The title of this album grabbed me well before I put the CD on to hear it. It's the sort of album title that would have made me pick up the album to look at it if I saw it in a record shop. Finding the legend "I used to could sing a pristine Hallelujah." underneath the CD added to the need to hear it.
I was going to give you some of the stuff on the press release but realised when I opened it to write the review I have the wrong press release with it and while they may be familar with two dollar bashes on cannery Row that info would be misleading, so instead I raided the website to find out they are from the deep south in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in the churches there. While not being a fervant believer, Lee Bains went off and was part of the Dexateens. Since that band broke up he has put together the Glory Fires with several other local musicians.
Well from the opening of Ain't No Stranger it's apparent it's going to be an album of great rollicking southern rock, full of twin guitars duelling over urgent chugging riffs and plenty of thought provoking lyrics.
I don't think Reba is about Ms McIntyre, but it is a great tune and has a fine guitar-melting ending that really got my attention. Magic City Stomp does what it says in the title - it stomps all over the place and makes me want to go to Magic City to find out what's happening. It also sort of reminded me of The Beat Farmers a little bit.
Everything You Took is one of the best break up tunes I've heard in a while. It's bitter, twisted and full of rage as he tells the departing partner she's welcome to everything that she's taken from him and lists a good few of them too over what could be a lost Jason & the Scorchers tune. Well, Jason & The Scorchers at their most wigged out the sort of tune I could play over and over again quite easily.
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The Red Red Dirt of Home I'm guessing is an accurate description of the bits of Alabama the band are from and there doesn't seem to be a cowpoke in sight anywhere.
The album closes with the title track. There Is A Bomb In Gilead is a Jayhawks-ish song that could easily be about the current troubles in Gilead and the Middle East. Either way it's another great song that has grown on me with every listen.
The band are currently on tour in the USA and were lucky enough to open for the Baseball Project in New York last week. They are currently touring with The Alabama Shakes who seem to be the hottest band on the planet right now and getting some extensive exposure. I hope we get to see them in London soon.
Alive Naturalsound Records online
The Glory Fires online
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