High Spirits – Another Night High Roller Records

Album covers can be deceiving at times. Looking at the cover of Another Night I was fully expecting an 80’s hair metal cheesefest but High Spirits are a bit harder edged than that. We are still firmly in melodic metal territory though or ‘high energy rock’ as the band like to put it.

Musically the band veer towards early Maiden and other NWOBHM stalwarts and make a decent fist of things. One area the band do lack in is the vocal front as singer Chris doesn’t have a huge range and the tracks all tend to be a bit monotone because of this. Another factor that hinders the album is the final mix which puts the drums so far back it sounds as if they couldn’t fit the kit in the studio and poor Ian the drummer had to record his part from the alley outside.

There are some good individual tracks here, but I did lose interest a bit listening through the whole album.

**1/2

David Wilson

Fear Report – Pandemic Soul On Loan

This is the debut album by New York rockers Fear Report. The band have been together a couple of years and have been through a few line-up changes in that time. Vocalist Dan O’Berry and guitarist Rob Trail took the time though to write what was to become ‘Pandemic’.

The guys play an alt prog metal, discordant, jagged and challenging. I have a feeling this will be an album people will either get and love or will be left cold and slightly bewildered and I must admit I was in the latter camp. The band though do know their stuff and the playing throughout is top class. Dan’s vocals are a bit of an acquired taste though which again may put people off a bit.

Not a bad album, but one that will appeal to a select fanbase

**1/2

David Wilson

Bones & Comfort – Mothersheep Go Down Records

Bones & Comfort are an Italian power trio who master in heavy, blues tinged stoner rock. After releasing a self-produced EP back in 2008 the guys gained a lot of interest in the Italian and European rock press. This album is looking to further cement their position and I can see no reason why their rise to success will not continue.

This is a solid, classy release with great production and songs. Over the 10 tracks you are treated to all out stoner rock on ‘We Choose Who Will Stand’, bluesy rock on ‘Take Some Pills’ and some good southern boogie on ‘No Country For Musicians’. At times I was reminded of early Sabbath, vocalist Daniele Murroni even sounds like a young Ozzy on occasions.

The album has recently had a worldwide release and if you like a bit of stoner rock then this is well worth tracking down

****

David Wilson

Bewilderland “Midwich Assembly” (Dead Fly Recordings)

Formed in the summer of 2010, 5 piece band Bewilderland are about to release debut album “Midwich Assembly”. Blending several influences, the album veers from the more upbeat part prog, part jazz rock “Stranger Than” to the electronic folk feel of “And Then The Summer” to the acoustic instrumental “Another Glorious Day”. The album does feel slightly underwhelming and even bland at times- this is not helped by the likes of short track “My Friend The Rain” or “Astronomer Royal”.

The album opens with the sparse and melancholic instrumental “The Morning Sounds Under Hushed Skies”, there is an early Genesis like quality to “Catch The Lights” whilst “No Comedy” has a heavier prog rock feel to it. Album closer “Everything Has To Happen” rounds off the highlights and is more how I would imagine the band sound live.

Nikk Gunns

Electric Black Horse – Electric Black Horse (CoconutLoveReactionRecords!)

Electric Black Horse are a New York glam/rock four piece . They have been together for less than a year but have played some high profile gigs around NYC.

Musically I can’t fault the band, their brand of sleaze rock is up there with LA Guns and Hanoi Rocks, well played with attitude to spare. The downside though are the vocals of singer/ guitarist Michael Pate who veers from being slightly off key to crossing the road to get away from it. On some tracks he gets away with it, the swagger and attitude carrying him through, on others though he is just bad, that or an ironic vocal genius, it’s such a fine line. The third track ‘All Over Now’ has to be heard to be believed!

Electric Black Horse are a good band with rocking songs, but they need a change of vocalist to take things further.

**1/2

David Wilson

MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY – Trials

Second album from this Luxemburg band, who play (as the PR says) post metal math rock. So while the progressive complexities are obvious, so is the nu-alternative experimental grating.

The intro is very programmed, building up in near industrial fashion before the progressive rock of North Korea kicks in. The King Crimson edge is a noisy (almost industrial) blend of 80s/90s Fripp.

Artifacts is more alternative, it’s certainly jangly and grating, with complex rhythms (the drums stand out in the mix), the vocals shouted in punchy fashion (think Green day played by an alternative punk band). Some good moments but the jangly guitar is quite annoying.

Modern Day Robbery is equally complex, touches of Rush, while Candies has a more indie power metal feel.

The overall feel is very very mixed – this mixes all that love about metal (prog, power metal) with all that I dislike about it (alternative, indie, grunge), in a very intense and technical way. Much as I like changes of rhythm and technical adeptness, it is all a bit much and needs a bit of melody.

It’s ok but of limited appeal.

**1/2

Joe Geesin

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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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 1 December 2024.

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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)