Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons – Kings Of The Asylum
Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons – Kings Of The Asylum
Nuclear Blast
Release Date: 01/09/23
Running Time: 43:07
Review by Simon Black
10/10
I came a bit late to Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons party, mainly because I was still feeling the hole where Motörhead used to be too sorely, and I had cynically felt that this might be a bit too insensitive coming so soon after they folded. I guess part of my problem was that the name felt a little too close to Motörhead’s “Bastards” in name, because dumb fool that I was, I only later realised that they all share the same surname apart from singer Joel Peters and therefore the name was actually rather funny. Plus, having like a complete melon, also failed to realise that this had existed as a side project long before Lemmy passed away, just to rub the humiliation in a little further.
Having slapped myself round the metaphorical cheek for this omission, I caught up with them live for the first time at the bottom of the bill at a belting show supporting Black Star Riders and Michael Monroe in Cardiff a few months back, and despite the fact that they were a man down to the dreaded lurgi, they still tore Cardiff a new arsehole, and brought me round at long last. What impressed me that night was that they barely played any Motörhead tracks at all (those that they did were mainly quite obscure), and their original material impressed me to no end on its own considerable merits, even if they were a guitar down in the mix that night.
So, I find myself listening to this, their sixth full length album, as a studio album virgin. At a point where many acts would normally be running out of steam, this rips, roars and tears itself into the world as fresh as a daisy (albeit one dripping in beer, engine oil and attitude). I can’t comment on the back catalogue, but this one purrs along like a dream from the get go and does not let go.
It’s down, it’s dirty and every single track on here is an absolute masterclass in the best Rock’n’Roll of all – that precious variety that sounds loose and free, while actually being blisteringly razor tight, oozing chemistry and energy from the opening bars of ‘Walking In Circles’. And to think it only came across my bows because another member of the team couldn’t cover it, so thank you serendipity, because this is already feeling like a contender for my top ten this year. So far this afternoon it’s had half a dozen spins, and I think the neighbours might have run away for good…
Cynical cash in this definitely ain’t; belting top notch Rock ‘n’ Roll of the kind that never, ever gets old when done right it is. And this, oh this is done, so very, very right…
‘Schizophrenia’ Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Walking In Circles
02. Too Much Is Never Enough
03. Hammer And Dance
04. Strike The Match
05. Schizophrenia
06. Kings Of The Asylum
07. The Hunt
08. Show No Mercy
09. No Guts! No Glory!
10. Ghosts
11. Maniac
LINE-UP:
Phil Campbell – Guitars
Todd Campbell – Guitars
Tyla Campbell – Bass
Dane Campbell – Drums
Joel Peters – Vocals
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Simon Black and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
