ALBUM REVIEW: Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons, "The Age of Absurdity"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 26/01/2018

Label: Nuclear Blast

Fans of Motorhead will find what they are seeking here. Likewise, fans of more conventional hard rock acts like Guns n Roses and even earlier Aerosmith will find much to enjoy here. A solid and hard rocking record.

“The Age of Absurdity” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Ringleader
2. Freak Show
3. Skin and Bones
4. Gypsy Kiss
5. Welcome To Hell
6. Dark Days
7. Dropping The Needle
8. Step Into The Fire
9. Get On Your Knees
10. High Rule
11. Into The Dark

The Review:

Phil Campbell played guitar in Motorhead from 1984 to the end of the band. Over thirty years on the rock n roll front-lines. It's no surprise, then, that this record is a rocking shot of adrenaline, but some might be a little taken aback by the bluesy inflections in much of the material and the classic rock inflections to the solos and hooks. In fact, while opener “Ringleader” has a fair bit in common with Campbell's Alma Mater, the likes of “Freak Show” are bluesy swaggerers which would have fitted in perfectly on much more melodic records- think The Wildhearts by way of Free and you have it about right.

As the record progresses, it is clear that Campbell hasn't used up all his bullets with his extensive output with Motorhead and instead must have saved up a wealth of  material which he did not feel was right for Lemmy, but makes perfect sense. When the tempo ratchets up, as it does on “Gypsy Kiss”, of course the spectre of the greatest rock n roll band of all time will loom large- but the cleaner vocals and melodies are a departure.

Over the course of the eleven tracks there are a variety of tempos- from the gallop of vinyl tribute “Dropping The Needle” to foot stompers like “Welcome To Hell” and the blues rock of the excellent “Dark Days”. Neil Starr's vocals are a real strong point of the release- confident and melodically powerful, they provide a great counterpoint to Phil and the bass/drums/guitar supplied by his sons- and as you would expect, the band are a tight unit.

Over the course of eleven tracks you get bluesy, swaggering rock n roll, delivered at maximum volume. The final three song stretch is catchy and hard driving and even thoughtful as on the closing “Into The Dark”. Fans of Motorhead will find what they are seeking here. Likewise, fans of more conventional hard rock acts like Guns n Roses and even earlier Aerosmith will find much to enjoy here. A solid and hard rocking record.

“The Age of Absurdity” is available here



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