Tag Archives: Blues Rock

Tijuana Bibles – Sun Chaser (Single)

Posted on by

1970859_807367889354608_3530511317353032254_n

 

Despite not having even released a full length album, and thus far one EP and single, Glasgow’s Tijuana Bibles have already accomplished quite the feats, most notably several small festival appearances and one at T In The Park; not something that every band you will find in these pages can claim. In anticipation of their upcoming release, these youngsters unveil latest single, the very catchy Sun Chaser (Pling).

On evidence of this single, it seems Tijuana Bibles have their ears to several phases of British influence. The main bulk sits strongly with indie rock and even a little Britpop, but doesn’t have quite the over-sanitized sheen or overly pop air of such mainstream radio fodder. Coupled with the hints of psychedelic and even blues hiding away and what we have here is signs of something special. On this single alone it seems that these guys’ future is very bright and should see acclaim from both the mainstream audiences and to those looking for something a little different.

 

7.0/10

Tijuana Bibles on Facebook

 

CHRIS TIPPELL


Grifter – Return Of The Bearded Brethren

Posted on by

RIPPLE_2393

 

Sometimes bands don’t feel the need to go off the beaten track into the unknown being happy instead to play exactly the styles that influenced them like a badge of honour. South West England’s own Grifter certainly wear their influences on their sleeves, taking cues from hard rockers ZZ Top and riff maestros like Black Sabbath and Orange Goblin, even finishing here with a cover of the former’s ‘Fairies Wear Boots’.

Such influences have been heard countless times of course and Return Of The Bearded Brethren (Ripple) shows no shred of originality whatsoever. From its tone through to subject matter there is no substance whatsoever that separates this from the countless identikit bands out there.

If you’re not going for individuality then you need write songs that knock it out of the ballpark. Again, this is where this album fails miserably. This brand of riff-based bluesy rock should fill you with adrenaline and give you a craving for whisky, but Grifter don’t even manage to get your foot to tap a little. The riffs are samey and bland whilst the vocals lack any form of swagger and command that such music requires.

Many a band has gone for the route of familiarity and made such sounds their own by being truly killer. ROTBB instead makes Grifter sound like a glorified pub band playing every week at your dingy local.

 

3.0/10.0

 

Grifter on Facebook

 

 

 

CHRIS TIPPELL


Pillbuster – Brothel

Posted on by

Pillbusterbrothel

 

The glory of stoner metal, when it is executed well, is that some truly earth-shattering riffs will be shot through with more groove than a houseful of vinyl. One of the genre’s evident failings, though, is that it’s often based around jam sessions which are ten-a-penny in your local rock pub, and more often than not accompanied by a growly shouter who sounds as if someone’s just stabbed them in the leg. This four-track EP from Virginia Beach-based quartet Pillbuster places huge feet in both areas.

Brothel (Stonerkill) gets off to a killer start as a throaty, funking riff is led downstairs by a sparse yet kicking beat, to be mauled by a deliciously squalling bluesy lead. It all seems very promising until Brett Lloyd‘s voice enters the fray. The guy sounds as if he’s struggling to control a heavily gravelled, low octave holler for fear of it exploding and spraying all over the place. In fairness he manages to hold on throughout, aided by an increasingly crushing rhythm guitar dwarfing the vocal impact, using psychedelic effects to great purpose at the outset of video release ‘Hateburn’, which also contains some more of Joe Festa‘s nifty leadwork.

A meaty production, heightening the effect of all ‘low end’ elements, undoubtedly assists the power of this EP from the start, yet by the closing title track, the other common downfall of stoner – a style reluctant to weave far from its template – is beginning to kick in. Only a couple of nice solo workouts save the track from utter tedium and relieve the effects of Lloyd’s festering roar, which by this point contains all the attraction of tinnitus. Whilst having an arse full of bed sores.

It’s by no means all bad despite the irritation of certain factors and the occasionally mundane, derivative sound, that groove will get you rolling your head and rocking from side to side in the evening rush-hour queues. The live setting could see Pillbuster really catch fire, but a full album of this stuff could see it turn offensive for all the wrong reasons.

  

Pillbuster on Facebook

6.0/10.0

 

PAUL QUINN


Blues Pills – Blues Pills

Posted on by

Blues Pills - Blues Pills

 

Once in a while a record comes along that knocks you sideways. Once in a while a record comes along that isn’t just about flailing around like dying fish, furiously howling at the injustice of having to tidy your bedroom once in a while. Once in a while a record comes along that reaffirms your faith in the power of exemplary musicianship allied to great songs.

 

Readers, here is one of those records.

 

Blues Pills’ self-titled debut album arrives with such self-confidence and chutzpah that you could be forgiven that they had been ploughing this particular furrow of blues rock for decades and were at the peak of their career rather than at the start. Following two EPs released on Kadavar Records (in 2012 and 2013, respectively), a move to Nuclear Blast has seen the band deliver this first full length offering. And what an offering! Blues Pills is not so much the sound of a band stepping up to the plate, it is the sound of a band knocking it out of the proverbial park.

 

Blues Pills is a brilliant and, at times, sensational record. Right from the off with the throat- grabbing, blues-soaked power of ‘High Class Woman’ through the mellow, folk inspired ‘River’ to the heritage cap-doffin cover of ‘Gypsy’ and the rich, haunting coda of ‘Little Sun’, this is a record with depth and breadth, soul and humanity. Clearly a band in love with Cream and Jimi Hendrix, there is also more than a spoonful of lovin’ here for early Fleetwood Mac both in compositional style and lyrical prowess.

 

Lead vocalist Elin Larsson has done a terrific job here, simultaneously sounding haunted, passionate and heartfelt. However, all of the band turn in stellar performances, the thumping, soul packed bass-lines of Zack Anderson , the mellifluous drumming of Cory Berry or the patchouli oil soaked guitar licking of Dorian Sorriaux all add up to a heady brew that intoxicates as much as it invigorates.

 

What truly impresses though is that Blues Pills is more than the sum of its considerable parts. The band have succeeded in creating a record that you can easily and willingly immerse yourself in, a record that understands and curates its heritage and lineage but is fresh, contemporary and massively memorable.

 

This is the record that you’ll be recommending to your friends for months to come.

Bluespills2014b

 

9.0/10.0

Blues Pills on Facebook

 

MAT DAVIES