BAD TOUCH – Kiss The Sky (2020)

Part of the new, young blood bringing Classic Rock back to the masses, BAD TOUCH will release their new album ‘Kiss the Sky‘ this week, again delivering their infectious blend of classy riffs, bluesy melodies and smooth vocals.
Recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios with Nick Brine (The Darkness, Thunder, Ash), ‘Kiss the Sky’ is released on Marshall Records on CD and of course, vinyl LP.

The best thing about an album like “Kiss The Sky” is that it’s all about the songs. Bands like Bad Touch have no airs and graces, whether it’s in the confines of a sweaty club or on record, they’re all about giving you a set of songs that will just rock out.
To do that, the band took themselves off to Rockfield Studios in Wales, a place the band describes as “just like home” and the end result is 13 songs that are full of the kind of Classic Rock raw energy that fans of this genre demand.

“Kiss The Sky” is a ‘Rock’ record in the truest sense of the term. It’s an album that is made by rock fans for rock fans. Bad Touch are an outfit who write songs that will have you pumping your fist along to them. They craft songs that will have you nodding your head, tapping your feet and singing along at the top of your voice.

Songs like ‘Strut’ and ‘I Got The Music In Me’ are classic rock bangers through and through. Written by the band to capture the energy of their live show, “Kiss The Sky” sees Bad Touch wear their hearts on their sleeves.
From frontman Stevie Westwood through to drummer George Drewry, the twin guitars of Rob Glendinning and Daniel Seekings and finished off by bassist Michael Bailey, Bad Touch gel together effortlessly to deliver true classic rock songs that not only they love but they know their fanbase will love.

Full of bluesy grit, the album kicks off with the high tempo, high energy ‘Come A little Closer’ as vocalist Stevie Westwood and the boys break out the beers and force you to dance until your feet ache. This is pure rabble-rousing rock ‘n’ roll and features a terrific slide solo from Rob Glendinning, the stunning production from Nick Brine and the band giving a real live feel to proceedings.
There’s more swagger in the form of ‘I Get High’ and the huge, joyous groove of ‘Let Go’ is utterly infectious, bass player Michael Bailey and drummer George Drewry powering something that will make you lift up while making you get down.

Upon hearing their souped-up cover of Kiki Dee’s ‘I’ve Got the Music in Me’ you wonder if anyone has ever done the real edge of this song as much justice before, Glendinning and fellow six stringer Daniel Seekings seemingly having an absolute blast as they tear things up. With balls well and truly out, this rocks hard and ratchets up the level of excitement for an album that shows just how well the five members are in sync.

Things get funky with the pounding vibe of ‘Can You Save Me’ before locking into the heads down party mode of the title track as ‘Kiss the Sky’ promises thunderously good times. Once more, Brine has managed to grasp and distill all the visceral energy of the band’s live shows and capture it in the studio, the life practically pouring out of the speakers as the sweat drips from the ceilings as things get wilder and wilder.
After all this excitement the heartfelt and moving ballad ‘See You Again’, written in tribute to the late father of one of the band members, is a salve to the senses. Deeply affecting and sensitively written and performed, you can feel the love and heartbreak that runs through the track and it’s one of the biggest highlights on the release.

‘Before I Die’ brings back the funk, and along with ‘Read All About It’ and ‘Too Much of a Good Thing’, these really rock the house, the energy crackling like lightning.
‘Sun and the Moon’ is another declaration of intent, throwing in so much Southern blues, rock and soul that it grows into a monster that is unstoppable but also has a huge amount of class and a deft touch, never overwhelming the writing but layering it wonderfully.

For those who get the CD version instead of the rather gorgeous white vinyl edition, there’s an added treat and it’s probably the best thing the band have ever done.
‘Something About Your Kiss’ doesn’t really fit in with the flow of the rest of ‘Kiss The Sky’ with its elements of more acoustic tinted blues and a slightly Southern Gothic vibe, but it sounds big enough to fill a cathedral and when the guitar solo comes in it takes things to another world entirely.

Full of the kind of energy that has this record buzzing as soon as you press play, “Kiss The Sky” is a banger of an album. The band has captured their live energy perfectly which makes it all the more sad to know that we won’t get to see the five-piece tearing up stages anytime soon.
Bad Touch have worked hard and come a long way already, but with this new release the sky really is the limit. Bands dream of making game changing albums but few have pulled it off so well and so completely as Bad Touch have with ‘Kiss The Sky’.
That being said, grab “Kiss The Sky”, wrap your ears around the sweet classic rock grooves and learn all the words because, thankfully, Bad Touch has given us the next best thing.
Highly Recommended

01 – Come a Little Closer
02 – I Get High
03 – Let Go
04 – Strut
05 – I’ve Got the Music In Me
06 – Can You Save Me
07 – Kiss the Sky
08 – See You Again
09 – Before I Die
10 – Read All About It
11 – Too Much of a Good Thing
12 – Sun and the Moon
13 – Something About Your Kiss (Bonus Track)

Stevie Westwood – Vocals
Rob Glendinning – Lead Guitar
Daniel ‘Seeks’ Seekings – Guitar / Vocals
George Drewry – Drums / Vocals
Michael Bailey – Bass

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www.amazon.co.uk/Kiss-Sky-Bad-Touch/dp/B085RQNM95