Its been a good day for album releases today, talk about #NewMusicFriday !
There were three albums in particular I was looking forward to - Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons, Marmozets & Orphan Colours. So for this weeks write up & review, I also took a listen to First Aid Kit, The Xcerts & Fall Out Boys' new offerings...Here's how it went -
Age Of Absurdity - Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons
Powerful, full-on first track, Ringleader, gets this debut album straight down to business. Loving the melody of Freak Show and Skin & Bones keep the heavy drum and riff style that we love about the band going strong! Bass-driven Gypsy Kiss smashes us towards the middle of the album, tantalizingly into the latest single, Welcome To Hell…indeed!
Dark Days slows the pace down for a short while with a Southern-rock style bluesy moody number including a sweet harmonica fill. We did say the pace dropped for a short while because Dropping The Needle powers straight back in for 1 minute 50 seconds of ”It’s rock n roll…it’s my addiction”
Step Into the Fire makes us feel that “burn, burn, burn” dragging us through track 8, screaming into the 9th, Get On Your Knees! High Rule gets your head nodding along with the now familiar bass/drum combo, quoting the album title through its lyrics, bringing us swinging onto the final track, Into The Dark. A brilliant guitar riff intro that continues through the 6 ½ minute finale and is reminiscent of all those stomping ‘80’s power track ballads that we love.
An awesome debut from Phil and the boys. You didn’t disappoint!
Gigs N Trigs Boot Rating 4/5. Stand out tracks – Freak Show, Dropping The Needle, Get On Your Knees.
Knowing What You Know Now – Marmozets
Straight into the album and giving us everything we love about Marmozets, the singles Play, Habits and Major System Error with the album track Meant To Be sandwiched nicely in between.
The power and energy does not let up through any of these tracks with stomping drum beats, big guitars and melodic, high pitched vocals.
Insomnia gives a slight whimsical break, keeping the vocal sweet and breathy but then hits up high again, smashing us straight back into the pounding beat and angry vocal of Lost In Translation.
The following three tracks keep giving us a high-paced run getting us head-nodding, foot-tapping and jumping around the room.
I really love the sound of this band!
Me & You slows it down again and really showcases the stunning range in vocals on a beautiful ballad-style track. The distorted riffs and heavy drums of Suffocation take us through to what is a fantastic finale, Run With The Rhythm.
This is a truly anthemic finish to the album, starting soft and slow, just vocal and guitar. It builds and builds into a superb heavy solo, crashing its way up and down, right to the screaming, trailing end!
Gigs N Trigs Boot Rating – 3/5. Stand out tracks – Play, Meant To Be, Run With The Rhythm.
All On Red – Orphan Colours
Gigs N Trigs Boot Rating – 3/5. Stand out tracks – Loving Kind, Waiting, Sun Is Rising.
A great debut album for this UK Americana group. All On Red gives you sweet country vibes, bittersweet blues and storytelling tunes almost reminiscent of those 80’s power ballad tracks.
Hold On To Your Heart – The XCERTS
Gigs N Trigs Boot Rating – 4/5. Stand out tracks – Daydream, Crazy, We Are Gonna Live.
The 4th studio album for this three-piece from Aberdeen/Exeter and what a diverse album it is! Our introduction to this 10-track is a piano/vocal, which leads us to the fantastic upbeat 90’s style arena rock single, Daydream and keeps on giving. Just brilliant.
Ruins – First Aid Kit
Gigs N Trigs Boot Rating – 4/5. Stand out tracks – Rebel Heart, Fireworks, To Live A Life.
The latest folk-infused offering from the sweet harmonised vocals of these Swedish sisters. Ruins slides effortlessly between Americana and folksy root music with the likes of Fireworks and Postcard blending seamlessly. Beautiful tales, beautiful tunes.
MANIA – Fall Out Boy
Gigs N Trigs Boot Rating – 2/5. Stand out track – The Last Of The Real Ones,
The usual hardcore pop/rock-cross noise from the Chicago lads. Not many tracks on here that I can get my teeth into unfortunately. I suppose you like them or you don’t.
And that's it for this week! Top picks from me then....Definitely Phil Campbells hard-rocking debut album and really took to the folky-country sounds of First Aid Kit. Happy Listening folks!