Album review: VARIOUS – New Wave of Classic Rock Vol 1

VARIOUS - New Wave of Classic Rock Vol 1

RPM [Release date 23.07.21]

New Wave of Classic Rock (NWOCR) will be a term familiar to many but for the uninitiated, the NWOCR Facebook group was set up in October 2017 to support and promote the many new bands who were playing new music influenced by the classic rock bands of the 70’s, 80’s,90’s and noughties.

4 years later, with over 21,000 members, NWOCR have decided to release their own compilation CD featuring 42 bands (yes you read that right, 42 bands)

This compilation is a selection of the current NWOCR artists chosen by the NWOCR team and Rock People Management (RPM) to showcase the talent that exists and what a way to introduce people to new music.  Here’s a taster of everything that is good about new rock music today; try it – you’ll find something familiar and new all at the same time.

At first, if new to the scene, you might feel a little overwhelmed -  is there that much new music going on that you may not have been aware of? – don’t be, come in, get  yourself comfy and give this a listen, you’ll not be disappointed. This is rock education on 2 CD’s you don’t need to devour it in one go, take your time, revisit at your leisure.

Here’s a taster of the sheer talent involved  -

‘Tokyo (2021) – Massive Wagons & NWOCR friends (official music video)

I felt very much like I’d stepped back to a time when you’d get a treasured compilation album for Christmas (vinyl she says, showing her age) – this one however, is more like all your Christmases and Birthdays rolled into one, given the sheer number of tracks on Vol 1.

This could have easily been a more shorter list but NWOCR are passionate about what they do and it’s fair to say they have served up a very extensive tasting menu of mighty fine bands, some are further into their journey than others but all, undoubtedly, deserve their place on the album.

Like or loathe social media, it brings us together as a rock community and without sites like NWOCR, these bands simply wouldn’t get the exposure or following as quickly as they have, particularly as a global pandemic  has put paid to festivals or touring where these bands might usually start to appear and attract their own support.

The team that are NWOCR deserve absolute accolades for what they have achieved over the last 4 years, culminating with the liaison with a number of different labels including Off Yer Rocka, Nuclear Blast, Listenable Records, and Marshall Records, to produce this compilation concept and bring it to fruition.

This double CD is the proverbial cherry on top of the cake, that releases all of the talent that has been gathered and nurtured – what an absolute bargain for the jaw dropping amount of music that is included.

You might now start to think, I like this but how on earth am I going to support all of these bands? Easy, with a follow here, a like, a share, listening to their albums, buy some merchandise and maybe adding a few to your ‘must see list’ (I can’t be alone in keeping one of those can I?).

The bands should be delighted with this compilation, such diversity, such talent, what a peer group, they really are top of their game. What an introduction for anyone who thinks rock is a thing of the past or hasn’t yet dipped their toe into the world of NWOCR – buckle up this is going to be one helluva ride!

This is simply put a mammoth CD, utterly compelling and very fitting for those long road trips or your weekend shenanigans – I’d really like to mention all the bands and tracks individually but the review would be a book so let’s call out a few of the artists featured: Massive Wagons, Mason Hill and The Dust Coda, the legendary Phil Campbell, plus other fan favourites including The New Roses, Elles Bailey, Bad Touch, Skam, Empyre, Thundermother, Massive, Ryders Creed and Bastette.

Massive Wagons frontman Baz Mills says, ”It blows my mind how fast the NWOCR thing has grown! It’s literally exploded! They shine a real bright light on new bands all over the world, and it’s a real honour to be a part of this official NWOCR compilation album!”

“Marshall Records is stoked to have some of our artists include on this essential album. We have been long-time supporters of this amazing group of people keeping the flame of guitar rock burning brightly – NWOCR -we salute you!” - Steve Marshall.

“We’ve been looking into the possibility of putting together a NWOCR compilation CD since last year and thought that right now would be absolutely perfect timing to release the definitive version of a set of tracks from bands who together define the genre”, explains Richard Brindley (NWOCR).

 “With the help of all of the fans of all the bands, and the ever-growing membership of the NWOCR Facebook Group, we want to get this CD high up into the UK compilation chart, and raise the profile of the movement and the bands to a massively wider audience. This could be the truest execution of people power; a compilation by the community, for the community.”

I am literally already clapping my hands together with excitement at what Vol 2 and beyond could bring – cracking job NWOCR, awesome bands and music to tingle our collective taste buds – allowing us to delve in and find new treats as well as tracks from some of our recently established favourites.  *****

Review by Karen Clayton

Album tracklist
CD 1
1. Massive Wagons – Tokyo
2. Mason Hill – DNA
3. Hollowstar – All I Gotta Say
4. These Wicked Rivers – Shine On
5. Anchor Lane – Fame Shame
6. Empyre – New Republic
7. Daxx & Roxane – Without You
8. Sons Of Liberty – Fire And Gasoline
9. The Hot Damn! – Dance Around
10. Everyday Heroes – Find My Way
11. Elles Bailey – Woman Like Me
12. Scarlet Rebels – No One Else To Blame
13. Wolf Jaw – I Ain’t Ready
14. Tomorrow Is Lost – Hideaway
15. Dead Man’s Whiskey – War Machine
16. Dig Lazarus – Tell Me Why
17. The New Roses – Whiskey Nightmare
18. Shape Of Water – The World Is Calling Me
19. Haxan – Killing Time
20. Revival Black – So Alive
21. Gin Annie – Devil In Me
CD2
1. Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons – Son Of A Gun
2. The Dust Coda – When The Tide Comes In
3. Skam – Iron Cross
4. Collateral – Merry Go Round
5. Bad Touch – I Get High
6. Massive – Rise
7. Gorilla Riot – Still Doing Time
8. Thundermother – Driving In Style
9. King Creature – Captives
10. Rews – Today We’re Warriors
11. Twister – Call To Arms
12. South Of Salem – The Hate In Me
13. Jack J Hutchinson – World On Fire
14. Bootyard Bandits – Hoedown Showdown
15. Doomsday Outlaw – Turn Me Loose
16. Ashen Reach – Fighting For My Life
17. Bastette – Talk About It
18. Ryders Creed – Money
19. Takeaway Thieves – This Is Rock N Roll
20. Ward Xvi – Broken Toys
21. Blackwater Conspiracy – Soul Revolutionaries
www.nwocr.com
www.facebook.com/NWOCR2017
www.youtube.com/c/NewWaveOfClassicRock
twitter.com/NWOCRofficial

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FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

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