This fourth studio album from the Brooklyn-based five-piece heralds a
significant step-up from predecessor ‘Boys and Girls In America’ which, given the quality of that album is no mean achievement. This is the sound of band reaching their full potential, ‘tight but loose’ like The E-Street Band on speed with guitarist Tad Kubler’s restrained style proving much more effective than any number of fast-fingered shredders. It is singer/lyricist Craig Finn who really excels though – his wonderful staccato lines and half spoken delivery weaving tales of the night like a punk Bruce Springsteen.There is much to admire here – a real contender for album of the year.
Rating: Essential
Nostradamus – Judas Priest
Two disks of majestic riffs, soaring vocals, overblown arrangements, operatic splendour and magnificent campness. Although weighed down a little by the sheer volume of material on offer, everything we know and love about Priest is here in bucket-loads. The Priest are back – and that can only be celebrated.
Rating: Superior
Silver Spoons And Broken Bones - Stone Gods
Wherever you stand on The Darkness it has to be said that they served to re-focus public (and record company) attention onto classic rock music. Indeed it could be argued that the current resurgence in interest would not have happened without them. So what then of Stone Gods – are they a just a re-branded Darkness or a bona fide contender?
On the evidence of this debut album the jury will have to reserve judgement. There are undoubted highs here and very few lows as the album struts across a wide range of styles but the overall impression is of a band still trying to find their identity.
Credit must be given for the band's determination to pay their dues and not trade on their ‘former’ name but perhaps another year or so to hone their sound would have paid dividends with a more consistent style. Things could get interesting further on down the road!
Rating: Good
