Blindside Blues Band: From The Vaults

Following on from 2010’s Rare Tracks collection, From The Vaults is the second release from the Blindside Blues Band to gather together a few of the outfit’s little nuggets that could have otherwise slipped through the cracks. Hence, across 11 tracks and over 60 minutes of music, the hard rocking blues masters serve up a selection of covers, live cuts, jams and leftovers that will, no doubt, satisfy curious fans of the veteran band.

Of those 11 songs on show, six are composed by the outfit’s mainman, Mike Onesko, the guitarist and singer illustrating once more that’s he’s also an inspired and varied song writer. The album opens with a prime example, as a Bonham-esque thunder of kick drum and snare explodes things into life; “Poison� being inflected with an American take on Zeppelin’s classic, killer, scene creating sound. The self explanatory “Working Till I Die� follows, the blue collar sentiments heartfelt and honest as Onesko howls out this working man tale and punishes his fretboard in the process. Changing things up “Blue Galaxy� adds a dreamy mid-paced atmosphere to the bluesy framework, while the album closing “Time Fades Away� positively drips with emotion and poise. The considered yet flowing guitar work an absolute joy to behold, even as its undoubtedly melancholy stories unfold. The other two Onesko penned numbers show up in the shape of the live take on the BBB track “Renegade�, before the live in the studio “Bluesion Jam� arguably proves to be the highlight of the whole album. Running to nearly 15 minutes in length, this is a master class of heavy, hard hitting blues styles and searing solos which also leave enough room to incorporate some stellar bass and drum contributions.

Which of course leaves five cover versions for the BBB to get their teeth into, a stunning take on the Montrose classic (although arguably it’s the Iron Maiden version that’s best known) “I Got The Fire� possibly being the pick of the bunch. That’s not to say of course that Cream’s “White Room� doesn’t hit the spot, or that the bone crushing run through of Mountain’s “Never In My Life�, which also features a bar or two of “Nantucket Sleigh Ride�, aren’t thoroughly captivating, because they certainly are. Add in a couple of lesser known cuts in the shape of “New York City Streets� by the Dutch band Bodine (who have links with Arjen Lucassen) and “Warning� by The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation and there’s no denying the breadth of ground covered.

In all honesty, put the name Blindside Blues Band on the cover of a CD and you can pretty much guarantee top rocking entertainment. By it’s very nature, From The Vaults may not be the most obvious starting point for anyone to begin their journey into the world of the triple-B, but for those already converted to the cause, this album will be a required purchase.

Track Listing
1. POISON

2. WORKING TILL I DIE

3. RENEGADE (LIVE)

4. NEVER IN MY LIFE

5. NEW YORK CITY STREETS

6. BLUE GALAXY

7. I GOT THE FIRE

8. WARNING

9. WHITE ROOM

10. BLUESION JAM (LIVE IN THE STUDIO)

11. TIME FADES AWAY

Added: September 7th 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: From The Vaults at The Grooveyard
Hits: 1915
Language: english

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