ALBUM REVIEW: Northern Sun Sessions – The Virginmarys

It’s hard to believe it’s already been two years since THE VIRGINMARYS released their second album Divides. In the time between, the duo has notoriously busy, releasing EP Sitting Ducks in 2017, before cracking on less than a year later, independently recording and producing their third album Northern Sun Sessions. It’s a particularly poignant title considering the recording time of the record was in fact in the hottest summer the North of England has seen for many years. Question is, have the boys kept that heat and ambition flowing into this latest release?

Kicking off with the latest fan favourite, Look Out For My Brother takes a groove, almost hip hop approach to the beat, with trademark chunky guitars with blues infused riffs. There’s a little more of a playful, dangerous edge to this than you might expect from arguably one of rock’s most politically and socially driven bands. However, that rebellious attitude manifest some charm into a silky-smooth ride with a bitter bite just waiting to rip loose.

Ally Dickaty’s instantly recognisable melodic stylings return to form for SOS4UNI. The tangible energy of the song is not only prominent in the lyrics, but the very deliberately raw vocal recording. No polish and gleam masks the raw power of this band, rather, THE VIRGINMARYS have managed to capture some of the euphoric bounce of their live performance in this screaming, gravelly track. The beating heart is unquestionably Danny Dolan’s drumming control here is prominent, displaying that he’s not just an animal at smashing his kit to pieces, but also in technique and musicality. For sure, THE VIRGINMARYS go from strength to strength.

It’s a turn down an unfamiliar avenue in Eye For An Eye, where things get darker and more menacing. There’s a looseness and a twisted take here; chords get a little more disjointed and unpredictable as Dickaty’s voice glides from melodic to throat ripping, mimicking the themes of manipulation and deceit are that are rife in the lyrics. Fresh and yet familiar, it’s a relief that a band with such a distinct sound are still full of new interpretations of what that could mean and where it might take them.

A cool reverb echoes across the bellow of drums as For The Two Of Us croons into your ears. It’s a lullaby for the lost and the damned, a heart-on-the-sleeve poem of love lost, brilliant melancholy storytelling. In much the same way the Johnny Cash was able to captivate with his distinct Southern American drawl, Dickaty’s voice carries an uncompromisingly Northern English twang, his authenticity working hand in hand with the fire that runs through the sweet tune of his guitar.

A stripped back Blind Lead The Blind tinkers around a subtle melody for a moment, but don’t allow that instance of security fool you; the fuzz of a driven bass and a swaggering, rolling drum effortlessly thrust the momentum into a balling anthem of social unrest and choral cries. One thing THE VIRGINMARYS have always managed to capture wholeheartedly both in their music and in their words is the discontent of a nation, unifying every listener under the banner of rock and roll. A stand out track ends on a suitably blinding outro, leaving you aching for more. Well, fear not, as that’s exactly what you’ll get with the undeniably excellent Get Me Back Home. Blaring slide guitar storms into existence, with a kick ass attitude let’s you know right away that this going to be a wild ride. Dolan giving his kit a real beating, heavy riffs and battle cry vocals amount to a clout of a song that’s sure to sucker punch; You’ll be hard pressed to keep this tasty tune from bouncing around your head for days.

Long-time fans of THE VIRGINMARYS have been treated to title track Northern Sun live through the bands career. For one of the less aggressive, more sorrowful songs, this fully realised recording is a parallel to this album; while you think you know the ebbs and waves of tone and lyric, listening and appreciating it in a new way allows for the weight and dynamics to be understood in a different way. There are things you may have never heard suddenly appearing, and on hearing these evolutions, you might think about the track and the band differently, and build upon the notions that were already there. That is the nature of THE VIRGINMARYS; to be steadfast, but always looking to grow.

Wanna Be Free takes nudges from their early work, and is exactly what you want from a band like this. It’s a tension filled belter with booming drums, a tasty bass line and big chords that rival the screaming riffs for dominance throughout. There’s been a lot of care to create a mountainous vocal stack, again pulling an authentic performance that pushes back against the over gloss of modern rock.

Flags speaks to Dickaty’s sobriety, announcing in the sharp, unapologetic line “six years sober, I’m still hung over, my face on the edge like the white cliffs of Dover”. It’s a loaded with meaning all over the place, low and brooding, the reverberation of a massively personal and yet highly interpretable song. So many themes of self-reflection and doubt linger and expand before erupting into a cathartic, bittersweet repeat of hope and attainment. Singing guitars and tempered drums drive the emotional message home, that being lost in yourself isn’t a sign you’re always doomed to be lost, that understanding your truth is what sets you free.

A strong start from Step Up takes a more indie rock edge, there’s something of a young man’s itch for a fight pulsing through the gun shot drums and ringing guitar. The tone is more adaptable to a popular sound here, and it’s potentially because of the poignancy of the previous track, that this in your face anthem feels more upbeat and focused on a good time.

Finishing off with All Fall Down, THE VIRGINMARYS have a knack for ending on a high note. The quiet movement of the guitar becomes embellished and throatier, the drums tumbling and crashing for that real edge of danger. The bleeding emotion of the song changes with a sudden stomp; the focus shifts, and suddenly everything feels poised to attention, jabbing notes pushing against the vocals, just desperate to break free into the onslaught of screaming and galloping strums and riffs.

A band that’s forever pushing themselves and their boundaries, Northern Sun Sessions is a brilliant fusion of the new and the old. Taking the pure blues rock that has become their staple, THE VIRGINMARYS have matured in both their sound and the way they achieve it. The duo has managed to capture the raw energy of their live performances, and demonstrate their poetic lyrical message like never before. Fans will find instant classics on this record, that will no doubt be captivated by the stripped back, intimate feel on Northern Sun Sessions.

Rating: 8/10

Northern Sun Sessions is due for release on November 16th via Masochismo Records (self release).

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