There’s a certain ZZ Top meets Robert Palmer smooth groove to opener ‘My Imagination’ which treads the sonic ground between Foreigner and Bad Company that let’s you know right away that this is going to be special. That’s even before you realise that Lonerider is made up of Steve Overland (FM, Shadowman), Steve Morris (Heartland, Shadowman), Chris Childs (Thunder), Simon Kirke (Free, Bad Company) and Brian J Anthony (though the press release has him twice down as ‘Brain’ rather than Brian).
After that initial delight, the album keeps on giving: ‘Lonerider’ has a nice swing about it and is rather closer to Bad Co. with Overland doing a fine Paul Rodgers, and up against the gentle ‘Hard Heart to Break’ which again brings in that AOR infusion there are no disappointments so far.
The rest of the album is studded with similar gems – there’s that ‘Eliminator-era’ ZZ Top feel to the smooth ‘Fast Train’; the gathering storm of ‘Wanted Man’; the stripped back ‘Yesterday Heroes’; and that’s just for starters.
If you love your classy Classic Rock with a distinct emphasis on melody this is one of the albums you’ll be coming back to all year.