Page 44 - Black Velvet Issue 95

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YYYYY Excellent YYYY Very Good YYY Good
YY Listenable, Just Y Poor

band whistling, and its po- track, ‘Breathe’, is by far place on ‘Judas’ but not as struggle, which many peo-
sition on the album is per- the best song on the EP, much as ‘Three Days In ple will identify with. ‘Born
fect as it means the giving less focus to the gui- Jail’, where Jericho tries his Trucker’ starts the album
following tracks, ‘Voice Of tars in the track and more hand at rapping and it is off brilliantly with a great
The New Generation’ and priority to the vocals. It is a here where arguably his riff, a massive earworm of
‘Back From The Dead’ hit much slower song and has keenness to be different a chorus and a mid-section
you just as hard as the more chances for people to has gone too far. The sec- that is guaranteed to have
opening three songs, have a good sing-along. ond half of the album at- hair flying in every direction
whereas without the respite Overall, while starting a lit- tempts to return to the form every time it’s played live.
‘Breathe’ offers the impact tle weak, the EP gets infi- of the first half. ‘Elevator’ is With a great bass line and
would not be as great. nitely better as it another enjoyable song; a a terrific solo too, it’s an ex-
SANTA CRUZ Penultimate track ‘Get progresses; the final two rock song with a bit of a cellent way to start the
BAD BLOOD RISING Me Out Of California’ is an- tracks are by far the best pop beat rather than the album. ‘We Will Conquer
(M-THEORY AUDIO) other subtle effort but the and end the record on a other way round and ‘Run- All’ carries on exactly
There is much talk of guitar work from Archie and high. ning With The Bulls’, ‘Cap- where the previous track
rising blood from Finnish Johnny during the instru- YYY sized’ and ‘Wolves At Bay’ left off, with another catchy
rockers Santa Cruz on their mental is a highlight of the Becky Simpson are a fine trio to wrap riff and a heaviness that will
third LP ‘Bad Blood Rising’ album, which closes in things up. It is somewhat be superb live. That chorus
and whether it be young or unique fashion with ‘River FOZZY apt that in ‘Running With will also sound great sung
bad, the actual fact is this Phoenix (Part 2)’, essen- JUDAS The Bulls’ Jericho sings back either by several
album doesn’t just make tially the album’s second (CENTURY MEDIA) “Here we are, caught in thousand voices in a
blood rise, it makes it song made into something One thing you can confusion, in the storm we smaller sweaty venue or a
pump. Hard and fast. Stick completely different and a never accuse Chris Jericho learn who we are” and bigger festival crowd.
this CD in at a social event great showcase of the abil- of is being unwilling to take maybe there was a little Bass fans will be de-
and you will immediately ities of a band, which, de- risks and with ‘Judas’, the confusion in the making of lighted to hear that, thanks
raise the energy of every- spite the suggestions in latest addition to Fozzy’s ‘Judas’ or maybe this was to the excellent production,
one present. ‘Bad Blood ‘Bad Habits Die Hard’, growing catalogue, he and the storm where Fozzy has the bass is heavy and
Rising’ hits top gear from have little bad habits on his band mates have taken learned who they are, nicely to the fore. On ‘De-
the start with opening track display here. several gambles. Jericho’s which is a hard rock band. troit Steel’, for example, the
‘Young Blood Rising’ and YYYY ability to reinvent himself is And when they stick to bassline is a rumbling
doesn’t back off with follow- Michael Coventry one of the qualities which what they do best, they are beast, which when played
ing tracks ‘River Phoenix’ has helped him forge such as good as anyone. at the correct volume, will
and ‘Fire Running Through a lengthy and successful YYY have the neighbours’ pic-
Our Veins’, a trio of songs career as a professional Michael Coventry tures falling from their
which immediately unveil wrestler and now he walls. The band should be
one of the band’s most spends less time between congratulated for being
powerful weapons, when the ropes offering him more able to cleverly incorporate
all four members come to- time to spend behind the an influence into a song
gether on vocals. It’s not mic stand, he has also without overusing it. For
commonplace to have a shown his ability as a mu- example, ‘Voodoo II’ has
band where all members sician. echoes of the Foo’s ‘All My
have vocals listed on their ‘Judas’ opens in grand Life’ and ‘Drown In The
CV and while guitarist fashion with its title track, Fire’ incorporates a flavour
Johnny Cruz, bassist an excellent slice of the of AC/DC’s ‘The Razor’s
Middy Cruz and drummer GREYHAVEN hard rock which the band Edge’, but they are both
Tazzy Cruz (please note BREATHE has become known for subtly done, so that after
these are their stage (OUTSIDER) and, powered by Chris’ TRUCKER DIABLO the first hearing it’s barely
names, they’re not related!) Greyhaven are a Lon- slightly rough and ready FIGHTING FOR EVERY- noticeable. As on previous
may only be also described don-based alt-rock band vocals and the impressive THING releases, it’s not all flat-out
as backing vocalists to lead who draw influences from guitar talents of right hand (OFF YER ROCKA) rockers and ‘When The
singer Archie Cruz, their in- bands such as 30 Seconds man Rich Ward, this is Following a year of fes- Waters Rise’ closes the
fluence is absolutely cru- To Mars, Don Broco and among the band’s finest tival appearances and a album with an epic ballad
cial. The unification of their Alexisonfire. Their third EP, work to date and the follow- successful Pledge cam- of superb quality featuring
four voices with their excel- ‘Breathe’, is a riff-filled ing track ‘Drinkin’ With paign, Trucker Diablo have beautifully melodic violin
lent musical talents fre- record, which leaves little Jesus’, armed with a recorded and now released and a heartfelt and emo-
quently creates a wall of space for someone to hugely infectious groove, is their third album, keeping tional lyric that this band do
sound from the band that is catch their breath. The a very close second. The the momentum rolling. For so well.
impossible to ignore and opening track, ‘Truth’, slower-paced ‘Painless’ those not already familiar This is a really high
also helps create the party demonstrates this perfectly, continues the excellent with the band, they hail quality release and stand-
atmosphere that ‘Bad kicking off with the EP’s start before things take a from Northern Ireland and out tracks will vary from lis-
Blood Rising’ provides in signature guitar sound, al- turn down a different path, can claim such peers as tener to listener and even
spades. Listening to it truly though the focus is on the ‘Weight Of My World’ intro- Ricky Warwick, Joe Elliot from one listen to the next,
sounds like you’re sur- guitar and backing instru- ducing something of a pop and Cormac Neeson such is the consistency of
rounded by your best ments in this and ‘When beat to the album and, amongst their fans. the music. Existing fans of
mates singing along to We Divide’ which leaves while it is certainly different, One of the first things the band will love this
your favourite new tunes. the vocals a little lost and it is undeniably still a hard that returning fans might album and should not hes-
It isn’t all about fast- sometimes unintelligible. rock song and a very notice is that ‘Fighting For itate to get a copy, but
paced hard rock, however. As the record continues, catchy one at that. The pop Everything’ has a slightly there’s plenty here for the
The band has some other the quality improves. beat remains present, but harder sound than the last currently unconverted to
unique abilities which give ‘Crows’ starts off a little perhaps a little less so, in album with more faster enjoy too - to quote the title
this album its own special slower than the previous ‘Wordsworth Way’, but then tracks and less ballads. track, ‘Horns up, time to
edge. On ‘Breathe’, they songs and the incorpora- it takes over on ‘Burn Me The song writing is still just raise the roof’.
strip things back so much tion of heavier vocals in the Out’, while still an enjoy- as strong and there is a re- YYYYY
that at one point the main background ties the song able and catchy track does curring theme of triumph Duncan Everson
instrument you hear is the together nicely. The title seem somewhat out of over adversity/overcoming
ALBUMS