Tag Archives: AOR

Album review: FM – Heroes and Villains

Posted on April 10, 2015 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 17.04.15] FM may have spent last autumn on a 30th anniversary tour, but they are neither a nostalgia band nor one to let the grass grow under their feet. Two years after a pair of new … Continue reading →

Album review: KISKE SOMERVILLE – City of Heroes

Posted on April 9, 2015 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 17.04.15] Despite the rather unimaginative name, some of rock’s most respected names are behind this project. The singers are former Helloween and more recently Place Vendome singer Michael Kiske and Trillium singer and vocal coach Amanda … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Amanda Somerville, AOR, city of heroes, Helloween, Kiske Somerville, Magnus Karlsson, Mat Sinner, melodic rock, Michael Kiske, power metal, review, symphonic rock, Trillium | Leave a comment

Interview: TOMMY DENANDER

Posted on March 31, 2015 by jason

Guitarist/songwriter/producer Tommy Denander is a busy man with Radioactive about to release their first new album in over ten years ‘F4ur’ on Escape Music. This features a stellar cast of melodic rock vocalists including the late, great Jimi Jamison, Jeff … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged AOR, Bobby Kimball, Escape Music, F4ur, interview, Jimi Jamison, melodic, RADIOACTIVE, rock, Tommy Denander, westcoast | Leave a comment

Gig review: EUROPE, BLACK STAR RIDERS – Manchester Academy, 13 March 2015

Posted on March 14, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

EUROPE - Manchester Academy, 13 March 2015

I am still not convinced that two- or three-way bills are the best way forward for some of our premier bands. The last time I saw Europe was a three-way with FM and Foreigner and notwithstanding poor sound (for the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 13 March 2013, AOR, Black Star Riders, Europe, gig, hard rock, Joey Tempest, John Norum, Manchester Academy, melodic, review, Scott Gorham, The Amorettes | Leave a comment

Gig review: WHITE WIDDOW, NIGHT BY NIGHT, DEGREED – Underworld, Camden, 7 March 2015

Posted on March 9, 2015 by andynathan

March is now an even busier month in the gig calendar with bands fitting mini tours around the Hard Rock Hell United extravaganza in North Wales, and this was a welcome London showcase for three of the current generation of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 7 March 2015, AOR, Camden, Degreed, gig, London, melodic rock, night by night, review, Underworld, White Widdow | Leave a comment

Album review: TOTO – XIV

Posted on March 3, 2015 by jason

Frontiers [Released 20.03.15] Toto are back for their first new studio album since 2006′s ‘Falling In Between’. Since then the band have undergone a few changes with Joseph Williams back in the band since 2010 (he sang on their mid/late … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, classic, classic rock, David Hungate, David Paich, Frontiers, jazz, Joseph Williams, melodic, review, rock, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, Toto, XIV | Leave a comment

News: BLACK STAR RIDERS, DORO, TEXAS – Monday 2 March 2015

Posted on March 2, 2015 by jason

Black Star Riders - Giants Of Rock, Minehead, 6-8 February 2015

Doro is working on a new studio album although it won’t be released until 2016. UK album chart placings w/e 1st March 2015: Public Service Broadcasting no.11; Black Star Riders no.13; Scorpions no.31; UFO no.50; Kid Rock no.52 Status Quo … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged AOR, AOR Boulevard, Black Star Riders, Doro, gigs, Lynn Allen, metal, news, pop, rock, Starz, Status Quo, Texas, tours | Leave a comment

Album Review: ISSA – Crossfire

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [release date 20.02.15] Issa Oversveen returns with “Crossfire”…an album of original material following on from her 2012 obscure AOR covers album “Can’t Stop”. The promotional literature mentions Issa in the same breath as both Heart and Roxette and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged album, AOR, Crossfire, Frontiers, Issa, James Martin, Michael Cruise, review, Tom Martin, Vega | Leave a comment

Album review: LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM – Level Eleven

Posted on February 15, 2015 by jason

AOR Heaven [Released 23.02.15] Last Autumn’s Dream are back with a new album and this is their eleventh. Vocalist Mikael Erlandsson is the last original member as in 2014 guitarist Andy Malecek decided to leave the band because of personal … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album review, AOR, AOR Heaven, Last Autumn’s Dream, Level Eleven, melodic rock | Leave a comment

News: HOOBASTANK, FM, JETHRO TULL – 11 February 2015

Posted on February 11, 2015 by jason

FM - Planet Rockstock, Porthcawl, 7 December 2014

HOOBASTANK + P.O.D. + ALIEN ANT FARM Thu May 07 LONDON KOKO Fri May 08 WOLVERHAPTON Wulfrun Hall Sat May 09 NOTTINGHAM Rock City Sun May 10 PLYMOUTH Univeristy Tue May 12 READING Sub 89 Wed May 13 WREXHAM William … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged AC/DC, alternative, AOR, FM, Heroes & Villains, Hoobastank, Jethro Tull 'Minstrel In The Gallery, melodic, metal, news, POD, rock, Steven Wilson | Leave a comment

News: VAN HALEN, TOTO, DAN REED – Friday 6 February 2015

Posted on February 6, 2015 by jason

Van Halen release their first alive album, ‘Tokyo Dome Live In Concert’ featuring David Lee Roth on March 31st. Toto debut their new single ‘Orphan’ on YouTube. Maxx Explosion release ‘Dirty Angel’ in early March on Kivel Records, who release … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged AOR, AOR Heaven, classic rock, Dan Reed, Kivel Records, live album, Masters Of Reality, melodic, news, rock, Toto, Van Halen | Leave a comment

Interview: RON PERRY of CHINA SKY

Posted on February 5, 2015 by jason

China Sky’s debut came out back in 1988 and is one of those ‘must have’ classic melodic rock albums of the 1980′s. Sadly though due to various issues band never made that second album until now, some 25 years later! … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged AOR, Bruce Crump, China Sky, China Sky II, Classic Albums, Escape Music, Greg Allman, interview, melodic rock, Molly Hatchet, Ron Perry | Leave a comment

News: THERAPY?, JIM PETERIK, JOE SATRIANI – Tuesday 3 February 2015

Posted on February 3, 2015 by jason

Joe Satriani - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 11 June 2013

THERAPY? (Their new album ‘Disquiet’ is out on March 23rd) Fri March 27 BRISTOL Marble Factory Sat March 28 GLOUCESTER Guildhall Tue March 31 BRIGHTON Concorde 2 Wed April 01 LONDON Scala Sun April 12 PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood Rooms Mon April … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged album, alternative, AOR, Dave Matthews Band, Frontiers, Jim Peterik, Joe Satriani, Korn, Melissa Etheridge, melodic, news, rock, Survivor, Therepy?, Todd Rundgren | Leave a comment

Album review: SWEET AND LYNCH – Only to Rise

Posted on February 2, 2015 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 23.01.15] Sweet and Lynch may sound like a firm of corporate lawyers, an image accentuated by the album cover of the pair suited and booted in front of a cityscape of skyscrapers, but it is the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS | Tagged album, AOR, Brian Tichy, Dokken, George Lynch, Lynch Mob, melodic hard rock, Michael Sweet, Only to Rise, review, Stryper, Sweet And Lynch | Leave a comment

Album review: CHRIS THOMPSON Jukebox – The Ultimate Collection 1975-2015

Posted on January 29, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Interview edit: Chris Thompson with David Randall, 16 February 2015 (14:35) This edit features un-broadcast material from an hour-long feature aired on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 22 February. The full feature is now available via Mixcloud Cherry … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Brian May, Chris Spedding, Chris Thompson, compilation, Jukebox, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Mavis Staples, pop, review, rock, The Ultimate Collection | Leave a comment

Album review: REVOLUTION SAINTS – S/t

Posted on December 23, 2014 by jason

Frontiers Records [Released 20.02.15] Another project put together by Frontiers, this time featuring Journey’s drummer Deen Castronova, Night Ranger’s Jack Blades and former Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich. Add to this superstar trio Frontiers ‘go to’ man for melodic rock projects … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, AOR, Arnel Pineda, Dean Castronova, debut, Doug Aldrich, Jack Blades, Journet, melodic rock, Neal Schon, Night Ranger, review, Revolution Saints, rock, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: THE VAL – Heading For The Surface

Posted on December 20, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Soundarella Records [Release date 21.11.14] www.theval.es Here’s a band who are genuinely thankful for the promotion of their debut album, judging by the massive list of media credits in this package. It is quite heart-warming when you receive a second … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Gabrielle de Val, Heading For The Surface, melodic rock, review, The Val | Leave a comment

Gig review: FM – The Globe, Cardiff, 22 November 2014

Posted on November 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

A packed house in the Globe for this much loved band and huge respect should be given to the promoter at Major Minor Productions for delivering a sold out show with a fantastic sound quality in a city that is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 22 November 2014, AOR, Cardiff, FM, gig, Hand of Dimes, Kooga, melodic rock, Nev MacDonald, review, Skin, Steve Overland, The Globe | Leave a comment

Gig review: FM – The Brook, Southampton, 21 November 2014

Posted on November 25, 2014 by andynathan

Can it really be 30 years since the Overland brothers from Wildlife and former members of Samson and Diamond Head formed a new band, inspired by the then fashionable radio-friendly AOR sounds of the likes of Journey, Foreigner and Survivor, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 21 November 2014, AOR, FM, gig, Hand of Dimes, melodic rock, Neville Macdonald, review, Southampton, Steve Overland, Summers, The Brook | Comments Off

Album review: VEGA – Stereo Messiah

Posted on November 20, 2014 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release date 17.10.14] As one of the great hopes of British melodic rock Vega have not left the grass grow under their feet, this being their third album in under four years. It sees only minor tweaks to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Def Leppard, Joe Elliot, melodic rock, review, Stereo Messiah, Vega | Comments Off

Album Review: NEWMAN – S/T

Posted on November 13, 2014 by andynathan

[Release Date 22.10.14] After over 15 years of hard graft and a series of quality albums, Steve Newman has established himself as a respected name among the AOR cognoscenti, now happily getting the message out through more regular gigging. A lot of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, melodic rock, NEWMAN, review, Steve Newman | Comments Off

Gig review: ASIA, Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 2 November 2014

Posted on November 4, 2014 by andynathan

For a so-called supergroup Asia have shown remarkable longevity, but their profile is now much lower than it was in the heady days when their 1982 debut went multi-platinum, judging by a disappointing turnout at their first headline London show … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 November 2014, AOR, Asia, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, gig, John Wetton, London, melodic rock, review, Sam Coulson, Shepherd's Bush Empire | Comments Off

Album review: NIGHTINGALE – Retribution

Posted on November 2, 2014 by jason

Inside Out [Released 10.11.14] Nightingale is centred around Dan Swano, who has worked with many artists including Opeth. This is the band’s seventh album and their first since 2007 and I must admit to not having heard anything by them … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, classic rock, Dan Swano, hard rock, Inside Out, melodic rock, Nightingale, prog rock, Retribution, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: FIREFEST – Nottingham Rock City, 24-26 October 2014 (Day 3)

Posted on November 2, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Axxis - Firefest, Nottingham Rock City, 26 October 2014

DAY 3 - DANGER DANGER, AUTOGRAPH, CONEY HATCH, BROTHER FIRETRIBE, TOUCH, GUILD OF AGES, AXXIS The final day of ‘the final fling’ began with a slightly left field choice of veteran German rockers Axxis, and yet they blew the cobwebs … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 26 October 2014, AOR, Autograph, Axxis, Brother Firetribe, CITA, Coney Hatch, Danger Danger, Firefest, gig, Guild Of Ages, melodic rock, Nottingham, review, Rock City, Tommy Denander, Touch | Leave a comment

Gig review: FIREFEST – Nottingham Rock City, 24-26 October 2014 (Day 2)

Posted on November 2, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Rage Of Angels - Firefest - Nottingham Rock City, 25 October 2014

DAY 2 – FIREHOUSE, BLACK N BLUE, PRETTY MAIDS, BABYLON AD, BOULEVARD, FROM THE FIRE, RAGE OF ANGELS Day 2 also began with home grown talent in Rage Of Angels, formed by Ged Rylands who was playing guitar rather than … Continue reading →