Kenny Wayne Shepherd: The Traveller (Provogue Records)
Kenny Wayne Shepherd came to the attention of the world-at-large when he was a young hotshot back in the early-90's. This is the way so many of the current crop of blues guitar players made their name but Kenny Wayne Shepherd has stuck around, touring the world numerous times becoming something of a blues rock troubadour. This is probably why this record is called The Traveller it's the music made by a seasoned journeyman of the stage who still wields a Stratocaster both teasing and abusing it in equal measure. He's now 41 year old and has a wealth of experience to draw upon which means songs such as Long Time Running tell of a man who has been there and done that but can still bring firebrand solos to this record, they have become his trademark. From the brass filled I Want You through the more countryfied Tailwind, the percussive We All Alright and the brilliant Take It Home (which has the radio-baiting of Black Stone Cherry). On this album Shepherd has tried to feel the song rather than just use his guitar prowess like he has previously, something he owes to Stephen Stills who he plays with in The Rides. I've not been too familiar with Shepherd's work in the past but with a soulful Southern vocal delivery and impressive guitar chops, I think I may need to revisit some of the Louisiana natives previous releases. The Traveller is KWS as he is now, a husband, father and songwriter, with age comes experience and this shines through on The Traveller. 8/10
Idle Hands: Mana (Eiswald)
Mana is as Goth as wearing all black in the sun, you can just imagine the members of the band protecting their porcelain white skin with black lace, leather and sunglasses even at night, add to that a bit of sleaze and heavy metal posturing and you’ll be on to a winner. With some booming Glenn Danzig-like vocals and a melodic NWOBHM styled music below it, Portland natives Idle Hands debut album is a melting pot of 80’s influences with metal, new wave and Goth rock all delivered by former members of the band traditional metal band Spellcaster. Idle Hands is the sole creative outlet for former bassist Gabriel Franco, who now handles vocals and rhythm guitar, supported by Sebastian Silva – guitar, Brandon Hill – bass and Colin Vranizan - drums.
If you remember the band In Solitude who shone brightly with three albums of Gothic NWOBHM, before exploding into bats (probably) then Idle Hands will be right up your darkened street. Tracks such as Don’t Waste Your Time creep with a swaggering metal riff while Give Me To The Night has the anthemic quality of The Misfits and Blade And The Will gives you a peek at what The Cure would sound like playing Maiden covers. It’s going to appeal to both Goth fans and metal fans due to the amalgamation of sounds here and of course everyone loves miserable lyrics (see: Double Negative). Their EP was critically acclaimed and I can see this being the same, it’s a really good album, which came as a surprise to me as I can struggle with the Goth label. This is a heavy metal band in Goth trappings and a great metal band they are too. 8/10
Silver Bullet: Mooncult (Reaper Entertainment)
Probably known as the best way to dispatch a werewolf, it's ironic that Silver Bullet sound so much like the German masters of Lycanthropic power metal Powerwolf. From the grizzled vocals, to the tougher edge on the riffs Mooncult is only this Finnish bands second album but it's a fine power metal album that has equal amounts of metal and orchestral elements blending both very well, it's a concept album loosely based on the North Berwick witch trials which lends itself to the band's theatrical nature, meaning that tracks such as Maiden, Mother And Crone (not a The Sword cover) hit you over the head and to be honest it's relentless, there are very few breaks you get with other power/symphonic metal acts, no ballads just bombastic power metal meaning that unless you really love this genre to death it may be a little overwhelming. Even on the slower numbers like Light The Lanterns (Scavengers Of Death) there's still blistering blast beats and orchestral swells. Mooncult is a suitably epic second album from this Finnish act, a band who would go down a storm on the Bloodstock stage. 7/10
Warmrain: Here Comes The Rain Again (Rain Recordings)
Look at the title, yep the self proclaimed "quintessentially English prog band" Warmrain cover THAT song on this EP, it's a stripped back acoustic version of the song, which goes into a full band on the chorus and for the soaring solo. Warmrain is the brainchild of singer songwriter Leon Russell and this album sees a line up change but the same level of musical brilliance that has always been associated with the band. If you're a fan of Steven Wilson, John Mitchell and Pink Floyd (Clock Watching) then Warmrain will tickle your whiskers, in fact Wilson/Mitchell's drummer Craig Blundell guested on the title cover after hearing the demo. The rest of the album consists of their own original material that is in the same vein as the cover, it's all very ambient and Canterbury scene, in places the vocals are whispered and barely audible but it's all part of the compositions on this EP. If a more laid back approach to prog is your thing, then Here Comes The Rain Again will serve a timely reminder why progressive rock is a proudly British invention. 7/10
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