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Spider Party Records [Release date 19.01.24]
Back “in the day” UK national radio would ensure that if a band crafted three or four minute ear candy there was a good chance it would be playlisted. Back then – 1970s and 1980s – there wasn’t today’s market fragmentation and, moreover, radio playlists were curated by humans.
Bournemouth’s South Of Salem can trace their lineage in bands like Thin Lizzy who offered one of the best examples of pithy, hard rock earworm. If things were different SoS would be the riff merchants of their age, buoyed up by mainstream radio airplay.
At Stonedead in 2023 Andy Nathan noted: “For many people they were the discovery of the day and I must admit my own expectations had been pleasantly exceeded.”
The band are influenced by the likes of Murderdolls and Avenged Sevenfold whilst vocalist Joey Draper has a large horror movie collection. The macabre and cinematic theme spills over visually as well as lyrically.
As happens in the digital age we’ve had a salvo of singles trailing the album including ‘Static’ and ‘Jet Black Eyes’. The former has a humongous twin-guitar riff whilst the latter has the melodic and anthemic quality of prime-time post-2000 Europe. Bands like Alter Bridge and Shinedown also come to mind across this superb album.
The first single ‘Left For Dead’ is a particularly fine example of the band’s relentless riffage and a wonderfully engaging chorus.
Yes, there are a lot of bands occupying the heavy rock space seeking to gain a foothold but ultimately it’s the strength of the songs that win out. SoS have demonstrated with their second album that they understand the need to keep things short and to the point.
There’s little let up in pace from start to finish, a common thread with bands in the genre, and that might be a minor criticism. A big power ballad may have provided suitable contrast and certainly some respite.
Jason Ritchie gave their 2020 debut a 4/5 star rating noting that Covid scuppered their immediate live plans for the album but “they will be a force to be reckoned with once the live scene gets up and running fully.”
To that end, the band have been regulars at festivals in 2023 and with their own sell-out tour. They will no doubt repeat that formula this year, including April dates with Kris Barras Band. Definitely a band to watch out for. *****
Review by David Randall
Gig review (February 2024)
Album review (The Sinner Takes It All, 2020)
PLANET ROCK WINTER’S END
FRIDAY 2ND FEBRUARY 2024 – PORTHCAWL
TIVOLI
FRIDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2024 – BUCKLEY
ROCKMANTIC FEST
SATURDAY 10TH FEBRUARY 2024 – CARLISLE
LOVE LIVE FESTIVAL
SUNDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2024 – BLACKPOOL
THE FOUNDRY w/KRIS BARRAS
SATURDAY 6TH APRIL 2024 – TORQUAY
ENGINE ROOMS w/KRIS BARRAS
FRIDAY 12TH APRIL 2024 – SOUTHAMPTON
KK’S STEEL MILL w/KRIS BARRAS
SATURDAY 13TH APRIL 2024 – WOLVERHAMPTON
ACADEMY 2 w/KRIS BARRAS
SUNDAY 14TH APRIL 2024 – MANCHESTER
THE GARAGE w/KRIS BARRAS
WEDNESDAY 17TH APRIL 2024 – GLASGOW
BOILERSHOP w/KRIS BARRAS
THURSDAY 18TH APRIL 2024 – NEWCASTLE
ROCK CITY w/KRIS BARRAS
FRIDAY 19TH APRIL 2024 – NOTTINGHAM
ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL w/KRIS BARRAS
SATURDAY 20TH APRIL 2024 – LONDON
BRADSTOCK FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 4TH MAY 2024 – BRADFORD
CALL OF THE WILD FEST
24TH – 26TH MAY 2024 – LINCOLNSHIRE
MAID OF STONE FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 20TH JULY 2024 – MAIDSTONE
HAMMERDOWN FESTIVAL
SATURDAY 27TH JULY 2024 – BRIGHTON
BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL
THURSDAY 8TH AUGUST 2024 – DERBYSHIRE
FIREVOLT FESTIVAL
FRIDAY 9TH AUGUST 2024 – STOCKPORT
HRH FESTIVAL
THURSDAY 7TH NOVEMBER 2024 – GREAT YARMOUTH
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.
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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)
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