Tag Archives: AOR

Quick plays: VEXINE, SIREN’S SKY, NARYAN, THE VIOLET HOUR, THIRD LOVE

Posted on March 13, 2017 by GRTR! HQ
VEXINE Little Sin

VEXINE Little Sin [Release date 30.04.16] Female fronted blues based rock bands are becoming increasingly ‘in vogue’, but Richmond, Virginia, based 4-piece Vexine have hooked a left at the crossroads and are taking the genre across country. A seasoned bunch … Continue reading →

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Album review: PRIDE OF LIONS – Fearless

Posted on February 9, 2017 by andynathan
PRIDE OF LIONS - Fearless

Frontiers [Release Date 27.01.17] They come less frequently these days, with a five year gap between each of the last two albums, but a Pride of Lions album is always worth the wait, marking the return of veteran master songwriter … Continue reading →

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Album review: LIONVILLE – A World Of Fools

Posted on February 9, 2017 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 24.02.17] Lionville are back after an extended break (their second album came out in 2012) and they are on a new label as well. Lionville’s main man Stefano Lionetti is still on board, plus Work Of Art’s … Continue reading →

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Gig review: JUST SAY YES/ARFM MELODIC ROCK FUNDRAISER – The Spot, Derby, 28 January 2017

Posted on January 31, 2017 by andynathan
VEGA - Melodic Rock Fundraiser - The Spot, Derby, 28 January 2017

From initially modest ambitions,  the ‘Just Say Yes’ fundraiser is rapidly establishing itself as a must on the festival calendar for melodic rock fans, sandwiched between Autumn’s Firefest and latterly Rockingham, and Spring’s HRH. I hugely enjoyed my first festival … Continue reading →

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Gig review: TYKETTO – Islington Academy, London, 26 January 2017

Posted on January 28, 2017 by andynathan
TYKETTO - Islington Academy, London, 26 January 2017

2016 was meant to be a big year for Tyketto as they both celebrated the 25th anniversary reissue of their classic ‘Don’t Come Easy release and an excellent new album ‘Reach’, the first with a new line-up of the band. … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: D’ERCOLE, JIM JIDHED, BEACHEADS

Posted on January 3, 2017 by jason
D

D’ERCOLE No Place Like Home This is the fourth album from melodic hard rock band D’Ercole and they have released it themselves having left Z Records. The album features Phil Vincent as the main songwriter and producer (does this man never … Continue reading →

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Album review: ROTH BROCK PROJECT- s/t

Posted on December 21, 2016 by andynathan
Roth Brock Project

Frontiers Records [Release Date 04.11.16] This rather unimaginatively titled release brings together two of melodic rock’s most respected figures. While Terry Brock has long been regarded as one of the genre’s finest vocalists, from his days in Strangeways to numerous … Continue reading →

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Gig review: FM – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 19 November 2016

Posted on November 26, 2016 by andynathan
FM - Islington Assembly Hall, London, 19 November 2016

Since reforming a few years ago, Britain’s premier homegrown melodic rockers FM have steered a delicate balance between moving forward and looking backwards. The new line up with Jim Kirkpatrick on guitar has perhaps been the best in their history, … Continue reading →

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Album review: HEART – Live At The Royal Albert Hall

Posted on November 16, 2016 by GRTR! HQ
HEART - Live At The Royal Albert Hall

Eagle Records [Release date 25.11.16] CD/DVD/Bluray Call me Mr. Cynical.  Heart announced their first UK dates since 2004 and we all waited in eager anticipation.  Come the actual tour, we saw them in Manchester and noted the criminally short one … Continue reading →

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Gig review: ROCKINGHAM FESTIVAL – Nottingham Trent University Students Union, 21-23 October 2016

Posted on November 4, 2016 by andynathan
ROCKINGHAM FESTIVAL, Nottingham, 21-23 October 2016

Last year, a new festival, Rockingham, took on the unenviable mantle of filling the void left by Firefest, which for a decade had delighted melodic rock fans by bringing a series of cult melodic rock acts, many reforming after years … Continue reading →

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Album review: ROCK WOLVES (Michael Voss, Herman Rarebell, Gudze)

Posted on November 3, 2016 by GRTR! HQ
Rock Wolves (Rarebell, Voss, Gudze)

Steamhammer/ SPV [Release date 28.10.16] Here’s a collaboration of three significant melodic/hard rockers who in the past few years have worked mainly with others such as Michael Schenker. Michael Voss (Mad Max, Casanove) has produced many artists from his studio … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BAD COMPANY/Richie Sambora – Manchester Arena, 24 October 2016

Posted on October 25, 2016 by GRTR! HQ
The Best of 2016 - Live Act

GRTR!’s David Randall caught up with Simon Kirke on the last day of the UK tour.  They chatted about Bad Company, Free and Simon’s solo work including his forthcoming album to be released in early-2017. Photo: David Randall With doors … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: WHITE WIDDOW, ARENA

Posted on October 20, 2016 by jason
WHITE WIDDOW Silhouette

WHITE WIDDOW Silhouette AOR Heaven [Release date 28.10.16] White Widdow return with album number four and they carry on where their last album, ‘Crossfire’, left off, with lots of catchy and hook filled AOR tunes – ‘Stranded’ and ‘Smile For … Continue reading →

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DVD review: JOURNEY – Live In Manila

Posted on October 17, 2016 by GRTR! HQ
JOURNEY - Live In Manila

Eagle Vision [Release date 09.09.16] Back in 2009, when this gig was filmed, vocalist Arnel Pineda was still very much the new boy.  Recorded in Pinel’s hometown of Manila in the Phillipines the sound and visual quality is excellent and … Continue reading →

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Album review: CRY OF DAWN featuring Goran Edman- Cry of Dawn

Posted on October 17, 2016 by andynathan

(Release Date 23.09.16) In melodic rock circles, the name of Goran Edman is spoken of in hushed terms as one of the genre’s top vocalists, in a long career ranging from singing with John Norum and Yngwie Malmsteen to gracing … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: FOREST FIELD, CTP (Christian Tolle Project)

Posted on October 15, 2016 by jason
FOREST FIELD - Lonely Desert

FOREST FIELD Lonely Desert Rock Company [Release date 21.10.16] Thankfully this time the band have an album cover more suited to their prog rock leanings than last year’s ‘Angels’ cover. The band is focused around Peter Cox who wrote all … Continue reading →

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Gig review: THE TUBES – Club Academy, Manchester, 8 October 2016

Posted on October 9, 2016 by GRTR! HQ
THE TUBES - Club Academy, Manchester, 8 October 2016

Interview/news item We’re being spoilt.  Legendary San Francisco shock rockers The Tubes don’t play a gig in the UK for over 10 years and then we get two tours almost within the space of a year.  If the Mondo Pulp … Continue reading →

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Gig review: MITCH MALLOY – Camden Underworld, 18 September 2016

Posted on September 26, 2016 by andynathan
MITCH MALLOY - Camden Underworld, 18 September 2016

Ever since the release of his classic self-titled debut in 1992, chock full of memorable anthems and heartfelt ballads, Mitch Malloy has been one of AOR and melodic rock’s cult figures. However despite several appearances at Firefest it has been … Continue reading →

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Album review: MECCA – III

Posted on September 22, 2016 by jason

MelodicRock Records [Release date 14.10.16] It seems ages since the last Mecca album came  out, ‘Undeniable’, although in fact it came out in 2011 and not that long in some bands eyes. However, this third album has been recorded over … Continue reading →

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DVD review: TOTO- Live At Montreux 1991

Posted on September 21, 2016 by andynathan
TOTO- Live at Montreux 1991

Eagle Vision [Release Date 16.09.16] Few bands can have had such a revolving cast of musicians, many joining and rejoining, as Toto, which makes the history of the AOR giants such a fascinating one. One interesting period of their career … Continue reading →

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Gig review: KIP WINGER – The Borderline, London, 17 September 2016

Posted on September 21, 2016 by andynathan
KIP WINGER- The Borderline, London, 17 September 2016

Kip Winger’s acoustic shows at the Borderline, now billed as the 5th Annual Evening with Kip Winger, have become legendary events, not just from an ever growing number of diehard fans, but from the artist himself, who bounded on stage … Continue reading →

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Album review: ANGELS OR KINGS – Go Ask The Moon!

Posted on September 18, 2016 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 30.10.16] Angels Or Kings started out back in the 1980′s but it wasn’t until 2014 when the band got back together that they actually got to finally release their debut album. That was a corker, chock … Continue reading →

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Album review: PALACE- Master of the Universe

Posted on September 7, 2016 by andynathan
PALACE- Master of the Universe

Frontiers  [Release Date 26.08.16] No relation (sadly) to the footballing pride of South London, Palace is the eponymous project of poodle-haired Swedish singer Michael. I remember his band Big Time showing promise when they supported Houston in London in 2014, … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: CHANGE OF HEART, THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE

Posted on August 16, 2016 by jason
CHANGE OF HEART - Last Tiger

CHANGE OF HEART – Last Tiger Escape Music [Release date 22.07.16] Change Of Heart first appeared back in 1998 and released their last album way back in 2005 ‘Truth Or Dare’. They are back with their polished Brit AOR/melodic rock … Continue reading →

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EP review: THE ANN WILSON THING – Focus

Posted on August 3, 2016 by GRTR! HQ
THE ANN WILSON THING - Focus

Rounder Records [Release date 12.08.16] Essentially Heart minus Nancy Wilson, The Ann Wilson Thing is a vehicle for Ann to ‘give it large’ without her younger sibling by her side. The band’s second EP features two cover live covers – … Continue reading →

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