Great Western
We were recently contacted by Great Western (no….not the train company you crazy jokers!), a London based hard rock band formed in 2008. Citing their influences as the likes of Entombed, Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy, I was looking forward to hearing what these guys had managed to put together. Hitting play on their 5 track EP, Warrior Of Light, I sat back to see what was going on!
Opening with Son Of A Gun there’s a definite feeling of hard and heavy rock, the heavy guitar line leading the way into the track and forming a mix which is melodic whilst still holding all the power you would expect. Raspy vocals bound around the mix whilst the sludgy guitar line combines with a pounding bass and hammering drum line, the whole mix forming something which is going to get you out of your seat, get you moving and make you want to get involved. Despite the all out rock approach, there’s also a sense of melody running through things, meaning this is the sort of thing which you could well imagine hear being played on the radio or on a major festival stage – it’s good beer drinking music!
New Government continues the raucous approach to music, once again launching us into a powerful mix of elements resulting in a sound which is going to get live venues pumping. The slow beat of this track further accentuates the power of this track, meaning you’re left with a track that you’re going to chant to, move to and generally realise is quite simply, awesome! I love the simplicity here, it just keeps this a track which you’re going to be able to just listen to. Grand Parade moves us more towards the heavier influences of the band, opening with a slow and sludgy riff which could be straight out of the book of Iommi. The slow and sludgy effect of this track is twofold – on one front making you sit back and just listen, but on another making you listen harder to make sure you haven’t missed anything. Personally, this is one of my favourite tracks off of the EP, there’s just something about the progression of the track and the melodies they’ve managed to create within it.
Been Gone comes as somewhat of a shock initially, opening with an almost country and western style guitar line accompanied by a soft and haunting vocal line. Repetitive as it builds through the track, there’s a real sense of old school blues coming through this track, almost showcasing the development of rock n roll from the likes of blues, and before that the African field hollers. This sound here is one which isn’t heavy, isn’t over the top and doesn’t really match the other tracks on the EP, but it stands out as a moment which is going to make you sit up and take note once again. Closing with Be At One (or so you think…) you’re left with one final moment of interest, the band once again crafting a sludgy mix of distorted guitars and soft acoustic lines, combining the two into a mix which works somehow even though it really shouldn’t. Once again nodding towards their influences, this final track shows off the bands skill at songwriting and their ability to mould their own sound – it’s a clever final track. (Note: My advice is to keep listening as this track comes to a close…..I’ll say no more.)
The thing which has really stood out to me throughout the EP from Great Western is their ability to take different styles and make them their own. Throughout this EP there’s moments which are heavy, moments which are soft, moments which make you reflect and moments where you question what’s going on. At all times though there’s one thing for sure, the guys inn Great Western know what they’re doing and they’re doing it well.
To find out more about Great Western, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Son Of A Gun there’s a definite feeling of hard and heavy rock, the heavy guitar line leading the way into the track and forming a mix which is melodic whilst still holding all the power you would expect. Raspy vocals bound around the mix whilst the sludgy guitar line combines with a pounding bass and hammering drum line, the whole mix forming something which is going to get you out of your seat, get you moving and make you want to get involved. Despite the all out rock approach, there’s also a sense of melody running through things, meaning this is the sort of thing which you could well imagine hear being played on the radio or on a major festival stage – it’s good beer drinking music!
New Government continues the raucous approach to music, once again launching us into a powerful mix of elements resulting in a sound which is going to get live venues pumping. The slow beat of this track further accentuates the power of this track, meaning you’re left with a track that you’re going to chant to, move to and generally realise is quite simply, awesome! I love the simplicity here, it just keeps this a track which you’re going to be able to just listen to. Grand Parade moves us more towards the heavier influences of the band, opening with a slow and sludgy riff which could be straight out of the book of Iommi. The slow and sludgy effect of this track is twofold – on one front making you sit back and just listen, but on another making you listen harder to make sure you haven’t missed anything. Personally, this is one of my favourite tracks off of the EP, there’s just something about the progression of the track and the melodies they’ve managed to create within it.
Been Gone comes as somewhat of a shock initially, opening with an almost country and western style guitar line accompanied by a soft and haunting vocal line. Repetitive as it builds through the track, there’s a real sense of old school blues coming through this track, almost showcasing the development of rock n roll from the likes of blues, and before that the African field hollers. This sound here is one which isn’t heavy, isn’t over the top and doesn’t really match the other tracks on the EP, but it stands out as a moment which is going to make you sit up and take note once again. Closing with Be At One (or so you think…) you’re left with one final moment of interest, the band once again crafting a sludgy mix of distorted guitars and soft acoustic lines, combining the two into a mix which works somehow even though it really shouldn’t. Once again nodding towards their influences, this final track shows off the bands skill at songwriting and their ability to mould their own sound – it’s a clever final track. (Note: My advice is to keep listening as this track comes to a close…..I’ll say no more.)
The thing which has really stood out to me throughout the EP from Great Western is their ability to take different styles and make them their own. Throughout this EP there’s moments which are heavy, moments which are soft, moments which make you reflect and moments where you question what’s going on. At all times though there’s one thing for sure, the guys inn Great Western know what they’re doing and they’re doing it well.
To find out more about Great Western, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls