Share the post "Album review: 25 YARD SCREAMER – Natural Satellite"
White Knight [Release 08.08.19]
25 Yard Screamer might be like the proverbial curate’s egg – very good in patches. The Welsh prog rockers have been toiling now for the best part of a decade, first achieving GRTR! seal of approval with 2007′s superb ‘Cassandra’. This led to an appearance that year on our “Rising Stars” stage at the Cambridge Rock Festival.
Their more recent releases have maintained a consistency, often dense soundscapes that may seem impenetrable without further listening. This also applies to the latest offering. At times you just want to hear more melody and not least with Nick James’ distinctive vocals. It’s in there somewhere on the opener ‘The Storyteller’ and there are nice reflective moments in ‘Devastate’.
Things start to perk up with ‘The Silent Rising’ which does connect with their earlier sub-Marillion/early Hogarth period and reiterating their love of Rush. It’s really what they do best, thoughtful lyrics lulling you into a false sense of security before grinding guitar riffage breaks up the sense of familiarity. But this soon descends into more aleatoric agonising before a more accessible playout.
The band have experimented with some quirky sound effects on this album and, with two tracks beating the 14 minute mark, progressive in the truest sense. This band doesn’t really do the short snappy single, even if with a proggy twist. Perhaps this is an oversight.
I’ve often commented on the poor production values of previous releases, ‘Natural Satellite’ is a definite step forward but given the album’s density it does still need some studio gloss and producer know-how. Interestingly Rob Reed of Magenta, no slouch himself at the mixing desk, contributes keyboards to one track where perhaps he could have brought more expertise to bear. This might not be the album for end of day unwinding but it certainly demands attention. ***
Review by David Randall
Album review (Keep Sending Signals, 2016 )
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.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
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 7 April 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 2 April 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 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: 25 YARD SCREAMER – Natural Satellite"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
