Tag Archives: progressive

Album review: STEVE THORNE – Emotional Creatures Part 3

Posted on May 9, 2020 by jason

Own label [Release date 02.02.20] Part 3 of the ‘Emotional Creatures’ trilogy he started back in 2005, which was also his debut album. Less name guests this time around as Steve Thorne plays all the instruments, bar the drums which … Continue reading →

Album review: LUCIFER – Lucifer III

Posted on May 7, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Century Media [Release date 20.03.20] It says a lot, when you can’t immediately recall that you reviewed a band’s last release only 2 years ago! In the case of Lucifer = a Stockholm based outfit owing much to the likes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, heavy rock, Lucifer, Lucifer III, progressive, psychedelic, review, Stoner | Leave a comment

Album review: CRYPTEX – Once Upon A Time

Posted on April 30, 2020 by jason

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 08.05.20] Cryptex are the trio of Simon Moskon (lead vocals, keys), Marc Andrejkovits (bass, backing vocals) and Andre Jean Henri Mertens (guitars, backing vocals), with drums being handled by Simon Schröder. Cryptex have been around since 2011 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged ACT, album, Cryptex, melodic, metal, Once Upon A Time, pomp, progressive, Queen, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THE BLOODY MALLARD – Realm

Posted on April 28, 2020 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 08.05.20] The Bloody Mallard came into being from another worldly place it could be said, as the musical ideas formed were reminiscent of many mushroom trips in rural Kent by guitarist and main man Tom Walding. Production … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, instrumental, melodic, progressive, psych rock, Real, review, rock, the Bloody Mallard | Leave a comment

Album review: AMY BIRKS – All That I Am And All That I Was

Posted on April 23, 2020 by jason

Website [Release date 03.04.20] The world needs beauty and this can mean many different things to different people. To some it is a glorious vista, to others the innocent laugh of a small child, to others still it is the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, All That I Am And All That I Was, Amy Birks, atmospheric, melodic, progressive, review, Steve Hackett | Leave a comment

Album review: KATATONIA – City Burials

Posted on April 22, 2020 by jason

Peaceville Records [Release date 24.04.20] When, on the 28th of February 2020, I visited the “Gagarin 205” club for the purpose of attending what can only be described as an outstanding performance by the Prog Metal quintet Katatonia, never in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, City Burials, Katatonia, melodic, metal, Peaceville Records, prog metal, progressive, review | Leave a comment

Album review: PATTERN SEEKING ANIMALS – Prehensile Tales

Posted on April 19, 2020 by jason

PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS - Prehensile Tails

Inside Out [Release date 15.05.20] Pattern-Seeking Animals were formed by producer and writer John Boegehold (synths, keyboards) teaming up with current members of Spock’s Beard – Ted Leonard (vocals, guitar) and Dave Meros (bass) – plus former Spock’s Beard member … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged album, epic, Inside Out, Kansas, melodic, Pattern-Seeking Animals, pomp rock, pop, Prehensile Tales, progressive, review, rock, Spock's Beard | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – IT BITES – Map Of The Past

Posted on April 14, 2020 by jason

Inside Out (2012) www.itbites.com The second (and final) album released by the reformed It Bites, that saw John Mitchell (Arena, Kino) take over from Francis Dunnery in fronting the band. John Beck (keyboards) and Bob Dalton (drums) remained from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Tagged Albums that time forgot, Bob Dalton, feature, Inside Out, It Bites, John Beck, John Mitchell, Map of the Past, melodic, pop rock, progressive, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: PURE REASON REVOLUTION – Eupnea

Posted on April 11, 2020 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 03.04.20] Reunions can be a tricky thing, sometimes a welcome return that reinvigorates a band, letting them dip into their back catalogue and bringing new gems but, more often than not, a last chance cash grab. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, electronica, Eupnea, Inside Out, melodic, progressive, Pure Reason Revolution, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: HATS OFF GENTLEMEN IT’S ADEQUATE – Nostalgia For Infinity

Posted on March 24, 2020 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 06.05.20] Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate are Malcolm Galloway and Mark Gatland along with Kathryn Thomas on flute and vocals on one song. The theme of the album is the frailty of civilisation, from a variety of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alastair Reynolds, album, Camel, classical, electronic, Hats Off Gentlemen It's Adequate, instrumental, melodic, metal, Nostalgia For Infinity, Pink Floyd, prog rock, progressive, review, sci fi | Leave a comment

Quick plays: LARS BOUTRUP, AL DI MEOLA

Posted on February 23, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

LARS BOUTRUP’S MUSIC FOR KEYBOARDS The Great Beyond Ex’cess Records (Release date 02.03.20) Danish keyboard wiz Lars Boutrup evokes organ grinders of a bygone age. In doing so he also fashions his own version of classic keyboard-led rock. ‘The Great … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Across The Universe, Al Di Meola, album, guitar, guitarist, Hammond, instrumental, keyboards, Lars Boutrup, Lars Boutrup's Music For Keyboards, organ, progressive, review, rock, The Beatles, The Great Beyond | Leave a comment

Album review: BIRDEATSBABY – The World Conspires

Posted on February 19, 2020 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 18.10.19] ‘The World Conspires’ is the fifth album from birdeatsbaby, who started out in 2009. Birdeatsbaby’s current line-up consist of Mishkin Fitzgerald (vocals, piano, accordion, synths), Hana Maria (violin, cello, vocals, harp, hurdy-gurdy), Garry Mitchell (bass, guitars, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Birdeatsbaby, experimental, folk, gothic, metal, progressive, review, rock, World Conspires | Leave a comment

Album review: LEAGUE OF LIGHTS – In The In Between

Posted on February 9, 2020 by jason

Website [Release date 27.09.19] Second album from League Of Lights, who are the husband and wife duo Farrah and Richard West – the latter best known for being a member of Threshold. Their self-titled debut album released back in 2011, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Farrah West, In The In Between, League Of Lights, pop rock, progressive, review, Richard West, rock, synth pop, Threshold | Leave a comment

Album review: SONS OF APOLLO – MMXX

Posted on January 29, 2020 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 17.01.20] Second studio outing from the prog metal supergroup Sons Of Apollo who consist of vocalist Jeff Scott Soto, bassist Billy Sheenan, guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, drummer Mike Portnoy and on keyboards Derek Sherinian. Sons Of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Billy Sheenan, Bumblefoot, Derek Sherinian, Dream Theater, Guns 'N' Roses, Jeff Scott Soto, Journey, melodic metal, metal, Mike Portnoy, MMXX, prog metal, progressive, review, Sons Of Apollo | Leave a comment

Rising Stars: INDYA

Posted on January 4, 2020 by jason

Paul Monkouse interviews Natalie “Indya” West of rising stars INDYA… ‘’He hit me so hard I actually blacked out and when I came around, I could actually see stars’’. Natalie ‘Indya’ West is used to hard knocks but this one … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged Goth Rock, Indya, interview, Jimi Hendrix, modern rock, Natalie West, progressive, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION (DBA) – Live In England (CD/DVD)

Posted on November 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Magical Thinker Records [Release date 29.11.19] Geoff Downes has been involved in a whole range of projects over the years, outside of Asia and Yes. His collaboration with UK born, LA-based Chris Braide seems to be one of the more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, Chris Braide, DBA, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Live In England, pop, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: RAY ALDER – What the Water Want

Posted on November 13, 2019 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 18.10.19] It takes a lot of guts to step out from the safety an established band but Fates Warning frontman Ray Alder has produced an album of extraordinary depth and passion in this, his debut solo … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Fates Warning, Inside Out, melodic, metal, progressive, Ray Alder, review, rock, Solo, What the Water Want | Leave a comment

Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 11 November 2019

Posted on November 12, 2019 by alanjones

The latest incarnation of Steve Hackett’s “Genesis Revisited” tour swept into Liverpool’s iconic, Eric Gill-inspired, Philharmonic Hall on an absolutely filthy November evening – not that it deterred a single one of the Hackett cognoscenti who filled the hall to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 11 November 2019, Craig Blundell, Genesis, Genesis Revisited, gig, guitar, guitarist, Jonas Reingold, Liverpool, Nad Sylvan, Philharmonic Hall, progressive, Progressive Rock, review, Rob Townsend, Roger King, Steve Hackett | Leave a comment

Album review: ATLANTAEUM FLOOD – One Day

Posted on October 29, 2019 by jason

Self-release www.schoolkidsrecords.com [Release date 11.11.19] Atlantæum Flood is an instrumental five-piece collective featuring former the Church and All About Eve member Marty Willson-Piper (electric guitars, acoustic guitar, bass, shaker, EBow, bongos, bouzouki, classical guitar, snare), Olivia Willson-Piper (violins, cellolin, duduk), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, All About Eve, ambient, Atlantæum Flood, classical, folk, instrumental, Marty Willson-Piper, One Day, progressive, review, Steve Knott, The Church | Leave a comment

Album review: FLYING COLORS – Third Degree

Posted on October 23, 2019 by jason

Music Theories Recording/Mascot Label Group [Release date 04.10.19] The third album by the supergroup Flying Colors who feature Casey McPherson (lead vocals, guitar), Neal Morse (vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar), Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion, vocals), Deep Purple’s Steve Morse (lead guitar) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Casey McPherson, Deep Purple, Flying Colors, melodic rock, Neal Morse, pop rock, prog rock, progressive, review, rock, Spock's Beard, Steve Morse, Third Degree | Leave a comment

Album review: FOREST FIELD – Seasons

Posted on October 20, 2019 by jason

Rock Company [Release date 18.09.19] Forest Field are the brainchild of Peter Cox, who plays all the instruments, songwriting and production, with Phil Vincent on vocals and guitarist Vince O’Regan guests on two songs. ‘Seasons’ is a concept piece, based … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged album, D'Ercole, Forest Field, interview, melodic, Peter Cox, Phil Vincent, prog rock, progressive, review, rock | 1 Comment

Album review: DANDELION CHARM – Maybe Dreamers

Posted on October 8, 2019 by jason

Independent [Release date 01.11.19] Dandelion Charm – John Fowler and Clare Fowler – return with their second studio album and ‘Maybe Dreamers’ marks a big leap forward for the band, as they widen their musical horizons further. Sadly this album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Dandelion Charm, folk, jazz, Maybe Dreamers, melodic, prog, progressive, review | Leave a comment

Album review: LEE ABRAHAM – Comatose

Posted on September 29, 2019 by jason

F2 Music [Release date 27.09.19] I really enjoyed Lee Abraham’s 2017 album ‘Colours’, a veritable AOR meets prog delight and now Lee Abraham is back with a new solo outing, this time a concept piece. ‘Comatose’ tells the story of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Comatose, Credo, Galahad, Lee Abraham, melodic, Pink Floyd, prog rock, progressive, review, Riversea, rock | Leave a comment

Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2019)

Posted on September 24, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Focus - Hard Rock Hell Prog, Pwllheli, 21-22 March 2014

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Your tour not listed? Contact us! Updated 08/12/2019 2019 ALABAMA 3 Fri December 20 O2 Academy Bristol Sat December 21 O2 Academy Brixton ALTER BRIDGE + … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS | Tagged 2019, AOR, gigs, Ireland, melodic rock, metal, pop, progressive, rock, tour dates, tours, uk | Leave a comment

Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) October 2019 – December 2019

Posted on September 22, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Compiled by Jason Ritchie January – March 2019 April – June 2019 July – September 2019 October 4th SOREN ANDERSEN ‘Guilty Pleasures’ Mighty Music ANGEL ‘Risen’ Cleopatra Records Adrian Benegas ‘The Revenant’ Pride & Joy Music CHICAGO ‘Chicago Christmas’ Rhino … Continue reading →