Black Star Riders – All Hell Breaks Loose
9th June 2013
Band: Black Star Riders
Album: All Hell Breaks Loose
Record Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: 27th May 2013
Reviewed By: Rich Dodgin
Track List:
1. All Hell Breaks Loose
2. Bound for Glory
3. Kingdom of the Lost
4. Bloodshot
5. Kissin’ the Ground
6. Hey Judas
7. Hoodoo Voodoo
8. Valley of the Stones
9. Someday Salvation
10. Before the War
11. Blues Ain’t So Bad
For Fans of: Thin Lizzy / fans of old school rock n roll
Tracks to check out: Bound For Glory / Kissin’ The Ground
I have to admit that for many years I was never a Thin Lizzy fan. Sure, I knew and loved ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’ and I liked their version of ‘Whiskey in the Jar’, but that was it. They were just one of those bands that I’d always thought of as before my time, and not quite heavy enough for my tastes.
And then I saw them supporting Guns N’ Roses last year and was amazed at what a great show they put on and how much I enjoyed their set. I got myself a copy of their 1981 album, Renegade, on the strength of the live performance of ‘Angel of Death’, and had it on repeat play for weeks.
So when I heard that they were going to be releasing an album of new material – their first since 1983’s Thunder and Lightning – I was genuinely excited. In the end, rather than using the Thin Lizzy name they decided to release this under the name Black Star Riders – partly out of respect to the Thin Lizzy legacy, and partly because not all of the current touring Thin Lizzy line-up are involved.
So, how is it? Well, All Hell Breaks Loose sounds exactly like a late 1970’s Thin Lizzy album, with the timeless two guitar sound and vocalist Ricky Warwick doing his best to emulate Phil Lynott’s vocal style.
Opener, ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’ sets the tone perfectly, with its catchy mid-tempo riffs and Scott Gorham’s blistering guitar solo. ‘Bound For Glory’ sounds like classic Lizzy, and ‘Kissin’ The Ground’ is a hard rocking track with real attitude.
The only track I’m not completely convinced by is ’Kingdom of the Lost’, which overdoes the Celtic folk thing a tad too much for my liking, though it does fit into the overall sound of the album.
This is an album of classic rock, very much in the Thin Lizzy vein, and fans will not be disappointed.
Score – 8 out of 10
