Ricky Warwick- "Blood ties"

Ricky Warwick has to work on music,with music and another solo work is nothing less than what we expect from him. He is the sum up of the influences he has, punk, metal, hard rock and the bands he has been in ALMIGHTY, THIN LIZZY, BSR and the opening track in his new album is a bold statement of his love and respect to his past, 'Angels of desolation' is a song that combines ALMIGHTY and THIN LIZZY in a perfect hard rocking , up tempo song with poignant lyrics that would make Lynott proud for his in spirit son. 

 

A more punkish, groovy "Rise and grind" follows, reminiscent of ALMIGHTY latest ,dark, groove days and BSR works, a groovy, loud rocker with Charlie Starr of BLACKBERRY SMOKE showing his punkier side. "Don't Leave Me in the Dark" (feat. Lita Ford) has written 80s metal written all over its addictive chorus."The Crickets Stayed in Clovis" is just THIN LIZZY in the best twinguitr atack ,ala "The boys are back in town" while a more melodic Lizzy esque track comes in the form of "Don't sell your soul to fall in love". Warwick carries a lot of anger and vigor and "Dead and Gone" is a fine example of the ways he finds to show it, a song about addiction and isolation, an uptempo melodic song, with his melodic lines shouting Ricky is here alive and well and a smell of Springsteen underlying. 'To hell of me and you" is an up tempo hard rocking dynamite that has the additional force of Billy Duffy (THE CULT) on the guitars, as expected is an in your face melodic hard rocker that takes no prisoners. 

 

 

"Crocodile Tears" is another Warwick trademark tune, bit twelve bar blues, bit pun rock riff driven rocker, always melodic, always on the Irish side of things. "Wishing Your Life Away" reminds us of Warwick's age and influences, melodic punk rock coming from the early 80s, decades before GREEN DAY touched their instruments, a sensible rocker puts his heart on his sleeve. Closing track "The Town That Didn't Stare" shows no sign of gas shortage, melody, big guitars and another up tempo rocker that has a bit of GODFATHERS in its melody,at the guitars and that is a reason to like it a bit more and a touch of THE WHO in its overall approach."

 

 

Blood ties" is far rockier than expected and show Ricky Warwick in fine form ,ready to take the stage and give us some good, old,distorted rock n roll.

7.5