Tag Archives: melodic rock

Album review: KRIS POHLMANN – Taylor Road

Posted on March 4, 2015 by petefeenstra

CD Baby [Released 16.01.15] Kris Pohlmann is an English guitarist who has established himself in Germany and Holland. He’s made his name with over ten years of roadwork and a couple of albums, which culminated in a spectacular year in … Continue reading →

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Album review: LAST AUTUMN’S DREAM – Level Eleven

Posted on February 15, 2015 by jason
LAST AUTUMN

AOR Heaven [Released 23.02.15] Last Autumn’s Dream are back with a new album and this is their eleventh. Vocalist Mikael Erlandsson is the last original member as in 2014 guitarist Andy Malecek decided to leave the band because of personal … Continue reading →

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Interview: RON PERRY of CHINA SKY

Posted on February 5, 2015 by jason
China Sky II

China Sky’s debut came out back in 1988 and is one of those ‘must have’ classic melodic rock albums of the 1980′s. Sadly though due to various issues band never made that second album until now, some 25 years later! … Continue reading →

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Album review: AMMUNITION – Shanghaied

Posted on January 1, 2015 by jason
Ammunition Shanghaied

AOR Heaven [Released 26.01.15] Wig Wam may sadly be no more, but the band’s ex-members are certainly busy with guitarist Trond Holter teaming up with Jorn Lande on their rather good ‘Dracula’ themed album and now vocalist Åge Sten Nilsen … Continue reading →

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Album review: REVOLUTION SAINTS – S/t

Posted on December 23, 2014 by jason
Revolution Saints

Frontiers Records [Released 20.02.15] Another project put together by Frontiers, this time featuring Journey’s drummer Deen Castronova, Night Ranger’s Jack Blades and former Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich. Add to this superstar trio Frontiers ‘go to’ man for melodic rock projects … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE VAL – Heading For The Surface

Posted on December 20, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
THE VAL - Heading For The Surface

Soundarella Records [Release date 21.11.14] www.theval.es Here’s  a band who are genuinely thankful for the promotion of their debut album, judging by the massive list of media credits in this package.  It is quite heart-warming when you receive a second … Continue reading →

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Gig review: RECKLESS LOVE – The Garage, Highbury, London, 11 December 2014

Posted on December 15, 2014 by andynathan
RECKLESS LOVE - The Garage, Highbury, London, 11 December 2014

Colourful Finnish glam metal revivalists Reckless Love have built quite a following in England despite a paucity of mainstream rock media coverage, and indeed the house full signs were up as I arrived at the Garage for the last stop of … Continue reading →

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Gig review: H.E.A.T., Islington Academy London, 10 December 2014

Posted on December 13, 2014 by andynathan
H.E.A.T., Islington Academy London, 10 December 2014

Photo: Jim Templeton-Cross 2014 will go down for H.E.A.T. as the year when the young Swedes made their most significant breakthrough yet since exploding onto the scene with their debut album in 2008. For proof, look no further than GRTR! … Continue reading →

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Gig review: JOE ELLIOTT’s DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ/VEGA – The Garage, Highbury, London, 8 December 2014

Posted on December 10, 2014 by andynathan
JOE ELLIOTT

Fan worship is the bedrock of music industry economics, but it is rare to see it coming from the other side of the monitors. However Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott has for many years openly sung the praises of the … Continue reading →

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Gig review: FM – The Globe, Cardiff, 22 November 2014

Posted on November 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
FM - The Globe, Cardiff, 22 November 2014

A packed house in the Globe for this much loved band and huge respect should be given to the promoter at Major Minor Productions for delivering a sold out show with a fantastic sound quality in a city that is … Continue reading →

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Gig review: FM – The Brook, Southampton, 21 November 2014

Posted on November 25, 2014 by andynathan
FM - The Brook, Southampton, 21 November 2014

Can it really be 30 years since the Overland brothers from Wildlife and former members of Samson and Diamond Head formed a new band, inspired by the then fashionable radio-friendly AOR sounds of the likes of Journey, Foreigner and Survivor, … Continue reading →

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Album review: VEGA – Stereo Messiah

Posted on November 20, 2014 by andynathan
Vega - Stereo Messiah

Frontiers Records [Release date 17.10.14] As one of the great hopes of British melodic rock Vega have not left the grass grow under their feet, this being their third album in under four years. It sees only minor tweaks to … Continue reading →

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Album Review: NEWMAN – S/T

Posted on November 13, 2014 by andynathan
Newman

[Release Date 22.10.14] After over 15 years of hard graft and a series of quality albums, Steve Newman has established himself as a respected name among the AOR cognoscenti, now happily getting the message out through more regular gigging. A lot of … Continue reading →

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News: Interviews on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 9 November – GERRY McAVOY (Rory Gallagher) and CARL DIXON (Coney Hatch)

Posted on November 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Gerry McAvoy, photo by Noel Buckley

Photo: Noel Buckley Gerry McAvoy picks his favourite tracks Long-serving Rory Gallagher bass player Gerry McAvoy chooses the music in the ‘Favourite Tracks from Favourite Artists’ sequence on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 9 November at 17:00 GMT. … Continue reading →

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Album review: WICKED SENSATION – Adrenaline Rush

Posted on November 5, 2014 by jason
Wicked Sensation - Adrenaline Rush

AOR Heaven [Released 28.11.14] New album “Adrenaline Rush” is the first to find ex-Accept/Bangalore Choir vocalist David Reece at the helm and with it Wicked Sensation have released an album jam packed with melodic greatness – guitarist and chief songwriter … Continue reading →

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Gig review: ASIA, Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 2 November 2014

Posted on November 4, 2014 by andynathan
ASIA, Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 2 November 2014

For a so-called supergroup Asia have shown remarkable longevity, but their profile is now much lower than it was in the heady days when their 1982 debut went multi-platinum, judging by a disappointing turnout at their first headline London show … Continue reading →

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Album review: NIGHTINGALE – Retribution

Posted on November 2, 2014 by jason
NIGHTINGALE - Retribution

Inside Out [Released 10.11.14] Nightingale is centred around Dan Swano, who has worked with many artists including Opeth. This is the band’s seventh album and their first since 2007 and I must admit to not having heard anything by them … Continue reading →

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Gig review: FIREFEST – Nottingham Rock City, 24-26 October 2014 (Day 3)

Posted on November 2, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Axxis - Firefest, Nottingham Rock City, 26 October 2014

DAY 3 -  DANGER DANGER, AUTOGRAPH, CONEY HATCH, BROTHER FIRETRIBE, TOUCH, GUILD OF AGES, AXXIS The final day of ‘the final fling’ began with a slightly left field choice of veteran German rockers Axxis, and yet they blew the cobwebs … Continue reading →

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Gig review: FIREFEST – Nottingham Rock City, 24-26 October 2014 (Day 2)

Posted on November 2, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Rage Of Angels - Firefest - Nottingham Rock City, 25 October 2014

DAY 2 – FIREHOUSE, BLACK N BLUE, PRETTY MAIDS, BABYLON AD, BOULEVARD, FROM THE FIRE, RAGE OF ANGELS Day 2 also began with home grown talent in Rage Of Angels, formed by Ged Rylands who was playing guitar rather than … Continue reading →

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Gig review: FIREFEST – Nottingham Rock City, 24-26 October 2014 (Day 1)

Posted on November 2, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Pretty Maids - Firefest, Nottingham Rock City, 25 October 2014

GRTR!’s resident Melodic Rock/AOR expert Andy Nathan has been covering Firefest for us right from the start.  Andy’s informed report and Simon Dunkerley’s inspired photos celebrate ‘The Final Fling’ as the festival bows out in style… The announcement last year … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: X-DRIVE, ADRENALINE RUSH, DALTON, DR JOHN

Posted on November 2, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Adrenaline Rush

ADRENALINE RUSH Adrenaline Rush Frontiers [Release date:  25.08.14] ‘Adrenaline Rush’ is the debut album from the Scandinavian band of the same name, musically the album is up a notch from most debut albums I’ve heard this year and reminds me … Continue reading →

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Album review: ANGELS OR KINGS – Kings Of Nowhere

Posted on October 31, 2014 by jason
Kings Of Nowhere

AOR Heaven [Released 27.10.14] Angels Or Kings can trace their history back to the 1980′s UK AOR scene when they were known as A.O.K. and played supports to bands passing through their hometown of Manchester. Guitarist Tony Bell has even … Continue reading →

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Album review: NEONFLY – Strangers In Paradise plus interview with Frederick Thunder

Posted on October 29, 2014 by jason
NEONFLY – Strangers In Paradise

Inner Wound Recordings [Release date 01.12.14] Neonfly I discovered thanks to a tip-off from Charlie Farrell, a man who knows his way around the metal scene and recommended I got along early to see them supporting the mighty Power Quest. … Continue reading →

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Gig review: MELODIC ROCK FEST 4, H.O.M.E.Bar, Arlington Heights,Chicago, USA, 3-5 October 2014

Posted on October 22, 2014 by andynathan
The Radio Sun - Melodic Rock Fest 4, Chicago, October 2014

After the success of the third Melodic Rock Fest last September, the attempt to bring to the Americans the cult melodic rock bands that are seen at Firefest and other places, melodicrock.com supremo Andrew McNeice swiftly moved forward with plans … Continue reading →

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Gig review: MR. BIG – Koko, Camden, London, 17 October 2014

Posted on October 22, 2014 by andynathan
MR. BIG - Koko, Camden, London, 17 October 2014

Mr Big’s European tour to capitalise on their back-to-form new album ‘Stories We Could Tell’ squeezed in just a solitary UK show, their first in three years. It was unsurprising that the opulent surroundings of Koko were sold out, perhaps … Continue reading →

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