Chrome Molly released four albums between 1985 and 1990 and toured with Alice Cooper in 1988. Like so many other bands of that era they then slipped back into the shadows, leaving a solid fan-base behind them. The band reformed in 2009 and released the album “Gunpowder Diplomacy” in 2013. They’ve stayed with earMusic for the release of “Hoodoo­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Voodoo" on 27th January. I played the track “Pillars of Creation (Albion)” on the Friday NI Rocks Show on 9th December and “Can’t Be Afraid of the Dark” on the Show on 3rd February.

 

 


 

The band supported the Graham Bonnet Band on their UK tour a few months ago and I saw them perform in The Limelight in Belfast where they put on a great show. Lead singer Steve Hawkins was good enough to send us a couple of tracks from the new album, prior to receiving a copy via Duff Press. Chrome Molly have set out to re-create that 80’s rock vibe and they’ve definitely succeeded in that regard.


Hawkins is one of the founding members of the band, along with bass player Nick Wastell. Another original member, guitarist John Antcliffe, did join the band again in 2009, but departed and was replaced by John Foottit in 2015. Guitarist Andrew Barrott who had joined the band and played during the Alice Cooper tour in 1988, re-joined the line-up in September 2016, replacing Sam Flint. The fifth member of the band is Greg Ellis on drums.

Chrome Molly worked with Toby Jepson to record the album “Hoodoo Voodoo” and the earlier “Gunpowder Diplomacy”.

 

There are 10 tracks on the album, including a short intro. My favourites would be “Can’t Be Afraid of the Dark”, “Pillars of Creation (Albion)”, “Rock For You” and “Feeling Pressurised”.

Check out the band’s website at http://chromemolly.com/


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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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