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Tag Archives: hard rock
News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2026)
A quarterly feature highlighting album releases rated highly by the GRTR! review team and worthy of your investigation. We try and pick out a cross-section of albums that reflect the range of genres reviewed at the website. The star rating … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS
Tagged 2026, albums of the month, April, blues rock, classic rock, hard rock, June, May, melodic rock, metal, Progressive Rock
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Album review: DAN BYRNE – This Is Where The Show Begins
Frontiers [Release date 22.05.26] Revival Black were a promising band who released their last album in 2022. Frontman Dan Byrne broke away soon after and released an excellent EP ‘Beginnings’ in 2023. As our melodic rock supremo Andy Nathan commented … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Dan Byrne, hard rock, melodic, review, Revival Black, This Is Where The Show Begins
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Album review: TRAGIK – Propaganda Elite
Rock Company [Release date 24.06.26] Album number fourteen from Tragik! Formed around Phil Vincent, a musician who defines the word prolific, he is joined by regular Tragik members drummer Dirk Phillips and bassist Damian D’Ercole, with guitar solos once again … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, hard rock, melodic rock, Phil Vincent, Propaganda Elite, review, rock, Three Dog Night, Tragik
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Album review: FATAL VISION – Four Sides To Every Story
Website [Release date 22.05.26] Fatal Vision’s fourth album, “Four Sides to Every Story,” is a powerhouse of classic hard rock that truly showcases the band’s artistic growth. From the moment you hit play, you’re hit with a barrage of intricate guitar … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Fatal Vision, Four Sides To Every Story, hard rock, melodic rock, review, rock
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Single review: PARKER BARROW – Nothin’ Left To Save
Website I do like music with attitude, and this single earns a big five stars from me, for its attitude, for its grit, for its musicianship, for its utter rock n rollness I’ve said Parker Barrow are going places since … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged blues rock, hard rock, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Nothin' Left To Leave, Parker Barrow, review, rock, single
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Album review: Ritchie Blackmore’s RAINBOW – Live In Dusseldorf (3-LP vinyl)
Demon/Edsel [Release date 26.06.26] The second (after Cologne) of three live albums recorded in Germany 1976, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow were promoting their Rainbow Rising LP to huge acclaim. The three albums were originally issued as double CDs a few years … Continue reading
Album review : LYNCH MOB – The Final Ride (Live)
Frontiers Music [Release date : 29.05.26] George Lynch was always known for his incendiary axework in a live setting. Never straying too much from the album the song came from, but adding enough to make it seem fresh and new. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Frontiers Music, Gabriel Colon, George Lynch, hard rock, Jimmy Danda, live, Lynch Mob, review
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Album review : SPREAD EAGLE – The Brutal Divine
Frontiers Music [Release date : 12.06.26] This is US rock band, Spread Eagle’s fourth album in 25 years, and second album on the Frontiers’ label, not very hard on the heels of 2019’s rather good Subway To The Stars. Ray … Continue reading
Single review: BLACKLIST UNION – Jackson
Website/BLU Records This is exactly what you need for the summer, a great punked up reimagination of the Johnny Cash classic “Jackson”, and what a great version this is. With Blacklist Union frontman Tony West and Femme Fatale’s Lorraine Lewis … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Blacklist Union, country, Femme Fatale, hard rock, Jackson, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Lorraine Lewis, punk, review, rock, single, Tony West
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Album review : BRIAN ROBERTSON – Diamonds And Dirt (2 CD Reissue)
Cherry Red [Release date 29.05.26] Scottish guitarist/ songwriter Brian Robertson played on what were arguably Thin Lizzy’s top 5 studio albums. Over a four year period, 1974-78, he contributed as guitarist and co-writer with Phil Lynott on Nightlife, Fighting, Jailbreak, … Continue reading
Album review: BEGGARS BLISS – S/t
Website [Release date 22.05.26] Derby based Beggars Bliss formed in 2024, with a mantra of – “if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing.” Their line-up is Henry John (vocals, guitar), Milly Ayesha (keyboards, vocals), Dan Griffiths (bass, vocals) and Chris … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Beggars Bliss, blues rock, classic rock, debut, hard rock, review, self-titled
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Album review: W.A.S.P. – s/t
Madfish [Release date 21.05.26] Record label Madfish have been working some of the early W.A.S.P. catalogue, including The Savage 7 CD boxset. Here is the band’s 1984 debut and in line with all the other Madfish releases I’ve encountered, it … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Blackie Lawless, Chris Holmes, hard rock, metal, re-issue, review, self-titled, sleaze, W.A.S.P
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Album review : VON GROOVE – Born To Rock
Frontiers Music [Release date : 15.05.26] There can be few more explosive opening tracks than Von Groove’s ‘Once Is Not Enough’ from their self titled debut, 1992. 30 years later : they’ve got the band back together – Michael Shotton, … Continue reading
Single review: PARKER BARROW – Blinded
Blinded is taken from Parker Barrow’s forthcoming album Hold The Mash, and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were listening to a new Stones single with the opening riff, as guitarist Alex Bender says the riff was given life as … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Blinded, blues, blues rock, hard rock, Hold the Mash, Parker Barrow, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, single
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Album review : DEGREED – Curtain Calls
Frontiers [Release date 24.04.26] Eighth full length album from respected Swedish Hard Rock band, Degreed…Robin Eriksson, Mats Eriksson, Mikael Blanc and Daniel Johansson. Their sound is impossible to categorise. Is it toughened up AOR, melodic hard rock, metallised hard rock … Continue reading
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Tagged AOR, Curtain Calls, Degreed, Frontiers Music, hard rock, Mats Eriksson, review, Robin Eriksson, Swedish
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Album review : URIAH HEEP – Beautiful Dream, The Recordings 1975-77 (4CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date 24.04.26] Return To Fantasy (1975) High And Mighty (1976) Firefly (1977) Innocent Victim (1977) Cherry Red’s latest Uriah Heep boxset, Beautiful Dream, is essentially a follow up to their Shadow And The Wind set released last … Continue reading
Album review: XTASY – Phoenix
Art of Melody Music / Burning Minds Music Groups [Release date 10.04.26] Now here’s a thing. Melodic rock that’s not from Scandinavia! Spain’s Xtasy formed in 2011 and have been building a following in their home country and in Continental … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, hard rock, melodic rock, metal, Phoenix, review, Xtasy
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Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Live & Ready 1980-1984
Chrysalis Records [Release date 03.04.26] Guitar legend Michael Schenker has had a largely wonderful career, with his own band as well as with both Scorpions and UFO. And of his eponymous band, the 1980 to 1984 period is widely considered … Continue reading
Feature: GRTR! Greats – BETH HART
Photo: Manuela Langotsch Beth Hart’s place in the GRTR! Greats series was sealed a long time ago by her heartfelt songwriting, emotionally charged voice and musical excellence spanning a 18 plus album career backed by non stop touring. Her vibrato … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR! GREATS, GRTR! Greats (All Posts), INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
Tagged album, beth Hart, blues, blues rock, classic rock, feature, hard rock, interview, retrospective, review, singer, songwriter
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Album review: WARRANT – Belly To Belly Vol.1
Deko Entertainment [Release date 15.04.26] Warrant’s fifth album ‘Belly to Belly, Vol. 1′ has been remastered and repackaged and is being re-released in April, and for the first time will also be released on vinyl. Originally released in 1996 it … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Belly To Belly Vol.1, hard rock, melodic rock, review, Warrant
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Album review: AEROSMITH (Deluxe expanded edition)
Universal Music Group [Release date 20.03.26] One of the USA’s rock bands, Aerosmith have released 15 studio albums, and sold 150 million records world-wide. And their blend of rock, blues, glam and pop has been very influential too. With roots … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged 3-CD, Aerosmith, album, blues rock, delux, expanded, hard rock, Joe Perry, live, remix, review, Steven Tyler
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Album review: CASEY MAUNDER – Smash Down Jericho
Website [Release date 20.03.26] Album number three from Casey Maunder and pleased to report that he carries on with his high standards of penning catchy, melodic hard rock. Of the ten songs on here, only ‘Paint’ has been released ahead … Continue reading
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Tagged album, Casey Maunder, hard rock, melodic rock, review, rock, Smash Down Jericho
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Album review: RAINBOW – Temple Of The King 1975/76
Edsel/Demon Music Group [Release date 27.03.26] Originally touted as Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow were formed by Deep Purple guitarist Blackmore. In late 1974, Blackmore had wanted to record a cover of Quatermass’ Black Sheep Of The Family, and did so as … Continue reading
Album review: ROBIN TROWER – Live!
Chrysalis [Release date: 03.04.26] Guitarist Robin Trower made himself as a guitarist, originally with Procol Harum, before forging a successful solo career. Most will (or should) know his classic second album, Bridge Of Sighs, which was remastered and expanded last … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, classic rock, guitarist, hard rock, live, Procul Harum, review, Robin Trower, rock
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Gig review: SMITH KOTZEN – Bristol Academy, 20 February 2026
It’s a band and promoters nightmare. Towards the end of a relatively short UK tour the special guests Kris Barras Band had to pull out due to Kris’ throat infection. Shame as I was looking forward to seeing Barras live … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 20 February 2026, Adrian Smith, Bristol Academy, classic rock, gig, hard rock, Iron Maiden, review, Richie Kotzen, Smith Kotzen, Winery Dogs
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