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BLACK STAR RIDERS – All Hell Breaks Lose

| 30 May 2013 | Reply

Label: Nuclear Blast
Released May 2013
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
4/5

Black Star Riders - All Hell Breaks Loose CD

Originally published in Xpress Magazine 15 May 2013

Scott Gorham’s answered critics in the best way possible with Black Star Riders (The rebooted, renamed Thin Lizzy)’s debut, delivering a record which reminds us of past glories at the same time as it stands imposingly on its own two feet.

From the first chime of Gorham and Damon Johnson’s guitars, the spirit of Lizzy looms large over the album, and whilst these comparisons are obvious, there is no doubt that Black Star Riders is a new project, and a valid way to continue the character of the band with new material without disrespecting what has gone before.

Johnson handles most of the songwriting, with vocalist Ricky Warwick taking care of the lyrics, and additional input from Gorham and bassist Marco Mendoza, and they’ve caught some real Emerald lightning in the bottle with the rollicking anthem Bound For Glory and the classy celtrock of Kingdom Of The Lost, featuring tin whistle and a riff worthy of a hard rock jig.

The CV’s of the band members read like a Who’s Who of hard rock –The Almighty, Whitesnake, Sammy Hagar, Alice Cooper, Whitesnake, Ted Nugent, White Lion, Ozzy Osbourne, David Lee Roth, Megadeth – not to mention producer Kevin Shirley’s work with Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Slayer & more, so it’s no surprise that the album is so confident and assured – never showy, purely professional, powerful and exquisite.

The duelling guitar sound so reknowned by Lizzy is showcased throughout the album and it’s glorious to hear it again on such quality new material. Make no mistake, Black Star Riders are here to stay and this record, bashed out in under two weeks, is strong enough to stand alongside all but the very best of Thin Lizzy’s catalogue.

https://www.facebook.com/BlackStarRidersOfficial

http://www.blackstarriders.com

 

Category: CD Reviews

About the Author ()

Editor, 100% ROCK MAGAZINE

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