BLOOD RED SAINTS
Blood Red Saints bring us their third album in the shape of ‘Pulse’ with the release date of the 22nd February 2019 via AORHeaven. This album sees them writing about the trials and tribulations of the past year and has a heavier more contemporary feel to it. Having listened to this several times it is something of a misnomer to think that they have strayed away from their melodic hard rock roots of albums past. While this may have an edgier feel to it, the melodies and vocal harmonies on the songs remain prevalent and provide an album that really deserves the accolades and in another time, would see the band escalated to a higher level. Whilst this may or not be the case today it has some mighty fine guitar work from Lee Revill and Neil Hibbs and the vocals from Pete Godfrey offer up the influences of Leppard and Jovi tucked in there as on previous releases.
In true Nigel Tufnell style this one goes to 11 with regards to tracks that is! Things kick off with ‘Believer’ and is Leppard-esque in its conviction but has much harder guitars and is a great opener to the album complete with a whistling intro for mood and atmosphere and offers some subtle keyboard breaks to segue the guitar solos, this is one total rocker to start the whole affair. ‘Animals’ follows on and again rocks hard with some great guitar work and full-on drums from Andrew Chemney and I’m loving what almost sounds like double bass drumming on this track.
‘Cross to bear’ with its piano and synth intro has a power ballad feel to it with soaring vocals and slow-downs in equal measures and the overall depth of the track is obvious and is one of my favourites on this release. ‘Invincible’ is another enjoyable listen and a great melodic hard rocker.
‘I’m Your Devil’ is another stand out song and this is an absolute belter that I have had the pleasure to witness live and while the Saints themselves suggest it is punky, for me it is just one hell of a catchy rocking number that gets you on your feet dancing and retains the elements of a Leppard influence but carries its own identity and would smash the airwaves given the opportunity.
‘Crash Into Me’ is another ballad on the album and flows along nicely providing a break in the album before the title track ‘Pulse’ which hits back hard with a riff laden tough and grinding groove and offers the listener an audible assault as it is one of the edgier tracks on the album and the recommendation is play loud!
‘Message to God’ is as the band say an ‘all out rocker’ and I can’t disagree here.
The song ‘Warrior’ was released as a taster track last year and is somewhat a slower song and I’m not sure it showcased just how good this album really is, just not the cream of what is on offer here but does have a great guitar solo to end it.
In my attempt to not approach this as a song by song review I find myself covering most of the tracks almost individually once more but I will end it here by saying the album is seen out by ‘What Have We Become’ and ‘Bring Me to Life’ and the latter is once more exhibiting the bands softer side and would make for a great live acoustic number.
Overall the use of individual intros on some songs is an interesting addition and there are some good electronic elements intertwined as well. Lee Revill has done a stellar job in mixing and engineering the album and along with vocalist Pete Godfrey who co-produced with Lee have made this in my mind the best BRS release to date. This is the album that Def Leppard probably wish they could have written and released and if Joe and the boys listen to this they will be left scratching their heads wondering where they went wrong! Lol.
For current Blood Red Saints fans of old this may be a grower with a definite emphasis on toughening up the sound with a more modern groove and direction in any case old or new this should be wholly embraced by all fans of good music and deserves to be up there in all top release lists of 2019.
RD
Track listing:
1. Believer
2. Animals
3. Cross To Bear
4. Invincible
5. I’m Your Devil
6. Crash Into Me
7. Pulse
8. Message To God
9. Warrior
10. What Have We Become
11. Bring Me To Life
Blood Red Saints are:
Lee Revill- Guitars
Pete Godfrey - Vocals
Neil Hibbs - Guitars
Andrew Chemney – Drums
https://www.facebook.com/bloodredsaints
Blood Red Saints release new album "Pulse" on AOR Heaven 22nd February 2019