Keeping the flame of good old fashion hard rock still ablaze are up-and-coming British rockers INGLORIOUS. The band fronted by vocalist Nathan James (ex-TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) was formed in 2014, and so far has released three albums. Their fourth studio effort, aptly titled “We Will Ride,” is scheduled to be released on February 12, 2021, on Frontiers Music. This new record finds the band in a new line-up and can be seen as the beginning of a new era for INGLORIOUS.
Drawing inspiration from such acts as DEEP PURPPLE, LED ZEPPELIN, WHITESNAKE, or AEROSMITH, INGLORIOUS keeps its brand of hard rock straight and to the point. Presented as a “love letter to rock ‘n’ roll and hard rock” in the press release, the eleven songs on this album are heavily influenced by the ‘70s rock scene and listening to them feels at times like stepping into a time machine. It is always interesting to hear rock music and experience the magic that can be created with just the instrumentals and vocals, no choirs, no orchestrations, no backing arrangements, none of that stuff that we’re so used to hearing in metal music. That’s not to say that the production on this album is lacking, because it’s not; it’s actually very polished and makes the songs sound big and engaging.
The album kicks off with in style with single “She Won’t Let You Go,” an in-your-face rocker with tasty guitar riffs, groovy melodies, and a huge chorus section. The band ups the ante on anthems “Messiah” and “Medusa” as the guitars have more bite to them and the drums are more powerful. New axe-men Danny De La Cruz and Dan Stevens deliver a tight performance that provides a nice, meaty backdrop on top of which vocalist Nathan James can lay his well-crafted vocal melodies and transport the listeners into the story. Up next, “Eye of the Storm” is a moody track that sways between mellow passages in the verses and intense choruses, while the guitar solo in the robust yet melodic “Cruel Intentions” is as soulful as it is poignant.
The second part of the album seems to be a bit more subdued than the first couple of tracks, but still the quality of the music is up to par. As such, “My Misery” has some keyboard accents that meld well with the emotional vocal delivery and hefty lead riffs, and “Do You Like It” is as groovy as it gets, with guitar licks and riffs galore. I said earlier that listening to these songs feels like time-traveling and this aspect is especially evident with “He Will Provide,” as this track sounds like a cover of a long lost BLACK SABBATH song – the vocals are reminiscent of Ozzy Osbourne, the overall atmosphere is quite somber and brooding, and the guitar solo is killer. Danny De La Cruz and Dan Stevens weave a wall of guitars on “We Will Meet Again,” making it another anthem to sing along to. “God of War” is melodic and moody, with a sturdy bass line from newcomer Vinnie Colla and a vocal line evocative of Michael Jackson’s “Give in to Me.” The title track is a very driving and menacing piece with gloomy undertones to the lyrics and grave bass lines to accentuate the story. It also rounds out the album nicely.
All-in-all, this is a nice return to form for INGLORIOUS and a solid follow-up to 2019’s “Ride to Nowhere.” Vocalist Nathan James shows his chops and versatility with his powerful vocal timbre. However, he has to battle for the spotlight with the guitars as Danny De La Cruz and Dan Stevens pour out riff after crunchy riff, keeping things intense and rocking. If you hunger for classic rock anthems, then “We Will Ride” is definitely for you. It will satiate your hunger, but leave you wanting more… as any good record does.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
- She Won’t Let You Go
- Messiah
- Medusa
- Eye Of The Storm
- Cruel Intentions
- My Misery
- Do You Like It
- He Will Provide
- We Will Meet Again
- God Of War
- We Will Ride
Lineup
Nathan James – Lead Vocals
Danny De La Cruz – Guitar
Dan Stevens – Guitar
Vinnie Colla – Bass Guitar
Phil Beaver – Drums/Percussion
Additional Keys/Piano – Rob Lindop
Label
Frontiers Music
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