ALBUM REVIEW: Lightning Born – Lightning Born
In the last ten years, we have witnessed a revival of old-school classic rock. Perhaps one of the most bizarre turn of events to have occurred in rock culture of recent times, kitsch lyrical themes of Satan, sex and drugs, partnered with vintage riff-work suddenly became a genuinely hot commodity. Perhaps spearheaded by the dual success of GHOST‘s astounding debut Opus Eponymous and UNCLE ACID’s stirring Blood Lust, old-school occultism and bluesy riffs were attractive in a way that they hadn’t been for nearly four decades. Admittedly, the revival has summoned mixed results. For every GRAVEYARD, who successfully called upon influences such as BLUE CHEER and LED ZEPPELIN’s most psychedelic work, there’s an outfit of utterly hideous, totally inescapable chancers lurking elsewhere. Because of this, whenever a new band comes along offering this brand of rock music, they are greeted with a level of scepticism. Is it lazy? Or a genuinely exciting re-imagining of a once-lost art-form? Luckily, LIGHTNING BORN sit much more heavily in the former camp than the latter.
LIGHTNING BORN are a recently conceived proposition, and their self-titled effort is their debut proper. Coming long after the initial boom of ’70s revivalism, it’s clear that this is a product of love rather than bidding at commercial appeal. Musically, they are the intoxicating love-child of CREAM and BLACK SABBATH, while fronted by a front women who sits equidistant from Patti Smith and Joan Jett, possessing the wail of the former with the spit and gristle of the latter. It’s a genuinely effective combination, and adds a unique flavour to this group’s work.
This band also strip out much of the Gothic nature that their contemporaries have tried in the wake of the success of GHOST. While it would be easy to ride on the jet-black coat-tails of Tobias Forge’s Gothic acclaim, it’s refreshing to hear a band who opt for the more rabble-rousing end of the spectrum. It may be more simple, but with the abundance of goth culture seemingly everywhere in rock music.
LIGHTNING BORN’s eponymous debut is an infectious, well-written opening statement, as made clear from the opening moments of Shifting Winds, a track which calls upon COVEN and THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS in equal measure. Pop sensibilities abound here, while also allowing the band to indulge their apparent love for all things fuzzed up and bluesy. It sets a tone for the rest of the record, which the band do very little to deviate from, but ultimately, when the combination is this good, they require very little else to engage the listener. The production on this album is also expertly-handled; LIGHTNING BORN sound mighty while also continuing to obtain that perpetually-charming humility. The band manage to sound blockbuster-explosive without giving in to hideous clichés or taking the weight out of the music – a difficult task for any band, but somehow done with admirable precision here.
The album closes with its finest moment – the 7-minute epic, Godless. This is the most arcane the band sound, as well as the heaviest. A bellowing gut-rumbling riff acts as the centre-piece for the entire track, and what a riff it is. Delightfully playful as well as unremittingly stoic, it death-marches the listener to the end of the record. It’s rare that an album’s finest track comes last, but in this case it is a very wise decision – it leaves the listener with a sense of contentment, as well as proving LIGHTNING BORN to be a band who boast immense confidence in their art.
Ultimately, there is very little to disclose about LIGHTNING BORN – there are few surprises and rarely do the band take left-turns sharp enough to shock the listener. However, for those who will admit to be suckers for this strand of heavy-metal, this is undoubtedly one of the finest records you are likely to hear this year. An achievement worthy of praise.
Rating: 8/10
Lightning Born is out now via Ripple Music.
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