REUBEN ARCHER’S PERSONAL SIN (2013)

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Although REUBEN ARCHER has been around the hard rock scene for more than thirty years fronting Stampede, having stints with Lautrec, Wild Horses, Lionheart and now the Paul Raymond Project, the singer never considered a solo project. At least not until prompted by new Stampede guitarist Rob Wolverson.
Wolverson offered to produce Archer’s new set of songs, and the result is Reuben’s first solo CD properly entitled “Personal Sin”, where he delivers a collection of 13 mighty fine classic (British) sounding melodic hard rock songs.

By his side we have some renowned rockers such as Dave Meniketti (Y&T), John ‘Rhino’ Edwards (Status Quo), Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Snakecharmer), Harry James (Magnum, Thunder), Luke Morley (Thunder, The Union), Paul Quinn (Saxon), Paul Raymond (UFO), Rocky Newton (Lionheart, MSG) and tons more.
Quite impressive guest appearances, can’t you tell?
Mastered by Ade Emsley (Iron Maiden) and with Reuben himself helping Wolverson behind the production desk, “Personal Sin” sound is incredibly clear and rocking, with a contemporary touch.

The album opens in style with the polished “Bulletproof”, a neat showcase for the whole collection: a classic rocker with a monster vocal hook, fat riff and cute melodies spliced with a mid-paced and perfectly delivered instrumental section.
The megaphonic distortions for the vocal on “Play My Rock ‘n’ Roll” give a wonderfully dirty, sleazy growl that crawls all over a riff lower than a snake’s belly. A simple track but effective and foot-tapping.
“Personal Sin” has a biting guitar attack that rocks hard with an edgy swagger and features Dave Meniketti of Y&T, Thunder’s Harry James and Quo’s Rhino Edwards… but wait there’s more. Time to open the bottle of red wine for the swinging blues drive of “Lately” which once again has James on drums and Kevin Riddles on bass (yes, he of Angel Witch and Tytan).
Archer’s ear for a classic rocker is re-inforced in “TV Junkie” and album closer “Sooner Or Later”, both ripping along a power rock groove and are about the heaviest tracks on show.

There is plenty of room to stretch out too. “Like A Clown” assumes almost epic proportions and is the album’s Asia-moment with staccato riffs, mood changes, melodic twists, acoustic guitar and an extended piano break. Archer enjoys the space and puts in a tour-de-force broken-hearted vocal delivery.
Sticking with the theme of diversity, here comes a ballad. “Time On My Hands” begins as a gentle narrative drifting on a sea of, well, mediocrity. But stick with it. Rob Wolverson transforms the track with a searing, spiraling solo that blows apart the calm waters. The gorgeous synth-string arrangement would put one in mind of UFO, and then Archer comes back in to wrap his big bluesy vocal chords around the go-for-broke chorus.
The influences continue to be widely mined. That blues thread runs through a few of the tracks, most obviously “Reuben’s Blues”, a brooding, complex gem which features sax front and centre.

What “Personal Sin” offers open-handedly is almost 70 minutes of quality classic rock music, sharp and melodic. Reuben Archer and his mates pool really well here their considerable talents to lift the album way above the average.
Well-written songs are boosted with clear-cut arrangements, subtle harmonies and unexpected changes of pace spiked with keyboards, hammond, sax, synths and various sound effects.
The big, polished, crisp production has really brought out the quality in Archer’s voice and put the musicianship front and centre. And on that note, Rob Wolverson’s guitar work is simply brilliant throughout.
Elsewhere, Archer has whistled up the extensive services of the likes of Neil Murray, Paul Raymond, Dave Meniketti, Luke Morley and John ‘Rhino’ Edwards, each adding some flavour to the tracks and the standard of the album is high.
It’s taken Reuben Archer thirty years to finally get a solo album, and just like himself, “Personal Sin” it is full of vintage quality, a genuine rockin’ album by a true rocker.
Highly Recommended.

01. Bulletproof
02. Play My Rock ‘n’ Roll (ft. Rocky Newton)
03. Personal Sin (ft. Meniketti, H. James & ‘Rhino’ Edwards)
04. Lately (ft. Harry James & Kevin Riddles)
05. Time On My Hands (ft. Derek Holt & Steve Holbrook)
06. Desperation Train (ft. Luke Morley, D. Holt & S. Holbrook)
07. TV Junkie
08. Ace Café (ft. Paul Quinn, H. James, R. Edwards, S. Holbrook)
09. Spanish Nights (ft. Steve Holbrook)
10. Reuben’s Blues (ft. Paul Quinn, Neil Murray, Paul Raymond)
11. Shakin’ All Over
12. Like A Clown
13. Sooner Or Later

Reuben Archer – Lead Vocals
Rob Wolverson – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Guests:
Elizabeth Fields, Dulcie Phoenix – Backing Vocals
Dave Meniketti (Y&T)
John ‘Rhino’ Edwards (Status Quo)
Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Gary Moore, Snakecharmer)
Harry James (Magnum, Thunder, Snakecharmer)
Paul Quinn (Saxon)
Paul Raymond (UFO, PRP)
Derek Holt (Climax Blues Band)
Luke Morley (The Union, Thunder)
Rocky Newton (Lionheart, MSG)
Steve Holbrook (Lautrec)
Kevin Riddles (Angel Witch, Tytan)
Chris Clowsley, Steve Graystone (Stampede)
Christian Nokes (IOEarth)
Vince Neades (Archer Marriott Band)
Al Cormel (Slide Boy Roy & The Decades)
Joe Blanks (The Howling, The Tunics)
Chris Dyer (Ruff Kutz, Skalinskis)
Paul Gooderham (The Remnants, Archer Marriott Band)

BUY IT !
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