Page 38 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 102

BV102 albums pg4_BV102 page 38 02/10/2019 19:21 Page 1

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solos and high-teased vo- be a shout-along live belter, being by far the best of the cased and together the
cals, showing as always as will ‘Underneath The Af- slower tempo songs on the four produce a neck-snap-
that these guys are ex- terglow’ which goes heav- record as the others, 'Run- ping, heart-pounding con-
tremely well-accomplished ier and darker. ‘Why Do ning In Circles' and the clusion to their work. In
musicians as well as outra- You Love Your Guns?’, a somewhat cheesy 'Vambo between these songs,
geous entertainers. Steel politically-charged power Roolz' are a significant there’s a slight dip, with 'If
Panther rules. ballad inspired by Amer- downturn in the quality of This Is The End (I've Been
YYYY ica’s epidemic of school songs here and something A Fool From The Start)'
SBV shootings, is quite a jarring for the band to work on for being the highlight. Al-
change of pace but there is the future. The rip-roaring though if you listen to the
THE 69 EYES a power to it, and the guitar 'Fast Car' sees Vambo un- EP as we suspect the band
WEST END solo is phenomenal. ‘What leash their funky side for a would like you to, immedi-
STEEL PANTHER (NUCLEAR BLAST) Will It Take?’ features Pearl sublime, hip-shaking con- ately after 'Side One' to
HEAVY METAL RULES A tolling bell heralds Aday joining Ricky War- clusion to the record with a create a 12-track album,
(STEEL PANTHER INC.) the rising of the Helsinki wick on vocals and is pure song which is bound to be 'Black Eye Friday' goes
Michael Starr, Satchel, Vampires with their 30th Americana, while album a high point of their live set. from killer opener to an
Lexxi Foxx and Stix Za- anniversary album. The 69 closer ‘Poisoned Heart’ is YYYY even more powerful mid-
dinia, AKA Steel Panther, Eyes are that rare beast – fierce, high-octane rock Michael Coventry album boost, re-igniting
must surely have been co- a genuinely unique sound. that goes out with a bang. your passion for the record
medians in their past lives. ‘Two Horns Up’ is in their Black Star Riders just keep which, in turn, somehow
The sleazy humour that trademark up-tempo rocker getting better and better. manages to magically en-
they manage to create style, darkly theatrical, YYYY hance the four tracks be-
never gets old. If you’re solid bass line and riff Clare Huckett tween it and the stunning
ever having a bad day, all heavy, featuring a guest final two, and songs like
you need to do is take a lis- appearance from Dani Filth VAMBO 'Hollow People' and 'Blood
ten to their new album, (Cradle of Filth). In a similar VAMBO In The Water' become so
‘Heavy Metal Rules’ and vein, ’27 & Done’ pays trib- (GOLIATH) much more enjoyable,
they will immediately ute to the infamous 27 There is a valid argu- while 'On A Leash' and
brighten your day. You’ll be club, before the pace slows ment that Vambo are per- 'Crawl' go from EP high-
sniggering, chuckling and for the hauntingly gothic, forming in the wrong era, lights to utterly awesome
laughing out loud to songs piano-heavy ‘Black Orchid’ but we would disagree with THE CRUEL KNIVES album closers, the likes of
such as single ‘Always and ‘Change’. ‘Burn Witch that and instead suggest SIDE TWO which will ensure you look
Gonna Be A Ho’, which in- Burn’ ups the pace again in they are bringing back a bit (THE CRUEL KNIVES) up their live dates as
cludes the lyrics ‘I don’t a dark fairy tale centred on of yesteryear to the rock Passing judgment on quickly as possible.
care if your dad is Russell the poison of social media scene for those who enjoy the second EP from UK- YYYY
Crowe, you’re always insanity. Dani Filth returns a little vintage when it based hard rockers The Michael Coventry
gonna be a ho’ and alongside Wednesday 13 comes to classic rock. It Cruel Knives, 'Side Two', is
‘doesn’t matter if you live and Calico Cooper (Beastö will come as little surprise very much down to how THE ROCKET SUMMER
so long your body is cov- Blancö) for a tribute to Wes to learn that the London- you look at the seven-track SWEET SHIVERS
ered in mould’. If you ARE Craven’s ‘The Last House based quartet find heavy release. The follow-up to (AVIATE)
in a bad mood and every- On The Left’. There’s a inspiration in the likes of 2017's (yep, you've ‘Sweet Shivers’, the
one is pissing you off, then more frenetic, punky style Aerosmith, Deep Purple guessed it) 'Side One' gets seventh studio album by
‘Fuck Everybody’ is the to this one, with the vocal and Led Zeppelin as they underway in grand fashion Bryce Avary, also known as
perfect anthem for you. layering giving an added more than wear these influ- with 'Black Eye Friday'. The Rocket Summer, is
Singing ‘Fuck everybody, creepy tone. With their ences on their sleeves as Opening the EP with a ma- packed with gifted vocals,
everybody can suck my never-ageing brand of goth they put their best foot for- jestic storm of the sublime instrumental and emotive
dick’ as loudly as you can ‘n’ roll and Jyrki 69’s mes- ward with the album and guitar work of former lyricism. Songs such as
will fuel your fire and get merising majestic bass vo- the excellent opening dou- Heaven's Basement pair- ‘Morning Light’ burst with
the blood flowing even cals The 69 Eyes are a bit ble, double whammy of ing Sid Glover and bassist energy and fluidity. Soft vo-
faster. ‘Stinky fucking dude Marmite, but for those for 'Now You See Me', 'Why Rob Ellershaw, before set- cals and bass drive the
on the airplane did not whom it works ‘West End’ Why Why', 'Cry Woman' tling in to introduce the bril- song along. ‘Shatter Us’
wash himself, smelt like I will be a welcome return. and 'We're Not The Same'. liantly talented vocals of encompasses a rawness
was strapped inside the YYYY Jack Stiles' silky smooth Tom Harris, who soon lets with personal lyricism that
carcass of a whale,’ sings Clare Huckett vocals are perfectly suited loose with the true scale of delves deep into the brain
Michael Starr. They just to this style of rock and are his ability when the song of the musician, while ‘Gar-
keep coming up with the BLACK STAR RIDERS supported perfectly by Pete hits full pelt, it's both a fan- dens’ and ‘5 4 3 2 1 Z’ take
most imaginative one-lin- ANOTHER STATE OF Lance's punchy guitar skills tastic introduction for those a more upbeat approach.
ers. Title track ‘Heavy GRACE throughout the self-titled new to the band as well as ‘Gardens’ has an electro
Metal Rules’ has a heavier, (NUCLEAR BLAST) record, enabling him able a reminder to those familiar yet mellow vibe, whereas
sludgy feel when it kicks in. Black Star Riders will to display the wide range of with their work of what they ‘5 4 3 2 1 Z’ has a groove
It’s quite an ingenious track never escape the shadow his skills, the highlight com- are capable of. Equally the that will get the listener
as it ties in with the intro to of Thin Lizzy, and why ing with the aforemen- EP closes in top form with dancing. Acoustic elements
the album, which is a clip would they want to? Yet tioned 'Why Why Why', arguably two of the best also add flavour to the
from 1986’s ‘Heavy Metal newcomers Christian Mar- where he pours a ton of songs the band have pro- album with tracks such as
Parking Lot’ featuring a tucci (ex-Stone Sour) on emotion into his words, duced yet, 'On A Leash' ‘Wannalife’ possessing a
metal fan that’s wearing a guitar and Chad Szeliga which in no small part con- and 'Crawl'. The former is a stripped-back element,
zebra-striped outfit. Steel (ex-Black Label Society) on tributes to this being the big, brooding slab of hard while ‘Slomo’ combines
Panther call him ‘Zebra- drums bring additional in- show-stealer of the album rock, the kind of which The drum beats, guitar and vo-
man’ on the album and his fluences and have slotted and a song which could Cruel Knives are quickly cals creating an amalga-
interview audio starts the in well. Opener ‘Tonight easily star on any record of establishing a reputation mation of an endearing
album. Michael then sings The Moonlight Let Me the rock giants they have for producing, and one sound, which sums up the
the same words that he Down’ is the familiar ener- found inspiration from, which is also dripping with entire album. As always,
spoke in the intro along to getic and upbeat hard while 'We're Not The bad attitude. It goes without Bryce plays each and
music in the title track. The rocker with the bonus of a Same' could easily come saying that the line ‘I'm an every instrument on the
heavy metal vibe runs Michael Monroe sax solo. from the back catalogue of animal at heart’ is probably album and his talent is
through the music of songs Celtic-drenched title track Queen and when you listen very true to the band, while wholly evident throughout
such as ‘I’m Not Your Bitch’ ‘Another State Of Grace’, to it, you can actually pic- 'Crawl', in contrast, is a full- the release.
and the NSFW ‘Gods Of with its twin-lead guitars, ture Freddie Mercury per- throttle slice of rock and roll YYYY
Pussy’, which include men- penny whistle and strong forming it. 'We're Not The in which Al Junior's drum- Sara Ashton
acing riffs, sparkling guitar drum rhythms is going to Same' also stands out as ming skills are really show-

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