Gentlemans Pistols - Hustler's Row

****

Soundtrack for the Summer comes out in the Winter!

I know everyone’s under rated nowadays but seriously Bill Steer is not only one of Rock and Metal's most under rated guitarists he doesn’t get any recognition as one of the UK’s top guitar players at least outside of the metal covering media and even then Saint Michael Amott seems to snap up all the credit for Carcass... although 2013’s return 'Surgical Steel' showed who the daddy was.

But not only did he play on Naplam Death’s legendary first two albums plus the Carcass catalogue, these where some of the albums that shaped Extreme Metal but what so many people tend to forget is his work with Firebird... all six albums folks!. The spectrum the man has covered in his career is amazing, and he simply doesn’t get the credit he deserves and while I’m in good flow let me ask this question that has been bugging me for the last couple of years... why the hell did he not play on the last Angel Witch album?.

Anyway somewhere along the line Bill has joined Gentlemans Pistols, this is their third album and their second with Bill on second guitar. It’s a great feel good rocking album with tons of luscious leads and vocal melodies that ring in your head for ages. It has this wonderful 70’s feel without falling into the ironic retro crap that was doing the rounds a few years ago which thankfully has weeded out the good bands and the rest fallen by the wayside.

It has a timeless classic feel which brings to mind Budgie, early Status Quo and even a bit of Thin Lizzy... basically it’s a great album to play while getting drunk!. From the chirpy upbeat 'Devil’s advocate on Call' to the heavy blues of 'Time Wasters' to the albums gem the closing title track with its melancholy charm.The albums main problem is that it’s being released on the eve of winter because it would have been a great soundtrack to summer, however there are plenty more summer’s ahead and this album has a charm that will rings on for years to come.

Review by Joe Denby

Check Out! the Video for 'Devil's advocate on Call' Below...