Ever since they morphed from a semi-legitimised Thin Lizzy tribute band into an original outfit under their own name, the question of identity has been a tricky one for Black Star Riders to negotiate. But on ‘Heavy Fire’, their third and best album to date, the group have taken a telling step towards sonic autonomy after toning down the overt and contrived nods to their Lizzy lineage. Well, most of the group.
It’s easy to see why Black Star Riders took a while to figure themselves out. After touring for years under their previous moniker, and given that guitarist Scott Gorham is in the band, Lizzy’s sound was bound to bleed into their work. They’d even intended to release new music under the Thin Lizzy banner before a backlash ensued, which explains why their debut album, ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’, resembled a watered down version of Phil Lynott’s boys.
Although their sophomore outing, ‘The Killer Instinct’, was a stronger affair, obvious homages - twin guitar harmonies and Celtic-flavours – still felt like cynical inclusions and prevented the band being taken seriously in their own right. On ‘Heavy Fire’ the former are used sparingly and sagely, while the latter are wisely ditched altogether.
That’s led to the emergence of a more prominent Black Star Riders sound, which is basically guitar-driven classic rock propelled by an irrepressible rhythm section and a tank full of energy.
The chemistry and camaraderie that’s grown within the band is uncontainable and there’s a confidence to these hook-laden songs that lands just on the right side of cockiness. They’re short, sharp, to the point and very well written.
The title track is an orgy of fierce intent and super cool riffs that dive in and out as the song shifts gears. It also exemplifies how utilising guitar harmonies within a great song feels organic and less of a token embellishment. Although, it has to be said that the needless Jailbreak siren in the middle section is an eye-rolling moment.
The guitar work is superb throughout, particularly on Who Rides The Tiger. Easily the heaviest song Black Star Riders have written, the soloing duel between Gorham and Damon Johnson finds shredding, whistling pinch harmonics and Alice In Chains droning bombs hurtling back and forth as the thrills hit overdrive. It also sounds more like vocalist Ricky Warwick’s former group the Almighty, in turn highlighting how the singer is still this band’s weak link.
His constant Lynott impersonation, particularly on Dancing With The Wrong Girl and Cold War Love, is a grating, second rate imitation that detracts from the authenticity of both the band and their songs. Warwick never sounded like this in the Almighty and it’s the one thing stopping Black Star Riders from truly stepping out of Lizzy’s shadow.
His limited range also doesn’t help. That’s not too bad during the verses but he struggles to sell a chorus with sufficient dynamism, making it difficult to tell if True Blue Kid’s hook is weak or poorly executed. It’s no surprise that When The Night Comes Down and Ticket To Rise boast the best choruses here as both find backing singers adding colour to the melodies.
That aside, there’s plenty of tasty meat for classic rock carnivores to sink their teeth into here. ‘Heavy Fire’ is a very good album, but to make a truly great record the band need to address the one element that’s stopping them from realising their full potential as a sovereign group.
Black Star Riders Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu March 02 2017 - CARDIFF Tramshed
Fri March 03 2017 - WREXHAM William Aston Hall
Sat March 04 2017 - DUBLIN Academy
Sun March 05 2017 - BELFAST Limelight
Mon March 06 2017 - INVERNESS Ironworks
Tue March 07 2017 - INVERNESS Ironworks
Wed March 08 2017 - GLASGOW O2 ABC
Thu March 09 2017 - GLASGOW O2 ABC
Fri March 10 2017 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 Academy Newcastle
Sat March 11 2017 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Sun March 12 2017 - MANCHESTER O2 Ritz
Tue March 14 2017 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Wed March 15 2017 - NORWICH Nick Rayns LCR
Thu March 16 2017 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Fri March 17 2017 - LONDON O2 Forum
Sat March 18 2017 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute
Sun March 19 2017 - BOURNEMOUTH O2 Academy Bournemouth
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