Simon Rushworth
There’s a magical mixed bag of rock and metal hitting stores this week and we’ve handpicked the best of tomorrow’s new releases – so read this before you blow that hard-earned cash!
Canadian metal titans Priestess (pictured) return to the fray and there’s a welcome back to Aussie pub rock and rollers Airbourne. Massive US pop punksters We The Kings aim to break the UK and SOAD frontman Serj Tankian impresses on a symphonic sideshow.
Throw in punk rock crew The Smoking Hearts and the choice is yours. We’re here to make that choice a little easier.
Airbourne – No Guts, No Glory (Roadrunner Records)
It’s album number two for the AC/DC soundalikes and if you were expecting a subtle change of direction then think again. Airbourne don’t do subtelty and this really could be there ultra-impressive debut all over again.
In the view of Roadrunner’s rock and roll pin ups the original is the best and they’re probably not far wrong. Replicating Runnin’ Wild is the safe bet and the sensible bet. It’s impossible to imagine these boys singing about anything other than women, whiskey and music and they fit the cliched image of young blokes partying hard like a glove.
Opener Born To Kill is a blast but tracks like Blonde, Bad And Beautiful and Steel Town sound like tunes you hear from teen hopefuls the length and breadth of Britain’s sewaty pubs and clubs. No Guts, No Glory either exposes Airbourne’s limitations or represents a band at one with themsleves. The jury’s out. But the lads do have guts and for now they’re enjoying the glory.
rushonrock rated: 7/10 Bourne To Be Wild
The Smoking Hearts – Pride Of Nowhere (GSR)
According to bass player Calvin this record is ‘all about doing what you want to do and not taking shit for doing so’. Unfortunately you can imagine The Smoking Hearts taking this ‘oh so punk’ attitude into the recording studio and taking no advice whatsoever from a production team quite capable of taking their patchy debut to the next level.
If only they’d occasionally done what somebody else wanted them to do and taken some shit along the way then this might have been capable of competing with Gallows and their ilk. Instead it’s a horrible mish mash of overblown angst and ill-directed venom. Daddy’s Little Disaster is superb but, alonsgide Juliana Blue, it’s a rare insight into what this band could be capable of.
On the whole this much-hyped record is a huge disappointment. But everyone makes mistakes and let’s hope this is The Smoking Hearts’ first and last.
rushonrock rated: 5/10 Hearts Not In It
Priestess – Prior To The Fire (Tee Pee Records)
Fancy a blast of old school NWOBHM-style riffage? The this is as good a place as any to satisfy your hunger for all things denim and leather and it proves that metal is back. And back in a very big way.
2004’s sparkling debut Hello Master seems like a long distant memory but it’s bone crunching follow-up is well, well worth the long wait. During their time out of the studio it’s not as if Mikey Hepner and his band have been sat with their feet up dreaming of metal megastardom. A punishing touring schedule and that undeniable potential has manifested itself in the magnificent Prior To The Fire and if you hear two back-to-back tracks as good as The Gem and Communicating Via-Eyes this side of 2011 we want to hear from you. Now. The former is a modern metal classic and the latter shows a softer side to a band known for its unrelenting and focused power.
Priestess are a band on the brink of greatness. Let’s hope their time comes sooner, rather than later.
rushonrock rated: 9/10 Prior To The Breakthrough
Serj Tankian – Elect The Dead Symphony (Warner Bros.)
The SOAD frontman’s tilt at grandiose operatic showmanship works remarkably well as he joins forces with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra to create one of the musical events of the year. Classical tones sit comfortably alongside Tankian’s often jarring vocals and this bold collaboration has the potential to break open a new market for the alt metal master.
If Elect The Dead was an impressive step away from the SOAD standards then these live and carefully orchestrated versions of the same tracks take on a new life entirely. If you bought the original don’t think, for a minute, you can avoid …Symphony. It’s like a whole new journey into the psyche of a quite unique musician and might actually be the best thing Tankian has ever put his name to. Charades sounds magnificent with the heavy piano and atmospheric wind instruments giving way to a piercing horn section and acoustic guitar stretch. Remarkable and unexpected.
rushonrock rated: 8/10 Serj Of Talent
We The Kings – Smile Kid (Virgin Records)
If reasonably inoffensive, summery pop punk is your bag then head straight for the UK release of We The Kings’ jaunty Smile Kid. It’s optimistic, infectious, unoriginal stuff and will make fans of You Me At Six wet their knickers with delight. In fact YM@6 are some of WTK’s biggest fans and the two bands spent a considerable amount of downtime together on last summer’s Warped tour.
Lead track She Takes Me High really belongs on the soundtrack to a Friends episode or any other sugary sweet US sitcom but Promise The Stars is even cheesier. It’s little wonder these guys have gone on to shift a lot of records in their home country because they’re incredibly good at what they do. And if what they do isn’t necessarily your cup of tea then you can’t fail to enjoy the music Travis Clark and his buddies have conjured up. Feels like spring has sprung.
rushonrock rated: 8/10 Smiles All Round