Review by Paul Sabin for MPM
County Down’s rock n roll son returns with a follow-up to 2021’s `When Life Was Hard And Fast’ in the shape of the eleven track `Blood Ties’ album. Ricky Warwick has collaborated with some well-known rockers to make this release something special.
`Angels Of Desolation’ an up tempo number kicks thing off. Melodic crunchy guitar parts compliment Warwick’s gritty vocal and start away we are in Lizzy-Esque territory. `Rise And Grind’ pulls in dark, menacing rhythms and sees the first guest star in the shape of Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr. Wah fuelled guitars wail and scream here to significant effect.
A slower and gentler mood is created on the rock ballad `Don’t Leave Me In The Dark’ as Warwick and Lita Ford duet here. Sweet melodies sit twixt twin guitars on this epic track. `The Crickets Stayed In Clovis’ ramps up the attitude and pace as the vocal comes up in the mix and brings back memories of Lynott in its tone, once more aided by some classic twin guitar harmonies. Make no mistake this track has balls!
`Don’t Sell Your Soul To Fall In Love’ takes a lighter, soft rock route filled with twangy guitars (think 10cc and the Eagles) until the chorus kicks in and hits you straight between the eyes as controls go to eleven and grungy riffs ring out. `Dead And Gone’ starts with a narrative about Ginger Jesus that paves the way for a modern sounding, angst laden track that has a mighty rhythm and beat that constantly builds. The energy that follows from this song is astounding.
The Cult’s Billy Duffy takes up collab duties on `The Hell Of Me And You.’ Unsurprisingly this fast-paced track is packed with freight train rhythms and harmonic fuelled guitar phrases that leap out of the speakers. We return to the modern rocky `Crocodile Tears’ which has a punky edge to it. Distorted guitar riffs underpin this track allowing Warwick’s warm, gruff vocal tones to coast over the top alongside an infectious lead guitar melody.
`Wishing Your Life Away’ continues the punky, meaty feel but this time has more of an American flavour to it (Blink 182 et al). Warwick’s lyrics and delivery here a sublime. This man has so many facets to his talent. `The Town That Didn’t Stare’ kicks in with a driving snare beat ahead of a punchy, melodic guitar riff which in turn gives way to a crescendo of a chorus which then breaks down into flanged guitar tones and Warwick’s voice giving an element of Jim Kerr vibes before the track launches off again at full tilt.
We end with a bonus track, `Not My Circus,’ an out and out straight-ahead rocker that takes no prisoners. Thick, intense, gritty guitars scream and lay down some brilliant riffs to accompany this lyrically superb track that defines Warwick’s sound.
Listening to this album you can hear all the elements of Ricky Warwick’s career. The attitude and ballsy guitar sound found in The Almighty is here as is the uncannily similar vocal sound to the late Phil Lynott. Twin guitars pop up here from time to time adding to the Thin Lizzy feel on some tracks, but above all that there is a writing style that is deep, sometimes menacing but always blending a hard rock edge with melody and passion that is unique to Ricky Warwick. Adding a sprinkling of guests adds to the overall power and quality of this release.
If you like what he has done in the past, you’ll love this and if you’ve never heard his material before but love straight ahead hard rock, you’ll still love it!
Blood Ties is out on 14th March 2025 via Earache Records and is available to pre-order here.
Ricky also hits the road in March and has announced several in-store shows, which fans can reserve places for here.
He will also be heading out with Stiff Little Fingers, which includes a show at the Roundhouse, London on March 22nd, as well as playing a number of headline shows.
Full dates and tickets here.
