Album review: SCREAMING EAGLES – High Class Rock ‘N’ Roll

FTF Records [Release date 06.10.23]

Screaming Eagles hail from Northern Ireland and this is their sophomore album. The debut came out in 2013 which begs the question what have they been doing since? Notwithstanding the two year hiatus that is Covid.

Opener ‘Thunder & Lightning’ has an AC/DC vibe with vocalist Chris Fry doing his best Brian Johnson impression. And that vibe continues with .45

If those tracks set the scene it has to be said that there is nothing really original about this band, just solid riffery and no doubt a good live attraction.

If there’s one criticism it’s that the album is pretty much balls out rock and roll all the way. There’s little light and shade and therefore nothing to really distinguish them from their peers – and there’s a lot of similar stuff out there. Not least from fellow countrymen like Gasoline Outlaws and Maverick.

As a consequence it’s not such a great listening experience – in fact it’s quite exhausting -but I am sure works well as a souvenir of their gigs where they have played events such as Hard Rock Hell and Camden Rocks in London. The digi-packaging reveals a live photo from one-time GRTR! tog Simon Dunkerley.

There is a lot to like about this album, it’s straightforward, you know where you stand (and when you fall, pint in hand), and even if you’ve heard it all before it could still become mildly addictive. ***1/2

Review by David Randall

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
RIOGHAN Hands (Inverse Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 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)