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Album review: SELWYN BIRCHWOOD – Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – The Stables, Milton Keynes, 14 March 2026
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Tag Archives: album
News: The Best of 2020 – Get Ready to ROCK! reviewers choose their Top Albums of the Year

2020 has been a horrendous year for live music, silenced by the coronavirus pandemic. With live music off the agenda, there has been no shortage of album/EP releases, so this year our reviewers have concentrated on selecting their Top Albums, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, The Best of 2020
Tagged 20/20, album, best of, blues rock, breakthrough act, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, reissue, reviewer.top albums, singer songwriter
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Album review – VOLBEAT – Rewind, Replay, Rebound (Live in Deutschland)

Republic Records [Release date 27.11.20] Live music has been absent in all our lives for far too long throughout 2020 so the chance to relive the German leg of Volbeat’s 2019 tour is an enticing package to anyone starved of gigs. The … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 2019, album, CD, Denmark, Hamburg, live, Lola Montez, Michael Pulson, Rebound (Live In Deutschland), Replay, review, Rewind, Rob Caggiano, Stuttgart, VOLBEAT
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Album review: RUNRIG – One Legend – Two concerts (Live At Rockpalast 1996 & 2001)

MiG Records [Release date 30.10.20] A year or so ago I went along to the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow for the world premiere of the Final Dance DVD which was recorded at the band’s final show in Stirling. It … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Alba, album, Bruce Guthro, CD, Christmas, Cologne, Donny Munro, Dusseldorf, DVD, live, Malcolm Jones, Mara, MiG Records, Pete Wishart, review, Runrig, Skye, Stamping Ground, The Last Dance
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Album review: HEAVY PETTIN – Best Of

Burnt Out Wreckords/Cherry Red Records (Release date 27/11/20) Heavy Pettin never quite made it to the inside of the glittering shop window of fame. Along with Scotland’s other great white melodic rock hopes, Strangeways, they had the talent, the ability, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, best of, Cherry Red Records, hard rock, Heavy Pettin', melodic hard rock, review
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Album review: PICTUREHOUSE – 1999 Live in Dublin

Website [Release date 27.11.20] Ahhh live music we miss you so and even someone like me who isn’t normally a big fan of live albums has been playing a lot of live tracks this year. So when of the many … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 1999 Live in Dublin, album, David Browne, indie pop, indie rock, melodic, PictureHouse, pop, pop rock, power pop, review
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Album review: GRYPHON – Get Out Of My Father’s Car!

Talking Elephant/Gryphon [Release date 20.11.20] Gryphon will always occupy a small but significant place in my musical heritage. Coinciding with my interest in (and performance of) early music, in the early 1970s they became a cross-genre novelty act. And with … Continue reading
Album review: JEFF SCOTT SOTO – Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)

Frontiers Records [Release Date 6.11.20] After going in a more modern metal direction with his Soto project and fronting prog rock supergroup Sons of Apollo, the latest album from the ever prolific Jeff Scott Soto sees him return to the … Continue reading
Album review: REB BEACH – A View From The Inside

Frontiers Records [Release date 12.11.20] Reb Beach’s (Winger/Whitesnake) choice of musicians with whose help he recorded “A View From The Inside” is revealing: David Throckmorton, primarily known as a jazz drummer, especially for Maynard Ferguson; bassman Philip Bynoe worked extensively … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged A View From The Inside, album, Frontiers, guitarist, instrumental, melodic, Reb Beach, review, rock
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Album review: THE QUESTIONNAIRES – Atlantic Ridge

Boom Chang Records [Release date 15.01.21] It seems a bit disingenuous in the PR blurb to refer to Jane Wade and Steve Hall, aka The Questionnaires, as having been ‘around a bit’. For most, me included, their formative bands – … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged acoustic, album, Atlantic Ridge, pop rock, review, singer, songwriter, The Questionnaires
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Album review: RICH YOUNG – Nonsense of the Heart

North Star Music [04.09.20] We often miss the big picture whilst staring directly at one aspect. In that way we may see a particularly bright colour whilst failing to notice the multitude of hues that also make up the rest … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Amerciana, blues, folk, Nonsense of the Heart, review, Rich Young, rock, singer songwriter
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Album review: ECLIPSE – Viva La Victouria (CD/DVD)

Frontiers Records [Release Date 6.11.20] This package of goodies from Eclipse is very timely, as their last album ‘Paradigm’ rather got swamped in the rush of autumn 2019 releases, then after gearing up for a huge tour, it never reached … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged album, DVD, Eclipse, Eric Martensson, live album, Magnus Hendriksson, melodic rock, review
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Album review: ZEBRAS DON’T SMOKE – Don’t Mention The Swedes (ABBA Tribute)

Singsong Music [Release date 20.11.20] www.singsongmusic.com ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus said what he thought of streaming live music during Lockdown. He wasn’t impressed and thought kitchen gigs will never be a substitute. I wonder what he would have thought of the … Continue reading
EP review: PYLON POETS – Lucid Hallucinations

Website [Release date 18.12.20] Pylon Poets are an alt rock trio from Torquay featuring Dan Hughes (Vocals, Guitars, Synths), Sam McIver (Drums, Backing Vocals) and Nathan Hughes (Bass, Backing Vocals). This EP was recorded by Barnaby Ray at Momentum Studios … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars, Single and EP reviews
Tagged album, alt rock, EP, Lucid Hallucinations, melodic, pop, Pylon Poets, review, synth
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Album review: TREMENDOUS – Relentless

Facebook [Release date 20.11.20] TREMENDOUS (stand down grammar peeps as they deliberately have their name in capitals) hail from Birmingham, UK and consist of Mark Dudzinski (guitar, vocals), Ryan Jee (bass) and Dave Lee (drums). The TREMENDOUS name is taken … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Cheap Trick, debut, glam rock, melodic, Mott the Hoople, pop rock, Relentless, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, TREMENDOUS
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Album review: ANGELICA – All I Am

Frontiers [Release date 12.11.20] Murder of My Sweet vocalist, Angelica Rylin goes solo again after seven years. “All I Am”, written and produced by the multi talented Daniel Flores, is only Rylin’s second solo outing since 2013. It has opened … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, All I Am, ANGELICA, country, Daniel Flores, Frontiers, melodic, MURDER OF MY SWEET, pop, pop rock, review
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Album review: MARK KELLY – Marathon

earMUSIC [Release date 27.11.20] Thirty years in the making… well, ok, thirty years in the planning, Marillion’s much sought after keyboard player, Mark Kelly at last releases his “solo” album, the appropriately titled “Marathon”. He’s enlisted the help of a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, EarMusic, keyboards, Marathon, Marillion, Mark Kelly, melodic, prog rock, progressive, review, rock
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Album review: LOUISE STEEL – Sideshow

Website [Release date 20.11.20] Here at GRTR! Towers we enjoyed Louise Steel’s 2017 debut ‘Heartstorm’ very much. Louise Steel’s second album has been two years in the making that has included personal tragedy and making this album has proved cathartic … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Louise Steel, melodic, pop, review, rock, Sideshow, singer songwriter
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Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Atlantis

Harmony Factory [Release date 27.11.20] On new album, “Atlantis”, it seems the new CIS line up, with vocalist Damien Edwards replacing Mark Pascall, has largely abandoned the iconoclastic tone of its predecessor, “Daytrip To Narnia” That of course, is down … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 70's rock, album, Atlantis, Cats In Space, clasic rock, Damien Edwards, glam rock, Greg Hart, melodic rock, pop rock, power pop, review, rock
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Album review: HEARTWIND – Strangers

Escape Music [Release date 20.11.20] Heartwind formed around keyboard player Mikael Rosengren and guitarist Goran Engvall (who also played bass on the album). Since their debut release they have changed vocalists bringing in not one, but two vocalists – Nina … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Eclipse, Escape Music, hard rock, Heartwind, melodic rock, review, Strangers, W.E.T.
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Album review: AC/DC – Power Up

Columbia [Release date 13.11.20] I can remember my disappointment four years ago when AC/DC announced that Brian Johnson was pulling out of their then current tour due to hearing problems but that they would likely conclude the tour with a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AC/DC, album, Angus Young, Brian Johnson, classic rock, Malcolm Young, Power Up, review, rock
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Album review: GRAHAM BONNET – Solo Albums 1974-1992

In August 2017 Graham Bonnet chatted to David Randall about his career for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. This hour special includes several tracks featured in the latest box set. Cherry Red [Release date 27.11.20] Skegness born Graham Bonnet is … Continue reading
Album review: HUNTED BY ELEPHANTS – Carry On

www.huntedbyelephants.com [Release date 15.01.21] You can imagine: we receive so many promos from independent artists here at GRTR! and many, sadly, have to be jettisoned having never made the cut. The second album from London-based rockers Hunted By Elephants had … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Carry On, heavy rock, Hunted By Elephants, review
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EP review: BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – Here We Come A-Caroling

Edel/EarMUSIC [Release date 04.12.20] Blackmore’s Night have been around since 1997, founded by Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night to stage their mutual love for traditional medieval and folk-rock music. This seasonal EP is released ahead of the band’s next album … Continue reading




