-
Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
-
Album review: MARIACHI EL BRONX – Mariachi El Bronx IV
-
Album review : JON ANDERSON – Survival And Other Stories / Earth Mother Earth (2 CDs / remasters)
-
Album review: MYRATH – Wilderness Of Mirrors
-
Album review: MASSIVE WAGONS – Live At The Great Hall
-
Album review: JAMIE WILLIAMS AND THE ROOTS COLLECTIVE – In The Moment
-
Album review: JOE HICKS – Before It Gets Dark
-
Latest Gig Reviews
-
Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – The Stables, Milton Keynes, 14 March 2026
-
Gig review: A VERY SPECIAL EVENING OF MOTT THE HOOPLE – Riverside Studios, London, 27 February 2026
-
Gig review: EMERALD MOON – Le Marquee, Peyrignac, Dordogne, SW France, 7 March 2026
-
Gig review: MILKFEST, Indigo2, London, 1 March 2026
-
GRTR! Greats
Featured Album Reviews
Features
Interviews
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Tag Archives: metal
Quick plays: SNAFU, BELL XI, ADRENALINE MOB
SNAFU Live Nottingham 1976 Angel Air www.angelair.co.uk [Release date 04.08.17] Snafu featured vocalist Bobby Harrison and guitarist Micky Moody amongst their ranks, although Micky Moody left the band shortly after the tour this gig was recorded from and joined Whitesnake. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged Adrenaline Mob, album, Arms, Bell XI, blues, Bobby Harrison, Duane Forrest, indie pop, Live In Nottingham 1976, metal, Micky Moody, review, rock, Russell Allen, Snafu, Symphony X, The Climb, We Are The People
Leave a comment
Album review: THUNDERSTICK – Something Wicked This Way Comes
[Release date 28.07.17] There are few musicians as iconic in image as Barry Graham Perkis, aka Thunderstick, who originally found fame as the masked and caged drummer for NWoBHM band Samson. Previously a short lived drummer for Iron Maiden, he … Continue reading
Quick plays: UNISONIC, RON POPE
UNISONIC Live at Wacken earMUSIC [Release date 21.07.17] Unisonic are the band formed by ex-Helloween members Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen (of Gamma Ray fame), joined by Denis Ward (Pink Cream 69 and many production credits), Mandy Meyer (Asia/Krokus) and … Continue reading
Gig review: DOWNLOAD, Donington Park, 11 June 2017 (Part 2)
Photo: Andy Nathan Sunday The phenomenal attendances at Download are a tribute to the enduring if underground popularity of the broad church we call metal and hard rock, even if the site seemed a touch smaller this year. From the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 11 June 2017, Aerosmith, AIRBOURNE, ALTER BRIDGE, Donington Park, Download, festival, gig, metal, review, rock, Steel Panther, The Dead Daisies
Leave a comment
Gig review: DOWNLOAD, Donington Park, 9-10 June 2017 (Part 1)
Friday My expectation for the first two days of Download was somewhat low in terms of the line-up, given my predeliction for the classic rock era. However the stunning weather went some way to raising the spirits and Blackwater Conspiracy … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 9-10 June 2017, Biffy Clyro, Donington Park, Download, festival, Five Finger Death Punch, gig, metal, Prophets Of Rage, review, Rob Zombie, rock, Tax The Heat
Leave a comment
Album review: ORDEN OGAN – Gunmen
AFM Records [Release date 07.07.17] Orden Ogan are back with their new studio album ‘Gunmen’ which follows hot on the heels of last year’s ‘The Book of Ogan’ compilation. They have already released a well received western themed video on … Continue reading
Quick plays: ABACU5, DANIEL TRIGGER, IVORY TOWER PROJECT
ABACU5 A Long Way To Begin [Release date 25.04.17] Abacu5 is a four-piece band from Dallas, Texas consisting of Randy White (vocals), Samuel Holder (guitar), Adam Manning (bass/vocals) and Eric Petrinowitsch (drums/vocals). Abacu5 have a great ear for a melody and hook … Continue reading
Gig review: ROCK GODDESS – The Borderline, London, June 23 2017
The time is definitely right for a NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) revival and it is great to see a good number of bands from that late 70s/early 80s era recording and touring once again, even ones that … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017
Tagged Borderline, gig, Jody Turner, Julie Turner, London June 23 2017, metal, NWOBHM, review, rock, Rock Goddess, Tracey Lamb
1 Comment
Album review: EXIST – So True, So Bound
Prosthetic Records [Release date 09.06.17] I’ve made it no secret my undying love for all things Chuck Schuldiner (Death, Control Denied…not so much Voodookult) and even the band Cynic formed by former members of Death ranks as some of my … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Exist, metal, progressive metal, review, So Bound, So True
Leave a comment
Album review: DIAMOND HEAD – Death and Progress/Evil Live
Dissonance [Release date 23.06.17] Diamond Head were at the forefront of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, and were influential on many, most notably Metallica, who covered several Diamond Head tracks, most famously Am I Evil. Formed in the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Brian Tatler, Death and Progress, Diamon Head, Dissonance, Evil Live, metal, NWOBHM, reissues, review
Leave a comment
Album review: HAT FITZ AND CARA – After The Rain
Self release [Release date: 11.11.16] The Irish-Australian duo of Hat Fitz and Cara stand out among their contemporaries because of their hill country grooves, their bluesy minimalism, some well crafted folky songs, occasional great hooks and an essential contrasting dynamic … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged After The Rain, album, Aretha Franklin, blues, Cara Robinson, folk, Govinda Doyle, guitar, Hat Fitz, Hat Fitz And Cara, hill country, metal, Peter Green, review, roots, vocal
Leave a comment
Album review: ALESTORM – No Grave But The Sea
Napalm Records [Release date 26.05.17] Pirate metal heroes Alestorm are back to wreck havoc! If you have not heard the folk metal shenanigans of Alestorm you really are missing out. They weave many a piratical and sea faring tale, taking … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alestorm, Christopher Bowes, folk metal, metal, Napalm Records, No Grave But The Sea, pirate metal, review, rock
Leave a comment
Album review: BURNING WITCHES – s/t
BW Records/Non-Stop Music [Release date: 29.05.17] It’s a shame about the hackneyed packaging of this all-girl Swiss metal band as leather-clad goddesses and the ridiculously-penned demonic and dark subject material. Because beneath all that vaguely comedic chaff, there are some … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Burning Witches, metal, review, Swiss
Leave a comment
Interview: ORDEN OGAN
GRTR! recently caught up with Orden Ogan’s Dirk and Seeb ahead of the band’s upcoming album, ‘Gunmen’ which is released on AFM Records on July 7. The ‘Gunman’ video is very good indeed and will the storyline be carried onto the next … Continue reading
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
Tagged album, debut, GIRLSCHOOL, Haulin’ Ass, metal, NWOBHHM, reissue, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, The Amorettes
Leave a comment
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
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
Leave a comment
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
Tagged album, All For One, Live At The Inferno, metal, Metallica, NWOBHM, RAVEN, reissues, review, Rock Until You Drop
Leave a comment
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
Tagged album, box set, John Sykes, metal, NWOBHM, reissue, review, Rob Weir, rock, the MCA Years, Tygers Of Pan Tang
Leave a comment
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
Tagged album, Architecture of a God, Labyrinth, metal, power metal, progressive, review
Leave a comment
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
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
Tagged AC/DC, Alco Emaus, Casper Bongers, Diggeth, Harald te Grotenhuis, interview, metal, Metallica, rock
1 Comment
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
Tagged album, classic rock, Judas Priest, Marshall Law, metal, NWOBHM, review, rock
Leave a comment
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
