The Lood

Wed
29
Mar

THE FLOOD – Hear Us Out (Album Review, 2023)

information persons: 
content: 
94%
Label: 
Escape Music
Artist: 
Score: 
94
Categories: 
Reviews

Surely this is the heaviest project I have heard Heatland/The Distance vocalist Chris Ousey front to date?

Some furious drumming from Saxon’s Nigel Glockler and the heaviest guitar work I’ve heard from FM’s Jim Kirkpatrick leads the sonic assault. Add in Bass supremo Billy Sheehan, who delivers his trademark sound and keys from former FM man Didge Digital and you get a truly accomplished lineup at work.

With the material all composed together by Chris Ousey and Jim Kirkpatrick, this is a true band project. The only way to have a natural mixing of minds and styles, is to have those involved write their own material and that’s exactly what you get here.

Fans of Ousey’s unique writing style will see the usual rewards come with repeated listens. He’s never been someone to make hooks and melodies obvious or over the top – instead he embeds them within the songs and choruses. And as usual, patience brings them all to the fore.

The opening ‘Dangerous Dawn’ and ‘The Devil He Don’t Care’ showcase the hard rocking approach, while ‘Can I Call It Home’ is a classic Ousey style heartfelt ballad.

The sheer pace of the album is almost unrelenting. It has that The Distance meets Mr. Big vibe, just with added punch.

This is nothing short of essential for fans of Ousey and FM – a glorious slice of high energy British melodic hard rock.

 
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