Tag Archives: rock

Gig review: TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA – Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London, 4 January 2014‏

The first time that I saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra live, it turned out to be one of the musical highlights of the year for me. The year was 2011, the venue exactly the same as tonight (note: then called The Hammersmith … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

News: The Best of 2013 – rock albums and live acts as selected by reviewers, readers and listeners

Deep Purple - Manchester O2 Apollo, 12 October 2013

The Top Albums of 2013 (as selected by our readers and listeners) 1.  DEEP PURPLE Now What?! 2.  THE ANSWER New Horizon 3.  ALTER BRIDGE The Fortress 4.  BLACK STAR RIDERS All Hell Breaks Loose 5.  MOTORHEAD Aftershock 6.  SOUND … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, The Best Of 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: LEAF HOUND – Live In Tokyo

        Ripple Records ( Release date – 13th January 2014) Leaf Hound are a band of legend. Born in 1969 the band underwent a couple of line-up changes before releasing their first album ‘Growers Of Mushrooms’. This … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DVD Review – VARIOUS ARTISTS – Live At Wacken 2012

        UDR ( Release date – out now) As anyone with an ounce of metal in their veins knows the Wacken Festival is one of the longest established and heaviest festivals in Europe. This three DVD package … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: CASABLANCA – Riding A Black Swan

Casablanca - Riding A Black Swan

Gain/Sony Music [out now] American/Swedish band Casablanca have just released their sophomore album “Riding A Black Swan” and just 8 days into 2014 I would be surprised if I am not still listening to this on repeat at the end … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off

Album review: SAVOY BROWN – Goin’ To The Delta

Savoy Brown - Goin

Ruf Records [Release date 11.02.14] Having spent the best part of 48 years on the road as the personification of the pivotal and enduring Anglo American blues-rock band Savoy Brown, guitarist Kim Simmonds goes back to basics on ‘Goin’ To … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interview with LIV KRISTINE (Leaves’ Eyes) – 12 December 2013

Leaves

There are few people who I have thoroughly enjoyed talking to over the years in my capacity as a music journalist, and Liv Kristine, leading member of the Symphonic/Gothic Metal sextet Leave’s Eyes is certainly one of them. Hours prior … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Interviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: PHWG – The Observer

PHWG – The Observer

Pontus H.W. Gunve [Release date 07.05.13] PHWG is an innovative band led by New York based guitarist, synth programmer, composer and producer Pontus H.W. Gunve, with an original take on prog rock, world, ambient and fusion music. He frames it all … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DVD review: THE DOORS – Live At The Bowl 68 / Soundstage Performances / Live In Europe 1968

THE DOORS – Live At The Bowl 68 / Soundstage Performances / Live In Europe 1968

Eagle Vision [Release date 15.10.13] The Doors ‘Live At The Bowl ‘68’ / ‘Soundstage Performances’ / ‘Live In Europe 1968’ triple DVD box set judiciously mixes recycled and restored concert footage with insightful bonus interviews from band members and their contemporaries. … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: JAMES STEVENSON – Everything’s Getting Closer To Being Over

James Stevenson - Everything

   Independent release [Release date 10.12.13] For a guitarist with punk and new wave credentials that span Chelsea the revamped Generation X, Kim Wilde, The Cult, Glen Matlock, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Alarm, and latterly Willie Nile, James Stevenson sure … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Album review: ROSCO LEVEE AND THE SOUTHERN SLIDE – Get It While You Can

Rosco Levee And The Southern Slide

Red Train Records Records [Release date 27.01.14] ‘Get It While You Can’ wrestles with the common problem of a Brit band trying to sound authentic on material that evokes the deep south with some shit kicking roots rock. Rosco leads … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Album review: LEAVES’ EYES – Symphonies Of The Night

Leaves Eyes

Napalm Records www.leaveseyes.de There are a lot of female fronted symphonic metal bands out there now and a lot do tend to blend into one another, with a few notable exceptions and Leaves’ Eyes are one such exception. The soaring … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: STEPHEN DALE PETIT – Cracking The Code

Stephen Dale Petit

        333 Records [Release date 16.09.13] ‘Cracking The Code’ is an apt title for an album that counter balances some retro sounding material with a contemporary production. There’s something lying underneath the frisson busting energy levels but … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rock Photography Galleries: October-December 2013 (Fleetwood Mac,Peter Gabriel,Zappa Plays Zappa)

Dweezil Zappa - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 15 November 2013

The Year in Pictures 2013 Photography by Steve Goudie and Iain Scott Zappa Plays Zappa Photo Gallery by Steve Goudie, 15 November 2013 Alice In Chains Photo Gallery by Iain Scott, 14 November 2013 Billy Joel Photo Gallery by Steve … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Photo Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE LEVELLERS – Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh,18 December 2013

The Levellers - Leamington Assembly, 28 June 2013

When it comes to The Levellers I’m afraid I would consider myself a lapsed fan. For many years I bought the albums and attended gigs whenever possible but my attention did drift for a long period through no fault of … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Roundhouse, London, 26 October 2013

The Boomtown Rats - Manchester, 1 November 2013

The amount of shows I’ve seen this year that I thought I never would is truly amazing: for every idol that dies, another seemingly resurrects themselves with unerring timing, as if suddenly aware that there may not be many such … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: PAUL CARRACK – Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury, 1 December 2013

Paul Carrack - photo by Steve Goudie

Sunday night in Aylesbury isn’t necessarily a term that fills one with excitement. However, any such doubts can be put aside on realising you’re going to watch one of the greatest white soul voices to have emanated from the UK … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review – RAY JACKSON’S LINDISFARNE – Newcastle City Hall, 20 December 2013

Ray Jackson

I’m sure everyone is aware of the concept of a ‘bucket’ or ‘wish’ list, a physical or mental note of things you would like to do before shuffling off this mortal coil. I have several things on mine including an … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: BEN GRANFELT – Melodic Relief

Ben Granfelt - Melodic Relief

Supersounds Music [Release date 02.11.12] Ben Granfelt used to partner Andy Powell in Wishbone Ash and it’s no surprise that fellow Finn (and former bandmate in Gringos Locos) Muddy Manninen and Powell contribute to one track, ‘New 7’.  It may … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: STATUS QUO/10CC – 02 Arena, London, 15 December 2013

Status Quo - Liverpool, 6 December 2013

When GRTR!’s esteemed Live Editor Dave Wilson asked me to cover this show, I warned him that my review might be rather jaundiced, as I only recognised the original ‘Frantic Four’ line up as the real Quo. The annual Christmas … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Interview: 10Q’s with THE FIERCE & THE DEAD

The Fierce & The Dead - Spooky Action

The Fierce & the Dead have just released a rather good album ‘Spooky Action’ and here we catch-up with band members Matt Stevens and Kev Feazy… 1. What are you currently up to? Matt – We’ve just had the Spooky … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album Review: HENRIK FREISCHLADER – Night Train To Budapest

Cable Car Records– [Release Date: 29.11.13] ‘Night Train To Budapest’ places the emphasis squarely on Henrik’s fast maturing song writing, his love of wholesome grooves and array of aching guitar tones. He’s a one man crusade – he plays all … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: THE MANIC SHINE – Let Go Or Be Dragged

THE MANIC SHINE – Let Go Or Be Dragged

The Animal Farm – [Release date: 27.01.14] It’s rare to hear an album crammed full of original ideas, great playing, a subtle production and crossover rock songs with real commercial potential. The aptly named The Manic Shine is a powerful … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gig review: TOSELAND/Chrome Molly, Islington Academy 2, 11 December 2013

Rock and speed (on wheels, that is) are natural bedfellows, from heavy metal’s long association with motorbikes to the guitar dabblings of Formula 1 figures like Damon Hill and Eddie Jordan.  To be a success in both fields is as … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Album Review: THE HOLMES BROTHERS – Brotherhood

Alligator Records – [Release Date: 15.10.13] The Holmes Brothers raised the bar of expectations with the outright success of their last album ‘Feed My Soul’. And ‘Brotherhood’ answers all the germane questions of what to do next, as it reigns … Continue reading

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment