This is the second album by HBE since 2019. Lockdown has obviously been prolific for them. The 10 tracks show a wide variety of influences steeped in the mysticism and musicality of bands from the 70s up to date. There is much to be admired in the tracks on show if you like bands as varied as Deep Purple and. Greta Van Fleet, rather an aural feast if the PR is to be believed.
The opening track of ‘Let Me Be’ is a low driving thrum of drums and bass right up until the breakdown, where a very admirable guitar solo takes off to the heavens. Good start.
A quick change of style to a guitar driven opening that reminds me of Steely Dan solos on ‘Carry On’, the current single from the album. The vocal range of Apostolis Liapas carries the lyrics well but the main impression is that they are a guitar driven band – nothing wrong with that when it is done well.
The third track, ‘The Weapon’ has an guitar opening and feel of Led Zeppelin, with some clean acoustic riffage and ethereal vocals in the opening verse before picking up the raucous rhythm section which thrums through to the breakdown, which returns to the clean acoustic riff that opened the track before the guitar riff that any guitarist would be proud of. Three down… have I caught my breath yet? Um, no, not really.
Track four, ‘Wiseman’ has a serious early ‘70s feel about it, with some serious guitar distortion and riffs that reminded me of the funk style of Isaac Hayes in ‘Shaft’. Track five is ‘Ghost Song’ and this is where you initially manage to catch breath as there is an attack of slow blues and shimverb in the opening guitar riff that makes you imagine a smoke-filled blues bar in the late ‘60s. I really like the guitar solo and can see the ‘phone lights in my mind’s eye now.
‘Keep On Giving Me Loving’ takes you back to the upbeat style, driven well by the bass and drums with a good hook in the chorus and some Hammond-esque organ in the breakdown. Even more blues is brought with a bit of jazz swing into ‘Electric’: a bit more of the existing style of the album.
Then there is the acoustic reflective moment in ‘Towards The Light’ – a beautifully constructed guitar opening carries it through to the crescendo in seven minutes of pure auditory ecstasy, with very poignant lyrics for the time, delivered very well by Liapas. More upbeat funky blues hits you between the ears in the shape of ‘Believe In Something’, with some superb drum and bass work driving the song along. The final track, ‘Take Me Away’ returns to the clean shimverb guitar tone to support some soulful vocals before the rise again to the crescendo of the airy guitar riff and fall down the other side to the change of style, which is grungier and Zeppelin-esque towards the breakdown.
All in all. a very well written and performed second album which demonstrates a multiple variety of influences and styles to a very high standard by all members of the band. Very well. Done
Would I go to see them? Hell yeah!
- ‘Carry On’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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