Spider Party Records [Release date 19.01.24]

Back “in the day” UK national radio would ensure that if a band crafted three or four minute ear candy there was a good chance it would be playlisted. Back then – 1970s and 1980s – there wasn’t today’s market fragmentation and, moreover, radio playlists were curated by humans.

Bournemouth’s South Of Salem can trace their lineage in bands like Thin Lizzy who offered one of the best examples of pithy, hard rock earworm.  If things were different SoS would be the riff merchants of their age, buoyed up by mainstream radio airplay.

At Stonedead in 2023 Andy Nathan noted: “For many people they were the discovery of the day and I must admit my own expectations had been pleasantly exceeded.”

The band are influenced by the likes of Murderdolls and Avenged Sevenfold whilst vocalist Joey Draper has a large horror movie collection. The macabre and cinematic theme spills over visually as well as lyrically.

As happens in the digital age we’ve had a salvo of singles trailing the album including ‘Static’ and ‘Jet Black Eyes’. The former has a humongous twin-guitar riff whilst the latter has the melodic and anthemic quality of prime-time post-2000 Europe. Bands like Alter Bridge and Shinedown also come to mind across this superb album.

The first single ‘Left For Dead’ is a particularly fine example of the band’s relentless riffage and a wonderfully engaging chorus.

Yes, there are a lot of bands occupying the heavy rock space seeking to gain a foothold but ultimately it’s the strength of the songs that win out. SoS have demonstrated with their second album that they understand the need to keep things short and to the point.

There’s little let up in pace from start to finish, a common thread with bands in the genre, and that might be a minor criticism. A big power ballad may have provided suitable contrast and certainly some respite.

Jason Ritchie gave their 2020 debut a 4/5 star rating noting that Covid scuppered their immediate live plans for the album but “they will be a force to be reckoned with once the live scene gets up and running fully.”

To that end, the band have been regulars at festivals in 2023 and with their own sell-out tour. They will no doubt repeat that formula this year, including April dates with Kris Barras Band. Definitely a band to watch out for. *****

Review by David Randall

Gig review (February 2024)

Album review (The Sinner Takes It All, 2020)

PLANET ROCK WINTER’S END
FRIDAY 2ND FEBRUARY 2024 – PORTHCAWL

TIVOLI
FRIDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2024 – BUCKLEY

ROCKMANTIC FEST
SATURDAY 10TH FEBRUARY 2024 – CARLISLE

LOVE LIVE FESTIVAL
SUNDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2024 – BLACKPOOL

THE FOUNDRY w/KRIS BARRAS
SATURDAY 6TH APRIL 2024 – TORQUAY

ENGINE ROOMS w/KRIS BARRAS
FRIDAY 12TH APRIL 2024 – SOUTHAMPTON

KK’S STEEL MILL w/KRIS BARRAS
SATURDAY 13TH APRIL 2024 – WOLVERHAMPTON

ACADEMY 2 w/KRIS BARRAS
SUNDAY 14TH APRIL 2024 – MANCHESTER

THE GARAGE w/KRIS BARRAS
WEDNESDAY 17TH APRIL 2024 – GLASGOW

BOILERSHOP w/KRIS BARRAS
THURSDAY 18TH APRIL 2024 – NEWCASTLE

ROCK CITY w/KRIS BARRAS
FRIDAY 19TH APRIL 2024 – NOTTINGHAM

ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL w/KRIS BARRAS
SATURDAY 20TH APRIL 2024 – LONDON

BRADSTOCK FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 4TH MAY 2024 – BRADFORD

CALL OF THE WILD FEST
24TH – 26TH MAY 2024 – LINCOLNSHIRE

MAID OF STONE FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 20TH JULY 2024 – MAIDSTONE

HAMMERDOWN FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 27TH JULY 2024 – BRIGHTON

BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL
THURSDAY 8TH AUGUST 2024 – DERBYSHIRE

FIREVOLT FESTIVAL
FRIDAY 9TH AUGUST 2024 – STOCKPORT

HRH FESTIVAL
THURSDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2024 – GREAT YARMOUTH

---

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 3 November 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 29 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 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch 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)

---

---

Popular (last 10 days)

---