WEST BOUND – Volume 1 (Album Review)

Chas West, known for Lynch Mob, Bonham, and Resurrection Kings, has returned with a whole new band to assault our eardrums. With him, he has brought well-known guitarist/producer Roy Z (Bruce Dickinson, Halford). They complete the lineup with Jason Cornwell on bass, Jimmy Burkard on guitar, Dave “Chilli” Moreno on drums. Stephen LeBlanc provides the keyboard sounds. And this might explain a lot of the bluesy, Whitesnake edge to it, but Brian Tichy co-writes two songs on this album. Once again, Frontiers Records knows what’s what. This album of catchy, bluesy, but hard rocking melodic tunes is sure to fire your senses into overdrive and get your fists pounding.

Even though Los Angeles isn’t known these days as the “go to” place anymore, like the good ol’ days, it proves that it can still be a home for great rock and roll. From the opening track of “Never Surrender” to the very guitar orientated second track, “Dance Of Life” your mind will throw you back into yesteryear. Memories of listening to cassettes with your friends while you aimlessly drive around wasting your gas and smoke money. “Ain’t Gonna Drown” is the third track to get you off your seat and moving. A simple track that doesn’t fail, but lets you know you don’t need fast, bumble bee fingers flying up and down a fretboard to make great music.

Now in the true fashion of this style of music, it’s time for the ballad. Now don’t confuse me with The Meister, I actually can enjoy a great ballad. For me though, “Beautiful Dream” just doesn’t cut it for this writer. But hey, that’s the great thing about music, something for everyone. Next up is “Nothing”. A driving, simple beat, with melodic, and soulful lyrics are great here. Not an edgy tune at all, but still rocking nonetheless.

WEST BOUND - Volume 1The next one “Roll The Bones” gets you right back where you want to be. Head pounding, and fist in the air beats return this listener right where he likes to be. Personally, I think the track has “single” written all over it! To follow that is “On My Own”. Starts off with a small piano melody, which had me stop dead and think…“WTH?!” then the tune kicked in. This is another great tune with a real story to tell in the lyrics. What a fantastic melody and chorus on this one. “Keeper Of The Flame” is another toe-tapper, but definitely has that Bonham sound coming through here. Within the first minute, and before the chorus, I was thinking, “Great Bonham Tune”. But that’s okay, I liked Bonham in their day!

Another slower ballad time again. The guitar work in this one is very well done, and actually “Turn To You” the song is more likable than the previous ballad in my opinion. Again, as per the normal standard after a ballad, its time for another fist pounder. “No Room For Sympathy” is an upbeat tempo tune, with a charging quality. The guitar work on this track is stunning, even if it is pushed back a bit. The Last track “Traveller” has a very familiar sound to it to me. I can hear Bonham here very strong, but the tune is very catchy and gets into your memory. To the point where I listened twice in a row just to satisfy myself and my desire for stunning musicianship.

This album doesn’t really carve a path on its own, but does deliver a sound that I love, and still seek to find in today’s crazy world. So if you loved Bonham, Lynch Mob or any of that style and era, then this is the record for you. You will be transported back to a more enjoyable time before the responsibility of being an adult struck us all down.

BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com

OFFICIAL WEBSITE / FACEBOOK

Trevor “Psychoone” McDougall

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=borURMcuTKA[/embedyt]

 

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yCA5QHqaJM[/embedyt]

 

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKWqipsDTaA[/embedyt]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *