BraveWords Records [Release date : 19.07.24]
The music here serves as a fully realised reminder of the gifts that vocalist Paul Di’Anno has displayed numerous times, originally with Iron Maiden, and then anything he’s been involved with since.
Despite (or because of) his considerable health problems, Di’Anno decamped to Croatia a few years ago.
In Warhorse, he’s teamed up with a couple of immensely talented Croatian musicians in Hrvoje Madiraca and Ante Pupacic Pupi, and together they have written and recorded some of the best stuff of Di’Anno’s career.
His ability to write and sing new material is clearly in decent shape. As a result, this Warhorse album is everything we hoped it would be.
There’s no attempt to expand on a world that works best on the simplest of terms, but there’s talent and skill and emotion on display in abundance.
There’s a trio of tracks at the centre of the album around which the others spin.
Madiraca’s and Pupi’s busy, melodically inclined axework and the rhythm section’s marching meter perfectly suit ‘Stop The War’s sentiments. And while lyrically it doesn’t bring anything new to the table, it’s sung with conviction and sincerity, and maybe that’s enough.
Di’Anno is no opera singer, and so his voice, a rough and raspy roar, cleverly undercuts the skillfully arranged strings and piano intro to ‘Here Comes The Night’.
It’s no exaggeration to say this is a beautifully choreographed slice of heavy metal. Yes, it’s tough and forbidding in places, but it shines like a torch in the darkness.
‘The Doubt Within’ at last slows the pace. Letting us get our breath back.
Opener, and title track, ‘Warhorse’… an, er… galloping heavy metal steed of steel, has a bit of call and response going, but it’s probably most notable for deploying the tunefully aggressive axework that becomes a familiar feature as we work through the album.
Amongst others, covers of the Champs’ 1958 Latin RnB instrumental, ‘Tequila’ and the Depeche Mode song ‘Precious’, full of interesting and serious minded observations, standout.
Good to see him back. ***1/2
Review by Brian McGowan
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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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 30 July 2024.
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Power Plays w/c 19 August 2024
BRAVE RIVAL Bad Choices (indie)
SEVEN BLOOD House Home (indie)
DEFENCES Silence & The Sound (Long Branch Records)
JULIET’S NOT DEAD Thrillseekers (indie)
THEM GUNS Acid Plane (TLG|ZOID / Virgin Music Group)
FURY WEEKEND Feel The Beat (FiXT)
Featured Albums w/c 19 April; 2024
09:00-12:00 HYDRA ReHydration *Pride & Joy Music)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 ELLES BAILEY Beneath The Neon Glow (indie)
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