Tag Archives: melodic

Album review: DARWIN – Darwin 2: A Frozen War

Posted on October 4, 2020 by jason

Indie [Release date 06.11.20] A follow-up to 2018’s highly enjoyable ‘Origin Of Species’ and this latest album certainly proved challenging for the band, as they explain – “The writing for the album continued as we wrapped ‘Origin of Species’ in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Frozen War, album, Billy Sheenan, DarWin, Darwin 2, Greg Howe, Guthrie Govan, melodic, progressive, review, SF, Simon Phillips | Leave a comment

Album review: TODD RUNDGREN – A Wizard A True Star, Live

Posted on September 26, 2020 by jason

Cleopatra Records, USA [Release date 25.09.20] Eleven Years ago this month, Todd Rundgren and his band, suitably garbed in white “coat’n’tails” played “A Wizard, A True Star” in its entirety, at the Akron Ohio Civic Theatre, one of the last … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged A Wizard A True Star, CD, Cleopatra Records, DVD, live, melodic, review, rock, soul, Todd Rundgren | Leave a comment

Album review: STRYPER – Even The Devil Believes

Posted on September 25, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 04.09.20] Stryper’s 13th studio album, “Even The Devil Believes” follows hard the heels of “God Damn Evil” (their fourth on Frontiers). When you’re hot you’re hot. Vocalist/Guitarist/producer, Michael Sweet lets loose a high pitched howl as he … Continue reading →

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Album review: SIMON COLLINS – Becoming Human

Posted on September 23, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 04.09.20] Fourth solo album by Simon Collins and his first since leaving Sound Of Contact, on whose 2013 debut album ‘Dimensionaut’ he handled lead vocals. Simon Collins played drums and keys on this album, along with vocals. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Becoming Human, electronica, Frontiers, melodic, Phil Collins, prog rock, progressive, review, Simon Collins, Sound Of Contact | Leave a comment

Album review: THE LAST DINOSAUR – Wholeness

Posted on September 21, 2020 by jason

Indie [Release date 23.10.20] Music can move us in so many ways, filtering through our lives in both the subtle and the obvious. It can seem to be that ever-present soundtrack to our days, a faintly heard radio, the background … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative, indie, Jamie Cameron, melodic, review, the Last Dinosaur, Wholeness | Leave a comment

Album review: BIG COUNTRY – Out Beyond The River, The Compulsion Years Anthology

Posted on September 18, 2020 by jason

Cherry Red [Release date 25.09.20] The late great Stuart Adamson and his band, Big Country, made an indelible musical mark on UK popular culture. Their history is well documented. This anthology focuses on a very narrow, but hugely fertile period … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Big Country, box set, Celtic, Cherry Red Records, melodic, Out Beyond The River, pop rock, review, rock, Stuart Adamson, The Compulsion Years Anthology | Leave a comment

Album review: FORNDOM – Fapir

Posted on September 17, 2020 by jason

Nordvis Produktion [Release date 03.04.20] A new genre has been created: Viking Chill-out and Forndom is the King. Skillfully mixing the best of Icelandic bands like Sigur Ros along with traditional Scandinavian folk, this Swedish artist brings a stunning world … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, chill, Fapir, folk, Forndom, melodic, review, rock, Viking | Leave a comment

Single reviews: CONSTANT FOLLOWER, ARCADIAN TEMPLE

Posted on September 13, 2020 by jason

CONSTANT FOLLOWER – Set Aside Some Time Sometimes, if you’re really lucky, you’ll stumble across a band that will truly make your heart swell and your life better. Constant Follower are one such band. Changing greys to multi coloured pastel … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Arcadian Temple, Constant Follower, folk, melodic, metal, NWOBHM, review, rock, singles | Leave a comment

Album review: SOUTH OF SALEM – The Sinner Takes It All

Posted on September 9, 2020 by jason

Indie [Release date 25.09.20] South Of Salem hail from Bournemouth, consisting of vocalist Joey, guitarist Fish and Kodi, bassist Dee and drummer Pip. You can get some idea of the band’s music with the choice of producer Scott Atkins, who … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, debut, gothic, hard rock, horror metal, melodic, metal, review, South Of Salem, The Sinner Takes It All | Leave a comment

Album review: AYREON – Transitus

Posted on September 9, 2020 by jason

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 25.09.20] Ayreon’s latest album comes complete with the book and vinyl offerings accompanied by a 28 page graphic novel illustrated by Felix Vega. It’ll see Arjen Lucassen, Dutch songwriter, singer, musician and record producer, tackle … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Arjen Lucassen, Ayreon, concept album, Dee Snider, Epica, Kamelot, melodic, Music Theory Recordings, porg metal, review, rock, theatrical, Transitus, Twisted Sister | Leave a comment

Album review: NEAL MORSE – Sola Gratia

Posted on September 6, 2020 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 11.09.20] Neal Morse hardly seems to be out of the studio, with a covers collection released in the summer under the Morse Portnoy George handle, and last year he released the ambitious double album ‘Jesus Christ: … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Inside Out, melodic, Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, Neal Morse Band, prog rock, progressive, review, rock, Sola Gratia, theatrical | Leave a comment

Album review: THE PETAL FALLS – Workin’ All Night Workin’ All Day

Posted on September 5, 2020 by jason

Rock Avenue Records [Release date 31.07.20] This is my new favourite album of 2020, by UK band, The Petal Falls “Workin’ All Night Workin’ All Day” and if the impressive production is anything to go by, this band most certainly has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged album, Big Country, debut, Gaslight Anthem, interview, melodic, modern rock, review, rock, The Killers, the Petal Falls, Workin' All Night Workin' All Day | Leave a comment

Album review: ROACHFORD – Twice In A Lifetime

Posted on September 5, 2020 by jason

BMG [Release date 11.09.20] Anyone who can stay the distance in the fickle UK music business deserves considerable recognition and with 32 years under his belt, Andrew Roachford MBE is due his flowers. Originally operating as a band, “Roachford” achieved … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, funk, melodic, pop, review, Roachford, Solo, soul, Twice In A Lifetime | Leave a comment

Album review: KISS THE GUN – We See You

Posted on September 2, 2020 by jason

KTG Records [Release Date 04.09.20] Kiss The Gun’s 2017 debut, “Nightmares” readily labelled them as ‘one to watch’. Much of the credit went to charismatic Georgian vocalist, Nadin Zakharian. She’s gone now, and has been replaced by Brit, Abigail Austin. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Abigail Austin, AOR. album, Kiss The Gun, melodic, review, rock, We See You | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot … CODE OF SILENCE – Dark Skies Over Babylon

Posted on September 1, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Mausoleum Records (Europe) Rubicon (Japan) (2013) Described by GRTR! reviewer Alan Jones as ‘a truly genre-bending tour de force, which, whilst having melodic metal at its heart, makes frequent forays into the diverse worlds of progressive rock, heavy metal, shred … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged album, Ben Randall, classic rock, Code Of Silence, Dark Skies Over Babylon, Eden's Curse, feature, Gus Monsanto, John Clelland, Mausoleum Records, melodic, metal, Paul Logue, review, Scott McLean | Leave a comment

Album review: VARIOUS – Girls Go Power Pop!

Posted on August 31, 2020 by jason

Big Beat/Ace [Release date 28.08.20] Ace (via their Big Beat imprint) follow 2019’s impressive “Come On Let’s Go” power pop collection with a new 25 tracker. This time, compiler Dave Burke varies the theme by focussing on female-fronted acts. As … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Ace Records, album, Girls Go Power Pop!, Go-Gos, melodic, pop rock, power pop, review, The Bangles, The Runaways, various | Leave a comment

Album review: ROY WOOD AND WIZZARD – Mainstreet/Eddy &The Falcons

Posted on August 28, 2020 by jason

Main Street Cherry Red Records [Release date 28.08.20] Two years later, apparently stifled by the “hit machine” expectations that weighed upon him, Wood wrote, recorded and released “Main Street”. It was his first real attempt to climb off the pop … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged albums, avnat garde, Eddy and The Falcons, ELO, jazz, Mainstreet, melodic, pop, pop rock, re-issue, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Roy Wood, The Move, Wizzard | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE DARKER MY HORIZON – The Victoria, Swindon, Thursday 27 August 2020

Posted on August 28, 2020 by jason

So it’s Thursday 27 August and the wind down to a long weekend, what better way to get in the mood than to see live music – yes real, live, raw, rock in an amazing venue, the Victoria in Old … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Bryan Adams, Fall From Ruin, gig, hard rock, live, melodic, modern rock, review, rock, Swindon, the Darker My Horizon | Leave a comment

Quick plays: RURA, JOSHUA BURNELL, GYPSY PISTOLEROS

Posted on August 27, 2020 by jason

GYPSY PISTOLEROS - The Greatest Flamenco Glam Sleaze Band Ever!

RURA Live at the Old Fruitmarket [Release date 11.09.20] Rura releases this live album to celebrate the band’s tenth anniversary, recorded in February this year at the Celtic Connections festival, just before live shows stopped due to the pandemic. Their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Flowers Where Horses Sleep, folk, Gypsy Lee Pistolero, Gypsy Pistoleros, Joshua Burnell, live, melodic, pop, progressive, punk, Quick Plays, review, rock, Rura, singer songwriter, sleaze | Leave a comment

Album review: MAD MAX – Stormchild Rising

Posted on August 27, 2020 by jason

SPV Records [Release date 21.08.20] The undoubted star of Mad Max’s umpteenth album is Michael Voss’s guitar. It provides blistering solos and fine textural detail, often in the space of a single track. That’s nothing new, but it might be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, Mad Max, melodic, Michael Voss, review, rock, SPV, Stormchild Warning | Leave a comment

Album review: JOEY MOLLAND – Be True To Yourself

Posted on August 26, 2020 by jason

Omnivore Recordings [Release date 16.10.20] As the sole surviving member of the classic line-up of Badfinger, Joey Molland’s pedigree in power pop circles is second to none. Over the years he has regularly produced solo albums, notably “After The Pearl” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Badfinger, Be True To Yourself, Chicago, Joey Molland, Julian Lennon, melodic, Micky Dolenz, pop rock, power pop, review, Ringo Starr | Leave a comment

Album review: KATRINA – Hearts, Loves & Babys

Posted on August 21, 2020 by jason

KATRINA & THE WAVES – Hearts, Loves & Babys

Independent [Release date 28.08.20] Now a solo artist, Katrina, ex of The Waves, will always be known for her monster, worldwide hit, ‘Walking On Sunshine’. It can be an albatross as much as it can be a permanent passport to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, country pop, Darren Loveday, Hearts Loves & Babys, Katrina, Katrina & the Waves, Kimberly Rew, melodic, pop, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: LEE ABRAHAM – Harmony/Synchronicity

Posted on August 18, 2020 by jason

F2 Music/Festival Music [Release date 04.09.20] ‘Harmony/Synchronicity’ was written and recorded during an intense 8 week period between April and early June 2020, and follows less than a year after Lee’s highly recommended ‘Comatose’ album. Lee is joined Gerald Mulligan … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Credo, F2 Music, Galahad, Harmony/Synchronicity, Lee Abraham, melodic, prog rock, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACK ROSE MAZE

Posted on August 16, 2020 by jason

Frontiers Records [Release date 07.08.20] Black Rose Maze is Quebecois singer, Rosa Larichiutta. She comes to us via a major Canadian song contest, by way of The Trans Siberian Orchestra. So if you’re immediately imagining rock opera, and you’d be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Black Rose Maze, melodic, review, rock, Rosa Larichiutta, symphonic rock | Leave a comment

Single reviews: JORDAN RED, IZAKMAN, MICHAEL COLTON, JD SIMO

Posted on August 16, 2020 by jason

JORDAN RED Hands The Built The World The latest single from Jordan Red is another impressive piece of modern alt rock, with massive riffs and impassioned vocals. The song is mixed and mastered by Romesh Dodangoda, who has worked with … Continue reading →