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Born in the late 60's, Chesy hails from a Welsh mining village with a long name and was pretty glad when he got the Hell out of there. He got into Rock/Metal in about 1980, thanks to a TISWAS related incident (Rainbow video for All Night Long) and thankfully has never looked back. Chesy often sang solo in the school choir, but thanks to a puberty related incident his voice is now completely bolloxed, although in his own head Paul thinks he sounds like a blend of Coverdale and Dio (R.I.P). He was brought up on the classics - Deep Purple, Rainbow, Thin Lizzy, Rush, Whitesnake and loved melodic rock and the Hair Bands of the 80's. (Nowadays, he has progressed a little and prefers a more technical and/or progressive metal - Dream Theater, Rush, Symphony X, Porcupine Tree, Pain Of Salvation, Spock's Beard. He hates Black and Death Metal (can't stand the grunting) but for some unknown reason loves the magnificent Opeth! He wont stop this blog until his beloved FM finally play the likes of the NEC as a headlining act!!!

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Inglorious - ST Album Review


There’s a new kid strutting around on the block. You know, the one who always had the latest trainers, newest toys, wanted to steal your girlfriend, aka ‘a cocky little fucker’. We all know one, right? Well, this new kid, is Inglorious. These young guns have been around for almost 2 yrs now (formed in Feb 2014). Fronted by the very hairy Nathan James (he has leant his considerable pipes to Trans Siberian Orchestra and Uli Jon Roth – just don’t mention The Voice!). He was on the look out for like-minded musicians that desired to make cracking rock music in a very honest fashion. He also wanted an ‘organic’ sound. You know, like in the good old days when albums were recorded ‘live’ and in studios as a group, and not just an mp3 file on an email being sent to opposite ends of the World. Because of this, the debut album is all about the feel, vibe, sound, energy and performance that a band can give you, with no auto-tune! Like all good rock bands in the 21st Century, Inglorious have a Swede on board in Andreas Eriksson and is tuned in to the ‘classic rock’ vibe being targeted here.

What I can definitely say, is that there’s a ‘Deep-Snake-Bow’ feeling to proceedings. If you grew up on the rock classics (Purple, Rainbow, Whitesnake), then you’ll get a lot out of this album. Opener ‘Until I Die’ makes straight for the Deep Purple tribute and the opening salvo is a different take on Highway Star – Hammond on full tilt, building to Couple this with some lung-busting vocals, expecting Gillan to burst in, only it’s a big dirty riff. James really goes for it and makes a huge difference to what could be just another rock band going thru the numbers. The voice is huge and he obviously doesn’t do things by halves!!!
‘Breakaway’ comes at you like a freight train whilst being tied to the tracks., a relentless song! It’s also a very Whitesnake (old and new) song, with nods to the classic Moody/Marsden and Aldrich/Beach styles. ‘High Flying Gypsy’ starts off a little drab, but has picked up pace by the bridge and chorus. So far so good!

Holy Water takes its lead from a 70s classic rock sound – it particularly has the ingredients of Coverdale, Rodgers with a vibe that would fit comfortably with some of the aforementioned gents best works. ‘Warning’ explodes with James’ vocals (this bloke can rip 10 coats of paint from timber at 50 paces), especially the end bit. The overall interplay especially with Eriksson and Taylor gives Inglorious a huge, fat sound.

‘Bleed For You’ is a tad more sedate (only just!). When you think that some gentle vocals are on the horizon, James comes galloping over the horizon with a lungful of noise. ‘Girl Got a Gun’ starts off all moody then has this very melodic and catchy chorus. The title track ‘Inglorious’ is a little belter. Its eastern in sound with a riff to suit, and is easily their ‘Valley Of The Kings’ or ‘Gates Of Babylon.’ The ONLY real time that the whole noise is toned down is for the (sedate in comparison) ‘Wake’. So much so, you would think it’s a different singer. And whilst on that subject……

 ……my only gripe, and it is such a small one that I shouldn’t really mention it, is that James wants to sing at Max Power for every song. As someone once said, ‘if you’ve got it, flaunt it’, and James certainly has it to flaunt. Not every note has to have a load of welly behind it and I’d like to hear more variety. Small gripe, but that doesn’t stop the enjoyment to be had here.

That said, Inglorious’ debut is one to behold in 2016. It’s a welcome departure from a lot of mediocrity, and to see Frontiers steer away from the usual melodic rock brigade

One of the definitions of Inglorious is ‘not famous or renowned’. Well give it a month or two and certainly amongst the rock community, they will certainly be ‘famous’. Well done fellas!

Score 90/100

Inglorious are

Nathan James - (loud) Vocals
Will Taylor – Guitar
Andreas Eriksson – Guitar
Colin Parkinson – Bass
Phil Beaver – Drums

Tracklisting

Until I Die
Breakaway
High Flying Gypsy
Holy Water
Warning
Bleed For You
Girl Got A Gun
You’re Mine
Inglorious
Wake
Unaware

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