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INGLORIOUS
II
Frontiers Music

You know that an album’s become so good that you’ve listened to it so often that you’ve forgotten that you were also supposed to review it in the midst of one’s personal enjoyment of it. Such is the case with this sophomore effort by UK-based melodic hard rockers INGLORIOUS who in the course of their short existence as a band have quickly made a name for themselves in the scene as of late. Come to think of it, late would be the last thing one would describe this hard-working band - especially its charismatic and energetic frontman Nathan James who’s been active in the touring/recording circuit being on the road with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA and ULI JON ROTH before branching out on his own and forming INGLORIOUS in 2015 with guitarists Drew Lowe and Andreas Eriksson, bassist Colin Parkinson, and drummer Phil Beaver. Right after their self-titled debut dropped in mid-2016, INGLORIOUS were already traversing the Old Continent and beyond with the likes of THE DEAD DAISIES, THE WINERY DOGS and STEEL PANTHER to name a few major tours they’d attracted the attention of.

Yet while their first album was the proverbial icebreaker for INGLORIOUS’ brand of heavily-inspired 70’s stadium rock, it’s taken II to make a lot more of the comparisons to David Coverdale-era DEEP PURPLE to finally stick. James’ high-energy soulful crooning can easily go from zero to 100 in a matter of seconds particularly in the opening number “I Don’t Need Your Loving” and the bluesy track “Making Me Pay”. The driving “No Good For You”, the attitude-laden “Read All About It” and the KNAC-popular “Black Magic” are definitely my favorite picks from the album as they capture the freewheeling boundless energy of Coverdale’s swagger and sound with some Ian Gillan thrown in for good measure. The sound of 70’s PURPLE meeting early 80’s WHITESNAKE couldn’t be made possible without the magical dual guitar work of Love and Eriksson, both of whom make the rhythmic groove of the album atmospheric and powerful. Finally, the backbone of the rhythm work of Parkinson and Beaver brings the whole unit together as their bouncy groove is notable on “I Don’t Need Your Loving” and “Hell Or High Water”.

Throughout the album, II is unapologetic, blunt, defiant and several other adjectives one wouldn’t normally describe an album released in 2017 that’s heavily inspired by some of the best rock and blues bands from the unfashionable era of leopard print shirts and bell bottomed jeans. And that’s perhaps how INGLORIOUS have managed to not just equate the quality of their debut album but also exceed its expectations in this day and age with their follow-up.

http://inglorious.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WeAreInglorious

4.5 Out Of 5.0

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