Artist: Attica Rage
Title: Road Dog
Type: Album
Label: Rocksector Records

Hailing from the heart of Glasgow, Attica Rage have forged their first album since getting a recording deal with Rocksector Records, their previous releases being self funded and self released, including their debut album ‘Ruin Nation’. With this injection of cash and years of hard touring, what has Attica Rage given the world in the form of ‘Road Dog’? Like their live shows, which I have caught at various venues from Scottish pubs to the main stage of Hammerfest, experience and touring has given a polish and confidence to their material, album opener ’36 Insane’ pounding out with a rocky swagger ably backed up by years of hard work, the influence of Glasgow’s most famous metal sons The Almighty being instantly apparent in the composition, and most importantly, attitude.

‘Road Dog Forever’ lays down the band’s motorcycle credentials, the roar of a bike engine blending into an almost bluesy slide guitar, the chugging guitar and bass setting a perfect tempo for the lyrics of the open road and “live for the moment” lifestyle of denim and leather. This is followed by the rock ballad ‘Through The Inner Eye’, where vocalist Jonny Parr shows he is able to imbue the words of the song with some genuine emotion, the band’s guitar sound enhanced by some almost subliminal Hammond organ work. This same gentler touch is again demonstrated in the choruses of ‘Ashamed’, the vocal harmonies giving a depth to the feelings on show.

Throughout the album, the influence of classic rock abounds, with subtle dashes of punk, metal, and even the hint of thrash thrown into some of the guitar work. There is even a strong nod to the Foo Fighter’s ‘Learn to Fly’ in ‘High’, having a very similar structure and sound. This is not a criticism; yes, throughout entirety of ‘Road Dog’ the band kept on reminding me of other acts like Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, and most especially The Almighty, but that’s a bloody good thing in my book. With the so called popular metal scene being dominated by US Emo pop punk and their Euro wannabees, and extreme sounds being polarised against them with ever darker screams and grunts at the other end of the metal spectrum, it’s thoroughly refreshing to listen to Attica Rage and just revel in unpretentious rock and metal that isn’t trying to pander to any particular trend.

Like their live shows, Attica Rage’s CDs are growing in skill and depth. Here’s to many more years of growth and rock.

http://www.myspace.com/atticarage