Tag Archives: hard rock

Album review: ANN WILSON & TRIPSITTER – Another Door

Ann Wilson & Tripsitter - Another Door

Dualtone  [Release date 29.09.23 US, 13.10.23 ROW] Ann Wilson, best known for Heart with her sister Nancy, decided that prior to starting the 2023 tour with her band Tripsitter, they would record an album of all-original material. This album also … Continue reading

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Album review: THUNDER – The Thrill Of It All, Giving The Game Away, Shooting At The Sun (Reissues)

THUNDER - The Thrill Of It All

WIN These reissues! Click or tap here! BMG [Release date 20.10.23] As our retrospective feature in ‘The GRTR! Grotto’ series attests Thunder have firmly entrenched themselves with fans in the millennium, in spite of a couple of stop-starts. It’s fair … Continue reading

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Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – THUNDER (October 2023)

The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness

Lightning may have struck twice for Thunder but since their 2011 comeback they have produced some of their best work via albums and shows Photo: Darren Griffiths The millennium has marked the “second coming” of several bands who had differing … Continue reading

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Album review: WINGER – Chapter One Atlantic Years 1988-1993

WINGER - Chapter One Atlantic Years 1988-1993

Atlantic/BMG [Release date: 17.11.23] It had to happen.  The boxed  Winger story from 1988 to 1993 and “the only remasters approved by  Kip Winger.” As ever, it doesn’t help those who have already indulged in previous vinyl or CD although … Continue reading

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Gig review: STRAY – 100 Club, London, 14 September 2023

STRAY- 100 Club, London, 14 September 2023

He may be – according to the title of his own memoirs –  a rock’n’roll survivor but Stray founder member Del Bromham has not lost his musical  creativity. The band have just released a very welcome first studio album in … Continue reading

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Album review : RONNIE ROMERO – Too Many Lies Too Many Masters

ronnie romero too many 150

Frontiers [release date : 15.09.23] Ronnie Romero’s third “solo” album is delivered by a pretty cool hard rock trio rounded out by guitarist Jose Rubio and drummer, Andy C. The label make a point of telling us that this is … Continue reading

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Album review: ALBANY DOWN – Born In The Ashes

Albany Down_Born In The Ashes

        AD Recordings [Release date: 01.09.23] Back after too long away and with a changed band membership, Paul Turley’s Albany Down hit the racks with a fourth album, ‘Born In The Ashes’. And very fine it is … Continue reading

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Album review: TEMPT – Tempt

Tempt

Better Noise Music [Release date 25.08.23] Tempt’s website states they are “rock music for the modern age.” To date they have supported the likes of Bon Jovi, Shinedown and Iron Maiden, plus released a number of well received covers and … Continue reading

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Album review: RUFFYUNZ – Ruffyunz III

RUFFYUNZ - Ruffyunz III

Hyperspace Records [Release date 11.08.23] It’s safe to say that the third album offering from Ruffyunz takes up where II left off. The major change is Carmine Appice replacing Bobby Rondinelli’s drums and, at least on the cover, taking centre … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE TREATMENT/MANSWORTH – Queens Hall, Nuneaton, Saturday 5 August 2023

MANSWORTH - Queens Hall, Nuneaton, Saturday 5 August 2023

Dead Demons opened this triple bill, unfortunately I didn’t arrive in time to catch the majority of their set, but the vibe was good, and the crowd were definitely warmed up by the time they had finished. Next on the … Continue reading

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Quick plays: DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS, 19th STREET BAND, PHIL VINCENT

DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS Strangers No More

DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS Strangers No More Magnolia Music [Release date 09.06.23] Ninth studio album from Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors who have been gaining critical plaudits and fans in the Americana field since they formed back in 2005. … Continue reading

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EP review: /SIN’DOGS/ – Renascence EP

/SIN'DOGS/ - Renascence EP

www.facebook.com/Sindogs [Release date 01.08.23] When I was compiling my “Best of” two decades in terms of ‘Live Acts’ for GRTR!@20 it would have been very tempting to include Zal Cleminson and /sin’dogs/ appearance at the 2019 ‘Giants Of Rock’. My … Continue reading

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Album review: TONY MITCHELL – Radio Heartbeat

TONY MITCHELL - Radio Heartbeat

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

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News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2023)

Albums of the Month (April – June 2023)

WINGER Seven (Frontiers) Winger are a great group of musicians and they write great songs.  And ‘Seven’ matches up to their very best work. ***** Review by David Randall  HOUSE OF SHAKIRA XIT (Frontiers) No question, XIT is a perfect pop … Continue reading

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Album review: SYTERIA – Syteria World

SYTERIA - Syteria World

Cargo Records [Release date 11.08.23] Formed in the mid 10s by Jax Chambers, best known as the lead guitarist of Girlschool, Syteria have released a number of albums and singles independently (check out www.syteria.co.uk for more). This Yorkshire based and … Continue reading

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Album review : ROBLEDO – Broken Soul

ROBLEDO - Broken Soul

Frontiers [Release date 14.07.23] Second “solo” album from Sinners Blood frontman, James Robledo. Broken Soul is a tough as teak mix of metal and hard rock, driven by the skilful, tuneful axework of his Sinners Blood bandmate, the man with … Continue reading

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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) January 2023 – June 2023

BLACK STAR RIDERS- Wrong Side of Paradise

Compiled by Jason Ritchie July – December 2023 To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on a Mac) on the keyboard. The “F” stands for “Find,” and … Continue reading

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Book review: SLADE in the 1970s (Decades) by Darren Johnson

Slade in the 1970s

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 26.05.23] Slade were one of the biggest British bands of the 1970s, three UK number one albums (and one in Australia),  six number one singles in the UK and Irish charts, numerous top 10 hit singles and … Continue reading

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Album review: GAMMA – What’s Gone Is Gone (The Complete Elektra Recordings))

Gamma box set

Cherry Red [Release date: 30.06.23] CD1: GAMMA 1 (1979) CD2: GAMMA 2 (1980) CD3: GAMMA 3 (1982) The first 3 CDs from Ronnie Montrose’s band, Gamma, come nicely packaged this month, with each one including a couple of bonus tracks, … Continue reading

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Album review : FRIJID PINK – The Deram Recordings 1970-1971 (2 CDs)

Frijid Pink - The Deram Recordings 1970-1971

Cherry Red [Release date 30.06.23] A two CD package, comprising Detroit band, Frijid Pink’s first two albums. Sometimes the movies crossover into popular music. One quote that rings true and often crops up is William Goldman’s “nobody knows anything”. Frequently, … Continue reading

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Album review: THE GUESS WHO – Plein D’Amour

THE GUESS WHO - Plein D'Amour

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

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Album review: THE PAT McMANUS BAND – Live In France

THE PAT McMANUS BAND - Live In France

The Store For Music [Release date 21.07.23] It’s about time we had a new live album from Pat McManus.  In August 2022 he recorded his gig as part of the Tribal Rock festival nestling above the Cote d’Azur in south-east … Continue reading

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Album review: FASTWAY – A’s and B’s (The Sony Years)

FASTWAY - A's And B's (The Sony Years)

BGO Records [Release date 09.12.22] You might think that the combination of Jerry Shirley (Humble Pie), Pete Way (UFO) and “Fast” Eddie Clarke (Motorhead) was a marriage made in heavy rock heaven.  But this original triumvirate only lasted weeks before … Continue reading

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Rising Stars: BLACKLIST UNION

BLACKLIST UNION

Blacklist Union have released the title track from their upcoming new album, Letters from the Psych Ward. This will be Blacklist Union’s fifth album and is slated for a September 2023 release. We catch up with singer Tony West to find out more… … Continue reading

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Gig review: WINGER – Bristol Academy, 21 May 2023

230521_winger8a

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

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