KING JAMES – Maximus (2014)

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KING JAMES is a hard rock band assembled in 1993 by guitarist Rex Carroll (WhiteCross) and vocalist Jimi Bennett (Sacred Fire, Viktor), releasing a very good self-titled album the following year characterized by Carroll’s terrific six-sring work and Bennett’s smooth and pristine vocal presence.
After a long hiatus King James is back with a new CD entitled “Maximus”, a new rhythm section and new recording label.

“Maximus” features a varied palette of sounds ranging from strong hard rockers, bluesy melodic tunes and of course some melting short instrumentals where Carroll smokes.
The first full track, “Hard Road To Go” (a re-work from the self-titled debut) is a quick, impressive and catchy song that brings back the sounds of the late ’80s. “Prisoner” turn things more melodic hard rock, while “Waiting For The King” takes a similar heading but introducing some progressive elements.
There’s a more groovy, bluesy hard rocking numbers on “Blackstone Woman” and “Just As I Am (Lamb Of God)”, then a melodic southern feel can be heard in “Mississippi Kidd”, a tribute to Carroll’s good friend and bass player Ean Evans (aka ‘The Mississippi Kidd’) ex- The Outlaws, King James and Lynyrd Skynyrd. These tracks prove that Carroll still knows how to deliver big hook sensibilities.

The melodic “Miracles” and the passionate “Desperate” bring back the hard rocking stylings again. There is also an acoustic version to “Miracles””, which in my opinion is a throwaway in light of how good portions to its ‘electric’ counterpart are already acoustic.

Rex Carroll, Bennett and the rest of the guys are in top form on “Maximus”.
Carroll, as one might imagine, remains inspired as ever. His tone, his special way to build up the riffs are second to none, and the short instrumental pieces (“X Maximus” is killer) allow him to showcase his shredding abilities. Rex is one of the most underrated guitarists in hard rock and truly deserves to be heard by the masses. If you aren’t familiar with Carroll, this album is a great place to start listening to a terrific six-string monster.
Bennett stands out in showing added range and maturity in terms of his delivery; similar to other vocalist to come out of the ’80s such as Rob Rock and Michael Sweet his strengths have refined with age. Of equal note is how his polished style perfectly melds with the bluesy nature of the material at hand.
Updated for a new decade but still sounding classic hard rock, on “Maximus” – sporting a crisp, excellent production by Petra’s John Lawry – King James have returned in great style.
Highly Recommended.

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox

01 – The Void
02 – Hard Road to Go
03 – Black Stone Woman
04 – Mississippi Kidd
05 – X Maximus
06 – Waiting for the King
07 – A New Beginning
08 – Miracles
09 – The Highlander – In Exile
10 – The Prisoner
11 – Just as I Am (Lamb of God)
12 – Desperate
13 – Miracles [Acoustic Version]

Jimi Bennett – Lead and Backing Vocals
Rex Carroll – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Benny Ramso – Bass
Michael Feighan – Drums

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