Tag Archives: AOR

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 →

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Gabrielle de Val, hard rock, Kiss In A Dragon Night, Mark Boals, melodic rock, Mike Oldfield, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ARCTIC RAIN – Unity

Posted on January 31, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 27.01.23] Arctic Rain’s declamatory melodic rock will remind you of several expert practitioners of the genre. From the Bon Jovi-esque ‘One World’, intense, in your face, with a fleeting sense of melody, and the title track, ‘Unity’, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Arctic Rain, Bon Jovi, Frontiers, Graham Bonnet, Harem Scarem, melodic rock, Mr Big, review, Tobias Jonson, Unity | Leave a comment

Album review: CHRIS ROSANDER – The Monster Inside

Posted on January 22, 2023 by jason

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 17.02.23] Chris Rosander released his debut album ‘King Of Hearts’ in 2020 on the now defunct AOR Heaven. As the pandemic put paid to any live plans, Chris Rosander started work on making more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Chris Rosander, hard rock, melodic rock, Perfect Plan, review, rock, The Monster Inside, Toto | Leave a comment

Single review: FEENSTRA & SIMPSON – Your Eyes Gave You Away

Posted on January 22, 2023 by jason

YouTube A new songwriter outlet for GRTR! writer, radio presenter and promoter Pete Feenstra as he he teams up with John Simpson. No not the TV news reporter but the John Simpson who helped found the Feelgoods, a Dr Feelgood … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged AOR, Feenstra & Simpson, John Simspon, Pete Feenstra, pop, pop rock, review, single, the Feelgoods, Tom Petty, Your Eyes Gave You Away | Leave a comment

Album review : NEVENA – Nevena

Posted on December 14, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 09.12.22] After contributing to the Big Deal album earlier this year, with several other female singers, Nevena strikes out now as a solo performer. Her debut walks a high wire between modern pop and melodic rock, as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Big Deal, Contemporary pop, country rock, Frontiers, Heart, melodic rock, Mike Palace, Pat Benatar, review, Serbia | Leave a comment

Album review: PERFECT PLAN- Brace for Impact

Posted on December 11, 2022 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (release date 14.10.22) Of the multitude of Scandinavian melodic rock bands to emerge in recent years, Perfect Plan have been one of the best. Indeed their second album ‘Time for a Miracle’ was my album of 2020. The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Kent Hilli, melodic rock, Perfect Plan | Leave a comment

Album review: ROB MORATTI – Epical

Posted on December 2, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 09.12.22] Quite a line up Rob Moratti’s put together here. Tony (Blue Murder) Franklin, Joel (Whitesnake) Hoekstra, Pete (James Christian/ Robin McAuley) Alpenborg, Fredrik (Bloodbound) Bergh, with Steve (Tyketto/ Journey) Augeri on backing vocals. Moratti has been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alias, AOR, Bloodbound, Blue Murder, Brother Firetribe, Eclipse, Fredrik Bergh, James Christian, Joel Hoekstra, melodic rock, Pete Alpenborg, review, Robin McAuley, Starship, Steve Augeri, Steve Perry, Survivor, Tony Franlin, Tyketto, Whitesnake, Work Of Art | Leave a comment

Album review: LANDFALL – Elevate

Posted on November 29, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 9.12.22] Much more assured second album from Landfall, the Brazilian band led by Eric Martin soundalike, Gui Oliver. And boy does it sound good, graced with melodic, tightly constructed songs, great playing, a lean, taut production, no … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Blue Tears, Elevate, Eric Martin, Frontiers, Gui Oliver, Journey, Landfall, Mayank, melodic rock, Mr Big, review | Leave a comment

Album review : AUTOGRAPH – Beyond

Posted on November 26, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [Release date 18.11.22] We all want to love this album because it’s Autograph. Even though they’re one-hit-wonders, and even though bassman Randy Rand is/was the only remaining original member. (Rand took part in the recording sessions, but died … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Autograph, Beyond, Def Leppard, eighties, Jimi Bell, Marc Wieland, melodic rock, Our Lady Peace, Randy Rand, review, Simon Daniels, Steve Plunkett, The Beatles | Leave a comment

Album review: ARC OF LIFE – Don’t Look Down

Posted on November 13, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 18.11.22] Arc Of Life is a Progrock supergroup, arguably. In order of fame : Jon (Yes) Davison, Billy (Yes/ World Trade) Sherwood, Jay (Unruly Child) Schellen, Dave (Sound Of Contact) Kerzner and Jimmy (Air Supply/ Circa) Haun. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Air Supply, album, AOR, Arc Of Life, Billy Sherwood, Circa, Dave Kerzner, Don't Look Down, Frontiers, Jay Schellen, Jimmy Haun, Jon Davison, melodic rock, Mr Mister, progrock, review, Sound Of Contact, Third Matinee, Unruly Child, World Stage, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: ABOUT US – About Us

Posted on November 10, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date: 11.11.22] It’s a pleasure to welcome a band from the Asian continent, About Us, to the world of AOR and Melodic Rock (despite the album’s Proggy cover). They are a well established, award winning band in their … Continue reading →