Here’s another fine example of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal still stamping its mark some 40 years on. Jameson Raid were, back then, one of the many original NWOBHM-era bands marked for bigger things though it not working out that way.
Naming themselves after a bit of a minor spat in a faraway land which happened at the end of the nineteenth century they did look to be a breakout band to no avail.
Now back in the saddle again with Terry Dark still at the helm, the band have put out an excellent new album – Uninvited Guests. It was a self-release earlier this year though such has been the attention around it, Pure Steel Records picked up the band and the album is soon to be released by Pure Steel. Well-deserved too.
Terry got in touch to send me a review copy. Thank you. A proper pleasure to listen to. We have here a very fine album. The NWOBHM roots are evident as you’d expect. Add to that some inventive song construction, a tight band and even a bit of a progressive edge in places all eleven tracks deliver something different in their own right.
The opener, Mr Sunset, is a hard-hitter with an infectious hook. The title track and Metal People have some power and not a little melody behind them. Check out the “rat-a-tat” style riff throughout Metal People for example. All three songs will soon be firmly implanted in to your head.
What follows are a set of equally impressive songs which do “rock” hard also showing some finesse. Check out in particular the closing trio of Haunted, Nine Reasons and Truth & Heresy. Really top stuff.
Nine Reasons is a particular favourite as Terry spits out those “nine reasons” along with a monster hook and a monster sound. A stand-out track on a stand-out album. Truth & Heresy is a powerful closer too. A hard driving riff and some darkly humorous lyrics with tongue in cheek. Proper NWOBHM with a classic, modern feel with progressive edges. Wunderbar!
Here’s the video for Truth & Heresy so you can see and hear what it’s all about.
With the new Mythra out in two or three weeks it is a good time for NWOBHM as the “old timers” show how it should be done.
Top marks to Jameson Raid for delivering a fine album of consistent quality.
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