Album review: THE DEAD DAISIES – Radiance

www.thedeaddaisies.com [Release date 30.09.22]

The Dead Daisies seem to have found their saviour in Glenn Hughes. Several solid if unspectacular albums (including live and covers releases) were fronted by different vocalists and now – with Hughes joining for 2021′s ‘Holy Ground’ – the line-up seems more settled (with Brian Tichy back on drums) and the band have been touring in Europe and North America over the summer. A UK tour is lined up for December.

It’s always easy to be suspicious about a “supergroup” configuration. They come and they go, few seem to hang around. Hughes most recent hard rock band (notwithstanding the lack-lustre California Breed) was Black Country Communion which was stymied in particular by Joe Bonamassa’s solo commitments.

‘Radiance’ is very much a vehicle for Hughes’ robust musicianship and the heavy rock vibe a natural successor of his brief liaison with Tony Iommi on that mighty, if overlooked, album ‘Fused’. The title track in particular but also ‘Cascade’.

If you are looking for a large amount of heavy riffage, this is the place. Opener ‘Face Your Fear’ actually recalls the punchline riff of ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’ but demonstrates everything that’s good about this album. Soulful, distinctive vocals and muscular, melodic guitar from Doug Aldrich.

The strength of this album has been revealed by the trickle of “singles” since early summer – following the digital ‘Live From Daisyland’ EP to keep things bubbling – including ‘Hypnotize Yourself’ with its bluesy overtones reminding of latter-day Bad Company.

‘Radiance’ the album references several decades of heavy rock and serves it up in a dramatic, contemporary fashion and always with Hughes’ midas touch. ‘Radiance’ is quite simply heavy rock heaven and certainly one of the best in class this year.

So, for example, ‘Born To Fly’ recalls a little of ‘Run To You’, whilst ‘Kiss The Sun’ is thematically connected to The Beatles and ‘I Want You (She’s So Heavy)’. ‘Not Human’ recalls Audioslave via early millennium Europe and so on.

Whilst the album is riff-heavy throughout, it concludes with the wonderful mid-tempo ‘Roll On’ which at just on three minutes finishes far too soon but at least complements the single-length nature of tracks on the album as a whole. Perhaps these tunes will be extended when played live?

A band re-energised and re-purposed. Let’s hope rock’s great journeyman (and great voice) hangs around for the next one. *****

Review by David Randall

December 2022
03 Nottingham/ Rock City
04 Manchester/ O2 Ritz
06 London/ O2 Forum Kentish Town
07 Wolverhampton/ KK’s Steel Mill
10 Dublin/ The Academy*
11 Belfast/ Limelight *
13 Edinburgh/ O2 Academy
15 Bristol/ SWX
* Graham Bonnet Band Only (Exclusive Acoustic Performance)

Albums that time forgot (Iommi, Fused 2005)

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.

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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.

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 29 October 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
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)