Tag Archives: Northern Ireland

The Answer – Raise A Little Hell

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It can be hard to tell, sometimes, about the career progression (or otherwise) of a band in this age of dwindling physical sales, so sometimes all you have to go on is how often people are talking about a band, their “buzz” and their profile. Now, I accept this can create a false impression, but while they burst onto the scene with some UK-centric noise around Rise (Albert) in 2006, it seems very few are talking about Northern Ireland’s The Answer any more (if they were at all), and perception is of a band that have gone backwards, despite some pretty hefty touring with AC/DC.

Raise A Little Hell (Napalm) is their fifth album and kicks off with ‘Long Live The Renegades’, a mash of Deep Purple’s ‘Woman From Tokyo’ and Thunder’s ‘She’s So Fine’; Cormac Neeson’s smoky Bon Scott voice and Paul Mahon’s effortless bluesy licks bringing to life a track that will no doubt become a live favourite. Citing AC/DC and Thin Lizzy as main influences, the album proceeds to walk through the greats of yesterday; ‘The Other Side’ dances in the garden of Led Zeppelin and ‘Red’ kisses the feet of Whitesnake, ‘I Am What I Am’ and the title track are slower, bluesier numbers, while ‘Whiplash’ raises the pulse. The album is locked down by the constant heartbeat of solid bass and drums, and naturally references yesteryear with casual blues rock riffs.

However, as I’ve mentioned before elsewhere (Orden Ogan), by a fifth album I’m looking for some sort of legacy, some sort of statement, and the thing about The Answer is, that they aren’t. The Answer, that is. Or if they are, the question must be “name a decent, if unspectacular, rock band of the common-or-garden variety”, and while that’s harsh, should The Answer cease to be, there would be very little wailing or gnashing of teeth. These aren’t the sort of band to release a drop-your-trousers bone(r) fide classic.

That said, good music is good music, whether it’s bought by ten people or ten million. And Raise A Little Hell is simple, effective, good hard rocking music.

 

7.0/10

The Answer on Facebook

 

STEVE TOVEY


Maverick – Quid Pro Quo

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They say rock and metal is dead… If so no-one told the 10-legged monster of rock and metal from Northern Ireland that is Maverick who, in a true 80s cliché, are coming your way. The band’s début release on Massacre, Quid Pro Quo is a heady, high octane take on ‘retro’ rock.

Already familiar thanks to a video release ‘Paint By Numbers’ is a fist in the face of hipsters, scenesters, and fashionistas, but ‘Got It Bad’ is where listener has to make up their mind, and where some may shy away from Maverick. It is a great song, and had it been released in the mid-80s it would have been on constant rotation on AM radio in the US – itt’s as catchy as Ebola in Sierra Leone, while vocalist David Balfour showcases his range on ‘Snakeskin Sinner’ and ‘Electric’, and Ryan Sebastian Balfour’s tasteful, melodic soloing complements the sound throughout

But do we need another band who re-tread the sound of Ratt, Crue, MTV-era Whitesnake, Y&T etc? The love of music is at the heart of the Maverick matter and is dealt with on ‘In Our Blood’ as David declares when younger he would “put all my CDs on and have a concert in my room”. On the other hand the track ‘One More Day (Quid Pro Quo)’ deals with serious matters in a narration of the real personal toll the conflict in Northern Ireland took.

Whether it be the lusting or the longing; whether it is ranting or the wrongdoing of paramilitaries; or whether it is just heads down hard rockin’ Maverick know that telling the tale within each song is about composition and depth. Sure you can write off this release too easily as looking back at a lost time, this simply about declaring their love of the era that spawned so much modern rock and metal.Maverick have produced a chest thumping, raucous, powerful, pounding, melodic release oozing with passion as the Maverick monster pounds all into submission on Quid Pro Quo, as if the 80s never went away

 

9.0/10

Maverick on Facebook

JONATHAN TRAYNOR

 


Stormzone – Donum Dei: Live At Diamond Rock Club, Northern Ireland

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A Bloodstock rehearsal with a difference

When Stormzone announced a pre-Bloodstock Open Air show on Saturday 26thJuly at the Diamond Rock Club, Ahoghill, Northern Ireland fans could have been forgiven for expecting a 30-45 minutes run through.

 

Instead they had a real treat as the band played 20+ song in a two-hour set, all based on fan requests – this wasn’t so much of a warm-up as a treat for an audience.

 

Opening for Stormzone were the youthful Donum Dei, who have been making remarkable strides in harnessing their music recently, with the track ‘Justice Fails’ a highlight of a tremendous opening slot.

 

Stormzone have become festival favourites across Europe in recent years, their classic metal vibe hitting the spot everytime with well-judged melodies combined with searing solos and serious riffage.

 

Front man, Harv is the perfect leader of the troupe, hitting high notes and stalking the stage. His easy banter when not screaming out the songs is perfect for this home turf show, as he jokes with the audience and passes out ‘goodie’ bags to those who managed to have their requests played.

 

With a Sonisphere slot now behind them this year the band could have looked on this as a relaxed way to ease themselves into the groove for Bloodstock. Instead they delivered a full speed assault with the twin guitars of Steve Moore and Davey Shields trading solos and merging with perfect riffs.

 

With the title track of the recent Three Kings album one of the highlights, when the band sing Where We Belong, it is clear that this band belongs on the live circuit.

 

‘The Pass Loning’ and ‘Cuchulian’ were an opportunity for Davy Bates to shine, and Graham McNulty shrugging off technical issues with his rig to lock down the bass.

 

Bates was a constant beaming presence behind the kit, standing on top of his drum stool at one point cajoling all in the room to clap along,

 

What was evident from the performance was the range of songs on display from epics such as ‘The Legend Carries On’ and ‘Death Dealers’ trough to the melodic ‘Crying In The Rain’ and ‘Tugging on Your Heartstrings’.

 

If this was a performance for a local audience it had at times the feel that the band were playing for A&R men, not for a crowd that ranged from toddlers to (almost) pensioners.

 

With such a positive response to their Sonispehere set, what is sure that there will be a Storm(zone) front blowing away all in its path with a contemporary hard rockin’ stunner of a set. And, I can confidently pen those words weeks ahead of their appearance, such is the quality of Stormzone.

 

 


Stormzone on Facebook

Donum Dei on Facebook

 

JONATHAN TRAYNOR