Page 32 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 111

BV111 albums pg32.qxp_BV111 pg 32 14/12/2024 17:49 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 32
lem’, which has an abun- battles and attempts to a battle of good vs. evil. Lindsley, Tom Bushby and
dance of melodic energy. overcome them, the songs The album is a concept Pete Kinmond, have com-
It’s another one sung by come from a happy place album akin to David bined their talents, along
Chris, about someone who and the recording process Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and with producer Phil Jackson,
had it all, but threw it away. was one of the best he has the Spiders from Mars. The to produce a triumphant
‘Broken Words’, sung by experienced. But of course, title track opens the album nine-track rock record.
Rog, is archetypal Less it is the music the record and, sure enough, AC/DC While it’s a shame it
Than Jake, upbeat and for- will be judged by, and it's instantly spring to mind. doesn’t hit the 10-track
tified by horns, while typically stellar stuff. Open- Money dominates the lyrics mark, the nine songs on
‘Shake Loose The Truth’, ers 'Alone With You' and in this song and also pops offer are all high-quality
with its crunchy guitars, is 'Sweet Smell of Success' up again in ‘Money, Sex, tunes that are worth their
LESS THAN JAKE a look at life. The seven could have easily come Or God’ – ‘Money’s what weight in gold. James Boak
UNCHARTED songs on ‘Uncharted’ are from the new Wayward they’re fighting for’, Tommy has a powerful voice, and,
(PURE NOISE) all vital parts of Less Than Sons album and are rip- Henriksen sings in the title with music to match, the re-
Less Than Jake are Jake history and life. Rog roaring slices of rock ‘n’ roll, track, before ‘Don’t look so lease makes Thieves Of
one of the few bands that sings ‘I surrender to the heightened by Toby's right- depressed, it’s the money Liberty a really bright light
have managed to carve ride, till the last stop on the hand man Dave Kemp on that makes you stressed’, for the UK rock scene. With
their own niche – and spent line, until it’s over, but it’s saxophone and brass in- in ‘Money, Sex, Or God’, a the title track kicking off the
over 30 years continuing to not over now’. We’re very struments. 'What Will It song that Henriksen wrote album, the quintet hit the
make it their own. There glad that there’s no end in Take?' is a more stripped- after being inspired by a ground running. The band
are not many bands that sight for Less Than Jake, back affair, the type of conversation on a TV once supported Less Than
you can rely on to remain and hope the ride contin- which helped make Little show. Jake, and there’s a riff
true to their own unique ues for a long time still to Angels shine in the 90s ‘The Boom Went The which opens the song that
sound, decade after come. and 'Throw It Away' boasts Boom’ has a slight Alice has a punkish Less Than
decade, but Less Than YYYY an earworm of a riff the Cooper ‘Hey Stoopid’ style Jake tone – but, as James’
Jake do so, loudly and Shari Black Velvet likes of which Toby has intro, and features Def Lep- vocals get underway, the
proudly. ‘Uncharted’ is a been producing for pard’s Phil Collen on guitar. song takes a more sub-
seven-track EP which fea- decades. The record Mutt Lange has produced stantial, hard rock turn.
tures various singles that closes in somewhat un- the album – he’s known for ‘Show me the way home,’
the band have released usual fashion with 'One working with Def Leppard he sings – but these guys
since their last full-length Track Mind' and 'The One and AC/DC. Tracks such definitely know where
album, ‘Silver Linings’, in Turns Out The Light', the as ‘The Last Night On they’re going. ‘Cherry
2020. One of our highlights former having an almost Earth’ and ‘The Sin Eater’ Queen’ has deep and
is ‘Sunny Side’, which be- swing-type style to it and both also have that Def dense guitar riffs that
gins with vocalist/guitarist the latter a hint of country. Leppard-style, soft rock slither and slide, jump and
Chris Demakes singing, Compared to the previous vibe to them, while ‘Let’s dive. ‘Rabbit Hole’ is a par-
before vocalist/bassist songs, they seem a little Bust The Trust’ has a com- ticularly glorious opus, with
Roger Lima takes over for out of place but, on reflec- pletely different, gaelic a bluesy flavour. Midway
the chorus. Roger has TOBY AND THE WHOLE tion, just highlight Toby's sound. Throughout the through the song, Tom
stated that the song is ‘a TRUTH versatility. It will be fasci- album, there are intoxicat- Bushby’s stomping drum
reminder to actively make LOOK OUT! (VOL 1) nating to see what volumes ing beats, saw-toothed gui- beat signals the stepping
an effort to live in the pre- (JEPSONGS) two and three produce. tar riffs and electric energy stone to what turns into an
sent. Move past your old Of the many labels you YYYY that’s larger than life. ‘High impassioned guitar solo
haunts and be the absolute can attach to Toby Jepson, Michael Coventry On You’, featuring Nikki that takes the listener on a
best version of you that you staying still is not one of Sixx, is a feelgood anthem, magical joyride – one of the
can.’ We definitely agree them. Having come to while the 13-track album highlights of the album.
with that. Roger’s grandfa- fame as the frontman of ends with ‘Misfits Of The You almost want a
ther is featured in the video one of the UK's biggest Universe’, a grandiose and breather after going down
for the single. Roger said, 'what if’s' with Little Angels, dramatic finale to the story the ‘Rabbit Hole’, so the
‘He was the best guy, al- he has spread his finger- and album. Overall, ‘Evil more despondent opening
ways happy and positive, prints across the rock World Machine’ is a fabu- to ‘Until The End’ is just the
and taught me to look for scene with his solo work, lous release from Cross- tonic. It isn’t long before it
the good in everything.’ His producing skills and guest bone Skully, a name that picks up pace, although it
grandfather sadly passed appearances, before more hopefully we’ll hear a lot doesn’t quite match its pre-
away, but the video is a recently reigniting his front- more from in the future. decessor. The band step
great tribute to him. The man career with Wayward YYYY into ballad territory for ‘Lu-
song itself has a positive Sons. This would be suffi- CROSSBONE SKULLY Shari Black Velvet minescent Daydream’, a
sound as well as message. cient for the majority, but EVIL WORLD MACHINE melodic, lighters-in-the-air
It’s the perfect song to put not Toby, who continues to (BETTER NOISE) gem that begins with intri-
on if you want to lift your scratch his creative itch by “I’ve based this album cate keyboard playing and
mood. But the album isn’t revising his solo work as on my heroes – AC/DC, smooth vocals from
all sunny-side up and Toby and the Whole Truth. The Who, but also The James. Kicking into gear, it
happy. ‘Walking ‘Look Out! (Vol 1)’ is the Cars and Kraftwerk,” said soon releases another suc-
Pipebomb’, sung by Chris, first instalment of a three- Tommy Henriksen, founder culent solo, before cymbals
is about not getting on with episode project, which will of Crossbone Skully, who then finish the heart-rend-
someone. The slightly ultimately boast 20 songs, many will have seen in ac- ing song off perfectly.
harder-edged, rapid- and the initial taste is a tion as a member of Alice ‘Sweet As Today’ has a
paced, ska-punk jaunt sees wonderful opening course, Cooper’s band. And, sure lush sound – it’s no wonder
Chris sing, ‘I hit my limit, which will leave you enough, ‘Evil World Ma- the band chose it for a sin-
just another minute more of chomping at the bit for the chine’, the debut full-length THIEVES OF LIBERTY gle. It’s catchy and buoy-
this, I might end it all, so next parts. The record album from Crossbone SHANGRI-LA ant, with James singing,
hard for me to let it go’. De- starts in interesting fashion Skully, released in Novem- (TMR ROCK) ‘everything’s going my
spite the not-so-positive with a spoken introduction ber, is true-to-the-bone, Up-and-coming UK way’. Thieves Of Liberty
lyrics, it’s got a very addic- to the songs by Toby and it classic rock ‘n’ roll revelry. rockers Thieves Of Liberty definitely deserve every-
tive beat and one that you is an excellent touch which For anyone not in the have just released their thing to go their way after
won’t be able to stand still gives the songs much know, Crossbone Skully debut album, ‘Shangri-La’, this release. If you haven’t
to when playing. Another more depth and meaning. was invented as an aveng- and it does not disappoint. checked it out, you should.
song that Less Than Jake Explaining that, while the ing superhero from outer The five members of YYYYY
have hit the nail on the songs are about mental space, who returns to earth Thieves Of Liberty: James Shari Black Velvet
head with is ‘Not My Prob- health and his personal to save the world and fight Boak, Kieran Wilson, Liam
ALBUMS