Album review: THE COMPULSIONS – Ferocious

THE COMPULSIONS – Ferocious

Indie [Release date 13.11.20]

The Compulsions have a long pedigree of fine musicians from the likes GnR to the New York Dolls to Bowie, and it shows – this is rock n roll at its finest and the album proves Rob Carlyle, singer/songwriter, will not be defeated in his mission to deliver roots rock to the masses, despite changes to the line up and a 5 year gap between albums.

‘Ferocious’ delivers track after track of dirty, roots original rock which is contagious and fun, with a blend of metal, rhythm and blues and country rock influences, this album flies on every level. Carlyle’s vocals and lyrics are superb with a real gravelly edge that just transports me to imagining this band playing live, in a real grass roots music venue with the audience lapping up every riff, beat and chorus.

My pick of the tracks …tough choice, they’re all good! However, I really loved Ferocious, Band of Thieves and Dirt Bag Blues which sums up rock n roll!

There are 2 covers on the album which have been reinterpreted and reinvented with great energy – Dead Flowers (originally The Rolling Stones) and Dust n Bones (originally GnR)

Carlyle explains the choice of covers on Ferocious: “Ever since I started The Compulsions, the idea was to create a sound that lives somewhere between The Stones and GN’R. Like if you put Sticky Fingers and Appetite for Destruction in a blender. So, this time around, I thought let’s just spell it out for people by actually covering those two bands. I’ve always loved ‘Dead Flowers’ and ‘Dust N’ Bones,’ anyway, and I had a pretty good idea of how to put our own spin on those songs.”

Both covers are immense and I think I prefer them to the originals – great work by The Compusions as that’s no mean feat.

I defy anyone not to like this album … I for one, would be queueing up to see The Compulsions live and to shake Rob Carlyle’s hand for his latest rock n roll masterpiece – long may this line up continue! ****

Review by Karen Clayton

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

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S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 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)