Black Star Riders - Bound For Glory (Single Review)
Friday, 22 March 2013
Written by Daniel Lynch
New Black Star Riders’ single ‘Bound for Glory’ has all the elements you’d expect considering the band’s personnel.
Ripping straight in with a dual guitar riff and staccato verse rhythm it’s reminiscent of late seventies Thin Lizzy. It could sit comfortably on the 'Black Rose' album alongside songs like ‘Waiting for an Alibi’. It’s inevitable that the band will be compared to the iconic Irish rockers and while this isn’t a continuation of the ‘Lizzy’ brand, there’s more than a tip of a hat to the band’s collective roots either as former members or fans.
Ricky Warwick’s vocals are immediately apparent as the ingredient that could make or break this venture. His lyrics mimic the storytelling style of Bruce Springsteen and of course Phil Lynott; the song’s protagonist, named ‘Johnny’, shares the name of many of Lynott’s characters. That said, his delivery and phrasing set him apart from his influences and he shows that he is more than capable of writing emotive, hard hitting and catchy lyrics.
Jimmy deGrasso asserts himself on drums, kicking off the shackles of what the typical Thin Lizzy fan might expect while Damon Johnson’s wah-infused guitar solo affirms his worthiness of a place alongside Scott Gorham.
It’s catchy, riff infused rock that will go down well with rockers and commercial radio alike but it remains to be seen whether the band can truly carve their own niche in the market. The album, set for release on March 24th, could be one of the most significant rock albums of the year. Hardline Thin Lizzy fans will be delighted to see a breakaway from the Lizzy franchise in this post-Lynott era and equally curious to hear how this new band develops.
It won’t light up the charts, but it’ll be a welcome addition to the music library of many fans of rock music.
'Bound For Glory' is released on Monday 24th March 2013. The debut album, 'All Hell Breaks Loose', is released in the UK on Nuclear Blast Entertainment on the 27th May 2013.
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Ripping straight in with a dual guitar riff and staccato verse rhythm it’s reminiscent of late seventies Thin Lizzy. It could sit comfortably on the 'Black Rose' album alongside songs like ‘Waiting for an Alibi’. It’s inevitable that the band will be compared to the iconic Irish rockers and while this isn’t a continuation of the ‘Lizzy’ brand, there’s more than a tip of a hat to the band’s collective roots either as former members or fans.
