By David O’Neill
It never ceases to surprise me when bands I have seen at local small independent venues in south east Wales start to climb up the production ladder and make a name for themselves. This has happened with the likes of Florence Black, Buffalo Summer and Those Damn Crows lately. I don’t know if it’s the air or the venues, but we are very lucky to have some killer venues and promotors working in this area. At The Sun may not be from this area but they have played at the Doll’s House, promoted by our good friends at Rock N Roll Circus and are coming back on their album release tour. So once again I get the chance to review a new album of a band I have seen live.
A 12-track belter of a NWOCR album kicks you in the brain from the very first note to the last. The bio talks of Black Crowes, Black Stone Cherry and AC/DC as influences. I have to say the first two tracks ‘Only A Fool’ and ‘Preacher ‘have that low throbbing BSC bass/guitar combination from the original self-titled album feel to them. This is continued through ‘Breathe’, but the vocals are a higher range to BSC.
‘Walk On Over is played in the lower range and has a serious blues feel to it, with a really laid back solo in the breakdown. ‘Lay It On Me’ is the current single from the album and is everything you’d want a single to be, catchy with a good hook/chorus and an earworm of an underlying guitar riff that is just on the edge of recognition but a foot tapping head nodding track nonetheless.
‘Lifetime’ continues in much the same vein, just good old-fashioned classic rock before the thumping low range guitar style of BSC returns with ‘Devil In Your Eyes’, so much so that it reminds me of Reverend Wrinkle. ‘Indestructible’ has a bit of a Bad Company feel to it so the influences are there. I could list all the tracks but when they are all solid rock I can’t see any reason to do so. You just need to get off your backsides, get to a gig and buy the damn thing! I know I will be. This is 12 tracks of rock fan audible heaven, not one bad track and enough variety to provide an audible treat for any rock fan.
- ‘Leave Before The Light’ is released today (Friday 8 March). You can get your copy HERE.
- At The Sun hit the road in April:
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