EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED

The heroes are dead? Long live the heroes! Wait, eh ... they still have a club on hand at least, and what a comfortable one. Anyway, in the meanwhile even rumours are circulating, that a new (their fourth) album is in the pipeline already. I lately came across them, at the time when they were mentioned by somebody alongside with the band Red Bazar. And next I had to learn that they are Irish, hailing from that bigger part of the territory which is politically independent from the UK.

There has been a lot of struggle in and around this island in the past, with a bunch of 'heroes' on all sides as the result ... this could have lead to the band's name, probably. Anyhow, with 'Exit The Queen' they are placing a provoking track title, inbetween Liam Campbell sings 'if you don't play the game our way, there'll be fire on the streets' and 'stand up against the call of nation'. Though this is not explicitly addressed otherwise, more generalized it seems. So possibly much more relevant and topical are those heroes which are pictured on their debut album cover sleeve.

With the first attempt concerning this album I found Michael Gallagher's appointed drum playing somewhat conspicious, a tad more mixed into the fore as usually methinks. Okay okay, stay cool, it's only striking, not that I would have a problem here. In consequence that means, the songs are showing a really proper drive, so much the more some will develop to earworms, sooner or later. 'Attention, might be addictive!' - the album cover should be provided with such a banner or so, in the style of a cigarette pack maybe.

My favourite song is the extended Machine In The Garden, getting out of line a bit due to some overdubbed guitar work added by Gerry McGerigle, partially howling and squeaking, so that you are relatively close to being worried about the instrument's condition afterwards (joke!). Fantastic! And not really genre typical. Yeah, this album leads an Irish band into the all-time Neo Prog ranks. If you are keen on compact melodic songs, not overwhelmingly provided with instrumental passages and solos, this will be a worthwhile attempt in the end.