Album review: LIGHTNING THREADS – Trinkets

March 13th, 2026 by GRTR! HQ

https://www.lightningthreads.com/ [Release date 28.01.26/Streaming 01.05.26]

The follow up to their 2023 debut album, ‘Off That Lonely Road’ the Threads new record, ‘Trinkets’ sees the band following much the same Blues rooted path but there’s a growing maturity, evident in both the songwriting and the performance, which reflects the hard work and dedication these guys have committed to the cause.

Formed in Sheffield in 2019 the band consists of Tom Jayne on guitar and vocals, Sam Burgum on bass and vocals and the versatile Hugh Butler on drums and keyboards (if you have seen them live you will know that Butler, somehow, manages to play both simultaneously).

The Blues Rock environment is heavily populated these days and, clearly, that could cause issues for the likes of the Threads as they try to make headway in a congested genre. But putting greater emphasis on the Blues half of that moniker enables them to stand out from the crowd.

Production credits go to Andrew Banfield, at Superfly Studios and, with all ten tracks credited to the band there is plenty of scope for individual influences to show themselves but all the material here is laced with the essence of the post war Chicago Blues sound of the likes of Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters and those they went on to influence, Rory Gallagher, Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer to name but three.

Opening number, ‘Nowhere To Go’ tips its hat to those deep south beginnings of the Blues, a haunting harmony backing vocal straight off the plantations, it’s a song that sets the tone for all that follows.

For all I’ve said above, ‘Wild One’ is most definitely blues rock! Guitar riffs and lyrics reminiscent of Rory Gallagher at his best while, on ‘What Can I Say’ it’s Albert King whose bell is ringing at the back of your mind. Great lead vocal from Tom Jayne here, he really belts it out! The blues shuffle of ‘Rags and Riches’ completes an opening quartet that leaves you somewhat breathless and in need of something a little more laid back.

Right on cue, the soulful ‘What a Fever’, with its haunting picked guitar motif and accompanying slide passages asks you to chill and kick back and the instrumental, ‘With a Heavy Heart’ seems to follow in the same vein but, its lonely, wistful piano intro gives way to Latin rhythms and a cool lead guitar break – reminds me of Santana but it’s a hundred percent Lightning Threads!

‘Shook’ is underpinned by a Stray Cats boogie with the vocals and lead guitar vying for attention throughout. It’s catchy, infectious and great fun! Next up, ‘Just Might Be’, more killer guitar, more sweeping organ passages and, once again Tom Jayne’s impassioned vocals.

Finally, we get two slices of 60s-tinged blues rock, the Led Zep/Lead Belly inspired ‘Devil Inside Me’ and, ‘White Dress’, which wouldn’t have been out of place in the Woodstock set of Ten Years After, closing out the album. A word here for the Sam Burgum, Hugh Butler engine room which really comes to the forefront in these last two numbers.

Thankfully, this is far from another generic Blues Rock record. Lightning Threads, with that definite emphasis on the blues roots throughout, constantly ask questions of the listener, revealing with repeated plays, more and more subtle nods to the inspirations behind this great collection of songs.

2026 is destined to be a big year for these lads, with both support and headline tours already penciled in and ‘Trinkets’ proves beyond any doubt that their upward trajectory continues. ****

Review by Neil Pudney

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

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Upcoming sessions:

April 12

Josh Taerk - Sunday Session - 12 April 2026

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 1 March 2026.

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Power Plays w/c 2 March 2026

DODGY – It’s Not The End (Flip Flop Records)
THE SKBs – Hour Glass (indie)
LAKE – Boy On A Mission (indie)
KING FALCON Holding Out (indie)
HOKKA Heart Said No (Nuclear Blast Records)
STARBENDERS The Beast Goes On (Sumerian Records)
EDDIE AND THE WOLVES See Me Fall (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 2 March 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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