ALBUM REVIEW: Black Star Riders - "Heavy Fire"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 03/02/2017

Label: Nuclear Blast

 

“Let's not mince words here, this is straightforward hard rock. Big choruses, big sounds and big hooks are the order of the day. The production is superb; thick and muscular with the right amount of polish.  Black Star Riders have proved, again, that they are a fine hard rock proposition in their own right and with a strong work ethic, great live show and several albums under their belts, the band seem primed to rule the hard rock circuit.”

“Heavy Fire” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Heavy Fire (4:28)

2. When The Night Comes In (3:16)

3. Dancing With The Wrong Girl (3:21)

4. Who Rides The Tiger (4:20)

5. Cold War Love (4:05)

6. Testify Or Say Goodbye (4:17)

7. Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed (3:38)

8. True Blue Kid (4:17)

9. Ticket To Rise (4:38)

10. Letting Go Of Me (3:44)

The Review:

Black Star Riders are back with another full length studio album. Their line-up has never been consistent, but mainstays Scott Gorham (yes, Thin Lizzy) and Ricky Warwick are still the driving forces along with Damon Johnson and Jimmy Degrasso. The band are on rollicking form here; fans of The Almighty will recognise Warwick's writing style in the opening title track and elsewhere on the record.

Let's not mince words here, this is straightforward hard rock. Big choruses, big sounds and big hooks are the order of the day. The production is superb; thick and muscular with the right amount of polish. BSR grew out of the touring Thin Lizzy line up and you can certainly hear that- as you could on the preceding albums. This time, though, there is more of the band's own stamp on things.

Certainly, “Dancing With The Wrong Gir”l sounds very Lizzy- but “When The Night Comes In” sounds much less so. Warwick's references to god and guns are very much present and correct (as a rock n roll motif, not as an endorsement of either, you understand!). Over the ten tracks there are more restrained moments such as “Cold War Love”, out and out rockers like “Who Rides The Tiger”, familiar harmonies such as those on “Testify Or Say Goodbye” with it's rhyming chorus and so on. You get half time type grooves on “Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed” (and the title track, for that matter) and lots of stellar lead work.

By going all out on ten finely honed tracks, this is a stronger record than, say, “All Hell Breaks Loose”- which was strong in itself. More time together on the road and the studio must surely help- but these rock and roll veterans have been around the block many times, so they know how to deliver anthemic tracks like “True Blue Kid”. Warwick continues his penchant for excruciating puns on “Ticket to Rise”, but title aside, it's a fine low slung groove with some female backing vocals adding an extra dimension. Tough-as-nails/sweet-as-sugar closing statement “Letting Go Of Me” is a rocking note to finish the album on.

Black Star Riders have proved, again, that they are a fine hard rock proposition in their own right and with a strong work ethic, great live show and several albums under their belts, the band seem primed to rule the hard rock circuit. Indeed, a very high UK chart placing for this album shows that the public are taking notice and taking the band to heart, as they should. Catch them live in 2017 and witness the power for yourself.

“Heavy Fire” is available here





Band info: official || facebook



Ricky Warwick - “When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues) / Hearts On Trees” (Album Review)

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length x2

Date Released: 26/02/2016

Label: Nuclear Blast

Some of the writing is rather tender, some rock out (with a small “r”) but all of it is high quality. If you fancy a change from listening to droning sludge, negative black metal, or you just cannot stop listening to Motorhead after Lemmy's passing then this album could be a welcome relief.  The production is great; superbly played and sung with great melodies and most of all great songs.  Such song writers need your support, so why not try these records out and catch him live with whoever he is playing with. You won't regret it!

“When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues) / Hearts On Trees”

CD//DD//LP track listing:

01. The Road To Damascus Street (4:13)

02. Celebrating Sinking (4:02)

03. When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (4:24)

04. Toffee Town (3:33)

05. That's Where The Story Ends (3:51)

06. Johnny Ringo's Last Ride (3:34)

07. Gold Along The Cariboo (3:58)

08. Son Of The Wind (3:04)

09. If You're Not Going To Leave Me (3:07)

10. Yesteryear (3:34)

11. Presbyterian Homesick Blues (3:41)

12. Tank McCullough Saturdays (3:45)

13. Psycho (2:51)

14. Hearts On Trees (3:46)

15. Said Samson to Goliath (5:35)

16. Way Too Cold For Snow (3:33)

17. Schwaben Redoubt (3:25)

18. The Year Of Living Dangerously (3:58)

19. Disasters (2:59)

20. 82 (2:47)

The Review:

Not exactly the usual Sludgelord fare.... but this double album release is well worth your attention. Let's be clear: this is not metal. It is not punk. However, Ricky Warwick's links to both of those genres are inextricable. Warwick started his career in New Model Army and then went on to form and have great success with The Almighty (who morphed with the times from G 'n' R to Therapy? to The Clash and so on).

Since 2003, Warwick has been a solo artist of the singer/songwriter variety; think somewhere between Steve Earle and Bruce Springsteen but by way of Belfast and you are in the right ball park. He also fronts Black Star Riders, of course, and has made two storming records with them.

This double album sees Warwick in full on rock mode for ten tracks and then acoustic mode for the latter disc. I prefer the acoustic half, but that is just me. The production is great; superbly played and sung with great melodies and most of all great songs. The nostalgic likes of the electric disc's title track and the acoustic half's “Tank McCullough Saturdays” tap a rich vein of Belfast tales, harking back to the seventies. Warwick co-writes on a few of the tracks here, writes solo on others and does a very mean “Psycho” with no writing input from him. Andy Cairns of Therapy? (another Belfast boy) pops up on “Celebrating Sinking” (great title) while “Johnny Ringo's Last Ride” has tall tales of tough guys in Northern Ireland, also with a string punk styling in the presentation. The likes of the acoustic half's title track “Hearts on Trees” is kind of Irish inflected Americana, while two cranes speak to each other on “Said Samson and Goliath” at the docks.

Some of the writing is rather tender, some rock out (with a small “r”) but all of it is high quality. If you fancy a change from listening to droning sludge, negative black metal, or you just cannot stop listening to Motorhead after Lemmy's passing then this album could be a welcome relief. The two discs come as a pair; Warwick is a prolific and consistent songwriter. I am a huge fan; I still rank “Crank” by The Almighty as one of the best records from my youth (and, well, in general, really) and saw Warwick play to around seven people in Leeds in 2003 at the New Roscoe when he was starting out on the comeback trail. Pleasingly, I last saw him at Sheffield Arena supporting Whitesnake and Def Leppard just before Christmas last year. He is an engaging and charismatic performer in either setting. I can tell you that his live show is superb and he comes across as a down to earth and likeable bloke. Such song writers need your support, so why not try these records out and catch him live with whoever he is playing with. You won't regret it!

“When Patsy Cline Was Crazy and Hearts on Trees” is available now

Band info: rickywarwick