’ Martin, Dobie Strange, Frank Zappa, harp, Kid Andersen, Leonard Cohen, Lorenzo Farrell, review, Rick Estrin, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Sons Of The Soul Revivers, vocal | Leave a comment

Album review: FOCUS – Focus 12

Posted on May 30, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Thijs van Leer for his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio playing tracks from the new album. First broadcast 9 June 2024 and featured in the second hour. Spirit Of Unicorn Music [Release date … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Focus, Focus 12, Jazz rock, Pierre van der Linden, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Thijs van Leer | Leave a comment

Album review: PSYCH! British Prog, Rock, Folk & Blues 1966-1973 (3-CD)

Posted on May 30, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Decca/Universal [Release date 21.06.24] This 64-song 3-CD/2LP collection highlights a halcyon period for British psych rock and folk stretching from the mid sixties to the early 1970s. During that time Deram was the leading purveyor of the genre and this … Continue reading →

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Album review : NIGHTMARE – Encrypted

Posted on May 29, 2024 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date: 06.06.24] Formed in 1979, French Power Metal band, Nightmare have been worshipping the mighty riff for 11 albums now. Their 12th album, Encrypted, sees ex Songbird songbird, Barbara Mogore (a smart bit of recruitment by Yves … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, Barbara Mogore, Death Metal, DGM, Encrypted, French, Nightmare, power metal, review, Simone Mularoni | Leave a comment

Album review: McCOY – The Sound Of Thunder (3 CD set)

Posted on May 27, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 31/05/24] CD1: 1985: McCoy : Hard Thinking (incorporates 1982 EP) CD2: 1998: McCoy : Brainstorm CD3: 1977: McCoy : Live 1977 The real (John) McCoy, bass player extraordinaire, was as much known for his fearsome, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Al Romano, Bernie Torme, boxset, Brainstorm, Fleetwood Mac, Ian Gillan, John McCoy, Mile Sciotto, Paul Samson, review, Think Hard, ZZ Top | Leave a comment

Album review : RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Challenge The Wind

Posted on May 25, 2024 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date : 31.05.24] Fans of the Symphonic Metal genre will know ROF is a band big on concept. This new album, Challenge The Wind, is the third in their “Nephilim Empire Saga”. The second, Glory For Salvation, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Alex Staropoli, Bro Firetribe, Giacomo Volli, Magnum, review, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, Robi DeMicheli, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: CASEY MAUNDER – Get Out and Push

Posted on May 25, 2024 by jason

Facebook [Release date 13.05.24] Casey Maunder is back with the follow-up to his enjoyable debut album ‘Until Your Heart Stops Beating’. That album was jammed packed with riff led hard rockers and pleasingly ‘Get Out and Push’ follows on nicely. Opener … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Casey Maunder, Get Out and Push, guitarist, hard rock, melodic rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: FM – Old Habits Die Hard

Posted on May 24, 2024 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 03.05.24) FM appear to be constantly on tour, and yet between that activity they somehow find time to consistently write and release a new album every two or three years. ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ actually marks … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, FM, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Old Habits Die Hard, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Album review: REMEDY – Pleasure Beats Pain

Posted on May 24, 2024 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 24.05.24] Remedy released their debut album at the tail end of 2022 and it earned rave reviews (including from this reviewer!), although being independently released it didn’t get the full coverage it deserved. Enter Escape Music … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Erik Martensson, Escape Music, hard rock, melodic rock, Pleasure Beats Pain, Remedy, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE MIGHTY BOSSCATS – Are You The Person You’ve Always Wanted To Be / Photoshoot

Posted on May 22, 2024 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date 29.09.23] Richard Townend is an indefatigable singer-songwriter, guitarist and band leader of The Mighty Bosscats, who never let rust sleep. His consistent output has the feel of a diarist who needs to get the minutiae of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Are You The Person You've Always Wanted To Be, Billy Preston, funk, JJ Cale, Johnny Cash, Latino, Mark Hall, Mark Knopfler, Matt Gillam, Paul Simon, Photoshoot, Pink Floyd, review, Richard Townend, Roy Orbison, singer, songworter, The Beatles, The Mighty Bosscats, Tony Sales, Webb Wilder | Leave a comment

Album review : LINDISFARNE – Brand New Day The Mercury Years 1978-79 (3 CDs)

Posted on May 22, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 24.05.24] This is one of Cherry Red’s finer moments. A concise snapshot of Lindisfarne when they were at their best. CD1: Magic In The Air (1978) CD2: Back And Fourth (1978) CD3: The News (1979) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Alan Hull, Back And Forth, Fog On The Tyne, Lindisfarne, Magic In The Air, Newcastle, review, The News | Leave a comment

Album review: CHRIS FARLOWE – Stormy Monday – The Blues Years 1985-2008 (3CDs)

Posted on May 20, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 24.05.24] Born to sing the blues, Chris Farlowe recorded genre standard, ‘Stormy Monday Blues’ in 1965, to huge critical acclaim. With his band, the Thunderbirds, he became a lightning rod for blues fans, continually burning down … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Chris Farlowe, Clem Clempson, Elkie Brooks, Humble Pie, Mike Vernon, Solomon Burke, Stormy Monday, The Blues Years, Van Morrison | Leave a comment

Album review: OLIVER WAKEMAN – Anam Cara

Posted on May 20, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Elflock Records/Spirit of Unicorn Music/Cherry Red [Release date 10.05.24] Oliver Wakeman is best known as part of a veritable keyboard dynasty but out of the fatherly shadow he has been steadily making solid albums on his own terms. The latest … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, Anam Cara, classic rock, Hayley Griffiths, Oliver Wakeman, prog, Progressive Rock, Troy Donockley | Leave a comment

Album review: MIRACLE MILE – East of Ely

Posted on May 19, 2024 by jason

Order link [Release date 31.05.24] ‘East of Ely’ is Miracle Mile’s first album since 2012, so to say this was eagerly anticipated is an understatement! Miracle Mile comprise of Trevor Jones and Marcus Cliffe, where this record was largely written … Continue reading →

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Album review: ROCKY ATHAS – Livin My Best Life

Posted on May 17, 2024 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to Rocky Athas for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, playing tracks from the album ‘Living My Best Life’. First broadcast 12 May 2024. Cherryburst Records [Release date 10.03.24] ‘Living My Best Life’ is Rocky … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Bob Dylan, Buddy Miles, Don Nix, Double Trouble, Freddie King, Free, Gary Moore, Glenn Hughes, guitar, Jared Watson, Jeff Beck, John Mayall, Larry Samford, Leon Russell, Leslie West, Lightning, Livin My Best Life, Mick Jagger, Paul Kossoff, Peter Green, review, Robin Trower, Rocky Athas, Roky Athas11, Walter Watson | Leave a comment

Album review: MANDOKI SOULMATES – A Memory Of Our Future

Posted on May 16, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Red Rock Music/Inside Out Music [Release date 10.05.24] I think it fair to say that Leslie Mandoki doesn’t do things half-arsed. Several years ago a couple of reissues were accompanied by an expansive press kit, a real thick tome that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Memory Of Our Future, Al Di Meola, album, AOR, Bill Evans, Ian Anderson, Jazz rock, Mandoki Soulmates, Mike Stern, prog, Progressive Rock, Randy Brecker, review, Simon Phillips | Leave a comment

Album review: T BEAR – The Way Of The World

Posted on May 15, 2024 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chatted to T Bear for his feature show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio and featuring tracks from the new album ‘The Way Of The World’. First broadcast 19 May 2024. Quarto Valley Records [Release date 22.03.24] ‘Way … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, blues, Bo Diddley, Bob Dylan, Dr John, funk, interview, Laurence Juber, Leon Russell, Paul Rogers, radio, Randy Newman, review, Richard T Bear, rock, singer, songwriter, Steely Dan, T. Bear, The Beatles, Tony Braunagel, Walter Trout, Way of the World | Leave a comment

Album review: THESE WICKED RIVERS – Force Of Nature

Posted on May 14, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Fat Earth Records [Released date 01.03.24] This is a perfectly formed second album from Derby’s finest. Formed in 2014, the band combine elements of southern, classic and heavy rock. The title track is a great calling card and guaranteed to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, Force Of Nature, heavy rock, review, southern rock, These Wicked Rivers | Leave a comment

Album review: THE TREATMENT – Wake Up The Neighbourhood (plus album launch, 11 May 2024)

Posted on May 14, 2024 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 10.05.24] The Treatment have released their much-anticipated 6th studio album, “Wake Up The Neighbourhood”, after teasing us with singles that could only hint at the epic masterpiece that was to follow. For the uninitiated, The Treatment are … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged album, album launch show, Cambridge, classic rock, Frontiers, gig, hard rock, Laurie Mansworth, Mansworth, MASH, NWOCR, review, rock, Saturday 11 May 2024, The Treatment, Tom Rampton, Wake Up The Neighbourhood | Leave a comment

Album review: MARISA AND THE MOTHS – What Doesn’t Kill You

Posted on May 13, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

Tonesick Records [Release date 03.05.24] I first became aware of Marisa And The Moths during Lockdown and they ultimately produced some excellent stripped back versions of their songs, not least a truly wonderful version of ‘Choke’. At that time they … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, heavy rock, Marisa And The Moths, review, What Doesn't Kill You | Leave a comment

Album review: ATTIC THEORY – What We Fear The Most

Posted on May 13, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

ThunderGun Records [Release date 26.04.24] It shows an album’s strength when four tracks are pre-released as “singles”. There could have been more. The debut album from this Liverpool band is a great example of burgeoning home grown talent in 2024. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Attic Theory, hard rock, heavy rock, review, What We Fear The Most | Leave a comment

Album review: TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN – Electrified

Posted on May 12, 2024 by jason

tyler bryant and the shakedown electrified

Rattle Shake Records [Release date 10.05.24] Album number six from Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown who still don’t look old enough to have made so many albums. Seemingly down to a trio of Tyler Bryant (vocals, guitar) Caleb Crosby (drums), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues rock, Electrified, guitar, hard rock, Larkin Poe, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Ruthie Foster, southern rock, Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK SABBATH – Anno Domini 1989-1995

Posted on May 12, 2024 by jason

BMG [Release date 31.05.24] Another solid box from BMG, and four long out-of-print albums get a release. This set features Headless Cross (1989), Tyr (1990), Cross Purposes (1994) and Forbidden (1995). And before anyone goes “The Tony Martin Years”, this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Anno Domini 1989-1995, Black Sabbath, blues rock, box set, classic rock, Cozy Powell, Geoff Nicholls, Headless Cross, heavy metal, Neil Murray, review, Tony Iommi, Tony Martin, TYR | Leave a comment

Album review: DEMON – Invincible

Posted on May 11, 2024 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 17.05.24] You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped back in time to the late 70s/early 80s, as the first half of 2024 has seen new albums from the likes of Magnum, Saxon, Judas Priest, Praying Mantis, Tygers … Continue reading →