Tag Archives: melodic rock

Gig review: STYX – London Palladium, 4 June 2019

Posted on June 10, 2019 by andynathan
STYX- London Palladium, 4 June 2019

It’s been eight long years since Styx last crossed the pond and on that occasion they opened a three way battle of the AOR behemoths with Foreigner and Journey, and for many observers stole the show. This belated return was … Continue reading →

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News: Albums of the Month (April 2019 – June 2019)

Posted on June 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ
Erja Lyytinen - Another World

January-March 2019 July-September 2019 October-December 2019 ERJA LYYTINEN Another World (Tuohi Records) [Release Date 26.04.19] From the tension building intensity and a harmony guitar break of ‘Hard As Stone’ to the gently paced ‘Without You’, with its angst filled and … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: ROYAL REPUBLIC, ROB MORATTI, FINE SOFT DAY, TRAGIK

Posted on June 10, 2019 by jason
ROYAL REPUBLIC - Club Majesty

ROYAL REPUBLIC Club Majesty Nuclear Blast [Release date 31.05.19] Royal Republic are on the up and up with their mix of rock, dance, disco, funk, rock n roll – heck they will put in any style of music into their … Continue reading →

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News: Albums of the Month (January 2019 – March 2019)

Posted on June 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ
Steve Hackett - At The Edge Of Light

April-June 2019 July-September 2019 October-December 2019 STEVE HACKETT At The Edge Of Light (Inside Out) [Release date 25.01.19] In his long and distinguished career at the forefront of everything that’s good about progressive rock, Steve Hackett has consistently delivered albums … Continue reading →

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Gig review: MAGNUM – Aberdare Coliseum, 5 June 2019

Posted on June 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ
MAGNUM - Aberdare Coliseum, 5 June 2019

With more venues in South Wales falling by the wayside, it is refreshing to see someone taking  a gamble, especially in the valleys and in the middle of the week, but the old adage of book them and they will … Continue reading →

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Gig review: SWEDISH AOR CONVENTION – Malmo, Sweden, 30 May-2 June 2019

Posted on June 9, 2019 by andynathan
State of Salazar

Melodic rock and AOR is an unlikely addition to the list of things-  ergonomic design, environmental awareness, and dark crime dramas- where Scandinavia leads the world.  The scene is particularly strong in Sweden, home of many of my favourite bands … Continue reading →

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Album review: CRAZY LIXX – Forever Wild

Posted on June 6, 2019 by jason
CRAZY LIXX - Forever Wild

Frontiers [Release date 17.05.19] “Forever Wild” is the sixth studio album from Swedish band Crazy Lixx, and could very well be their best to date. This is good, solid melodic rock n’ roll that is full of those ‘80’s style … Continue reading →

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Album review: FICTION SYXX – The Alternate Me

Posted on May 30, 2019 by jason
FICTION SYXX - The Alternate Me

MelodicRock Records [Release date 28.06.19] Fiction Syxx follow up last year’s debut ‘Tall Dark Secret’ with ‘The Alternate Me’. Fiction Syxx is the brain child of songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Mark Allen Lanoue and he is joined again by guitarist JK Northrup (King … Continue reading →

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Album review: MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND – Love & Beyond

Posted on May 28, 2019 by andynathan
Michael Thompson Band- Love-and-Beyond

Frontiers [Release Date 26.04.19] Michael Thompson is one of the most respected session guitarists in rock – alongside Steve Lukather and Bruce Gaitsch he is probably the go-to man, particularly for the so-called West Coast sound where soft rock and … Continue reading →

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Album review: FORTUNE – II

Posted on May 28, 2019 by andynathan
FORTUNE - II

Frontiers [Release Date 26.04.19] Fortune’s 1985 self-titled albums is one that always featured highly in the list of obscure but brilliant melodic/AOR classics. While singer Larry (LA) Greene and keyboard player Roger Scott Craig went on to another cult AOR … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: NITRATE, HOWARD JONES

Posted on May 20, 2019 by jason
NITRATE - Open Wide

NITRATE Open Wide AOR Heaven [Release date 21.06.19] Hot on the heels of last year’s enjoyable debut album ‘Real World’, Nitrate are back with album number two. The core duo of Nick Hogg (bass, guitars, keyboards) and Midnite City’s Rob … Continue reading →

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Album review: BLACK PAISLEY – Perennials

Posted on May 17, 2019 by jason
BLACK PAISLEY - Perennials

[Release date 27.09.18] If you are a fan of the likes of Vandenberg’s MoonKings or MTV era Whitesnake then you are going to love “Perennials”, the new album from Sweden’s Black Paisley. Following on from 2017’s “Late Bloomer” debut, this … Continue reading →

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Album review: BURNING RAIN – Face the Music

Posted on May 16, 2019 by andynathan
BURNING RAIN- Face the Music

Release Date 22.03.19 Burning Rain have had a rather stop start career, this being their fourth release but only the second since 2001. In that time guitarist Doug Aldrich has raised his profile with stints with Dio, Whitesnake and latterly … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: DUNCAN LLOYD, HARDLINE

Posted on May 15, 2019 by jason
DUNCAN LLOYD - Outside Notion

DUNCAN LLOYD Outside Notion Afternoon In Bed [Release date 24.05.19] Third solo outing from Maximo Park’s guitarist and main songwriter Duncan Lloyd, one that sees a marked departure from his last album. This time it is less alternative rock, more … Continue reading →

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Album review: ALLIANCE – Fire and Grace

Posted on May 14, 2019 by jason
ALLIANCE – Fire and Grace

Escape Music [Release date 24.05.19] Robert Berry (vocals, bass, keyboards), Boston guitarist Gary Pihl and drummer David Lauser (Sammy Hagar), are back with a new Alliance album – their first in ten years. Only missing from the previous albums is … Continue reading →

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Album review: JIM PETERIK & WORLD STAGE – Winds of Change

Posted on May 6, 2019 by jason
JIM PETERIK & WORLD STAGE – Winds of Change

Frontiers [Release date 10.04.19] The first World Stage came out way back in 2001, so it is well overdue a follow-up from Jim Peterik, although he has of course been playing live shows under the World Stage banner. The backing … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: X-ROMANCE, THE DAMNED THINGS, LEGION

Posted on April 25, 2019 by jason
X-ROMANCE, THE DAMNED THINGS, LEGION

X-ROMANCE Voices From The Past AOR Heaven [Release date 24.05.19] Another blast from the past re-discovered and rebooted for today. This time it is the turn of X-Romance. X-Romance was initially a project started in 2015 as an offspring to … Continue reading →

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Gig review: AIRRACE – London Borderline, 19 April 2019

Posted on April 24, 2019 by andynathan

Airrace’s stop-start career seems to have been characterised by support slots, whether with Queen back in 1984, or since they reformed a decade ago, a periodic set of shows consisting mainly of high profile support slots to the likes of … Continue reading →

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Album review: FM – The Italian Job (CD/DVD)

Posted on April 24, 2019 by andynathan

Frontiers [Release Date 22.02.19] FM have delivered consistently excellent live performances since the second phase of the band effectively kicked off a decade ago with guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick’s arrival. However this era of their history has gone undocumented so far, … Continue reading →

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Album review: LARS ERIC MATTSSON – Into The Unknown

Posted on April 23, 2019 by jason

Lion Music [Release date 09.05.19] Guitarist Lars Eric Mattsson (Condition Red, Mattsson) returns with a new album ‘Into The Unknown’, that sees him tap into his more melodic style of playing and song writing. He is joined by Alexander King … Continue reading →

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Album review: FIND ME- Angels In Blue

Posted on April 19, 2019 by andynathan

Release Date 22.02.19 For those in the know, Find Me has been one of the best melodic rock projects in recent years. A partnership between producer and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Flores and Blanc Faces singer Robbie Le Blanc, a stunning performance … Continue reading →

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Album review: LASTWORLD – Time

Posted on April 16, 2019 by jason
LASTWORLD - Time

MelodicRock Records [Release date 12.04.19] LastWorld is guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Jim Shepherd and vocalist David Cagle, who joined forces after approaching their label separately as each wanted to create more new music. It is a good pairing, with Jim Shepherd recently releasing … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BURNING RAIN – Camden Underworld, London, 6 April 2019

Posted on April 14, 2019 by andynathan
BURNING RAIN - Camden Underworld, London, 6 April 2019

And now for something slightly different. While many of their contemporaries seem to constantly tour, Burning Rain have a rather chequered career with a low profile in the UK. They have only released four albums over a 20 year period, … Continue reading →

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Album review: CANNONBALLZ – 8Ballz2Many

Posted on April 9, 2019 by jason

MelodicRock Records [Release date 10.05.19] Andrew McNeice and his MelodicRock Records label have released some top quality AOR releases in recent years including Don Barnes and the excellent comeback album from Boulevard, now you can add to this Cannonballz. Who … Continue reading →

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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) April 2019 – June 2019

Posted on April 7, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Compiled by Jason Ritchie January – March 2019 July – September 2019 April 5th ANIMAL DRIVE ‘Back To The Roots’ (covers EP) Frontiers BAD NEWS ’32nd Anniversary Box Set’ BRANT BJORK ‘Jacoozzi’ Heavy Psych Sounds Records DAVID BOWIE ‘Spying Through … Continue reading →

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