Album review: TRUCKER DIABLO – Social Hand Grenade

Big Unit Records [Release date 25.10.24]

It’s a sad fact that many of the NWOCR bands doing the rounds at the moment started out at least 10 years ago. The likes of Doomsday Outlaw and Sons Of Liberty come to mind.

Trucker Diablo originate from 2008 and six albums in they are regulars on the festival and support circuits. The reality is that this is about as big as it gets. Which is a shame for this band because they write engaging and memorable songs wrapped up in a forward-looking heavy rock vibe.

It’s in the live environment that this Northern Irish contingent thrive as several of our gig reviews attest. And ‘SHG’ gives them another reason to “get out there”.

The album opens with the fairly rudimentary ‘Kill The Lights’ but the song does establish the band’s modus operandi: The twin guitar onslaught of Tom Harte and Simon Haddock and the rock solid rhythm section (Jim McGurk and Terry Crawford).

If high octane hard rock is your bag, Trucker Diablo fuel it. The downtuned delights of ‘Stop The Bleed’ and ‘Dig’ are impressive whilst ‘Show Me The Way’ has the commercial urgency that Europe possessed back in 2006. The band show melodic variety on pieces like ‘California On The Run’, ‘The Power Of One’ and ‘Here’s To Heartbreak’. An album well worthy of your headbanging (and with some respite too). ****

Review by David Randall

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 6 October 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 8 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 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)