Album review: NO FAVORS – The Eleventh Hour

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

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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)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)