Tavyrn: Fire In The Sky

Solo albums are usually the preserve of the rich and famous looking for a break and style change from their ‘tiresome’ day job treading stages across the world with their main, big name band. It’s a real shame that the debut solo outing from Steve Labrecque doesn’t fall into that bracket, his main outfit Nightrider deserving to be much better known than they are and therefore, allowing their main songwriter, singer and guitarist to take a break and stretch his wings. As it is, Nightrider remain something of a New Hampshire secret, but if you love a bit of wider ranging NWOBHM, you really should check them out. Anyway, as you’ll gather, Fire In The Sky is the solo album of that band’s fulcrum, although it arrives under the ‘band’ name Tavyrn. However, other than a couple of bass tracks by Bert Plante and a guitar solo from Ken Merrifield, this album all comes from the mind and talents of Steve Labrecque.

It’s maybe not too much of surprise to discover that the germ of an idea that gave birth to this release came into being during lockdown, but what started as a way for Labrecque to blow off steam soon grew into something else entirely. Initially staying reasonably close to the Nightrider blueprint, things slowly began to expand and while Tavyrn are undoubtedly a heavy rock act that have their feet firmly planted in a time when denim and leather ruled the lands, the songs presented here take in a wider scope that while hardly ‘progressive’, certainly pulls from other areas and ideas. Admittedly, things begin with the rockin’, rollickin’ “Prodigal Son� and immediately it feels as though we are headed into a heads down and charge rock/metal album. “Fire In The Sky� hints that things won’t be quite so simple, as a layer of intrigue and complexity comes into play, but it’s the more nuanced “Prisoner Of The Dark� that really offers something a little different. Deep, brooding and atmospheric, it suits Labrecque’s expressive vocals to a tee and at just over 7 minutes might just be the most adventurous thing he’s attempted. From there a lighter touch is added to the flowing grooves of “Lady Moonshine�, while “Rising Sons� take a similar approach and laces it with a guitar solo that wouldn’t have been out of place on a classic Wishbone Ash album, even if the vibe here is more catchy and hook-laden.

From start to finish Fire In The Sky is chock full of great guitar playing, cool vocals and intelligent lyrics. Laced trough those key aspects are some tracks that really grow and evolve as you get to know them, and it’s worth mentioning that this album carries much more heft after a good few spins than first encounters might suggest. Once those moods and textures click in place what they reveal is a collection of songs that make a mighty impression and which feel like they will stand the test of time.

Track Listing
1. Prodigal Son
2. Fire In The Sky
3. Prisoner Of The Dark
4. Lady Moonshine
5. Castle Of Dreams
6. Step Into The Fire
7. Rising Sons
8. Together We Fly
9. Find Your Way To Me
10. I Believe

Added: May 15th 2024
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Tavyrn @ bandcamp
Hits: 536
Language: english

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