Album Review: Black Star Riders – The Killer Instinct

Black Star Riders – The Killer Instinct
Release Date: February 23, 2015
Record Label: Nuclear Blast

In 2013, Black Star Riders had hands down one of my favorite albums with All Hell Breaks Loose. With All Hell Breaks Loose, Black Star Riders really solidified themselves as a band in their own right as opposed to just a mere offshoot of Thin Lizzy. The album was a strong testament to the face that these guys were capable of being way more than just another Thin Lizzy. Like with any great debut album, once it sunk in and was out for a while, my next question was, “Will they be able to put something out just as good if not better as a follow up?” Well, with The Killer Instinct, I think it’s safe to say that the boys totally lapped themselves.

The opening title track kicks in with a signature Thin Lizzy harmony guitar that just sends chills up my spine. Lead vocalist/guitarist Ricky Warwick delivers his vocals full of gritty streetwise passion and lyrics so good that I found myself hanging on to every single word he sang. “Bullet Blues” was such a surprise as this song seemed to have Black Star Riders taking on a whole identity of their own. “Charlie, I Got to Go” just may be one of the best Thin Lizzy songs never written which, trust me, is a pretty awesome thing to hear. “Blindsided” is a dark, gritty song, country infused song that for some reason reminds me of the movie Tombstone. Once again Black Star Riders found a way to really forge their own sound on a song that is every bit as great as their more Thin Lizzy inspired material.

With The Killer Instinct, I honestly feel that Black Star Riders sounds much more like their own band than they did on their debut. Song for song, The Killer Instinct shows that Black Star Riders can write some absolutely amazing songs that read like short stories of captured images in life. Every song is a story in its own and they are so well played and well written that I felt so drawn in and connected to them. There isn’t a single song on this album that I would consider a dud and by the time it was over I found myself going in for another listen just to take it all in again.

Many people will be quick to write off Black Star Riders as a mere Thin Lizzy cop off band. I mean, if you’re going to hate on these guys for sounding like Thin Lizzy, go ahead but don’t say that these guys can’t write fucking songs. In the history of rock n’ roll, it’s not unusual for bands like Black Star Riders to wear their influences on their sleeves. This time around Black Star Riders have rolled up their sleeves a bit more to show us their own skin. While the ghost of Thin Lizzy is still very much present, Black Star Riders isn’t using it as a crutch. Black Star Riders very much have their own two strong legs to stand on while still managing to tip their hats to the greatness of a band that inspired them to be a band in the first place. For that, I salute them wholeheartedly.

 

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