There must be something in the water in beautiful County Down, after all, anywhere that birthed The Answer and Screaming Eagles has to have something special.
The Screaming Eagles are back on the scene after time out to increase their population by five, and there was a slight delay to their latest opus due to the guys doing everything from artwork to distribution. The time is now nigh as their third album, High Class Rock ’n’ Roll hits the shelves this October. The even better news is that from the first seconds of opener ‘Thunder And Lightning’ we are reassured that their clever blend of AC/DC, The Stones with some bluesy Free and the odd Lizzy reference is still present and still importantly new and original.
Further proof, should you need it, is available on the other nine tracks; try the brooding and heavy ‘45’ or the Queenish intro to ‘Better Days’ which soon has Mick ’n’ Keef dancing around the stage with Bon Scott… genius. The title track is my (current) favourite, as the blues-laden intro builds to do exactly what it says on the tin. ‘Hot Stuff’ closes the album on a suitable high with chord sequences that Angus would be proud of, plus a subtle and inventive guitar solo he wouldn’t have thought of.
If you haven’t heard this band put that right immediately with this album and then buy the others… you will want to. If you know them, you will definitely need to add this to the collection.
