Album review: SIMON McBRIDE – The Fighter

Simon McBride chatted to Pete Feenstra for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 19 June 2022.

SIMON McBRIDE - The Fighter

earMUSIC [Release date 27.05.22]

McBride was voted “Young Guitarist Of The Year” by Guitarist magazine in 1996 an accolade that can be both a blessing and a curse and has moved in and out of bands ever since. More recently he played in “supergroup” configuration Snakecharmer whilst he has just been announced as stand-in for Steve Morse on Deep Purple’s forthcoming tour dates. It seems he’s finally arrived.

McBride heads up a power trio and the opener ‘Don’t Dare’ (and ‘Just Takes Time’) is in the Bad Company/Free tradition of pump and grind. ‘Show Me How To Love’ is another straightforward blues rock workout that could fit nicely into the repertoire of a Laurence Jones or an Aynsley Lister. And then there’s Virgil McMahon flapping again around their blues to rock coat tails.

And there’s the rub, whilst this is all very polished it’s not really distinctive enough. It’s almost as if the world has moved on since McBride cut his teeth and he needs to catch up.

Whilst there’s a lot to like here – from the groovy ‘Kingdoms’, the title track, especially the first single ‘High Stakes’ and the riffy ‘Back To You’ – there’s also the somewhat average ballad ‘Let Me Go’, and the perfunctory ’100 Days’, ‘King Of The Hill’ and ‘Trouble.’

McBride seems to be torn between his blues rock leanings and a more straight ahead rock approach. In truth, the best tracks here favour the latter. Maybe he will ultimately follow the heavier approach, similar to the trajectory pursued by Kris Barras.

Of course there’s great guitar a-plenty and no doubt McBride has been influenced by fellow compatriots Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher.

Two tracks on this album appeared on each of two EPs released in 2019/20, ‘Trouble’ and ‘Show Me How To Love’.

The publicity blurb for the album is somewhat disingenuous billing this as ‘McBride’s first album’ when in fact he released ‘Rich Man Falling’ (2008), ‘Since Then’ (2010), and ‘Crossing The Line’ (2012). Strangely these albums appear to be erased from history as there’s no reference on his website. Perhaps he wants a fresh start?

McBride has certainly arrived but maybe a little too late to the party. ***1/2

Review by David Randall

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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 3 November 2024.

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