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Tag Archives: metal
Album review: THE AMORETTES – Haulin’ Ass

[Release date 16.06.17] This is exactly what happens when testosterone bleeds across gender boundaries – three gal-rockers from Edinburgh, cunningly calling themselves The Amorettes – a cutesy name which suggests a motown-era backing group type deal….which they definitely ain’t !! … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
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Tagged album, debut, GIRLSCHOOL, Haulin’ Ass, metal, NWOBHHM, reissue, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, The Amorettes
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Gig review: KISS – Hydro, Glasgow, 27 May 2017

On arrival at the Hydro tonight there was a tight cordon of security following the tragedy at Manchester Arena the previous week. Whilst being searched the security guard asked if I had seen Kiss before to which I replied, yes … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017
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Tagged 27 May 2017, Crazy Crazy Nights, Destroyer, Deuce, Eric Singer, Evan Stanley, Gene Simmons, gig, glam, Glasgow, God Of Thunder, Hydro, Iron Maiden, Kiss, live, Manchester, metal, Pat Thayer, Paul Stanley, rock, The Dives
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Album review: RAVEN – Reissues

Dissonance Productions [Release date 02.06.17] Formed in the mid 70s by brothers John and Mark Gallagher, initially with twin guitars and progressive rock leanings, Settling as a threesome, with drummer Rob Wacko Hunter, Raven were an integral part of the … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
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Tagged album, All For One, Live At The Inferno, metal, Metallica, NWOBHM, RAVEN, reissues, review, Rock Until You Drop
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Album review: TYGERS OF PAN TANG – The MCA Years

Caroline International [Release date 19.12.16] 5-CD box set Formed in the north east of England in the late-70s, Tygers Of Pan Tang were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and achieved moderate success, including the minor hit … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
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Tagged album, box set, John Sykes, metal, NWOBHM, reissue, review, Rob Weir, rock, the MCA Years, Tygers Of Pan Tang
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Album review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Legendary Years

AFM Records [Release date 26.05.17] After a lot of turmoil, and a number of recent line-up changes, the new look Rhapsody Of Fire lay their cards on the table with their new album, which sees the new line-up rerecord a … Continue reading →
Album review: DANZIG – Black Laden Crown

AFM Records [Release date 26.05.17] My history with Glenn Danzig as a solo artist has been kinda iffy. I loved his stuff with The Misfits and Samhain, and the first three solo Danzig albums are stunningly brilliant. The fourth had … Continue reading →
Album review: LABYRINTH – Architecture of a God

Frontiers [Release date 21.04.17] Labyrinth seemed to have disappeared off the scene follwoing 2010′s ‘Return to Heaven Denied Pt. II: A Midnight’, however they added vocalist Mark Boals to the line-up in 2014. Then last year a reunion of founding members Olaf … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Architecture of a God, Labyrinth, metal, power metal, progressive, review
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Quick plays: JAGUAR, GIRLSCHOOL, SAMSON

JAGUAR Power Games (Dissonance Productions) Jaguar were one of the fastest and most underrated bands in the NWoBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) movement, and along with Raven would have a huge impact on the forthcoming speed metal and … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
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Tagged album, Bruce Dickinson, classic rock, Demolition, GIRLSCHOOL, Hit And Run, Jaguar, Live at Reading 1981, metal, NWOBHM, Power Games, review, Samson, Screaming Blue Murder, Shock Tactics, Survivors
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Interview: DIGGETH

Some bands, regardless of how big they are, what size venue they are playing or how many albums they have released just manage to grab you straight away with hard, punchy, instantly memorable rock tunes. When I wandered into Hastings’ … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars
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Tagged AC/DC, Alco Emaus, Casper Bongers, Diggeth, Harald te Grotenhuis, interview, metal, Metallica, rock
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Album review: MARSHALL LAW – Marshall Law

Dissonance [Release date 28.04.17] If you don’t know the name, you should. Part of a second new wave of British Heavy Metal, Marshall Law formed in the West Midlands in the late 80s and had much acclaim at the time. … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, classic rock, Judas Priest, Marshall Law, metal, NWOBHM, review, rock
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Quick plays: ADRENALINE RUSH, BLOOD COMMAND, LIGHT FREEDOM REVIVAL

ADRENALINE RUSH Soul Survivor Frontiers [Release date 21.04.17] Album number two from Adrenaline Rush, the band built around former pop singer Tave Wanning. The band have undergone a couple of line-up changes with Sam Soderlindh (lead guitar) and Joel Fox (bass) … Continue reading →
Album review: LIV SIN – Follow Me

Despotz Records [Release date 28.04.17] Formed in Gothenberg in 2002 with a musical agenda promising and delivering “old-school metal” Swedish band, Sister Sin, made six well-received albums before calling it a day in 2015. However, two years on, lead singer … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017
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Tagged album, Destruction, Follow Me, Liv Jagrell, Liv Sin, metal, review, rock, Schmeir, Sister Sin, Stefan Kaufmann, UDO
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Album review: AYREON – The Source

Music Theories Recordings [Release date 28.04.17] It’s 12 years since Ayreon’s first album ‘The Final Experiment’ and the key elements of a conceptual sci-fi story with prog rock underpinnings remain at the heart of the new album ‘The Source.’ It’s … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Arjen Lucassen, Ayreon, Ben Mathot, blues, David Bowie, Floor Jansen, Frank Zappa, funk, Guthrie Gavan, James LaBrie, Jeroen Goossens, Jethro Tull, Martin Barre, metal, Michael Eriksen, Mike Mills, Nils K. Rue, Paul Gilbert, Pink Floyd, prog, Queen, review, Russell Allen, Simone Simons, The Darkness, the Source, Todd Rundgren, Tommy Karevik, Tommy Rogers, Trace, Utopia, Yann Souetre, Yes
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Gig review: GHOST – ABC, Glasgow, 29 March 2017

I often ponder if, years in the future, people will look back at images of gigs and festivals and interpret them as some form of religious gatherings. A huge crowd drawn together to worship at the altar of whichever rock … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
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Tagged 29th March 2017, ABC, Ghost, Glasgow, He Is, Hellfest, metal, nameless ghouls, Papa Emeritus, Popestar, rock, Spinefarm, Square hammer, Year Zero, Zombi
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EP review: IMPAVIDUS – Eradication Of Mankind

www.facebook.com/impavidusuk/ [Release date 29.03.17] Now the GRTR! reviewer who penned a glowing review of Impavidus’s debut EP has now left, so it is my delicate ears taking on the sounds of Impavidus. They are like the aural equivalent of being … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
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Tagged Arch Enemy, EP, Eradication of Mankind, extreme metal, Impavidus, Mastadon, metal, review
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EP review: FRAGILE THINGS, THOSE WHO KNEW

FRAGILE THINGS Broken Sun www.fragilethingsoffical.com Release date [17.02.17] Hailing from Milton Keynes, this four piece band consist of Richie Hevanz (vocals), Mark Hanlon (guitars), Steve Lathwell (bass) and Hugo Bowman (drums). Vocalist Richie Hevanz you may recall from Heaven’s Basement, … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
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Tagged 2 Far 2 Jump, Broken Sun, EP, First Attempts At Everything, Fragile Things, indie, metal, New Perspective, pop, review, rock, Those Who Knew
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) April-June 2017

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Updated 30.05.17 March 3rd RICHARD BARBIERI ‘Planets + Persona’ Kscope BLAZE BAYLEY ‘Endure And Survive (Infinite Entanglement Part II)’ BLINK ‘A Map of rhe Universe’ (re-issue) Garage Records BROTHER FIRETRIBE ‘Sunbound’ DANKO JONES ‘Wild Cat’ AFM … Continue reading →
Posted in Album News, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
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Tagged albums, April-June 2017, blues rock, CD, DVD, metal, New releases, Progressive Rock, rock, singer songwriter
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Album review: FIREWIND – Immortals

AFM Records [Release date 20.01.17] It’s been four years since ‘Few Against Many’ but Gus G is no slouch. In the interim he’s released two excellent solo albums and moonlighted with Ozzy. And in spite of everything he always seems … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Bob Katsionis, Firewind, Gus G, Immortals, metal, power metal, review, rock
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Gig review: FIREWIND – Manchester Academy, 16 February 2017

You wonder: now that Ozzy has ended “The End”, in his dotage will he revive his solo career? And does that mean there’s another job for Gus G? The Greek guitarist was drafted in for the album ‘Scream’ in 2010 … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017
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Tagged 16 February 2017, Bob Katsionis, Firewind, gig, Gus G, heavy, Manchester Academy, metal, power metal, review, rock
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News: DAN REED NETWORK UK Tour starts 1 March 2017

In this interview edit Dan Reed chats about the forthcoming UK tour starting 1 March. (2:56) This is extracted from a recent interview for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in its ‘Favourite Tracks from Favourite Artists’ series. Dan chooses a … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS
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Tagged album, Dan Reed, Dan Reed Network, Fight Another Day, funk, gig, hard rock, March 2017, melodic rock, metal, news, Tour, UK tour
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Album review: MARCUS MALONE – A Better Man

Redline Music [Release date 30.03.17] ‘A Better Man’ is UK based, Detroit blues rocker Marcus Malone’s 8th album. And in his journey from being a West Coast Metal star, via Motown, to becoming a 5 star soulful blues/rocker , he’s … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged A Better Man, Alan Glen, album, blues, Jerry Sevenson, Julian Burdock, Marcus Malone, metal, Motown, Moz Gamble, Paul Rogers, review, rock, Roger Cotton, Sean Nolan, soul, Stand Or Fall, Stuart Dixon, vocals, William Burke, Winston Blissett
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Album review: EMPIRE – Hypnotica (+3)

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 24.02.17] Pride & Joy Music are set to re-release Empire’s four albums throughout 2017 and start off with the band’s debut album ‘Hypnotica’, originally released back in 2001. Empire were formed by guitarist Rolf Munkes (Majesty/Razorback/Crematory) … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, Don Airey, Empire, guitars, Hypnotica, Lance King, Mark Boals, metal, Neil Murray, Pride and Joy, re-issue, review, rock, Rolf Munkes
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Album review: GALACTIC EMPIRE – S/T

Rise Records [Release date 03.02.17] Galactic Empire caused a stir last year on YouTube with their version of the ‘Main Theme’ from ‘Star Wars’ – currently over 3m views and counting. Now they unleash a full album of their versions of … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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Tagged album, debut, Galactic Empire, George Lucas, instrumental, John Williams, metal, review, Rise Records, rock, Star Wars
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EP review: PROWESS, BACKBONE CAST

BACKBONE CAST Power Within Ourselves EP Scandinavian blues rock anyone? Based around the Hannah’s soulful vocals and Hata Salmi’s evocative guitar work, with the sound filled out by Jony Oittinen (drums), Sami Vataja (bass) and Jani Kemppinen (Hammond and piano), … Continue reading →
Posted in ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Single and EP reviews
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Tagged Backbone Cast, blues rock, EP, Headfirst, metal, Power Within Ourselves, Prowess, review, rock
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Album review: ACCEPT – Restless And Wild

Nuclear Blast [Release date 13.01.17] Legendary German metal band Accept has been a dominant force in the genre for a few decades now. Fewer bands have been as heralded and influential as Accept. Years ago original vocalist Udo Dirckschneider parted … Continue reading →
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
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Tagged Accept, album, classic, live, metal, Restless and Wild, review, rock, Wolf Hoffmann
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