Bad Penny – ‘The Shadow Still Remains’ (feat. Corey Glover)

For those of you still unaware of Bad Penny’s existence, there’s really no excuse (particularly if you are a regular follower and reader of Rockfiend’s music reviews). Conceived by New York-based guitarist/songwriter Mike Holtzman to “write and release original songs in a variety of genres – from classic rock to metal to power ballads”, the band has previously released six star-studded singles featuring guest vocalists Todd LaTorre (Queensryche), Steve Augeri (Journey, Tall Stories), Rob Halford (Judas Priest) and Dee Snider (Twisted Sister). The rhythm section of Queen + Paul Rodgers bassist Danny Miranda and Blue Oyster Cult drummer Jules Radino perfectly complemented Holtzman’s guitar on previous releases, so it’s not a stretch of the imagination to call Bad Penny a ‘supergroup’ of sorts.

In my opinion, the band’s music has gone from strength to strength, with each release finding the musicians sounding tighter and more together than the last. So, my interest was piqued when Bad Penny’s next single, ‘The Shadow Still Remains’, was delivered to my inbox several weeks ago. Due for release on 14th April 2023, vocals are provided by Living Colour’s powerhouse lead singer Corey Glover with Jason Gianni (Rock of Ages) taking over drum duties. Lyrically, it’s an unusually political song for Bad Penny, inspired by Martin Luther King Jr’s final speech before his death and his famous ‘open letter’ from jail, whilst further drawing its theme from more recent events, such as debates over critical race theory and the killing of Tyre Nichols in the US. So, as I walked through the Scottish woodlands and countryside listening to the song again and again on repeat (like a bad penny!) through my headphones, could the music and challenging lyrical content resonate over 3000 miles away across the Atlantic Ocean?

‘The Shadow Still Remains’ starts with a descending chord structure on an acoustic guitar, in a similar vein to Blind Faith’s 1969 classic ‘Can’t Find My Way Home’. Corey Glover’s unmistakeably smooth voice is introduced to the song with the words “we’re the same no matter what we do” as the acoustic guitar continues in the background. The intro is simple and melodic yet carries enough weight to suggest that something much bigger is coming, particularly as orchestration through a lone stringed instrument (perhaps a cello) joins in. A crash of symbol from Gianni’s drums and the first sound of bass guitar from Miranda playing along with the descending guitar line helps to build the atmosphere which comes to a crescendo as Glover’s voice is raised to sing “listen closely now, the ghosts are in the hall. The ghosts are in the hall”.

Holtzman’s electric guitar comes to life with some slight distortion, as Gianni plays a huge, crushing, monstrous drum-fill that leads to the rhythm section coming to life and driving the song on. Cinematic orchestration, al la Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir’, creates a dramatic soundscape that showcases the sheer scale and power of Glover’s crystal-clear vocals. As he sings “cos when the darkness comes the shadow still remains”, his voice is soaring, yet carries a hint of pain and anger that strongly indicates this line means something personal to him.

As the song reaches the bridge, the atmosphere remains fraught with tense sounding orchestration accompanied by powerful drumming, driving basslines and a nod to the original meaning of ‘Black Betty’ which was often referred to by blues pioneers in the early 20th century; a bullwhip used to keep prisoners in line or to mete out punishment (and disproportionately used against the black population). “Oh, Black Betty, I’m still going steady when you’re sticking me to the ground. Oh, Black Betty, I’m still rock steady when I’m taking hits all around” sings Glover in the most steadfast manner; perhaps a metaphor for standing tall in the face of adversity and carrying on the good fight against all that was and continues to be wrong in the United States and further afield.

A blistering guitar solo by Holtzman, in my opinion one of the best he’s played on Bad Penny’s recordings, takes the song to one of the most epic, dramatic and climatic musical endings that I’ve heard in many years. It’s literally thrilling, edge-of-the-seat stuff, with a sample of the final speech by Martin Luther King Jr. and words that remain as powerful and relevant today as they were 55 years ago:

“Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. And I see God working in this period of the twentieth century in a way that men, in some strange way, are responding. Something is happening in our world”.

“We’re the same, no matter what we do”, sings Glover as the song comes to an end. Indeed we are, Corey. Indeed we are. To borrow the title of a famous song, ‘a change is gonna come’.

In all honesty, words alone can’t do this song justice. It really has to be heard and listened to in order to fully understand and appreciate its scale and power. Corey Glover isn’t simply singing on this track. He’s telling a story that needs to be heard and does so through one of the most authentic and powerful vocal performances of his career. The lyrics and the music complement one another and I can’t help but feel that they wouldn’t quite have the same impact if they were heard in isolation. When dealing with such an important, current issue, the music has to be a vehicle for the lyrics, carrying them into the mind of the listener and forcing them to consider challenging and uncomfortable questions without overwhelming them. In ‘The Shadow Still Remains’, Bad Penny manage to find this crucial balance. This is an intellectual and lyrically challenging song with some stunning song writing and musical arrangements. It is undoubtedly the most epic track released by the band and one that should resonate with people around the world. They’ve set a high bar and if there’s any justice, this will be the song that brings attention to the music of Bad Penny… and on this form, I look forward to the band returning like a ‘bad penny’ with more new music in the hopefully not too distant future.

‘The Shadow Still Remains’ is available to pre-order at the following link: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1678356376?ls=1&app=itunes. It will be released on 14th April 2023 and Bad Penny are currently putting the final touches to an album that will be released later this year. Check out the band’s social media pages for a 60 second teaser of the accompanying music video and visit the website at www.badpennyband.com for more info on the band and their releases.