Share the post "Album review: COLLATERAL- Should’ve Known Better"
Cargo Records (Release Date 24.05.24)
After bursting on the scene five or six years ago, Kent melodic rockers Collateral’s rise to the top has been a bumpy one – which has included the pandemic striking at the very moment they released their self-titled debut album and a number of line-up changes since. The other problem with the album was that the edge was taken off those songs that sounded so good live by an underpowered production- to the extent that the album was re-recorded with some added special guests as ‘Rewired’.
They could not afford to make a second false start so they enlisted one of the very best current producers in the business, Dan Weller, famous for work with Those Damn Crows among others, and taken their time releasing a sophomore album.
Opener ‘Glass Sky’ is one of those that has been road tested live for the last year or so and already become something of an anthem- it opens with the ‘out of the shadows, we’ll be coming home’ chorus’ chanted to a military-style drumbeat, Angelo Tristan’s vocals have a contemporary feel to them, yet the song combines rock guitar with almost danceable grooves like INXS, parts of Def Lep’s ‘Hysteria’ and Robin George’s ill-fated ‘Notorious’ project.
On ‘Original Criminal’ the guitars are heavier and Angelo sounds a little like Seb Bach in the verses. However what has always made Collateral unique among their contemporaries in the broad NWOCR movement is Angelo’s love for a sound that mixes melodic and even country influences –‘ Just One of These Days’ is a worthy follow up to the likes of ‘Midnight Queen’, coming over as a cross between Tyketto’s mellower moments, Nelson and even Keith Urban.
However the band have still struggled for consistency and I found ‘Teenage Dream’- despite an absolutely splendid guitar solo from Louis Malagodi- and ‘Elysium’, sporting an oddly twangy guitar solo, not especially memorable.
Fortunately what once again weighs in at a short album at only 35 minutes picks up with the remaining four tracks excellent. ‘On the Long Road’ is a country-ish ballad that surely would have been huge on American radio, yet sports a quite beautiful guitar solo and ‘No Place for Love’- another established live favourite- commercial melodic rock at its best with a huge-sounding bank of vocals.
To date the album has been mellower than I expected but the last two tracks represent the heavier direction of this incredibly diverse band. Though the Those Damn Crows-sounding ‘Game Changer’ could perhaps have a stronger tune, it is enlivened by a slick guitar solo, and ‘Final Stand’ distinctively stands out as a modern rocker with a slightly more downtuned riff, yet still with a melodic approach.
It’s not a perfect album, but with at last the sound to match their attitude and song quality, this is the major step forward Collateral needed. ****
Review by Andy Nathan
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 26 MAY
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 9 June 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 11 June 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 10 June 2024
BASTION ROSE (Epictronic Records)
VOODOO RAMBLE Midnight Ride (indie)
BYWATER CALL As If (indie)
ESCAPE THE PARADIGM Cold (Curtain Call Records)
DEFENCES Gold In The Dark (indie)
BRAVE RIVAL Fairytale (indie)
MOJO ACES Old Crow (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 10 June 2024
09:00-12:00 NESTOR Teenage Rebel (Napalm Records)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 MIRACLE MILE East Of Ely (indie)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to an X (Twitter) account
Please note that as at 12.06.24 the X/Twitter embedded timeline appears to be broken. Please click the text link until this is resolved.
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Album review: COLLATERAL- Should’ve Known Better"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
