| CD REVIEW The Psychics |
 |
|
Band : The Psychics Hey, remember the origins of British hard Rock Act Lionsheart? No, not the Lionheart (without the “s” in the middle) which featured former Tygers Of Pan Tang singer Jess Cox and former Iron Maiden guitarist Dennis Stratton and was active during the first half of the ‘80s, but rather the band founded in 1992 by former Grim Reaper & Onslaught frontman Steve Grimmett! Besides Grimmett, the band also featured twin guitarists Steve and Mark Owens (formerly of Fury and Touche), whom were really the creative force behind the band. Well, it’s about this twin this story goes! You see, with the release of a self-titled album (noted for its clear NWoBHM leanings) in 1993, this band managed to garner quite some international interest. With its disinctive British sound, music lovers from Europe, but even more so from Japan, went out to the record stores in big numbers…and the future for this band seemed set for worldwide success. However, clouds were already gathering at the horizon. The twin brothers were growing increasingly unhappy with the whims of both their frontman and his management, and things came to a head in early 1994 when…only two dates into a UK/Europe support tour with Lillian Axe…the brothers decided to up and leave! Lionsheart & Grimmett continued, with changing additional musicians, to release another 3 studio (and one live) albums, but none had the same success as the debut. In fact, while selling over 100,000 units in Japan, sophomore album Pride In Tact (1994) got a fairly luke-warm reception in Britain! On-going legal hassles with their record label would have 3rd album Under Fire need 3 years to be written (emerging in 1998 with yet another line-up). Sales being poor, the band folded…to resurface when the live Rising Sons – Live In Japan 1993 was released in 2000. 4th studio album Abyss was eventually issued in 2004! But let’s return to our Owers twins! What happened to ‘em? Well, the bio doesn’t state any facts to that effect, but here they suddenly stand before us, perfectly backed by a powerful rhythm section comprised of bassist Ian Corlett and drummer John Manners…with a musical style which is a complete return to good times of ‘ole! In otherwords, what you get is a great Bluesey Hard Rock with the occasional Metal injections, such as would’ve made this band ravingly popular in the heydays of NWoBHM! More than the varied antics of guitarist Mark Owers…whom is found going through the catchiest of heavy riffs at one moment, then adding a touch of sensitivity in a calmer passage…the most positive surprise on the album must be the vocal stylings of his brother Steve, whom is said in the bio to owe “…much to the Robert Plant / David Coverdale school of Bluesey interpretation…” (an assessment to which I wholeheartedly and warmy concur). Stylistically, you get your up-tempo, straight-forward Rockers (“We Rock”), Led Zeppelin-esque stuff (listen to the keyboard introduction of “Here Comes The Rain”, and the ensuing “21st Century Whipping Boy”), more Bluesey tracks (among which the very Robin Trower-ish “ In the City” – a mood which I attribute to the nice Funk/Blues hybridisation), a very well-succeeded flirtation with Neo-Classical Rock (check “Call My Name”), a great balladesque and MSG-like track (“Time We Tried Again”), and even a moody “instrumental” (the only, and sparce, vocals in album closer “Dream Man” come from a little girl). To tell you the truth, this is one of those albums which will grow on you with each listen you give it, and I’m sure that in a couple of years most of those whom will have actually bought the album, will feel that it is an essential record in their collection! Great stuff, and as I personally anticipate the material to grow onto me more and more in time, I’ll jump ahead towards future feelings and already nominate The Psychics into that “Best Albums Of 2009”-list of mine! I wish I could tell you more about this band…about their touring and other plans, about where you can find some of their music…but truth is I simply could not find any place/space on the Internet dedicated to the band! A serious problem I hope gets corrected soon enough! 98/100 Tony. |