Tag Archives: melodic rock

Album review: COMPASS – Our Time On Earth

Posted on April 6, 2020 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 24.04.20] The Compass story began back in December 2017 when singer songwriter Steve Newman decided to write a few songs that musically would step outside the barriers imposed by many years writing for his own band … Continue reading →

Album review: ZON – Astral Projector/ORPHAN – Salute

Posted on April 5, 2020 by jason

Rock Candy [Release date 20.03.20] ZON – Astral Projector + 4 The band members’ post Zon experiences are arguably more colourful than their brief, 2 album grab at fame and fortune. And yet, the 1978 debut, “Astral Projector” promised so … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, AOR, Astral Projector, melodic rock, Orphan, pomp rock, re-issue, review, Rock Candy, Salute, Zon | Leave a comment

Album review: KHYMERA – Master Of Illusions

Posted on April 3, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 06.03.20] Album number five from Khymera, who started out as an alliance between Italian producer & musician Daniele Liverani and then Kansas singer Steve Walsh. Khymera has since developed into a regular musical project when bassist and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dennis Ward, Eric Ragno, Frontiers, hard rock, Journey, Khymera, Magnum, Master Of Illusion, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Single reviews: BAD TOUCH, DEEP PURPLE, VEGA

Posted on April 1, 2020 by jason

BAD TOUCH – Strut Norfolk’s favourite retro rockers are back with this delicious little slab of bluesy classic rock. Perfectly titled, the track rolls along, boasting some really great little classic 70’s and 80’s touches and is the most mature … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alternative, Bad Touch, classic rock, Deep Purple, melodic rock, reviews, rock, singles, Vega | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to BLUE OYSTER CULT

Posted on March 31, 2020 by jason

Jason Ritchie picks out some of the key albums from the heavy metal masters Formed from the late 60’s band Soft White Underbelly, Blue Oyster Cult (BOC) are often dubbed ‘the thinking man’s heavy metal band’. But for me they … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Albert Bouchard, An Introduction, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, Call Collect, Classic Albums, classic rock, Eric Bloom, feature, hard rock, heavy metal, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to MAGNUM

Posted on March 31, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall has followed Magnum since the 1990s when they consolidated their earlier successes. They split in 1995, subsequently re-generating in 2001. Since that time they have gone from strength to strength, maintaining a consistency across several albums and touring … Continue reading →

Posted in Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Bob Catley, Dennis Ward, feature, hard rock, interview, Lee Morris, Magnum, Mark Stanway, melodic rock, pomp rock, Rick Benton, Tony Clarkin | Leave a comment

Album review: LIAR – Sunset Plaza Drive

Posted on March 29, 2020 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 20.03.20] Liar originally formed in 1975 and recorded two albums prior to this one, with extensive UK and European tours. Now after 42 years, the long-lost Liar album from 1978 finally gets its debut appearance on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 70's rock, album, classic rock, Liar, melodic rock, review, Steve Mann, Sunset Plaza Drive, Triumph, UFO | Leave a comment

Album review: RETURN – V

Posted on March 24, 2020 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 27.03.20] Classy Norwegian four man melodic rock band, Return, released their fifth album in 1992. That year, the rock’n’roll world shifted on its axis, and a lot of great melodic rock albums suffered commercially as a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, AOR, AOR Heaven, Chris Lyne, Dave Reynolds, melodic rock, re-issue, Return, review, V | Leave a comment

Album review: HAREM SCAREM – Change The World

Posted on March 14, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 06.03.20] It’s not unreasonable to claim that Harem Scarem spearheaded the Melodic Rock movement’s rejuvenation in the mid nineties. 1993′s “Mood Swings”, the band’s second album, gave thousands of fans a liferaft to cling onto when the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Change The World, hard rock, Harem Scarem, Harry Hess, melodic rock, Pete Lesperance, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: ROMEO’S DAUGHTER – Nells Jazz and Blues, West Kensington, London, 29 February 2020

Posted on March 5, 2020 by andynathan

February 29th in a leap year is, by tradition, the one day where a woman can propose to a man. So there was a neat symmetry that a rare gigging opportunity on this day was for a band both named … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andy Wells, AOR, Craig Joiner, gig, Leigh Matty, melodic rock, Romeo's Daughter, Steve Drennan | Leave a comment

Album review: NEWMAN – Ignition

Posted on March 4, 2020 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 27.03.20] Steve Newman formed the band Newman way back in 1997, with the last Newman album ‘Aerial’ released in 2017. Since then he’s been busy writing songs with the likes of Toby Hitchcock, joined the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, AOR Heaven, hard rock, Ignition, melodic rock, NEWMAN, review, Steve Newman, Toby Hitchcock | Leave a comment

News: KANSAS, FISH, HEATHEN, OZZY, BRIAN WILSON (March 2020)

Posted on March 2, 2020 by jason

HEART - O2 Apollo, Manchester, 30 June 2016

Ozzy Osbourne’s latest album ‘Ordinary Man’ debuted at number 3 in both the US Billboard and UK album charts. Fish is now hoping to release his long-awaited final studio album ‘Weltschmerz’ in July. Carcass have named their new album ‘Torn … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged AOR, Brian Wilson, classic rock, Fish, gigs, Heathen, Kansas, March 2020, melodic rock, metal, news, pop, rock, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review: WAITING FOR MONDAY – S/T

Posted on March 1, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] Few bands are less famous than their producer. Walter Ino, 6 years with Survivor, touring keyboard player with The Babys, and currently holding down lead guitarist spot with The Eagles of Death Metal, produced this self … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, debut, DENNIS DeYOUNG, Jeff Scott Soto, melodic rock, review, Waiting For Monday, Walter Ino | Leave a comment

Gig review: JARED JAMES NICHOLS/COLLATERAL – Gibson Brands Studio, London, 24 February 2020

Posted on February 25, 2020 by andynathan

One of the most common gripes on social media when bands announce tours is ‘why aren’t they playing anywhere near me?’. With Jared James Nichols and Collateral going on a nine date nationwide spring tour excuses will be thinner than … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 24 February 2020, Angelo Tristan, blues rock, Collateral, Gibson Brands Studio, Gibson Guitars, gig, Jared James Nichols, London, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK SWAN – Shake The World

Posted on February 25, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 14.02.20] You have to say (again) that Frontiers knows how to put a band together, in this case Black Swan. Here are four musicians – Robin McAuley, Jeff Pilson, Reb Beach and Matt Starr – whose well … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Black Swan, Dokken, Frontiers, hard rock, Jeff Pilson, Matt Starr, melodic rock, Mr Big, MSG, Reb Beach, review, Robin McAuley, Shake The World | Leave a comment

Book review: ON TRACK…Toto/The Solo Beatles/Steely Dan (“Every album, every song”)

Posted on February 19, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Pubishing [Publication date January/February 2020] Liked and loathed in equal measures by the music press in the 1970s and 1980s, ultimately the band may have had the last laugh. As author Jacob Holm-Lupp reiterates, their latest offering – XIV … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, book, classic rock, Donald Fagen, fusion, George Harrison, Jazz rock, John Lennon, melodic rock, On Track, Paul McCartney, pop, review, Ringo Starr, Steely Dan, The Solo Beatles, Toto, Walter Becker | Leave a comment

Album review: JESSE DAMON – Damon’s Rage

Posted on February 16, 2020 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 28.02.20] Jesse Damon will be best remembered by many 80s rock fans as he was the lead singer and guitarist for the band Silent Rage. Silent Rage rose to fame in 1989 when signed by Gene … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS | Tagged album, AOR Heaven, Gene Simmons, hard rock, Jesse Damon, melodic rock, Paul Sabu, review, SILENT RAGE | Leave a comment

Album review: RUSS BALLARD – It’s Good To Be Here

Posted on February 15, 2020 by jason

On Thursday 20 February at 22:00 GMT Get Ready to ROCK! Radio replays a two-part special when David Randall chatted to Russ Ballard about his long career. BMG [Release date 21.02.20] If you’ve done any world travelling, out of desire … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, It's Good To Be Here, Kiss, melodic rock, pop, pop rock, Rainbow, review, rock, Russ Ballard | Leave a comment

Album review: HEAT – II

Posted on February 9, 2020 by jason

earMUSIC [Release date 21.02.20] That difficult sixth album? Should that have been HEAT 2.0? The motive behind the title is not clear, even when reading explanation from the band. When a band uses its name in the album title this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ear Music, Erik Gronwall, hard rock, HEAT, II, melodic rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: REVOLUTION SAINTS – Rise

Posted on February 2, 2020 by jason

Frontiers (Release date 24.01.20) Frontiers Records’ AOR superhero assembly is working like a dream. The Revolution Saints – Deen (Journey) Castronovo, Jack (Night Ranger) Blades and Doug (Whitesnake) Aldrich – are on their third album now, so that confirms it. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Delvecchio, Deen Castrova, Doug Aldrich, Frontiers, Jack Blades, Journey, melodic rock, Night Ranger, review, Revolution Saints, Rise, rock, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

News: MARILLION, NICK MASON, STYX, BLUE OYSTER CULT (February 2020)

Posted on February 1, 2020 by jason

MARILLION - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 4 November 2019

Marillion release an expanded version of ‘Script For A Jester’s Tear’ on April 3 as a 4CD/Blu-ray package and on 4LP. Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets will release ‘Live At The Roundhouse’ (2LP, 2CD/DVD and Blu-ray) on April 17 through … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions | Tagged Blue Oyster Cult, February 2020, Marillion, melodic rock, metal, news, Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets, rock, Styx, Thunder | Leave a comment

Album review: DECARLO – Lightning Strikes Twice

Posted on January 30, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] DeCarlo are Tommy DeCarlo (who has been a member of Boston since 2008) and co-founder (and son) Tommy DeCarlo Jr., along with drummer Dan Hitz. The songs have been written over a number of years, the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 70's rock, album, Boston, classic rock, debut, DeCarlo, Frontiers, hard rock, Lightning Strikes Twice, melodic rock, review, Tommy Decarlo | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND – High Times, Live In Italy

Posted on January 30, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] Michael Thompson’s reputation as the rock world’s original “go to guitarist” is unassailable. Though none is needed, he provides ample proof of his skill and virtuosity here. And understandably cashing in his cultural stock in the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, AOR, Boston, DVD, Foreigner, Frontiers, guitarist, High Times Live In Italy, Larry King, live, melodic rock, Michael Thompson Band, review, Soleil Moon, Unruly Child | Leave a comment

Gig review: COLLATERAL – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 10 January 2020

Posted on January 12, 2020 by andynathan

2020 promises to be a big year for Collateral, with their debut full-length album out in February to capitalise on the growing buzz around them. Indeed GRTR!’s writers voted the Kentish rockers the breakthrough act for 2020 in our end … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 10 January, Angelo Tristan, Collateral, gig, London, melodic rock, Raynes Park, The Cavern, Todd Winger | Leave a comment

News: FM, SKAGARACK, AIRRACE, NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA (January 2020)

Posted on January 5, 2020 by jason

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Got news? We want to hear it! Contact us now FM (pictured) have completed work on their new album and it will be released on Frontiers in April. THE DOGS D’AMOUR are planning to release a … Continue reading →