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AFM Records [Release date : 13.09.24]
Battle hardened bands like Victory know that treading the boards for 30+ years teaches you stuff. You learn to map new paths to the same destinations. In reality, there is no substitute for experience.
Some of the names may have changed, but guitarist, songwriter, producer, Herman Frank still sits at the head of the table. Around him, vocalist Gianni Pontillo, rhythm guitarist Mike Pesin, bassist Malte Frederik Burkert and drummer Michael Stein nod in agreement. As he says “the band is a tight unit”, and their music is “based on the many live shows we have played together”. And yes, you can tell.
Circle Of Life is the band’s 14th album. The mysterious maths’ problem of the front cover is an interesting intro to the music.
Opener, ‘Tonight We Rock’ is a potent reminder that singer Gianni Pontillo has been Victory’s frontman for 5 years now. His careworn, gritty, been round the block a few times voice just oozes experience.
And so, we’re up and running, production sound is near perfect, the music has clarity and character, and a low down and dirty riff leads us into ‘American Girl’ (not that one). It’s immense, a slo-mo barroom bruiser, a tribute / paean to an un-named someone.
Then there’s ‘Count On Me’. The heavy metal guitars are turned up to eleven (well, 10 ½ at least), underpinned by a relentless rhythmic pulse.
A memorable, if brief call and response chorus arrives out the blue, concise, melodic. It has a hook buried deep inside. You realise this only hours later when it resurfaces in your head. After that, you just can’t shake it off.
Inevitably it was the lead single.
And so the music continues. Firmly embedded in a hard rock/ heavy metal groove, their tough as teak songs – ‘Unbelievable World’ and ‘Moonlit Night’ are two more prime cuts – show imagination as well as musical skill. They like to mix it up, they like to nail it down.
Victory is powerful proof that in the world of rock and metal, talent and ability are massive components of success, and after that, it’s down to drive and perseverance. ****
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 27 August 2024.
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