Pride & Joy Music [Release date 22.11.24]
Can’t not give No Favors a listen as they hail from my home town of Stoke-on-Trent! No Favors were formed in the ’80s, which included rhythm guitarist Carl Ogden, who remained a constant in the band’s line-up through the years (must have seen them supporting Magnum at the Victoria Hall in Hanley in the mid-80s). Joining Carl are Dan Ogden (lead guitar), Tom Bevan (drums), Pete Challinor (bass, backing vocals) and Dani J Rankin (vocals, keyboards).
Doing a bit of online research, No Favors have certainly got through a fair few band members, none more so than at the mic stand. Hopefully they have found a good match in Dani J Rankin, who has that lovely gravelly tone of Cinderella’s Tom Keifer or Motley Crue’s Vince Neil, with a touch of the helium!
Plenty of variety, be it the bluesy ‘No Looking Back’, which although lyrically is a tad pedestrian, the guitars keep things interesting. The fast and furious tribute to Barry Sheene, ‘Need 4 Speed’, is one for playing live. Same goes for the first single, ‘Stop Where You Are’, a belter of a melodic hard rocker.
The end of the album has some of the strongest songs, including the ballad ‘Only Memories Remain’, which sees them dial back on the guitar present on the rest of the album. ‘My World, Your World, Our World’ sees Dani Rankin really hitting those high notes, on a song that has plenty of relevance today.
Nicely done fellas and a cracking melodic hard rock album for those who love a bit of Praying Mantis or Demon. ***1/2
Review by Jason Ritchie
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.
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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024
IZZY REIGN Spooky Scary Skeletons (FiXT)
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)
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