Had an email arrive from Darren Joyce recently. He asked if I’d take a look (or rather listen) to a band he fronts called General Jack. Said their style was classic hard rock with NWOBHM influences. Of course I’m interested.
Darren kindly sent me both their albums, the most recent of the two released ma few weeks ago in August.
Darren also provided this brief potted history of the band:
General Jack were formed in 1997 and Consisted of Scott Gregory-Bass/Backing Vocals, Patrick(Patch) Jackson-Guitar, Kim Clarke-Drums, Darren Joyce-Vocals and Shaun Stain-Guitar. The band recorded one original track titled ‘Fantasy’ in 1998 and spent 20 years being a covers band playing 100’s of gigs Including The Rock and Blues Festival a couple of times in 1999 and 2000.
Darren Joyce left in 2013 and Scott Gregory took over on Vocals and Ash Tustain came in on Bass and Backing Vocals. The band split in 2018.
General Jack reformed in 2022 to do a one off Festival. Kim Clarke declined to return and so Shaun Stain’s nephew Drew Poxon came in on Drums and Backing Vocals.
The band decided to record an Originals album and ‘Save Your Soul’ would be released In 2024 containing a re-recorded version of ‘Fantasy’.
A couple of appearances at ‘Mearfest’, a support slot with Quartz and an appearance at The Cart and Horses London would take place in 2023 and 2024.
29th August 2025 saw the release of ‘Last Soul Standing’ and the band will appear at Dementia Aware Festival December 29th 2025 at the Arches Coventry.
Now – you’re wondering what the albums are like aren’t you? Well, let me tell you that they are both top drawer. That classic hard rock with NWOBHM influences description is spot on.
We have all sorts of punchy, hard, heavy, crunching, fuzzy and throbbing riffs, thumping basslines, scorching guitar work, drumming to keep it all in time and nice vocals too. Plenty of variety throughout.
Taking the debut album of Save Your Soul first…..Parasomnia is such a fine opener. Heavy and doomy. The title track has a big, prominent bass up there with the equally big solid chords and jingle-jangle and it’s massively hooky too.
Eyes are Lying comes in hard and heavy. The Questions in the Answer brings in some slide guitar going sort of a very well constructed, slightly quirky bluesy style which is quite infections.
Cold Hearted Woman packs in the power and the close of Lost Generation is glorious. That big doomy, brooding riff fits the lyrics so well and creates the atmosphere. The mid section takes off apace before switching back to the brooding doomy stuff. Have a listen:
The Last Soul Standing album keeps things going nicely with more of the hard hitting songs such as Original Sinner, No Better than Me and The Reaper Call. Oh, and Hope is crushing fast and heavy.
Add in some bouncy, catchy stuff such as Funeral from Above and the fast and furious Fugitive to demonstrate the variety in the song writing.
Another note of that – Guardian of the Realm. A superb seven minutes of slow burning, brooding atmospheric building with a melancholy feel. Such a grower of a song. Here it is:
I have no hesitation in recommending you check out General Jack further. I can hear lots of early Budgie and Quartz in there. No bad thing.
Both albums (digital versions) can be obtained from the General Jack BandCamp page here:
https://generaljack.bandcamp.com
If you prefer a CD, contact the band from the above as I believe CDs are available directly from them.
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