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Tommy Justice: Rockturnal
Tommy Justice - Rockturnal Music Review

Tommy Justice: Rockturnal

Melodic Hard Rock
3.5/5.0

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Unsigned/Self-released
Released: 15.10.2018
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 10.10.2018

Finding some information about Tommy Justice, aside from his own press releases, can be a bit sketchy. If you're UK based, perhaps you know Tommy Justice, the former guitarist and vocalist for two obscure English bands Ruff Justice and later Psychohero. With the demise of those two bands, Justice decided to forge his own musical path under his own catchy moniker. In 2011, he dropped his first album Setting Fire To History. Now he returns with his second effort, Rockturnal, once more self-released. Did I mention that information about Justice is sketchy? Yep. Apparently, so is information about Rockturnal. While being cast as a new album with an October 2018 release date, this album actually appeared in late 2017. So what became of it between now and then? Beats me.

Tommy Justice Photo Click For Larger Image

Tommy Justice

Cutting to the chase then, Tommy Justice and crew basically offer Eighties style melodic hard rock with some metal edge in an accessible AOR wrapper. His songs feature an attention to melody, harmony, and catchy refrains. These important elements are supported by sharp brisk riffs, a strong rhythm section for efficient rock beat and groove, ripping guitar solos, and Justice's assertive yet melodic vocals. The combination is a fine one, and should be familiar to fans of the genre.

You'll find some fast rockers with Ruff Justice, Psycho Ex, and Laughing All The Way To The Bank, which has a quite catchy refrain. A more tough rocker rises with Waking Up The Neighbours which has meat-fisted riffs and loud drums. Alternatively, the sharp rocker Say It To My Face offers some grit mixed with arena rock accessibility; the song is the highlight of the album. Then there's the mundane Halloween that is tripped up by some odd spoken part in the center. Ballads come with the tad long Forever Just A Dreamer and the more favorable Where The Two Roads meet which features violinist Anna Phoebe. Classic rock guitarist and Jethro Tull veteran Martin Barre is featured in the bonus track If I Could Change, a twist of a hard rock anthem and ballad.

Suffice to say, while hardly novel or extraordinary, Rockturnal finds Tommy Justice in tune with his Eighties classic melodic hard rock muse. If that muse is your groove, you'll like this album. Recommended.


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The Bottom Line

While hardly novel or extraordinary, Rockturnal finds Tommy Justice in tune with his Eighties classic melodic hard rock muse. If that muse is your groove, you'll like this album. Recommended.

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