Album review – LAWLESS – R.I.S.E.
Escape Music [Released 08.12.14]
Quick follow-up from the band’s debut album ‘Rock Savage’ released last year sees Lawless carry on with their classy brand of melodic/classic Brit metal. The band feature two members of Demon – vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Hume and drummer Neil Ogden, Persian Risk guitarist Howie G and bassist Josh Williams (Headrush).
’1914 (Ghosts Of No Man’s Land)’ starts the album off with bagpipes and a spoken intro about how in the First World War thousands of pipers lost their lives. A heavy, yet poignant start to the album. They keep the pedal to the metal on ‘Twisted And Burned’ and ‘Rise’, the latter sounds like Demon’s more recent output. ‘Heaven’s Raining’ they add a little Far Eastern touch to the music and Howie G shines again with his guitar heroics. With its epic feel not a million miles from what Ten do so well.
‘Song For A Friend’ is the ballad on the album, a good chance for Paul Hume to show what a strong voice he has. The band do also peddle a couple of 80′s hair metal type songs, with the Whitesnake/The Cult approved ‘Kiss My Glass’ the pick of the crop. It is a corny of course but that’s the whole point, it’s a bit of ‘giggle music’ as Dame Coverdale calls it.
Lawless have released two very enjoyable albums and there are not many newer bands producing classic hard rock/metal in the style of bands like Saxon. ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
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Power Plays w/c 26 October 2026
BLACK RIVER DELTA Shame On You (Despotz Records)
DAYTONA Listen To The Silence (Escape Music)
SUCKERTRAP Sacred Lies (indie)
WOOD BURNT RED Count My Blessings (indie)
BLACKLIST UNION Heavy Is The Crown (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 26 October 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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