Tag Archives: album

Album review: THE UNION – The World Is Yours

Posted on January 6, 2013 by jason

The Union - 'The World Is Yours' sleeev artwork

Payola (Released March 4th) The Union – Thunder’s Luke Morley and Peter Shoulder of Winterville – return with their third album in as many years. Listening to the guitar playing of Luke Morley (you can see … Continue reading →

LOGIC MESS – Element Of The Grid

Posted on January 5, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Another band from the modern home of Progressive Rock Nirvana – Poland - Logic Mess have previously released an album under the name of Crystal Lake. Just why they felt Logic Mess was a better name I’ve no idea. Actually, ‘Element … Continue reading →

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TOYZ – The Infinite Road

Posted on January 5, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Every so often a disc shows up that looks just the same as a million others – classic prog-rock cover, picture of the band looking completely normal, track-list titles that would sit on any other album; ‘Departure’, ‘Face The Mirror’, … Continue reading →

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HENRIK FREISCHLADER – House In The Woods

Posted on January 2, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Cable Car CCR0311-39 If ‘House in The Woods’ isn’t quite a fully conceptualised album title, then Henrik Freischlader’s sense of introspection and ongoing search for a retreat offers a resonant statement of his current mindset. The funky, smoking grooves and … Continue reading →

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STEVE LUKATHER – Transition

Posted on December 22, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

Mascot Records (Release date 21.01.13) There is a lot to like about ‘Transition’ from the production quality, the sincerity, to the musicianship. The lyrical themes are again based on Luke’s recent musical and personal rejuvenation and in truth the album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, fusion, guitar, guitarist, Steve Lukather, Toto, Transition | 1 Comment

DBA (Geoff Downes/Chris Braide) – Pictures Of You

Posted on December 22, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

X2X Records DBA is a collaboration of Geoff Downes (Asia, Yes) and Chris Braide (producer for Lana Del Rey and David Guetta amongst others). If it owes something to the duo’s overt pop sensibilites as evidenced by Downes with The … Continue reading →

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Album review: ROYAL HUNT – 20th Anniversary: Special Edition

Posted on December 13, 2012 by jason

Frontiers[Release date 23.11.22] Denmark – home of Hans Christian Andersen, Lego, those rather nice pastries, motor-mouth Lars Ulrich and of course…Royal Hunt. The title says it all really – this is a celebration of the last 20 years of Royal … Continue reading →

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SNAKECHARMER – Snakecharmer

Posted on December 9, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

(Frontiers Records) Release date 21.01.13 It’s unusual when a ‘superband’ is greater than its constituent parts. But, if anything, Micky Moody and Neil Murray have created a wonderful vehicle – at last – for Chris Ousey (Heartland, Virginia Wolf ). His … Continue reading →

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LEVELLERS – Reissues

Posted on November 26, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

(Edsel Records) The Levellers are one of the most enduring and, it must be said, likeable bands to have been around for the past twenty-five years. Their blend of anarchic punk anthems aligned to touching folk sensitivity has been a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Black Tar Rivers, bonus tracks, DVD, Edsel, Headlights, Hello Pig, Levellers, Levelling The Land, Mouth To Mouth, review, White Lines, Zeitgeist | Leave a comment

ATKINS/MAY PROJECT – Valley Of Shadows

Posted on November 20, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

(Gonzo Multimedia) Al Atkins is a founder member of Judas Priest – writing ‘Victim Of Changes’ – although he left the band to make way for Rob Halford in 1973 . He has also written a very informative autobiography of his … Continue reading →

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AOR (Frederic Slama) – L.A.Temptation

Posted on November 12, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

(AOR Heaven) There’s no doubt that AOR has been enjoying a revival in recent years, epitomised perhaps by the revival of the band FM, a dedicated UK-based print magazine, and a forthcoming UK festival. And of course Firefest goes from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Frederic Slama, Goran Edman, James Christian, L.A.Temptation, melodic rock, Paul Sabu, Paul Shortino, Philip Bardowell, review | Leave a comment

MERMAID KISS – Another Country

Posted on November 5, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

www.mermaidkiss.co.uk This, the third album under the Mermaid Kiss name, is tinged with a bit of sadness. Founder member Evelyn Downing has decided to hang up her microphone. But she does immerse herself in her final album with the band; writing, … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE MENTULLS – Time Flies

Posted on November 4, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

www.thementulls.com There’s already a buzz surrounding this Yorkshire teen outfit mainly because of their young age and the fact they sound like a band twice their age. And it’s true to say that on ‘Time Flies’ their third album (!!!), … Continue reading →

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QUIET RIOT – Reissues

Posted on October 27, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

QUIET RIOT – Metal Health/Condition Critical Rock Candy Records Formed in the early 70s, Quiet Riot featured guitarist Randy Rhodes, and the band split when Rhodes joined Ozzy Osbourne. Reforming in the early 80s, Metal Health would be the band’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Condition Critical, Kevin DuBrow, metal, Metal Health, music, Quiet Riot, reissue, review, rock | Leave a comment

T & N – Slave To The Empire

Posted on October 27, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC 0208329ERE Okay, is it a tribute album or isn’t it? T & N would have you believe this offering should stand up in its own right. Dokken alumni George Lynch, Jeff Pilson and ‘Wild’ Mick Brown have assembled seven … Continue reading →

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LOVE & MONEY – The Devil’s Debt

Posted on October 26, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

Vertical VERTCD096 Twenty years on, can Love & Money still cut it? Their re-grouping at the start of 2011 for a couple of Scottish gigs and tentative UK dates last autumn suggested a resounding ‘yes’. To hear that the band … Continue reading →

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STRING DRIVEN THING – The Machine That Cried

Posted on October 24, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

String Driven Thing - The Machinbe That Cried

(Esoteric) Signing to act-breakers Charisma should have assured better fortune for this electric violin-driven four-piece but in the notes of Esoteric’s reissue guitarist Chris Adams, band co-founder with wife Pauline, grumbles over the label’s preoccupation with Genesis as neglectful of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, music, prog, progressive, reissue, review, rock, String Driven Thing, The Machine That Cried | Leave a comment

FOCUS – X

Posted on October 17, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

Eastworld Recordings (2012) One of the great rejuvenations of recent years has been the Thijs van Leer version of Focus, things seemed to click with the arrival – in 2006 – of original drummer Pierre van der Linden and they’ve … Continue reading →

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QUICK PLAYS – Police Dog Hogan, Nicole Maguire

Posted on October 14, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

POLICE DOG HOGAN – From The Land Of Miracles As the name might perhaps suggest Police Dog Hogan are a rabid high-energy bunch – an eclectic seven-piece, combining fiddle, finger picking banj and mandolin, drums and guitars with four-part harmonies … Continue reading →

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THE GATHERING – Disclosure

Posted on October 14, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

I have to confess I’ve never tripped over The Gathering – a Dutch band who started out in 1989 pedalling death/doom metal, but who like the rest of us have mellowed with the passing years and evolved into something quite … Continue reading →

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HEART – Fanatic

Posted on October 14, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

What the hell are Heart sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson on? The Lance Armstrong performance enhancement programme? It must be something with one hell of a kick, because they just aren’t sticking to the script. Artists who’ve been treading boards … Continue reading →

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MOSTLY AUTUMN – The Ghost Moon Orchestra

Posted on October 14, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

Mostly Autumn are one of those bands who seem to consistently top the Championship, but never quite make promotion to the Premier League. Constant squad changes, and player rotation has perhaps not helped their cause, and there’s also that Pink … Continue reading →

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JON LORD – Concerto For Guitar And Orchestra

Posted on October 14, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

earMusic Rock and Classical music have long been awkward bed fellows. And while it’s over four decades since John lord first dipped his toes into the water to meld his Deep Purple organ licks with orchestral music, his ‘Concerto For … Continue reading →

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JEFFERSON STARSHIP – Roswell UFO Festival 2009

Posted on October 14, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

HST051CD Sprawled around a nebulous concept of a ‘Sci-Fi Extravaganza’ this overblown 4-CD set was recorded at the UFO Festival, Rosswell, New Mexico, and is a case of never mind the quality, feel the width. The Jefferson Starship line-up is … Continue reading →

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Album Review: SKINNY MOLLY – Haywire Riot

Posted on October 14, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

Ruf 1184 Skinny Molly’s ‘Haywire Riot’ is the album they have always threatened to make. It’s an excellent southern rock album with a bluesy feel, some lovely guitar tones, fine harmony singing and above all Mike Estes’s excellent songs. And … Continue reading →