Tag Archives: review

Album review: KINGS OF MERCIA – Battle Scars

KINGS OF MERCIA - Battle Scars

Metal Blade Records [Release date 25.10.24] One thing you can’t accuse Steve Overland of is being work shy. The revival of his first love, FM, is not enough for the industrious frontman. Since 2004 he’s also produced albums as Shadowman … Continue reading

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Album review: SEVENTH CRYSTAL – Entity

SEVENTH 150  CRYSTAL entity image

Frontiers [Release date : 08.11.24] It’s hard to pin Seventh Crystal down. Is that a good thing?  Yes and no. Vocalist and songwriter, Kristian Fyhr leads the band with assurance and direction. Entity is the band’s third album, a progression … Continue reading

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Album review : IMPELLITTERI – War Machine

IMPELLITTERI 150  War image

Frontiers [Release date : 08.11.24] Chris Impellitteri has always had something to say about the world and the way of it, illuminated by the occasional religious overtone. This new album, his band’s 16th, is not much different. We should be … Continue reading

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Album review: THE QUIREBOYS – Wardour Street

The Quireboys - Wardour Street

Cadiz Music [Release date 01.11.24] When I heard Spike had been ousted by his own band but had drafted in original Quireboys guitarist and co-founder the late, great, Guy Bailey to help resurrect the true Quireboys, rejoined by most of … Continue reading

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Album review: FATAL VISION – Three Times Lucky

FATAL VISION - Three Times Lucky

Art of Melody  [Release date 22.11.24] Fatal Vision originated in Ottawa, Canada during the late 1980s, carving out a niche in the Melodic Rock scene with influences from iconic bands like Asia, Bad English, Journey, Survivor, and Van Halen. After … Continue reading

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Album review: TRUCKER DIABLO – Social Hand Grenade

TRUCKER DIABLO - Social Hand Grenade

Big Unit Records [Release date 25.10.24] It’s a sad fact that many of the NWOCR bands doing the rounds at the moment started out at least 10 years ago.  The likes of Doomsday Outlaw and Sons Of Liberty come to … Continue reading

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Album review : WARRIOR FEATURING VINNIE VINCENT – The Complete Sessions (3 CDs)

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Cherry Red Records [Release date 25.10.24] Ninety days in 1982. That’s how long the love affair lasted between three quarters of New England and Vinnie (Kiss) Cusano/Vincent. Vincent’s unconsummated love affair with Kiss, brought about by Ace Frehley’s sacking, was … Continue reading

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Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Royal Albert Hall, London, 23 October 2024

Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Royal Albert Hall, London, 23 October 2024

Steve Hackett continues to tour relentlessly, playing to packed houses of knowledgeable and enthusiastic fans, year after year. Tonight, the venerable Royal Albert Hall was sold out and brimming with anticipation. A couple of tracks in and even the vastly … Continue reading

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Single review: GYPSY PISTOLEROS – Welcome to the Church of the Pistoleros

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Earache Records [Release date 25.10.24] Gypsy Pistoleros are on an upward trajectory and one that is well deserved as they have certainly put their heart and soul into both many live shows, but also this new single and album of … Continue reading

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Album review : MOUNTAIN – Leslie West and Corky Laing, Live In The UK

MOUNTAIN Live UK image 150

Cherry Red [Release date 25.10.24] Highly influential New York rock band, Mountain, formed by equally influential guitarist, Leslie West in 1969, never seemed to enjoy the public profile they deserved. Yet, the uniformly enthusiastic response they got from sellout crowds … Continue reading

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Album review : CASANDRA’s CROSSING – Garden Of Earthly Delights

CASSANDRAs CROSSING Garden image 150

Frontiers [Release date: 25.10.24] George is back. Has he ever been away? George Lynch, ex-too many to mention, returns in tandem with up and coming vocalist/songwriter, Casandra Carson. Their debut is called Garden Of Earthly Delights … the cover art … Continue reading

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Book review: THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE ROCK SOUND SYSTEMS, VOLUME 4 by Chris Hewitt

Chris Hewitt -The Development Of Large Rock Sound Systems,Volume 4

Dandelion Books [Publication date 23.10.24] You might imagine that this being Volume 4 of ‘The Development of Large Rock Sound Systems’, that there would be a natural chronology at play. Not so, for having dealt with the history of the … Continue reading

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Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – The Wilde Theatre, Bracknell, 16 October 2024

CATS IN SPACE- Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell, 20 July 2023

First time in the Wilde Theatre, part of the South Hill Park complex that includes a small cinema and cellar bar (where on my first visit to South Hill Park enjoyed a gig by folk duo Ninebarrow). Despite being all … Continue reading

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Book review: GET YER ‘AIR CUT by Alan Clayson

Alan Clayson - Get Yer 'Air Cut

Oldcastle Books  [Publication date 17.09.24] They say you should always try and start a book with a bang, or at least a significant event. Alan Clayson’s ‘Get Yer Air Cut’ most certainly does that, opening with a 15 year old’s … Continue reading

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Album review: LAYLA ZOE – Into The Blue, Live In Concert

Layla Zoe - Into the Blue

Layla Zoe Music [Release date: 13.09.24] To say Layla Zoe warms to the notion of being an independent artist, is to understate her willingness to both dig deep for her emotions in a concert situation,  and fly in the face … Continue reading

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Album review: RUBY DAWN – Blood On Water

RUBY DAWN

Self-released  [Release date 01.11.24] Hailing from Wokingham in the UK, Ruby Dawn are a rather fine progressive/art-rock band consolidating their progressive credentials with this follow-up to 2023’s ‘Beyond Tomorrow’, which, from all accounts, was an excellent debut in itself. Fronted … Continue reading

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Album review: ARIES DESCENDANT – The Ashes Of Deceit

ARIED Decscendant image 150

Frontiers [Release date 18.10.24] An amazing sense of musical ambition can often be found among European Rock and Metal bands. Often that ambition is rooted in the classics, or at least how the classics have been interpreted by contemporary musicians. … Continue reading

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Album review : STEVE HOWE – Guitarscape

STEVE HOWE – Guitarscape

HoweSound [Release date: 27.09.24] With more than one hundred albums featuring his name in the recording credits, to offer guitarist Steve Howe the title of a truly accomplished musician should come as no surprise to anyone – still, it does … Continue reading

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Album review : FATE – Reconnect ‘N Ignite

FATE Reconnect 150

Frontiers [Release date: 18.10.24] As Frontiers Records powers up its fourth quarter release schedule for 2024, it’ll be interesting to see if the label can maintain the quality we have become used to. Already with good stuff from Fans Of … Continue reading

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Album review: WILLIE DOWLING – The Simpleton

WILLIE DOWLING - The Simpleton

Bandcamp [Release date 01.11.24] A new Willie Dowling album, whether it be under his own name or as part of one of his many fine groups like the Grip, Honeycrack, the Dowling Poole et al, is always a treat. On … Continue reading

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Album review: BOBBY ‘BORIS’ PICKETT – The Monster Mash

Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett - The Monster Mash

Decca [Release date 11.10.24] Bobby Pickett, a comedian and singer/songwriter, recorded this track after fronting a band called the Cordials by night, while attending auditions by day. Part of his act would include a monologue imitating Boris Karloff (probably best … Continue reading

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Gig review: SAMANTHA FISH – Koko, London, 6 October 2024

Gig review: SAMANTHA FISH – Koko, London, 6 October 2024_Phil Honley (5)

The splendid Koko was brimming full for the return of Samantha Fish to these shores with her own band, following last year’s shows with Jesse Dayton. And great to see the crowd that welcomed The Zac Schulze Gang’s support slot … Continue reading

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Album review: STEVE KNIGHTLEY – The Winter Yards

STEVE KNIGHTLEY - The Winter Yards

Website [Release date 04.10.24] With Show of Hands on ‘an indefinite break’, Steve Knightley releases this, his first solo studio album in 17 years. Guest artists on the album include his Show of Hands partner-in-crime Phil Beer, Phillip Henry (Edgelarks), Madrid-based Track … Continue reading

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Album review : NIGHTMARE – Waiting For The Power, The Early Years (3 CD Set)

NIGHTMARE WAITING image 150

Cherry Red [Release date : 11.10.24] French cult Metal band, Nightmare, released the album, Encrypted, last year. Their 12th since forming in 1979.  We reviewed it in GRTR! a few months ago. In another scoop for Cherry Red, remasters of … Continue reading

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Album review: CLEANBREAK – We Are The Fire

CLEANBREAK We Are The Fire image 150

Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] We Are The Fire is the second album from Cleanbreak, Mike (Riot/Riot V) Flyntz and Frontiers’ wunderkind, James Durbin. While Mark Reale and Rhett Forester were getting all the headlines with Riot and Riot V, … Continue reading

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