This is an album recommendation that I take great pleasure in posting as I feel like I’ve been watching things progress to this point for the past six years. “Razed on Rock” is the excellent new album from Clifford Hoad’s Kings of the Sun and it was independently released on 20th October. It can purchased from the band’s website at http://www.kingsofthesunband.com/
The title track is included on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 28th October.
As a big fan of Kings of the Sun since their debut album in 1988 and subsequent appearance in Belfast supporting Kiss it was great to stumble upon the music of The Rich and Famous about ten years ago. Both bands of course featured brothers Jeff and Clifford Hoad and I was fortunate enough to strike up an online friendship with the latter that eventually led to me posting an interview with him on the Rock Radio NI website in October 2010 - http://www.rockradioni.co.uk/interviews/662-clifford-hoad-kings-of-the-sun-interview.html
Over the following years Clifford has pursued his vision of a revamped Kings of the Sun that remains rooted to that classic rock sound - with a heavy dose of Aussie rock n roll included of course!! In 2013 the album “Rock Til Ya Die” was released (http://www.rockradioni.co.uk/back-stage/music-reviews/1291-ni-rocks-recommends-qrock-til-ya-dieq-by-kings-of-the-sun.html) and the band played Sweden Rock in 2014. Just ahead of that album being released I’d posted another interview with Clifford - http://www.rockradioni.co.uk/interviews/1292-ni-rocks-interview-with-clifford-hoad-of-kings-of-the-sun.html
There are nine tracks on the new album which features Clifford Hoad on drums & lead vocals, Rowie Riot on guitar & vocals, Shar Roxon on keyboard, vocals & guitar and Laurie Marlow on bass. The album includes a mix of high energy rock tracks (such as “Raised on Rock” and “Black Dog”), slower, contemplative / bluesy tunes (“Fallen Rockstar” and “Van Diemen’s Land”) and a surprise acoustic offering. You can order the CD or download the album via the band’s website.
About “NI Rocks Recommends”
The simple idea behind “NI Rocks Recommends” is to acknowledge and promote some of the great music being submitted to Rock Radio NI. I'll not be giving marks or ratings or analyzing the tracks in great detail; just telling you something about the artist and the album. It’s a personal recommendation to go check something out, not a traditional “review”!
My musical tastes cover most things rock; from the not too melodic to the not too heavy. The albums that I’ll be recommending are those that you’ll hear me playing tracks from on my shows on Rock Radio NI.
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