Crash Mansion 8/10
Live For Something EP Record Label: Transcend Music/EMI
Released: 7 October 2013
Highlight of the album: Money Website: http://www.crashmansion.co.uk Reviewer: Jon Seymour
If you like your rock music straight up, with no frills or gimmicks, and kick ass tunes, then you should definitely pay a visit to Crash Mansion. This band has that certain feel to the music that just makes everything move along nicely. It’s not frenetic, but it’s definitely high energy. The music has just the right amount of sleaziness injected into it, and the vocals are powerful without going too far. With just a handful of tracks, it’s hard to discern what the band are about as rule, and personally I much prefer to get my hands on a full album rather than a taster EP, but this is damned good, and after listening you’re left in no doubt as to the quality of the band, and the message they wish to send. That message is “come listen to us, cuz we fuckin rock” and that’s exactly what they do.
This is no trailblazer, as it’s going over territory covered before, but the way in which they do it is great. That said there are some elements of originality, and some crossover of genres, so it will keep you on your toes. The songs are built around fist pumping choruses, and yes they’re infectious. Honestly, I am really intrigued to hear what these guys will put out next, but as it is, Live For Something is definitely worth taking the time to check out.
Reuben Archer’s Personal Sin 10/10
Personal Sin Record Label: Toxic Arrow Records
Released: 19 August 2013
Highlight of the album: Spanish Nights Website: http://www.reubenarcher.com/ Reviewer: Paul Nicholls
Reuben Archer, famed for his vocal delivery for band such as Stampede, Wild Horses, Lautrec and Lionheart unleashed his debut album “Personal Sin” last month. I have to wonder what has taken so long in this world of “release all we can.” Suffice to say that it appears to me, that Reuben has done the sensible thing and waited until both the line up and the music deserved to be out there. I can’t list all the name contributors to this release as there simply isn’t room... members of Magnum, Thunder, Saxon, Lionheart, Whitesnake, Quo and UFO to name but a few.
most albums had, keeping the listener interested and absorbed. Not for this release the syndrome of each song running into each other to become a mush for the ears. Reubens maturity as a vocalist shines through as does his maturity as a writer, from the barnstorming “Play My Rock N Roll” to the atmospheric “Spanish Nights” each song stands on its own two feet without harking back to either past glories or jumping onto the first available bandwagon. With a first class production by Reuben and Rob Wolverson what we have here, are 13 tracks of some of the best bluesy, rocking and melodic songs you could hope for...Buy !
But ..you can have the prettiest wrapped box, the contents can still be rubbish...This ISNT. Very varied in its style and composition it doesn’t stay at all safe, the album has the diversity that once
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Firebrand Magazine