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Latest Album Reviews
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Album review: ROSS HARDING – The Blood and the Blues
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Album review: PETE KOSANOVICH – Beauty Within You
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Album review : ROB MORATTI – Sovereign
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Album review : BRAZEN ABBOT – Live And Learn and Guilty As Sin (CD reissues)
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Album review : GRAHAM BONNET – Lost In Hollywood Again (Live)
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JIM PETERIK AND WORLD STAGE – River of Song – The Power Of Duets, Volume 1
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Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: STEVE OVERLAND AND JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Weir, Brentford, Middlesex, 9 December 2025
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Gig review: JOHN OTWAY – Face Bar, Reading, Thursday 11 December 2025
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Gig review: CURVED AIR – The Sub Rooms, Stroud, 20 November 2025
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Gig review: MARTIN BARRE & FRIENDS – Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 18 November 2025
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Tag Archives: album
Album review: ZADRA – Guiding Star

Frontiers [Release date : 18.02.22] Guitarist/songwriter/vocalist, August Zadra’s main claim to fame is his lengthy tenure as Dennis DeYoung’s sideman, touring and recording with him since 2010. Guiding Star is his first “solo” album. A considerable weight of talent and … Continue reading
Album review : MECCA – 20 Years (3 CD reissue w/bonus tracks)

Frontiers [release date: 18.02.22] Mecca’s 20 Years bundles the band’s 3 albums, released over the last two decades, into an attractive package of original recordings, now remastered, with 5 bonus tracks spread across the 3 CDs. The self titled debut … Continue reading
Album review: MANIC SINNERS – King Of The Badlands

Frontiers [Release date: 18.02.22] Manic Sinners are Frontiers’ first signing from Romania. They are a talented, hard rocking trio of multi-instrumentalists who’ve borrowed heavily from the past, (who hasn’t?). If you’re going to borrow, borrow from the best. They’ve picked … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Blue Murder, David Coverdale, Dio, Dokken, Frontiers, hard rock, Lynch Mob, Manic Sinners, melodic rock, review, Romania, Von Groove
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Album review: SEAN TAYLOR – The Beat Goes On

www.seantaylorsongs.com [Release date 14.01.22] Sean Taylor said he has made a deliberate attempt to accentuate a positive message of enjoying life through arts, love, music, things that bring people together. He sings “lose yourself in music, feel every note that … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, jazz, melodic, pop, review, Sean Taylor, singer songwriter, The Beat Goes On
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Album review: VAST CONDUIT – Always Be There

Vast Music Conduit [Release date 16.02.22] I have to admit I’ve never really been into the American prog rockers Enchant but – after hearing this – I think I should. The band flourished in the neo-prog decade of the 1990s. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Always Be There, Bill Jenkins, Enchant, fusion, jazz fusion, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Thought Chamber, Vast Conduit
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Interview: RONNI LE TEKRO
Ronni Le Tekrø is considered one of the world’s most influential metal guitarists, first and foremost with his band TNT, but also as a solo artist and studio musician. Tekrø has sold over 4 Million albums with TNT and was … Continue reading
Album review: GIANT – Shifting Time

Frontiers Records (Release Date 21.01.22) In the small and incestuous world of melodic rock the release of a new Giant album has caused the liveliest controversy for many years. Their first two albums are widely seen as classics of the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Dan Huff, David Huff, Giant, John Roth, Kent Hilli, melodic rock, Mike Brignardello, Shifting Time
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Album review: ALAN PARSONS – One Note Symphony (Live In Tel Aviv)

Frontiers [release date: 11.02.22] This was Alan Parsons and his travelling band’s fourth time gigging in Israel, enjoying the huge honour of appearing with the highly regarded Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. Frontiers signed Parsons 4 years ago, releasing his “solo” album, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Alan Parsons, album, David Minasian, Frontiers, IM3 Global, Israel, Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, Jason Mraz, Jeff Kollman, live, Lou Gramm, Paul Dukas, PJ Olsen, review, Schuman, Tel Aviv, Tom Brooks, Trinity Houston
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Album review: MARILLION – An Hour Before It’s Dark

Intact/earMUSIC [Release date 04.03.22] CD+DVD Digipak / CD Digipak / Jewelbox CD / Blu-ray Softbox / 2LP Gatefold / Ltd. Coloured 2LP (Orange) The past two years of pandemic has understandably pervaded album releases, the most extreme outcome is a … Continue reading
Album review: CITY OF LIGHTS – Before The Sun Sets

Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] Debut album from City Of Lights – Brit guitarist/writer Neil Austin and Greek vocalist Manos Fatsis (Hideaway). They are joined in the studio by members of Creye, Degreed and Art Nation. It’s clear that a passionate … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Art Nation, Before The Sun Sets, City Of Lights, Creye, Degreed, Fatsis, Frontiers, melodic rock, Neil Austin, review
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Album review : DEGREED – Are You Ready

Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] Are You Ready is Degreed’s sixth album, and their first on Frontiers. Robin Erikkson, Mats Erikkson, Mikael Blanc and Daniel Johansson have come a long long way in six albums. Their focus is clearly on the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Brother Firetribe, Degreed, eighties, Frontiers, Harem Scarem, Leverage, melodic rock, Queen, review, Robin Erikssen, Wigelius
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Album review: JACK FRANCIS – Jack Francis

Good Deeds Music [Release date: 04.02.22] In introducing his remarkably lean and confident debut album, Jack Francis manages to namecheck Bruce Springsteen, and without realising it, Paul McCartney. There are echoes of ‘Yesterday’ in his story that the song, ‘Helena’, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, BBC radio, blues, Bruce Springsteen, country rock, Good Deeds Music, Jack Francis, Paul McCartney, review
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Album review: JAMIE’S GUNS – Sex, Drugs & Weapons of War

Facebook [Release date 04.01.22] This band was one of my lucky finds in 2021, when I spotted the debut self-titled album in the NWOCR Facebook group, and I have been sharing their music far and wide ever since, whilst eagerly … Continue reading
Album review: POCO – One Night In Nashville

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra [Release date 28.01.22] This 2004 live recording is one of the last to feature original members Rusty Young, Richie Furay, and George Grantham together with Paul Cotton who joined the band for their third album in 1971 replacing … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, country rock, live, One Night In Nashville, Paul Cotton, Poco, review, Richie Furay, Rusty Young
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Album review : BRIX SMITH and MARTY WILLSON-PIPER – Lost Angeles

Cadiz Music [Release date: 17.o1.22] This one has an interesting story behind it. Brix Smith was originally named after The Clash standard, Guns of Brixton, which is pretty cool. In the 90’s she went to a gig in her native … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Brix Smith, John Peel, Manic Street Preachers, Mark E. Smith, Marty Willson-Piper, Oasis, Pulp, review, The Clash, The Fall, The Ramones
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Album review: JOHNNY COPPIN – River Of Dreams

Red Sky Records [Release date 25.02.22] Johnny Coppin is a singer songwriter who was a member of Decameron back in the 1970′s and has released over a dozen solo albums to date. He has toured as part of a duo … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, folk, Johnny Coppin, review, River Of Dreams, Rosanne Cash, singer songwriter
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Album review: SLADE – Alive, Slade In Flame (splatter vinyl)

BMG [Release date 26.11.21] BMG continue their excellent Slade reissue campaign. The West Midlands glam rock legends had many a hit in the 70s. Fronted by Noddy Holder, they were the face of laddish glam hard rock. After a difficult … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged 70's rock, album, Alive, BMG, classic album, glam rock, hard rock, Jim Lea, Noddy Holder, reissue, review, rock, Slade, Slade In Flame
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News: MAGNUM Month at Get Ready to ROCK! – 50 Years, New Album, UK and European Tour (March 2022)

Ahead of their UK and European tour in late March/April 2022, Get Ready to ROCK! will be celebrating the band Magnum throughout the month of March. Magnum celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2022. They developed from a band playing cover … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS, Special features
Tagged album, anniversary, AOR, Bob Catley, Europe, Magnum, melodic rock, pomp rock, Tony Clarkin, Tour, uk
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Album review: PETER KNIGHT & JOHN SPIERS – Both In A Tune

Website [Release date 11.02.22] Peter Knight defines a progressive musician as he always seeks to further his music, be it traditional tunes given a new arrangement, or his own compositions. Famous of course as a member of Steeleye Span until … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bellowhead, Both In A Tune, folk, Gigspanner, instrumental, John Spiers, Peter Knight, progressive, review, Steeleye Span
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Album review: EMPATH – Visitor

Fat Possum Records [Release date 11.02.22] Upon first listen to Empath’s new album Visitor, a rich blend of artistic influences jumped out within the individualistic sound the Philly foursome have to offer. Psych-rock royalty like 13th Floor Elevators, The Velvet … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Empath, Fat Possum Records, indie, psych rock, psychedelic, review, rock, Visitor
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