Tag Archives: review

Album review: WOOD BURNT RED – Hold On Tight

Posted on September 7, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 04.09.26] Before I get started on the album, I just want to say that given good management and keeping their shit together Wood Burnt Red could be massive. You just know something special when you hear it, … Continue reading →

Album review : VARIOUS ARTISTS – No Static At All : A Journey Into AOR (3CDs)

Posted on September 6, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 18.09.26] No Static At All is a 3 CD, 60 tracks journey through the halcyon days of AOR. It’s a tip of the hat to Steely Dan’s movie (FM) music hit of the same title. And … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AOR, Cherry Red, Chicago, eighties, FM, Foreigner, Journey, No Static At All, review, Steely Dan, Survivor | Leave a comment

Album review: EUROPE – Come This Madness

Posted on September 6, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Silver Lining Music [Release date 25.09.26] It’s been seven years since Europe’s last album. Since 2017 the band haven’t been idle (with many a festival event under their collective belts) but the lack of a new studio album has been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Come This Madness, Europe, hard rock, Joey Tempest, John Norum, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: MAIAH WYNNE – Into The Waves

Posted on September 5, 2026 by jason

Kscope [Release date 25.09.26] Maiah Wynne has been making music since she was seven and has been an integral part of Envy of None, who also feature Rush’s Alex Lifeson and Coney Hatch’s Andy Curran amongst their line-up. On this, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alex Lifeson, alternative, Envy of None, folk, indie pop, Into The Waves, Maiah Wynne, melodic, review, Rush | Leave a comment

Album review: MIKE GUINEY – The Grace of Eloquence

Posted on September 5, 2026 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 25.06.26] The jury is out on this I’m afraid. Guiney was born on Newfoundland, Canada’s most easterly island. So pretty remote. His first musical memory is listening to Johnny Cash on an 8 track cartridge, so must have … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Leonard Cohen, melodic, Mike Guiney, review, singer songwriter, The Grace of Eloquence | Leave a comment

Album review: BOB HOLZ – Next In Line

Posted on September 3, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

MVD Audio [Release date 06.11.26] We last reviewed Bob Holz in 2023 and his album which gave equal billing to co-producer Rob Stathis. The latter takes more of a production role on this latest release which once again harnesses the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bob Holz, compilation, fusion, jazz fusion, Larry Coryell, Mike Stern, Next In Line, Randy Brecker, review, Stanley Clarke | Leave a comment

Album review: RITA BLISS – One More Winter

Posted on September 1, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 02.10.26] Feeling lonely as a pea, what an exquisitely innocent line. And this kinda describes the album by Rita Bliss in two words. For those of you who don’t know Rita, as I didn’t, as well as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, American folk, banjo, One More Winter, review, Rita Bliss, traditional | Leave a comment

Album review : SHAKRA – Just Live Loud

Posted on August 30, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 04.09.26] Since 1995, Swiss band, Shakra have shared stages worldwide with everybody worth knowing, from Guns’N’Roses to Great White, from Stratovarius to Iron Maiden. And in between times they’ve released 14 albums. Their secret, apart from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Frontiers Music, Live Life Loud, Mark Fox, melodic rock, review, Shakra, Thom Blunier, Thomas Muster | Leave a comment

Album review: KRIS BARRAS BAND – Monsters We Made

Posted on August 30, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

Earache [Release date 14.08.26] Kris Barras is consolidating his out and out heavy rock stance with the latest album. And what an album! There is a superb crunching groove throughout. I was impressed with the three previous albums which saw … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, heavy rock, Kris Barras Band, metal, Monsters We Made, review | Leave a comment

Album review: THE UGLY GUYS – Highway Shoes

Posted on August 29, 2026 by petefeenstra

Conquest Music [Release date : 03.07.26] The Ugly Guys 9th album ‘Highway Shoes’ is everything you would want from a good country rock album, and more! It’s a perfectly balanced showcase of their own song craft, tempered by well chosen … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, Bb Clouter, Cosmic Country, Country Music, Doug Sahm, George Jones, Gram Parsons, Highway Shoes, Jimmy Webb, Michael Murphy, Micky Jupp, Mikey Newbury, Nevil Kiddier, Paul Shuttleworth, pub rock, review, Steve Oliver, Tex Mex, the Ugly Guys, Vic Collins, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson | Leave a comment

Album review: SHA-BOOM – Another Nail in the Coffin

Posted on August 28, 2026 by jason

Silver Lining Music [Release date 26.08.26] Sha-Boom appeared in 1988 and disappeared almost as quickly in 1992. Fast forward to 2005 and they released ‘The Race Is On’, then radio silence for a couple of decades until they re-emerge with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Another Nail in the Coffin, Eclipse, Erik Maternsson, Ginger Wildheart, hard rock, melodic rock, review, rock, Sha-Boom, Therion, Thundermother | Leave a comment

Album review: THOSE MADE BROKEN – A Door You Can Never Close

Posted on August 27, 2026 by jason

Website [Release date 01.09.26] I’m always very excited when I hear of an album that is not just made for pleasing the musical mainframe, but from a place of education and awareness of situations that many may not know is happening … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Door You Can Never Close, album, alt rock, grunge, review, rock, Those Made Broken | Leave a comment

Album review : BLACK OAK ARKANSAS – When Electricity Came To Arkansas Vol 1 (5 CDs)

Posted on August 27, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 28.08.26] CD1 : Black Oak Arkansas (1971) + 2 bonus CD2 : Keep The Faith (1972) CD3 : If An Angel Came To See You, Would You Make Her Feel At Home? (1972) CD4 : … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Black Oak Arkansas, Cherry Red, gospel, Jim Dandy, Raunch'n'Roll Live, review, southern rock | Leave a comment

Album review: KEVIN BURT– This Trip

Posted on August 26, 2026 by petefeenstra

Gulf Coast Records [Release date : 28.08.26] Iowa Blues Hall of Fame inductee and 2026 Blues Music Award winner Kevin Burt’s ‘This Trip’ digs deep into his reserves, for 10 emotionally charged songs given real weight by his big sounding … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Bill Withers, blues, Gulf Coast, harp, John Lee Hooker, Kevin Burt, review, Taj Mahal, The Trip, vocal | Leave a comment

Album review: BAP KENNEDY – Above All, Love

Posted on August 25, 2026 by petefeenstra

Lonely Street Discs [Release date : 28.08.26] The late Energy Orchard frontman and solo artist Bap Kennedy’s posthumously released ‘Above All, Love’ is an absolute gem of a record. Overseen by his widow, former band member Brenda Kennedy (an author, artist … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Above All, album, Americana, Bap Kennedy, Bob Dylan, Brenda Kennedy, Celtic soul, country, Energy Orchard, Hank Williams, Jackson Browne, Love, Nashville, review, Van Morrison | Leave a comment

Album review: ROB TOGNONI – Black On Black

Posted on August 24, 2026 by petefeenstra

Bandcamp [Release date : 09.07.26] Rob Tognoni’s ‘Black On Black’ is a hard rocking album, full of his unrelenting energy, focussed intensity and uncompromising lyrics, which frequently mirror his steely riffs (or vice versa). ‘The Tasmanian Devil’ enjoys moments of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AC/DC, album, Black On Black, Bob Dylan, Derrin Neundorf, Frank Zappa, review, riffs, Rob Tognoni, rock, Stratocaster | Leave a comment

Album review: ETERNAL – Conspiracy Of Warheads

Posted on August 24, 2026 by jason

Floga Records [Release date 02.10.26] Eternal. On being sent this I thought ‘why am I being asked to something by Eternal? Aren’t they a British pop act featuring Jamie Redknapp’s wife?’ Ah, no. THIS Eternal are a Greek four piece, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Conspiracy Of Warheads, Eternal, metal, Metallica, post-punk, review, Thrash, thrash metal | Leave a comment

Album review : NIGHT RANGER Best Of

Posted on August 23, 2026 by brianmc

Frontiers Music [Release date : 28.08.26] Quintessential white middle class rock band from the past, Night Ranger continues to make great melodic rock music in the present. Meantime, this remastered, retrospective collection might satisfy the band’s fans and more. It … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged best of, Brad Gillis, Frontiers, Jack Blades, Jose Feliciano, Kelly Keaggy, Night Ranger, Record Stores Day, review | Leave a comment

Album review: SPELL SONGS – In Thin Air

Posted on August 23, 2026 by jason

Hudson Records [Release date 04.09.26] Spell Songs are a bit of a folk supergroup comprising of Karine Polwar, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter and Jim Molyneux, who between them have had more wins and nominations … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Beth Porter, Book of Birds, folk, In Thin Air, Jackie Morris, Jim Molyneux, Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwar, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, review, Robert Macfralane, Seckou Keita, Spell Songs, world | Leave a comment

Album review: KINDRED NORTH – Kindred North

Posted on August 23, 2026 by jason

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 21.08.26] Although melodic rock and AOR is my first musical love (along with folk music), recent albums in this genre have not made much impression. Pride of Lions, Acacia Avenue and Creye come to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andi Kravljaca, Andreas Nergård, debut, hard rock, Kindred North, melodic rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Single review: BIG COUNTRY REDUX – Winter Sky

Posted on August 23, 2026 by jason

Website Big Country Redux return with ‘Winter Sky’, the latest single taken from their forthcoming album ‘Eastworld’, due for release on September 18. The track was originally written by Watson and Stuart Adamson during sessions for the band’s 1984 album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Big Country Redux, Bruce Watson, indie rock, review, rock, single, Stuart Adamson, Tony Butler, Winter Sky | Leave a comment

Album review: PAUL DI’ANNO’S BATTLEZONE – Children Of Madness

Posted on August 22, 2026 by jason

Cargo/Deko Entertainment [Release date 23.10.26] Singer Paul Di’Anno found fame as Iron Maiden’s frontman on their first two albums, before recording the more AOR Di’Anno LP, and working with the supergroup Gogmagog. Then in 1986 he returned to a more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Children Of Madness, hard rock, Iron Maiden, melodic metal, metal, Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone, reissue, review | Leave a comment

Album review: RAINBOW – In Concert 1976 Live In Nurnberg

Posted on August 22, 2026 by jason

Demon Records [Release date 28.08.26] Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow’s three German live shows, originally released on CD some years ago and long out of print, were reissued more recently as part of Demon’s Temple Of The King box set. The label … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged classic rock, Cozy Powell, Deep Purple, hard rock, In Concert 1976 Live In Nurnberg, live album, Rainbow, review, Ritchie Blackmore, rock, Ronnie James Dio | Leave a comment

Album review: WARREN HAYNES – Dreams & Songs: A Symphonic Journey

Posted on August 22, 2026 by petefeenstra

Provogue / Artone Label Group [Release date : 18.09.26] ‘Dreams & Songs – A Symphonic Journey’ is a 16 track career retrospective double album that sets the bar high in terms of expectation, and delivers with plenty to spare. Warren … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Asheville Symphony Orchestra, Dreams & Songs – A Symphonic Journey, Gov't Mule, Greg Osby, Jethro Tull, John Medeski, Paul Buckmaster. album, review, Rich Daniels, Robert Hunter, The Allman Brothers, The Grateful Dead, Warren Haynes | Leave a comment

Album review : NIGHTWING – Long Hard Road 1980-85 (5 CD Boxset)

Posted on August 21, 2026 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 28.08.26] CD1 : Something In The Air (1980) CD2 : Black Summer (1982) CD3 : Stand Up And Be Counted (1983) CD4 : My Kingdom Come (1894) CD5 : Night Of Mystery – Alive! Alive! … Continue reading →