PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
In over forty five years of listening to music, mainly rock and metal and fourteen years of reviewing, it takes a lot to impress me, especially when it’s a debut album, but Sunderland based Thieves Of Liberty have torn up the rule book by independently releasing their studio album Shangri -La, due for release on November 15th 2024.
It’s not even a short album as they give us a bakers dozen of thirteen powerhouse songs to marvel at, and they will be celebrating the launch of the album in their hometown with two guest bands Abnorm and Electric Black.
It kicks off with the title track as an infectious main riff drives this sturdy rocker with an Audioslave like vibe, which is no bad thing. It thumps along for four fiesty minutes as lead vocals from James Boak are a force of nature as he whoops and hollers with aplomb, effortlessly.
‘Sick Pup’ has plenty of bark and bite for a dog eat dog grinder of effervescent dynamics for a put up or shut up delivery to test the metal mettle of your audio system, closing on an air guitar inducing frenzy.
The double entendre tongue in cheek ‘Cherry Queen’ is rock royalty, right here, right now with brick heavy riffs, a lascivious lead vocal and more ear splitting fretboard fury.
‘Casual Tragedy’ is catchier than an STD as this silky smooth ballad with balls, meandering along on a catchy croon and a saxophone piece adds extra nuances.
‘Rabbit Hole’. To these old ears it’s a hard and heavy midpaced thrasher, rocketing the vocals up into the stratosphere.
A sedate intro to ‘Until The End’ makes way for raw riffing, but a brief respite from the mayhem comes from laid back choruses and a headbanging outro to test your neck muscles.
My album highlight comes from ‘Sweet As Today’. Another earworm main riff gives off an ‘Only You Can Rock Me’ vibe. These riffs jab with left and right knockout blows, chugging along, then taking a breather for a bass heavy midsection to step in.
They spread their wings for ‘Luminescent Daydream’ for yet another classy ballad that’s surely worthy of rock radio airplay, but still has the balls to keep the headbangers happy.
‘Caviar And Diamonds’ is rock and raunch par excellence that comes from a sleazy, full on ballbuster, taking no prisoners with another riff after motherf**king riff extravaganza, closing on a Celtic rock vibe.
‘Ain’t Going Home’ is the first of the three bonus tracks. There’s no escaping the potency of another full on grinder, pinned down by a broken glass chewed vocal and a ferocious lead guitar outro.
The bombastic, ballistic verses for ‘Calypso’ romp and stomp around guitar swathes and a spotlight stealing, helium fuelled lead vocal and some mighty “Whoa oh oh’s” for good measure, lighting the fuse for a molten lava hot guitar outro.
Final track ‘Ground Zero’ from this breathtaking debut album is one last blast to send us home with ears ringing, but also with a fond farewell, drawing this monumental debut album to a close.
Thieves Of Liberty band info :- http://linktr.ee/thievesofliberty
Shangri-La album track listing :-
Shangri-La.
Sick Pup.
Cherry Queen.
Casual Tragedy.
Rabbit Hole.
Until The End.
Sweet As Today.
Luminescent Daydream.
Caviar & Diamonds.
Ain’t Goin Home (Bonus Track).
Calypso (Bonus Track).
Ground Zero (Bonus Track)
Thieves Of Liberty band personnel :-
James Boak – Vocals.
Kieran Wilson – Guitar.
Liam Lindsley – Guitar.
Pete Kinmond – Bass Guitar.
Tom Bushby – Drums.
