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West Bound: Volume I
West Bound - Volume I Music Review

West Bound: Volume I

Melodic Metal Rock
5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Released: 22.02.2019
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 20.02.2019

Guitarist and producer Roy Z has been busy as of late. He created heavy metal act Spirits Of Fire, producing their debut album which dropped this month from Frontiers Records. Now he returns as both guitar player and producer for West Bound, formed with troubadour vocalist Chas West (Resurrection Kings, ex-Bonham, Lynch Mob et al). Their new debut album Volume I also arrives on the Frontiers Music label.

West Bound Photo - Click For Larger Image

West Bound

The musical context of West Bound is best summarized as melodic metal rock, perhaps with some lingering blues nuances. Vocalist Chas West can have something of a Coverdale blues notion to his voice. Otherwise, West simply has a powerful presence, singing strong and clean with controlled range. The music is equally powerful. All songs deliver strong guitar harmony in riffs and leads, a tight rhythm section for big beat and smooth groove, a light touch of keyboards, and fine vocal arrangements. All these things are wrapped up in fine melody and accented with memorable refrains for AOR accessibility. Needless to say, Roy Z's production is also sterling, drawing out each player's contributions. Basically, what West Bound reminds me of is all the great things that made Eighties LA rock music so enjoyable.

On to the songs, there's really not a runt in the litter; I enjoyed most every song here. You'll find some heavy metal riff rockers with Roll The Bones, Never Surrender, Keeper Of The Flame, and Traveler. A brisk and fast rocker arrives with No Room For Sympathy. You might hear some of the aforementioned blues nuance within the latter half of Ain't Gonna Drown. Beautiful Dream is a pleasant anthemic ballad that rises with guitar solos. A lighter ballad, reminiscent of those great Eighties ballads, comes with Turn To You, which turns upon acoustic guitar, bass, and voice as it methodically rises to crescendo. All in all, for some classic melodic metal rock, West Bound's Volume I delivers the goods on the strength of well-crafted songs, fine vocals, and thrilling guitar work. Easily recommended. Get it.



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The Bottom Line

All in all, for some classic melodic metal rock, West Bound's Volume I delivers the goods on the strength of well-crafted songs, fine vocals, and thrilling guitar work. Easily recommended. Get it.

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