LEAF HOUND – Once Bitten (2025) *HQ*

The long and intriguing history of British classic rock act LEAF HOUND is now entering a new chapter. Their sole 1971 album released after the band had already split, has subsequently become a cult classic, with original vinyl copies going for £6000!
Fronted by veteran Peter French (also Atomic Rooster, ex member of Fleetwood Mac and Cactus too) in the mid 2000s he put together a new line up with some extremely able younger musicians giving LEAF HOUND a fresh blood. They released another album titled ‘Unleashed’ but incredibly that was nearly 20 years ago. With band members gradually moving on, seems LEAF HOUND were finally done for good.
However, 2025 sees Peter resurrecting LEAF HOUND again with a crew of talented young lads and a brand new album; “Once Bitten“. Peter himself feels reinvigorated and shows himself to be one of the few of his contemporaries who is singing as well as ever.
“Once Bitten” is timeless classic rock from the British breed, with a traditional ’70s vibe but an updated flow, touches of hard rock / blues, and a type of songwriting rarely heard nowadays for the genre, giving the music room to expand and express many layers.

Leaf Hound became one of the most influential bands of the international Hard Rock / Stoner Rock music scene with their 1971 debut album ‘Growers Of Mushroom’, which today remains a highly sought after collector’s item. Due to business issues with their label and agents, the band broke up shortly after a successful tour of Germany the same year the album was released.
In 2004 singer Peter French revived the band with a new line-up and in 2007 Leaf Hound released the critically acclaimed album Unleashed followed by Live In Japan, recorded during the band’s 2012 Japan tour.

Now Leaf Hound are back with this no-holds barred 13-track album. Hot ’n’ heavy riffs overlaid with French’s powerful vocals prove none of their energy has been lost – if anything, ”Once Bitten” shows it has only grown thanks to the dynamism of newcomers drummer Dominic French and bassist Peter Herbert.
Bittersweet ballads are intertwined with pedal-to-the-metal drivin’ rock, while ‘Thought Police’ and ‘Watching Life’s Wheels’ speak to the turbulent times in which we live. A new version of ‘Freelance Fiend’ is included on the CD and remains a classic.
More than 50 years since their recording debut, Leaf Hound continue to draw a crowd and wow audiences with their high octane performances – ”Once Bitten” will undoubtedly win them plaudits and new fans.

This kind of rock n’ roll never gets old and it’s a pleasure to have LEAF HOUND on the road once more time, classic rock done by a musician who lived the genre since its inception, and knows how it should be done well.
Highly Recommended

01 – Burn The House Down
02 – Cinderella
03 – Broken Dreams
04 – Chain Gang
05 – Watching Life’s Wheels
06 – Yippee Ki Yay
07 – A Poor Boy
08 – Thought Police
09 – Everybody’s Somebody Tonight
10 – Bold ‘n’ Easy
11 – Hold Back The Night
12 – Freelance Fiend
13 – High Danger

Peter French (vocals)
Luke Rayner (guitars)
Dominic French (drums)
Peter Herbert (bass)

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www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Bitten-Leaf-Hound/dp/B0DSYXKKMW