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 | |  Desolation Angels - Sweeter The Meat EP (2014) Review | |
Desolation Angels - Sweeter The Meat EP (2014)
Self-Released -- Running Time 24:05
SCORE
8/10
As has been seen on many an occasion over the last few years, plenty of bands think the time is right to 'give it another go' and lots of reformations or new lineups have emerged! What we have here is the new five track EP 'Sweeter The Meat' from London based Melodic/Classic Heavy Metal band Desolation Angels! Originally formed in 1981, towards the tail end of the hugely successful NWOBHM period, they never achieved the success they certainly deserved, thanks to a huge amount of lineup changes and sour deals (how often has that been the case?). Unlike others they did soldier on, in one form or another until 1994, even spending six years in the US! After a hugely successful retrospective CD & Vinyl box set was released in 2008 original guitarists Robin Brancher and Keith Sharp put a new lineup together and they have been patiently working their way back upwards since, playing to ever more fervent audiences at gigs in the UK and abroad.
'Sweeter The Meat' is the result and if you love proper Heavy Metal with a great melodic feel then it will be a grand purchase for you. Desolation Angels were never just a NWOBHM band and that remains the case. They always managed to incorporate a slightly US Heavy Rock sound into their music and there is very little to gripe about on this EP! Robin and Keith are joined here by Clive Pearson (bass), Chris Tarka (drums) and the great vocals of 'Curly' Davies. All five songs have great riffs, everything is catchy and it's well produced.
Opening with the title track is a good move as it's the most uptempo song here, has a great middle eight and introduces you to the new version of the band in thumping style. 'Metal Man' is very Saxon sounding (so of course I love it) and 'Medusa', 'Archangel' and 'Set Your Spirit Free' all follow in quick and bruising succession. There are some great guitar solos, again reminding me of Saxon's Paul Quinn, never a bad thing, and the whole EP is played with plenty of passion!
There are only a couple of things I would say. Firstly. Desolation Angels' choruses, while pretty catchy, are simple and repetitive affairs and a bit more variety would be nice. Likewise, the drumming stays very simple throughout. Chris is as tight and solid as a Nun's nether regions but a few more fills wouldn't go amiss (You regulars will know I always here the drums and bass first). These, however, are just tiny gripes, on an otherwise really good selection of tracks!
It was also unfortunately announced, just a few weeks ago, that 'Curly' has decided to step down as vocalist, which is a great shame because live and on CD he has an excellent set of pipes. I really do hope Desolation Angels can find a good and suitable replacement as they deserve this 'second chance' at getting their name out there! 'Sweeter The Meat' is a great comeback and I'm very interested, and keeping my fingers crossed, to see what happens next!
https://www.facebook.com/DesolationAngels
http://desolationangels.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/HeavyRockRiffs
Review written exclusively for Brutiful Entertainment by Rick Tilley:
www.facebook.com/richard.tilley.351
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