Tag Archives: review

Album review : STEVE HOWE – Guitarscape

Posted on October 14, 2024 by jason

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 →

Album review : FATE – Reconnect ‘N Ignite

Posted on October 13, 2024 by brianmc

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Cruisin For A Bruisin, Fate, Frontiers, Hard Melodic Rock, Per Johansson, Reconnect 'N' Ignite, review, Torben Enevoldsen | Leave a comment

Album review: WILLIE DOWLING – The Simpleton

Posted on October 13, 2024 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, review, The Simpleton, Willie Dowling | Leave a comment

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

Posted on October 13, 2024 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett, classic pop, Decca, HaLLoween, pop, review, The Monster Mash | Leave a comment

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

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Davoski

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 6 October 2024, band, blues, gig, guitarist, Koko, review, rock, Samantha Fish, Zac Schulze | Leave a comment

Album review: STEVE KNIGHTLEY – The Winter Yards

Posted on October 12, 2024 by jason

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, contemporary music, folk, melodic, review, Show Of Hands, songwriter, Steve Knightley, The Winter Yards | Leave a comment

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

Posted on October 10, 2024 by brianmc

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Cherry Red, French, Grenoble, Heavy Metal. NWOBHM, Nightmare, review, The Early Years, Waiting For The Power | Leave a comment

Album review: CLEANBREAK – We Are The Fire

Posted on October 8, 2024 by brianmc

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alessandro Delvecchio, Cleanbreak, Frontiers, hard rock, James Durbin, metal, Mike Flyntz, review, Riot V, Stryper, We Are The Fire | Leave a comment

Album review: SMASH ATOMS

Posted on October 8, 2024 by jason

M-Theory Audio [Release date 11.10.24] This year SMASH ATOMS have been bubbling under, mainly from the overwhelming and surprising response the Swedish quartet have received from commercial/active rock radio. Servicing their first single/video “Down” inspired a dozen stations to immediately … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, debut, grunge, review, rock, self-titled, Smash Atoms | Leave a comment

Album review : THUNDER – The Complete EMI Recordings 1989-95 (7 CD boxset)

Posted on October 8, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 27.08.24] Thunder rose from the ashes of Terraplane, a two album English band who never escaped from label interference. Singer Danny Bowes and guitarist, Luke Morley, along with Gary “Harry” James, Ben Matthews and Mark “Snake” … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Backstreet Symphony, Behind Closed Doors, Danny Bowes, EMI, hard rock, Laughing On Judgement Day, Luke Morley, review, Thunder | Leave a comment

Gig review: VINCENT FLATTS FINAL DRIVE – Slim Jim’s Liquor Store, Islington, London 4 October 2024

Posted on October 7, 2024 by petefeenstra

Tonight is the sort of gig that restates the true staples of rock and roll, namely the holy trinity of a great band, a welcoming venue and receptive audience. Birmingham’s Vincent Flatts Final Drive is the kind kick ass band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 4 October 2024, AC/DC, Americana, Bernard Allison, Bertie, boogie, Captain Beefheart, funk, Gary Harper, live, London, review, Rich Shelton, rock, Russ Cook, Slim Jim's Liquor Store, Starfighters, Steve Burton, The Georgia Satellites, Vincent Flatts Final Drive | Leave a comment

Album review: SUNJAY – I’m Just Like You

Posted on October 6, 2024 by jason

Website [Release date 11.11.24] This latest album by singer, songwriter and blues guitarist Sunjay is a tribute to blues legend Chris Smither. The album features 15 of Chris Smither’s original songs, it was originally recorded as a private gift for Smither’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, blues, Chris Smither, folk, guitarist, I'm Just Like You, review, singer songwriter, Sunjay | 1 Comment

EP review: CLUB PARADISE – Life On TV

Posted on October 6, 2024 by jason

Facebook [Release date 11.10.24] Club Paradise is made up of school friends Ryan Young (vocals/guitar), Jackson Vert (lead guitar), Harry Webb (bass) and Nathan Hogg (drums). They have been together for over a decade and it shows in that they have a tight sound/decent production values. The EP features … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Club Paradise, EP, indie, indie pop, indie rock, Life On TV, melodic, pop rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: RADIOACTIVE – Reset

Posted on October 6, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] Swedish musician/songwriter/producer, Tommy Denander has been an integral part of the AOR/Melodic Rock scene for more than 25 years now. He’s worked closely with countless musicians in the genre, most notably Bobby Kimball, Alice Cooper … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Bobby Kimball, Jeff Paris, Jim Jidhed, Jimi Jamison, Mutt Lange, RADIOACTIVE, Reset, review, Robin McAuley, Tommy Denander, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: SLIK – The Complete Slik Collection (2 CDs)

Posted on October 6, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 11.10.24] This is as much a story about two songwriters, Scotland’s Bill Martin and Irishman, Phil Coulter, as it is the story of Scottish band Slik who enjoyed a 3 year lifespan, 1975-1977. Martin and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Band Aid, Bay City Rollers, Bill Martin, Cherry Red, Live Aid, Midge Ure, Phil Coulter, review, Rich Kids, Slik, ULTRAVOX, Visage | Leave a comment

Album review: HOUSE OF LORDS – Full Tilt Overdrive

Posted on October 5, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] More of a commitment than an album title, the House Of Lords 12th recording, Full Tilt Overdrive, follows through on the “in your face melodic hard rock” of their 2022 release, Saints and Sinners. It … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Drive She Said, Frontiers, House of Lords, James Christian, Jimi Bell, Mark Mangold, melodic hard rock, review, Touch | Leave a comment

Album review: FANS OF THE DARK – Video

Posted on October 2, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] There’s a lot to love about Fans Of The Dark’s third album, Video. Their last album, Suburbia, was a nostalgic look at the life we led in the eighties – primarily teen culture, home entertainment … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alex Falk, Cliff Martinez, Fans of the Dark, Freddie Allen, Frontiers, Houston, Maria Bava, Oscar Bromval, review, Rickard Gramfors, Suburbia, video | Leave a comment

Album review: KALANDRA – A Frame Of Mind

Posted on September 30, 2024 by GRTR! HQ

By Norse Music [Release date 13.09.24] What is it with Scandinavia – still enticing and alluring with it’s Scandi Noir blend of melancholy and repressed emotion? If you want an album to soothe the soul as we head out of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Frame Of Mind, album, ambient, folk, Kalandra, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: DIESEL PARK WEST – The Sound Lounge, Sutton, Surrey 28 September 2024

Posted on September 30, 2024 by petefeenstra

Pete Feenstra chattied to John Butler for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio playing tracks from the current album. First broadcast 24 November 2024 While it’s true to say that any band’s commercial success or durability is often … Continue reading →

Posted in GIG REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged Bob Dylan, Bono, Darryl Hopper, Dave Bryant, Diesel Park West, interview, John Lennon, Jon C Butler, Let It Melt, live, Paul Sexton, radio, review, Rich Barton, Roger McGuin, Shakespeare Alabama, Te Byrds, The Rolling Stones, U2 | Leave a comment

Album review: MOUNTAIN – Over The Top

Posted on September 29, 2024 by jason

Voiceprint [Release date 04.10.24] Formed by guitarist/vocalist Leslie West in the late 60s, Mountain took their name from West’s debut solo album and soon became successful and important in the US hard rock/blues rock scene. Mountain are (or should be) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 70's rock, best of, blues rock, classic rock, Corky Laing, Felix Pappalardi, Leslie West, Mountain, Over the Top, re-issue, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review : D-A-D Speed Of Darkness

Posted on September 27, 2024 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 04.10.24] Not often we review a museum piece. Copenhagen’s Peoples Museum is celebrating D-A-D’s 40 years in the music business this year. The band itself is recognising this milestone with a double album of brand new … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Copenhagen Museum, D A D, Danish, hard rock, Jacob Binzer, Jesper Binzer, Laust Sonne, Nick Foss, review, Speed Of Darkness, Stig Pedersen | Leave a comment

EP review: ALL I KNOW – Stiletto Nightmare

Posted on September 26, 2024 by jason

Website [Release date 01.08.24] This refreshingly ‘80’s inspired slab of keyboard heavy melodic rock would have been all over the radio in years gone by, but for now bands like All I Know are keeping the light flickering for legions of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged All I Know, EP, Europe, hard rock, melodic rock, review, rock, Scorpions, Stage Dolls, Stiletto Nightmare | Leave a comment

Single review: CIRCUS 66 – Save The Damn World

Posted on September 20, 2024 by jason

Facebook [Release date 20.09.24] Having already made a seismic impression with their live shows and debut album ‘Follow the Black Crow’, sizzling four-piece Circus 66 unleash this new chapter from their soon to be released sophomore ‘Elements’. For those who’ve caught … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Circus 66, hard rock, review, rock, Save The Damn World, single, southern rock | Leave a comment

Album review : AGENT STEEL – Mad Locust Rising, Live At Hammersmith Odeon (CD/DVD Deluxe Digipak)

Posted on September 19, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 27.09.24) 20th June 1987. Agent Steel headlined a line up that included Onslaught and Nuclear Assault at the Hammersmith Odeon, most famously known for Motorhead’s “No Sleep ‘Til…” The band had been unable to avoid … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Agent Steel, Hammersmith Odeon, James Murphy. John Cyriis, Mad Locust Rising, Motorhead, Nuclear Assault, Obituary, onslaught, review, Testament | Leave a comment

Album review: FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION – Beautiful Happening

Posted on September 18, 2024 by jason

Absolute [Release date 27.09.24] It seems somewhat odd that Fairground Attraction were only around for three years, such is the lasting power of singles ‘Perfect’ and ‘Find My Love’. With debut ‘First of a Million Kisses’ having won a ‘Brits’ … Continue reading →