REVIEW: BLACKBIRD SONS – BACK IN THE GAME (2017)

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An email arrived in the MV inbox the other day. Promising “straight forward rock n roll” from Finland. Ever since my days as a member of a record club that specialised in Scandinavian stuff, those words have been enough to cause a ripple of excitement.

Interestingly, though, the sound on Blackbird Sons debut EP – which emerged last year – doesn’t have anything to do with the likes of The Hellacopters or The Backyard Babies.

Indeed, rather than that hi-energy 90s stuff, the vibe throughout these five songs is one that screams 80’s rock at you pretty loud and very proud.

The title track actually kicks off with a Bon Jovi type riff, but when it gets down to business it does so with the air of a Bad Company song. Proper choruses, a proper crunch too and a real melody.

That never actually leaves the record either. “Stay Away” wraps its sadness up in a bluesy coat and a huge hook, while “Get Down” forgets the heartbreak and decides the best way to get back at her and forget your troubles is with an absolutely filthy boogie and “Scream For Me” – after an opening few bars that doesn’t half sound like Whitesnake  – settles in for a bit of AC/DC worship, and there ain’t nothing wrong with that.

Arguably, though, they save the best for last. “Lady” gets cowbell bonus points (always fun) and possesses something just about as cool as Aerosmith’s “Permanent Vacation” era and when Niko  Hämäläinen sneers “I said, ‘hey, why’d you tease me’? She said ‘you’re so damn easy’” I can’t be the only single bloke on the planet, thinking: “yeah I might know this girl.” Even if you are – unlike me – a normal human being, if you can’t find something to enjoy here, then you probably don’t like rock that much.

So if – like me – you missed out on this the first time around last year, get on it now. And love them in the future too, because Blackbird Sons deserve to fly.

Rating 9/10

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