Blindstone: The Seventh Cycle Of Eternity

To many, heavy rock and blues is all about posturing and pouting. Or even machismo and bravado. However when a band is confident, assured and skilled enough to put all of that window dressing aside and simply lay down a collection of grooves and riffs that genuinely suck you into their way of thinking, well that's when the real magic happens. Blindstone, the power trio of guitarist and vocalist Martin J. Andersen, bassist Jesper Bunk and debuting drummer Sigurd Jøhnk-Jensen, are one of those rare beasts. The band's seventh album, The Seventh Cycle Of Eternity, hits hard, it's chock full of guitar solos that'll have you drooling at the mouth and there's no doubt that when it wants to be, it's as muscular and proud as you can imagine. And yet what makes this album, and indeed this band, so impressive is the believable, assured style in which everything is delivered.

"Dead Man's Blues" powers the album into life, Jøhnk-Jensen's kick drum literally moving you in your seat, as Andersen's guitar deftly switches between solid chunks of riffology and red hot lead lines that quickly sear themselves into your memory. With Bunk's bass work strong enough to allow Andersen the freedom to switch between riffs and solos at will, it's a hell of a way to start an album. However what impresses most is the uncluttered, genuine nature of what you've heard, the honesty behind this song and everything else on Seventh Cycle the reason you'll keep coming back for more.

From there the mid paced steam train of "Rolling" thunders into view, before "Rebel In Black" finds the perfect balance between subtly intricate and bullishly bold, the juddering slice of guitars delivered with a real sense of less being oh so much more. Any blues man worth his salt should be capable of tugging on the heart strings and with "Looking Back" Andersen proves equally adept at this simple sounding, but ever so difficult to achieve skill. This slower, emotional piece conveyed in such a way that you've no doubt it's coming straight from the heart – and while we all like a thundering powerhouse to get the party started, with a solo that captures the soul, I've no doubt this song will soon become a centre piece of the Blindstone live experience. However if it's hard hitting rock of an altogether more full on nature you desire, then don't fret, because Andersen's fretting fingers provide this in abundance. The instrumental "By The Suns Of Warvan, You Shall Be Avenged" holding the threat and mystery its title alludes, while "Thunder From The North" shows that the heavens can open and let the guitars rain down.

Add in the Bonzo-like drum storm of "Stonesnake", the Hendrix infused "On My Way" and cracking cover of the man himself on "Power Of The Soul" and Blindstone simply have it all. Can there be a better way to spend time in The Seventh Cycle Of Eternity? I think not.

Track Listing
1. DEAD MAN'S BLUES

2. ROLLING

3. REBEL IN BLACK

4. ON MY WAY

5. LOOKING BACK

6. BY THE SUNS OF WARVAN, YOU SHALL BE AVENGED

7. THUNDER FROM THE NORTH

8. A LOVE MANIFESTO

9. STONESNAKE

10. ONCE YOU SEE THE SIGNS

11. POWER OF SOUL

Added: January 14th 2017
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: The Seventh Cycle Of Eternity at Grooveyard Record
Hits: 3231
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]