No.5-The Answer- Revival
In the last couple of years classic rock has had a real
resurgence in popularity, all of a sudden classic bands are being fully
embraced by younger fans, and newer bands are showing their love for those of
yore with an influx of classic sounding bands. Northern Ireland’s The Answer are at least very near the
top of that pile (if not right up at the top). Both the bands previous albums, Rise and Everyday Demons were received very well; both had excellent,
catchy, hooky songs which had you tapping and drinking away with glee. Revival stylistically is much of the
same, it just seems to have targeted the word Classic, because that is what Revival
is very close to being, a true vintage sounding rock gem.
The time spent with previous touring buddies AC/DC seems to have taught these guys a
few tricks because the jump in quality from the already impressive Everyday Demons to this is staggering.
Other than a hint of AC/DC influence
popping up here and there and a more obvious blues rock sound, there is very little different about this
album; it is simply just done at a much greater quality. The song writing has
improved massively, each song has a unique identity and stands on its own out
right as a possible highlight.
Paul Mahon
especially puts in a tremendous performance on guitar, jumping between the
subtle and the showy but not OTT with ease and style, and front man Cormac Neeson once again shows his
skill as a story-teller in the ilk of Phil
Lynott, and equally as great a voice. Even with several months to go until
the sun does come out once again, Revival
will definitely be being played by me during the BBQ months with a cold pint or
two in hand. If you don’t find yourself with a massive grin on your mug and
singing at the top of your voice to this I would seriously get checked up. The
one remotely unmemorable track ‘Destroy Me’ prevents this from being perfect,
but Revival is still a joyous, simple
but brilliant rock album. Can it be summer yet please?
Listen To: Nowhere Freeway, Vida (I Want You), Caught On The
Riverbed
No.4- Machine Head- Unto The Locust
Unto The Locust is
an album that you can instantly tell that the band have poured their heart and
soul in to in order to make the best album they can. They could have easily
just attempted to make The Blackening
Mark II, but instead Machine Head
have decided to try some new things out, and make Unto The Locust its own beast. There is such a lot going on in
places, with new tricks that were maybe not expected from Machine Head, the use of child vocal chants and acoustic guitar
licks being a couple of examples, yet these new experimentations seem entirely
natural. There is a definite progressive element to this album, along with the
long track running times of all the 5 minute mark, this is the most challenging
of Machine Head releases and does
take several listens to fully grasp, but once you have you will not be
disappointed.
Robb Flynn
especially excels himself with some of his strongest, most reflective and
relatable lyrics to date. Prime example of this is the half acoustic number ‘The
Darkness Within’, which is a very reflective song about music and his relation
to his art which is very touching (although the song itself for me is dependent
on my mood). The typical Machine Head
style anthems are plentiful here too, from ‘I Am Hell [Sonata in C#]’ through
‘Be Still And Know’ to ‘Pearls Before The Swine’, there is plenty here for the
typical fan, but with enough extras to fully explore. Unto The Locust is a tremendous effort and one of the major
releases of the year period.
Listen To: I Am Hell [Sonata in C#], Be Still And Know, Locust
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