Category Archives: ALBUM REVIEWS

Album review: VIXEN Rev It Up (remaster)

Posted on June 6, 2023 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [release date 18.05.23] Minnesota band Vixen made their major label breakthrough in 1987, after moving to Los Angeles. Two albums were recorded by the original Vixen lineup, Jan Keuhnemund, Janet Gardner, Share Ross and Roxy Petrucci. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Bangalore Choir, Bobby Kimball, Bon Jovi, Diane Warren, Fiona, Harry Paress, Jack Conrad, Los Angeles, melodic rock, Minnesota, Quiet Riot, review, Rock Candy Records, Steve Plunkett | Leave a comment

Album review: RENOVATIONS – Blank

Posted on June 6, 2023 by jason

Facebook [Release date 10.06.23] Renovations are an electro-rock trio based in Edinburgh, who formed in October 2019 when the French singer and bass player, Charlotte was offered a gig opportunity, but she needed to gather a group of likeminded passionate … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Blank, electro-rock, electronica, Rénovations, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: FELLOW ROBOT – Misanthropioid

Posted on June 5, 2023 by jason

ToneQuake Records [Release date 19.05.23] Fellow Robot originally started out as a concept piece in 2016, pulling lyrics from the sci-fi novel “The Robot’s Guide to Music” written by singer Anthony Pedroza. While deeply rooted to its origins, “Misanthropioid” is … Continue reading →

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Album review: NEW ENGLAND – s/t (remaster)

Posted on June 5, 2023 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [release date : 12.05.23] New England relied not on fate or fashion, but on good old fashioned songwriting and hard work, treading the boards, making their name. Led by the talented John Fannon, and owing a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Beatles, Cheap Trick, ELO, Foreigner, Jimmy Waldo, John Fannon, Journey, Mike Stone, Queen, Raspberries, remaster, review, Sweet, Wizzard | Leave a comment

Album review: POCO – The Sony/BMG A’s and B’s

Posted on June 1, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BGO Records [Release date 31.03.23] Poco were the nearly-men of country rock and whilst achieving a modicum of chart success in their early incarnation are perhaps better known for supplying luminaries to other bands. Enter (or exit) Timothy B. Schmit … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, country rock, Poco, Randy Meisner, review, singles, The Sony/BMG A's And B's, Timothy B. Schmit | Leave a comment

Album review: FASTWAY – A’s and B’s (The Sony Years)

Posted on June 1, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BGO Records [Release date 09.12.22] You might think that the combination of Jerry Shirley (Humble Pie), Pete Way (UFO) and “Fast” Eddie Clarke (Motorhead) was a marriage made in heavy rock heaven. But this original triumvirate only lasted weeks before … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, As And Bs (The Sony Years), Fast Eddie Clarke, Fastway, hard rock, Jerry Shirley, Pete Way, review | Leave a comment

Album review: FURY WEEKEND – Afterglow

Posted on May 29, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

FiXT Music [Release date 25.05.23] Presenting ‘New to GRTR!’ each week for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio I have become aware of the increasing number of bands combining electronica and rock. I have to say the FiXT label has much … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Afterglow, album, ambient, Ars Nikonov, Fury Weekend, new age, Ollie Wride, review, synth pop, synthwave, The Anix | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVID EDWARD BOOTH – All My Days

Posted on May 29, 2023 by jason

The Recording Booth [Release date 23.06.23] Derbyshire born David Edward Booth is a songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer based in rural Suffolk. David is also in-house producer and auxiliary writer/guitarist for The Knoydart Songwriting Retreat. He helped produce Kelly Bayfield’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, All My Days, David Edward Booth, folk, Kelly Bayfield, review, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: WEAPON – New Clear Power

Posted on May 21, 2023 by jason

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 19.05.23] There have been a few changes in the Weapon camp since their 2019 album ‘Ghosts Of War’, with original guitarist Jeff Summers leaving the band in 2021, and they can now revert to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Danny Hynes, hard rock, melodic metal, metal, New Clear Power, NWOBHM, review, Robert Majd, Steve Mann, Weapon | Leave a comment

Album review: ELEGANT WEAPONS – Horns For A Halo

Posted on May 21, 2023 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 26.05.23] Elegant Weapons may be releasing their debut album, however, the album’s line-up is a bit of a metal supergroup. It features Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner, along with fellow Priest band mate, drummer Scott Travis. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Andy Sneap, debut, Elegant Weapons, heavy metal, Horns For A Halo, Judas Priest, metal, MSG, Nuclear Blast, Pantera, power metal, Rainbow, review, Richie Faulkner, Ronnie Romero, UFO | Leave a comment

Album review: ROSS THE BOSS – Legacy Of Blood, Fire And Steel

Posted on May 21, 2023 by jason

AFM Records [Release date 28.04.23] (LP, ref vinyl, gatefold sleeve) Guitarist Ross The Boss is best known as a founder member of both The Dictators and later Manowar, and has an extensive discography with both, as well as Shakin’ Street, … Continue reading →

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Album review: RAVEN – Faster Than The Speed Of Light

Posted on May 21, 2023 by jason

Cherry Red Records [Release date 26.05.23] One of the finest speed metal bands to come out of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, three piece were formed in the early 70s and grew up listening to (and playing) classic … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, athletic rock, box set, Faster Than The Speed Of Light, metal, RAVEN, review, speed metal, thrash metal | Leave a comment

Album review: LAZARUS HEIGHTS – Strangers

Posted on May 20, 2023 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release Date 22.03.23] Lazarus Heights is an experienced Anglo-French quartet based in South West France, who put the emphasis on undulating melodies, memorable hooks and fine musicianship that always supports the song. The band comprises the rock … Continue reading →

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Album review: KRIS DREVER – Best Of

Posted on May 18, 2023 by jason

Website [Release date 19.05.23] Kris Drever has now made five solo albums (debuting in 2006 debut with ‘Black Water’), as well as five studio albums with the folk trio Lau, and recordings with various collaborators including Fine Friday, Roddy Womble … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, best of, Boo Hewerdine, folk, Kris Drever, Lau, review, Roddy Womble, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review : V/A Let’s Stomp (Merseybeat 1962-1969) 3 CD set

Posted on May 14, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 26.05.23] Heavily influenced by US Blues and Rock, Merseybeat was a sixties pop music phenomenon, originating in Liverpool, that swept all before it. First the UK, then Europe, ultimately invading the USA and the ROTW. Across … Continue reading →

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Album review: MICK PINI & AUDIO54 – Way Ahead

Posted on May 14, 2023 by petefeenstra

House Of Happiness [Release Date 22.03.23] Described in some quarters as; “blues for the 21st century”, Mick Pini and Audio 54 (aka producer Craig Marshall) ‘Way Ahead’ album, is the strongest restatement of the view that blues is at its … Continue reading →

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Album review: URIAH HEEP – Wonderworld, High And Mighty

Posted on May 14, 2023 by jason

BMG [Release date 26.05.23] BMG are continuing their fine picture disc reissue campaign by Uriah Heep, and what lovely items they are too. These British prog legends have had their catalogue reissued more times than I care to imagine, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Reissues | Tagged album, BMG, coloured vinyl, David Byron, High And Mighty, John Wetton, Ken Hensley, Mick Box, reissues, review, Uriah Heep, Wonderworld | Leave a comment

Album review: THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT – The Turn Of A Friendly Card (Blu-Ray Edition)

Posted on May 11, 2023 by brianmc

Esoteric Recordings/Cherry Red [Release date; 26.05.23] The Turn Of A Friendly Card (1980) was Alan Parsons’ fifth long player, and if you will, a concept album. Parsons and Eric Woolfson, one a producer/songwriter and the other a songwriter/studio engineer, enjoyed … Continue reading →

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Album review : HANOI ROCKS – The Days We Spent Underground (1981-84)

Posted on May 10, 2023 by brianmc

Esoteric Records/Cherry Red [Release date: 26.05.23] CD1 Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks (1981) CD2 Oriental Beat (1982) CD3 Destruction Blues (1982) CD4 Back To Mystery City (1983) CD5 All Those Wasted Years (1984) In the 4 short years from … Continue reading →

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Album review: MIKE ROSS – Third Eye Open

Posted on May 10, 2023 by jason

Taller Records [Release date 28.04.23] This latest album Mike Ross certainly hits the listener like the proverbial musical freight train. Joining Mike Ross (vocals, guitar, organ) on engine’s footplate are Derek Randall (vocals, bass) and Darren Lee (drums). Jack Hutchinson adds … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, guitarist, hard rock, Jack Hutchinson, Mike Ross, review, rock, Third Eye Open | Leave a comment

Album review: GNOSS – Stretching Skyward

Posted on May 8, 2023 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 12.05.23] Gnoss – Aidan Moodie (vocals, guitar), Graham Rorie (fiddle, mandolin), Connor Sinclair (flute, whistles) and Craig Baxter (bodhrán, percussion) – released their last album ‘The Light of the Moon’ in 2021. On the subsequent tour supporting … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, folk, Gnoss, instrumental, review, Stretching Skyward, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review : HOUSE OF SHAKIRA – XIT

Posted on May 6, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 19.05.23] Those melodic rock fans who mainline the uncut version of the brand might not have time for artists who add their own distinctive musical seasoning. But they might just find that this shiny new album from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Eagles, Frontiers, funk, Glenn Frey, House Of Shakira, melodic rock, New Wave, review, Valensia, Valentine, XIT | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE LUKATHER – Bridges

Posted on May 6, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

The Player’s Club/Mascot [Release date 16.06.23] Early despatches suggested that Steve Lukather’s latest solo album might merely be a continuation of Toto especially with the contributions of several band members. Sure, we have writing and vocal back up contributions from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bridges, classic rock, David Paich, guitar, guitarist, Joseph Williams, review, Steve Lukather, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: RAMSEY LEWIS – Legacy/ Ramsey/ Live At The Savoy/Chance Encounter (Remasters)

Posted on May 5, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

BGO Records www.bgo-records.com [Release date 30.03.18] In the fourth of our series of reviews summarising the Ramsey Lewis reissues (see links below) here are four late-1970s/early 1980s Ramsey Lewis albums on two CDs. Once again reproducing the original credits and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Chance Encounter, classical, Grover Washington Jr., jazz funk, Legacy, Live At The Savoy, Ramsey, Ramsey Lewis, reissue, review, soul jazz, Wayne Henderson | Leave a comment

Album review: IVY GOLD – Broken Silence

Posted on May 5, 2023 by petefeenstra

A1 Records [Release date 26.05.23] Ivy Gold’s ‘Broken Silence’ is a step up from their debut ‘Six Dusty Winds’ album. It’s built round the same muscular rock antecedents, but features stronger songs which are unafraid to let the funk, blues … Continue reading →