Page 39 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 102

BV102 pg39_BV102 page 39 03/10/2019 00:08 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 39
title track are also not only shine. side project, time to work (pun intended) is the mas-
subtle nods to Toby and One of the main inten- on putting out music can be terful guitar skills of Meryl
Dave's past work but they tions of this album is to en- limited. This, the third Hamilton and Jon Dawson
also introduce to the Sons’ courage us to embrace our Down 'N' Outz record has which, from the moment
catalogue examples of flaws rather than present been five years in the mak- they kick into full speed on
Toby's versatility as a ourselves to the world try- ing, but ‘This Is How We opening track 'Don't Need
singer, as while he pos- ing to be someone we are Roll’ shows that Down ‘N’ Your Love', constantly im-
sesses a tremendous voice not. Confronting and fight- Outz are back in action. press throughout the 11
for your typical rock song, ing the inner demons, This time it’s different songs on the release. Sup-
the honesty he brings to ‘Beast’ is a no-holds-barred though... Elliott, alongside ported near perfectly by
the slower tracks is unri- rocker; it will be heralded The Quireboys' Paul Martin Ramsey on drums
WAYWARD SONS valled and is something as a classic in Saint Aso- Guerin (guitar), Guy Griffin and Ash Moulton on bass
THE TRUTH AIN'T WHAT which in hindsight was nia’s catalogue, for sure. (guitar) and Keith Weir and in no small measure to
IT USED TO BE missing from the debut With the lyrical content and (keyboards), plus Share the quite fantastic rock and
(FRONTIERS MUSIC) record making it all the its catchy riffs, dare it be Ross (bass, Vixen) and roll vocals of Lawrence
The new wave of clas- more welcome here. While said that ‘Animal I’ve Be- Phil Martini (drums, Way- Case, Voodoo Vegas
sic rock scene is not only none of the songs quite come’ [Three Days Grace - ward Sons), are ready to smack you square in the
alive and well in the UK but match the highlights of Gontier’s former band] unleash a collection of their face from the get-go and
it is thriving, and among 'Ghosts Of Yet To Come', came to mind on first listen. own material. When you do not loosen their grip
those spearheading the this new music will do won- Slowing things down a little listen to 'This Is How We throughout. Listing your
charge are Wayward Sons, ders to strengthen their live for the title track, the inspi- Roll', you hear their love for favourite bands such as
whose 2017 debut 'Ghosts show and based on this ration for ‘Flawed Design’ 1970s rock. Pulling inspira- Aerosmith, Bon Jovi and
Of Yet To Come' was a there is much more good- came from time spent on tion from that era, they Guns N' Roses as their in-
huge boost to the scene ness to come. social network sites, where have revamped and revi- fluences will come as little
and with follow-up 'The YYYY people try and create a talised sounds, producing surprise as they success-
Truth Ain't What It Used To Michael Coventry perfect image of them- songs that are both fun and fully take elements from
Be' they have not only con- selves; a perfect life. Clos- meaningful to listen to. these rock giants,
tinued this high standard of ing the album with the There are plenty of up- Lawrence doing an un-
work but offered much stunning ‘Martyrs’. Per- tempo rockers, ‘Another canny job of at times
more to their character. formed live, this song will Man’s War’, ‘This Is How sounding a little like Jon
Picking up where the last have people swaying and We Roll’, the toe-tapping Bon Jovi and Axl Rose as
album left off, 'Any Other will definitely be one that ‘Creatures’ and ‘Boys Don’t well as having his own
Way', 'As Black As Sin' and will signal torch lights from Cry’. It’s not all about gui- sound and even more im-
'Joke's On You' are rip- mobile phones to be tars, bass and drums on pressive are the times
roaring thick slabs of rock switched on. Upon the ini- here though; piano and when he manages to
and roll, the kind of which tial formation of Saint Aso- strings also make a won- sound a little like all three
have quickly become a nia, the band was called a derful musical accompani- at once and it is this skill
trademark of the band and ‘supergroup’, due to the ment within some of the which makes single 'Revo-
songs where the stellar SAINT ASONIA calibre of the members songs. Check out the lution' an album highlight.
guitar work of Sam Wood FLAWED DESIGN within it. Today, that title re- beautiful tribute to David But what makes 'Feeling
and drumming of Phil Mar- (SPINEFARM) mains intact, for more rea- Bowie, ‘Goodnight Mr So Good' so deserving of
tini are showcased in all You will get heaviness, sons than one. Back in Jones’. ‘Last Man Stand- your time really is the
their glory. '(If Only) God vulnerability and compo- 2015, the band’s ambition ing’ is another one of the tremendous guitar work
Was Real' sees Sam's gui- sure, but there is nothing was to make music that album’s stand-out tracks; throughout it and if you like
tar solo stand among the weak about Saint Asonia’s was ‘raw, real, and straight the vocal harmonies on this your hard rock guitar
highlights of the album, sophomore album, ‘Flawed from our hearts’; that objec- are just wonderful. You can sounds, this is an album
while killer hidden track 'To- Design’. Each of the 11 tive clearly stands today. tell from the vibe you get you need to explore. It's im-
tally Screwed' is a fabulous songs hold their own, delv- ‘Flawed Design’ is excep- from listening to the album pressive that Meryl and
bonus ending to the record ing into the personal strug- tional. that the band had a good Jon manage to find so
that will leave you buzzing. gles that the members of YYYYY time making it. As the band many ways to be just a little
But with 'The Truth Ain't the band have gone Penny Gower point out, ‘This Is How We different and it doesn't mat-
What It Used To Be', Way- through since their debut in Roll’, and we like it! ter if it's one of the album's
ward Sons have found a 2015. “The fire in me hasn’t YYY full-throttle tracks or one
way to elevate their game died...” singer Adam Gon- Penny Gower where they reign things in
from their recordings a tier declares in the captivat- a little, the results are al-
couple of years ago and ing opener ‘Blind’. It’s so ways the same: a riff or
bring something new, well good to hear Gontier’s dis- solo which will quickly im-
in fact something old, to the tinctive vocals back in ac- print itself on your memory
equation and in doing so tion, complemented by the until the next one squeezes
they have created a deeper quality musicianship of his its way in. Subsequently,
character to a band offering fellow band members - highlights are plentiful, the
much more than a simple Mike Mushok, Cale Gontier pick being 'Puppet', which
headbanging, rock and roll and Sal Giancarelli. The could easily be the new
record. We are first intro- first of two songs to include DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ song Guns N' Roses fans
duced to the change with vocal collaborations is THIS IS HOW WE ROLL are crying out for, while it
'Little White Lies' and at the ‘Sirens’, for which Within (UMC) will come as no shock that
heart of this change is the Temptation’s Sharon den Formed in 2009 by Def VOODOO VEGAS album closer 'Love Shines'
keyboard work of Dave Adel lends her classical Leppard frontman Joe El- FEELING SO GOOD features a little help from
Kemp which plays a much pipes, adding a hauntingly liott, Down ‘N’ Outz cov- (VOODOO VEGAS) Paul Mahon of The Answer
greater role in the new beautiful atmosphere to the ered songs by 1970s It's quite remarkable fame, as again, the track
album and it's all the better powerful track, while Gods- rockers Mott The Hoople that so many years after could easily come from
for it. Dave is no stranger to mack’s Sully Erna features and artists related to them. the first hard rock album their impressive back cata-
Wayward Sons' lead singer on ‘The Hunted’, a song Down ‘N’ Outz’ previous re- was recorded, guitarists logue so, while it could be
and guitarist Toby Jepson dealing with the struggle of leases dusted off songs, in- are still finding ways to cre- argued that Voodoo Vegas
from their successful years finding your place in life. cluding deep cuts, from a ate something a little differ- don't bring a great deal of
together with the much Originally a co-write be- band that Elliott had re- ent and for their third studio 'new' to the rock scene,
missed Little Angels. Else- tween Erna and Mushok a spected and loved for album Voodoo Vegas have when it's as good as this,
where, the more stripped- long time ago, it has finally many years, with the hopes managed to do this. At the who cares?
back 'Fade Away', 'Us been dusted off, tweaked of introducing them to a epicentre of what makes YYYY
Against The World' and the and given the chance to new audience. As with any 'Feeling So Good' so good Michael Coventry

ALBUMS