Tag Archives: melodic rock

Album review: MAGNUM – The Monster Roars

Posted on January 3, 2022 by GRTR! HQ
MAGNUM - The Monster Roars

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 14.01.22] 50 years on, and studio album number 22, there’s no keeping Magnum down – not even a pandemic.  Whilst the band will be frustrated by the tour cancellations following the release of ‘The Serpent Rings’ they … Continue reading →

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Album review: PERFECT PLAN- Live at Sharpener’s House

Posted on December 30, 2021 by andynathan
PERFECT PLAN- Live at Sharpener's House

Frontiers Records (Release Date 10.12.21) Among the finest of this golden generation of Scandinavian acts, Perfect Plan‘s second album ‘Time for a Miracle’ was voted GRTR’s melodic rock album of 2020. That year also saw them play a ‘live in … Continue reading →

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Album review: AT THE MOVIES – The Soundtrack of Your Life Vol. 1 & 2

Posted on December 23, 2021 by jason
AT THE MOVIES – The Soundtrack of Your Life Vol. 1

Atomic Fire Records [Release date 07.01.22] Pretty Maids Chris Laney has been watching lots of movies during the pandemic and he noticed how great the soundtracks often were. So, At The Movies was born when he enlisted drummer Allan Sørensen … Continue reading →

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Album review : ZELBO – In My Dreams

Posted on December 22, 2021 by brianmc
ZELBO - In My Dreams

Frontiers [Release date 10.12.21] Melodic Rock/AOR band, Zelbo is named for keyboard player and founding member, Dag Selboskar. This relatively unknown Norwegian musician in fact has quite a pedigree. He debuted with the legendary Da Vinci. His DV bandmate, Bjorn … Continue reading →

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Album review: BITE THE BULLET – End of the Line

Posted on December 19, 2021 by jason
BITE THE BULLET - End of the Line

Escape Music [Release date 22.01.22] Bite the Bullet trace their origins back to 1986 and still feature the original duo of Mick Benton (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards) and Graham Cowling (Drums). They released a strong comeback album, ‘Black and White’, … Continue reading →

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Album review: ORLEANS – New Star Shining

Posted on December 17, 2021 by GRTR! HQ
ORLEANS - New Star Shining

Sunset Blvd Records [Release date 22.10.21] The 2021 Christmas offering from Orleans is something of a welcome surprise.  The band have existed in some shape or form since their glory days in the late 1970s on the Asylum label, although … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: TAYLOR YOUNG BAND, AUTUMN’S CHILD

Posted on December 14, 2021 by jason
AUTUMN'S CHILD - Zenith

TAYLOR YOUNG BAND Mercury Transit Handrawn Records [Release date 08.10.21] Taylor Young drummed for the likes of The O’s, Young Heart Attack and Polyphonic Spree. Now he takes on the role of band leader and is joined by guitarist, vocalist … Continue reading →

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News: Albums of the Month (October 2021 – December 2021)

Posted on December 9, 2021 by GRTR! HQ
Albums of the Month (October-December 2021)

DEEP PURPLE Turning To Crime (earMUSIC) While the production is big, solid and bright, there’s also a live-in-the-studio feel, like it was recorded quickly and spontaneously. Listen with open ears and the album shows the band on great form, and … Continue reading →

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Album review: CAP OUTRUN – High On Deception

Posted on December 6, 2021 by brianmc
CapOutrun-HighonDeception-cover2021

Frontiers [release date 10.12.21] Swedish rock band, Cap Outrun’s debut album integrates Progrock with Melodic Rock. A bold mix of nostalgia and modernism. One of the prime reasons for Progrock’s popularity is the music’s illusion of improvisation. You’re not quite … Continue reading →

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News: The Best of 2021 – Get Ready to ROCK! reviewers choose their Top Albums of the Year

Posted on December 3, 2021 by GRTR! HQ
The Best of 2021

2021 has been another horrendous year for live music,  largely silenced by the coronavirus pandemic. In August, live events in the UK started cautiously with several festivals and, with restrictions lifting for smaller venues, some semblance of live music returned … Continue reading →

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News: ELLES BAILEY, STONEDEAD, URIAH HEEP (December 2021)

Posted on November 30, 2021 by jason
Michael Schenker, photo by Simon Dunkerley

Tim Arnold releases his new album, ‘Maybe Magic’, on January 7 via Bandcamp. Pretty Maids vocalist Ronnie Atkins releases his new solo album ‘Make It Count’ on march 18 via Frontiers. Elles Bailey has opened pre-orders for her next album, ‘Shining in … Continue reading →

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Album review: JIM PETERIK & WORLD STAGE – Tigress – Women Who Rock the World

Posted on November 23, 2021 by andynathan
JIM PETERIK & WORLD STAGE- Tigress- Women Who Rock the World

Frontiers Records (Release date 05.11.21) Jim Peterik’s World Stage project, whether live or in the studio, is characterised by the Survivor founder using the widest array of musical chums to sing his songs. ‘Tigress’ (what is it with his obsession … Continue reading →

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Album review: GROUNDBREAKER – Soul to Soul

Posted on November 23, 2021 by andynathan
GROUNDBREAKER- Soul to Soul

Frontiers Records (Release date 12.11.21) Groundbreaker’s debut album was a Frontiers Records project to reunite Steve Overland with the pure AOR sound of early FM. That was a collaboration with Work of Art’s Robert Sall, but  the latter is not … Continue reading →

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Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to GIANT

Posted on November 20, 2021 by GRTR! HQ
Giant 1989

Giant are rightly revered in melodic rock circles, another of those bands who for a short period at the turn of the 1980s delivered two of the finest albums in the genre. The band formed in 1987 after the two … Continue reading →

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Album review: TRAGIK – Ultima Ratio

Posted on November 14, 2021 by jason
TRAGIK – Ultima Ratio

Rock Company [Release date 10.11.21] By my reckoning this is album number eleven by Tragik, who still feature Damian D’Ercole (Guitars, Percussion), Dirk Phillips (Drums, Keyboards) and Phil Vincent (Vocals, Bass, Keyboards). ‘Hunter’ and ‘Wet Dog’ (contender for Worst Song … Continue reading →

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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2021)

Posted on November 1, 2021 by GRTR! HQ
Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy - HRH Prog, November 2017

Compiled by Jason Ritchie All dates are subject to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions.   Please check artist and venue websites for latest information. Your tour not listed? Contact us! UK Festivals 2021 2022 Tour Dates (UK & Ireland) 2021 Tour Dates … Continue reading →

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Album review: MEMORIA AVENUE – Memoria Avenue

Posted on November 1, 2021 by brianmc
MEMORIA AVENUE - Memoria Avenue

Frontiers [Release date 05.11.21] Debut album from Memoria Avenue, a collaboration between talented writer/ guitarist/ Producer, Tor Talle, and up and coming vocalist, and fellow Norwegian, Jan Le Brandt. A polished production and neatly tailored arrangements define the early part … Continue reading →

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News: POWER QUEST, BEARDED THEORY, GIANT (November 2021)

Posted on November 1, 2021 by jason
IAN ANDERSON (JETHRO TULL) - The Lowry, Salford, 14 September 2015

Annihilator release their latest album, ‘Metal II’, on 18 February via earMUSIC. Asia are to release a 10CD boxset The Official Live Bootlegs Volume 1 through BMG Records on 26 November. There will also be a digital album featuring a … Continue reading →

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Album review: TONY MITCHELL – Hot Endless Summer Nights

Posted on October 31, 2021 by jason
TONY MITCHELL – Hot Endless Summer Nights

AOR Heaven [Release date 26.11.21] Nearly two years on, Tony Mitchell releases his third album as he goes full on 80s AOR. Tony Mitchell spent several months travelling coast to coast taking in the sights, sounds & overall American culture … Continue reading →

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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2022)

Posted on October 31, 2021 by GRTR! HQ
Rammstein - DOWNLOAD, 10-12 June 2016

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Updated 05/10/2022 Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2023) UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2022) To search quickly within … Continue reading →

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Album review: JEFF SCOTT SOTO – The Duets Collection Vol. 1

Posted on October 31, 2021 by jason
JEFF SCOTT SOTO – The Duets Collection Vol. 1

Frontiers [Release date 08.10.21] The pandemic and resulting lockdowns certainly had musicians thinking about ways to carry on with their musical passion. One such artist Jeff Scott Soto wanted to do a retrospective ‘best of’ from the many bands and … Continue reading →

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Album review: FANS OF THE DARK – Fans Of The Dark

Posted on October 29, 2021 by brianmc
FansOfTheDark

Frontiers [Release date: 05.11.21] Fans Of The Dark are a new Melodic Rock band formed by songwriter / drummer, Freddie Allen, the driving force behind AOR legends-in-the-making, Houston. He’s brought in Alex Falk on vocals, with guitarist, Oscar Bromvall and … Continue reading →

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Album review: HEARTLAND – Into The Future

Posted on October 25, 2021 by andynathan
HEARTLAND- Into the Future

Escape Music [Release date 15.10.21] I assumed Chris Ousey had kicked the long career of Heartland on the head with their last album of new material coming back in 2007. However, after his time with Snakecharmer and also fronting Kingdom … Continue reading →

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Album review: ECLIPSE – Wired

Posted on October 25, 2021 by andynathan
ECLIPSE- Wired

Frontiers Records [Release date 08.10.21] Eclipse have been on one the hottest streaks in melodic rock of recent years- even last year’s stop-gap live album ‘Viva la Victouria’ being a reminder of quite how many anthems they have written. And … Continue reading →

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Album review: LOVERBOY – Loverboy and Get Lucky (Remasters)

Posted on October 24, 2021 by brianmc
loverboy get lucky

Rock Candy Records [release date 24.09.21] Selling 6 million between them, Loverboy’s self titled debut (1980) and follow up, Get Lucky (1981), have now had the treatment from Rock Candy Records. Forty years of remastering evolution has brought us to … Continue reading →

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