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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
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Album review: SIGN OF THE WOLF
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Album review: STEVE KNIGHTLEY – Positively Folk Street: Dylan, Carthy & Me
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Album review : JON ANDERSON and THE BAND GEEKS – Live, Perpetual Change
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Album review: REG MEUROSS – Fire & Dust
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Album review : STREETLIGHT – Night Vision
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Album review : ENBOUND – Set It Free (w/bonus CD)
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Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: FISH – O2 Academy, Glasgow, 9 March 2025
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Gig review: WILL WILDE- 100 Club, London, 4 March 2025
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Gig review: URIAH HEEP – London Palladium, 26 February 2025
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Gig review: THE VAPORS Album Launch – The Water Rats, London, 27 February 2025
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Gig review: MILKFEST- Indigo2, London, 23 February 2025
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Gig review: MIKE + THE MECHANICS – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 3 March 2025
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Featured Album Reviews
Features
Interviews
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Tag Archives: melodic rock
Album review: FATAL VISION – Three Times Lucky
Art of Melody [Release date 22.11.24] Fatal Vision originated in Ottawa, Canada during the late 1980s, carving out a niche in the Melodic Rock scene with influences from iconic bands like Asia, Bad English, Journey, Survivor, and Van Halen. After … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 80's rock, album, Fatal Vision, hair metal, hard rock, melodic rock, review, Three Times Lucky, Van Halen
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Updated 11.03.25 UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025) To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, … Continue reading
Posted in Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
Tagged 2025, AOR, dates, Europe, gigs, melodic rock, metal, our, pop, progressive, rock, ROW, USA
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Gig review: FM – The Carlisle, Hastings, 17 October 2024
Recently in the news, we heard how tours have shrunk and cover fewer towns and cities than they did 30 years ago. For FM the opposite seems to be the case – as well as playing the established big cities, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Steve Overland, The Carlisle, White Skies
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) 2024
Compiled by Jason Ritchie Updated 28.10.24 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 it works … Continue reading
Gig review: FIREFEST – Manchester Academy, 11-13 October 2024
For a decade through to 2014, Firefest built a reputation that most festivals would kill for. It wasn’t just the stellar line ups of melodic hard rock acts, from the rising stars through to long dormant bands from the eighties … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Atlantic, Cats In Space, Coney Hatch, festival, Firefest, Gabrielle de Val, gig, Grand Prix, Heavy Pettin', Hurricane, Jaded Hard, Jelusick, Kingdom Of Madness, Lionheart, Lost Weekend, Mad Max, melodic rock, Michael Bomann, Midnite City, Oliver's Army, Overland, Quiet Riot, Robin McAuley, Skagarack, Supremacy, Touch
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Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Time Machine
Esoteric Antenna [Release date 25.10.24] Studio album number six for Cats In Space, their third with vocalist Damien Edwards and first for new label Esoteric Antenna, part of the Cherry Red Records empire. Opening with the title track, we have … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 10CC, 70's rock, album review, AOR, Cats In Space, classic rock, melodic rock, Queen, rock, Sweet, THE WHO, Time Machine
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News: JESSE DAMON, NICKY HOPKINS, NEIL YOUNG (October 2024)
After Lapse release their new album ‘Pathways’ on December 13 on Frontiers. Arch Enemy release their twelfth studio album, ‘Blood Dynasty’, on March 28 via Century Media Records. Joan Armatrading has announced that her new album, ‘How Did This Happen And What Does … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, AOR, blues, folk, gigs, Jesse Damon, melodic rock, metal, Neil Young, news, Nicky Hopkins, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates
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EP review: ALL I KNOW – Stiletto Nightmare
Website [Release date 01.08.24] This refreshingly ‘80’s inspired slab of keyboard heavy melodic rock would have been all over the radio in years gone by, but for now bands like All I Know are keeping the light flickering for legions of … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged All I Know, EP, Europe, hard rock, melodic rock, review, rock, Scorpions, Stage Dolls, Stiletto Nightmare
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Gig review:TYKETTO – Islington Academy, London, 12 September 2024
Last year Tyketto were out on a triple co-headliner with Dare and FM which culminated here at Islington Academy. This year, on the heels of a couple of outdoor festival shows, they took top billing on another three band bill, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Dan Byrne, Danny Vaughn, Ged Rylands, gig, Harry Scott Elliott, Little Caesar, melodic rock, Ron Young, Tyketto
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Album review : FIND ME – Nightbound
Frontiers [Release date : 13.10.24] With imaginative cover art that could be taken from a John Connolly novel, Find Me – Robbie LaBlanc and Daniel Flores – deliver their fifth studio album. And it’s reassuringly familiar. It’s good to hear … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Daniel Flores, Find Me, Frontiers, Harem Scarem, melodic rock, Nightbound, review, Robbie LaBlanc, Signal, Styx, Unruly Child
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Gig review: CASSIDY PARIS – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 August 2024
Australian singer Cassidy Paris is almost a veteran at 21, having recorded her first EP at 16, and chalked up a fair few air miles since including to the UK. She’s played at various festivals and support slots but summer … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 7 August 2024, Alex Rogowski, Cassidy Paris, gig, London, melodic rock, Raynes Park, review, Steve Janevski, The Cavern, Tom Rogowski
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News: AUSTIN GOLD, WARREN HAYNES, HOUSE OF LORDS (September 2024)
Lee Abraham releases his latest album ‘Origin Of The Storm’ through F2 Music on October 21. Bryan Adams releases ‘Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2024′ on November 15. It will feature complete performances of three of his iconic albums: … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, AOR, Austin Gold, blues, folk, gigs, House of Lords, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates, Warren Haynes
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Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Fire In The Night Live
Harmony Factory (Release date 05.07.24) In the seventies, the double live album was the apogee of a band’s career, and indeed greats like Thin Lizzy, UFO and Peter Frampton all made what most people consider their definitive record that way. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Andy Stewart, Cats In Space, Damien Edwards, Dean Howard, Greg Hart, live album, melodic rock
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Gig review- H.E.A.T, TYKETTO, DARE – Chepstow Castle, 17 August 2024
The Great British outdoors now caters to the infinite demand for outdoor summer gigs in a variety of settings: farms and country parks, stately homes and now concerts in the grounds of historic castles seem to be the latest concept, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Castell Roc, Chris Childs, Danny Vaughn, Dare, Darren Wharton, Dave Dalone, Don Crash, gig, H.E.A.T., Harry Scott Elliott, Jimmy Jay, Jona Tee, Kenny Leckremo, Marc Roberts, melodic rock, Tyketto, Vinny Burns
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Gig review: MALMO MELODIC – Plan B, Malmo, Sweden, 27-29 July 2024
Scandinavia, and Sweden in particular, is the undisputed epicentre of the melodic rock community with a seemingly endless stream of bands emerging. There have been festivals in Malmo pre-pandemic (Melodic Rock Fest and the Swedish AOR Convention) so when last … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 7th Crystal, Alicate, AOR, Boys From Heaven, Care of Night, Chez Kane, Dare, Darren Wharton, festival, Gaeleri, gig, Grand, Houston, JD Miller, melodic rock, Nubian Rose, Perfect Plan, Pretty Maids, Remedy, Romeo's Daughter, Ronnie Atkins, Roulette, Streetlight, Transatlantic Radio, Wildness
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News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2024)
ATLANTIC Another World (Escape Music) This summer’s AOR album has arrived! Lush keys, harmonies, plenty of lovestruck lyrical themes, soaring guitar solos and the vocals of Mark Grimmett, who adds that extra bit of class to the whole musical proceedings. … Continue reading
Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS
Tagged 2024, albums of the month, AOR, April, Atlantic, Big Big Train, Black Country Communion, blues rock, heavy rock, June, May, melodic rock, Nestor, Progressive Rock, rock, Son Of Man, These Wicked Rivers
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Album review : JIM PETERIK and WORLD STAGE – Roots and Shoots Vol 2
Frontiers [Release date : 09.08.24] Peterik needs no introduction, but we’ll introduce him anyway. Most famously, he was guitarist and songwriter with Survivor, as well as several other charting bands. It’s all well documented online. But that was then. Nowadays, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, Chicago, Frontiers, Jason Scheff, Jim Peterik, melodic rock, Neil Donnell, review, Survivor
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News: STEEL PANTHER, FLEETWOOD MAC, VON HERTZEN BROTHERS (August 2024)
Photo: Steve Goudie Bryan Adams (pictured) has launched his own label Bad Records with the release of two songs – ‘War Machine’ and ‘Rock And Roll Hell’ – both of which were written by Adams alongside Jim Vallance, and Gene Simmons for the KISS album … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions
Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Fleetwood Mac, folk, gigs, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, special editions, Steel Panther, tour dates, Von Hertzen Brothers
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Gig review: TOWER OF FIRE FESTIVAL – Rebellion, Manchester, 29 June 2024
Although the UK live scene is thriving, thanks largely to the efforts of the New Wave of Classic Rock movement, those of us with a specific interest in the melodic rock and AOR scene, weaned on the glory years of … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Atack, festival, Gabrielle de Val, gig, melodic rock, Nitrate, Remedy, Saracen, Tower Of Fire, White Skies
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Album review: ATLANTIC – Another World
Escape Music [Release date 21.06.24] Atlantic is the brainchild of guitarist and songwriter Simon Harrison, who released their debut album ‘Power’ back in 1994 (re-issued by Escape in 2008). It was originally planned to be a one-off – until now … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Another World, AOR, Atlantic, Dare, Escape Music, FM, Grim Reaper, Journey, Lionsheart, Mark Grimmett, melodic rock, review, Simon Harrison, Steve Grimmett
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Gig review: RICHARD MARX – Royal Albert Hall, London, 22 May 2024
Richard Marx only plays the finest London venues when he comes over to the UK. Building on some memorable acoustic shows at the Union Chapel in Autumn 2022, he announced a fuller UK tour which culminated in this show at … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, gig, J. Blynn, John Oates, melodic rock, Nathan East, Richard Marx, singer songwriter
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Album review : AXE – The Offering (Remaster)
Rock Candy Records [Release date 24.05.24] Third time lucky for Axe. The Offering, released in 1982, got enough sales and radio airplay to put them firmly on the USA’s Melodic Rock map, leading directly to tours with Kiss, The Scorpions … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, Axe, Bobby Barth, Edgar Riley, Kiss, melodic rock, Mike Osborne, remaster, review, Rock Candy Records, Scorpions, ZZ Top
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Album review: ATLANTIS DRIVE – Atlantis Drive
Pride & Joy Music [Release date 14.06.24] Composer and guitarist Markus Pfeffer (Barnabas Sky, Lazarus Dream) is the mastermind behind Atlantis Drive. As Markus explains – “I had a very clear goal with this album: To take up the sound … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Atlantis Drive, hard rock, Lazarus Dream, Mark Boals, Markus Pfeffer, melodic, melodic rock, Pride & Joy Music, review
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Album review: COLLATERAL- Should’ve Known Better
Cargo Records [Release date: 24.05.24] After bursting on the scene five or six years ago, Kent melodic rockers Collateral’s rise to the top has been a bumpy one – which has included the pandemic striking at the very moment they … Continue reading
Gig review: COLLATERAL – Camden Underworld, London, 26 May 2024
The release of ‘Should’ve Known Better’, their excellent second album (third if you count the album of mainly remixed songs with added special guests ‘Rewired’) is a pivotal moment in Collateral’s chequered career. So it was only fitting that, after … Continue reading
