• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

April 2024

• War Grave: War Grave EP
• Six By Six: Beyond Shadowland
• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
• Praying Mantis: Defiance
• King Zebra: Between The Shadows
• About Us: Take A Piece
• Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories

March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
• Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
• The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
• Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
• Lipz: Changing The Melody
• The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
• Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
• Turbulence: Binary Dream
• Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond
• D'Luna: Monster
• Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
• Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help

February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
• Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
• Honeymoon Suite: Alive
• Durbin: Screaming Steel
• Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
• Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
• Striker: Ultrapower
• Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
• Robert Hart: Circus Life

January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
• Caligula's Horse: Charcoal Grace
• Grand: Second To None
• Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
• The Rods: Rattle The Cage
• Gotus: Gotus
• Metalite: Expedition One
• Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
• Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
• The Grandmaster: Black Sun

[ More Music Reviews ]

Bombay Black: Bullets and Booze

(Melodic) Hard Rock

4.5/5.0

Website Facebook Twitter YouTube
Triage Music Firm
by Craig Hartranft,  07.05.2012

Just the facts. Bombay Black rocks. Here's their fifth album, Bullets and Booze, a fine blend of classic American melodic hard rock touched with a metal edge. It's got both the raunch and groove of Eighties hard rock, akin to something from the Sunset Strip, without the teased hair and spandex. Booze, babes, and all things rowdy are their fare. And this comes from four guys who, rather than being in a band, should be either at the bar downing shots of Wild Turkey, pumping their fists at the front of the stage, or brawling in the parking lot for no other reason than they can. Go figure.

Bombay Black: guitarist attacked by his hair.

Frankly, while there's certainly nothing inherently novel about their approach to hard rock, these guys are damn good, and they get it. There's songs move on a most important things: strong melodies, good vocal harmonies, catchy hooks, great choruses, ripping guitar work, and a strong groove from a hefty rhythm section. This carries across the entire album, but some notable tracks include Queen of Denial, Bad Boy, Dragon Tattoo, Love Like This, and Let Me Be. That latter song offers the closest thing to a ballad. You also have to appreciate Bombay Black's sometimes tongue-in-cheek humor and innuendo as found within All the Same in the Dark and Dragon Tattoo.

There music is infectious and entertaining. It blisters with energy, rocks hard, and simply sounds great. It's amazing that four guys who look bikers that couldn't carry a tune on their lowriders can sound so good, so convincing. By example check out Queen of Denial, Bad Boy, or Honey Lemon Kisses. You

Honestly, Bullets and Booze is a pleasant surprise, lots of fun, and highly entertaining. Most every song is nearly flawless for groove-laden melodic hard rock. Though I might pass on the title track and Take Another Picture, the album is still terrific. Strongly recommended.

Bombay Black's Bullets and Booze is terrific and entertaining classic American melodic hard rock. Nuff said.

Alphabetical Index

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]