Earache Records (Release date 20.01.23)

Black Star Riders first album in over three years marks a turning point in the life of the band. It is the first recorded without Scott Gorham, leaving only singer Ricky Warwick from the original line up that mutated from a reformed Lizzy exactly a decade ago. With the departure of the last Lizzy member also goes the trademark twin guitar line up- at least in the studio, but that is another story! The sense this album is overdue is accentuated by the way a number of singles have been released over several months.

A Stonesy riff kicks off a very decent opener in the title track, though the Lynott-isms are still very much there in Ricky Warwick’s delivery, if not the same melodic sensibility, while the guitar solo from the now departed Christian Martucci had an original-sounding twist to it. But ‘Hustle’ is the first example of how the change in line-up has allowed them to go in a different direction, with a less conventional song structure and an R’n’B feel particularly in liberal use of the blues harp.

More familiar is ‘Better Than Saturday Night’ with those Lynott-isms reminiscent of some of Lizzy’s mellower moments like ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ and ‘Riding Out the Storm’ is also unexpectedly melodic. There is less emphasis than before on guitar solos of any description, and yet both songs are excellent. Lest we think BSR have wimped out, ‘Pay Dirt,’ complete with autobiographical references to Belfast and Glasgow, comes closest to the rough and ready style more associated with Ricky Warwick dating back to his days with The Almighty.

The album takes an odd turn for the worse in the middle with ‘Catch Yourself On’, whose guitars have an almost indie feel, as disjointed as its rather odd title suggests and a faithful cover of ‘Crazy Horses’ rather pointless.

‘Burning Rome’ is much better and though the chords in the verses are very Noel Gallagher-esque, as the song progresses the guitars sing in gaelic fashion like a cross between Lizzy and Big Country, while ‘Don’t Let the World Get in the Way’ is a more typical rousing BSR anthem. However the insidious Big Country-style guitar is even more prominent on ‘Green and Troubled Land’, one of many songs where Ricky’s lyrics have a touch of what the Germans call ‘weltschmerz’, unsettled  with the state of the world today.

‘This Life Will Be the Death of Me’ is another mellow song to close the album, even with a flavour of Van Morrison while an excellent wah-wah solo as the song winds to a conclusion process to be a fitting requiem for Christian Martucci’s tenure in the band.

I will freely admit that when Scott Gorham’s departure was announced my interest in the band dropped by at least 50%. But I actually have ended up very impressed with this new album, taking a few chances to broaden their range while retaining enough of their signature sound , making it a very promising start to their new era.  ****

Review by Andy Nathan

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
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