BLUES PILLS - "LADY IN GOLD" (2016)

BLUES PILLS - "LADY IN GOLD"
(Running time: 40:08 minutes; 10 songs)
("Nuclear Blast Records"; 2016; CD):

God damn it, July and August were very good months up here and then in September only one post saw the light of day up here. No, this blog wasn't already dead again and it's still very well and alive it was just a very busy month - very, very busy. But okay, enough of the whining and now back into the action and so back on track again with a new record-review up here and this time on the 2016 full-length-album "LADY IN GOLD" of/by the mighty BLUES PILLS. The 'highflyers' of the last years and pretty much sort of one of the 'kickstarters' of the whole current Classic Rock hype. After I am totally into this whole Rock/Hard Rock/Heavy Rock/Classic Rock thing then and now that's all more than fine with me. This is the follow up release to/of their (I think so) self-titled 2014 album (back then also released via "NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS"), and so here we have "LADY IN GOLD" and it finally made its way up here on this very blog. Okay, enough of the small-talking-stuff and so now finally to some precise looks on and listens to the "LADY IN GOLD". The BLUES PILLS deliver us here ten (back then) new songs of their heavily by Blues fueled and strongly by 1970's (Hard) Rock influenced Classic Rock or maybe better Vintage Rock that (this time) also offers a lot of Soul, some Psychedelic (Rock) notes, and even some few Gospel marks and impressions in it and all done very, very fresh and alive-lively, denying every and any lame and stale retro crap bullshit any chance of taking any ground; and that's damn fucking good. The BLUES PILLS bring fantastic and heartfelt, soulful and playful, very sensitive (yet in the right moments ass kicking) and melodic/symphonic, multi-layered, and diverse guitars to the table, backed up by a breath-taking tight, precise, yet 'airy' and versatile rhythm section, and a bunch of 'other instruments' (xylophone, piano, organ, mellotron) to cultivate and enrich and round it all up in a very nice and delicious way. And above all there thrown the larger than life and stand alone lead vocals by/of the in every sense and way stunning Elin Larson, here and there supported by 'goosepimples-giving' (Gospel) choirs. Add to this a high skilled and very rich and diverse songwriting full of several emotions, moods, fresh and surprising moments, and just great twists and turns and an intense tension-building and you'll pretty much know what a great album is coming here for/at you. Okay, any favorite songs to list here makes no sense, because the whole album is just purest Gold if not platinum. A fantastic artwork, cool lyrics, and a first class earthy and dirty yet transparent and especially full and warm production sound we get on top of it all. Okay, this is, I think so, a pretty short review, especially for 'my usual standards', anyway, I've said all what there is or was to say, I can only highest recommend BLUES PILLS' "LADY IN GOLD" to any fan of fresh, sympathic, authentic. honest, real, and just damn-close-to-brilliant and just bright and golden shining (Classic/Vintage) Rock music. So, in case you really should have missed out so far on this masterpiece, why the bloody hell ever, you should really change this, finally, as damn fucking soon as fucking bloody possible, yes, because this is an outstanding masterpiece pretty close to perfect. So go out and get it, and now cheers and good night.

(9 of 10 points)

http://www.bluespills.eu/ (-the link to the homepage of the band, so check it out)

BLUES PILLS - "LITTLE BOY PREACHER" /live\ (2016, "LADY IN GOLD")

PALACE OF THE KING - "VALLES MARINERIS" (2016)

PALACE OF THE KING - "VALLES MARINERIS"
(Running time: 46:11 minutes; 10 Songs)
("Listenable Records"; CD; 2016):

And yes guys, the next one is already coming up. Two reasons: (1.) I'm sort of in the flow and 100% in the right mood to do another one; (2.) I'm pretty sure that the next two days will no (at least or especially no proper, valuable) new post come up. The summer's school vacation's are over here in Lower Saxony/Germany with today being the final day of the six weeks long vacation time after yesterday was our first "teachers only" workday to do the final plannings of the new school-year and tomorrow it all starts the proper way. Experience tells me that especially the first two days are always pretty busy and so I am pretty sure that especially the next two days won't see any activity up here; and to be honest, after I'm currently sort of "re-building" an own house where I want to live from next year on and having also finally weekend again you maybe shouldn't expect any new post up here before sunday (but latest then something new will pretty sure see the light of day up here, I'll be doing my best). Okay, and enough of the introducing-nonsense-smalltalk and now finally straight into the action: PALACE OF THE KING were unknown to me before I bought this very album of them last year; "VALLES MARINERIS" was released via "LISTENABLE RECORDS" last year in 2016 at the 15th of July and was/is for all what I know the third full-length.album (and two EP's they have also released) of this australian band from the continent Down Under. I stumbled upon them finally because of some interesting reviews that I've read, then bought "VALLES MARINERIS" some beautiful, sunny summer day... and damn it, that certain day turned even more beautiful. This is a heavy load of damn great (Classic) Rock music with a strong 1970's vibe and heavy Psychedelia influences and impressions and marks in it and this all done in a totally fantastic way, absoultely fresh, young, with much drive, full force, and strongly alive/lively, amazing, so that any sort of lame and stale retro bullshit is in the case of PALACE OF THE KING's "VALLES MARINERIS" absolutely of no concern. That's always good and that's how I like it. Thumbs up. This is Hard Rock par excellence, with heavy grooves and bright shining melodies and intense rhythm structures and "hooky" arrangements being the centrepieces of this strong and beefy rocking and grooving colossal album. Warm and heavy "hammondy" floating and wafting keyboards and strong and diverse, heavy yet very heartfelt-emotional guitars and their awesome melodic interaction mark the songs heavily and also in a very positive way. The massive and at the same time relaxed-casually grooving bass work enriches the songs heavily, while the versatile and by any positive means "fluffy" drumming then finally cultivates it all in a tremendeous way. And above all flies the outstanding shining and very unique, impressive lead singing voice while it's sheathing it all brilliantly, it is a pure gem that makes this whole album "only" shine more. It's all done just great and also in a very stand-alone way. The songwriting is very strong, diverse, versatile, and a fresh and rousing groove is sort of a total"trademark" of the songs and the music and the arrangements and the rhythmic architecture; and it's all really just grapping and exciting. That this guys really know how to play needs no further explanation at this point anymore. If you now want to know any "comparing-fix-points", hm, then let us say that you find PALACE OF THE KING and their "VALLES MARINERIS" somewhere on a very independently position between their australian neighbors WOLFMOTHER, the almighty DEEP PURPLE, and the current "hot-going" BLUES PILLS, and maybe add here and there some few HAWKWIND and LED ZEPPELIN and some very few PINK FLOYD, maybe...; yes, I think somewhere in the centre of all this musical-greatness you'll find PALACE OF THE KING and they definitely stand their ground. My personal favorites are "LET THE BLOOD RUN FREE", "BEYOND THE VALLEY", "THE BRIDGE OF THE GODS", "WE ARE THE VAMPIRES", "THROW ME TO THE WOLVES", and my absolute-über-favorite-song "INTO THE BLACK".Great, interesting and cool lyrics, a totally fantastic artwork, and a warm, earthy, and flickering production-sound finally round it all up. All in all, what's left to say? Beside that this is highly recommended and that you should (finally) test it out asap or better buy it instantly, hm, not much else, okay, so yes, get it. A great, great album!!!

(9 of 10 points)

http://palaceofthekingmusic.com/ (-the link to the band's homepage)

PALACE OF THE KING - "WE ARE THE VAMPIRES" /live\ /acoustic\ (2016, "VALLES MARINERIS")