STRAY - "Live: In Yer Face"

A very appropriate name for an album by Stray, a very loud and very heavy guitar/ bass and drums band. In fact on one of their web sites the fans' forum are discussing the loudest bands they've ever heard and Stray are right up there with the most raucous of them- Iron Maiden or Deep Purple anyone?
Having been deafened a few times in the past I prefer these days to control the listening volume myself and was pleasantly surprised by what I heard on this live album.
Stray had a few teenage years still to run when they released their first self-titled album in 1970 on the Transatlantic label (until then associated mostly with folk music!)- they did not exactly become household names but did have a loyal and committed following as evidenced on this gig recorded at the robin Hood R 'n' B Club in the West Midlands of England in January, 2002.
They start the gig with a 10 minute medley of 5 songs, classic heavy rock with some cracking riffs from guitarist Del Bromham aided and abetted by a solid rhythm section (sorry no names given on the sleeve and I've mislaid the press release).
'After the Storm' from 1971's 'Saturday Morning Pictures' has more of a blues feel and brings to mind contemporaries like Rory Gallagher with more than a tip of the hat to Hendrix!
Stray prove they are not mere bluster and have a social conscience in the track 'Earth' (one of 5 cuts taken from their last studio album '10') - the thoughtful lyrics on 'Years?' also reveal a mellow side not always obvious from the uncompromising musical approach- in fact one of their web sites reprints the lyrics to their songs- well worth checking out!
So far, so good but the highlight of the show for me is the powerful and passionate rendering of 'I Believe It'.
The set ends with as good an example of Bromham's virtuosic guitar ability as you're likely to hear as the band tear through the title track from 1971's 'Suicide'.
It sounds like a great night was had by all even if the years have apparently nor produced any let up on the volume! Recommended for 'eadbangers' everywhere.
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(Mystic Records MYS CD 160)

(Reviewed by Phil Jackson)

THE RICK RAY BAND - "Into the Hands of Sinners" Add To Cart

After a quieter year, release wise, in 2002, Rick Ray is back with for his first recording of 2003. And this time it's the Rick Ray Band- not Riot Act although Riot Act's John Cek does play drums and takes the vocal on 'Only Human'. Reeds player Rick Shultz is there, of course, making his appearance on the third track in 'You're Not Alone', a number that neatly expresses Rick's deeply felt religious beliefs and features another of those awesome Ray/ Schultz 'question and answer' sessions.
Phil Noch (who sang with Rick In Neurotic in the late seventies) handles the vocals on the first two tracks, the stunning opener 'Breakout' (just what this band can do with a 12 bar structure needs to be heard to be believed!) embellished nicely by some rare keyboard playing from Rick Ray and the most overt manifestation so far of the artist's admiration for Robin Trower, whom his band supported last year. (I'm referring to 'Feel Like I'm Gone')
Gary Wood's bass playing (Dig the walking bass line on 'Supreme Court Jester', another blues/ jazz treat) and vocals (a great job on the title track and the magnificent short rocker 'Invisible Man') are a joy.
There is a change of mood with a touching instrumental tribute by Rick to his wife Lori.
And yet to come is the stunning title track, the epitome of everything that heavy rock should represent, a captivating riff, marvellous soloing by Schultz and Ray and a great 'in yer face' Wood vocal of Hawkwind like intensity!
'The Road to Freedom' paints a fearsome picture of a world where liberty has died and 'marshal law extends its claw', a familiar theme in Rick's work and one delivered with great intensity in a very satisfying piece of music that tapped into west coast American influences I can't quite place- or maybe my imagination is running riot- I just felt this had a slightly different feel to a lot of Rick's stuff. 'Lunatic Love', a great way to end the album, had a similar feel probably down to Noch's distinctive vocal style.
Working with a band again meant it took Rick 7 months to put this CD together- the end product is definitely worth it!
If you want a perfect production or sanitised rock this is not for you but make no mistake- rock doesn't get any more honest or any better than this! I'm tired of reading reviewers who dismiss artists' attempts to be genuinely original, uncompromising (true to their art in other words) and challenging without really listening to the message that is a musician's very essence. 'Nuff said! 'Into the Hands of Sinners' is another essential listen from Rick Ray.
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(Neurosis Records) Add To Cart
(Reviewed by Phil Jackson)

Paradise Lost - Erased EP

I don't know why I gave up on Paradise Lost. After all, "One Second" was splendid, so I suspect it may have been the relentlessly dull live performances that drove me away, closely followed by the Mode whispers that met their subsequent releases. So it was with no great expectations that I popped their new EP into the ceedee player.

But blow me with a very large blowing device, if it isn't absolutely splendid! "Erased" itslef is an absolute classic which merges the finest gothic origins of PL, mixed in with some 21st century production pyrotechnics, then garnished with a slab of Cathedral vox courtesy of Mr Lee Dorrian.

Of the other 4 tracks (blimey, it's a mini Lp), "I Hate You" is another bona fide mini masterpiece, and there's not a duffer on offer. There's even a video and a making og the video for those of you technologically enabled. Their best in years, and thats without counting the bonus points from the Strapping Young Lad cameo. Buy it now.