HEARTBREAK REMEDY – Let The Good Times Roll (2023)
British rockers HEARTBREAK REMEDY have been working the circuit for over a decade and guested on many tours of such luminaries as The Quireboys, The Last Vegas and Warrior Soul; as well as being members of various other bands including Falling Red and Chris Holmes’ touring band.
It’s almost a decade since they released the swaggering ‘Life’ EP, then an album in 2015, which laid the foundation for Heartbreak Remedy to hit the highway to hell. A heady mix of sleazy hard rock, blues and classic rock had the critics utterly captivated. If life, work, a global pandemic and more have occasionally stalled the Cumbrians’ momentum then the committed trio have never compromised.
And their new album ”Let The Good Times Roll” is the decade-long, damned near perfect realisation of this band’s true potential.
So what’s made all the difference? Frontman Matty Penn has finally benefitted from a vocal mix that brings his gnarly rasp alive. Luke Blair’s axe work sizzles from start to finish as the fret burner fires up some of 2023’s most ambitious solos (listen ‘One More For The Road’ for starters). And drummer Steve Jackson — a key member of Chris Holmes’ band — punches his way through 11 shatterproof tracks with all the confidence of a season vet.
But perhaps that’s the key difference. Heartbreak Remedy aren’t kids anymore. They’re permanent fixtures on the buoyant NWOCR scene. Reliably proficient and riotously fun.
And in 2023 the three-piece play with all the passion, power and professionalism of stadium staples.
Opener “21 Kings”, a lo-fi growling ode to a favoured drinking establishment that is, on first listen, a little underwhelming but definitely becomes a grower. The full-on rocker “Just A Disease” would perhaps have been a little more of an obvious choice as opener as it sets their stall out perfectly and which continues with the threatening “White Line Suicide”.
”Hurricanes And Hand Grenades” is heavy blues heaven, ”Working Man Blues” benefits from a gloriously rustic groove, while the ballad ”Goodbye” allows Penn to drain the well of emotion running through so many of the more affecting songs here.
There’s a more classic rock feel to “Playing With Fire”. The hard driving, middle finger attitude of “Crypt Kicker” evokes a wry smile, and the road weary excellence of “One More For The Road” gives way to the touching acoustic closer “Drowning”, which further illustrates that this style really is Penn’s vocal forte.
Looking to Let The Good Times Roll this summer? Let Heartbreak Remedy do the hard yards.
Highly Recommended
01 – 21 Kings
02 – Just A Disease
03 – White Line Suicide
04 – Rock Me
05 – Hurricanes And Hand Grenades
06 – Working Man Blues
07 – Playing With Fire
08 – Goodbye
09 – Crypt Kicker
10 – One More For The Road
11 – Drowning
Luke Blair – guitars
Matty Penn – vocals
Stephen Jackson – drums
BUY
heartbreakremedy.bigcartel.com/product/letthegoodtimesroll-album
