Tag Archives: AOR

Album review : MAGNUM – The Great Adventure, The Jet Years 1978 – 1983 (6 CD Boxset)

Posted on August 18, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red / HNE [Release date: 25.08.23] CD1 : Kingdom Of Madness (1978) CD2 : Archive (1976) CD3 : Magnum II (1979) CD4 : Marauder (1980) CD5 : Chase The Dragon (1982) CD6 : Eleventh Hour (1983) This Magnum 6 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Bob Catley, boxset, prog, review, Rodney Matthews, The Great Adventure, The Jet Years 1978 - 1983, Tony Clarkin | Leave a comment

Album review : STREETLIGHT – Ignition

Posted on August 3, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 11.08.23] Streetlight’s debut album is filled to the brim with heart and soul AOR. Few bands have the skill and ability to make it sound this honest. Just unpretentious songs of unerring simplicity and (mostly) uncomplicated … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Frontiers, Ignition, Johannes Hager, Journey, melodic rock, Powerpop, review, Streetlight, Westcoast Rock | Leave a comment

Album review : RIAN – Wings

Posted on July 30, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 04.08.23] Third album from Swedish melodic rock band, Rian, led by exceptionally talented vocalist/ guitarist Richard Andermyer. Their second on Frontiers. The band’s label debut, titled Twenty Three, was reviewed in GRTR! back in 2021. Here’s what … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Dark Horse, Eclipse, Frontiers, melodic rock, Paul Laine, review, Richard Andermyer, Tobias Jakobsson, Treat, Twenty-Three | Leave a comment

Album review: MITCH MALLOY – The Last Song

Posted on July 28, 2023 by andynathan

Godsend Records [Release date 07.07.23] After his stint fronting Great White, Mitch Malloy resumes his solo career with his first album since ‘Making Noise’ some seven years ago. Indeed, like its predecessor, this is a solo effort in every sense … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Great White, melodic rock, Mitch Malloy, The Last Song | Leave a comment

Album review : KENT HILLI – Nothing Left To Lose

Posted on July 28, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 04.08.23] Only one solo album under his belt, yet Kent Hilli seems to have been around forever. Three studio albums with Perfect Plan, two Restless Spirits’ albums and a stint fronting legendary melodic rock band, Giant. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Giant, Jimmy Hedlund, Jimmy Westerlund, Kristian Fyhr, melodic rock, One Desire, Pete Alpenborg, review, Rick Altzi, Ulrick Lonnqvuist | Leave a comment

Album review: TONY MITCHELL – Radio Heartbeat

Posted on July 16, 2023 by jason

Pride & Glory Music [Release date 21.07.23] The fourth solo album from Tony Mitchell, of Kiss Of The Gypsy & Dirty White Boyz fame. Joining him on here are Midnite City guitarist Miles Meakin, bassist Nigel Bailey (Dirty White Boyz, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, hard rock, Kiss Of The Gypsy, melodic rock, Nigel Bailey, Radio Heartbeat, review, rock, Tony Mitchell | Leave a comment

Album review: BLOODBOUND – Tales From The North

Posted on July 11, 2023 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date 7.07.23] Since the early nineties, Northern European Metal bands have progressively sought to explore and celebrate the history and impact of Viking Culture. “Viking Metal” has grown considerably since then. One of today’s key exponents is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, AOR, Fredrik Bergh, power metal, review, Street Talk, Tomas Olsson, Viking metal | Leave a comment

Book review: ON TRACK… REO Speedwagon- every album, every song by James Romag

Posted on July 9, 2023 by andynathan

Sonic Bond Publishing (Release Date 28.04.23) The ever growing On Track series is now spreading its wings to bands with at best cult status in the UK, in this case REO Speedwagon who, despite three big power ballad hits in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, book, melodic rock, On Track, REO Speedwagon, Sonic Bond | Leave a comment

Album review: MIDNITE CITY – In At The Deep End

Posted on June 20, 2023 by andynathan

Pride and Joy Music [Releaae date 23.06.23] This is an impressive fourth release in under six years from Midnite City, confirming them as one of the most enduring of the select band of UK melodic rock acts. It doesn’t mess … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, glam rock, In At The Deep End, melodic rock, Midnite City, Rob Wylde | Leave a comment

Album review : STARDUST – Kingdom Of Illusion

Posted on June 12, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 16.06.23] Hungarian band, Stardust kick off their album with ‘War’ as the opening track. Given current events, there was always someone who’d climb on the bandwagon. Lets move on. There’s a welcome familiarity to Stardust’s melodic rock, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Cinderella, Eclipse, HEAT, Hungary, Kingdom Of Illusion, melodic rock, review, Stardust, WET | Leave a comment

Album review: THE GUESS WHO – Plein D’Amour

Posted on June 11, 2023 by jason

Deko Entertainment [Release date 07.07.23] The Guess Who’s 2018 album, ‘The Future IS What It Used to Be’, wasn’t bad at all, maybe a bit too AOR/melodic rock for diehard fans, possibly due to Styx’s Tommy Shaw having a large … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Deko Entertainment, hard rock, melodic rock, Plein D'Amour, review, rock, The Guess Who | Leave a comment

Album review: VIXEN Rev It Up (remaster)

Posted on June 6, 2023 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [release date 18.05.23] Minnesota band Vixen made their major label breakthrough in 1987, after moving to Los Angeles. Two albums were recorded by the original Vixen lineup, Jan Keuhnemund, Janet Gardner, Share Ross and Roxy Petrucci. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Bangalore Choir, Bobby Kimball, Bon Jovi, Diane Warren, Fiona, Harry Paress, Jack Conrad, Los Angeles, melodic rock, Minnesota, Quiet Riot, review, Rock Candy Records, Steve Plunkett | Leave a comment

Gig review: FM/DARE/TYKETTO – Islington Academy, London, 25 May 2023

Posted on May 31, 2023 by andynathan

The package tour is growing in popularity in the current economic climate as a way of bands combining forces to save on overheads and play in front of maximum audiences. Announced just before Christmas, this particular triple header was most … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Chris Childs, Danny Vaughn, Dare, FM, Ged Rylands, gig, Harry Scott Elliott, Jim Kirkpatrick, Johnny Dee, melodic rock, Pete Jupp, Steve Overland, Tyketto, Vinny Burns | Leave a comment

Gig review: WINGER – Bristol Academy, 21 May 2023

Posted on May 23, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Back in 2010 I reviewed Winger at Manchester Academy and took my son the guitarist Ben Randall. Ben is a big fan of the band but I couldn’t entice him to see their latest tour supporting Steel Panther. Whether it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 21 May 2023, AOR, Bristol Academy, gig, hair metal, hard rock, Kip Winger, melodic, Reb Beach, review, Winger | Leave a comment

News: Melodic Rockers FM enter The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness in June 2023

Posted on May 21, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

The latest inductees to “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness” are melodic rockers FM. A major retrospective tracking FM’s comeback in the millennium will be published on 1 June by rock website Get Ready to ROCK! and throughout the month Get … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged AOR, classic rock, feature, FM, Grotto, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, retrospective, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Gig review: ROCKNYTT CRUISE- Viking Line ‘Cinderella’, Stockholm, 21-22 April 2023

Posted on May 14, 2023 by andynathan

The rock cruise is now a well established business model in the world of classic rock, as fans of rock’s golden age reach their Saga-eligible years and are looking for new experiences and greater comfort than sleeping in tents and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 21-22 April 2023, AOR, Captain Black Beard, cruise, Dare, DEMON, Emotional Fire, Gathering of Kings, Grand Slam, Houston, melodic rock, Remedy, Rocknytt Cruise, Russ Ballard, Sweden, Weapon, Wildness | Leave a comment

Album review : MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND – The Love Goes On

Posted on May 1, 2023 by brianmc

The Michael Thompson Band - The Love Goes On

Frontiers [Release date 12.05.23] Michael Thompson may be one of the most gifted, sought after rock guitarists in the business – his pedigree must run to several volumes – but the Michael Thompson Band, known as MTB, will forever be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Annas Aliaf, AOR, Hans Zimmer, How Long, James Newton Howard, Moon Calhoun, review, The Love Goes On, The Michael Thompson Band, Tom Croucier, westcoast | Leave a comment

Gig review: TED POLEY – The Black Heart, London, 29 March 2023

Posted on April 12, 2023 by andynathan

The irrepressible, infectious figure of singer Ted Poley has been a welcome visitor to these shores regularly over the years, both with Danger Danger and also in a variety of other projects such as Bone Machine and Melodica. However he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged acoustic, AOR, Danger Danger, Declan McKerr, gig, melodic rock, Midnite City, Rob Wylde, Ted Poley | Leave a comment

Album review: MECCA – Everlasting

Posted on April 10, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date 21.03.23] First Mecca album to be released in Europe since the Brexit Referendum. And the suitably titled opener, ‘And Now The Magic is Gone’ turns out to be the album’s big moment. Everlasting is not quite as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alias, AOR, Frontiers, Joe Vana, Marcie Free, melodic rock, review, Signal, Stefano Lionetti, Tommy Denander, Toto, Unruly Child, Vivien Lalu | Leave a comment

Book review: FLEETWOOD MAC IN THE 1980s by Don Klees

Posted on March 20, 2023 by jason

SonicBond Publishing [Publication date 27.01.23] During the 1980’s Fleetwood Mac only released two albums, 1982’s ‘Mirage’, which topped the US album charts, and 1987’s ‘Tango In The Night’, which saw the band top the UK album charts with sales to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 1980's, AOR, book, Christine McVie, Don Klees, Fleetwood Mac, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, melodic rock, Mick Fleetwood, pop, pop rock, review, Stevie Nicks | Leave a comment

Album review : TRANSWORLD IDENTITY – Seven Worlds

Posted on March 16, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 17.3.23] Transworld Identity is a breath of fresh air. Vocalist Mila Bosa previously fronted a hard rock covers band, inevitably moving onto original material with her own band, T-ID. Hard to tell just how long they’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Abba, album, AOR, Frontiers, Hanoi Rocks, melodic rock, Mila Bosa, Nightwish, pop, review, Ryan Roxie | Leave a comment

Album review : DEMONS DOWN – I Stand

Posted on March 12, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 10.03.23] Here’s an interesting band. Demons Down combine the legacy Melodic Rock of House Of Lords (and others) … Jimi Bell, Ken Mary and Chuck Wright, with today’s rising stars in the shape of Chilean vocalist, James … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Autograph, Chuck Wright, Francesco Savino, Frontiers, House of Lords, James Robledo. False Memories, Jimi Bell, Ken Mary, melodic rock, review, Sinners Blood | Leave a comment

Album review: KEN HENSLEY – Past And Present (Songs In Time Anthology, 1972-2021, 6 CD set)

Posted on March 1, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 27.02.23] The late Ken Hensley had been steadily accumulating cultural stock since 1970. His ability to write poetic, melodic rock’n’roll is well known in the music industry worldwide. His reputation grew exponentially as he converted that … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 1972-2021), album, AOR, box set, Cherry Red, Ken Hensley, melodic rock, Past And Present (Songs In Time Anthology, poet, review, Russian, Uriah Heep, Vladimir Emilin | Leave a comment

Album review: T3NORS – Naked Soul

Posted on February 15, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 10.02.23] So much of Frontiers’ melodic rock finds itself impervious to outside influences. There are few AOR albums from the label that have successfully taken on contemporary musical mores. The truth is – we all claim to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Blanc Faces, Giant, Kent Hilli, melodic rock, Naked Soul, Perfect Plan, Pride of Lions, review, Robbie LeBlanc, T3NORS, Toby Hitchcock | Leave a comment

Album review: GABRIELLE DE VAL – Kiss In A Dragon Night

Posted on February 7, 2023 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 17.02.23] Gabrielle de Val has been involved in the rock scene since 1987 when she created the band Yin-Yang, which would later be called D’Val. They never recorded a full album, however, fast forward to 2010 … Continue reading →