Unwanted Guest – Bonedead
Unwanted Guest – Bonedead
Self-Released
Release Date: 20/09/2024
Running Time: 45:11
Review by Beth Morait
10/10
There’s so much new music coming out right now, that it means a lot of what we get here at Ever Metal is flooded out through lack of capacity, and hours in the day to listen to it all! But occasionally an album comes along that makes me want to listen to it. Especially, when it’s from a band doing their own PR, and said PR is more informative than a lot of the PR we get in from actual companies. The email I received from UK-based Alt-Metal project Unwanted Guest was a perfect illustration of this. It told me everything I needed to know at a glance, in a clear and concise way. And it made me want to check out the album. I’m very glad I did, because this is possibly one of my best hidden-gem finds of this year.
This is an album of seasoned performance, given that it’s the side hustle of Dave Fox, the lead guitarist from NWOBHM band, Seventh Son. So, in terms of musical technicality, it’s professional and spot on from the get-go. But the thing that makes this album great is the way it explores so many ideas and encompasses so many genres and sounds. It’s heavily rooted in 90s Hard Rock and Indie. But the influences by no means stop there. It’s full of Classic and Modern Heavy Metal riffs and hooks, it’s got vocal harmonies that remind me of The Beatles, it’s got solos that any discerning guitarist would salivate at, and it’s got a hint of Sludge and Garage, and a bit of Groove, just for good measure.
Vocally, Dave Fox shows how versatile his voice is, with various different singing styles, and a superb range throughout the album. He’s got a powerful voice, but it’s never overdone. Tonally, I can hear early Bowie in it, but with a heavier edge. I like it a lot.
This is the sort of album that every young musician wishes they could release, but it requires seasoned experience to do so. It’s definitely making my album of the year list this year. It’s impossible for me to find any fault with it, or indeed pick my favourite track, because they’re all brilliant. If you could do with a joy fix and like good, pacey Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal, that’s reminiscent of the 90s, but also absolutely current at the same time, and full of so many flavours, then this is the album for you.
Oh yeah, PS – watch out for the jump scare. It got me. I was listening on headphones, with the volume up quite loud, and I nearly fell off my chair! Maybe it’s just because I’m just an excitable old lady now, who jumps at my own shadow.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Mary Had a Little Lamb
02. Six Degrees of Saturation
03. The Alchemist
04. Dead End
05. Beneath the Broken Shell
06. Imposter Syndrome
07. I’m Just a Guy
08. Show Yourself
09. Kindred State of Mind
10. Future Skeleton
11. Funeral in My Brain
12. Wrap Me Up
LINE-UP:
Dave Fox – Everything… I mean seriously?! I weep at my pitiful ability to only play piano and guitars badly when I hear stuff like this.
LINKS:
