It’s lucky number six for guitar wizard Troy Redfern as he releases his sixth studio album Innovation via RED 7 Records on May 17th, 2024.
Opening track ‘The Strange’ has a marching drumbeat, propelling this rock steady rebel along towards a brief, bouncy midsection then obliterated by a molten metal guitar solo.
I was getting touches of T Rex in ‘Getaway’ which is no bad thing for a bit of ‘Hot Love’. It gathers speed for stadium filling choruses until all hell breaks loose for a snare drum driven outro.
‘Van Helsing’ is one for the headbangers and air guitarists as stabbing guitar lines in the verses get denser in the turbocharged choruses.
Psychedelic vibes meander through ‘The Calling’ that envelop this mood swinged tune until it closes on a put up or shut up guitar solo.
‘Native’ lives up to its title as if the band are heading over the prairies as ethereal doom-laden grooves, and a gritty lead vocal sit back for a guitar solo to rip your scalp off!
‘The Fever’ took a few spins to get my head around but its infectious grooves soon grabbed me, even more so when nirvana was reached by the arrival of razor-sharp guitar prowess.
‘All Night Long’ (not the Rainbow song of course) sees Troy really let rip here, putting the pedal to the metal for a hot rails to hell heavy hoedown.
‘Blind Me’ is a ballad but with added balls as this shimmering song eases along on a pleading vocal and sedate rhythms.
We’re back to the rock as ‘Voodoo Priestess’ casts her spell for this feisty, but also feelgood headbanger.
This stunning album closes on ‘The Last Stand’ that resonated around my headphones like an angry bee, muscling up for a powerful midsection and a freaky outro.
Words by Dennis Jarman