Inglorious – Inglorious – Album Review

Artist: Inglorious

Album Title: Inglorious

Label: Frontiers Records

Date Of Release: 19 February 2016

I wasn’t sure whether or not to offer a review of this album, the debut self-titled record from UK rockers Inglorious. In each press release and almost every review I’ve seen so far, I’ve read the names Whitesnake, Deep Purple or any number of other notable names from the classic rock era. Now, just like every self-respecting heavy music fan, I’m familiar with most of these bands. Indeed, in the case of Deep Purple and Whitesnake in particular, they are legendary and I’d have to have been a hermit not to have any knowledge of either. However, as the Man Of Much Metal, my musical path veered much more towards the heavier end of the musical spectrum from an early age. Oh, and I wasn’t born until the 80s. As a result, I must admit that my knowledge of 70s and 80s classic rock/metal isn’t perhaps what it should be. I therefore feel vastly under qualified to offer any thoughts on this record.

But then I stopped and asked myself a simple question: ‘do I like this record?’ The answer is a solid yes. And that is why I have finally penned a review despite my concerns. I may not be able to compare and contrast the Inglorious output with that of their biggest musical inspirations. But I can explain why it is that I like this album from more of a lay person’s perspective. So here goes.

As I have grown older, my love and respect for music other than blood and thunder heavy metal has increased and so things that I wouldn’t have listened to 15 years ago now provide me with much enjoyment. That includes classic melodic rock.

Inglorious are comprised of vocalist Nathan James, guitarists Wil Taylor and Andreas Zäta Eriksson, bassist Colin Parkinson and drummer Phil Beaver and together they have assembled an album of eleven songs that are raw, in-your-face numbers, big on groove, big on melody, ably managing to fuse together the spirit of the 70s and 80s with a more modern approach. This means that Inglorious sound fresh and relevant in 2016 whilst harking back unashamedly to the ‘good ol’ days’.

 

‘Until I Die’ begins with a big 70s-sounding Hammond intro before growing into a full-on hard rock monster of a track. The groove is infectious, James’ impressive vocals soar and scream in equal measure and the chorus is bona-fide stadium-friendly fodder. The song has that stomp and swagger that’s the preserve of a band cocksure of their abilities and who know exactly what they’re doing, even despite their young years and relatively short career to date.

‘Breakaway’ ups the pace ever so slightly, resulting in a three-minute slab of high octane melodic rock with a cracking chorus that begs to be sung along with. In contrast, the strength of ‘High Flying Gypsy’ is its slow-burn qualities. The bass rumble in the verses and the tangible blues feel carries the day. Those blues influences loom large in what is arguably, and surprisingly, my favourite track on the album, ‘Holy Water’. The pace is again slow but it explodes wonderfully and satisfyingly in the choruses. The other favourite of mine is the soulful-sounding and punchy title track that delights each time I listen.

Elsewhere, ‘Wake’ shows off the band’s softer side, complete with a slowed-down tempo and warm acoustic guitars. And album closer ‘Unaware’ begins with a rich and welcoming piano melody before launching into a muscular and sleazy guitar riff complemented by a sprawling chorus and plenty of wailing lead guitar lines.

It is undeniable that if you are a fan of the likes of Deep Purple et al, you’ll really enjoy Inglorious’ output. However if, like me, you’re not a massive fan of these ‘classic’ bands, Inglorious can still deliver, on their own merits, a very potent and satisfying dose of 70s inspired melodic hard rock. I therefore suspect that Inglorious are destined for big things.

The Score Of Much Metal: 8.0

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSXHOgqA7kk&w=560&h=315]

If you’ve enjoyed this review, check out my others right here:

Omnium Gatherum – Grey Heavens
Structural Disorder – Distance
Votum – Ktonik
Fleshgod Apocalypse – King
Rikard Sjoblom – The Unbendable Sleep
Textures – Phenotype
Serenity – Codex Atlanticus
Borknagar – Winter Thrice
The Mute Gods – Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
Brainstorm – Scary Creatures
Arcade Messiah – II
Phantasma – The Deviant Hearts
Rendezvous Point – Solar Storm
Vanden Plas – Chronicles Of The Immortals: Netherworld II
Antimatter – The Judas Table
Bauda – Sporelights
Waken Eyes – Exodus
Earthside – A Dream In Static
Caligula’s Horse – Bloom
Teramaze – Her Halo
Amorphis – Under The Red Cloud
Spock’s Beard – The Oblivion Particle
Agent Fresco – Destrier
Cattle Decapitation – The Anthropocene Extinction
Between The Buried And Me – Coma Ecliptic
Cradle Of Filth – Hammer Of The Witches
Disarmonia Mundi – Cold Inferno
District 97 – In Vaults
Progoctopus – Transcendence
Big Big Train – Wassail
NightMare World – In The Fullness Of Time
Helloween – My God-Given Right
Triaxis – Zero Hour
Isurus – Logocharya
Arcturus – Arcturian
Kamelot – Haven
Native Construct – Quiet World
Sigh – Graveward
Pantommind – Searching For Eternity
Subterranean Masquerade – The Great Bazaar
Klone – Here Comes The Sun
The Gentle Storm – The Diary
Melechesh – Enki
Enslaved – In Times
Keep Of Kalessin – Epistemology
Lonely Robot – Please Come Home
The Neal Morse Band – The Grand Experiment
Zero Stroke – As The Colours Seep
AudioPlastik – In The Head Of A Maniac
Revolution Saints – Revolution Saints
Mors Principium Est – Dawn of The 5th Era
Arcade Messiah – Arcade Messiah
Triosphere – The Heart Of The Matter
Neonfly – Strangers In Paradise
Knight Area – Hyperdrive
Haken – Restoration
James LaBrie – Impermanent Resonance
Mercenary – Through Our Darkest Days
A.C.T. – Circus Pandemonium
Xerath – III
Big Big Train – English Electric (Part 1)
Thought Chamber – Psykerion
Marcus Jidell – Pictures From A Time Traveller
H.E.A.T – Tearing Down The Walls
Vanden Plas – Chronicles Of The Immortals: Netherworld