CD REVIEW: THE CHRIS ROLLING SQUAD – The Chris Rolling Squad EP

Shane | 29 April 2016 | Reply

CD REVIEW: THE CHRIS ROLLING SQUAD – The Chris Rolling Squad EP
Independent
25 December, 2015
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
7 ½ /10

Citing both Jimi Hendrix and Motorhead as prime influences is setting a pretty high bar to perform to, and French axeman Chris Rolling’s (a veteran of the band The Heavy Manic Souls) bluesy guitar virtuosity and gruff vocals wear those influences on their sleeve. It’s blues, Jim, but not as we know it.

There’s nothing one-dimensional about this EP though. Whore is a Hendrix-esque blues rocker; Help Me travels down a Texan blues route, bringing Billy Gibbons to mind; My Redemption is a punchy fast-paced rocker with some fiery playing that might remind you of Stevie-Ray Vaughan; Vampire Blues sounds like Lemmy in his Headcat persona, singing over a Stevie-Ray rockabilly blues. It’s out there, but it all works. Closing track Janet Says Go Go Go – a cover from ‘90s Swedish band Indian Red – breaks the mould with its punkabilly groove.

Rolling’s vocals are limited in range and are likely to be an acquired taste, but after a few listens we found ourselves warming to them, and there’s no denying he knows how to spank his plank with style and skill. Get this power trio on the road and before you know it all their more obvious influences are likely to forge ahead as they develop a more individual style, making any future release from The Chris Rolling Squad (cool name, by the way) well worth keeping an ear out for.