Album review – SCREAMING EAGLES ‘Stand Up And Be Counted’

Make me pick just one word to describe Northern Ireland’s Screaming Eagles, and it would have to be “hot”. As in fire. As in flames. As in rock’n’roll that doesn’t mess you around, or let you down, or come up short. As in music that gets your heart racing and your blood pumping, and puts a ridiculously happy smile on your face.

Screaming Eagles’ debut album From The Flames (an appropriate title), was so hot it just about set my hair on fire (I even said so in my review). And the band’s new album Stand Up And Be Counted is another addictive, no-holds-barred power-pack of high-octane rock’n’roll.

Since releasing From The Flames, Screaming Eagles have shared the stage with acts like Airbourne, The Answer and Black Star Riders. They’ve played festivals such as Hard Rock Hell and Giants of Rock, and they’ve signed with record label Off Yer Rocka. They’ve also found the time to light their musical fire once again, infusing the 10 hard and heavy-rocking tracks here with enough riffs, licks, crushing drums, soul, blues, and fiery vocal goodness to satisfy every one of my rock’n’roll cravings.

First track ‘Ready For The Fall’ roars right into you: it’s a shot of potent musical adrenaline that gets you right in the feel-good bits. Next up is ‘Save Me’, a track that is pure kick-ass rock’n’roll, blending the band’s raw riff-power with the cranked up passion of Chris Fry’s powerhouse vocals.

And the hits just keep on coming. The rowdy ‘Stand Up And Be Counted’ packs a whole lot of heat and attitude, as well as a lot of ferocity in both the vocals and the lyrics; ‘Bow Down To The Blues’ has a terrifically heavy blues swing; and the tasty and passionate ‘Chase You Down’, features some blistering guitar work.

Fry’s vocals are stellar throughout the album, and he really shows off his pipes on ‘Get Out While I’m Ahead’, a track that glows with both urgency and soul.

Two of my favourite tracks is the amped up ‘Breakin’ All The Rules’ – the guitars are just crazy-good on this ripper of a track; and the heavy as hell ‘Streets of Gold’ with its crushing bass and drums, dark and evocative lyrics, and sky-high solos.

The album closes out with ‘27 Club’ – all sexy guitars, swagger and soul, grit and riffs, and Fry singing like a creature possessed by rock’n’roll demons. Wow.

From the Flames was definitely no happy accident: these guys have built on that experience, coming up with something even more satisfying and exhilarating. Once again, I’m left with just one question: Northern Ireland, wtf is up with you? How can you fit so much awesome rock’n’roll into such a small place?

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Track-list:

1. Ready For The Fall
2. Save Me
3. Stand Up And Be Counted
4. Bow Down To The Blues
5. Chase You Down
6. Get Out While I’m Ahead
7. Breakin’ All The Rules
8. Streets of Gold
9. Screaming Eagles
10. 27 Club

Lineup:

• Chris Fry – Vocals
• Adrian McAleenan – Guitars
• Ryan Lilly – Bass
• Kyle Cruikshank – Drums

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