| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: Brad Smith & Luis Cardenas |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2024 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 46:39 |
With the Roxx Records release to the Latter Reign third album Order To Chaos in March of 2024 and debut Live For The Day and second II each previous in 2022 (also Roxx), a solo record from the bands guitarist Brad Smith represents the next logical step. Hence, artists Roxx Records November of 2024 debut solo effort Broken Bones & Bullet Holes.
Album traces to the period subsequent to the completion of II when Smith produced Latter Reign vocalist Luis Cardenas’ most recent solo album Stages (also released via Roxx in November of 2024). Smith proceeded to inquire of Cardenas what project he wanted to work on next. Rather than a new Latter Reign album, however, Cardenas surprised Smith by suggesting that he record his own solo record instead.
Broken Bones & Bullet Holes could not contrast more from the eighties melodic hard rock and AOR of Latter Reign with a course-grained joining of blues soaked metal and hard rock in similar vein as early nineties Bride. Likewise, Smith’s gutsy middle register vocals not unlike Dale Thompson (Bride) and Craig Hedquist (Cleanzed Soul) are a far cry from the raspy croon of Cardenas, whom compares favorably to Larry Worley (Fear Not) and Jamie Rowe (Guardian).
Albums opening title track delivers expected goods in the form of leading rhythm guitar, principal low end and austere vocals all within a shuffling blues based package. The ‘hey-yeah’ backing vocals serve to build upon the choice melody to preside. Equally notable is the solid production to see cleanly mixed leads, crisp rhythm guitar and dense bass rise above the surface.
Follow up cut “Late Is The Hour” proves equally laudable. It takes a laid back and reserved form rooted in traditional blues, specifying the grainy slide guitar and lamentable bass throughout, but occasionally bursts of astir energy, as revealed in the mettlesome refrain raised up by soulful vocal melodies. I cannot say enough good things about artists lead guitar work (akin to Bride’s Troy Thompson). Lyric snippet:
As I lay me down
Unto You be the crown
Take me by the hand and lead me
Where Your truth can be found
Where Your still waters flow
I won’t thirst anymore
Then I raise my head and see
That there’s a world goin’ mad
“Troubles Enough” ups heaviness and impetus. With compact rhythm guitar leading the way, song blithely edges its distance in sinewy fashion to low-key but appreciable hooks and all the grainy blues drenched ambience you could ask. The straightforward demeanor hints of classic Bride tracks “Mountain” and “Kiss The Train” (off Kinetic Faith from 1991).
Heaviness carries over to “Life Me Up”, a slicing Rez Band style slammer combining mountainous low-end groove (artists bass work could not be more spot on) with near pop-based sensibilities (gleeful hooks refuse to let go). The traditional blues groove aligned with walloping guitars would not sound out of place on Silence Screams (1988) and Innocent Blood (1989). Lyric snippet:
Blood boiling in my veins (lift me up)
Watch a world gone insane (lift me up)
Dry as dust and starved for truth (lift me up)
I keep looking for You, yeah lift me up
Speak the Word like a knife (lift me up)
Make dry bones come to life (lift me up)
Burn the false, pretense down (lift me up)
Cast my victory crowns
In my opinion, “Hourglass & Avalanche” is albums finest. Awash with creativity, it slowly rolls its first minute and half to bluesy acoustic guitar and intrepid vocals until rhythm guitar rumbles in to make a heavier statement as the high melody impetus further builds. A seamless transition is made to an extended stretch of Smith’s smoldering lead guitar.
“Easy To Lie” takes a straightforward albeit not basic hard rock heading. Verse sections traverse the mid-tempo as unaffected rhythm guitar leads the way with refrain launching into mettlesome boogie flavored mode as piano distantly accents the back end. This one might not be the catchiest, but hooks stay with you all the same. Lyric snippet:
You can tell me back is white and white is black
While you look in my eyes
Why change your ways at all, you’re thinkin’
It’s so easy, it’s so easy to lie
You got your father’s eyes
You talk just like him, too
It ain’t so easy for me now
Tellin’ lies comes so easy for you
The same applies with “Give ‘Em Hell”. Song does exactly that, opening its first seconds to a discordant joining of atmospheric guitars and rolling drums only to clobber its way ahead once rhythm guitar fixes in place. I love the metal edge to lead guitar during the instrumental run covering better part of the final two minutes. Do I detect a light Ozzy hint in the vocals?
Albums shortest at three and half minutes, “Becoming Dangerous” undulates in straightforward hard rock fashion as light blues tinges stress guitars and vocals while outlying but defined hooks hold sway. It cannot be understated Cardenas’ spot on timekeeping. This one might not be the most distinguished here but is solid all the same. Lyric snippet:
You can’t blind me
I got someone I trust
Get behind me
I’m becoming dangerous
Ain’t talkin’ bout my fists
Ain’t talkin’ ‘bout my gun
I’m talkin’ ‘bout a battle
That’s already been won
“Sea Of Truth” revels in the restive and carefree, galloping its breadth at an adventurous tempo to emphatic rhythms and frolicking hooks to border on the candescent. The continuously repeated ‘lah-lah-lah-lah-lah-lah-lah-lah-lah’ harmonizing points to a commercial element- imagine Stryper’s In God We Trust with a bluesy twang and this is what it might sound like.
Momentum on “Flame & Fortune” is of a preponderant freight train like capacity. Top heavy is the feel as the song churns from the get go, invigorating with distorted keyboards and atmospheric guitar raising-up the smoldering aptitude but also sophisticated as manifold instrumental runs allow Smith to uncover his elect musicianship. Lyric snippet:
Chase all of our passions
‘Til we all fall down
Drink the cup of pride
Like there’s no One around
Peace, says the tyrants
Justice dies, barely a sound
Freedom falls with truth
Together burned to the ground
Speaking of which, album closes in fine fashion to dazzling eighties shred guitar instrumental “Bondo”. Gist is Satriani, Chastain, Tafolla and like but with an added bluesy metal edge. Of course, artist takes center stage with his proficient licks as chops from both a guitar and bass standpoint.
If into hard rock and metal pointing to the bluesy along lines of not just Bride and Rez Band but also Die Happy, Cleanzed Soul, Stonefuze, Stevie & The Saints and a host of others, I see Brad Smith debut solo album Broken Bones & Bullet Holes appealing to your tastes. It upholds high levels of consistency and continuity, found in eleven solid tracks without a skip button among them, keeping in mind I take to some songs more than others. Of course, artist puts on a strong showing with his blues based guitar driven flair and earthy vocal penchant.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Broken Bones & Bullet Holes” (4:43), “Late Is The Hour” (5:19), “Troubles Enough” (3:52), “Lift Me Up” (3:57), “Hourglass & Avalanche” (4:23), “Easy To Lie” (3:25), “Give ‘Em Hell” (3:53), “Becoming Dangerous” (3:19), “Sea Of Truth” (4:49), “Flame & Fortune” (4:31), “Bondo” (4:19)
Musicians
Brad Smith - Lead Vocals, Bass & Keyboards
Luis Cardenas - Drums
