By: Peter Morsellino
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 03/01/2020
Label: Pajama Party
“Signal Through The Flames” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1). Eye of the Needle
2). Seven Bells
3). Days Will Remain
4). The March of Mars
5). Nothing Left to Lose
6). ICQ
7). Kick Out the Lights
8). Night of the Black Goat
9). Into Dust
The Review:
With its powerful hooks and a fun seventies
aesthetic,
Ian Blurton's “Signal Through the Flames” is an
absolute good time. An album that stands tall with the best of anything classic
rock radio could offer. Truly an album
beyond it's time; this is a blast from the past that will surely introduce new
fans to the glory of yesteryear.
Influences across the album are diverse without
abandoning a central theme. A gorgeous mix of stoner riffs and vocal harmonies
with a melodic bass sound and a style of drumming that was sadly lost somewhere
in time. Electronics and keyboards fill out the mix with a textured atmosphere
to complete the sound.
Album opener “Eye of the Needle” is of particular interest with a retro
futuristic electronic atmosphere mixing with a very pleasant guitar melody that
morphs into a rollicking jam rocker. On the whole, you are left wondering when
Klaatu got so badass. “The March of Mars” is a stoner
masterpiece with riffs that would be very welcome on the classic “Sabbath
Bloody Sabbath” album. Keys round out the aesthetic, keeping things
fresh while familiar.
“Kick Out
the Lights” stands out to me with its driving pace and
guitar harmonies. It is just such a comfortable sound. It brings me back to a
time when, despite its growing complexity, music just seemed more simple, more
easy to enjoy. The bass tone on this
song is absolutely lovely. Everything that a bass line is supposed to be. A+ on
that element alone.
“Signal
Through the Flames” is a tribute to all the power
rock that has come before it without becoming derivative. It would be easy for
this album to fall into the realm of a nostalgia act, or even a work of parody,
but the masterful writing and musicianship throughout keep its head held
high. Ian Blurton stands tall against
the rock giants of the past, not as an imitator, but as an equal.
“Signal
Through The Flames” is available HERE
