Phil X & The Drills – POW! Right In The Kisser
Phil X & The Drills – POW! Right In The Kisser
Frontiers Music srl
Release Date: 28/03/2025
Review by Beth Morait
9/10
My not-so-secret guilty pleasure has always been, and will always be, Bon Jovi. I love them and have done since I was about 12. And back in 2013 I fulfilled my bucket list dream of going to see them live, in the Diamond Circle, right at the front, at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester (Yes, I was fan-girling big time, yes I did scream when I almost touched JBJ’s foot when he came out onto the walkway round the edge of the Diamond Circle, and yes I might have cried at ‘Always’. Absolutely no fucks given, and no shame!). Just before that gig, Richie Sambora had another wobble, and it was announced that Guitarist Phil X would be replacing him for the tour. I was gutted, as Richie Sambora was such a huge part of Bon Jovi, and I wasn’t sure it was going to feel as authentic. However, as soon as the band started, I became a Phil X-er! He was absolutely superb (and dare I say, better than Richie Sambora in my opinion)! So, when this new solo album dropped into our mailbox, it was 100% going straight in my review queue.
Phil X & The Drills features the man himself on Guitar and Vocals, with Daniel Spree on Bass and Backing Vocals, and a host of uber-famous guest drummers, including Mӧtley Crüe’s Tommy Lee, Ray Luzier from Korn, and Bon Jovi’s own Tico Torres. The album promises a fusion of Punk, Classic Rock, and Modern Rock, and judging by the album title, it’s going to hit hard!
Opening with the high-octane ‘Don’t Wake Up Dead’, X and the gang immediately let you know what they’re all about. Pacey and gritty, with Phil X giving it some Punk edge in the vocals, on top of a Classic Rock thumper that never lets up. There’s some lovely Classic harmonies in the vocals here too.
This pace continues through the next couple of tracks, but they’ve got a more Modern feel to them, lapsing almost into Grunge/ Alt Rock territory, with a fair amount of Fuzz in ‘Fake The Day Away’.
‘Find A Way’ takes us back in a more classic direction, and it’s slower than the previous numbers. Phil gives his pipes a bit more of a workout in this track too, with a slightly cleaner singing tone.
As you’d expect from a Phil X album, the guitar work throughout is top notch, and everything is led by the riffs, and solos. This makes it pleasingly melodic, if you like that kind of thing in your Rock. There’s a classic, face-melting solo in ‘Seemed Like A Good Idea’. And ‘You Sunk My Battleship’ has a Southern Blues feel to the guitar to start, and then halfway in, lapses into a masterclass in Guitar noodling, making the improvised-style melody the main focus of the song. The final track, ‘Way Gone’ has some epic soloing too!
The interesting thing I find here is that it feels individual to Phil X, despite the tried and tested hooks of Classic Rock, and the influences of Bon Jovi, Mӧtley Crüe, and the like. Although you could walk in halfway through a track and mistake it for music from any of those bands in their golden eras, it’s got a Modern twist that tells you it’s current, and it pulls in everything from Indie to Alt.
Ok, Phil doesn’t have the best voice in the world. But he doesn’t need to with this style they’re going for here. It’s raw, and gritty, which works. And this album has elements that will appeal to a lot of different audiences. My 13-year-old Step-son was wandering around the house the other day when I was playing it, and he said ‘Who’s this? I like it!’ And from a teenager who hates everything, that’s a pretty good indication that it’s a decent album that’s accessible to young and older audiences!
If you like Rock, whether it’s Classic, Modern, Alt, or Indie, there’s a good chance you’ll like this album.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Don’t Wake Up Dead
02. Fake The Day Away
03. Heal
04. Find A Way
05. Moving to California
06. You Sunk My Battleship
07. Seemed Like A Good Idea
08. Broken Arrow
09. I Love You on Her Lips
10. Feel Better
11. Way Gone (Beam Me Up, Scotty)
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Beth Morait 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.
