Tag Archives: review

Album review: THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – Amber Galactic

Posted on May 15, 2017 by jason

Nuclear Blast [Release date 19.05.17] There are a good number of bands paying homage to the classic 70′s and 80′s hard rock/AOR/pop sound, with Brother Firetribe (another band who’s members are drawn from heavier sounding bands) and Cats In Space being … Continue reading →

Album review: TYGERS OF PAN TANG – The MCA Years

Posted on May 15, 2017 by jason

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

Gig review: MAGENTA – The Citadel Arts Centre, St. Helens, 13 May 2017

Posted on May 14, 2017 by alanjones

With the band celebrating fifteen years together and with a fabulous new album to promote, Rob Reed’s Magenta completed their (all too) short Spring tour in front of a suitably appreciative audience at The Citadel in St. Helens – a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 13 May 2017, Chris Fry, Christina Booth, gig, Magenta, Progressive Rock, review, Rob Reed, St Helens, The Citadel Arts Centre, Vulture Cult | Leave a comment

Album review: RHAPSODY OF FIRE – Legendary Years

Posted on May 14, 2017 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Alex Staropoli, Christopher Lee, Fabio Lione, Legendary Years, Luca Turilli, metal, power metal, review, RHAPSODY OF FIRE | Leave a comment

Album review: DANZIG – Black Laden Crown

Posted on May 14, 2017 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged AFM Records, album, Danzig, metal, review, the Black Laden Crown, The Misfits, Tommy Victor | Leave a comment

Gig review: JOHN MAYER – 02 Greenwich, London, 12 May 2017

Posted on May 13, 2017 by petefeenstra

So there I was nursing my £10 gin and tonic (ice not an option) in an executive suite at the Greenwich 02, pondering the mysteries of how 20,000 people can go crazy over a perfunctory blast of John Mayer’s harmonica … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 02 Greenwich, 12 May 2017, blues, funk, gig, guitar, John Mayer, London, Pino Palladino, review, rock, soul, Steve Jordan | 3 Comments

Gig review: MIKE VERNON & THE MIGHTY COMBO – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 8 May 2017

Posted on May 12, 2017 by petefeenstra

In this age of instant downloads and 15 second celebrities, it’s refreshing to catch a legend worthy of the term. Step right up Mike Vernon in his new found career as lead vocalist and song writer with his excellent band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Americana, blues, boogie, Dave Bartholomew, fats Domino, Freddie King, funk, Gatemouth Brown, gig, Ian Jennings, Junior Parker, Keb Mo, Kid Carlos Moreno, Leiber & Stoller, Matt Little, Mike Hellier, Mike Vernon, Nick Hyde, Paul Tasker, Peter Miles, Quique Bonal, review, Russ Brown, soul, swing, The Mighty Combo, Uncle Buck | Leave a comment

Album review: DANNY BRYANT – BIG, Live in Europe

Posted on May 11, 2017 by petefeenstra

Jazzhaus Records [Release date 21.04.17] There’s huge vacuum to be filled when you leap from a power trio to a nine piece big band. Apart from the statistical logistics, there’s the intricacy of the arrangements, the need for a big … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Albert Collins, album, BIG: Live In Europe, Danny Bryant, David Madison, guitar, live, review, Richard Hammerton, Steve Watts, Walter Trout | Leave a comment

Album review: LABYRINTH – Architecture of a God

Posted on May 11, 2017 by jason

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

Posted on May 9, 2017 by jason

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 | 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 | Leave a comment

Album review: NAD SYLVAN – The Bride Said No

Posted on May 9, 2017 by jason

Inside Out [Release date 26.05.17] ‘Bride Said No’ is the second part of Nad Sylvan’s ‘vampirate’ trilogy and a follow-up to 2015′s ‘Courting The Widow’. Nad Sylvan is best known for fronting Steve Hackett’s band, who guests on this album, along with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged album, Guthrie Govan, Inside Out, interview, Jonas Reingold, melodic, Nad Sylvan, Nick D’Virgilio, prog rock, review, rock, Roine Stolt, Steve Hackett, The Bride Said No, Tony Levin | Leave a comment

EP reviews: THE LOFT CLUB, DIG DEEPER, GOODWOOD ATOMS

Posted on May 9, 2017 by jason

THE LOFT CLUB Heart’s Desire www.facebook.com/theloftclubband The Loft Club released this EP back in October 2016 and have had big success on Spotify with a Niklas Ibach dance remix of the EP’s title track. Their sound recalls greats like the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alternative, Bandcamp, Dig Deeper, EP, Goodwood Atoms, indie, melodic, pop, review, rock, the Loft Club | Leave a comment

Album review: HONEYJACK – 8 Track

Posted on May 8, 2017 by jason

www.honeyjackband.com Honeyjack are a duo of Mark Summerlin (vocals/guitars) and T.J. Scarlett (guitars). Mark Summerlin has been the guitarist and musical director for Seal and he was planning this to be a solo album, that was until he hooked up … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged .38 Special, 8 Track, album, AOR, Honeyjack, interview, Mark Summerlin, melodic, review, Rising Stars, rock, Seal, southern rock, TJ Scarlett | Leave a comment

Album review: URIAH HEEP Reissues (Look At Yourself, Demons And Wizards, The Magician’s Birthday)

Posted on May 8, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

BMG [Release date 31.03.17] As we opined when reviewing the first tranche of Heep reissues, we would question the merits of adding a second disc with the “alternative” album version as reimagined by Heep fan and collector Robert Corich under … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, classic rock, Demons And Wizards, expanded, heavy rock, Ken Hensley, Look At Yourself, Mick Box, prog, progressive, reissue, remastered, review, The Magician's Birthday, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: KAPREKAR’S CONSTANT – Fate Outsmarts Desire

Posted on May 6, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Uranium Club [Release date 12.03.17] Kaprekar’s Constant is the brainchild of a couple of old duffers, and childhood friends, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Al Nicholson and Nick Jefferson who, like many of us lived through prog’s golden years. Bringing together like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, David Jackson, Fate Outsmarts Desire, Kaprekar's Constant, Level 42, Mike Westergaard, Phil Gould, prog, Progressive Rock, review, The Blessing, Van Der Graaf Generator | Leave a comment

Album review: PORTER NICKERSON – Bonfire To Ash

Posted on May 6, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Weasel Records [Release date 05.05.17] When Midwest based guitarist / singer-songwriter Willy Porter started out, the success of the single ‘Angry Words’ (from his 1994 album Dog-Eared Dream) led to touring slots with the like of Tori Amos, Rickie Lee … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Bonfire To Ash, Carmen Nickerson, Porter Nickerson, review, singer, songwriter, Willy Porter | Leave a comment

Album review: RICH HOPKINS AND LUMINARIOS – My Way Or The Highway

Posted on May 6, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Blue Rose [Release date 27.01.17] You can tell a ‘serious’ musician when their album credits lists both the guitars and amplifiers they use, but Tuscon guitar slinger and songwriter Rich Hopkins comes across as one laid back dude. He might … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Lisa Novak, My Way Or The Highway, review, Rich Hopkins And Luminarios, roots, southern rock | Leave a comment

Album review: HUDSON FORD – The A&M Albums

Posted on May 6, 2017 by jason

Caroline Records [Release date 05.05.17] Vocalist, guitarist and bassist John Ford and drummer Richard Hudson were originally members of Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera in the 60s, before famously joining The Strawbs (a band that at one point featured Rick Wakeman). In … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged A&M Albums, album, Hudson Ford, reissue, review, Rick Wakeman, the Monks, The Strawbs | Leave a comment

Album review: MARSHALL LAW – Marshall Law

Posted on May 4, 2017 by jason

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

Album review: NITROGODS – Roadkill BBQ

Posted on May 3, 2017 by jason

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 26.05.17] If Rush play thinking man’s music, then Hannover/Stuttgart’s very own Nitrogods require only that you have one functioning brain cell which has been pickled for weeks and then slapped stupid with a baseball bat. Looking a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, Motorhead, NITROGODS, review, Roadkill BBQ, rock, rock 'n' roll | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ADRENALINE RUSH, BLOOD COMMAND, LIGHT FREEDOM REVIVAL

Posted on May 3, 2017 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Adrenaline Rush, albums, Blood Command, Coal Creek, Cult Drugs, Duncan Lloyd, Eterniverse Deja Vu, indie, IOUOME, Light Freedom Revival, Maximo Park, melodic metal, metal, review, rock, Soul Survivor | Leave a comment

Album review: BAI BANG – Rock Of Life

Posted on May 2, 2017 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 28.04.17] Bai Bang have been around since the late 80′s, weathering the grunge storm that saw off a lot of glam metal/hard rock bands and the one constant has been vocalist Diddi Kastenholt. On this album there … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bai Bang, hard rock, melodic, review, rock, Rock Of Life | Leave a comment

Album review: DRAGONFORCE – Reaching Into Infinity

Posted on May 1, 2017 by david.wilson

earMusic [Release date 19.05.17] This is the seventh studio album from Dragonforce and a bit like AC/DC or Status Quo you should know what to expect from a DF album by now. This release however does throw a few curved … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017 | Tagged album, Anthrax, Dragonforce, Gee Anzalone, Herman Li, Iron Maiden, Judgement day, Marc Hudson, power metal, Reaching Into Infinity, review, Sam Totman, Thrash | Leave a comment

Album review: LIV SIN – Follow Me

Posted on May 1, 2017 by jason

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 | Tagged album, Destruction, Follow Me, Liv Jagrell, Liv Sin, metal, review, rock, Schmeir, Sister Sin, Stefan Kaufmann, UDO | 1 Comment

Gig review: LONELY ROBOT – Sub89, Reading, 27 April 2017

Posted on April 28, 2017 by jason

Sub89 is a decent sized venue in a less than salubrious part of Reading, McD’s and Nandos being the classier places in the street! It has a decent sized stage and the only downside was the sound which wasn’t great … Continue reading →