Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Black Star Riders
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release: 2015
Running time: 46:00
Rating: 4/5
American hard rockers Black Star Riders started out as the next evolutionary step of Thin Lizzy, after the band’s latest lineup decided not to use the famous name of the legendary Irishmen for its new studio album. Black Star Riders’ debut »All Hell Breaks Loose« (2013) was a surprisingly solid effort that, over most of its tracks, recalled the ‘good old’ Thin Lizzy of the classic Phil Lynott era. Black Star Riders managed to win over every classic-rock nostalgic, and at certain well-chosen moments the debut also carried just the right dose of modern hard rock touches and retro guitar phrases, so nobody could accuse it of excessive recycling. That’s exactly why it didn’t come across as merely a slick product of a very good Thin Lizzy tribute band led by guitar master Scott Gorham, the only Black Star Riders member who in his younger years strummed guitar strings alongside the legendary Phil Lynott. Instead, it’s a logical continuation of a magnificent legacy.
While recording the follow-up to »All Hell Breaks Loose«, titled »The Killer Instinct«, Black Star Riders went through two big changes, though neither affected the album’s sound in any major way. First came a new bass player, with Robbie Crane (ex-Ratt, Lynch Mob) replacing Marco Mendoza, and then a new producer in the shape of Nick Raskulinecz instead of Kevin Shirley. Raskulinecz, just like his equally esteemed predecessor, did a great job on »The Killer Instinct« with a slightly retro production, so on their latest outing Black Star Riders sound like a modern hard rock band and spiritual heirs to the mighty Thin Lizzy legacy at the same time.
Most of the songs were written by Northern Irish singer/guitarist Ricky Warwick, who is a close vocal approximation of Phil Lynott, and guitarist Damon Johnson. Gorham helped them out on three tracks, and it’s no surprise that those are the ones that stylistically sound most like classic Thin Lizzy. Warwick’s songwriting is the reason a good few songs on the album are steeped in that signature Celtic melody, while the two guitar heavyweights also made sure to deliver the recognizable guitar harmonies from the unforgettable Thin Lizzy heritage.
Among the most vivid moments on »The Killer Instinct« is definitely the title track, which was also released as the album’s first single and, with its nonchalant approach and melodic chorus, was surely at least partly inspired by the main motif of »The Boys Are Back In Town«. The band’s knack for building nostalgic arrangements is confirmed on »Finest Hour«, the album’s second single, which is just the right mix of nonchalant-rebellious drive and poetic pathos, so typical of most Thin Lizzy classics. Fans of three-part harmonies will especially enjoy »Soldiertown«, which also packs some cheeky guitar phrases, while the shouted interjections in between come off a bit cheap.
»Charlie I Gotta Go« is another clear example of Warwick brilliantly managing to revive Lynott’s vocal tone (some would say it’s a very skillful forgery), while the melancholic chorus and subtle guitar passages once again draw from the treasure chest of Gorham’s longtime band. With the ballad »Blindsided«, where you can hear, besides the acoustic guitar, a Mellotron in modest doses, Black Star Riders pulled off an interesting experiment between folk rock and classic rock and brought back an authentic Celtic/Irish atmosphere. It wouldn’t hurt if they took on more of these pastoral ventures in the future, showing off their quieter, subtler side too.
With »The Killer Instinct« too, Black Star Riders successfully carry on the next phase of the Thin Lizzy evolution, sticking all the way through to the winning songwriting-and-arrangement formula that turned the Irish rockers into legends. Compared with the somewhat more explosive debut, Gorham and the gang this time delivered a few more contemplative moments, which is the key difference between the two albums. Still, they’ll need a bit more flexibility and innovation going forward, because it can quickly happen that they start repeating themselves, recycling worn-out arrangement ideas, and that can very quickly lead to a boring listening experience.
Lineup
Ricky Warwick – vocals, guitar
Scott Gorham – lead guitar, rhythm guitar
Damon Johnson – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, lap steel guitar on “Finest Hour” and “The Reckoning Day”
Robbie Crane – bass guitar
Jimmy DeGrasso – drums, percussion
GUEST MUSICIAN:
Nick Raskulinecz – Mellotron and Taurus pedals on “Blindsided” and “You Little Liar”
Production
Nick Raskulinecz
Track list
1. The Killer Instinct
2. Bullet Blues
3. Finest Hour
4. Soldierstown
5. Charlie I Gotta Go
6. Blindsided
7. Through The Motions
8. Sex, Guns & Gasoline
9. Turn In Your Arms
10. You Little Liar
