Tag Archives: review

Album review: UNIFONY – Unifony III

Posted on October 20, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Volkoren [Release date 03.11.23] The great thing about GRTR! is our eclecticism over 20 years, very much reflecting the taste and preferences of our solid review team. We’re not bound by classic rock but the music has to move us. … Continue reading →

Album review: STEVIE JONES AND THE WILDFIRES – Clarity In Dusk

Posted on October 20, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

STEVIE JONES AND THE WILDFIRES - Clarity In The Dusk

Wildfire Sessions Productions www.steviejones.com [Release date 13.10.23] This album was born out of solitary walks late in the day in the local countryside during Lockdown. That locality includes Helpston in East Northants where the artist Stevie Jones is a regular … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, alt folk, alt rock, Americana, Clarity In Dusk, review, rock, Stevie Jones And The Wildfires | Leave a comment

Album review: HELD BY TREES – Solace – Live At Real World Studios

Posted on October 19, 2023 by alanjones

Sound Canyon Records [Release date: 11.0.23] Held By Trees is a collective of outstanding musicians, three of whom had connections to and played with the band Talk Talk. Back in the day, Talk Talk, under the eclectic leadership of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged David Joseph, Held By Trees, Mark Hollis, Progressive Rock, review, Robbie McIntosh, Solace - Live At Real World Studios, Talk Talk | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (July – September 2023)

Posted on October 19, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

ALBANY DOWN Born In The Ashes (indie) Seven years is surely too long between releases, but whatever the reasons, this excellent album deserves to build some momentum and push Albany Down towards enduring and wide-spread success. **** Review by Dave Atkinson … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, August 2023, blues rock, classic rock, hard rock, July 2023, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, September 2023 | Leave a comment

Album review : VITALINES – Wheels Within Wheels

Posted on October 18, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 20.10.23] Vitalines is Tommy Denander and Robbie LaBlanc. Two musicians who need little or no introduction to the Melodic Rock fraternity. You might immediately be intrigued by the song titles. Several catch your eye: ‘Cards From Another … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alias, AOR, Chicago, Frontiers, melodic rock, MrMister, review, Robbie LaBlanc, Survivor, Tommy Denander, Toto, Vitalines, Wheels Within Wheels | Leave a comment

Album review : EDGE OF FOREVER – Ritual

Posted on October 16, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 13.10.23] Alessandro Del Vecchio’s band, Edge Of Forever, have released some interesting albums over the last few years. Native American culture has been a constant theme. It clearly inspired a quartet of tracks on last year’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Aldo Lonobile, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Edge Of Forever, melodic rock, review, Ritual, Seminole Tribe | Leave a comment

Album review: DANDELION CHARM – Scream Inside The Tear

Posted on October 15, 2023 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 20.10.23] Dandelion Charm, the husband and wife team consisting of Clare Fowler (vocals) and John Fowler (vocals, acoustic drums, guitars, bass, keys & producer), have seemingly been quiet release wise since releasing their excellent ‘Maybe Dreamers’ back … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dandelion Charm, folk rock, prog rock, progressive, review, rock, Scream Inside The Tear | Leave a comment

Gig review: Quarantune Rocks Weekender 2023 -The Victoria Bikers Pub, Coalville, October 6 & 7 2023

Posted on October 14, 2023 by jason

Quarantune Rocks was created by friends Karen Clayton and Pamela Hinchliffe, during COVID-19 to support rock fans and live music in an online group. The not-for-profit festival is in its third year, run by music lovers and aims to support … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged classic rock, Coalville, Gypsy Pistoleros, hard rock, metal, Music Venue Trust, October 6 & 7 2023, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, the Quarantune Rocks Weekender 2023, The Victoria Bikers Pub | Leave a comment

Album review: PAUL RODGERS – Midnight Rose

Posted on October 13, 2023 by andynathan

Sun Records [Release date 22.09.23] I feared Paul Rodgers distinguished career might quietly be over when there was an ominous lack of activity in his camp either side of the pandemic, and indeed it has subsequently emerged that he has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bad Company, blues rock, Free, Midnight Rose, Paul Rodgers, review | Leave a comment

Album review : NUCLEAR ASSAULT – Radiation Sickness

Posted on October 13, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red/Dissonance [Release date : 13.10.23] Despite multiple break ups over the years, US Thrash Metal band, Nuclear Assault continued touring into the new millennium, only hanging their boots up last year. The band, formed by ex Anthrax bassist, Dan … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Anthrax, Dan Lilker, John Connoly, Motley Crue, Nuclear Assault, Radiation Sickness, review, Slayer, thrash metal, Vince Neil | Leave a comment

Album review: SUBSIGNAL – A Poetry Of Rain

Posted on October 13, 2023 by alanjones

Gentle Art Of Music [Release date: 22.09.23] My fellow GRTR! reviewer Pete Whalley gave a four-star review to Subsignal’s previous album ‘La Muerta’ in 2018 – opining at the time that the band had “waved goodbye” to their metal tendencies … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile) | Tagged A Poetry Of Rain, Progressive Rock, review, RPWL, Subsignal, Yogi Lang | Leave a comment

Album review: ANN WILSON & TRIPSITTER – Another Door

Posted on October 12, 2023 by jason

Dualtone [Release date 29.09.23 US, 13.10.23 ROW] Ann Wilson, best known for Heart with her sister Nancy, decided that prior to starting the 2023 tour with her band Tripsitter, they would record an album of all-original material. This album also … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Ann Wilson & Tripsitter, Another Door, hard rock, Heart, melodic rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: BYWATER CALL – The Grace, London, 9 October 2023

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Davoski

I had seen Meghan Parnell and Dave Barnes, the driving force behind Bywater Call, supporting Robert Jon and The Wreck back in February. I was mightily impressed, and particularly bowled over by Meghan’s voice. So this tour with the full, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 9 October 2023, blues, Bywater Call, Dave Barnes, gig, live, London, Meghan Parnell, review, roots, soul, The Grace | Leave a comment

Album review: LONG ROAD HOME – Are We Invisible?

Posted on October 11, 2023 by petefeenstra

Long Road Home - Are We Invisibe album cover

Self Release [Release date 31.10.23] ‘Are We Invisible?’ is a promising debut album by Long Road Home, a new British guitar and keyboard driven veteran rock-blues band, with bluesy, proggy, AOR and occasional southern rock influences. They don’t so much … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Are We Invisible?, Billy Gibbins, blues, boogie, Dave Norman, Deep Purple, Derek White, Ian Salisbury, Lee Morell, Long Road Home, Mike Sebbage, Procol Harum, review, Robin Trower, rock, Scott Hunter, southern rock, Steve Summers, ZZ Top | Leave a comment

Album review : NITRATE – Feel The Heat

Posted on October 9, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 23.09.23] Nitrate’s founding member and bassist, Nick Hogg has again opted for vocalist Alexander Strandell and the Martin (Vega) brothers (who also produce) to round out the band on his latest, (and fourth) album, Feel The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alexander Strandell, AOR, Danger Danger, Glen Frey, Heart, Issa, John Waite, Martin Brothers, New Wave, Nick Hogg, Nitrate, Paul Laine, review, Vega | Leave a comment

Album review: TREVOR RABIN – Rio

Posted on October 9, 2023 by david.wilson

InsideOut Music [Release date 06.10.23] Rio is the first vocal led album Trevor Rabin has released since ‘Can’t Look Away’ in 1989. He has been busy in the interim with both solo instrumental releases and he has also become a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 6th Oct 2023, album, Big Mistake, country, Insideout Music, National Treasure, Oklahoma, Owner Of A Lonely Heart, progressive, Push, review, Rio, rock, Trevor Rabin, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review : KINGS CROWN – Closer To The Truth

Posted on October 7, 2023 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 13.10.23] Melodic Hard Rock’s European union of British vocalist, Lee (Shy/Sweet) Small and Swedish Guitarist Martin (Gypsy Rose/Phenomena) Kronlund looks like being a huge success. Small’s voice is the kind of thing which prompts awe not … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anders Skoog, Frontiers, Glenn Hughes, Kings Crown, Lee Small, Martin Kronlund, melodic hard rock, Phenomena, review, Seventies Rock, Shy, Sweet | Leave a comment

Quick plays: HASSAN BIN RASHID, LOUIS DE BERNIERES, RYAN YOUNG

Posted on October 7, 2023 by jason

HASSAN BIN RASHID My 21 Grams [Release date 06.10.23] Not everyday you get offered to review an album by a proper prince, in this case Bahraini Prince, Hassan bin Rashid. ‘My 21 Grams’ is his fifth studio album as he … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged alternative, folk, Hassan bin Rashid, Louis de Bernieres, melodic, My 21 Grams, Pearl Jam, pop, Quick Play, review, rock, Ryan Young | Leave a comment

Album review: GARRET T. WILLIE – Same Pain

Posted on October 6, 2023 by petefeenstra

Self release [Release date 15.09.23] Canadian rock bluer Garret T. Willie has a wise head on young shoulders and it goes some way to explaining his song craft. His 7 studio cuts co-written with bassist Parker Bossley are full of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, Brendan Perry, David Bacha, Dead Can Dance, Elmore James, Garret T. Willie, George Thorogood, Johnny Cash, Parker Bossley, review, rock, Rolling Stones, roots, Same Pain | Leave a comment

Album review: WARD KNUTUR TOWNES – Unanswered

Posted on October 5, 2023 by jason

Betty Beetroot Records [Release date 06.10.23] Ward Knutur Townes found their sound when the world fell silent in 2020. These three singer-songwriters, (Lucy Ward, Svavar Knutur and Adyn Townes) were selected to take part in a virtual global music sharing experiment … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adyn Townes, album, alt folk, folk, Lucy Ward, melodic, review, Svavar Knutur, Unanswered, Ward Knutur Townes | Leave a comment

Book review: Decades – MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND in the 1970s by John Van der Kiste

Posted on October 2, 2023 by Davoski

Book review: Decades - Manfred Mann’s Earth Band in the 1970’s (John Van der Kiste)

SonicBond Publishing [Publication date: 27.01.23] After seeing the Earth Band live this Summer and being very pleasantly surprised, I found this book in my pile of review material and so I’m following up that excellent gig in Budapest with a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged 1970's, book, Manfred Mann, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, prog, review, Sonicbond | Leave a comment

Album review: IMPELLITTERI – The Complete Beast 1987-2009 (6 CD Boxset)

Posted on October 2, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date: 06.10.23] Every Impellitteri album from 1988 to 2009. Nine in all, and the band’s 2 EPs. Plus a score of bonus tracks. All shoehorned into 6 jampacked CDs. (Such was the weight of heavy metal contained … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Reissues | Tagged album, boxset, Chris Impellitteri, Graham Bonnet, Impellitteri, Michael Wagener, review, Rob Rock, The Complete Beast | Leave a comment

Album review: IRON SAVIOR – Firestar

Posted on October 1, 2023 by brianmc

AFM Records [Release date 06.10.23] Iron Savior’s 2020 album, Skycrest, signalled a new era of Power Metal. Three years later, the voyage of the mothership has apparently been sidelined temporarily, to allow a celebration of Teutonic and indeed, in places, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Firestar, Iron Maiden, IRON SAVIOR, Judas Priest, Piet Sielck, power metal, review, Saxon, Viking metal | Leave a comment

Album review: WINGER – Chapter One Atlantic Years 1988-1993

Posted on September 30, 2023 by GRTR! HQ

Atlantic/BMG [Release date: 17.11.23] It had to happen. The boxed Winger story from 1988 to 1993 and “the only remasters approved by Kip Winger.” As ever, it doesn’t help those who have already indulged in previous vinyl or CD although … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, Reissues | Tagged album, box set, Chapter One Atlantic Years 1988-1993, hard rock, Kip Winger, melodic, Reb Beach, review, Winger | Leave a comment

Gig review: HOUND – Here We Aren’t, Peterborough, 27 September 2023

Posted on September 29, 2023 by jason

An enigma, wrapped up in neon-bright packaging, Cambridgeshire punk pop metal quintet Hound are all dangerous curves, big riffs and uncontrolled energy. The fact they’re playing what must rank as one of the tiniest venues in the country, the whole … Continue reading →