Tag Archives: melodic rock

Album review: INTELLIGENT MUSIC PROJECT – Sorcery Inside/Life Motion

Posted on June 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

INTELLIGENT MUSIC PROJECT V - Life Motion

Intelligent Music [Release date 12.02.20, 24.12.18*] There must be something in the Bulgarian water. One time Uriah Heep vocalist John Lawton has also used that country’s musicians in recent years and actually appears on the first two ‘Intelligent’ releases. This … Continue reading →

Feature: Gigs of the Millennium – Steve Tilston, Argent, Camel, The Tubes

Posted on June 9, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall surveys a near-20 year period, reflecting on what constitutes a great gig… What makes a good gig? It can often be the events surrounding it – a pre-gig meal or drink for example - your fellow gig-goer(s), the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, Gigs of the Millennium | Tagged Argent, Camel, classic rock, Dan Reed Network, David Gilmour, Europe, feature, gig, hard rock, Jeff Scott Soto, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, Saxon, singer songwriter, Steve Lukather, Steve Tilston, The Tubes, Winger | Leave a comment

Album review: HOUSE OF LORDS – New World, New Eyes

Posted on June 4, 2020 by jason

Frontiers Records [Release date 12.06.20] Many critics have gone to print noting the inconsistency of the reformed House Of Lord’s 21st century releases. Maybe that would explain why James Christian (vocals/production) has brought in Mark Spiro and Tommy Denander to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Frontiers, House of Lords, James Christian, Mark Spiro, melodic rock, New Eyes, New World, review, rock, Tommy Denander | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL VINCENT – Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday

Posted on May 31, 2020 by jason

Rock Company [Release date 10.06.20] Solo album number 22(!) from Phil Vincent, who tends to indulge his love of melodic hard rock and the Beatles more on his solo efforts. The album runs the spectrum of melodic rock, from the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged album, D'Ercole, hard rock, interview, Legion, melodic metal, melodic rock, Phil Vincent, review, rock, The Beatles, Yesterday Today Tomorrow | Leave a comment

Album review: VANDENBERG – 2020

Posted on May 25, 2020 by andynathan

Mascot Records [Release Date 29.05.20] Best known for a long if chequered stint in Whitesnake, before that guitarist Adrian Vandenberg led his own band through three albums in the eighties. Now he has revived the name and iconic logo, though … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adrian Vandenberg, album, melodic rock, review, Ronnie Romero, Vandenberg, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: ONE DESIRE – Midnight Empire

Posted on May 20, 2020 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release date 22.05.20) Three years ago young Finns One Desire suddenly emerged with a very impressive first album which made many people’s end of year melodic rock lists. It has taken a long time but they hope to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andre Linman, AOR, Jimmy Westerlund, melodic rock, One Desire | Leave a comment

Album review: DENNIS DE YOUNG – 26 East, Volume 1

Posted on May 19, 2020 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 22.05.20) This album marks a welcome rock comeback for former Styx singer Dennis De Young. For much of the time either side of his departure from the band he seemed more interested in Broadway inspired or … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Dennis De Young, Jim Peterik, Julian Lennon, melodic rock, Styx | Leave a comment

Album review: FM – Synchronized

Posted on May 18, 2020 by andynathan

Frontiers Records [Release Date 22.05.20] It’s now a whole decade since FM returned to stay with their comeback album ‘Metropolis’. Though from time to time they look back, rerecording ‘Indiscreet’ and most recently celebrating ‘Tough It Out’s anniversary on the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, FM, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Album review: DEF LEPPARD – From London to Vegas

Posted on May 17, 2020 by jason

Eagle Rock [Release date 29.05.20] The geewhizz numbers are overwhelming…twenty billion albums sold. Ok, an exaggeration, but the Def Leppard stats come at you so fast and ferocious that it’s genuinely impossible to absorb the enormity of what this UK … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, classic rock, concert, Def Leppard, DVD, Eagle Rock, From London To Vegas, Joe Elliot, live, melodic rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: PAUL SABU – Sabu/Kidd Glove

Posted on May 14, 2020 by jason

PAUL SABU – Sabu Rock Candy Records [Release date 24.04.20] 1980: After building a name for himself as a producer of slicked back, funk-lite disco music, Paul Sabu took an out-of-the-blue offer from MCA Records to record a melodic rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, AOR, Kidd Glove, melodic rock, Motown, Paul Sabu, re-issue, review, Rock Candy, Sabu | Leave a comment

Album review: VEGA – Grit Your Teeth

Posted on May 11, 2020 by andynathan

Frontiers [Release date 12.06.20] Vega have made a series of quality albums in the 2010’s, deserving full credit for perseverance as, despite dynamic live shows, they have yet to break into the big time for reasons unknown. Their sixth album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Grit Your Teeth, James Martin, Marcus Thurston, melodic rock, Nick Workman, Tom Martin, Vega | Leave a comment

Album review: CHRIS ROSANDER – King Of Hearts

Posted on May 10, 2020 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 26.06.20] Christian Rosander is a 22-year-old musician and songwriter from Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Since he was 14 years old, he’d been writing songs in the AOR/Melodic and Westcoast genre. To be fair you’d been pretty certain the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, AOR Heaven, Chris Rosander, King Of Hearts, melodic rock, review, synth pop, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE THORNE – Emotional Creatures Part 3

Posted on May 9, 2020 by jason

Own label [Release date 02.02.20] Part 3 of the ‘Emotional Creatures’ trilogy he started back in 2005, which was also his debut album. Less name guests this time around as Steve Thorne plays all the instruments, bar the drums which … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Emotional Creatures Part 3, melodic rock, prog rock, progressive, review, Steve Thorne | Leave a comment

Feature: Bands that time forgot – BAD COMPANY (1986-1996)

Posted on May 7, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

For most, Bad Company conjures up the classic seventies line-up fronted by Paul Rodgers and with Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke and Boz Burrell. The eponymous and classic first album yielded a handful of airplay and chart hits and set the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Bands that time forgot, FEATURES, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 1986-1996, AOR, Bad Company, Brian Howe, classic rock, Dave 'Bucket' Colwell, feature, hard rock, interview, melodic rock, Mick Ralphs, review, Robert Hart, Simon Kirke | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – NEAL SCHON – Late Nite

Posted on May 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Columbia [1989] Years ago there was a very good record store in the Liverpool area and with a branch in my nearby shopping bolthole Chester. Penny Lane Records yielded a fine selection of import albums at a reasonable price. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged album, AOR, Bob Marlette, interview, Journey, Late Nite, melodic rock, Neal Schon, review, Santana, Sheryl Crow | Leave a comment

Quick plays: MILAN POLAK, EVERYDAY HEROES

Posted on May 4, 2020 by jason

MILAN POLAK Can’t Please Everyone Lion Music (Release date 10.05.20) Guitar wizard Milan Polak is back with his fourth album to feature vocals. All the songs were composed by him, along with him playing most of the instruments. Plus there … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Billy Sheehan, Everyday Heroes, guitarist, Lion Music, melodic rock, Milan Polak, New Wave of Classic Rock, review, rock, southern rock | Leave a comment

Single reviews: THE DARKER MY HORIZON, MILTON HIDE, ALLAN CLARKE, CWF, THE LICKERISH QUARTET

Posted on May 3, 2020 by jason

THE DARKER MY HORIZON Carpe Diem Another band utilising their lockdown time wisely are the Darker My Horizon, who made the video with help from their fans with all proceeds going to the NHS charities. Nice riff-tastic tune with lyrics … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Allan Clarke, AOR, classic rock, CWF, folk, Jellyfish, melodic rock, Milton Hide, modern rock, New releases, pop, power pop, review, rock, singles, the Darker My Horizon, The Hollies, the Lickerish Quartet, Toto | Leave a comment

Gig review: TOBY JEPSON – Online, Thursday April 23 2020

Posted on April 29, 2020 by jason

In these strange and unsettling times one part of the music we love that has been hit hard is that of live music. Currently venues are closed and artists are off the road, many tours and gigs have been postponed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Lockdown Live | Tagged acoustic, classic rock, Little Angels, melodic rock, online gig, podcast, review, Ricky Warwick, rock, Solo, Thursday April 23, Toby Jepon, Wayward Sons | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – ELEKTRADRIVE – Living 4

Posted on April 17, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Valery Records (2009) Elektradrive is one of the more significant Hard Rock/AOR bands to emerge from Italy. At the very start, in 1983, the name of the band was Overdrive and they had a four-piece line up without keyboards; after … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged album, AOR, Elektradrive, hard rock, Italian, Italy, Living 4, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to NIGHT RANGER

Posted on April 15, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Night Ranger - HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Friday 9 March 2018

Andy Nathan favourites Night Ranger remained a largely USA-based phenomenon until their reformation in the late 1990s. Their UK gigs from 2011 onwards would make grown men cry… When Night Ranger played their first-ever headline show in England at the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged AOR, Brad Gillis, feature, introduction, Jack Blades, Jeff Watson, Joel Hoekstra, Kelly Keagy, melodic rock, Night Ranger, review | Leave a comment

Album review: GOTTHARD – #13

Posted on April 14, 2020 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 13.03.20] Back in the early 90’s I went to see a new local band whilst in Switzerland, and very good they were too. That band was Gotthard, and here we are nearly thirty years later and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged #13, album, classic rock, Def Leppard, Gotthard, hard rock, melodic rock, review, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

Album review: CAPTAIN BLACKBEARD – Sonic Forces

Posted on April 12, 2020 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 24.04.20] Swedish band Captain Blackbeard released their fourth album, ‘Struck By Lightning’ in 2018 with then new singer Liv Hansson on MelodicRock Records. It was produced Jona Tee (keyboardist in H.e.a.t.) and it was a pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR Heaven, Brother Firetribe, Captain Blackbird, H.E.A.T., hard rock, melodic rock, review, Sonic Forces | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to DEMON

Posted on April 9, 2020 by jason

Jason Ritchie highlights the recording history of NWOBHM band Demon Formed in Stoke back in the NWOBHM the band initially lived up to their name with singer Dave Hill rising up from coffins on stage, along with lots of devil references … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged classic rock, Dave Hill, DEMON, feature, hard rock, heavy metal, introduction, melodic rock, NWOBHM, prog rock, review | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – DISTANCE – Under The One Sky

Posted on April 9, 2020 by jason

Reprise Records [1989] The Distance were a natural successor to the Power Station who featured legendary producer Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson, both of who were members of Chic. Taking the place on vocals of Robert Palmer was Robert Hart, … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged Bernard Edwards, Chic, Distance Under The One Sky, funk, melodic rock, Power Station, review, Robert Hart, rock, Tony Thompson | Leave a comment

Album review: BONFIRE – Fistful Of Fire

Posted on April 7, 2020 by jason

AFM Records (Released 03/04/20) Worried that we’ve grown weary of the ten rock songs and a ballad format, Bonfire throw in a few (3 in fact) short instrumentals to punctuate the band’s well established sonic signature, on this, their 17th … Continue reading →