Shotgun Mistress - 'Kings Of The Revolution' Label: Independent, Release Date: 14th June 2024

When I heard in 2020 ‘Save Me From Myself’ which was released ahead of their self titled album in 2021, then got blown away by their track ‘May She Never Walk Alone’ from the ‘Unplugged Sessions’ in 2022, I was hooked on these guys.

So who are they?, hailing from Melbourne Australia they feature Matt Wilcock on Guitar, Dave Lee on Drums, Ben Curnow on Bass and Glenn Patrick on Vocals. Their combined style is raunchy heads down rock n roll. Big guitars, big vocals and solid rhythm makers, come together to produce an awesome rock sound worthy of pushing their credibility hard to get ahead of many of their contemporaries.

Title track, ‘Kings Of The Revolution’ opens up this 11 track album. Upfront and launching squarely into your ears, Shotgun Mistress pull you into their fast paced stylish rock and swagger.

Shotgun Mistress have been sharing advance tracks in the last few months pushing out single releases, so far totalling five tracks already available from ‘KOTR’, one of them is ‘Sweet Woman’. It brings you a driving guitar sound and solo, not dissimilar to Nuno. This is one of my favourite tracks and would expect to be a great song live.

The band have done a lot live already this year. Doing GLAMFEST with the likes of Lynch Mob, Slaughter, H.E.A.T., Janet Gardner. Touring with Dirty Honey, The Poor & Electric Mary. On all accounts they’ve held their own and can cut it live with the best of them. Soon to head over to Japan following the release of the album to play 9 headline shows, then back to Australia to share the bill as guests of Mammal and further headline shows planned across Australia for pretty much the remainder of the year. Great to see this level of gigging, catch them where and when you can.

Love the guitar intro to ‘Shot Down’, it launches you into an LA mid ’80’s inspired quality track. Enjoyed the back and forth harmony bouncing between guitar and vocals about 2 minutes in. Excellent solo from Matt, paying justice to his inclusion into the top 100 greatest metal guitarists by UK author Joel McIver.

‘Jude Judas’ is another album favourite for me, stamps the bands style with a solid size 10 boot planted fairly and squarely in front of you. These guys can write great rock songs.

Pure power chords bring you into ‘From Hell’. The pace doesn’t slow much on this album, if you like your rock hard, heavy and raunchy then ‘KOTR’ is for you.

Electric Mary’s Rusty Brown joins the band on vocals on ‘Mary Jane’. Love the commentary on the press notes about this track ‘Mary Jane isn’t just a song-it’s an invitation to experience the raw power of rock n roll’, absolutely spot on.

Its a grungy switch to ‘Headspace’, real head bopper this one. These guys are consistent in filling airspace with quality musicianship. This will be a belter live.

‘Addicted To Pain’, with its raunchy backing vocals, talks about mind games, mistakes and the constant battle to stay in front. Well written song. Awesome stylish guitar work. Another album favourite for me.

‘Welcome To The Fight’ is as close as you’ll get to a ballad. Would hold its own against many similar styled tracks from both the bands peers and those further up the food chain. Be proud of this one Shotgun Mistress, tremendous track.

The raunchy ‘Its Alright’ brings us near to the end, keeps the energy flowing with the bands intense style.

‘Down’ closes ‘Kings Of The Revolution’ with in my view a nod to NWOBHM from the early 80’s. Love this track.

Its been hard to pick a favourite track from ‘Kings Of The Revolution’, its a close run race between ‘Sweet Woman’, ’Addicted To Pain’, ’Down’ , ‘Jude Judas’ and ‘Welcome To The Fight’.

Its clear for me that these guys have turned out an excellent album, go out there, buy this album and track them down. They don’t have a huge back catalogue, since their inception in 2020, but less is more, quality prevails.

Shotgun Mistress will have a great future if this standard is maintained.

Kevin McCallum