NËIL BLÄDË – NB23 (2023)

NËIL BLÄDË is the pseudonym of Nathan Smith, a young musician hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, member of varios bands like veteran rockers Shyanne. Nathan has been releasing some singles and now it’s time for his full debut album ‘NB23‘.
The idea of this Nëil Blädë moniker – with the ¨ ala Mötley or Mötorhead – is part of the essence of the material he has composed for the album, ’80s inspired melodic hard rock with that American flavor.
Apart from his strong, very well honed lead & harmony vocals Nathan handles guitar, bass, keys, and while he had some help by professional engineers, producded the whole thing. Nathan wanted a real ’80s sound, real drums, so he asked session skin basher Kerry Denton to play on all songs.
This is wonderful retro US hard akin Skid Row, Hurricane, Salty Dog or more recent acts such as Outloud, AdrianGale – mixed with melodic and occasionally AOR from Paul Laine, Jimmy Davis & Junction, etc.

There’s a varied selection here from harder tracks like opener F.S.U. / Castles and Don’t Back Down, however it’s on the more melodious numbers where Blade shine, namely the ridiculous catchy Undercover Lover, Special Delivery, Runway Runaway, or the AORish Lonely where he adds a lot of synths.

With this type of indie / self-managed albums sometimes we say “in the hands of a famed producer this coulda been huge”. That doesn’t apply here.
Part of the charm of these songs is Nathan / Nëil Blädë vision of how they should sound. And let me tell you NB23 is professionally produced, crisp, no brickwalled. Additionally, mix & mastering are first rate.
A pleasure to listen if you love your classic ’80s / early ’90s American melodic hard rock properly done.
HIGHLY Recommended

01 – F.S.U.
02 – Castles
03 – Special Delivery
04 – Runway Runaway
05 – Love Song
06 – Undercover Lover
07 – Fool
08 – Don’t Back Down
09 – Lonely
10 – Ruin My Day
11 – Trouble
12 – Victim
13 – Reason

Nathan Smith: guitar, vocals, bass, keys
Kerry Denton: drums

BUY
neilblade.bandcamp.com/album/nb23