CHROME MOLLY – Gunpowder Diplomacy

Ear Music (Release date – 25.02.13)

Gunpowder Diplomacy is the first album release by Chrome Molly in 22 years and has been made to celebrate the fact that it is 30 years since the band’s first album ‘You Can’t Have It All’. The 2013 incarnation of the band still retains three original members, Steve Hawkins on vocals, John Antcliffe on guitar and Nic Wastell on bass. The line-up is completed by ‘new boy’ Greg Ellis on drums who joined the band in 1990.

22 years is a long time in rock , so have the band managed to move with the times ? What the band have achieved is to produce a polished, hard rocking album that is most definitely rooted in the here and now rather than in the 80’s. That’s not to say though that the band have forgotten their NWOBHM roots, they have just moved with the times and given their brand of melodic rock a modern twist. This has been helped in no short part by the excellent production on the album which was handled by Toby Jepson of Little Angels fame. Toby has brought the band’s sound right up to date and made the disc relevant rather than a relic.

As always with a band of this vintage,Chrome Molly display excellent musicianship and song writing skills throughout. From the full on rocking opener ‘Corporation Fear’, the catchy ‘Stop Love’ and ‘Supercharged’, to the epic album closer ‘The Runner’ the band put in a great performance. In the early days the band were likened to Def Leppard, but I would put them closer to the current Saxon line up on this album which is no bad thing in my book.

Chrome Molly are back with a bang. It may have been 22 years since they last hit the recording studio but they have come up with a great rock album with a modern feel. I don’t think the band should be plotting world domination just yet but with this record another few years in the spotlight should be ensured.

****

David Wilson

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 20 October 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 22 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)