Tag Archives: melodic rock

Album review: BILLY SQUIER – Emotions In Motion/Signs Of Life

Posted on June 12, 2021 by jason

BGO Records Two albums from Billy Squier’s classic 80’s period get a neat double CD re-issue. Not only of interest to fans of his work and 80’s US melodic rock, but also Queen fans as these two albums both feature … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Reissues | Tagged album, Billy Squier, classic rock, Emotions In Motion, Jim Steinman, Mack, melodic rock, Queen, review, rock, Signs Of Life | Leave a comment

Gig review: JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 20 May 2021

Posted on May 27, 2021 by andynathan

If 2020 was a desert for live music, the road out of lockdown in 2021 has been an even longer and gloomier slog. Down in South West London, Cavern owner Noel Nevin has been fighting the good fight to stay … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues rock, FM, gig, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, The Cavern | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…ASIA (Every album, every song) by Peter Braidis

Posted on May 25, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Release date 14.05.21] Asia were formed in 1981, one of the enduring melodic rock “supergroups” of that decade and one of the most successful. Many readers will only remember the “classic” original line-up (and debut album) but this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged album, Asia, book, Carl Palmer, Every Album, Every Song, Geoff Downes, John Payne, John Weeton, melodic rock, On Track, Peter Braidis, Progressive Rock, review, Steve Howe | Leave a comment

Singles: NIGHT RANGER, PATRICK HEMER, VOODOO BLUE,

Posted on May 25, 2021 by jason

NIGHT RANGER Breakout (Frontiers) A taster from the band’s 12th studio album, ‘ATBPO’ (And the Bands Played On), due out on August 6. It is a typical, upbeat rocker from Night Ranger with guitars to the fore and the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alternative, Americana, country, folk, grunge, Hearts Apart, John Carroll Kirby, Just A Ride, melodic rock, metal, Night Ranger, Patrick Hemer, pop, review, rock, singles, Udo Dirkschneider, Voodoo Blue | Leave a comment

Album review: MARK SPIRO- Traveling Cowboys

Posted on May 24, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 07.05.21) Best known as a writer for Cheap Trick, Giant, Bad English and others, Mark Spiro’s career has significantly picked up after a dormant few years. Less than a year after the ’2+2= 5‘ triple anthology … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Julian Lennon, Mark Spiro, melodic rock, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: LOU GRAMM – Questions And Answers (3CD Atlantic Years Anthology, 1987-89)

Posted on May 23, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 28.05.21] As with most rock bands, the singer and guitarist driving force is a dynamic that ultimately shudders to a halt, at least on a temporary basis: Steven Tyler/ Joe Perry. Mick Jagger/ Keith Richards. Robert … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, anthology, AOR, Dann Huff, Foreigner, Giant, Lou Gramm, melodic rock, Mick Jones, Nils Lofgren, Peter Wolf, Question And Answer, review | Leave a comment

Album review: VINCE DICOLA – Only Time Will Tell

Posted on May 22, 2021 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 11.06.21] Vince DiCola is a musician / songwriter from Pennsylvania and relocated to LA in 1981 to advance his career. In the early to mid-eighties Vince was involved in some well-known film scores such as ‘Staying … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bobby Kimball, Chicago, Escape Music, Kansas, melodic rock, Only Time Will Tell, prog rock, review, Steve Walsh, Toto, Vince DiCola | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL FURY – Affairs In Babylon

Posted on May 20, 2021 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 28.05.21] Michael Fury are a band, as opposed to a solo artist, having formed in 1979 by vocalist/guitarist Myles Hunter (Avalon), bassist Martyn Jones and guitarist Rob Kennedy. They played a fair few gigs in their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Affairs In Babylon, album, AOR, AOR Heaven, melodic rock, Refugee, reissue, review | Leave a comment

Album review: SAVE THE WORLD – Two

Posted on May 19, 2021 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 07.05.21] Save The World is chief songwriter Dan Tracey (guitar, vocals, piano, keyboards, percussion) and Robert Wright (bass, vocals, keyboards, drums, guitars, strings, percussion and producer). Dan Tracey currently plays guitar and sings in the Alan Parsons … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Brad Delp, Frontiers, melodic rock, progressive, review, rock, Save The World, Two | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVE BURN – Nothing Is As It Seems

Posted on May 16, 2021 by jason

www.daveburn.net [Release date 01.06.21] ‘Nothing Is As It Seems‘ is the 17th solo album from guitarist Dave Burn and first to feature vocals, a departure from previous solo albums which were all instrumentals. Dave Burn has toured and recorded as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged album, classic rock, Dave Burn, guitarist, hard rock, Lee Small, Lionheart, melodic rock, Nothing Is At Seems, Paul Raymond, Phenomena, review, Shy, Sweet, UFO | Leave a comment

Rising Stars: FANS OF THE DARK

Posted on May 13, 2021 by jason

Fans of the Dark were formed by drummer Freddie Allen (from the cult AOR band Houston), vocalist Alex Falk(Swedish Idol and theatre productions of Rent and La Cage Aux Folles, bassist Robert Majd (Captain Blackbeard, Metalite) and guitarist Oscar Bromvall. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged Fans of the Dark, Freddie Allen, Houston, interview, melodic rock, Rising Stars, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: LEVARA – s/t

Posted on May 12, 2021 by andynathan

Mascot Records [Release Date 14.05.21] So there was an American, an Englishman and a Frenchman…. no, not a set up to one of the world’s oldest forms of joke, but the line up of hotly tipped new melodic rockers Levara. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Josh Devine, Jules Galli, Levara, melodic rock, Trev Lukather | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL VINCENT – Stigmata

Posted on May 3, 2021 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 26.05.21] Solo album number 23 from Phil Vincent and like last year’s ‘Yesterday, Tomorrow & Today’ he is joined by guitarist Vince O’Regan and Janne Stark guests on ‘So Tired’, with Jacob Hansen once again in the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged album, Beatles, hard rock, interview, Janne Stark, melodic rock, Phil Vincent, review, rock, Stigmata, Vince O'Regan | Leave a comment

Album review: STINGRAY (Remaster with bonus track)

Posted on April 18, 2021 by brianmc

Bad Reputation France [Release date 05.03.21] Enterprising French label, Bad Reputation, has been bringing some excellent new material to our attention recently. But for now we’ll focus on some classic blasts from the past, beginning with criminally overlooked South African … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, AOR, Bad Reputation, Boston, melodic rock, REO Speedwagon, review, South Africa, Stingray, Styx | Leave a comment

Album review: TEMPLE BALLS – Pyromide

Posted on April 16, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 16.03.21] Despite the diabolically bad band name, Temple Balls’ popularity and reputation continue to grow. Produced by Jonah (HEAT) Tee, Pyromide is their third album. Their high energy melodic rock songs have a bright, brash ebullience. But … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Frontiers, H.E.A.T., Jonah Tee, melodic rock, Pyromide, review, Temple Balls | Leave a comment

Album review: ROBBIE LaBLANC – Double Trouble

Posted on April 14, 2021 by andynathan

Escape Music (Release date 16.04.21) Robbie LaBlanc is not only one of the melodic rock world’s most admired singers, but increasingly its most prolific. It’s only a few months since I reviewed the East Temple Avenue album he lent his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, melodic rock, Robbie LaBlanc, Steve Overland, Tommy Denander | Leave a comment

Album review: FM – Tough It Out Live

Posted on April 13, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release date 09.04.21) It already seems a long time ago but one of the gig highlights of the winter before the pandemic struck was the Big-Three-O tour in which FM, together with Dan Reed Network and Gun, celebrated … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, FM, live album, melodic rock, Steve Overland, Tough It Out | Leave a comment

Album review: GARY HUGHES – Decades

Posted on March 31, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 12.03.21] With Gary Hughes having just released his first solo album in a long while, the simultaneous release of this generous 29 track double compilation is very timely as an opportunity to discover (or rediscover) the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, compilation, Gary Hughes, melodic rock, TEN | Leave a comment

Album review: CHEZ KANE

Posted on March 29, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 12.03.21] Chez Kane is one of three sisters fronting Kane’d, who have gained a reputation pre-pandemic as an enjoyable live act. This is her debut solo album, though equal uncredited billing goes to Danny Rexon, lead … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Chez Kane, Crazy Lixx, Danny Rexon, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Album review: SMITH KOTZEN (Adrian Smith, Richie Kotzen)

Posted on March 29, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

BMG [Release date 26.03.21] What have rock stars been doing in Lockdown? Streaming, recycling back catalogue, a bit of gardening, maybe even new material. And some have joined forces with others. Strength in numbers, or something. Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adrian Smith, album, blues rock, guitar, hard rock, Iron Maiden, melodic rock, Mr Big, Poison, review, Richie Kotzen, Smith Kotzen | Leave a comment

Album review: GARY HUGHES – Waterside

Posted on March 29, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 12.03.21] It’s been a relatively quiet period for Gary Hughes, the usually prolific Ten mainman- over two years since Ten’s last album but a whopping 14 since his last album under his own name. Now, on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dann Rosingana, Darrel Treece-Birch, Gary Hughes, melodic rock, TEN | Leave a comment

Album review: BEN RANDALL – Before The Rain

Posted on March 26, 2021 by alanjones

Thoroughbred Music [Release date: 02.04.21] www.benrandallguitar.com For me, it’s always been about the guitar. Back in the day, from the moment I heard Paul Kossoff’s wailing Les Paul on the early Free albums, I was hooked. Koss, Blackmore, Iommi, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Before The Rain, Ben Randall, guitar, melodic rock, metal, Paul Logue, progressive metal, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: SUNSTORM – Afterlife

Posted on March 26, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [Release date 12.03.21] Gone are the days of the Joe Lynn Turner fronted Sunstorm. Gone are the days when the band’s songs were written by Diane Warren, Desmond Child, Bob Halligan jnr, The Martin (Vega) Brothers and other … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Afterlife, album review, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Frontiers Records, Joe Lynn Turner, melodic rock, Rainbow, Ronnie Romero, Sunstorm | Leave a comment

Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) April 2021 – June 2021

Posted on March 24, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Compiled by Jason Ritchie January – March 2021 July-September 2021 October-December 2021 April 2nd DAVID BOWIE ‘The Kit Kat Klub (Live In New York ’99)’ Parlophone CACTUS ‘Tightrope’ Cleopatra Records DR FEELGOOD ‘Greatest Hits’ EAGLES ‘The Millennium Concert’ (vinyl) BRYAN … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions, Video | Tagged 2021, album, AOR, April, Bluray, CD, classic rock, DVD, heavy rock, June, May, melodic rock, metal, New releases, progressive, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: RONNIE ATKINS – One Shot

Posted on March 14, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [release date 12.03.21] Ronnie Atkins, founding member of Denmark’s Pretty Maids, bows out with his one and only solo album, One Shot. Ronnie has recently been diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer. So the album title is … Continue reading →