Originally conceived by musician and friends Matthew Richards 10 years ago, Mathew Alexander Powell (Puzzle Tree/Shadow Of The Sun/Theme From Alex) recorded his debut solo album over the course of two days with only two microphones a pocket full of songs and some good friends. Recorded live in the studio alongside long time collaborator/co-producer Lee Howells and Matthew Richards, Fearless Jack still feels intimate and involved even with a decade gone by.
It features several guests joining Powell to record, everything picked up by just those two microphones, as if you're there in the studio with them, Richards plays guitar on a couple of tracks, while Puzzle Tree bassist Jamie Roberts adds four strings, Shadow Of The Sun bandmate Dylan Thompson adds guitar/vocals while there's features from Lionel Thomas and Wes Packer playing Cajon and Samuel Bees on additional vocals.
It's an album that has also taken on another significance as between now and then Matthew Richards passed away so this album is a tribute to him for and from those that loved him. With that in mind Fearless Jack then is celebration of musicians making music but also a record of deeply felt emotions, with Powell bearing his soul with that expressive voice right up front.
Capturing your heart on the intimate Glass Smooth until the bluesy What If I Am? the influence of Jeff Buckley, Elliot Smith, Chris Cornell or any of those early 90's MTV Unplugged sessions can be felt on this excellent acoustic record. Re-released in part to commemorate one of its creators, as well as the beginning of a wider, reissue campaign leading to a full band solo record.
Whether it's solo, Puzzle Tree, Shadow Of The Sun or Theme From Alex, Matthew Alexander Powell is an artist long established in the South Wales music scene, but one who's work is only now being appreciated properly for how good it is. 9/10
Foreword - Exposition (Seek & Strike)
Foreword are metalcore band from the USA and they combine emotionally honest lyrics with modern metalcore, where atmospheric synths, and electronic music merge with crushing breakdowns and vocals that move between melodic cleans and disgusting gutturals.
They are well aware of their influences but bring them into the 21st Century like bands such as Paleface Swiss and I Prevail. Exposition is their new EP inspired by futuristic video games such as DOOM and Cyberpunk and recorded in a collaborative atmosphere with producer Cory Brunnemann (Nonpoint, Upon A Burning Body, Zahna).
It's a five tracker where the band bludgeon right from the beginning, picture of a band developing their style, the heaviness is pulverising but it's balanced by the anthemic choruses and the industrial sounding electronics. Foreword are a modern metalcore band with all the trappings that entails, music to mosh to, but nothing revolutionary. 7/10
Spencer Mackenzie - Empty Chairs (Gypsy Soul Records)
When I pressed play on Canadian blues player Spencer Mackenzie's new album, I instantly thought of those early Joe Bonamassa records when they had a rawness to them, inspired just as much by rock n roll as they were blues greats, it's gritty and dirty, washed in the Bayou.
Recorded mainly as a four piece of guitar, organ, bass and drums, though with a few different drummers. There's a blues rock ethos behind these songs, which is what makes me think of the early Joey Bones albums, heck there's even a Rory Gallagher cover as Mackenzie brings his own version of Don’t Know Where I’m Going.
On the evidence of this third album Mackenzie is a soon to be superstar, his guitar skill is incendiary, cranking out the blues rock riffs with passion, which also comes through in his soulful vocals, he's got a number of virtuoso players surrounding him. Miles Evans Branagh (piano/hammond/keys), Stacey Shopsowitz (bass) and Adam Canon (drums) with Sandra Bouza and Chantel Williams adding the backing vocals.
For two tracks, Frozen Hearts and Helping Hands they swap out the rhythm section to Steve Pelletier (bass) and Matt Burns (drums) but not much changes in terms of the style as the production job from 2X JUNO-nominated producer/Emmy Award winner/guitarist of The Commoners Ross Hayes Citrullo gives the record an honest, live feel , so you can pick out the skills on display but also it's ensconced in a warmth that can be felt on records from bands like Rival Sons.
Soulful but gritty blues rock with great guitar playing and big organs, Empty Chairs will get the bums in seats when he plays these songs live. 8/10
All Seeing Eyes - We Are The Revolution (Self Released)
All Seeing Eyes is the project created by UK power metal veteran Ben Colton (lead guitar/vocals) and multi-instrumentalist Kenny Fraser.
They are well aware of their influences but bring them into the 21st Century like bands such as Paleface Swiss and I Prevail. Exposition is their new EP inspired by futuristic video games such as DOOM and Cyberpunk and recorded in a collaborative atmosphere with producer Cory Brunnemann (Nonpoint, Upon A Burning Body, Zahna).
It's a five tracker where the band bludgeon right from the beginning, picture of a band developing their style, the heaviness is pulverising but it's balanced by the anthemic choruses and the industrial sounding electronics. Foreword are a modern metalcore band with all the trappings that entails, music to mosh to, but nothing revolutionary. 7/10
Spencer Mackenzie - Empty Chairs (Gypsy Soul Records)
When I pressed play on Canadian blues player Spencer Mackenzie's new album, I instantly thought of those early Joe Bonamassa records when they had a rawness to them, inspired just as much by rock n roll as they were blues greats, it's gritty and dirty, washed in the Bayou.
Recorded mainly as a four piece of guitar, organ, bass and drums, though with a few different drummers. There's a blues rock ethos behind these songs, which is what makes me think of the early Joey Bones albums, heck there's even a Rory Gallagher cover as Mackenzie brings his own version of Don’t Know Where I’m Going.
On the evidence of this third album Mackenzie is a soon to be superstar, his guitar skill is incendiary, cranking out the blues rock riffs with passion, which also comes through in his soulful vocals, he's got a number of virtuoso players surrounding him. Miles Evans Branagh (piano/hammond/keys), Stacey Shopsowitz (bass) and Adam Canon (drums) with Sandra Bouza and Chantel Williams adding the backing vocals.
For two tracks, Frozen Hearts and Helping Hands they swap out the rhythm section to Steve Pelletier (bass) and Matt Burns (drums) but not much changes in terms of the style as the production job from 2X JUNO-nominated producer/Emmy Award winner/guitarist of The Commoners Ross Hayes Citrullo gives the record an honest, live feel , so you can pick out the skills on display but also it's ensconced in a warmth that can be felt on records from bands like Rival Sons.
Soulful but gritty blues rock with great guitar playing and big organs, Empty Chairs will get the bums in seats when he plays these songs live. 8/10
All Seeing Eyes - We Are The Revolution (Self Released)
All Seeing Eyes is the project created by UK power metal veteran Ben Colton (lead guitar/vocals) and multi-instrumentalist Kenny Fraser.
Formed in 2014, they released an album but after a time of hiatus they came back with their most recent record Reinventing Time in 2021, and the duo refined their approach to be a more melodic style of prog power metal where radio friendly AOR and grungy hard rock also feature.
Drawing comparisons to Crimson Glory, Queensryche and Savatage, they have returned with their third record We Are The Revolution, a politically driven record, that takes it's lyrical theming from a record such as Empire and ours it together with some brilliant performances from the two members of the band.
With Colton's massive, Blaze Bayley-esque voice, which moves through some Matt Barlow lows on Firetribe, he takes on the frontman role well, delivering big on the lyrics about society and modern age. He's also a great guitar playing brining the searing leads to Beyond Judgement Day and the full on power metal of The Prophecies as well as the more restrained power of Forever.
Fraser meanwhile showcases his virtuosity on every track handling pretty much every other instrument from the bass, to drum programming, through to the flittering keys and synths, on the anthemic Rise Again. He also gives the album some epic production and orchestrations on The Cure For Insanity and the two part track The Lonely Road To Redemption.
We Are The Revolution lights the beacons and calls to fans of sophisticated prog power metal to come and listen. A highly skilled duo creating excellent music that picks out all the right bits from the genre leaders. 9/10
With Colton's massive, Blaze Bayley-esque voice, which moves through some Matt Barlow lows on Firetribe, he takes on the frontman role well, delivering big on the lyrics about society and modern age. He's also a great guitar playing brining the searing leads to Beyond Judgement Day and the full on power metal of The Prophecies as well as the more restrained power of Forever.
Fraser meanwhile showcases his virtuosity on every track handling pretty much every other instrument from the bass, to drum programming, through to the flittering keys and synths, on the anthemic Rise Again. He also gives the album some epic production and orchestrations on The Cure For Insanity and the two part track The Lonely Road To Redemption.
We Are The Revolution lights the beacons and calls to fans of sophisticated prog power metal to come and listen. A highly skilled duo creating excellent music that picks out all the right bits from the genre leaders. 9/10
No comments:
Post a Comment