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Heartbreak Remedy: Midnight Groove
Heartbreak Remedy Midnight Groove CD Album Review

Heartbreak Remedy: Midnight Groove

Melodic Hard Rock
4.5/5.0

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Unsigned / Self-released
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 26.08.2015

It's probably not fair to call England's Heartbreak Remedy a "throwback" band, but it could be close to the truth. Formed on two years ago, the band has released two EPs and toured the UK extensively supporting acts like The Last Vegas, The Quireboys, and The Electric Boys. Now they release their full-length album, Midnight Groove.

Heartbreak Remedy Midnight Groove Band Photo

Heartbreak Remedy

To say that Heartbreak Remedy may be or is a throwback or retro band is only to say that they don't really follow current modern conventions. They're not hardcore or harsh like many modern types, nor whiny, wimpy, navel gazing like so many alt rock hipster bands. No, these guys play classic hard rock. They warped back to the late Seventies picking up the riffs, groove, and blues of the era. Then they traveled back through the late Eighties picking up the swagger and vigor of the Sunset Strip. Though thoroughly Brit rockers, somehow their Deep Purple records melted together with their Lynyrd Skynyrd, giving their sound this light American Southern rock twist. At times they remind me of England's very own twist of Black Crowes and Black Stone Cherry. Whatever that may suggest, Heartbreak Remedy can rock. And the do it with big riffs, smooth and soaring guitar leads, melodic clean vocals, and a rhythm section that merges rock groove with boogie. Of that rhythm section, the clarity of the bass line is self-evident. After all, one of the original founders was the bass player.

After these things, this an album of rock songs, with everything moving at a steady pace, groove in full gear, and guitars roaring. Notable among these are Heartbreaker, Cocked and Loaded, All You'll Ever Be, and Southside. Alternatively, Heartbreak Remedy can slow it down a bit. Both Rose and Far Away move upon an acoustic guitar line. The former will definitely remind you of that Southern rock, even blues, vibe, especially as it rises in the latter half. The latter is a pure acoustic ballad, led as much by Matty Penn's voice as the guitar. Largely then, Midnight Groove is all rather satisfying and entertaining, solid and classic melodic hard rock. This music is not new or modern, nor intended to be. Yet in light of current trends, it is fresh, maybe even radical, a revolution against swell of modern music complacency. I can dig it. (But they really need to improve on the album art.) Recommended.

Heartbreak Remedy - Life


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In Short

Midnight Groove is all rather satisfying and entertaining, solid and classic melodic hard rock. This music is not new or modern, nor intended to be. Yet in light of current trends, it is fresh, maybe even radical, a revolution against swell of modern music complacency.

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