BLESSED HELLRIDE - Bourbon King

10 songs
43:52 minutes
***** ***
Rodeo Star

Bandpage

Blessed Hellride are a heavy rock band from Trier who released their first album Bastards & Outlaws in 2016. After a successful crowdfunding action, they are now back with their second album Bourbon King which continues seamlessly where the debut left off. They have now with Yacko a Luxembourgish guitarist who should also be known from bands like Black Out Beauty, The Filthy Broke Billionaires and The Velvet.

A band named after an album by Black Label Society has of course to stay true to the sound of Zakk Wylde. Another feature are the charismatic vocals by Tiny Fuel whose voice reminds a little of W.A.S.P.’s Blacky Lawless. Blessed Hellride’s strength is that they are able to write rather simple songs that are however brimming with monster riffs. Most tracks are kept at mid-tempo pace but have a lot of dynamic tension and healthy dose of groove. The album’s first videoclip is Good Times Roll, a neat little hymn that should soon become a classic of the band’s live repertoire. The simple Rock’n’Rolla is one of the catchiest songs that is good fun from the start. Those who like their music heavier should check out Fucking Hairy Bastards that feels inspired by Pantera. Apart from hard rocking biker rock, the band is also adept at Southern rock. Old Man’s Gun has the flair of a saloon somewhere in a sweat drenched Southern backwater. Crown Of Evolution even flirts with blues. The acoustic The Scavenger comes with campfire atmosphere but otherwise feels a little tame compared to the other material on the album.

Even though I prefer a good single malt Scotch, I can still recommend Bourbon King to all friends of powerfully produced heavy rock. Blessed Hellride have managed once again to come up with great straight rock hymns full of interesting twists and turns. Even though the album isn’t impeccable yet, it is definitely as good as its predecessor. The songs are really stirring, even though they haven’t made me pass my biker’s license yet.