BLITZ – Kicking Up A Storm (2024) *HQ*
BLITZ are a 3 piece Rock band hailing from Nottingham UK, now releasing their third album entitled ‘Kicking Up A Storm’. Their style of unabated rock and roll stems back from the ’70s and ’80s and their love for KISS, Queen, Y&T, etc, that devotion providing the bones and fire for every BlitZ song, that explode and erupt with fury.
All that influences are wrapped by a modern production, and the guys aren’t afraid to add a lot of melody and poppy catchiness to the proceedings.
‘Anthemic’ is the best word to explain BlitZ’ songs, all with big layered choruses. Opener ‘Break Neck’ is a showstopper with merit. Heavy riffing and a strong voice lead us along only dismantling with some moshable chords towards the end. Next ‘Shell Shock’ rolls into view like a dust storm. With a sticky rhythm and a chorus grinding away the layers, ‘Left me a note, Said you were fun to stroke, Call me anytime’ it’s sexy and provocative with a capital P.
The melodic ‘Hesitate’ has entangled vibes of Cheap Trick and Mott The Hoople. I love the way BlitZ can re-create these classic sounds and fit them into their own package.
‘C.O.G’ is more of a stable chug with ever scratchier vocals and a chance to howl those ‘Whoas’. ‘Keep Moving On’ has a sound roaring back from the years when Status Quo were in their prime, giving us similar tokens of magic, it’s a classy piece oozing nostalgia. ‘We are The Power’ rumbles in a similar direction just with a bigger chorus ready for the arenas, while ‘Addicted To Corruption’ takes an even mightier stand. Both clicking all the BlitZ boxes with punchy lyrics, cool guitar licks and unfurling and precise drum sticks.
The power ballad ‘I’ll Find You In Yesterday’ is a poignant number and dedicated to the recently lost ‘Mark Evason and ’Tina Sherwood’. Guitarist Kevin Simpson also plays piano on this beautifully crafted song, which is about how we find so many friends through music and visit places we wouldn’t otherwise go to when seeing our favorite bands.
‘Freddie Said’ is dedicated to Freddie Mercury, an uptempo rocker. It’s no secret that ‘BlitZ’ are huge Queen fans and this track is to honor everything the legendary Mr. Mercury gave us.
The eponymous song is left to last and it’s the mother of all coda’s. After a soothing intro, Kevin Simpson’s strings are finely tuned and the vocals by Stu are resplendent. Crushing all in its path, this is a dynamic and enthralling piece of work and brings the album to a stupendous finish.
BlitZ id very, very interesting band with many influences but their own sound, each track has character and the running order is perfect. Well thought out and capturing the band’s adhering nature, ‘Kicking Up A Storm’ is remarkably impressive and makes BlitZ one of the bands to keep an eye on.
Highly Recommended
1 – Break Neck
2 – Shell Shock
3 – C.O.G
4 – Keep Moving On
5 – We Are The Power
6 – Addicted To Corruption
7 – I’ll Find You In Yesterday
8 – Freddie Said
9 – Hesitate
10 – Kicking Up A Storm
Stuart Corden (lead vocals and bass)
Kevin Simpson (guitar, piano and backing vocals)
Mathew Davis (drums and vocals)
Pre order:
roughtrade.com/en-gb/product/blitz/kicking-up-a-storm
