NitroVille: ‘Cheating The Hangman’
NITROVILLE
CHEATING THE HANGMAN
To be released on March 23, 2016 (Mighty Music)
Review:
Sleaze Roxx has recommended many great records released by some awesome bands from a ton of different countries over the years. But I have to say, NitroVille’s newest blew me away. Once in awhile an entire album of solid hard rock with no filler like this one comes along.
NitroVille are a four-piece band based out of London, England. Their second album Cheating The Hangman, will be released on March 23, 2016 by Mighty Music. Their first record was good enough to get them touring throughout the UK, Europe, and even get noticed in North America with recognition on Canadian based Pure Rock Radio, and acoustic sets in Nashville and Texas.
Cheating The Hangman is seriously infused with Southern US style hard rock. From the guitars, to the lyrical references, even a blues influenced lead vocal, this album rocks. As their public relations kit states, “It burns more brightly than a NASCAR pit lane fire.” That being said, in talking with NitroVille’s guitarist Michael Boeck, he recognizes there’s a Southern sound there, but “…we may have far too many British heavy rock influences to entirely fit into a Southern genre anymore.” As Boeck says, this is music for the open road.
It would be very easy to draw comparisons to other bands in the same vein, but sometimes that’s not helpful. As a reviewer or a listener, just take what you’re given and run with it. “Trophy Hunter” has an interesting acoustic intro, leading into a rocker of a tune. “MotoRocker” and “Spitfire” are flat out energy; straight ahead hard rock & roll. The first official release is “Louisiana Bone” which is a solid blues-rock number that sets the stage for all of Cheating The Hangman. I love Tola Lamont’s vocals, which fits in with the music perfectly and she captures the sleaze of Boeck’s guitar playing. The back end never gets enough credit, but bassist Steve Parsons and drummer Cyro Zuzi have it covered. There is a feel to this album that is obviously hard to describe. You just know when you’ve hit upon something good.
I was not surprised to find out that on one of NitroVille’s previous releases, they worked with producer Bob Marlette, who also worked with Black Stone Cherry. While there are similarities to Black Stone Cherry, NitroVille went their own way with a more pure guitar sound and scaled back production. Interestingly, the album was produced on 100% analog equipment, which lends itself to this signature sound. Sleaze Roxx would be hard pressed not to have this record into the running for its top 10 albums of 2016. I know it’s early in the year, but these things stick with you!
Track List:
01. Motorocker
02. Louisiana Bone
03. Spitfire
04. Cheating The Hangman
05. Apophis 2029
06. Let It Roll
07. Dead Man’s Hand
08. Trophy Hunter (Can’t Stop What’s Coming)
09. Ransom Game
10. Take A Stand
11. Danger Zone
Band Members:
Tola Lamont – vocals
Kurt Michael Boeck – guitar
Steve Parsons – bass
Cyro Zuzi – drums
Band Websites:
Official Website
Facebook
Reviewed by Metal Mike for Sleaze Roxx, February 2016
Nitroville – Louisiana Bone (Official Music Video)
“Louisiana Bone” is taken from the album “Cheating The Hangman”, out 25th of March on Mighty Music on CD and LP.http://www.nitroville.comwww.mightymusic.dk